Computer Fitness Games/Software

[plain lazy]

Not sure if this should be here or in "Reviews"... but here goes for now:

As a dad to a wee bairn, fitting in time to go to organised run training sessions, as well as core/strength training stuff is not easy (I don't want it to take over my life). I thought that maybe a weekly session in the front room might be a good alternative.

Does anyone have any experience using any of the many Fitness games available for various different games consoles? What would people recommend?

PS... I'm not prepared to use Dance type games, they are just not for me.

[FATBB]

Save the money and run from the front door.

[plain lazy]

That doesn't help me when I'm staying in to babysit sadly...

[AndyC]

The updated version of Wi-Fit (I think it is called Wi-Fit Plus) has what it calls orienteering -actually a cycling exercise and the ski one has an orienteering aspect. (I'd still rather go for a walk or a run)

[Mrs H]

Dont be so blokey - the guy's got a baby to look after he can't just leave it and go out for a run In the olden days mums with this dilemma used to do fitness videos (that was before they invented fancy off road buggies.) Mind you I used to find pushing the old double buggy up Malvern high street with the girls in and Young Neville hanging on the handle quite a fitness routine in itself.

The videos got very boring and repetitive so I recoursed to a cheap exercise bike in front of the telly. If you just have the one baby to look after then walking briskly with the baby in a back pack carrier is very good load bearing exercise- as the baby gets heavier you get stronger. Don't try running though

[Becks]

Do you have Love Film? Here on Netflix they have a ton of cheesy fitness videos on streaming, it might be the same! Then you get variation and you don't have to splurge on a particular one.

Ross bought me a core fusion video and it's a surprisingly tough core workout, but there is a lot of fake smiling and cheesy talk about energy. You feel the burn the day after though!

[Big Jon]

Get a decent running buggy and take baby on your runs - a buggy with suspension can easily handle many paths/tracks. Its an amazing way to get fit - pushing a buggy up hills.

[frog]

We just used to take it in turns to babysit and go running , also as I worked part time the local leisure centre with running machines etc had a creche I'd take him to. My brother and SIL have an off road buggy they run in with small sprog most mornings, brother's 6'2 so you can get them high enough.
There were a few years when I stopped running and did more cycling as it was easier to stick him on the back of a bike and all go cycling on weekends and use turbotrainer inside.

[SeanC]

I've not got a Wii but from what I've read the games/exercises seem more geared towards balance/strength/core stability type stuff. I'd be interested to hear if anyone finds them useful too with Christmas coming up. I guess these games must be geared towards the average person, ie less fit/agile than the average orienteer, and probably over-hyped?

When our son was born we got an exercise bike to keep fit whilst trapped in the house. I suspect it's better for aerobic exercise than a Wii and about the same price, but I find I can only do 10 minutes before becoming totally bored and ending up on nopesport

[andypat]

Having some experience of wii and of X Box 360 with the kinect attachment, I'd say there's more scope with the XBOx Kinect for keeping you from getting bored.

You never see a thin person who admits to using Wii fit - I think that tells its own story. Useless for aerobic exercise as far as I can see - I think you have twigged this already.

SOme of the sports type games on Kinect are quite energetic - lots of running jumping and even the (dare I say it) dance games are quite good fun. Quite family oriented too.
I gues it depends on your goals.

If it was a choice of spending £250 on an X BOx kinect or on a decent treadmill to pop in front of the telly, I'd go for the latter. But the X BOx can be used for other things too - and I got ours with my phone package for my sons christmas last year (you pay extra overall but it doesnt feel too expensive).

[Kitch]

I'm a total sceptic about these things, the fact is they are toys
is anyone who uses one serious about exercise?

If you spend money on one of these things will you really ever use it ?
Lets face it
you are "plain lazy"

Get a real bike and put it on a turbo trainer.
Then you can go out "real cycling " too
if you want a real workout you'll need a heart rate monitor.
its surprising how little effort you can make on a bike.
also buy a large stack of towels to catch and absorb the sweat that should be pouring off you if you.

alternatives
do real running at lunch time
cycle or run to / from work

[plain lazy]

to quote kitch

alternatives
do real running at lunch time
cycle or run to / from work

I think this is my best bet for now, can get to a local pool to do some swimming too. Just wanted to make good use of the odd evening in when the wee one was asleep.

[EddieH]

I suggest the sofa. Then I might manage to beat you again

[frog]

If you do go for turbotrainer then I think a large standing fan (got ours from Argos this one http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... %3EFAN.htm) is essential if you aren't in the garage.
My son has a wii and xbox kinect (spoilt brat why weren't they around when I was a bored teenager?) and I just get sore arms on them. Most of the "running" stuff seems to involve short knees up type sprinting, although unfortunately I'm usually asked to play the very tedious driving games.

[greywolf]

maybe you should invest in one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=c ... 86.c0.m359
not cheap, but (almost) indestructable, and you will never beat it