According to Merrill Lynch, 30 percent of American homes will have a Wii by 2011. The Wii has been marketed as an alternative to “couch potato” video games—offering sports, cardiovascular, yoga and weight training programs for all ages. But can you really lose weight playing your Wii? Possibly—according to recent research presented at the American Heart Association’s 2009 Scientific Sessions.
Funded by Nintendo, the 2009 Wii fitness study found that one-third of the console’s virtual physical activities are considered “moderate” in intensity. “The range of energy expenditure in these active games is sufficient to prevent or to improve obesity and lifestyle-related disease, from heart disease and diabetes to metabolic diseases,” said lead study author, Motohiko Miyachi, Ph.D.
Health studies have determined that adults get the most benefit from moderate-intensity exercise when they do at least 2.5 hours of aerobics each week. So…if you aren’t getting the recommended daily allowance of running, tennis, swimming, kickboxing and biking—host a family “Wii game night” or invest in My Fitness Coach, Wii Sports or Wii Fitness.
If core strength, flexibility and stability are your main concerns, there are also several yoga and balance applications for the Wii—including Wii Fit Plus and Yoga by Dreamcatcher Interactive.
Weight loss is achieved when you (1) expend more calories than you consume and (2) increase your metabolic rate. Because of that, most people turn to aerobic exercise as a preferred calorie burner. What you may not realize, though, is that healthy weight loss is best achieved through a combination of aerobics and strength training.
When you go for a walk, a bike ride or a swim, you elevate your heart rate. As heart rate increases for a sustained time period (30 to 60 minutes), your body takes in more oxygen, making your heart and lungs work harder. When your body pushes itself in this fashion, you begin to burn fat calories.
So regular aerobic exercise creates a calorie deficit, which helps your body shed unwanted pounds. To keep your weight off, however, strength training is essential. You don’t have to be power lifter. Just engaging in 30 to 60 minutes of basic strength-building exercises 2 to 3 times a week can help. Using bands, weights and machines, you’ll increase bone strength and improve your body’s metabolic rate—which will give you a slimmer, toned look. How does this work? Routine strength training leads to a buildup of lean muscle mass. Muscle burns calories FAR more efficiently than fat, so the results are a fitter body that expends calories, even while you’re resting.
It’s a good idea to throw some core exercise into the mix, as well. Yoga, Pilates and stability ball work will tone and strengthen your stomach, low back, glutes and thighs—which will help whittle away your midsection and build more lean, calorie-burning muscle mass. In addition, yoga and Pilates encourage a focus on breathing—which can lead to relaxation and improved mental health.
Remember that with any workout, it’s important to warm up, ease into the exercise, and cool down properly when you’re done. Stretching is essential, as well, since it improves flexibility and helps you avoid lactic acid buildup that leads to painfully sore muscles.
