Video Games and Exercise

Anyone here use video games as a form of exersie.  The nintendo wii with its motion controller is great!  Games like boxing where u have to throw punchs to get your guy on screen to throw punches is awesome.  Dance Dance Revolution is also good.  You have a floor pad and have to match up arrows on screen to rack up points.  It's a fun way to get through the 1-2+ hours of exercise.

As silly as this sounds, I had never thought of logging my time playying on the wii as exercise.  I love the boxing! Cant wait for Wii Fit to release!

Original Post by lilreenz:

As silly as this sounds, I had never thought of logging my time playying on the wii as exercise.  I love the boxing! Cant wait for Wii Fit to release!

I cant wait either.  I wonder what the burn estimate would be for the games.  My son want the mario and sonic olmpics sooooo bad. 

The Wii is a HUGE part of my excercise plan.  Everyone else in my family just sits down and flicks their wrists so they think I'm strange for standing up and actually doing the movements you're supposed to do.  I will definitely be getting Wii Fit!

I do that too...the number of times i've almost hit the tv while boxing!  haha  Its the only way to play.  I def break out into a sweat.

I'd love to know approx how many calories it burns...

I only have the wii sports and play, but i did just get FIFA 08 and trying that this weekend. 

I found this info on another website:

In terms of which games produced the greatest amount of weight loss,

Wii Boxing burned an impressive 125 calories/half hour followed by

Tennis at 92 calories/half hour and

Bowling at 77 calories/half hour.

A lot of husky kids just got some powerful ammunition in convincing mom to buy them a Wii.

Original Post by moxx:

A lot of husky kids just got some powerful ammunition in convincing mom to buy them a Wii.

I remember trying to use this to get a DDR machine. Mom said she'd rather pay the same amount for actual dance classes, ack.

Though now I wouldn't mind, back when I was a husky youngin'... 

My friend has DDR, and playing it on free-style is fricking intense. When I play normal mode, I get virtually no excercise, because I really suck at following the arrows, and have to play on beginner. But free-style, you just make up your own sequence to the beats, and it's way better.

I'd love to have a WII and DDR to play with... when I heard about them the first thing I thought was 'that'd be a great way to get in some FUN exercise!'

This is slightly off topic, but my husband likes to use the elliptical without the hand bars.  Instead he'll hold a video game controller and play to pass the time :-)  We also have a Wii, and you can definantly work up a sweat boxing!

For anyone with a PlayStation 2, I highly recommend Eye Toy Kinetic.  I did the 12 week program, and it was fun -- I got distracted by wedding plans and didn't succeed at a second program, but I may just try again. 

 

Original Post by averitia:

This is slightly off topic, but my husband likes to use the elliptical without the hand bars.  Instead he'll hold a video game controller and play to pass the time :-)  We also have a Wii, and you can definantly work up a sweat boxing!

I'll try that! well on my bike.  I think i'd fall off an elliptical :)

I was looking for DDR for wii, but it's sold out everywhere in Canada! Right now I'm so mad at Nitendo, why would they even release the game if they can't keep enough supply??

Original Post by moxx:

I found this info on another website:

In terms of which games produced the greatest amount of weight loss,

Wii Boxing burned an impressive 125 calories/half hour followed by

Tennis at 92 calories/half hour and

Bowling at 77 calories/half hour.

A lot of husky kids just got some powerful ammunition in convincing mom to buy them a Wii.

I'm not sure if I'd call the tennis or bowling options very impressive. You burn more just by walking very slowly (2.5 mph is hardly moving and is more effective)... In my opinion, it's better than nothing, true, but those husky kids should get up and go for a walk or do something with their lives.

Original Post by ainedb:

Original Post by moxx:

I found this info on another website:

In terms of which games produced the greatest amount of weight loss,

Wii Boxing burned an impressive 125 calories/half hour followed by

Tennis at 92 calories/half hour and

Bowling at 77 calories/half hour.

A lot of husky kids just got some powerful ammunition in convincing mom to buy them a Wii.

I'm not sure if I'd call the tennis or bowling options very impressive. You burn more just by walking very slowly (2.5 mph is hardly moving and is more effective)... In my opinion, it's better than nothing, true, but those husky kids should get up and go for a walk or do something with their lives.

Yup that is true,  but also thats just stats for one game,  and games like DDR can be the equivilent to an aerobic workout,  would produce different stats.  Better than sitting in front of the computer eating chips.  Yes outside activies would be best,  but the games are still fun!

http://www.redoctane.com/videogamehealth.html

Of course this link is from the company that sells the products,   just keep that in mind

I have Dance UK, and on aerobic mode I burn 90 calories per 5 minute SONG!!!! That is QUITE a burn, but your weight will determine the burn ofcourse, someone weighing 50kg would burn quite a bit less!

 

And Wiifit, I never heard of it, now I think I will use that as ammo to get a wii for myself!!! 

Does anyone know the estimated amount of calories you burn will playing DDR? I love that game, and if its a significant burn, I will have to start using that as motivation for exercise!

there is no way you are doing 90 caloires per 5 mins...  remember that most of those dance games have the defualt hieght and weight set to that of somone that is liek 6 foot 6 and weighing 300 pounds...

Agreed, I'm 6'0" - 205, and on an elliptical (with my heart rate around 75-80%) I dont burn 90 in 5mins, more like 8-9mins