That's Fit

I finally had a chance to use a Wii. After getting over some initial embarrassment, I had an awful lot of fun! I tried the tennis game and, sadly enough, I'm as bad at virtual tennis as I am on an actual tennis court. While the Wii was certainly more active than playing any other video game system, it wasn't nearly the same type of exercise as a real sport.

Both Bev and Bethany have written about the exercise potential in the interactive gaming system before. And, compared to sitting like a lump playing regular video games, the Wii is a great thing. But it doesn't take the place of real exercise. The active games are a great alternative to regular video games. Also, many of the games aren't violence based -- as a parent, I know I appreciate that. They also offer hand-eye coordination benefits. And, for kids (or adults) who aren't active at all, the games may be a stepping stone for developing interest in real sports.

So the Wii isn't a bad thing at all. But don't count time spent playing interactive video games as exercise time. It's just not the same as the real thing. The CDC recommends that kids be physically active for at least an hour every day. So put away the video tennis, grab a racquet, and play a game of REAL tennis with your kids.

Are you giving your child (or your spouse or yourself) a Wii for Christmas in hopes that they'll get more physical activity in their day? Though Wii has been touted as the "active" video game that gets gamers up and off the couch, it's no replacement for real sports, says a recent study.

Wii users burn about 60 more calories per hour than those playing a sedentary video game, but that's nothing compared to what they would burn if they were out playing real-life games. Video games have their place, say experts, but kids and teens (and grown-ups) need more exercise than they can get in front of a TV screen.

What do you think -- do you work up a sweat when using a Wii?

If video games keep getting users up and out of their seats, they're going to soon loose their place on the list of 10 Most Wanted Obesity Culprits. Games such as Dance, Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Wii Sports are getting gamers up and on their feet, and moving the hobby away from its couch potato image. And though some of these games don't provide the rigorous workouts required by organizations like the American Heart Association, they are getting people off their duffs. Some games can also provide distraction during a workout, much like an mp3 player or TV. So what are the best games out there for working out?

• Dance, Dance Revolution
• Wii Sports
• Cybex Trazer
• Expresso Fitness S2
• Smart Cycle (for young children)
• Motivatrix MX Workout Master
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
• Exer-Station

What are your favorites?

Too often, though we've invested hundreds of dollars into it, our exercise equipment often gets turned into an expensive place to hang our laundry. Boredom is likely one of the reasons people drop their indoor exercise routines, as riding mile after mile on that stationary bike finally becomes too dull to continue.

Motivatrix's MX9 Workout Master promises to banish those workout boredom blues permanently. Though the machine is not yet ready for retail, it's future looks promising. Similar in concept to games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Sports, the MX9 Workout Master has sensors for the feet and even can register arm movements. Players can participate in a large number of games that build skill and fitness, dance to their own tunes, and even connect to the Internet to compete against other users.

Is the Workout Master the future of fitness? It's hard to say, but I can predict that anyone who puts one of these in their living room won't be hanging their underthings on it! Working out indoors has never looked like so much fun.