To Wii or not to Wii?

Does anyone have any feedback on using the Wii Fit or the Wii Active as their regular work out routine? It seem like an inexpensive (we already have the console) option. My question is: are either of them worth while?

I have the EA Active for Wii and use it on my light days. I know that people who are new to working out find it challenging (although you will probably need a stronger resistance band), so it just depends on your starting level of fitness.

I like "My Fitness Coach".  It doesn't use the balance board like the Wii Fit does.  It is more challenging as well.  It's more like having a stack of DVDs that you can pick and choose from.  It will also take advantage of equipment you might already have, such as hand weights, and steps. 

Like amethystgirl I use the Wii on my light days. I would like to try the EA Active, but so far don't have any experience with it.  From what I have heard it is better than the Wii Fit, at least from a workout perspective.

Wii Fit is fun, and my grandkids love some of the games, and the hula-hooping.

Oh, and fwiw, I've heard the Jillian Michaels game for Wii is not very good. In case that caught your eye.

I own Wii Active, and I think it is a great game.  I would consider myself intermediate as far as fitness goes, and I get a pretty good workout from the 'Hard' setting.  I wear a heart rate monitor and I usually burn about 300 calories (I weigh 160 pounds) per workout (30-40 minutes).  I agree that a stronger resistance band would help, depending on your fitness level.  The resistance band that comes with the game doesn't do much for me.  I like that you can adjust how much the trainer talks, I wish all DVDs had that option!  You have to listen to their lame music, but after you do it a few times, you could just turn on your stereo and turn the sound off on the game.  I feel like Wii Active is worth the $60 if you are going to stick with it.  The 30 day challenge is pretty cool and there is a lot of variety as far as the workouts go.  I get easily distracted when working out at home, so I just use it occassionally along with going to the gym.  Good luck! 

an overweight extended family member wants to get a wii fit for his birthday.  I'm sure it will join every other piece of get-fit-quick toys he has.  Right up there with every herbal supplement and diet pill. LOL

But his kids are very exited about it. They are on that thing all the time with friends.  I think it can be like anything - if you like it, and it gets you moving, then go for it!

Maya

I use the wii fit in my daily routine. I walk the kids to & from schhol twice a day. ( 20 min away) I generally would have a walk with big people in the morning for some adult conversation. 2 mornings I do aquas. My partner works overseas so in the evening times when the kids are in bed rather than plonk in front of the TV I do 30-40 min of aerobics on the wii fit & 10 min of the jogging. I also do reps of sit ups, planks, push ups etc every night.

Now bear in  mind before I started I couldnt jog 2 feet. I would never have started jogging in case anyone would see me with the bad fitness I was in . & now heres little me able to jog 10 minutes.

I recommend it for a number of reasons.If you feel embarassed like I would its a great way to start. It kills a relative short space of time where I could be sitting doing nothing & its so much cheaper than gym membership & babysitters in my case. It also varies my daily exercise so i dont just feel im walking the roads. ( it gives me a little bit of empowerment ,; that im up there doing mny aerobics like the best of them in the gym)

I have 2 kids 6 & 8 & I think its fantastic of giving them their dose of keep fit too without them even realising it. Its also excellent for full family involvement rather than 1 child stuck in front of the screen on their own, were all playin together.

Jen

Ps I heard some of the fitness routines are rubbish so try asking friends or get reviews online before you buy.

I use the Wii Fit for light workouts (usually some yoga or something) on days when I have karate and I don't want to overdo (it also helps stretch my sore muscles, which is a nice bonus) or sometimes for a longer workout when the weather's bad,  instead of a yoga/pilates video or the heavy bag.  I like being able to vary my exercise with my mood.

It works really well if you're at a fairly low fitness level, like me.  I've always loved yoga, and it lets me get a very quick workout in when my other routines feel boring.  And some of the aerobics exercises can be a good cardio workout, especially if you're just starting.

I think it really shines with kids.  Mine son loves it, so he gets exercise without it seeming like work.  It gives him something active to do in the house when he can't play outside (again with the weather - the last week or so has pretty much sucked here).

