Man's Wii Fit experiment comes to an end, 15 pounds shed

As you may recall, Mickey DeLorenzo rose to some degree of internet stardom a little over a year ago by dropping a whopping nine pounds using Wii Sports as his sole exercise routine and, after packing on a few pounds, he decided to give it another go using Nintendo's latest weight-shedding wonder: Wii Fit. Unlike a certain other would-be success story, DeLorenzo actually managed to complete his experiment, and the results are fairly impressive. After 45 days, he managed to shed a full 15 pounds, or about 2.56 pounds a week, and he dropped his body fat % from 20.8% to 18.4%. Of course, DeLorenzo admits that doing anything involving movement an extra 60 minutes a day will result in some weight loss, but he seems pretty sold on the benefits of Wii Fit, saying that it made it "especially easy" to work the training into his daily life.

[helloUser @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:32PM]

Looks like ryan block:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/05/ryan-wii-fit.jpg

[Nando @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:18PM]

...No.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:18PM]

THIS IS SUCH BULLSH!T and I don't care about getting low ranked... PENN AND TELLER NEED TO PRESENT WII FIT FOR THE BULL IT IS.


If you STOPPED EATING FATTENING FOODS and decreased your daily caloric intake to 1600 calories, you could lose twice as much weight SAFELY without needing that plastic piece of garbage.

If you WALKED 2 miles daily at the end of your day, you'd lose twice as much weight without that PLASTIC PIECE OF CRAP. and you've save over $100.


Wii Fit is a crutch for stupid people who think their nintendo is gonna change their lives. I bet that guy will gain back all that weight and then some after he puts that balance board in his closet due to lack of good software for it. He'll probably gain another10 pounds extra.

LOW RANKED

[GregA @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:36PM]

Flashpoint,

I think you expect too much out of people, from his first picture, all that guy would have to do to lose that kind of weight is leave his office chair and drive to the park and sit around and cut his soda pop intake by half. Maybe go for a bike ride a couple times a week???

I know from my own personal workout regimen, I would actually lose performance and gain some fat if I lowered myself to the wii workout...

Also, I think is is still kinda fat to weigh 176 lbs with those chicken legs and biceptless arms. If he is gonna go with that scrawny weakling sort of body structure he still needs to lose another 20lbs an go for a long distance runner look.

And oh look, he discovered that your muscles bulge when you work out and it feels good;) Maybe he isn't hopeless after all?

[Derbeste @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:02PM]

Flashpoint....

You just never learn do you?

You're not getting low ranked because of what you said. You're getting low ranked because of how you said it.

You're not wrong. You're just a douche.

[jbodar @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:22PM]

@Flashpoint

Yeah, because walking 2 miles is the epitome of fun. Last time I went walking, I nearly crapped my pants with glee. God forbid people try to have fun and work out at the same time. Also, walking and exercise alone will not work your core stabilizers the way yoga and a balance board can. These muscles are important for naturally pulling in the abdomen and for athletic performance.

The fun workout is the one that people will keep doing. But, by all means keep crying about it.

[OddManOut @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:58PM]

@Flashpoint


"I bet that guy will gain back all that weight and then some after he puts that balance board in his closet due to lack of good software for it."

Very likely true. And I don't think that anyone is either implying, or is under the delusion, that WiiFit has some magical weight loss powers...the dude hisself ADMITTED ANY EXERCISE ROUTINE would probably accomplish the same thing.

I think the bigger point is that over the 45 days of the test he DIDN'T put that balance board back in the closet. You know all those AB workout devices you see in infomercials ? Guess what, virtually all of them work (accept that on that looks like a crossbow...that's just stupid)...IF you actually use them regularly and eat a healthy diet. Trouble is, most people don't stick with them, because they're really any more enjoyable than doing regular old isometric crunches (which truth to be told are just as effective as any gimmick). But if the WiiFit adds a fun factor that keeps people on track...they'll see results they might not have otherwise.

Call it a cruch, call it a gimmick, but if it helps people shed a little weight and spend less time rotting their minds with daytime TV, where I ask you is the harm ?

[Loban @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:11PM]

Actually Flashpoint, the point isn't that Wii Fit will make you lose weight any more quickly or efficiently than walking or biking or jogging. The point is that it's actually fun to use because it's a "game". If you can get some lazy ass gamer off his couch to play, and as a side effect, he sheds a few lbs and his heart gets just a little bit healthier, that's a good thing. There's something to be said about standing up playing Wii Fit vs. sitting on your ass playing Halo. While the former may not be a miracle weight loss program, it's certainly better than the latter. And any form of exercise (especially with the stat tracking) does make you think more about your health and lifestyle. Perhaps Wii Fit will encourage those lazy ass gamers to get into more intensive exercise.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:27PM]

@Flashpoint

I think it was pretty clear in the article and to everyone reading it that Wii Fitt isn't magical or anything. Any caloric deficit is going to cause weight loss, sure. Some people just might have a bit more fun doing it in their living rooms with friendly animated characters encouraging them on and pretty charts and graphs.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:57PM]

I think the problem here is that people are diluted into the idea that one size fits all for people on a diet.

Man, increased activity in the legs and upper extremities may increase blood flow in some people, allowing their metabolisms to use the body fat stored in them more efficiently.

Works for some people. Personally, i tried lean cuisine, lost 40 pounds. Then, i added in a little movement, (wii fit, skating, swimming) and lost another 10 and gained a little muscle.

Like everything else in life, different smokes for different folks.

[Jeremiah Mahoney @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:36PM]

He got taller too.

