Be it because of a lack of money or time or a global pandemic, we can’t always get to the gym. In the absence of gyms and leisure centres, exercising at home has become increasingly popular. Video game giants (such as Nintendo) had a great idea to combat this problem; video games whose goal is to help you lose weight, build muscle, or exercise while having fun, allowing you to replace the coach with a console! Let’s have a look at how video games can help you to lose weight, tone muscle, or get healthier while enjoying yourself. It’s never been easier to exercise at home. While there are several consoles you can play some of these games on, we’ll focus on the Switch as we feel it's the platform best suited for these types of game. In this article, we'll be looking at Ring Fit Adventure, Fitness Boxing, Just Dance, and the now-retro Wii Fit.
Ring Fit Adventure was released for the Nintendo Switch towards the end of 2019. This game comes with a ring, known as the Ring Con, which you use to exercise with. Is this effective? Let’s see how Ring Fit can help you tone muscle and lose weight. Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure has been a popular choice for working out during the pandemic. (Source: IGBD) Firstly, Ring Fit Adventure is an intuitive game that has you compressing or stretching the Ring Con and other exercises as you work out. It’s recommended that you get a yoga mat or similar for the exercises you have to do on the floor. Here’s the trailer to give you a better idea: https://youtu.be/vD6Ua4NfPZ4 After doing a few dynamic stretches, Ring Fit invites you to participate in adventure mode where you defeat monsters by doing exercises such as pilates, situps, squats, stretches, running, etc. You can personalise your training by choosing the type of exercise you want to do or by playing minigames as you squeeze and pull on the Ring Con. In March 2020, the game was updated with a Rhythm Mode that allows you to dance along to music from other Nintendo games like Super Mario Odyssey, Wii Fit, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There’s also the Jogging Mode so you can run through the levels without interruption. If you want to tone muscle or lose weight without leaving the house, Ring Fit Adventure is probably one of your best options. The reviews were also generally favourable. Find out more about Ring Fit Adventure
Have Fun and Burn Calories with Just Dance
How can you lose weight while playing Just Dance? The answer may interest those who are looking for ways to burn calories and lose weight, get rid of those love handles, or get a flatter stomach. As long as you pick an energetic song, you can burn a lot of calories with Just Dance. (Source: IGBD) Just Dance debuted back in 2009 on the Nintendo Wii and versions have been released on consoles including the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and even on Windows and Android and iOS. The game works by detecting your movements. While Just Dance can help you to have a laugh, unwind, and burn calories, it probably won't teach you all that much about how to dance. That said, you still have to follow the choreography on the screen to get the best possible score either in single-player or multiplayer. Just Dance 2021 on the Switch can help you tone muscle while burning calories as it works on various parts of the body.
Glutes
Thighs
Pectorals
Triceps
Biceps
Abdominals
Joints
Calves
Hips
Chest
The main goal of Just Dance, however, is to have fun. Here’s the sneak peek video for the song list from Just Dance 2021: https://youtu.be/ZJjQHGTm5mI This game is a great way to exercise without realising that you’re doing it. Whether you’re looking to tone muscle or burn calories, you can do it with this game. The best thing about the game is that you can get more songs for it once you’re done with the original ones. Find out more about Just Dance
Exercise at Home with Fitness Boxing
Boxing would be a great way to unwind if you didn’t have to risk getting punched. Fortunately, Fitness Boxing has you doing boxing exercises from the safety of your own home.Fitness Boxing combines rhythm-based gameplay with boxing training exercises for a cardio workout. (Source: IGBD) Here’s the trailer for Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise on the Switch: https://youtu.be/wyc2Y-LGWjQ You can play this game using the Joy-Cons that come with your Switch as boxing gloves. The game explains how to do each of the punches and you can choose from 9 different coaches. For training certain muscle groups, Fitness Boxing can be very effective. Boxing is useful for building muscle and toning up. It’s also an excellent sport for working out your whole body. If you’re looking for a way to have fun while punching in rhythm, this is the game to do it. Find out more about Fitness Boxing
The Benefits of Wii Fit for Exercising at Home
The Wii is now technically retro but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a useful source of entertaining games, especially fitness games. Wii Fit is living proof. If you have an old Nintendo Wii lying around, you can pick up a Balance Board and a copy of Wii Fit for a good price. (Source: IGBD) The Wii was released in 2008 and Wii Fit launched in 2009 with the Wii Balance Board peripheral, a digital scale that connected to the game. With the help of your Wii Fit trainer, you’ll be guided through a variety of exercises. The game includes 4 main types of exercises:
Yoga
Strength Training
Aerobics
Balance Games
Across the 40 different games and exercises, you can burn calories, work out, and do yoga (we recommend buying a mat!). Another 20 or so exercises are available if you get Wii Fit Plus as well. Wii Fit isn’t just for beginners, either, as those who regularly do sport can still enjoy some of Wii Fit’s exercises. Your virtual coach can help you to exercise in a calm and relaxing way. Whether you’re buying Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus, you can start exercising today. This is a perfect activity if you can’t go out and exercise as often as you’d like. The game also tracks your statistics, which can serve as useful motivation. Find out more about Wii Fit Here’s a table comparing each game:
Title
Year
Platform
Accessories Required
Types of Exercise
Recommended for...
