Nintendo Wii Fit Plus + Wii Balance Board

"I will use it" I said

"Sure? Not going to be like your other weight losing equipment?" asked hubby

"Yes, I want to lose weight and I will use this" I said

"Alright we'll buy Wii Fit Plus, Balance Board and a Wii console too!" replied hubby

That was over a year ago and I am still using the Wii Fit Plus and Balance Board today.

Wii Balance Board
===============

There is no assembly required just pop in the 4 x AA batteries supplied, turn on your Wii console insert the Wii Fit Plus disk and it should sync to your Wii Console (no wires to trip over), if it does not sync all you need to is press the Sync button found under the battery cover.

The Wii Balance Board is white and approximately 52cm by 33cm. It can take a maximum weight of 136kg (300lbs).

There is nothing special looking about the Wii Balance Board, there are 2 areas for each of your feet to go, which is slightly bumpy I assume to help you feet grip and not slide about and a button at the back to switch it on. The Wii logo on the board is the front and your toes should be pointing to this.

There is nothing else I can say about the Wii Balance Board other than without it there would not be much point to buying Wii Fit Plus.

Wii Fit Plus
=========

As I mention earlier you enter your disk into the console and select Wii Fit Plus using your Wii remote. You begin at the Wii Fit Plaza where you have a choice to register a person or pet. You can also play as a guest but data will not be saved.

I was in this for the long hall so I registered my Mii (special Wii character you choose to play with). The Wii Balance Board is pictured on screen as your helper in navigating your through the whole process of the game. You are asked to enter your date of birth and height and then you stand on the Wii Balance Board to measure you.

The game measures your weight and centre of gravity, your centre of gravity is shown first, this is very helpful as it shows if you are putting more weight on one side of your body.

Next is your BMI (Body Mass Indicator)/ Weight, it tells you what you currently are and whether this is below normal, normal, overweight or obese. The scales on the screen are not the easiest to read for your weight but you can get a good idea of where you are. The game does tell you under your Mii what change there has been in pounds.

Your helpful Wii Balance Board character will tell you what your ideal BMI should be. Time to set your goal , depending on how you first measurement went, you need to set a goal. You can choose how much you want to lose in a week or 2 weeks, be realistic when you set your goal. I set mine to lose 1lb in 2 weeks, I’m in no rush.

You can choose to end the measuring session there but I quite enjoy carrying on to calculate my Wii Fit age. There are several games but you only play 2 games, one for your athletic ability and one for your mind. Instructions on how to play are always displayed before it starts. I will give an example of the memory game, you have to compare the number in the centre with the number on your right, if the number in the centre is greater you have to swat, if it is less you have to stand still. Sound easy? It is until the numbers start to get covered up hence Memory Game.

When your Wii Fit age is present, it can make you smile or cringe as it will either be less or more than your actual age depending on how well (or badly) you did in the tests.

Wii Fit plus has a baby weight feature, which has been very handy weighing my little boy. Wii Fit plus gets you to stand on the Balance board with your baby and will calculate your baby’s’ weight by deducting your own. I assume the pet weight feature is the same, I do not have a pet so cannot comment on this feature too much.

Now to lose Weight
================

Onto the serious work. On the Wii Fit Plus game you choose training that is divided into 5 sections

Yoga
Muscle
Aerobic
Balance
Training Plus

Yoga Positions
=============

You get to choose a personal trainer either male or female who have absolutely perfect bodies, to show you how these positions are done the first time you do them.

Deep breathing
Half Moon
Warrior
Tree
Sun Salutation
Standing Knee
Palm Tree
Chair
Triangle
Downward Facing Dog
King of the Dance
Cobra
Bridge
Crocodile Twist
Shoulder stand
Spine Extension
Gate
Grounded V

You will need the Wii Balance Board for these moves. I have done some but not all and some can be very challenging like downward facing dog.

Muscle Exercises
==============

You perfect personal trainer is back to show you how again.

Single Leg Extension
Press up and side stand
Torso & waist twists
Jackknife
Lunge
Rowing Swat
Single Leg twist
Sideways Leg lift
Parallel Stretch
Tricep Extension
Arm & leg lift
Single Arm Stand
Balance Bridge
Side Lunge
Single Leg Reach

There are also challenges that can be unlocked once you get better at doing them. Three in all, Jackknife, Parallel Stretch and Press up and side stand. You challenge your trainer to see who can do the most.

You will need the Wii Balance Board for these moves. I have done some of these but not all Jackknife is one I do most often as it helps the trim up you tummy. All these muscle workouts are very challenging and you can certainly feel you muscles working.

