Wii Fit Plus Balance Board - any success stories?

[EllenFrasier]

I would like to start exercising. Actually, I'm lying - I hate exercising! But I thought if it was in the form of a game, my mind wouldn't know it was good for me.
I've been considering the Wii Fit. Has anyone had had success stories with the Wii Fit? Lost weight, feel better, got toned, etc.?
Other than the Wii Fit game and the balance board, are there any other accessories I should get? I've seen non-slip silicone pads for the balance board - are they a good idea?
So far I have owned a rowing machine, a stair stepper, a Nordic Track skiing machine, three different styles of exercise bikes....sold them all. I asked for a tread mill last year for Christmas, but I think Dh knows with my track record it would end up under used and resold in a matter of months. He loves me still.

 

[Marionnette]

I would like to start exercising. Actually, I'm lying - I hate exercising! But I thought if it was in the form of a game, my mind wouldn't know it was good for me.
I've been considering the Wii Fit. Has anyone had had success stories with the Wii Fit? Lost weight, feel better, got toned, etc.?
Other than the Wii Fit game and the balance board, are there any other accessories I should get? I've seen non-slip silicone pads for the balance board - are they a good idea?
So far I have owned a rowing machine, a stair stepper, a Nordic Track skiing machine, three different styles of exercise bikes....sold them all. I asked for a tread mill last year for Christmas, but I think Dh knows with my track record it would end up under used and resold in a matter of months. He loves me still.

I definitely have more energy but I cant say that it has been that big a factor in losing weight. And I dont think that its good for toning. I mix the wii fit with elliptical exercises. I think the elliptical helps more with toning because of the resistence it offers. If you want a good cardio workout then the wii fit is a fun way to do it.

If you do the wii fit then I suggest getting a wireless nunchuck. The wired one can get in the way during certain exercises.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I lost about 20 pounds on the WiiFit board, but then it broke. I have not lost any since then but we just ordered a new board so I am hoping to get back into it. I was doing it 5 days a week for an hour. I did step and boxing and hulahoop. I am pedaling away on my bike as I type and I despite it! Want my new board so bad!!!

 

[pamrob]

I like my Wii Fit board but I think I get better results witih EA Active Sports and the Just Dance games. Like a PP said the board is great for toning.

 

[LilGMom]

I think it can be a great tool in getting in shape but you also have to watch your diet and get some other cardio. I used it to track my weight, my balance got better and I was feeling better while using it. I will warn you that if you get the excercise program and do like I did - I wasn't going to have some computer generated fitness guru fussing at me for stepping off the board, etc. and I didn't take breaks - you will be sore from using muscles that you didn't realize a game could make you find.

I didn't have anything other than the Wii Fit and the controllers. The wireless nunchuck is probably a really good idea and I might have to look into that.

 

[Agri]

In combination with another game, yes. I use the wiifit to warm-up and keep track of my progress. I'll also use it and just do the yoga on an 'off' day. I use EA Fitness or Zumba as my 'real' workout.

Between that and watching my diet (mostly portion control and eating more slowly), I lost a lot of weight about two years ago. (I gained it back through 3 months of different stuff that left me laying on the couch a lot, then my mother's health issues took precedent.) Now I'm back at it again.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have Wii Fit and Wii Active, and the Active is much better.

 

[gigi1976]

My neighbor, in her late 50s, lost over 40 lbs. with wii fit AND watching what she was eating. It was so drastic that one day I wondered who was getting into the car with her husband!

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I have the Gold's Gym Dance Workout and also Just Dance and Just Dance 2 and really like them. Pretty decent cardio workout! Never got around to getting the Wii Fit and balance board.

 

[MissBritt]

For a tougher workout, I'd recommend doing the Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum in conjunction with the Fit.

