
A good workout
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
I've been working out with Wii Fit and my exercise bike for several months and was ready to try something new. I bought My Fitness Coach and I've been pretty pleased with it. I got Active at the same time so I'll compare them.
My Fitness Coach gives choices of the types of workout you'd like--Cardio, Lower Body, Upper Body, etc. or you can let the trainer pick for you. It also gives you choices of how long you want to work out and the workout *is* that length. As you continue with the program, you can unlock new places to "exercise" in, as well as new music. The "trainer" has a calming voice and and does a pretty good job of letting you know what is going to happen next and when. The exercise titles move across the bottom of the screen so you can tell what equipment you'll need as well as what the next exercise is. You can use a stair stepper, weights, and a stability ball with the exercises if you have them. Sometimes I have difficulty keeping up with the steps or don't know how to correctly do the exercises, and I haven't figured out how to do the tutorials to show me. Sometimes the trainer counts for you but sometimes she doesn't. I wish she would because you don't always want to be looking at the screen. Periodically the program allows you to interact by asking how you're doing--no sweat, I was working hard, or I couldn't keep up. The "trainer" says she'll adjust your program if you push "I couldn't keep up". lol The buttons are small and sometimes it's hard to hit the right one. The only time you need the Wii remote is when you're answering those questions. The program tells you at the end how many calories you burned (really, only 27 calories in 15 minutes!?!). You don't interact with the program very much.
Wii Active is much more interactive. You use the Wii remote as well as the nunchuck in a special thigh belt along with a resistance band and the balance board. The belt and band are included. This program does a good job of coaching you along with correct formation and the remote and nunchuck help it document your movements. You make your own person (you don't use your Mii) and you can see your own movements along with the movements of the trainer. Each training session is different and includes lots of fun activities (boxing, volleyball, basketball, in-line skating) to go along with the strength and cardio exercises. You select the intensity of your training session when you start (low, medium, or high) but that option isn't given daily. You earn "trophies" for your accomplishments. The training videos are shown before you start a new exercise and you can click out of them if you think you can figure it out. It's also easy to find the tutorials again if you have questions. If you exercise with the tutorials, you'll keep your exercise time up. I haven't been able to figure out how to set the length of the training session--I generally work out a little less than 20 minutes. I like how the program keeps you moving back and forth with the various exercises and games. There is also a daily journal you can keep that asks about your lifestyle habits (how much sleep, how many veggies or glasses of water, etc.). At the end of a session a graph shows how your work-out went based on how many calories you burned.
I really like the interaction of Active versus My Fitness Coach. I like being able to set the exact amount of time on My Fitness Coach. I personally like Active a little better but I'll keep working out with both programs!
Review ID: 10000000012164923

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