Wii Fit for Random Workouts?

It's Labor Day, and most gyms are closed (at least mine is). You don't really feel like going outside and running but still want to do SOMETHING... turn on that Wii Fit :). My parents of all people were the first ones I knew to own Wii Fit when it came out. So what did I do? I checked out every single exercise on it for like 2 hours... it was pretty cool.

When they got it it was around Christmas time and I was spending a few days there minus weights, a gym, or being able to go outside (it was probably about 10 outside...). I put a couple sweet workout routines together where I would do some lower body strength exercises, then some upper body ones, some running, hula hooping, stepping, back to running, hula hooping, etc. I would finish up with some balance games and yoga... and at least 60 minutes would've gone by. Awesome, at least I did something.

Anyway, I was looking online today and found this website that you can join for free and you can create your own Wii Fit routine. You can choose between strength, balance, weight loss, easy, medium, hard, time of workout, etc. There is a lot of other stuff on there too that I haven't gotten a chance to check out...

So do I suggest to ONLY workout with the Wii Fit? No, but it's a way to do something active if your gym is closed :). It's also a good way for someone to get more interested in exercise if they're not currently involved in a program. One issue I kind of have with it is that is bases your fitness level mainly on balance, which isn't the best indicator. Also, with the running, you're only on the balls of your feet and after doing it for about 30 minutes, my calves really started tightening up (make sure you stretch them out after).

Oh, and if you get on the Wii Fit and you're very muscular, it will most likely tell you that you're overweight even if you have 18% body fat. This is because it only measures your BMI (body mass index) which relies only on weight and height. If you have an average amount of muscle, it's a fairly good indication of whether or not you are within the right weight range.

I like that it yells at you if you haven't been on it in a long time... it's a good way to get you up there more :). It's also fun to watch your relatives passing you as you're running with the Mii's. Have fun with it!