Day One - Initial tests & first Workout

So here we are at Day One. The Wii Fit arrived at my door at approximately 1pm this afternoon. Set up took just a couple of minutes, get it out of the box, put the feet on the board for the carpeted floor, add the batteries and get it synced with the Wii and we're ready to go.

Upon first booting, the Wii tells you a little bit about how balance and posture can contribute to weight problems. This is where the Wii comes in, by getting you to correct your center of balance and posture through activities it helps burn calories, by created a new sense of your center of balance it helps eliminate what it calls "pockets of fat" that our bad posture allows to accumulate. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but hey, I'm not a scientist or physician so sure.

The system then asks you to input your height and age. Then you step on the balance board and it runs a test calculating your weight, balance, and BMI (Body Mass Index).

I had to run the test twice, as the phone rang right in the middle of it and it kept testing me even though i was off the board. Try not to step off during the initial tests, to run it again you will have to reset software and start back at the beginning. Monotonously letting it go through the balance spiel again.

My records for Day 1:
Height: 6'1"
Age: 34
Weight: 238.5
BMI: 31.61
Wii Age: 49

Okay. So here's the part where it tells me that I am obese. Wonderful. "Good Health" is a BMI of around 22. At 31.6 I have a ways to go. So lets set a target. It lets you determine how much weight you would like to lose and over what period of time. Healthy weight loss is considered 2 pounds per week, so I set a target of 16 pounds over 2 months, so that is our goal for this blog. In 8 weeks time my goal is to be down to 222 pounds. My overall goal is around 200 pounds, so we'll be here for awhile even if I hit that 16 pounds in 8 weeks. But it's a start. The Wii says it will let you adjust the goals every two weeks based on how you are doing.

So let's get exercising!

The Wii Fit software arranges activities into 4 categories, Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics, and Balance Games. Each has a sub-category of activities for you to try. Since cardio is a good way to kick the body into fat burning mode I started with Aerobics. The first activity I tried was the Hula Hoop, which has you gyrating on the board to keep hula hoops circling around. Then it was on to basic step. Step has you stepping on and off the board like a crazy person in a classic gym step class routine. It was fun and certainly got my heart rate up. Then it is on to the run, rather than run on the balance board it has you jog in place with the remote in hand so it takes it's feedback off of your arm motions. This was a 5 minute run and I did feel like I had worked out. I tried a couple of the strength training activities, but my son was trying to participate and those didn't go so well, strength training will have to wait until times I work out when he is in bed. The Balance activities are basically fun little games, and I hesitate to call them part of my workout, but since the Wii says that balance is a big part of fitness and these activities are working fitness, we're just doing what it told me to do.

Through all of the activities you have what the system calls your "time bank" which keeps track of how much time you have spent working out for the day. For instance, Step is a 3 minute credit, running 5, and each of the balance activities are in one minute increments. So it is pretty easy to set your goal time and know exactly where you are in relation to that. My time bank for today stands at 47 minutes.

Overall impressions are good so far. I do feel like I worked out. I broke a sweat and could tell my heart rate was up. I may have to get a watch with a heart rate monitor to keep track of how much the Wii is actually getting my heart rate up, but that will be for a later time. Even the Wii Sports activities felt like a bit of a workout. Now those you CAN play sitting on the couch and just flicking your wrist, but if you stand up and do full tennis swings, full golf swings, etc not only is it good exercise, but it makes the games a lot more fun.

Could I do all of the activities I did today in the comfort of my home without a Wii? Yes I could. Would I? Not a chance. So early returns would have to say that the Wii shows promise as a motivator to work out. Let's see what the next 8 weeks bring to see if I stick with it or not....

Stay Tuned!