Spring Break
Lose weight with Wii?
Carlos Militante
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News
Video games and fitness usually don't go hand-in-hand, but the Nintendo Wii is showing that gamers can lose weight and still have fun at the same time.
According to Philadelphian Mickey DeLorenzo's blog on WiiNintendo.net, in early December of 2006, the 25-year-old came up with what he calls the "Wii Workout," after he and his fiancée found themselves out of breath when playing "Wii Sports" boxing game.
Ryan Okuda, a junior majoring in radio, television and film at San Jose State University, said that the Wii might have contributed to his recent loss of weight.
"It's a great alternative method to the gym because it's fun," Okuda said. "I can see how flailing your arms while playing boxing could help you lose weight."
In DeLorenzo's blog, the plan was to do everything he normally did, eat everything he normally ate and see if anything would change after playing 30 minutes of "Wii Sports" every day for six weeks. He dedicated two 15-minute periods to the boxing, bowling, baseball and tennis games in "Wii Sports" per day.
According to his blog, DeLorenzo's experiment began on Dec. 3, 2006, and ended on Jan. 15 2007.
During the six weeks he kept track of his weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and at rest heart rate, DeLorenzo said in his blog.
Starting at 180 pounds, DeLorenzo said in his blog that he lost nine pounds in six weeks, without changing his diet. His body mass index went from 25.2 to a 24, his waist shrunk from a 34.5 to a 31, his resting heart rate dropped from 82 to 68 beats per minute and his body fat percentage dropped from 19 percent to 17.2 percent.
Victoria Furnman, a junior majoring in biology at SJSU, said it's a great way to stay in shape if you're a gamer that doesn't have time to go to the gym and who wants to play more video games.
"It's a cool method," Furman said. "If I was more into video games I would probably try it."
Michael Balangitao, a kinesiology major at SJSU, and a regular at the Event Center gym, thinks that the Wii is just for fun, but it can't replace what you can do in the gym.
According to Philadelphian Mickey DeLorenzo's blog on WiiNintendo.net, in early December of 2006, the 25-year-old came up with what he calls the "Wii Workout," after he and his fiancée found themselves out of breath when playing "Wii Sports" boxing game.
Ryan Okuda, a junior majoring in radio, television and film at San Jose State University, said that the Wii might have contributed to his recent loss of weight.
"It's a great alternative method to the gym because it's fun," Okuda said. "I can see how flailing your arms while playing boxing could help you lose weight."
In DeLorenzo's blog, the plan was to do everything he normally did, eat everything he normally ate and see if anything would change after playing 30 minutes of "Wii Sports" every day for six weeks. He dedicated two 15-minute periods to the boxing, bowling, baseball and tennis games in "Wii Sports" per day.
According to his blog, DeLorenzo's experiment began on Dec. 3, 2006, and ended on Jan. 15 2007.
During the six weeks he kept track of his weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and at rest heart rate, DeLorenzo said in his blog.
Starting at 180 pounds, DeLorenzo said in his blog that he lost nine pounds in six weeks, without changing his diet. His body mass index went from 25.2 to a 24, his waist shrunk from a 34.5 to a 31, his resting heart rate dropped from 82 to 68 beats per minute and his body fat percentage dropped from 19 percent to 17.2 percent.
Victoria Furnman, a junior majoring in biology at SJSU, said it's a great way to stay in shape if you're a gamer that doesn't have time to go to the gym and who wants to play more video games.
"It's a cool method," Furman said. "If I was more into video games I would probably try it."
Michael Balangitao, a kinesiology major at SJSU, and a regular at the Event Center gym, thinks that the Wii is just for fun, but it can't replace what you can do in the gym.
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sharon brabham
posted 12/27/07 @ 10:49 PM PST
i believe this story to be true because we bought our hard-headed ass lazy 13 year old daughter one for christmas and i decided to play (after she wouldnt get off to do her chores, go to bed, or anything else) and i played the boxing game - it had me breathing heavy after about three games and i work out at the gym everyday but i dont box!! so it really can help you lose weight or tone
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