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How to Burn Off Those Holiday Pounds by Gaming

How to Burn Off Those Holiday Pounds by Gaming

The holidays are here, which means we can begin our annual tradition of eating too much food and letting the calories build up during long, binge sessions of the many games that are set to release. Some will follow up this potentially unhealthy tradition on New Years with an often ill-fated resolution to hit the gym and start working on their beach bodies. While personally, I’ll continue work on my glamorous “Dad bod,” I understand that other gamers actually do possess a genuine interest in maintaining their cardiovascular health. Fortunately, games offer an opportunity to partake in our favorite hobby while also working on our physical fitness.

For those who have the hardware or don’t mind spending a little bit extra, Konami’s international hit, Dance Dance Revolution may be more than just what the proverbial doctor ordered; it may actually be recommended by doctors. The game, often available at arcades (remember those?) is a rhythm game that has players stepping on four directional arrows to the beat of various, sickeningly catchy J-Pop songs. Many versions of the game even have a workout mode that allows players to keep their heart rate up with playlists that track potential calories burned.

For other gamers who don’t want to invest in a dance mat and a console that will play these, admittedly, older titles, Harmonix developed the game Dance Central for Kinect. This game features a more mainstream playlist and incorporates the entire body through the Kinect’s camera. While the scoring system is far from perfect, the game manages to be a fun and goofy way to burn some calories with friends.

Nintendo also has its own fitness games available to owners of the Nintendo Wii and Wii U. Wii Fit and Wii Fit U work with the controller and balance board peripheral to allow gamers to participate in a slightly more traditional for of exercise. Unlike the other options presented, Wii Fit offers strength training alongside its cardio and core workouts. It also tends to feel more “gamey,” offering many different mini-games with the motivating facet of allowing players to unlock more as they go along.

How to Burn Off Those Holiday Pounds by Gaming

Weather permitting, gamers who want to get outside and go jogging to get in shape still have options available to them. A game entitled Zombies, Run available on Android is a cheap way to gamify a workout. Players plug headphones into their phone and are treated to a story mode that sends them on supply runs around their neighborhood. The game sets the pace for players, as zombies will appear during their jog, forcing them to increase their speed to get away. Daily missions and a horror theme add an interesting twist to an otherwise banal fitness routine.

Video games may not be the best way to get in shape, and won’t altogether replace traditional means. Eating healthy, hitting the gym, and a variety of other exercises are still the best ways to lose weight. But for those who are just starting to get in shape and need something less strenuous for starters, or for those simply looking to change up their workout by adding a little bit of fun, games offer an interesting route for getting in shape.

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