A 2009 study conducted by the American Council on Fitness, or ACE, reported that personal trainer games burn twice the amount of calories as playing a sedentary game. Personal trainer games -- including the Wii Fit, EA Sports Active, Your Shape and Dancetown -- are capable of helping people meet minimum exercise intensity guidelines. The ACE recommends healthy adults participate in 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise each week. Consult your doctor first if you have a health condition or other risk factor.
Wii Fit
The Wii Fit includes six training exercises that are deemed aerobically challenging by ACE Fitness. Free Run, Island Run, Super Hula Hoop, Rhythm Boxing, Free Step and Advanced Step provide exercises with an effective and enjoyable alternative to more traditional forms of aerobic exercising. Free Run and Island Run allow you to run with the use of a guide or trainer. You run through a variety of different scenes -- including on a tropical island and in a park. Super Hula Hoop provides a challenging aerobic exercise. If you don't keep your hips moving, your hoops fall and your trainers give you low feedback. Rhythm boxing allows you to punch and aim for targets. Your trainers are on the side, motivating you. Free Step and Advanced Step provide you with an alternative to a step aerobics class.
EA Sports Active
EA Active Sports is another personal training game that's compatible with the Wii gaming system. EA Sports Active allows you to work alongside your virtual personal trainer. You can participate in strength, resistance, running, flexibility and aerobic activities. If you're up for the challenge, EA Sports Active also allows you to compete with a friend. The game comes with resistance bands that are used in various upper body exercises -- including biceps curls. EA Sports Active tracks your progress and provides you with tips.
Your Shape
Your Shape is created for Microsoft Kinect for your XBox. Kinect is to be used in conjunction with your Xbox. With the use of Kinect, you don't have to hold the controller in your hand or strap it to your leg while working out. Your Shape includes exercises created by Women's Health and Men's Health. You can participate in cardio kickboxing, yoga and tai chi. Your Shape tracks calories burned as well as your weight loss goal, if you have one. There are hundreds of different workouts. Your Shape provides a variety of workouts and the ability to download new workouts to your Xbox as they become available. You can also compete with family and friends.
Dancetown Fitness System
Dancetown Fitness System is designed for use by older adults, although anyone can use it. Dancetown is used with your personal computer and a hook-up to your television. You can dance at three levels: easy, moderate or hard. The easy level is mainly used as a warm-up. The moderate and hard levels provide sufficient exercise and help improve endurance as participants dance to the music and follow the guidelines of the computer program. Dancetown tracks the amount of dancing you complete and measures your progress. Dancetown also allows people to see how their fitness can improve.
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