Wii Fit feet-on: feeling the burn, inadequate

So Nintendo showed up at our place today with a Wii Fit -- and an accompanying personal trainer to crack the whip and make sure our half hour of intro exercises and fitness games burned a sufficient amount of calories. Things we learned: our BMI is on the upper end of the "normal" bracket (shocking, considering how sedentary we are blogging 12 hours a day), our balance is kind of crappy, our "body age" is 39 -- over a decade more than our real age -- and no, not even Nintendo can make a fitness game that doesn't feel at least vaguely like PE. And now the 64k question:

Do you want Ryan to get off his ass and track his Wii Fit progress for a month?

Yeah, dude seriously needs it.No, and get back to work.Physical fitness? I wouldn't put anyone through that torture.I don't know, but I certainly intend for Wii Fit to shed a few of my pounds.Vote

Gallery: Wii Fit feet-on: feeling the burn, inadequate

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[Ryan Block @ May 8th 2008 5:43PM]

I can already see where this is going...

[omoks @ May 8th 2008 5:43PM]

Yeah!!! Now you know!

[Rohit Kapur @ May 8th 2008 5:45PM]

lol. . .

This is gonna be fun to track. You better stay honest, Ryan! :D

[Aguiluz @ May 8th 2008 5:50PM]

Be sure to video the process, man! :-D

[Chicksta @ May 8th 2008 5:51PM]

You expected anything else -?-

[superted @ May 8th 2008 5:57PM]

poor ryan... looks like the next 31 days are going to be hell!


i'm expecting charts, graphs et al

[Richard Lai @ May 8th 2008 6:12PM]

Hey Ryan, how about a "Ryan vs Veronica" chart? Surely there's a spare board lying around?

[Veronica @ May 8th 2008 6:16PM]

@Richard Lai - That sounds like an excellent challenge!

[Big Al @ May 8th 2008 6:25PM]

We ask you to do this because we care so much about your health. A healthy Ryan is a more focused and effective Ryan.

Also, a suffering Ryan would be fun to watch, so it's a win-win for us readers. ;)

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 8th 2008 6:52PM]

well, if it says that your body age is 39, I think you're gonna need alot more stuff than a wii fit...

[Ethan @ May 8th 2008 10:03PM]

Well, to be honest, it's probably going to be the best indicator if most of us will get any benefit out of it. I think the main thing to tell us is if you could be bothered to do it after a while.

Oh yes, and larfs.

[Reader @ May 8th 2008 10:39PM]

Not that I think you necessarily need it Ryan, but I think Engadget needs an in depth review of the Fit.

[Richard Cartwright @ May 8th 2008 11:06PM]

Ryan, your girlfriend is probably the hottest geek on the planet, you have a cool job, and to enjoy both to the fullest you would want to be in the best shape of my life. Doing the Wi fit appears to have no long term downside.

[Michael VanDyk @ May 9th 2008 4:29AM]

You've known where this was going for a long time chubbs.

[Gorillamonk @ May 9th 2008 10:07AM]

sounds like you've been volunteerd Ryan. Good luck and Miyamoto speed.

[JimReaper @ May 8th 2008 5:43PM]

Sorry, am I missing something? Where is the review of wii fit?

[Ghen @ May 8th 2008 8:32PM]

its coming 31 days from now, just be patient.

[Technex @ May 8th 2008 5:44PM]

LOL, man I just had to vote for the top one and when I saw the results LOL!!!

[rock99rock @ May 9th 2008 4:50PM]

Lets seee.... HMMmmmmmm.... 20 THOUSAND VOTES and counting.... Unless you try to pull a Hillary, i believe the votes speak for themselves. Now get ta steppin :D

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ May 8th 2008 5:47PM]

What happened to enjoying playing video games instead of having to work. it just takes away the fun

[Zak @ May 8th 2008 6:00PM]

Welcome to "Unclear on the Concept" the show where you're unclear on the concept. The Wii Fit ISN'T a game. It's a fitness program. If you want to play a game on the Wii, then PLAY A GAME.

This has been your host, Captain Obvious. Good night!

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ May 8th 2008 6:12PM]

Well done but that wasn't my point. My point was projected at the wii in general.

Yet again captain obvious fails.
Well done.

[Carl M @ May 8th 2008 6:43PM]

Boy, wouldn't it be awful if all video game consoles could do something other than just play games?

Oh, but wait, they all can! You can use them watch instructional videos or check up on your stocks online.

What is the world heading to? A future where EVERYTHING is a multifunction device?

But, hey, if you just want to play with your Wii, that's fine too (unless you are Catholic :) ).

[Kelmon @ May 9th 2008 8:24AM]

"What happened to enjoying playing video games instead of having to work. it just takes away the fun"

So you say but you can hardly call playing games on the Wii "work" unless you are particularly lazy. Personally, I think actually having to do something to play the game makes it much more interesting that just fiddling with some buttons.

[retro77 @ May 8th 2008 5:50PM]

Make sure you are under the weight max. Might have to get in shape in order to be able to use the Wii Fit.


lol times.

[The Engadgeter @ May 8th 2008 6:35PM]

I guess thats what years of endless blogging will do to you... :)

[Paul @ May 8th 2008 5:50PM]

wow so far a resounding 84% pro Wii Fitness

[Nick M. @ May 8th 2008 5:55PM]

Them telling people what their "body age" is is just a as inaccurate BS as those out dated height and weight charts.

