You may have seen EA Sports Active mentioned once or 100 times around the blogosphere. Our contributor Mona reviewed it for BlogHer and Cathy reviewed it on her fitness site. Leighann also received a copy to test out and here is our review for The Full Mommy. Plus: see below for a chance to win your own!First some quick facts & background on the game:
- Requires Nintendo Wii console, Wiimote, and nunchuk
- Compatible with Wii Fit balance board
- Includes resistance band and leg strap with nunchuk pocket
- Cardio exercises include running, walking, in-line skating and dancing
- Upper-body strength moves (using resistance band) include bicep curls and shoulder presses
- Lower-body strength moves include squats and lunges
- Sports-based drills include baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and boxing
- Use preset workouts or combine any of the above to develop your own custom workout
- All exercises can be performed at varying levels of intensity
LEIGHANN'S TAKE:I have had the Wii and Wii Fit for a while. (Read my review of the Wii and Wii Fit.) I use it off and on, but can't say that I was dedicated to it. The Fit is fun and my daughter enjoyed doing some of the ski jumping and other games. One improvement that I can see is being able to do a series of yoga poses, instead of having to return to the menu after each one. I love the stepping game and hula hooping definitely works my abs and hips. But I needed more.
Enter the EASports Active. When I received the box, I was still skeptical that I would actually see a benefit. But I did. I started with the 30-Day Challenge and I have to say it kicked my butt. Day after day I woke up sore from the previous workout. But day after day I came back for more.
Why? Two reasons, really.
First, I was really getting a good workout. The variety of exercises kept me engaged. Many of them didn't even feel like exercising (my muscles would tell you otherwise). I saw as the days went on that I was able to run around the "track" with greater ease and for longer periods. And I kept coming back to see what new sports would be introduced. Boxing, volleyball, inline skating, basketball, dancing. Fun, fun, fun!
I even curse at this particular "person" that seemed to always pass me on the track. But I am happy to say that by about day 15, she no longer passed me!Second, accountability. The fact that I was participating in a prescribed 30-days of workouts kept me motivated to return. I enjoyed seeing the calendar with the days checked off. And I completely appreciated that it was two days on, one day off. The 30-day challenge kept me honest.
Ask my husband. I would get up before everyone else and work out. If I couldn't get my work out done in the morning, I would do it in the evening. I did it. And it felt good to actually accomplish this.
Did I lose weight?
Yes and no. I didn't change my diet, though I will say that I thought a little more about what I ate. I lost a few pounds, but the big difference I saw was that my clothes fit better and some were actually loose.
Unfortunately I badly sprained my wrist (not while working out, but I slipped on a wet floor) and wasn't able to finish the entire 30 days. But I definitely want to start a fresh 30-day challenge. The great thing is that you can do it over and over and even increase the level of difficulty.
What I loved:
- The accountabilty that kept me honest.
- The varied workouts kept me interested.
- That it automatically selected my workouts for the day to give a good blend of cardio and strength.
- That my pants are loose and my stomach feels a little less jiggly.
- I thought some of the upper body work was a little awkward with the bands, especially the shoulder presses.
- I didn't like switching back and forth between the band and nunchuck, taking it in and out of the leg strap. Though I got used to it.
CATHY'S TAKE:
Like Leighann, I have been using and enjoying Wii Fit for awhile, but I didn't find it to be an especially challenging workout--more just a fun game, with a side benefit of some physical activity. I also didn't like having to click through a lot of screens in between each activity. EA Sports Active solves both of these problems. The moves are a lot more difficult (and you can try them in easy, medium, and hard levels of intensity) and they can easily be joined together into a seamless workout. You can do the 30-Day Challenge, as all three of us did when reviewing the game. Or you can choose one of many other preset workouts that come with the game--emphasizing sports drills, upper body, lower body, etc. OR, you can create your own workout by putting any of the individual moves together into a custom circuit.
I did find it kind of ironic that I'd be running on a virtual track or playing tennis on a virtual court while the sun shone right outside my TV room windows. But I have a lot (A LOT) of winter to get through where I live so I know I'll be taking full advantage of this workout program during those
I also tested Daisy Fuentes Pilates for Wii. Especially when compared to EA Sports, this one isn't nearly as successful. It only comes with 10 exercises, and it's much harder to follow. The trainers on EA Sports (see images) demonstrate and explain what you need to do very clearly, and your Wiimote and nunchuk offer good feedback. Not so much on Daisy's Pilates. I tried and tried to follow the moves exactly, and my feedback would show that I hadn't done a thing! Totally frustrating. If you do achieve success on Daisy's game, you can earn points and track them. I preferred EA Sports Active's method of checking off your workouts on a calendar and showing you throughout the workout how many calories you're burning.
MONA'S TAKE:
Having the ability to work out at home has also eradicated any excuse I have to just lay on the couch and whine about how fat I am, how tired I am, how full of excuses I am. In the time I usually wasted on watching a reality show rerun or superpoking people on Facebook, I am able to make great strides toward my goals, to burn calories instead of accruing them. The small time I spend working out gives me the energy to spend the rest of the day feeling alive. (Read her full review at kirida reviews.)
WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: EA SPORTS ACTIVE
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: What is your favorite Wii game?
Enter By: 9/14/09
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.
This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more; and Cathy, the mastermind behind Mayberry Mom and About Family Fitness.
