Exercising with EA Sports Active

If you recall, I had to skip my walks outside for various reasons and decided to work out with my Wii instead.  I have had these games for a while, but have never really used them consistently before now.  I started exercising with the Wii Fit and last week I moved on to the 30 day challenge with EA Sports Active.  There are definite benefits to each system.  Wii Fit gives me a better cardio workout because I am having so much fun that I don't realize how long I have been playing.  EA Sports Active is more intensive because it is like working out with a personal trainer. 

Oprah's personal trainer, Bob Greene, helped develop this system.  It provides you with a variety of exercises for a strength training routine that targets the muscles of the upper and lower body, as well as cardio.   There are 70+ exercises including: jogging, bicep curls, cardio boxing, inline skating, cross knee punches, bent over rows, lateral shoulder raises, said lunges, squats and tennis.   You can choose whether you want a male or female personal trainer to show you how to do each exercise and offer you verbal feedback.  The system is very useful in that it can tell when you are not doing an exercise properly and provides on screen cues to get you back on track.  All in all, this was a great investment!

Exercising with Wii Fit

Rainy weather and scheduling conflicts kept me from walking outside very much last week.  So, to get in my exercise I cranked up my Wii Fit.  This is a fitness game by Nintendo that includes a balance board and games that are a lot of fun and a great workout.  If you are a gym rat, you might not find it challenging, but it is a great way to get the couch potatoes up and moving.  Personally, I find the aerobics and balance games to be the best for a fun workout. I usually begin with Super Hula to get my heart rate up, move on to Advanced Step and Rhythm Boxing and finish with a balance game.  This allows me to get in some good cardio and works out my arms and legs.  The yoga and strength training are good ways to target specific muscle groups.  Since I purchased my Wii Fit, they have come out with another version called Wii Fit Plus, which has some additional activities.  Read on for more information about what’s included with each.

Wii Fit

• Strength Training: Put your strength to the test with muscle-toning exercises like Single Leg Extension, Sideways Leg Lift, Arm and Leg Lift, Single-Arm Stand, Torso Twists, Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist, Lunge, Push-Up and Side Plank, Jackknife, Plank and Tricep Extension. Challenges include Push-Up Challenge, Plank Challenge and Jackknife Challenge.
• Aerobics: Get your heart pumping with fun, interactive Aerobic exercises like Hula Hoop, Basic Step, Basic Run, Super Hula Hoop, Advanced Step, 2-P Run, Rhythm Boxing, Free Step and Free Run.
• Yoga: Work on your balance and flexibility with Yoga poses and activities like Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Spinal Twist, Shoulder Stand, Warrior, Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle and Downward-Facing Dog.
• Balance Games: Get into the action with fun, balanced-based games like Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump, Table Tilt, Tightrope Walk, Balance Bubble, Penguin Slide, Snowboard Slalom and Lotus Focus.

Wii Fit Plus:

• Yoga and Strength: More poses like Spine Extension, Gate, Grounded V, Balance Bridge, Single-Leg Extension and Side Lunge.
• Balance Games: More games like Perfect 10, Island Cycling, Rhythm Kung-Fu, Driving Range, Segway Circuit, Bird’s Eye Bulls-Eye, Snowball Fight, Obstacle Course, Tilt City, Rhythm Parade, Big Top Jogging, Skateboard Arena, Table Tilt Plus, Balance Bubble Plus and Basic Run Plus.