Review: Wii Fit Plus With Balance Board - Should You Buy This Fitness Game?

Fitness games were relatively unheard of before the Wii Fit came along and changed everything. With its revolutionary balance board, Nintendo somehow managed to combine video games with getting fit! Since then, Wii Fit has been enhanced and added to with the release of Wii Fit Plus. But is it worth your time, money and effort?

What Do You Get With The Wii Fit Plus With Balance Board?

If you never bought the original Wii Fit and balance board then this is the package to get! You'll get the game along with the revolutionary balance board that brought so many people into the new world of fitness gaming.

Some of the features of this package include:

Wii Fit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• The balance board that can measure your movements and weight, 
• The new improved Wii Fit Plus game,
• Four game categories: Aerobic, Balance, Yoga and Strength,
• Work with a personal trainer as you learn how to perform each exercise,
• As you improve and play for longer you'll unlock new activities or increase the number of reps for each exercise,
• Wii Fit Plus brings several new features such as routines and specific areas of focus (see below).

How Does Wii Fit Plus Compare To The Original Wii Fit?

If you already have the original Wii Fit then you can get the upgrade simply by buying the software on its own without the balance board. This game does include the original content of the Wii Fit, but adds a whole other level of gameplay. Some of the new features include mixing and matching strength and yoga activities, and flowing exercises together seamlessly for an effective daily workout routine.

Other new features include:

* A much larger range of customization options,
* "My Routine" allows you to put together your own routines,
* "Favorites" is a collection of workouts you use the most,
* 15 new balance games,
* 6 new strength and yoga activities,
* Users can choose which area of health and fitness to focus on,
* See how many calories you've burned,
* New feature allows users to weigh their cats and dogs.

What Customers Are Saying About Wii Fit Plus

The product has received generally positive reviews, with customers noting how the new game has addressed many of the shortfalls of the original Wii Fit. With the original, while novel and fun, many would soon abandon it due to the lack of ability for seamless workouts and more control over which areas to work on. Customers have mentioned how they're now a lot more motivated to continue exercising with the Wii Fit Plus day after day.

Any Complaints?

Some customers have complained that the new games are mostly added for fun, but will not have much effect when it comes to exercising. There are only 6 new strength and yoga games to help improve fitness. The customized workouts are by far the biggest improvement, but the main drawback of this is that they do not include the aerobic or balance activities.

Conclusion

When the original Wii Fit first made its way into stores it was all we had. However, since then fitness games have come a long way. Many people considered the original Wii Fit too basic to hold their interest, and the new Wii Fit Plus goes a long way to addressing those issues. If you don't already own the balance board then there's no reason to buy the old version over this new improved one. However, if you already own a balance board then it's up to you to compare Wii Fit Plus to other fitness games on the market to find one that matches your exercise goals and interests.


Buy Wii Fit Plus on Amazon.com....

6 Fun Ways to Add Exercise to Your Child’s Day

Childhood obesity is becoming a growing problem in many countries - ours is one of the worst.  Things are getting so bad that more and more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be isolated to older, overweight adults.  As parents, it is our responsibility to help keep our child’s weight and health in check.  A great way to do this is by getting your children to exercise more often.  This can help them to lose weight and simply be more healthy - and it will instill in them healthy habits that can benefit them throughout their adult lives.. 

Here are a few tips to help you get your child up and moving - and enjoying it:

(Photo credit: epSos.de)

1.  Sign them up for group sports.  These are not only a great way to get a workout, they also promote socialization and self esteem.  Plus, most kids think sports are fun - not work.  If you find a sport your child really likes, they’ll want to practice all the time and get more and more exercise.  Try to enroll your child in a sport that promotes aerobic activity, and that they really enjoy. 

2. Don’t rely completely on sports.  Some kids just don’t like sports.  If this is the case, you need to make adjustments to the plan.  If they really don’t enjoy it, they won't stick with it or reap as many benefits, so find something else for them to do.  Many fitness centers offer a variety of classes for children including martial arts, dance, and even yoga. 

3. Work out together.  Children learn a lot of their behavior from their family.  That means, if you sit around all day and don’t work out, that’s probably what they’re going to do.  Setting a good example for your child by getting regular exercise is healthy for both you and them!  A great way for you to both get a workout is to find something you both enjoy and do it together.   

