Video games just get healthier all the time. Which means you don’t have to commit to expensive gym membership to get yourself in shape for your wedding dress. Two brides test out two of the top home fitness applications on the market to see if they will help them get dress fit without leaving the house.
EA Sports Active 2 £49
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The best thing about the new improved EA Sports Active 2 is that it has a wireless total body tracking feature. The arm and leg motion sensors do actually give real freedom while you are exercising. And if you want you can also monitor your heart rate on screen. It wasn’t hard to track my data online to the personalised EA SPORTS Active profile. You can even swap tips and join a fitness group which means it keeps you motivated.
Best bits
• You can customise your own routine with 70 exercises
• It feels like a personal trainer in your front room
• The nine week plan: really helping focus, track and reach my dress-fit goals
• The workout calendar
• Top nutrition Tips
Worst bits
• Where’s the yoga class? While this is great for cardio and strengthening exercises, there’s nothing to ease you in gently if that’s the combination training you desire
• It’s easy to cheat
Is it better than the gym?
Definitely. I much prefer working out at home and think I’m much more likely to reach my wedding dress fit goals this way. There will come a time when I will want to join a class, but this will give the confidence to get there.
EA SPORTS Active 2 is available on ps3, xbox (with Kinect) and on Wii
Wii Fit Plus £59.99
***
I love my Wii Fit Plus. This nifty fitness board is just about the best thing I ever bought. A wireless connection to my Wii console means I only have to step up for it to tell me my weight, body mass index (BMI) and age. The calorie counter is a great addition. And It’s fun to choose from muscle, cardio, balance and yoga events. Not sure it’s necessary to have a mini profile on there or not, but the Metabolic Equivalent (MET) was brilliant and actually told me how much energy I was burning up. Gave me a reason to cheat my diet a little more.
Best bits
- The new rhythm kung-fu and snowball fights
- Perfect for parties
- Records weight and BMI graphs
- No need to go outside
- On screen instructor
Worst bits
- Training not as motivating as it could be
- Nowhere to stick the Wiimote when jogging
Is it better than the gym?
It certainly saved me money, but sometimes I do fancy joining the odd class or two for some real interaction. I think it’s a great way to build confidence, however, and at least there are no mirrors at home I have to look at myself in for a whole hour. Plus I can choose to exercise exactly when I want.
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