Ring Fit Adventure
2019
Nintendo Switch
Ring Con and Joy Con
Running, arms, legs, core, minigames.
Anyone wanting to lose weight or tone muscle.
Just Dance 2021
2020
Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Stadia
Joy Con or Move Motion Controller
Dancing.
Beginners looking to lose weight.
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise
2020
Joy Con
Joy Con
Rhythm-based boxing moves.
Those looking to burn calories and tone arm muscles.
Wii Fit Plus
2009
Nintendo Wii
Wii Balance Board and Wiimote
Yoga, aerobics, balance games.
Beginners looking to lose weight or improve their balance.
Now you should have a better idea of which games you can get to help you exercise. If you're looking for even more help, consider getting a private tutor or fitness instructor on Superprof. Many experienced and talented fitness instructors can help you to get in shape, train, lose weight, or improve your strength or endurance. Generally, tutorials are offered face-to-face or online to individuals or groups. Each type of training and tuition has its pros and cons so think carefully about which one would be right for you, your level, your fitness goals, and your budget. Face-to-face fitness instructors can tailor each session to you and your level to ensure that you get the most out of every activity you do. Usually, this type of coaching is more costly than the others as you're paying for the tutor's time in and out of the sessions as well as the time and money they have to spend to get to you. Of course, with every minute focusing on you, this type of training is also the most cost-effective.Group training sessions are great for those on a budget as you can spread out the cost of the instructor's time since every member of the class will be paying for the session. While this means that you won't be able to enjoy sessions that are tailored just to you, there will be other participants there and it can be motivating to exercise with others, especially if they're of a similar fitness level. Thanks to the internet, online personal training sessions are also available. Much like with video games, your trainer will be behind a screen. Since they don't have to travel to their customers, they usually charge less as they don't have to worry about travel costs and can also schedule more sessions each week due to the time saved by not travelling. Remember that a lot of the tutors and personal trainers on Superprof offer the first lesson or session for free. You can use these free sessions to try out several different fitness instructors or tutors before deciding on which one is right for you. With personal training, it's really important that you like your instructor and get on well with them as you'll be much more willing to do the strenuous exercises they want you to do.
Weight Gain Guide Knowing how to gain weight isn’t common knowledge. Even though it may seem like most people are looking to lose weight, not put it on, you’re not alone. There are many reasons to put on a couple of extra pounds, and they are of course just as valid as reasons to lose […]
Exercise Tips for the Over-50s “Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese.” - Billie Burke Age isn’t that important when it comes to exercising. Of course, your physical ability won’t be the same as when you were 30 and you might have to take other conditions into account like arthritis, diabetes, weight, […]
The Guide to Getting Back into Exercising “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” - Derek Jeter As the weather gets nicer, you might have decided to start exercising more. Congratulations! When restrictions loosened back in October, the number of people […]
Our Advice for Exercising on a Budget "A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning." - Pat Riley Would you like to exercise but don’t want to spend a fortune on gym equipment or gym memberships? A lot of people have turned to exercise at home and, thanks to modern technology, you can follow […]
The Ultimate Guide for Circuit Training Circuit training is a high intensity, strength and resistance training method that allows you to optimize your physical performance - whether that be at the gym or at home. This complete body workout involves completing anaerobic and aerobic exercise moves in timed intervals, one after the other and without […]
The Guide to Getting a Flat Stomach It’s not always obvious how to get a flat stomach and whether you need to be on a strict diet, regularly doing abdominal exercises or counting calories. Many people are trying to get a flat stomach but it’s difficult. To get rid of stomach fat, most of the […]
The Female Bodybuilders Guide For Beginners The stereotypes of female bodybuilders are being challenged by amazing athletes such as Iris Kyle, Robin Coleman and Heini Koivumieni (all who have won body building competitions like the Arnold classic). As a woman, the traditional idea of beauty is surrounded by cultural stereotypes such as the bikini competition […]
How Do You Find the Right Personal Trainer, Sports Coach or Fitness Instructor? Would you like to work out with a personal fitness trainer in order to get toned or build muscle? Are you unsure whether you should hire a one on one fitness professional to come to your house or do group fitness classes […]
CrossFit and Cross-Training: Everything You Need to Know “A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning.” - Pat Riley Crossfit brings together a variety of different sporting disciplines including combat sport, bodybuilding, fitness training, and aerobics. 37% of people in the UK don't do any physical activities at all. With the cost of some gyms, […]
