Apparently even today’s top of the line technology is no match for old fashioned bike riding and classic outdoor play. A new study revealed that “active” video games won’t actually make a kid more active.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that children and teens should get at least one hour of physical activity every day. Previously, it was believed that “active” video games could assist in increasing a child’s activity level.

Recently researchers tested this theory. Seventy-eight children were given Wii consoles and were monitored for 12 weeks. Half of the children in the study were given games like “Wii Fit Plus” and “Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 3.” These are considered active games. The other half of the children were given “inactive” games like “Mario Kart Wii” or “Madden NFL 10.”

The children kept journals of their play time over the 12 weeks. They also wore accelerometers to measure their acceleration and exertion. The conclusion showed that the active game group was no more physically active than the inactive game group. The researchers thought there might have at least been an initial spike in physical activity at the beginning of the study, however they found that there were no differences throughout the entire study.

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Well, it’s here at last. Wii Fit has released the new game  Zumba Fitness. Zumba is an extremely popular Brazilian dance program that incorporates international dance techniques with aerobic exercise. With over 30 songs, including motivating Latin dance music, Zumba Fitness will help you tone your muscles, build your endurance levels, and  have fun all at the same time.

The game is comprised of several different difficulty levels and dance venues to challenge every bit of your fitness level and dance technique. A few of the exciting dance venues include a gym, a nightclub, and a penthouse roof of a high-rise skyscraper.

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The holiday season is in full swing, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s a great time of year to spend time with friends and family, attend holiday parties, and surprise loved ones with the perfect gift. It’s cold outside, though, and many of us use our gigantic “to-do” lists and the cold as an excuse to skip out on the most necessary part of the day. I know I have a tough time getting the work outs in some days. One or two days of this and you’ll find yourself out of your fitness habit. Don’t let that happen to you.  Here are some great ways to get your exercise in, and, as a bonus, many of them use your favorite electronic devices AND keep you out of the cold weather!

Wii/Xbox with Kinect – Long gone are the days where playing games equals sitting still for hours. Both gaming systems get you up and active, jumping around and actively participating. They make exercise fun. I’m a not-so-secret fan of Just Dance 2. I can set it to the “tough” level, and before I know it, I’ve exceeded the level of exercise I’d planned – and I’m not even finished. My son and husband have regular ping pong championships, and I’ve heard rumors that I may be challenged to a boxing show down. (Psst! We are giving away a ton of Wii Fitness games in our Tech-nically Fit Gift Guide Giveaway, so make sure to enter!)

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Guest blogger, Carol Dunlop is certified through FiTour as a Personal Trainer and through the American Red Cross as a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. She has competed and placed in several Fitness America and National Bodybuilding competitions. To receive your free E-course “How to Burn Calories While you Sleep,” visit her website: OptimumBodySculpting.com.

The holiday season is almost here. I know it’s hard to think about or even believe but soon you’ll be humming the reindeer song and thinking about the best dessert to bring to Aunt Mary’s soiree. Turn the tide this holiday season and come out on the losing end with these easy-to-follow tips.
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For 16 weeks, Lori Jackson, a mom of three and grandmother to two, will be checking in with DietsInReview.com to share her personal experience with Nutrisystem. The good, the bad, and everything in between, see first-hand how the Nutrisystem program works.

Nutrisystem Week 6

Hope you all had a great week, because I sure did. The scale is moving, the body is changing, and the weather has cooled off. That is a trifecta if I ever saw one.

I work in a warehouse where it’s typically very hot, which means I get a pretty generous workout during my work day. Since it is cooling off, that means my “at work” workout is not going to get me as far. I’m still walking 8-10 miles every day (per my pedometer) but in cooler conditions, so I will have to start my regular workouts on the Wii again, like the Wii Sports boxing that is a lot of fun… and a huge workout!
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