[Schweppes7T4 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:16PM]

if you compare the angles of the shots, the second one is taken from a lower height, thus making him look taller. yay perspective

[alexmueller @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:17PM]

the first shot is also really blurry

[NHAnimator @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:48PM]

It's like I'm looking at that "Spot the 10 differences" section of Highlights magazine.

[weg @ Jun 24th 2008 5:12AM]

Seems he also lost some hair...

[Tom @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:37PM]

Obviously not the same person. The guy on the right only has one wristband.

[Jonathan @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:40PM]

And the other's blurrier, too...

[Malikye @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:50PM]

@Tom

very funny man. made me laugh this morning.

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:35PM]

e-gadg's contract with Mr. Blurrycam stipulates that at least one pic on any post must be sourced to him. Unions and all that.

[Sam P @ Jun 24th 2008 2:33PM]

did it make his eyes sharper too?....no glasses on the new pic(...just a
random thought floating in my head)

[Vëon @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:37PM]

Not only that, but he also learned how to focus a camera. Most impressive.

[Seth @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:37PM]

uh yeah thanks - we got it the first time and it wasn't funny then either

[grull27 @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:40PM]

Oh shit, I need a Wii and Wii fit. Fuck my xbox 360 and xbox live, I wanna lose some pounds.

[Sam Stone @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:45PM]

Buy a PS3 then... :)

(I'm in the UK, hence the joke....yeah I know, it sucked :( )

[substance90 @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:54PM]

It was pretty good actually :-D Made me laugh!

[Sam Stone @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:10PM]

Why thank you kind sir :)

Maybe I should give up my day job....

*sits down like the lazy slob he is*

[Rocketboy @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:10PM]

Sam.. BOOO!!!!

(+1 for making me wince)

[Sam Stone @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:56PM]

Yeah, sorry about that..

I will clean up after myself...

[starla @ May 14th 2009 2:55PM]

omg I so want to delude myself into thinking I have a life cause I play Halo with other people over Xbox live all day while sitting on my ass. Sorry, I'll keep my Wii Fit and my life OUTSIDE of video games, thank you. I just don't have the time to build up my kills on a game to be "cool".

[Page @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:41PM]

And he got a better camera

[Nick @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:43PM]

I love how the "before" picture is blurry.

[Johan S @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:44PM]

Apparently his vision improved too -- he no longer needs glasses.

[Goo @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:06PM]

he put his glasses on the camera.

[Andrew @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

I think he got bit by a spider or something.

Oh wait.. they already made a movie about that

[Mike @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:44PM]

Of course he lost weight, any one can lose weight if they just got off their ass regularly. This and all the equipment you see on TV are just gimmicks to get you to do so.

[Zak @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:06PM]

Which leads to the question - what's wrong with that, exactly? The Wii Fit makes exercise maybe a little more convenient, or less boring, or more inviting... so what's the problem? If the end result is that people exercise more, I can't see how you could possibly have a problem with that.

[bolezhinkov @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:16PM]

@zak

sounds like you are just lookin' for a fight whippersnapper. the guy didnt say anything was wrong with it.

[hurricane @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:25PM]

@ bolezhinkov

When something is referred to as a gimmick (whether directly or not) you almost expect to see a response like Zak's, especially on a tech blog...

[Mike @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:45PM]

Of course he lost weight, any one can lose weight if they just got
off their ass regularly. This and all the equipment you see on TV
are just gimmicks to get you to do so.

[John @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:57PM]

I don't think adding line breaks made your post any more intelligent.

[andyg8180 @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:28PM]

i gave you a +1... dont worry... i agree...

if you actually get up and move around for an hour a day, YOU WILL lose weight... Walk the dog a little longer, walk around the house during commercials, or if wii fit is what works for you, then use wii fit... as long as people try to get healthy and stick to a routine, it will work...

America is definitly obese, but im seeing a lot more people actively trying to fix themselves... kudos to everyone who trys... do what works for you...

[SimbaDogg @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:37PM]

i seriously dont understand why EVERYONE that has anything negative to say about the wiifit is getting low ranked. i myself happen to have the same believes. but i wont exactly go about calling it useless. I mean, anything that gets anyone excercising more is a good thing, but i just think its awfully pathetic that people have to rely on video game to get into better shape. i mean, a slight modification in your diet even just cutting ONE soda a day out of your daily routine, plus walking even 30 minutes a day will get you to lose 18-20 lbs over a period of 6 months.

[01 @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:47PM]

MAybe because everyone criticizing Wii Fit thinks they're brilliant becauise they point out that you could lose the same amount of weight by doing virtually any other kind of excersize...which is true. I don't think ANYONE is claiming that, or beleives, that Wii Fit is somehow going to automagically make you healthy, anymore so that just eating Subway sandwiches will. To make any type of excersize equipment work you have to use it; and if having the device under the TV makes you use it more, well, more power to you. If it's not your cup of tea, go to the gym, but don't tell people that are getting real results out of Wii Fit that they're somehow wrong for using it.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:46PM]

crap...seems to be like one of those ads we see on tv about weight loss

why the hell is the first pic blurrie...the guy couldn't be clicked well with specs or what??? was his eye-sight corrected too??? WTF

[natels @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:50PM]

Apparently matching tattoos isn't enough evidence that it's the same dude.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:51PM]

So has Ryan given up already? ;-)

[Dave @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:51PM]

"Unlike a certain other would-be success story"

Really enjoyed the ribbing of fellow staffers. Classic! :D

[adrian @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:51PM]

Would of been cheaper to take a long walk every day.

[Boynamedsue @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:33PM]

fucking A. I walk on my lunch break for about 40 minutes a day. plus about 20 to and from work and i've drop about 5 pounds a month. 38 pounds so far.

[Sam Stone @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:47PM]

I use a segway...

What!? Enough with the looks!