This isn't brain age where they can toy with people about the age of their brain... people get obsessed and go overboard about their weight/appearance. Nintendo is like the Disney of video games... they might wanna be careful about the message they will be pounding into kids heads about their body image.

[Nate @ May 8th 2008 6:01PM]

I think kids have enough to worry about in this respect. At least Nintendo is offering some kind of solution.

Besides, it's about time someone told these little fat asses what they are, instead of shoving another cookie in their mouths.

[Seth @ May 8th 2008 6:27PM]

Quote of the day above.

[Tyson @ May 8th 2008 7:34PM]

I told you there would be that guy in America who says "its unfair it says I am fat." I do agree BMI is inaccurate, if it were correct every athlete would be considered chronically obese but still 250bs 10 year olds need to be told you are fat and that is unacceptable.

[thethirdmoose @ May 8th 2008 9:14PM]

BMI is accurate for people who are not extremely athletic. Of course, measurements like body fat % are more accurate, but for the average joe, BMI is very useful.

[John @ May 8th 2008 9:55PM]

I think childhood obesity should be a reason to call child services. Seriously, seeing fat kids disgusts me. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for being fat as a kid. They're growing, they have high metabolisms, and they have no cares in the world. They should be enrolled in some kind of physical activity. If your kid doesn't like sports, he/she should at least be doing something else, like art, dance, or even getting the fuck outside for a change. It sickens me how many parents neglect their children with a bowl of cheetos or a bag of adult-portioned (which is more like 2 portions) of mcdonalds and let them sit in front of the TV all day.

Also, to the OP, being fat isn't a surprise to anyone. They're not going to step on the scale and expect to see that they're in a healthy range. It just won't happen. If anything, applying an "age" to the BMI scale will likely give fat kids a more accurate picture of how overeating and living a sedentary lifestyle is lowering their life expectancy.

I'm also assuming that the body age is also a function of balance, which means that it's much easier to lower your body age and see better results faster than by measuring BMI alone.

[Frun @ May 8th 2008 5:56PM]

Whats with the Wii Socks?

[Frun @ May 8th 2008 6:08PM]

More importantly what is with the rainbow rug?

[Aguiluz @ May 8th 2008 6:30PM]

At a glance, I thought he said "Wii Sucks."

(lolz)

[Quix @ May 8th 2008 6:40PM]

"Rainbow rug?" Man, either your monitor needs to be calibrated or your rods and cones are all out of whack.

[Mark @ May 8th 2008 5:59PM]

Ryan...does this thing need to be on a hard surface? In other words, does carpet affect accuracy? Thanks...Mark

[Zak @ May 8th 2008 6:01PM]

Seconded, I'd like to know the answer to this.

[Ryan Block @ May 8th 2008 8:04PM]

Ah, solid question. No, it comes with lifts so it can sit on higher pile rugs/carpet.

[Samurai Jack @ May 8th 2008 6:01PM]

Ryan-- you should do it anyway, for yourself and your family. The Wii could be a great way to get started on a fitness program. Started. It shouldn't end with the Wii training.

Trust me, it will be *much* harder if you wait until you're 40.

Now go forth and exercise young Padawan...

[Samurai Jack @ May 8th 2008 6:02PM]

Ryan-- you should do it anyway, for yourself and your family. The Wii could be a great way to get started on a fitness program. Started. It shouldn't end with the Wii training.

Trust me, it will be *much* harder if you wait until you're 40.

Now go forth and exercise young Padawan...

[slackercow @ May 8th 2008 7:07PM]

why would you asshats rank this comment so low? probably the best comment on the page

[Mike @ May 8th 2008 7:25PM]

Double posting doesn't make the comment good

[Samurai Jack @ May 9th 2008 6:26PM]

Dude, it's called a hiccup. It wasn't intentional. If I could have deleted it I would have.

[Andrew @ May 8th 2008 6:13PM]

I put the No, just because of the tone of the "Get Back to Work"

I have really liked my Wii, and Wii Sports; Boxing is quite the workout and a lot of fun. I have been wondering why there isn't a heart rate monitor for the Wii (or if one is in the works) although a friend of mine suggested getting a blue tooth heart rate monitor and plugging it into the wii...however, it would be a cool feature in the wii-mote incorporated into the wrist band

[Tyson @ May 8th 2008 6:14PM]

I wonder did they calibrate the software differently for America. On the Japanese one you can be 5'9'' and 165 an be told you are in the orange zone.( Ie a chubby and your guy, Mii whatever gets fat) I am sure that someone in this country will sue for emotional distress because the Wii fit told them they are fat and hurt their feelings. I know one screen on the Japanese one translates to "you are getting fat you shouldn't snack so much." I am sure that made it to the American cut.

[Boynamedsue @ May 8th 2008 6:14PM]

you guys are in san francisco right? Just walk a 2-3 mile loop up the embarcadero during your lunchtimes and eat salads or yogurt for lunch (stay away from those mission burritos), and then don't eat stupid shit for dinner.

saved me money on a gym/wii

[JimReaper @ May 8th 2008 6:16PM]

Didn't get a decent excuse to play video games though did you.

[Dave Zatz @ May 8th 2008 6:17PM]

The socks kick butt... Otherwise, does it blend??