My Fitness Coach

I hardly ever write reviews but I felt I needed to for this gem. I had the Wii Fit and EA Sports Active but I was quite bored with them both so I stopped exercising as much. I did some research about the Wii Fit Plus and the latest version of the EA Sports Active but they both looked the same; no major changes. I searched and searched and came across My Fitness Coach. I read the reviews and they were really positive. A newer version is out there but it seems no one likes it and I can see why; you can't top perfection. I never thought I would really sweat or find a high-intensity workout for the Wii. I know many people have complained that it's really like a fitness DVD but it's not. Maya the instructor has you do a few physical tests to help you find your weak areas and then adjust your workouts accordingly. Then after each section in your workout you can tell her if it was too easy, just right or you couldn't keep up. You can add additional equipment like hand weights, pilates ball and a step board. It's a wonderful way to get a customized workout; it really is like having a personal trainer. She even roots you on throughout the whole workout. I highly recommend this if you can still find a copy! Supposedly the new version is completely different and that's a shame.

This is actually for my girlfriend, not me.. She is using the My fitness Coach program, along with a diet program and has nearly lost close to 70 lbs! She loves this program more than Wii fit or any other because the increase tempo in excercises does work. And no need for the controller or extra controls to do the excercises is a plus too..

So I stronly advise anyone who is looking to compliment a good health eating diet to try this program to help with weight lost you won't be disappointed.

Let me start by saying I use a bodybugg to measure my daily caloric expenditure. This allows me to measure not just how many calories I burn during a workout compared to my other workouts, but also how much it lifts my metabolism and burn after the workout ends--For example, strength training will burn fewer calories during the workout as compared to cardio, but the continued burn will be longer. I mention this only so you know when I mention calorie burn it is based upon scientific measurement rather than perceived exertion...

Calorie Burn:
Excellent. But I often burn 100 more calories than what the game says I do. That's a good thing. I have found many to overestimate the burn so you like the game more. This is all relative however...it can only estimate your burn, of course, based upon your age, weight, and fitness levels at which you test. However, I do try to push my intensity and I am pretty muscular. For many, you probably burn a little more than it says you do...for me I actually burn 100 calories or more than it says I do.

In comparison:
You'll burn far more calories on this than the Wii fit across the board. And it truly concentrates on every part of your body. In the cardio portion I burn more calories than I do during most fitness DVDs. However, in the strength portion I burn a little less just because of the rest breaks. Keep moving in that time and you'll burn an equal amount.

Motivation:
First, knowing that this is designed specifically for your fitness level is a real bonus. It's actually a really good test at the beginning to see what you need to focus on and what kind of shape you are in in order to gear it just to your needs. You can always readjust it. Your trainer will guage how hard it was for you as you go. You can't say to yourself "this is too hard" when it's been designed for you...and if you do say that, it can be redesigned.

It is also motivational to get to unlock more things to keep up interest as you go, like where you train.

Because you can use different equipment and choose how driven you are that day as well as what you want to work on, you also aren't as likely to say "I don't feel like doing it today."

Effectiveness:
These are the same moves you'd do with a personal trainer. You'll feel it and it will work well. I personally recommend choosing a 45 minute workout, but you can do what you want based on your time. Even you only have 15 minutes to workout, you'll still have a whole workout designed just for you and your time that day.

Controls:
You don't need to hold any. LOVE that!

Safety:
Anyone should be able to do this and great instruction is given. One thing I didn't hear stressed enough, however, that a beginner typically has problems with and can hurt your knees is...when you squat, never let your knees go over your toes. Keep your rear farther back to save your knees and get better effectiveness in your glutes and thighs.

Negatives:
Everything is really easy to follow except I have to wonder how well somone doing "out, out in, in" who hasn't done it before. The computer trainer looks like she is doing jumping jacks. This move should actually be kind of like you are a football player putting your feet in two tires, then bringing them back in. That was the only one that looked "off". Also, the computer designer sometimes forgets that we cannot make weights or a stepper magically appear in our hands. During warm up, there is no time to get the step in place or pick up your weights. They magically appear in the trainers hands. Even when they are right beside me sometimes I miss a rep, but it's actually not a big deal...just funny. During the main workout there is a pause time and the screen shows you what equipment is coming up next.

Music:
Very nice as you get to choose your preference.

Equipment:
You choose what you have. Incidentally, if you don't want to buy a step and a ball (you don't have to use either, but you'll get more varied moves if you do), buy a Bosu. It works more muscles than a step when you use it as such and it's kind of like half of a ball. Very bouncy and, in my opinion, a bit more fun because of it. You can also use it in the ball moves. A friend who is a personal trainer introduced me to that thing and I love it...great for ab moves too. That way you need less room for 2 items.

Conclusion:
One of the most complete Wii fitness workouts. I love that it molds itself to my level and knows what I need to work on most to achieve my goals. It's fun and time flies.

After injuring my back I bought this game for core strengthening for back rehab. My physical therapist and doctor both enthusiastically approved its use in my recovery. There are all kinds of different focuses in this game - weight loss (aerobics), upper body, lower body, and core strengthening exercise programs. The avatar leading the exercises isn't annoying, the progression of exercises through warm-up to the ending series of yoga moves are easy, yet challenging, and it has been very effective in my recovery. I would recommend this exercise "game" to anyone.

This video was not really for a beginner. You could begin here if you want to wake up in pain for a week, but it was tough. The features like what is your physical age and personalizing your workout were nice, but after she totally worked you out, you were scared to go back. :) Everyone in my family has used this. We all have our own profile. If you want a challenge, this could be for you. No extra equipment was needed.