I'm not going to say they're the best workouts ever or something, but they're a good way to get motivated and start moving, they can be really good workouts to start out with if you're not really used to working out, and they can be something fun to mix in between other routines you might have.  I'd say go for it, if it's something you think you and your family will be motivated to do on a regular basis.

i actually use the wii fit 3 days a week as my form of cardio. i think it has a lot of great features if you use it right. the yoga and strength training exercises are kinda basic, especially for anyone that does these kind of exercises at the gym or in a class but i LOVE the aerobic section. i do 30 minutes of free step 3 days a week and have altered it as i have gotten in better shape. i use hand weights, i go faster than any of the tempos it gives, and i also do things like raising my knee with alternating legs to really get my heart pumping.

the balance games are really fun and there are a lot of other aerobic exercises that i like (i LOVE the boxing and i do hula hoop to warm up).

i have found the scale to be pretty inaccurate so i would take its weight measurements with a grain of salt but it does do a really good job with balance, which is the main focus of the game.

it keeps track of how long you exercise each day and you can see a graph of how much of each type of exercise, as well as the added benefit of being able to log exerise you do outside of the game. it doesnt tell you anything about calories, though, which i think would have been a great addition.

i would assume (even though ive never played the active) that its more for people that have more experience with exercising while the wii fit is more for people that are just getting into it or are getting into it again after a while.

just my opinion.

I have the Wii Active and love it!!  It really does help you work up a sweat.  I use it when I don't feel like going to the gym.  I also have Wii Cardio workout and the Jullian Michaels one, but to be honest I haven't touched them since I got Wii Active.

I hadn't heard of Wii Active before now and am glad to hear about it here.  We have Wii Fit and use it a LOT (well, relatively, so far about 30 hours across 3 adults) - also it keeps the kids of our friends occupied when our friends come to visit.  I have some balance issues and have found Wii Fit to really make a difference in a number of detailed and boring ways I won't repeat here.  I'll have to look into Wii Active though as Wii Fit is no longer that challenging though it's still fun.

I have Wii Fit & Active. I use the Fit to warm up. I start with the advanced step, some balancing games & then the 10 minute jog. After that I turn on the Active & do a good cardio, I do work up a sweat with this game unlike Fit. Active is a much better calorie burner. I prefer Active over Fit. I agree with everyone else on the band .... they need to upgrade these, the one with the game isn't worth a darn.

I also have Gold's Gym, Jillian Michaels, & a few other Wii Workouts ...

Active wins over all of them !!!

Thank you all for your valuable insights. You have been quite helpful. I think I will ask Santa for a Wii active!!

I have the Wii Active Life game. It comes with a pad like Dance Dance Revolution. It think it is fun! I have not tried the Wii Fit yet but I know I get a REAL calf workout on the Wii Active Life Game. Lots of sprints and log jumping. If you have kids they would enjoy this too.

Hi Shelley!  I"m late in the conversation but I've been a Wii fit user for about 6 months now.  Last week I got the newer WiiFit Plus program which has some terrific features in it.  Mostly that you can do the exercises in specific order that you state and there isn't the rah, rah and commentary before and after each exercise, it just takes you from one to the next.  It's really great.

I do Wii Fit Yoga and Strength Training, all the exercises, every day.  Takes about an hour because I do some things twice.  I've noticed a huge difference in my body, especially that I no longer have any lower back pain.  It's just gone.  My thighs and derierre are so much firmer my brother said it doesn't even look like my butt anymore. 

It's not the perfect solution for everyone but I like it because I hate going elsewhere to work out and can come up with an excuse why not pretty easily.  I never say I'll skip it today with the Wii.  I also walk very briskly (3.5-4.0 MPH) for about 90 minutes a day.  It's usually about 17,000-18,000 steps each day.  It was after I added the walking that I noticed weight dropping off like never before.  When it's nice outdoors, I put on my headphones and walk outside and when it's not, I can either do the rythym step on the Wii or on my treadmill while watching TV.  I faithfully lose at least a pound a week and if I'm really diligent about eating my 1,550 calories even up to 1.5 a week.

The nice thing about Wii fit is that it's got serious exercises for adults which the kids can also do, but there are also a lot of games that will keep the kids happy for sure.  I can't do the bubble ride down the river to save my life LOL!

I know I wrote on here before that I have Wii Fit & Active. My hubby bought me the Wii Fit PLUS & it adds alot more games to the fit so I like it again. They are better work-outs then the plain Fit. So now I do the Active for 20 min. & then switch to Fit-plus & do 30 - 60 minute workouts. The bicycling one really burns your calves when you peddle all over the island. I do a free-step too & do either 10 or 20 minutes. I get in more steps then they do (1,600 to 2,300). It always tells me I am going to fast .... LOL. I like to switch them up after a few weeks so I ain't doing the same workout over 2 weeks.