Losing weight - Gym V Wii

jtr2803

Hi All,

I am sure this is going over some old ground so I apologise in advance! I did try searching the forums but there are so many posts involving Wii's that I just couldn't find the right sort of thread .

Ok....I need to weight myself but I am very overweight and am going on the holiday of a lifetime next May, I do not want to be embarassed about looking back at the pictures so I really need to do something about it. A few years back I lost 2.5 stone in about 5/6 months from walking to work and back, watching what I ate and doing a gym cardio work out twice a week. Unfortunately I have changed jobs since then and I work in the middle of no-where so can't walk to work and back. In the summer we did go out for walks around the countryside and I am determined to try and fit some sort of walk into my lunchhour from the new year.

Anyway, aside from the needing to change my diet I know a lot of my problem is a total lack of exercise, I work in a office all day and don't get home till almost 7pm most nights. I did join a local council gym earlier this year and was doing a few classes witha work colleague but we found after the initial 'aren't we good' feeling wore off, we were making excuses not to go so I cancelled my membership. I love swimming but suffer from extensive psoriasis and find it a little too embarassing in a public pool.

I have been looking at gym memberships again and a local gym are doing a 9 week membership for £100 with no contract, I have been a member before and it's a nice gym with a nice pool. I am just a little concerned that I wont ever use it, even with all my good intentions.

My other thought was to get a Wii, I am not necessarily bothered about the balance board etc but I have played on one at my mums, both the sports games like tennis etc and also the dancing ones...both have had me puffing away so it's exercise of sorts.

I just wondered if anyone has used the Wii seriously as a weight loss aide and whether it was any good? My OH thinks the wii would be a gimmick, he may be right but at least it has re-sale value!

I really need to get some sort of plan in place as I need to start with vengeance in the new year!

Sorry for the long post

Jody

bunnykins

Hiya Jody

Just wanted to say I'm with you on this one - I'm very overweight and need to do something about it:o My DH has bought me a Wii along with the balance board and wii fit plus as he thinks this might help as we can play the games together and get a bit of a competition going. (I'm exactly like you - work in an office and get no exercise at all). As I understand it you can programme your weight etc into the thing and it tracks your progress - Family have only just left after Christmas so I've yet to set it up and get started - although I have promised myself that it will be up and running BEFORE New Year :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: x

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

I got a wii and the board when I decided to lose weight,,, I figured I could *force* myself to use it for 30mins a day - Im now addicted :j.. I mainly play tennis/boxing/step and the wii fit sports games although I did get the ea sports workouts and "more workouts" and they are great (especially the "step") -as is Just dance even if you are like me and have the rhythm of a flip flop :rotfl:
I did join the camp gym a while ago and am desperate for the weather to clear so I can get back to it a couple of times a week, but with the wii at least I have no excuse for not doing it regardless of the weather etc..
Im doing SW and Im down 6st 12.5lbs so far (the SW thread on here is great for suport)
I hope you find what works for you... good luck...

skintbint_2

i'll join you on this one if anyone wants i'll set up a "wii weightloss "thread where we commit to logging our progress and egging one another on! Have spent so much money on Gyms etc even tried Curves that i could have paid for lipo! but found the time also to be a problem with working full time, kids, daft dog etc We have a Wii sitting gathering dust and to be honest its the effort getting it out that puts me off, however when i have it set up i love it - I dont however like the Wiimii (the cartoon me that comes up - not very flattering -podgy short ar*se with white leggings!) love how it tracks your weight for you though.
Would recommend a Wii for excercise , am always out of puff and am quite self concious at the gym thinking what will i do now etc also by the time you get ready for the gym you could have done a bit on the Wii, thats it you've inspired me - am way to set it up in the spare room,

donquine

jtr2803 wrote: »

I just wondered if anyone has used the Wii seriously as a weight loss aide and whether it was any good? My OH thinks the wii would be a gimmick, he may be right but at least it has re-sale value!

I'm a big fan of wii fit. I lost 2 stone through a combination of diet and wii fit. I did put back on 1/2 a stone after I gave up, but have maintained this weight easily ever since. So 1 1/2 stones off overall with long term effect.