4. Make it fun.  You may enjoy the quiet time you get on a running on a treadmill, but your child is probably going to complain. So put yourself in their place - just running in place is pretty boring for a kid. Instead of doing normal adult workout routines, make up games, play tag, play sports, or dance.  It doesn’t really matter what it is, just make sure it’s fun and entertaining for your child.  Be creative, and see what fun active games you can come up with.

Dance Dance Revolution (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Cut back on T.V. and video games.  The best way to keep your child from playing too many video games is to stop the problem before it starts.  If you allow your child to veg in front of the T.V. for hours at a time and then cut back, they’re going to be angry.  It’s best to limit times of inactivity from a young age.  If you’re having trouble getting your kids to give up the games, buy games that require physical activity like Dance Revolution or various active games available on the Nintendo Wii.  This is a great compromise where you both win - and you may even find yourself playing along!

6. Fit it in where you can.  Today's children often have almost as busy schedules as adults do.  If you don’t have a large open chunk of time for your kids to get exercise, you can squeeze in small activities when you do have a few minutes free.  Try a "5 minute jump rope break" in between homework sessions, or a 15 minute game of tag outside before dinner. This is more natural for kids anyway - they don't naturally schedule an hour to work out if you think about it - if you let kids run around and play how they want, they will exercise via bursts of activity.

These are just a few ways to get your kid up and active.  They may be resistant at first, but keep trying.  Starting good exercise habits when your child is young is a vital part of a healthy adult lifestyle. 

7 Fun Cardio Exercises for Kids

With all the T.V. shows, computer programs, and video games available now, it’s harder to get kids up and moving anymore.  That’s one big reason why childhood obesity is becoming more and more prevalent.  But getting your child in shape doesn’t have to be a fight; you just have to find activities they enjoy that are good for them as well.  Here are some great workouts that will entertain your kids at the same time - just like you, if kids have fun while exercising, they are more likely to want to do it, and summer is a great time to get them motivated to get active.

Kids playing soccer at beach. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Tennis.  If your child isn’t into traditional team sport, then tennis is a great alternative.  It gives a great cardio workout while also working various muscle groups and improving hand-eye and overall coordination.  Plus, even though your child isn’t necessarily working on a team, tennis is a great way to meet and socialize with other kids.

2. Hacky sack.  This is a simple cheap way to get your kids up and moving.  It also teaches coordination, balance, and helps your kids socialize and work together in a group to accomplish something.  Plus, unlike most group sports, there are no teams so children are trying to beat their old records instead of trying to win - a great thing to focus on as they get older and take on other activities as well.   

3. Dance.  Sure, you can enroll your child in dance classes, or you could just turn on the radio a couple times a week and make up silly dances to go along with the songs.  This not only encourages movement, balance, and coordination, it also works out kid’s brains by getting their imaginations going. (My little sister was great at this when she was younger - she would make up whole interpretive dance routines to songs that she liked - which was really fun to watch as well!) 

Dance Dance Revolution (TV video games) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Video games.  Although these have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, physical video games have come a long way since the original Nintendo.  Now there are tons of products available that get your child to stand up and move.  One popular game series is Dance Dance Revolution.  There are also games on the new Nintendo Wii system that encourage physical movement.  These are a fun and entertaining way for your kids to get a workout while they play video games, so if they're stuck inside on a rainy day, they don't have to skip their exercise.  And trust me - these are just as addictive as other video games....    

5. Soccer.  There’s a reason there are so many soccer moms around; because these moms know that soccer is a great way for children to get their heart rate up, improve their footwork skills, learn teamwork, and have fun at the same time.  Plus, if you’re worried about the problem of intense competition, there are many areas with leagues that don’t keep score.  This has always been and still is a great way for your kids to stay in shape. 

6. Swimming.  Doing laps is a great way to get an aerobic workout without causing a lot of wear and tear on your child’s growing bones and joints.  It’s fantastic at increasing endurance and stamina.  Plus, a pool is a great place for them to hang out, play, and meet new kids in the neighborhood during the summer.

7. Jumping rope.  This is a great workout whether it’s done the traditional way, or the newer more fast-paced version.  It improves cardiovascular capacity, works numerous muscles and joints, and helps improve coordination. This can also help your child meet new people, and in some areas it may even be a competitive sport. 

So why not get your child involved in one (or several) of these great activities this summer?  You can even get a workout in yourself by joining them or just helping them practice regularly - that's quality healthy time for the whole family!