Get fit at home with fitness video games!

Motion games have made it possible to sweat it out and burn calories without having to hit the gym.

Blaming it on our busy schedules, we seldom take out any gym time which ultimately leads to problems like diabetes, obesity, etc. when coupled with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Also, many do not like the idea of gyms and the cramped city life makes it difficult to find open spaces to exercise. So how can we ensure to be fit? Simple, get fit at home from the comforts of your living room in a fun way. Fitness games or exergaming have made it possible to sweat it out and burn calories without having to hit the gym. What's more, you have your virtual avatar and a fitness coach to tell you when your form or posture is wrong.

What are fitness or motion games?

These are similar to video games that kids play but instead of controlling what's going on just with your fingers, these are meant to engage your whole body in the activity just as you would do if playing in real life. For example, a running competition in a motion game will require you to actually run (just on the spot) in order for your player to move ahead and win the race you can't just make him run by pressing buttons on a remote. This benefits the person playing the game as it is fun and involves physical exercise.

These days, the games are much more advanced and detailed keeping in mind that people do not have time to go out and work out. From yoga sessions to Zumba classes and from hula hoops to kickboxing you can do all of these and more right at home. (Read: 10 awesome fitness workouts for the perfect you!)

Nintendo Wii Fit Plus

Combining fun with fitness, Wii Fit Plus is an extension of Nintendo's Wii a motion gaming console. While Wii comes with controllers, Wii Fit Plus requires a balance board which you step onto for exercises like yoga and others. It also uses the controllers in case of running exercises. The controllers and balance board help gauge your motion to give you accurate results of your performance.

Once set-up, the player can feed in their basic physical stats like height, weight, etc using which it calculates your BMI. You can also set fitness and weight loss goals and do a combination of exercises in order to reach it. It helps you monitor your progress and keep track of your fitness levels. (Read: How do I lose weight and reduce fat around my tummy?)

There are various games available in the market which you can purchase to help you achieve your fitness goals. Some of these are:

• My Fitness Coach
• Zumba Fitness
• Just Dance series
• Gold's Gym Cardio Workout

Xbox 360 Kinect Fitness

Kinect is another motion gaming console from Xbox 360. It doesn't involve any controllers or remotes but just detects your movements and responds according to how you move. This means, you can move, run, jump, kick freely as you would in the park while playing any sport. It also corrects you if your form is wrong. The sensor is activated with your hand wave which then displays your avatar on the screen. There is also a feature called Nike + Kinect Training which gives you real time feedback with elite coaching and personalised exercise programmes.

Just like Wii, Kinect also has a number of fitness games available. Some popular ones are:

• Your Shape Fitness Evolved
• Dance Central series
• UFC Personal Trainer

These gaming-cum-fitness consoles help you work out just as a trainer would in the gym, making them an ideal option for people who do not like gyms or want to exercise at home. Getting fit was never this easy!

Also read:

• Dance away the weight with Zumba
• Bariatric surgery: Does it help you lose weight? (Expert Speak)
• Do weightloss pills actually work?
• Herbs for weight loss

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