The Wii Workout!

[trebor]

http://wiinintendo.net/2007/01/15/wii-sports-experiment-results/

This dude allegedly lost 9 lbs, without changing his diet at all(!), and merely playing 30 mins of WiiSports daily. Thus the "Wii Workout" is born. Given that I've got a couple extra lbs here and there, I've decided to give this a go.

Basically, you need to play a mix of Baseball, Tennis, and especially Boxing, for 30 minutes daily - and really give it your all. Like, I did this last night and I was playing more aggressively than I ever have before, and surprise surprise, after 40 minutes I really felt like I had done a real cardio workout. Word to the wise, you NEED to wear the wriststrap for this, because personally speaking, my hands did get quite sweaty, which made the Wiimote quite slippery.

So, anyone else going to give this a go? One thing is for sure, it's more fun than going to the gym.

[Gadfly2317]

http://wiinintendo.net/2007/01/15/wii-sports-experiment-results/

This dude allegedly lost 9 lbs, without changing his diet at all(!), and merely playing 30 mins of WiiSports daily. Thus the "Wii Workout" is born. Given that I've got a couple extra lbs here and there, I've decided to give this a go.

Basically, you need to play a mix of Baseball, Tennis, and especially Boxing, for 30 minutes daily - and really give it your all. Like, I did this last night and I was playing more aggressively than I ever have before, and surprise surprise, after 40 minutes I really felt like I had done a real cardio workout. Word to the wise, you NEED to wear the wriststrap for this, because personally speaking, my hands did get quite sweaty, which made the Wiimote quite slippery.

So, anyone else going to give this a go? One thing is for sure, it's more fun than going to the gym.

I hate going to the gym. Basically excercise bores me to tears. As dorky as a "videogame workout" sounds on its surface, I suppose it makes sense to mix excercise and one of our favorite hobbies.

I wonder though if Warioware is also a workout. I love the warioware series, and this one looks like it encourages a greater range of motions than Wii sports, and maybe targets more muscle groups.

I'm ok with a few select games giving me a workout, but gladly most Wii games are as sedentary as games on any system.

[Fivespot]

Do keep us posted Trebor as this is a neat story to follow.

If there was a way to marry gaming with exercise, many good things could come from that and I'm speaking in general terms not just me personally.

Living in Wisconsin where apparently obesity is a larger problem than in other states, it's an issue near and dear to my heart. That and I'm sick of looking at fat chicks ;)

Seriously though, if it works for you and others, I'd be willing to try the same although I haven't yet been able to get my non-sweaty hands on a Wii.

[TPoD]

OK now you guys are really starting to scare me. I mean what's next here fellas...wacking off virtually? Damn go out for a jog already.

[Gadfly2317]

OK now you guys are really starting to scare me. I mean what's next here fellas...wacking off virtually? Damn go out for a jog already.

That is next, yes. When I pick up a 360, gonna get some DOA action.

But actually, the Wii kinda covers you there too. The browser in it, I mean, come on. . .surfing for porn on a widescreen hi-def set, makes me want that new Sharp 108 inch LCD.

Btw, jogging is boring and tears up your knees and increases your chances of osteoarthritis (I know we'll all have that in our thumbs and elbows, but I'd still like to be able to walk around when I'm old!)

As far as excercise in gaming, I thought it took some balls for Treb to admit he was going to try it. I would have just kept silent. There's no doubt it sounds uber-dorky. But then, as far as living room excercises when its cold, jumping jacks, push ups, and endless DvD workouts. . . it all looks pretty stupid. Might as well have the fun of punching out some Mii's (and don't forget your boxing footwork.)

[trebor]

Living in Wisconsin where apparently obesity is a larger problem than in other states, it's an issue near and dear to my heart. That and I'm sick of looking at fat chicks ;)

I'm your neighbor! Or at least I live in your neighbor State - Minnesota, so I can definitely sympathize.


Seriously though, if it works for you and others, I'd be willing to try the same although I haven't yet been able to get my non-sweaty hands on a Wii.

Two days in and I'm sore as hell. That's either a testament to how well the workout functions, or a testament to how out of shape I am. Either way, it's doing something.

[trebor]

OK now you guys are really starting to scare me. I mean what's next here fellas...wacking off virtually? Damn go out for a jog already.

Um... yeah. As I mentioned above, I live in Minnesota, which perhaps you've heard (or not) gets a MIGHT BIT COLD in the Winter. In fact, it was below zero this week, so let's not mention jogging or any other outdoor activities until, oh, about May.

[trebor]

As far as excercise in gaming, I thought it took some balls for Treb to admit he was going to try it. I would have just kept silent. There's no doubt it sounds uber-dorky. But then, as far as living room excercises when its cold, jumping jacks, push ups, and endless DvD workouts. . . it all looks pretty stupid. Might as well have the fun of punching out some Mii's (and don't forget your boxing footwork.)

Meh - this isn't really new territory. I think we've all heard/read about the dork who lost a huge amount of weight playing DDR every night, so in terms of dorkyness, the WiiSports workout is pretty low on the scale. Besides, it's relevant - and we all know relevance is super cool. ;)

[Fivespot]

I'm your neighbor! Or at least I live in your neighbor State - Minnesota, so I can definitely sympathize.

I remember. Been here a long time and recall a couple things that remind me where you live-
A. The wedding in those botanical gardens (in MN)
B. You considered going to the same Zappa plays Zappa show as me since it was in Chi town.

How was that by the way? Did you end up going and seeing the Oct. show in MN?