Aerobic Exercises
===============

Hula Hoop – you stand on the Wii Balance board and rotate your hips for 70 seconds and catch hula hoops as they are throw at you by bending you body left or right.
Super Hula Hoop – same a Hula Hoop but you choose how long you want to do either 3, 6 or 10 minutes. You rotate you hips right for half the time then left for other half.
Rhythm Boxing – you need the Wii Balance board, Remote and Nunchuck. You need to punch and step forward at same time, I found this quite tricky at first but I did get better. The best bit is at the end when you can just punch the hell out of the bag!
Step Basics – Wii Balance board is needed and you need to step on and off the board following the on screen directions, this is good for beginners as it is quite slow.
Step Plus – Same as Step Basics but a little faster and more complex moves, I do this one everyday, it is one of my favourites.
Free Step – just step on and off board no moves, you can watch TV while you do this one either for 10, 20 or 30 minutes
1 Player Jogging – this uses just the Wii remote; you can have a short or long run
2 Player Jogging – same as 1 player but with a 2nd person, however the 2nd person’s time and calories do not get saved.
Free Jogging – jog while watching TV for 10, 20 or 30 minutes

I really enjoy the Aerobic Games and will often be on Step plus or Hula Hoop everyday.

Balance Games
=============

Heading – Use the Wii Balance Board and shift your weight left and right to head the footballs but avoid anything that isn’t a football.
Table Tilt – use the Wii Balance Board to tip your balls down the holes
Penguin Slide - use the Wii Balance board to slide your penguin the catch the fish
Ski Slalom – use the Wii Balance Board to ski your way through the flags.
Tightrope Tension – use the Wii Balance Board to walk the tightrope and jump over objects
Snowboard Slalom – Use the Wii Balance Board but have to turn it vertical rather than horizontal and go round the flags
Ski Jump – use the Wii Balance Board to see how far you can jump
Balance Bubble – You use the Wii Balance Board, your Mii is in a bubble and it is your job to move you weight forward, back and sides to guide through the path without popping your bubble.
Zazen – You need to sit on the Wii Balance Board and Focus on the candle, the flame flickers every time you move. I find this one quite difficult as I sit on the Wii Balance Board like it wants me to.

I did find when I first start that I was rubbish at the balance games but I have now improved over time.

Training Plus
===========

Perfect 10 – You use the Wii Balance Board and shake you hips to make 10
Cycling – use the Wii Balance Board and remote, the board are you pedals and the remote is your handle bars
Rhythm Kung Fu – Use Wii Balance Board, Remote and Nunchuck. Mirror the movements in time with the music
Driving Range – use the Wii Balance Board and remote to analyse you swing.
Segway Circuit - use the Wii Balance Board and remote to pop the balloons
Bird’s Eye Bull’s Eye – use the Wii Balance Board and flap your arms to fly to each point.
Snowball Fight - use the Wii Balance Board and remote to throw and dodge snowballs.
Obstacle Course - use the Wii Balance Board to complete the obstacle course.
Tilt City - use the Wii Balance Board and remote to roll your balls into the right coloured pot.
Rhythm Parade use the Wii Balance Board, remote and Nunchuck to show you marching and display skills.
Big Top Juggling – you need the Wii remote, balance board and nunchuck to juggle balls while standing on a ball.
Skateboard Arena – use the Wii Balance board turned vertical to skateboard your way around the arena for points.
Table Tilt Plus – Like Table Tilt but with harder tables to move your balls down the holes
Balance Bubble Plus – like Balance Bubble but harder courses to complete
Jogging Plus – use the Wii remote like the other jogging games but you have to watch what is going on around you, as there is a quiz at the end.

My favourite of these has to be the Snowball Fight and Big Top Juggling. The snowball fight really makes you work your waist and the juggling is good for muscles in shoulders and back.

Fitcash
======

You have a Fitcash piggy that stores the time you spend on Wii Fit Plus (Daily and whole total); it also stores the daily calories you have burned off. As you spend more time on Wii Fit plus you piggy turns a different colour at different time milestones.

Graphs
======

Wii Fit Plus also displays graphs for you to check your progress in regards to which game areas you have played and how much i.e. balance, aerobic etc. In this section you can store information about other activities you do i.e. you play football once a week, you enter how long you did your activity and the game will calculate how many calories you burned off. My only problem with this little bit is that it does store on the graph but not in the Fitcash piggy.

My Wii Fit Plus
============

This is a good little section where you can set up your own routines to work on specific areas of your body or you the pre-programmed ones but these tend to stick to Yoga and Muscle exercises.

There is a useful calorie section that lists many everyday food items and tells you how many calories are in them. You can also set a daily calorie goal.

While in the training menu there is a two challenging you can take with the Wii Balance Board character, Balance and Scales. The balance one puts you through your paces and tests you balance expertise. The Scales one is fun, as you have to get objects on the Wii Balance Board to match the weight.

Overall
======

I have used Wii Fit system for over a year now and still enjoy it. I have lost weight but you definitely need to watch what you are eating as well, chocolates have always been a big weakness of mine.

You definitely need to purchase the Wii Fit Balance Board as there is only one game that it does not get used in, jogging which I do not really enjoy. I am definitely more a fan of the active games rather than the Yoga and Muscle Workouts.

I really enjoy using Wii Fit Plus as it is great fun and gives you a boost that you can lose the weight. It is nice to be able to set a calorie goal, as I tend to stop when I have reached it but mine is set so I do around 30 minutes each time.

I cannot remember how much the Wii Fit Plus and Balance Board were as we bought then with the Wii Console at the same time. Amazon are currently selling Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board for £64.99. I think it is worth every penny and would buy it again.

Thanks for reading.