Get Fit, Get Wii Fit

My first ever experience with Wii Fit was last night. The balance board introduced itself to me, allowed me to step on it, and our beautiful relationship of love and hatred began.

At first I was just a spectator, watching the initial body test process, and then laughing hysterically at how stupid my friend looked doing some of the activities. It wasn’t long though before the board started calling my name, and I simply had to have a turn.

The first thing it asked me to do was take off my shoes and socks. While I can see why this is necessary, it was slightly annoying as 1) it’s winter time, and thus very cold but mostly 2) my socks were knee high, hidden under skinny jeans and tucked safe inside my nice warm boots. But I dealt with it, removed what I needed, and stepped on board.

Next step was telling it my height, weight and age. The default height setting is 170cm, and it was almost funny (but slightly heartbreaking) to watch my character shrink as I lowered the number by 22cm. I told it my weight and age, and the Wii board calculated my BMI at 21.47, putting me right in the middle of the ‘ideal weight range’.

Then it was time to set a goal. Though the board told me the best thing to do would be to maintain my weight, I decided to make my goal losing 7 kilos, putting me at the ‘underweight’ section of the body mass index. The Wii board didn’t bat an eyelid however, and simply asked me how long I’d like to allow myself to achieve this goal. I’m sure if I’d said I wanted to gain 100 kilos it would have done the same thing. Wii boards are so supportive.

After that the most logical thing to do would have been to go through with the training plan the board picked for me, which was ‘tailored to my weight and goal’, but I chose to end my session there. I’d just eaten dinner and didn’t think flapping my arms about like a crazy person was going to help the digesting process.

I can see the Wii Fit being something I’d want to use on a daily basis. I could turn the music up, close the blinds so no one can see me, and flap my arms and kung my fu like I’ve never kung fu’d before. And you don’t have to choose the childish idiot creating activities, there are also loads of aerobics and muscle building training games for you to use, in case you’re self conscious about that sorta thing.

Each time you step on board, the Wii Fit will tell you how long you’ve been using it for, and how many days it’s been since you two have seen each other last. It then also tells you how much weight you’ve either gained or lost since you’ve last used it. It’s going to be your best friend on the days you feel slim, but on a fat day probably stay away from it. Hearing that high pitched robot voice say ‘You’ve gained x amount of kilos since our last visit’ will probably make you die inside… and then pitch the board across the room.

The Wii Fit is an awesome idea, and if you can afford it and feel like shedding some winter flesh, definitely worth a purchase. The game and board is still about $100, and that’s before you purchase a Wii to go with it, so if your wallet is feeling a little light this season, it might just be easier to take a walk. To the bank. To get a loan, to buy the Wii Fit.