Search Weight Loss Topics: |
How I use video games to lose weight and feel fit – Polygon
Im embarrassed to admit that Ive tried just about every way there is to lose weight.
Ive put my palate through the wringer, trying out dozens of fad diets that were a chore to commit to. Ive kept inconsistent schedules at the gym and with work-out-from-home infomercial programs. Despite my best efforts to stick to a cohesive plan, Ive ended up finding the best success through an unconventional method: video games.
In the heyday of Dance Dance Revolution at arcades and at home, I spent untold hours stomping flashing arrows. The mix of music, community, and faux-dancing was irresistible. The combination helped me hit all my fitness goals. I felt and looked great.
But as arcades began falling out of favor, and I became older and busier, I stopped being as active. I tried exploring other ways to stay fit, like weightlifting, rock climbing, and yoga apps on my phone, but I could never stay engaged with them. So in recent weeks, I decided to go back to the method of being active that worked for me before: playing video games.
Ive been experimenting with several games and platforms that have helped me get moving every day. My goal has been to find games that are physically demanding, but not so much that playing them feels like working out. Between the Oculus Quest, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, I now have a library of tools at my disposal that I look forward to when its time to get active.
If youre looking for games to help you get up and move, here are some recommendations based on what Im currently playing, how they encourage me to be more active, and why you should try them.
Im not alone in discovering how fun it is to use virtual reality to get your butt out of a chair. I love the engulfing nature of VR, as it makes it easy to focus on one thing at a time, instead of how easily distracted I get at the gym. Having sound, music, and gameplay work together to monopolize my attention is a great way to keep me engaged. With my headset on, I get so focused I dont realize Im sweating until I stop to grab a sip of water.
There are a lot of choices for VR headsets, but I was immediately drawn to the Oculus Quest. Since it doesnt require being tethered to a PC, I was able to enjoy more freedom of movement while playing one of my favorite games, Beat Saber.
In the past, Ive mentioned how Beat Saber is one of the best games of the last decade because all it takes is less than three minutes to show off what VR gaming is capable of. The title incorporates exciting music tracks from future bass to, most recently, Green Day and has me slashing at colored blocks like a disco Jedi.
As songs play, blocks marked with directions fly at me, and I have to swipe at them in the proper orientation to the beat of the music. The result can feel like a wild mix of cheerleading, vogueing, and raving. The dancelike gameplay and precision execution are so pleasantly distracting, it doesnt feel like working out.
Beat Saber can feel like an intense upper body workout when the game is cranked up to its Expert difficulties, however. To make my experience more fun, I exclusively play on the Hard setting instead. In that mode, songs arent too complex to play along to, which lets me dance around more and incorporate more of my body into the game.
You should try Beat Saber if:
When I want to challenge myself in VR, I load up BoxVR, which is more of an interactive fitness app than a game. It shares similarities with Dance Dance Revolution, but instead of stepping on arrows to the beat, Im shadowboxing preset punching routines to a playlist of songs.
Each set of activities has me throwing jabs, hooks, and uppercuts at a series of colored orbs that fly at me in a set pattern based on the music. There are also bits of bobbing, weaving, and squats thrown in to help the workout target the whole body. Every so often, Im even asked to switch my footing to balance the experience further. The structure is a bit more rigid than a traditional rhythm game, but sometimes I like that.
I can set the length of the session I want to participate in, and BoxVR offers up a range of premade training programs based on how much time you want to put in. Each routine is designed by different trainers and offers unique soundtracks to punch to. I can even track fitness essentials like an estimate of calories burned right inside the game, which is helpful if I forget to put on my fitness tracker.
Id never shadowboxed before playing BoxVR, and after my first session, I gained a very healthy respect for how intense it can be. However, because of how challenging it is, I can never do sessions longer than 30 minutes as my Quest becomes soaked in sweat. Even with my VR Cover, which does a better job at wicking sweat than the default cover, I still cut sessions to around half an hour.
Check out BoxVR if:
While Beat Saber and BoxVR are my go-to games for working up a sweat, there are two titles I like to switch to if I want to play something that feels more like a game and less like a dedicated workout.
I used to rock-climb regularly, and Ive been enjoying how The Climb pares down the experience into something more casual. It does a great job of simulating the experience of bouldering, the form of rock climbing where you scale walls without the aid of ropes. Real-life bouldering is challenging and, when done properly, is a full-body workout. The Climbs simplified gameplay offers up the same experience, without the intensity.
Since the Quest has no way to track my feet, I spend my time focusing on where to place my hands while climbing in the game. It doesnt replicate the activity perfectly, but I found that it still manages to deliver the same slow, considered, and enjoyable challenge of rock climbing without all the effort (or the fear of falling).
When I want to amp things up, I play Pistol Whip. Its is a rhythm-based shooter, and playing it feels like blasting your way through a music video. Each stage is on rails and moves you through abstract locales where enemies pop up and try to take shots at you.