[trebor]

I remember. Been here a long time and recall a couple things that remind me where you live-
A. The wedding in those botanical gardens (in MN)

It was actually the Walker Sculpture garden, but good memory nonetheless. I'm impressed.


B. You considered going to the same Zappa plays Zappa show as me since it was in Chi town.

How was that by the way? Did you end up going and seeing the Oct. show in MN?

I did in fact see the Zappa Plays Zappa show at the Orpheum in Mpls - it was amazing.

Seriously, I consider it one of the top 10 shows I've ever seen in my life. Not only were all the "guests" there that I wanted to see, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, and Napolean Murphy Brock, but they seemed to focus the setlist on my favorite Zappa era - the early 70's, uber funky stuff.

The majority of the set was dedicated to stuff from the Roxy and Elsewhere and One Size Fits All albums, but with plenty of other great tunes thrown in. Plus, they played "Call Any Vegetable", which is just freaking cool.

[Fivespot]

Excellent, I too would put that show in my top 10 all time. Did you hear about Bozio? He blew out his bicep shortly after the show you saw? Didn't look pretty - I saw a photo. So you lucked out as did I in being able to see him as part of the performance. Damn he's good by the way.

I ordered a copy of the Chi show from someone on ebay who recorded it so I also have a DVD of the entire performance (2 DVD's actually). It's a crowd shot but still nice to have.

Same here - they played mostly the 2 albums you listed. Also some earlier tunes as well like Peaches in Regalia among others.

[trebor]

Excellent, I too would put that show in my top 10 all time. Did you hear about Bozio? He blew out his bicep shortly after the show you saw? Didn't look pretty - I saw a photo. So you lucked out as did I in being able to see him as part of the performance. Damn he's good by the way.

He sure is good, but I have admit that I'm not surprised that he blew out his bicep. I've never seen/heard a drummer play with such ferocity - I would be shocked if he didn't have to change his drum heads on a nightly basis the way he plays. Not only that, his vocals were crazy loud during Trying to Grow a Chin and Punky's Whips. I swear the decibel level went up 20 points when he hit the stage.



I ordered a copy of the Chi show from someone on ebay who recorded it so I also have a DVD of the entire performance (2 DVD's actually). It's a crowd shot but still nice to have.

Same here - they played mostly the 2 albums you listed. Also some earlier tunes as well like Peaches in Regalia among others.

I really hope they at least put out a live album of this tour, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[Fivespot]

Roxy is coming soon on DVD which is awesome and you probably heard about that at the show (they even showed a clip and jammed along with Frank during). Pretty neat the way they did it.

Not sure about a live CD or DVD but I've heard they're considering another tour soon possibly even with a Halloween show Frank-style at Madison Square Gardens.

[ilnadmy]

Wow, a Wii workout? Whatever happened to going down to the gym and hitting up the treadmill for a half hour or so? I started putting on some weight around the belly area, and instead of grabbing my Xbox and jumping up and down with the controller wrapped around my head I started going to the gym more often. I mean jeez it's not that hard, and plus you can add some weight training to burn calories AND develop those muscle groups. Sorry to say it Gaddy but even if Wii Sports hits more muscle groups it's not going to do anything for your muscle mass.

3 days a week in the gym doing 15 mins cardio and around 45-60 mins weightlifting and I'm back to my original, pre-sedentary-office-state. You just need to force yourself to go that first day, and then from there it's easier to keep it up.

[trebor]

Wow, a Wii workout? Whatever happened to going down to the gym and hitting up the treadmill for a half hour or so? I started putting on some weight around the belly area, and instead of grabbing my Xbox and jumping up and down with the controller wrapped around my head I started going to the gym more often. I mean jeez it's not that hard, and plus you can add some weight training to burn calories AND develop those muscle groups. Sorry to say it Gaddy but even if Wii Sports hits more muscle groups it's not going to do anything for your muscle mass.

3 days a week in the gym doing 15 mins cardio and around 45-60 mins weightlifting and I'm back to my original, pre-sedentary-office-state. You just need to force yourself to go that first day, and then from there it's easier to keep it up.

Thanks for the pep-talk, coach, but we got a gym membership in Sept. of 05 and went for 9 months straight until our gym got bought out by a larger corporate conglomorate. Which is when we decided to use our "opt out" and save the money and time each month.

The thing about the Wii workout is it that it's infinitely more convenient and the facilities are MUCH nicer than at the gym. If I want to do a 30 min + workout after I get home from work, it literally only takes me 30 + minutes - instead of schlepping to the gym, trying to find parking, waiting in line for equipment, etc.

Not to say it's better than a gym, but doing 30 min of cardio a day and dieting is more than ample to lose extra lbs.

[ilnadmy]

I'm not saying it's not, just saying that knowing you lost weight playing a video game just seems...wrong.

[trebor]

I'm not saying it's not, just saying that knowing you lost weight playing a video game just seems...wrong.

Thanks for your opinion.

[heyo]

its a good idea for losing weight.. anyone played the dance mat on ps2? thats a killer workout always .

[Aku]

I can do most of the Wii Sports games by pretty much just flicking my wrist, so not much calorie burning there. Fortunately, I go to the gym. :-)

[Bane]

Fortunately, I go to the gym. :-)Ya to checkout the chicks!!

[Aku]

Ya to checkout the chicks!!

Duh....why else would I go there? ;-)

[Gadfly2317]

I can do most of the Wii Sports games by pretty much just flicking my wrist, so not much calorie burning there. Fortunately, I go to the gym. :-)

I do Yoga.

The Wii sports, I thought I'd give the whole Wii workout idea a try; sure, not all of them are very demanding, but the boxing was a helluva workout. You can always stand up and do your boxing footwork.