 

[bananasplitkids]

I just started using the wii fit. So far it seems pretty decent. So far I have lost about 4 pounds in the past week and a half. However I also do zumba for the wii and the Michael Jackson experience. Both of those games ALWAYS make me sweat, especially the Zumba 20 min. class. I was telling a friend Michael's moves seemed so simple, but after playing that game I dont know how he got through a concert without being tired.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been doing the Wii fit for a little over two months. I try to do 30 minutes a day (not always successful) of various games. I know I should use the exercises more, but they're just not "fun". I'm up 3 pounds since I started using it. I have NOT changed my eating habits (yes, I know I need to).

 

[MeekoB]

I really enjoy the Wii fit. I think it is great for people who are beginning an exercise program. I like to use it just to get off the couch and move. For anything serious, however, I would go with EA Sports Active which gives you a much more comprehensive and challenging exercise program.

 

[wenrob]

After losing 11lbs using EA Sports Active with the Wii board over several months I started counting calories and bumped it up to the highest level using weighted gloves instead of the bands. I'm down 57lbs. The EA Active was/is my primary workout. I actually like the gym but with two little ones at home and my prefered gym 20+mins away the Wii has been a lifesaver. Start slow and work your way up. Small changes turn into big ones.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I was about where you are... I hate exercising. Actually I hate sweating and I do so very easily. I lost 25 lbs using the wii fit for just under a year. Now I did also loosely follow weight watchers (my sister is in it and she told me about the points and I watched my points....not so much protein, milk etc.) Really you almost have to do some kind of diet change I'd think to lose weight unless you REALLY increase exercise!

I did not read all of the replies but did notice someone saying it was not good for toning and this I totally disagree with. This is a great part of it. We went to Disney Dec 09, I had lost 15 lbs at that time. 3 weeks of not doing the wii fit and DH could notice that I was not as toned in the belly as I had been.

What I love about the fit is the mix of the strength and yoga. I had no intention of really doing the yoga when I got the fit, just tried it. I fell in love with yoga, GREAT exercise for your body with very little sweating! (at least on the fit, with what I do). EVERYONE tries to argue with me when I say I lost weight using the fit, esp the yoga "oh yoga can't really do anything for you" (and I would have agreed before) but I think I'm proof of otherwise!!! I find that doing my exercises in the morning before everyone gets up really gets my body ready for the day, makes me feel more energized and healthier.

I actually just bought another yoga/pilates wii game, New U I think it's called. I'm very excited to give this a try, (Amazon reviews were good) hoping it will expand on what I have already done.

 

[mom2cookies]

Just got the wii board and wii fit and wii fit plus. I like the wii fit plus better. Besides cutting out sweets and cutting back my carbs.. i lost 1.8 lbs this first week. I too like a previous poster said do a minimum of 30 minutes. So far i have included 5 yoga positions ( 10 mins), 3 sets of advance step, 2-3 rounds of beginner boxing, 2 sets of marching band advnce. Sometimes i will include hula hoop ( 2 sets) but because of a messed up back, i can't do this everyday. I usually include 1 or 2 balance games as well at the end as a cool down.

 

[dumbocutie]

Love Wii Fit Plus

I do a 20 minute yoga routine and 30 minutes of stepping while watching the morning news.

Without really changing my diet lost 10lbs over the year.

I am considered normal weight but still not at my healthy BMI of 22.

But all I can say I feel so much better. The yoga has helped my back and balance. It has also toned my body. My husband says he can definitely see the difference.

 

[wasnotafan]

DW is down about 20lbs in 5 months. She likes it and likes the EA Sports and something called walk it out.

 

[jensen]

I just got a balance board and Wii Fit Plus to go along with our Wii. I figured it might be something to do to supplement my regular workouts or on days I'm snowed in and can't get to the gym... but, I'm not loving it. I hate that you waste so much time between exercises listening to the trainer and answering questions.

Does anyone know if there is a way to just set it to do a 30 minute workout straight through?

 

[lucyem]

I lost 8 pounds last winter with Wii Fit Plus. I found it made working out more fun. I would use the mini games and yoga as a warm up and then would "run" around the island. I have a mini trampoline and would run on that. I need to start up again now that the holidays are over.