This disco hayride through a shooting gallery even gives you a better score if you hit your enemies on the beat. Its a wonderful design that always gets me dancing and shooting to its hard electronic soundtrack like John Wick at a nightclub. Theres also a lot of ducking, dodging, and true to its name pistol-whipping to boost the amount of physical effort you put in.
One of the fitness games I was most excited to try out was Nintendos Ring Fit Adventure. When I first saw it, it appeared to be something that would disguise the monotony of working out in the form of a compelling RPG.
Years ago, Id tried Nintendos previous workout-adjacent title, Wii Fit, but the games futuristic balance board ended up gathering more dust than I hoped. While I rushed to get Wii Fit on its release date, I quickly grew disenchanted with it. It felt more like an in-home fitness class than something cheery and fun, like I would expect from Nintendo.
The companys latest fitness game yet again combines a funky accessory to sweat along with, but this time, it partners its approach with an RPG-like package that has clicked with me. In Ring Fit Adventure, I take on the role of a fit hero who travels throughout a workout-focused world where I need to stop a ripped dragon. To defeat it, I have to bust out squats, chest presses, yoga moves, and more. It sounds a lot like a traditional workout, but theres so much going on that it ends up being more fun than it seems in writing.
To track my workout, I make use of the Switchs unique motion controllers and Ring Fit Adventures key accessory, the Ring-Con. By inserting one of my systems Joy-Cons into the rubbery ring controller and another in a leg strap that gets wrapped around my left thigh I can control the entire game and have it track my movements.
The Ring-Cons flexible body is designed to be pushed and pulled for resistance training. It looks flimsy, but generates a surprising amount of resistance. The Joy-Con attached to your thigh tracks more cardio-focused activities like jogging in place and squats, and even when you get down for planks. In tandem, both Joy-Cons can track dozens of different workouts that defy expectations.
As I travel across the games world, which can take weeks or months to complete, I use the moves my Joy-Con tracks to defeat enemies and complete minigames. Ring Fit Adventure is set up to encourage me to use a whole array of movements when playing, by turning each session a decent full-body workout. Most sessions take about half an hour to complete, and the game always asks me if Im up for playing longer or want to call it quits for the day. It also encourages pre- and post-workout stretching, which no other game Ive played has done.
While Ring Fit Adventure is the most workout-centric thing Ive been playing recently, it doesnt feel like a chore. Coming back to it day after day is just like returning to an RPG. Theres the main quest Im eager to learn more about, side quests that offer up rewards, and hours of the game yet to play. It just so happens that enjoying my time with it requires a bit of sweat on my end.
You might enjoy Ring Fit Adventure if:
Dancing has always been one of the most reliable ways Ive gotten physical activity. But now my days of faux-dancing on a Dance Dance Revolution machine and going to nightclubs are behind me. Instead, Im learning how to dance again with Just Dance 2020 on the Xbox One with a Kinect.
The Just Dance series has been around since 2009, and while I tried playing it on the Wii and the PlayStation 4, holding a Wiimote or Move controller while dancing always felt strange to me. It wasnt until I started playing it on an Xbox One with a Kinect last year that I finally fell in love with the series.
Using the Kinect camera, Just Dance 2020 tracks my movements precisely. It checks to make sure Im doing the proper choreography for each of its dozens of songs. I follow along to the moves I see the dancers doing on screen, and I do my best to match them perfectly. Since Im watching real dancers, and not digital avatars, its much easier to mimic their moves. Im scored on how well I replicate their performance, and Just Dance tallies my score and ranks me against every other player throughout the world.
Its been years since Ive shown off my dance moves, but Just Dance 2020 rekindles a lot of the muscle memory I built up over the years. I love that the time spent playing Just Dance and working up a sweat can be transferred to a real dance floor if Im so inclined.
Just Dance 2020 is great if:
Im not a fitness professional, but I do have one piece of advice that will help you make a smart choice: Do whatever you can stick to.
What you do to stay active isnt as crucial as how consistently you stay active. Getting up and moving should be a good habit you engage in for yourself. If you struggle to find a routine that works for you, experiment with several until you find one you can do regularly.
If the idea of working out feels like a chore, approach getting active in a more casual way. Im exploring options that I find fun and cant wait to play at the end of a long day of work. I look forward to working up a sweat with these games, which is a far cry from how I felt waking up at 6 a.m. to go to the gym.
These games, even in tandem, may not be enough to be the equivalent of having a consistent gym schedule and a healthy diet. For now, though, Im enjoying myself and rediscovering how fun it is to be active.
