I’m here to tell you, it’s real…

I’m a traditionalist. I don’t really catch on to new trends all that often. Marketing, for the most part, doesn’t go over with me well; I a skeptic traditionalist. When yoga and pilates hit the popularity exercise scene I had a hard time with them- especially yoga. “Exercise” meant running around like a demon child, usually chasing after some kind of ball or person. Hence soccer, basketball, tag, you know- all the good stuff. While I know that yoga and pilates are a total work out, I had a hard time accepting this fact, even after waking up the mornings after my yoga or pilates workouts and feeling like my body wouldn’t allow me to move. Where’s the ball? Where’s the sweating? Why is everyone laying down on mats? And wearing pants? You can’t work out in pants! No, suuuurely, this isn’t a work out. (So, so, wrong.)

Two weekends ago I tried out a friend’s Wii Active for the first time. I had my reservations, so much that I had planned on going to the gym after our Wii Active play date. I had played the Wii Fit before and that’s exactly what it felt like- play. The Wii Fit has various categories and as you work through each category, you open more advanced options. From aerobics to strength training, to balance games, to yoga- the Wii Fit is fun, but I always found myself fairly distracted. Then I played the Wii Active…

Active has a much faster pace. And instead of working through a menu where once you’ve finished one activity you pick out a follow up, the active sets you up for a 30 minute workout that is more streamlined and continuous. You pick out your work out and your work out time, and the Active gives you back to back activities- almost like a virtual boot camp instructor. No, your rec room isn’t going to grow an obstacle course. But, you do go through various activities, all based on working out what you’ve chosen to focus on. In my case, we choose “Mostly Upper” in order to work out our upper bodies. Our work out was a variety of boxing, traditional aerobics, stretching and strength training. I took it seriously, worked out hard, sweated, didn’t need to go to the gym afterwards and was sore for two straight days.

I don’t have a Wii because a) I’m poor and b) I don’t know how much I’d actually play it at my house. I’ve never been a work out DVD kind of girl. The friendly confines of my home beckon me to either baking or sleeping, and occasionally getting a wee bit crafty. But never exercise. I’m afraid I’d spend money on a legit workout opportunity to have in my home and then… never use it. The key to working out is to know what works for you. You have to know yourself so as to not fall in the work out gutter. Work out self has to outsmart lazy self. I know that for my routine work outs, I have to go to the gym. If I don’t leave my home, I won’t work out. I have a couple of DVDs that have been played a few times and sets of free weights that occasionally get used while I’m watching a game, but for an hour long work out I need the gym. It’s just how I’m programmed. I have no distractions, no kitchens, no internet, no couch. However, for those who have a little more will power, the Wii Active, in my opinion, would be the way to go.

Like almost anything in life, the Wii Active gives you back what you put into it. If you cheat the work outs, you’re cheating yourself. The Wii won’t be offended, but you’re offending yourself. If you throw lazy punches, you’re not getting a work out. You’re just flailing your arms. However, if you throw hard, quick punches, in which you turn your hips (ladies, let’s not lie, all of our power is in our hips, literally), you will get a work out.

The very first thing the Wii Active work out had me do was throw punches for three minutes. If you think this is easy, go try it. And throw hard punches. The ones where you twist your hips and your fist goes from having a thumbs up (close to your body) to an extender arm with a thumbs sideways. Three minutes of those will tone your upper back and arms pretty quickly. I severely underestimated what the Wii Active could do for me, when I took it seriously. And my upper back ached (in the good way) for days. Every work out routine needs a little change every now and then, so it doesn’t get boring. While it’s still cold out and my leagues are between sessions, the Wii Active is a good choice for me. Even if I’m going to another person’s house, their couch is less of a distraction than mine!

P.S. I’m also here to tell you… GEAUX SAINTS! I like you, Peyton Manning (especially in your commercials_ but what the Saints have done this season and for their city is amazing. I don’t want it to stop!

Annie is the Sports and Fitness Editor for Girls Guide. She writes about all kinds of sports related topics and then really goes out and plays sports almost every evening. You can contact Annie by emailing her at annie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and we are still trying to talk her into getting a Twitter account – no success yet.