How Bodybuilders Become Strong Being masculine has nothing to do with being muscular - Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding exercises and weightlifting programs give the most physical result dramatic results of any other sport. You can play golf, play football or even just a visit a few fitness classes near me. But no one would be able to […]
How To Put Yourself To Sport Effectively? Every year the fitness industry is becoming more and more popular. It is no coincidence that this growth is in line with the increase in the popularity of social media platforms like Instagram. Where fitness models share millions of images of themselves burning fat, getting ripped and getting […]
How To Make Progress Quickly As A Bodybuilder? Bodybuilding is a very time-consuming activity which yields impressive results. But to get these results, it can really take a while to see progress. While the speed of your muscle development depends hugely on the state of your body and your physiology. There are the things that […]
Running a Marathon: How, Why and Where to do it Whenever the subject of marathon-running comes up, people usually sit in one of two camps: those who think it’s a completely impossible thing to achieve, and those who could see themselves doing it one day. Among those interested in the idea of completing the full […]
Must-Follow Social Media Accounts to Help You Achieve Your #FitnessGoals “Don’t be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed.” – LeBron James It’s clear that the success of social media will never end. Now that it is an intrinsic part of our everyday lives, we have seen how we can use the many […]
How Do I Find Personal Trainers Near Me? Now that we are almost half-way through the year, it seems a good time to look back at the last six months and sum up what we have achieved so far. For instance, have we done all, if not some, of the things we wanted to do? […]
Learn How to Master Ab Exercises, Cardio Workouts and Keep a Balanced Diet The role of a good fitness trainer is to accompany the student in their personal fitness training program: explaining the right gestures and movements in order to progress and, also extremely crucial, clearly identifying what that student should not do in order […]
How to Get the Most Out of Your Personal Training Sessions When you first start doing sports, you want to give your most because your fitness goals include instant results: You want to lose twenty pounds in one week Look like Schwarzenegger after only two workouts Have the body of a supermodel four days after revamping […]
From Pull up Bars to Smart Watches: Basic Gym Equipment for Every Need Whether you are an expert personal trainer or beginner, this article will help you to meet your students' demands and get them to meet their fitness goals. Are you a fitness amateur looking to see results and learn the right movements? Superprof […]
Get Fit in the Comfort of Your Home with Online Personal Training! Sports training at home can be split into two categories: either with a personal physical trainer or physical training with an online sports coach. Fitness classes focusing on stretching, muscle building, toning or cardio can easily be followed on your computer at home! […]
A to Z of Fitness Training with a Personal Trainer Whether it’s for high-level athletes or complete newbies to the fitness industry, training programs should always be designed with the athlete’s needs and goals in mind. Tailored exercise programs which are adapted to the physiology and fitness goals of the athlete in training give them […]
How the Time of Day Can Affect Your Fitness Training with a Personal Trainer Whether you prefer to work out in the morning, afternoon or at the end of the day, exercise can help you work towards better physical and emotional wellbeing. The production of endorphins which is triggered by physical activity acts as a […]
Fulfill Your Potential with a Personal Trainer & Sports Coaching Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health, and that you should exercise regularly to boost your immune system as well as avoid weight gain and the diseases associated with it, such as type 2 diabetes. However, many people ignore the gravity of the […]
Personal Trainer Tips for Overcoming Chronic Diseases Through Fitness Training Chronic diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes) are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 63% of mortality. These WHO figures are sufficient in themselves to show how high the current level of fatality due to chronic diseases […]
Strengthen Your Dorsal, Abdominal & Leg Muscles with Personal Trainers Whether toning your body or losing weight, working target areas such as your stomach; or whether you just want to beef yourself up from calves to deltoids, gaining muscle mass is an exercise in caution. For any muscle group workout, your pose, form and moves […]
Our Personal Trainers Talk about Exercise Classes & How to Get fit at Home The fitness industry is booming in the UK! All around the country, more Britons are lacing up their trainers and hitting the gym. Are you one of them? Have you in fact been considering a personal fitness program, going so far […]
Improve your Nutritional intake with our Fitness Instructor and Sports Coach Guide Our grandmothers always said: “as long as we have good health, we'll manage!” Did your Gran have some sort of secret weapon stay in shape? Did she instinctively know her metabolic rate and how many calories the human body needs to function at peak […]
Reasons you Should Start Sports Coaching or Personal Training at Home Whether you want to tone up, lose weight, or get in shape, you should get in touch with a fitness professional as soon as possible. Sports centres and on-line workout videos aren’t nearly enough when it comes to your health and fitness. You need […]
Loading...
