Wii Fit Plus and the American Heart Association Told Me I’m a 10

For once in my life I was a Perfect 10.

I recently hosted an event with Nintendo and the American Heart Association. We learned about factors that impact and improve our overall heart health. There was a computer program that calculated your heart health based on as slew of questions. It was kind of like a Glamour magazine quiz but the answer reflected my heart health, not my lonely hearts club membership. I answered questions about my eating and exercise habits, smoking, drinking, family history. Since there was no one watching over my shoulder I answered honestly. 😉

And that’s when I was a certifiable 10.

My lifestyle, while far from perfect, is on the right track. We play a game called “Five In” everyday to ensure we eat five servings of fruits and vegetables (two down this morning thanks to my mango smoothie and banana for breakfast). I love to cook so I made homemade, fresh meals and shy away from processed food. I’m a crazy mad label reader and shun overdoses of sodium. I work out three to four days a week (more on that in a moment). I don’t smoke. I drink in moderation. Other than fish oil and a calcium supplement, I don’t take any medication. As far as I know, my family history isn’t peppered with red flags. It seems that eating the colors of the rainbow and jogging with the dog has paid off.

I’m a perfect 10.

But here’s my dirty little secret. Shh…just between you and me, mkay?

I hate to exercise. Abhor it. I am the queen of excuses, that I mask as rationalization.

• I have to water my cactus.
• I’ve always wondered how many dimples are on a golf ball. Now’s a good time to find out.
• I need to find a partner for all those lonesome socks.
• I need to restock my emergency chocolate supply.
• The porch furniture needs dusting.
• I can’t let the dog nap all by himself.
• I promised Bird I’d make him origami farm animals by the time he gets home from school.
• I can’t let the cans in the pantry go unalphabetized one more day.
• It’s raining.
• It’s too cold.
• It’s too hot.
• It’s too nice of a day to go to the gym.
  
• It might snow.
  

The list goes on.

I always feel great after I exercise, but getting there is so damn difficult. I talk myself out of it. I drag my feet and hunch my shoulders and let my belly hang out in defeat before I’ve taken one single step. I lack motivation and interest. Perhaps I need a goal. I’ve never battled weight, though I do have those extra five pounds hanging around (where they’re hanging is obvious). Let me be clear here: thin does not equal healthy. I might wear the same size I wore in high school and college, but that has no bearing on how fit I am. There’s wwaaayyy too much emphasis on looks and not enough on fitness these days. I exercise because I know it’s good for me. I want to set an example for Bird and Deal so I drag myself to the gym most mornings after I drop the boys off at school. The plus side is that work out clothes are really cute these days so I don’t look like such a frump decked out in my running skirt. And let’s be clear, the only real running I’m doing is errands.

Well, Nintendo Wii came along and crushed all my best excuses. This little gadget called Wii Fit Plus has forced me to look at my grade A chicken thighs in a whole new light. In a most unflattering and unslimming fluorescent light. On those days that I simply cannot get to the gym (for legitimate reasons), I always have the Wii Fit Plus at my disposal. I used it the other day for a 30 minute workout. I can customize a routine from a menu of activities ranging from yoga to strength training to cardio or I can just tell the Wii how many minutes I want to exercise and what I want to target. Voila, here’s my own personal trainer. Damn her. What I like about some of the yoga in particular is that the balance board forces me to maintain proper form. I can see my center of gravity on the TV to know when I’m veering off kilter in a pose. A video ain’t doing that. My obliques were on fire after doing some serious hula hooping (that I rock at on the Wii but cannot do one single rotation with a real hoop on my hips).

For someone like me who hates to exercise, the best part about the Wii Fit Plus and Wii in general is that I can work up a sweat while just playing with Bird and Deal. Laughing is great for your abs, right? I break a sweat playing Just Dance and like I said, hula hooping is surely going to whittle my waistline. We’ve been enjoying Wii Sports Resort, with Deal glopping up the limelight as the family sword fighting champion. Bird has mastered wakeboarding, while Mac Daddy shoots hoops (but he’s better on the real court). As for me, I’m keen on archery. I’m considering buying myself a little felt hat with a feather atop. My only tip: keep a safe distance between players. Once I gave Bird a shiner on his eye with the Wii remote when I swung back for a backhand in Wii tennis. I can still the thwack of of the remote on his cheekbone. Beware of Wiinjuries.

And here’s the thing, without exercise, most injuries will eventually be irreparable. So whether you play in a soccer league, go for a jog, practice yoga, step it up at a class, or workout in your sock feet at home with the Wii, just do something active. Exercise. Give “activist” a new meaning. Your body will thank you from the inside out.

Unlike love, there’s no permanent cure for a truly broken heart.

Note: I was not compensated for this post but I did receive the Wii Sports Resort game as a hostess of the event. The opinions are all my own.