I'm currently planning on getting back onto the wii fit wagon in 2011 as I have a wedding to go to in the summer, but we'll see. No promises yet!

The wii fit worked for me because I was not prepared to exercise in front of strangers, particularly ones much thinner than me! It also guilted me into using it each day with its passive aggressive welcome chats. I think it's definitely a great idea for those of use who wouldn't be caught dead in a gym and whose natural state involves vegging out on the couch!

That said, I'm really not looking forward to getting back on the wagon... I've enjoyed eating too much over Christmas far too much!

beasygirl

I have just received a Wii for Christmas from my DH. It included the wii fit and balance board, I have been on it 2 nights in a row and can so far recommend it. It's such a giggle and this particular game tracks your weight loss, bmi and fitness levels. A great tool I've also found is the calorie counter - after each game it will tell you how long you have worked out and the number of calories burnt. Which is great for motivation.:j

I understand how you feel completely, I work full time and have 2 DD's so rarely get any time to myself. I knew at the end of a long day I'd find it hard to drag myself outdoors (especially at this time of year) so for me the Wii is perfect. You can easily forgot about a gym membership, but having the Wii in front of me reminds me to make use of it and get my money's worth. Whereas with a gym I'd be making all sorts of excuses!!

I'm also 13 weeks into slimming world and have lost 19lbs, so will be
using my Wii to increase weight loss. As others have said the support on these sort of threads is great, you can pick up so many tips.

Good luck to you in your journey, you can do it!

jtr2803

Thank you all so much for your replies and encouragement, I am very touched .

I too have the hate of exercising in front of strangers, whenever I went to the gym I was surrounded by beautiful people and I hated it (although I appreciate the reason they look beautiful is because they go to the gym :rotfl:). I really wanted the Kinect as we already have an xbox but we just don't have the required room .

At the moment I am thinking that any exercise is going to be more than I currently do! I think my biggest exertion is walking outside for a fag at work, how shameful . I wasn't too sure whether to get the balance board, is it worth it? I know I would use the sports and my mum has one with a million accessories at her house so I could borrow games and bits from there if need be.

Big well done to Beasygirl and MrsMacawber on your weightlosses too - that's fantastic! I think I am tipping the scales at around 14st at the moment and I am only 5'3". Doesn't help that my OH is a certified 'feeder' :rotfl:

skintbint_2

jtr2803 wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your replies and encouragement, I am very touched .

I too have the hate of exercising in front of strangers, whenever I went to the gym I was surrounded by beautiful people and I hated it (although I appreciate the reason they look beautiful is because they go to the gym :rotfl:). I really wanted the Kinect as we already have an xbox but we just don't have the required room .

At the moment I am thinking that any exercise is going to be more than I currently do! I think my biggest exertion is walking outside for a fag at work, how shameful . I wasn't too sure whether to get the balance board, is it worth it? I know I would use the sports and my mum has one with a million accessories at her house so I could borrow games and bits from there if need be.

Big well done to Beasygirl and MrsMacawber on your weightlosses too - that's fantastic! I think I am tipping the scales at around 14st at the moment and I am only 5'3". Doesn't help that my OH is a certified 'feeder' :rotfl:

think you must be my double!!! i like the balance board as it has the step class which i wouldnt do as i have absolutely no co-ordination and feel like a baby elephant - did two classes at the gym but just not for me with people around. when i fall flat on my face i prefer to be on my own! :rotfl:

jtr2803

:rotfl: Well now you know you aren't alone!

I have already taken the plunge and just ordered a black Wii with Wii fit plus and the balance board, it was £180 from Tesco which is the cheapest I could find! I will be able to collect it from my local store on Wednesday .

Have been reading game reviews and looks like the biggest loser one is good.

Once I am all up and running I am really up for a Wii weight loss thread if others are?

Jody

skintbint_2

no stopping halfway through for a fag though! promise

jtr2803

I doubt I will be able to breathe enough to have a fag :rotfl:

I have just ordered a dance workout game as well, I love dancing so should fit in quite nicely. I'll have to banish OH to the spare room though or I'll end up laughing more than working out...though at least it would brun calories I guess!