Fitness Friday-The Difference Between EA SPORTS Active & Wii Fit
By now, everyone might know that I am a part of the first 12 challengers to take part in the EA SPORTS Active 30 day Challenge. Being that my “fame” stems from my sixty pound weight loss using the Nintendo Wii Fit, I’m constantly being asked “which is better” and I’m here to tell you right now. You can’t compare the two.
First off, I want to be clear. In order to use either product, you need to have a Nintendo Wii
You really can’t compare the two in a side-by-side challenge. The Wii Fit is more about yoga, balance and fitness through game play like hula hooping, ski jumping and tightrope walking. EA SPORTS Active is a high-energy personal trainer in a box. Literally.
I look at it like this- The EA Sports Active 30 day challenge is a preset workout within the product that tells you what days you can expect to work out (you work out for two days and then have a rest day) and it tells you what to expect from the workout on the calendar within the product. You by no means have to choose the 30 day Challenge option, it’s just part of the system for folks like me that act like a kid in a candy store and have no idea where to start.
You can also customize your workout routine and there are dozens of options to choose from. It’s different from the Wii Fit in that you choose your routine ahead of time and only pause in between exercises for instruction options. The Wii Fit focuses more on toning, breathing and working your muscles to keep you fit and lean. Both products work, and I’m living proof of that.
With the Wii Fit, I lost 60 pounds in about 7 months of every day use. I liked that I didn’t feel like I was “working out” and that I could just relax and have a great time while getting in shape.
In the past 2 weeks that I’ve been using the calorie burning, high energy EA Sports Active, I’ve lost 4 pounds. I know I’m working out. I can feel the sweat pouring down my body. I like that the calendar tells me what I’ll be doing and when, because instead of dreading having to work out, I can see that it’s only asking me for 30 minutes of my time and that time flies by.
Basically, what I’m saying is that it’s up to you. Do you want your own personal trainer that will provide you with an intense aerobic workout or do you want the zen relaxation that the Wii Fit has to offer? In my opinion, it’s best to have them both.
I plan on continuing through the 30 day Challenge and at the rate I’m going expect to be ten pounds lighter than where I started. Since Active doesn’t have any stretching or yoga built in, I can use the Wii Fit on my off days to stay limber and trim, while keeping track of my weight and BMI. There are great benefits to both and you will see great results no matter what fitness routine you choose, as long as you stick to it.
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I am so excited!!! I can’t wait until that delivery man knocks on my door with the EA Sports Active!
my post is up
http://momstart.com/2009/04/fitness-friday-featured-post/
goodness, I can’t buy anything else right now but it sure does look like fun.
So, on your EA rest day, do you rest or use the Wii Fit?
xxxoooxxx
we got the Zen option. I still haven’t opened the box,:) Hubbie nad I will look into it after the kids go to bed, he’s competitive so that works for motivation too :0
Hi Julie.
I know…I’m Wii deficient in the brain.
Thanks for posting this.Is there software for a male who is interested in a manly way to build muscles?
I can’t wait to get the EA Sports Active. I will be one of those people who are standing in line the second they come out. I can’t wait to get started on it.
Way to go, four pounds is awesome. Keep up the amazing work.
That’s a great concise review. I hope to get the Active game maybe for Christmas (after this baby is born) so that I can loose the baby weight, but I’m glad I have the Wii Fit now to stay in shape and try not to gain too much. Keep it up…is it creepy that I’m looking forward to seeing the bikini “after” shot? Oh well, I like seeing other people’s sucess!
Ilike the idea of using both…sometimes I feel that using the wii fit I want more of the “burn”. Yet I like that I can go at a good pace and play the games also.
Wonderful post! I was wondering the same things. I wanted a wii fit, but then saw the ea active and was like maybe I should get that. Now I really have some thinking to do.
ugh, I want to get a Wii so bad!
good for you. I need to master one before I start( pay for) the other. Still plan on using the Wii Fit. mixed with other exerciser tools.
Thanks for the great description of the two different programs. I’ve only had the Wii Fit a little over a month so I think I’ll stick with that until I gain some strength and endurance…
So nice to read this – I currently use the Wii fit, but hope to get the EA sports active and test it soon enough! Counting down til May 19th
Hi, You are an inspiration. lol Thanks.
http://lovingheartdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/wii-mommies-fitness-friday.html
Thanks for the comparison, I look forward to being able to do them both. I really like the sounds of the challenge, very motivating.
Great review! John and I keep talking each other into and out of buying a Wii. I’m still not sure I have the courage to let the Wii judge me.
Great review, Julie! If I wasn’t convinced that EA Sports Active was something I could really use, I’m totally convinced now!
Great review, thanks! Is the EA fun to do as well – like, are you boxing virtual enemies or whathaveyou – or just someone telling you what exercises to do, like a trainer?
Julie Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:46 pm
You have a trainer with you taking you through the workouts. You hit volleyballs, play tennis and punch targets but it’s not like playing games so much as it is literally having your own personal trainer.
Great post because now we can figure out the best option for each of us. I think I would have to check out both too. I’m one of those kids in a candy store.
Julie – you mentioned still using the Wii Fit to track your weight and BMI. Does the EA Sports Active not have graphs or another way to track things like that?
Great idea to stay in shape. Whatever makes exercise fun is good in my book.
sending you a Friendship award over on my blog.
I sure wish I had a wii. Both games sound really cool. Thank you for sharing.
I pre-ordered a copy of Active last month so I can’t wait for it to get here to go along with my WiiFit!
Just preordered my EAS Active last night! Can’t wait and thanks for this post; nice to know the differences between the 2.
Thank you for this great post! It gives me a clearer picture of what to expect from EA Sports Active. I was hoping that I could use the Wii Fit on my off days to do my yoga routine. I love that the Wii fit incorporates yoga!
Thanks for the review & congrats on the weight loss. I think i’m more for the sweat/personal trainer (tho I’d never get one at the gym)! I am gaining some of the 90 pounds I lost six years ago, so I’m trying to mix it up and remotivate. i’ve never done home exercise, but i’ll try this and i just bought jillian michaels DVDs.
Thnx this was great info and I appreciate it!
same here! i got my 1st three games on Friday night (just dance 2, michael jackson, and nickelodeon (exercise for our son)). My console, wii fit plus, ea sports active 2, sports resort, and the 2 2 basic sports games that come with the console should be in by Tuesday night. we can barely take the excitement. we have already practiced a few times using youtube-aye!