The Nintendo Wii gaming system, known for its controllers that allow you to swing at a tennis ball, golf ball, baseball or throw a bowling ball, has introduced a new program called the Wii Fit.  We thought a review of the Wii Fit program would be appropriate so we went out and paid $90.00 for the system from a local big box retailer (if you don't already have a Wii system that will cost you another $250-$300.00).  Wii Fit consists of the Wii Balance board and a CD with fitness and flexibility software.  If you haven't seen one, the Wii Balance Board looks like a small aerobic step platform, or an oversize (width wise) scale.

  

Actually, there is a scale built into the system and the balance board can determine which foot you are putting weight on. To use the board you step up on this platform while using the fit software, then watch the television screen as you do each different program. 

So, how does it work and what all does it do?  Glad you asked, first in typical Wii fashion, the system takes you through a short setup process, step onto the Wii Balance Board, then you select your gender, your height, enter your birthday and then how much you think your clothes that you are wearing weigh.  The system then runs through a short balance test where you have to keep a small dot in the center of the screen by keeping your weight centered on the board (harder than it sounds), then it computes a BMI score for you based on your height and weight.  After these two tests it comes up with a fitness age, which I don't put a lot of stock in, it told our 18 year old daughter with a BMI around 19, that she had a fitness age of 36.  I would like to see the science they used to project that number.  Next it asks you to set a new goal weight, no option here, you have to do this step.  Each person in your family (I am not sure if there is a total limit of people or not) can have their own profile, I stepped on the board while my daughters profile was up and it immediately alerted us that the weight had changed did we need to change users. With your profile the system will track your weight, track what programs you have done and how long you have done them and store them in the system memory. After a few more screens of explanation, it opened to a standard Wii menu showing four different options, Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics, and Balancing. 

The Yoga section takes you through various poses and uses the balance board to make sure your weight is balanced properly during each position.  Strength training has you do push ups and other athletic moves.  The aerobics section has a virtual hula hoop game, that is a lot of fun, especially for the spectators in the room.  While on the balance board you do a hula hoop motion while on screen your virtual character hula hoops away in time with your gyrations, occasionally other hoops come flying in and you have to lean one way or the other to catch them.  Aerobics also has a running section where you run in place (not on the balance board) trying to keep up with your virtual guide, if you pass the guide too far your character face plants in their virtual world, there is a step program in this section where you try and keep time stepping on and off the balance board in time with stage full of the little Mii characters on screen.  The balancing games help you increase core strength by improving your balance.  One of the games you have to put a certain percentage of your weight on one foot and hold it for 3 seconds, bars for each foot show you where you are and give you targets to try and hit. 

As you do all these different activities time is added to your "fit bank", this unlocks additional exercises and programs.  Your profile and goals are maintained over time, since we just got the system I can't report on how good or bad this is.  In a few cases extra programs are opened if you do really well on a basic program.  We got advanced hula hoop opened after getting the knack the of the basic hula program.  We also discovered that the balance board can be used with other Wii games like We Ski, where you actually lean one way or the other and your Mii character will turn or crash appropriately. 

HealthStatus does recommend that you get the Wii Fit program, especially if you already have a Wii system.  If you don't have the Wii system but are gadget inclined or have pre-teens and teens around the house that have a tendency to sit around too much, I would still recommend it.  If you are technology averse, or you can't get the remote to work with both your cable box and your TV then you will want to stick to your workout DVD or going to the local gym.