Go here to read the rest:
How I use video games to lose weight and feel fit - Polygon
- Lose Weight Healthily And Quickly The Best Diet Plan And Daily Exercise [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2011]
- How Can You Be Sure That A Diet Plan Will Really Work For You [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- Diets That Work - The Best Diet Meals Online! [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- Benefits Of A Healthy Lifestyle And How To Lose Weight With Healthy Diet Plans [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- Healthy Foods That Any Succesful Diet Plan Should Include [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Want to Lose Weight Go for a Safe Diet Plan That Will Lead to Healthy Weight Loss [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- 5 Components Of A Successful Exercise And Diet Plan [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Healthy Eating Tips to Lose Weight [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- Fad Diets: Do They Really Work? [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2011]
- How To Avoid Yo-Yo Diet Plans [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- Diets that work fast [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- Set Up the Perfect Diet Plan with These Simple Tips [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- diets that work [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- Finally, Weight-loss Diets that Work? Medicine Matters from Sandra Fryhofer, MD [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- weight loss plans that work [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2011]
- crash diets that work channel presents crash diets that work [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- Diets that work fast - Protien Helps Burn Fats [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- Diets That Work with Ali Fedotowsky [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2011]
- Successful Weight Loss Secrets Revealed.avi [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2011]
- Best Diet Plans Losing Weight by Changing Your Habits [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2011]
- Finding Easy Diets That Work Fast [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2011]
- Creating a Diet Plan That Can Give You Healthy Quick Weight Loss [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2011]
- Can I lose Weight with a Free Diet Plan [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2011]
- How to Find a Good Diet Plan [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2011]
- Basic Dieting Tips Equal Successful Diet Plan [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2011]
- Great Weight Loss Programs Basic Factors To Check [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2011]
- Healthy Eating Tips You Should Add to Your Diet [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2011]
- How Not to Cheat on your Diet Plan [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- Choosing the Right Diet Plan for Permanent Weight Loss [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2011]
- Healthy Dieting Tips How You Eat Is More Important Than What You Eat [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- What Is Your Reason to Lose Weight [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- The Basics Of A Safe Diet Plan For Your Heart [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- Eating the Right Foods will Give You a Diet Plan that Works [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2011]
- Diets That Don't Work [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2011]
- Liquid Protein Diets Work [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Do Low Carb Diets Work ? [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Why Diets Don't Work [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- A DIET that WORKS: NO DIET! A RAW FOOD LIFESTYLE ~ for OSCAR! ~ BIKE TOURING the WEST COAST! vid#46 [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- Quick Diets Really Work [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- Diets Dont Work - Thinking Thin Does [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2011]
- Low Carb Diet-Why Low Carb Diets Work [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2011]
- Atkins Diet: Does low carb work as well for all groups? [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2011]
- How Does The HCG Diet Work - Official HCG diet Plan - HCG Diet For Men - HCG Diet User Reviews [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2011]
- Crash diets that work from worlds best diet channel [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Macro-Patterning: Advanced Carb Cycling For Fat Loss [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Why Low Calorie Diets Don't Work and Never Will (Don't Starve or Crash Diet) [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Why "fad" diets don't work? [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- The Crazy Celebrity Cabbage Soup Diet That Works [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Weight loss diet that (really) works [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Fad Diets Do Not Work. How To Lose Weight Without Dieting... [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- Low Calorie Diet DO NOT WORK - Lose 30lbs Manipulating Them [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- Fad Diets: What works and What DOESN'T? [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- All Diets Work [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- 3 Weight Loss Diet Tips That Works | Fastest Way To Lose Weight [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Do Diet Pills Work? INSPIRED: The Movie Expert Insights [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Fad Diets: What Really Works for Weight Loss [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Healthy Diets Work Fast - Free Diet Video [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Does Hcg Diet Plan Work - A Peek Into Hcg Diet Plan [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Researchers Discover Why High-Fat, Low-Carb Ketogenic Diets Work To Control Epileptic Seizures [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Why "Quick Fix" Diets Do Not Work! [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Binge Eating [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Diet Weight Measurements [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- does the diet solution program really work [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- EASIEST Diet For Women to Follow (Don't Starve Yourself Thin!) [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Crash diets that really work [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Cabbage Soup Diet [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Do Detox Diets Really Work? [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Does the every other day diet really work? [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Why Extreme Diets Like Atkins Low Carb and HCG Diet DONT WORK LONG TERM [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Fast Weight Loss Diet: Does Calorie Counting Work? [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Beyond Chocolate. Diets don't work! [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Failure To Thrive: GFCF and Feingold Diets Work For ... [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Low Carb Diets: How They Work [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Diet Pills That Work - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Diets That Work - Lose 30lbs In 30 Days - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Understanding the Atkins Diet, Why It Works and What it Can Do For You - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- crash diets that work channel presents crash diets that work - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- REALISTIC Diet [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Why Diets Don't Work - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Diets That Work - 'Burn' Fat Faster With This Diet - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]