Can you lose weight with your Nintendo Wii?
The Wii video game is probably one of the most popular, if not the most popular games console in the world. It’s not hard to see why. It’s not geared towards the typical market for traditional video game consoles ie the young caucasian male. It’s easy for almost anyone, even the technologically challenged, to get the hang of using the thing.
I was blissfully unaware of the Wii which is an amazing feat considering the advertising blitz that Nintendo has embarked on. We went to visit a friend who got a Wii at christmas and everyone had so much fun. About a week later I bought one myself.
The kids were ecstatic. I was very popular at home for the next 2 weeks because I rarely give in to advertising for things I think are frivolous or just a complete waste of time and money. The kids get tired of them within a few weeks and you start thinking of other things you could have done with the money.
They’re not tired of the Wii, far from it, and I am loving it. But of course, I wasn’t about to let them sit around on their backsides pushing buttons. I bought some fitness games as well as the Wii sports and one or two other games. After doing my research and reading lots of reviews, I decided not to buy Wii fit in spite of all the hype. I opted for EA Sports Active and My Fitness Coach instead. Have a short attention span so expected to be easily bored very soon.
After using them for about 3 weeks as well as playing the odd game of tennis on Wii sports, I’ve lost about 5lb. Considering I haven’t even completed the 30 day challenge on Active and I use My Fitness Coach more for the flexibility and core exercises once in a while, that’s not bad at all.
And I didn’t even need to starve myself. It’s nice to buy something that’s fun for everyone and useful as well. I love going outside to walk but when I can’t fit that in because of the weather or something else, I don’t feel so bad because my Wii comes to the rescue.
Remember though, it only works if you use it.
Stay fit after 45
Everyone’s going to get old eventually but some of us will feel it sooner than others. Research has shown that levels of of fitness tend to go down gradually as we get older but that fitness levels take a nosedive after the age of 45.
A group of men and women underwent medical exams over a 32 year period. Their cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or the health of the heart and lungs was measured during the exams. Heart and lung health was even worse for those that were overweight, smoked and did not get much exercise.
What does this mean for you?
First, you need to exercise. Exercise does so much for your body and mind that it’s something you just have to do. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. the easiest way to start exercising is to walk. The latest joint American Heart Association/American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity recommend that all healthy adults ages 18–65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days of the week. You can walk to nearby shops instead of taking the car, use more steps instead of elavators, walk at least part of the way to work, the seemingly mundane things can really help.
Tip for a healthy retirement- work!
That may be the last thing you want to hear after working hard for so many years so that you can enjoy your golden years in peace and tranquility. But research has shown that people who continue to work part-time or do some form of temping after they retire are less likely to suffer from:
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- cancer
- lung disease
- heart disease
- arthritis
- stroke and
- psychiatric illnesses
Those who worked were also better able to carry out day to day activities like getting dressed, getting into bed and taking care care of themselves for longer periods of time. These findings were from a study of 12,000 men and women between the ages of 51 and 61 years.
Working after retirement is good for you because you tend to engage in more physical activity. You also interact with more people, maybe learn new skills or continue to do something you’re already experienced in and good at. Continuing to work may also bring in some extra cash. All this helps to boost self esteem.
Many retired people have been forced to work out of necessity and people already in work sometimes opt to continue working because of financial pressures. People who worked in their original field after retiring had better mental health than those who worked in different areas after retiring. This may be due to the stress have having to retrain or learn new skills.
Even if you don’t need the extra money, doing some volunteer work for example will do wonders for your physical and mental health.
Menopause Symptoms
