Sunday, May 17, 2009

Are Wii motivated yet?

I've had the Wii Fit for a few months. In case you're not familiar with it, here's a link explaining what it's all about.

I love my Fit. It's a great way to get in a bit of exercise during the kids' nap times. It's very interactive, giving me feedback as I exercise.

But it's the interactivity that is causing problems.

When I boot up the game, I choose my profile (since each person who plays has a separate profile), and an animated graphic representation of the Wii Balance Board walks around my TV screen. The Balance Board greets me by name, and recently we had this strange conversation.

On my TV screen: I haven't seen The Engineer lately. Press A.

I'd like to tell the Balance Board that The Engineer is training for a triathlon and has been working out a ton despite not using the Wii Fit. But that's not an option, so I press the "A" button. The Balance Board continues.

How would you say The Engineer is looking lately?
A. Heavier.
B. Thinner.
C. Less toned.
D. More toned.

What, so now I'm a spy for the Wii Fit? I choose B and am greeted with this message:

Great! You should tell him what you just told me!

I stare at the screen. Did I really just get marital advice from a workout video game? Um, yeah. I think that's what happened.

Usually, though, the Fit just comments on how often I've been working out. Sometimes it's encouraging, saying things like, "It takes a lot of dedication to work out daily!" (when I come back two days in a row.) And I enjoy that little pat on the back.

Other times, it's not so encouraging. When I come back after an extended absence, the animated Balance Board admonishes me, "It's been 5 days since I've seen you! Work out every day for the best results." Or, "Too busy to work out yesterday, eh, Beth?"

Now, I suppose a normal person reads that, mutters, "Yeah, whatever," and continues on to do some yoga positions or rhythm boxing. I, on the other hand, actually find myself dreading the Balance Board's critiques. It's a pretty passive aggressive little character, you know. There it is, safe on my TV screen, supposedly encouraging me to work out more often, but I know what it's really thinking is, "You're lazy! LAZY! Get off your blogs and work out more often!"

And I want to shout, "Wait! I took my dog on walks a couple of days this week! And my kid kept me up at night, so I've been extra tired! And really, taking care of kids is a workout in itself, and I burn calories breastfeeding. Please, try to understand! Please, Balance Board, please love me!!"

Ahem.

If you know any therapists who could help me with the unhealthy relationship I have with a digital rendition of an inanimate object, please send them my way.

14 comments:

Call Me Cate said...

I think my WiiFit game is going to get extra cranky with me now because I'm cheating on it with the Gold's Gym game.

What I really dread is the commentary on my weight. I KNOW I'm overweight. I was overweight when I worked out yesterday so chances are I'm still overweight today. I don't need the announcement. I especially don't need it to be audible Let's just record that information silently, ok?

SciFi Mama said...

My Fit and I have a love-hate relationship as well. I hate when it shows me my weight, then proceeds to show me my BMI. Yes, I'm overweight. Yes, I'm working on it. I don't need you to make my little character even fatter. It just really doesn't motivate me.

There's a new game coming out that I want to look into for exercising.

Janell said...

I know! We don't have Wii Fit - we got the Wii game called My Fitness Trainer instead. But it makes similar comments if you show up after an extended absence. Even though I KNOW it's a computer animated trainer talking, I dread the chastisement. I love the way you put it - funny post!

Scriptor Senex said...

My wife is a therapist but I guarantee this is one she's not come across before! If it's any consolation your fellow bloggers love you...

Fannyfanackapan said...

Oh you have scared me now. I have yet to get mine unpacked and set up. I am EXACTLY the sort of person that will feel bullied by an animated training aid. I have promised to set up and start using daily after my holiday (go on Wednesday). Now I will be dreading it!

Made me laugh though!

Christy said...

You are SO great!!! Thanks for the laugh C.Beth.
I still want one, so if you kick it to the curb, you'll have to let me know. ;)

caryn said...

Oh my gosh such a funny post!

Unknown said...

Yep...I think the Wii Fit is causing you serious psychological harm. You should send it my way...;-)...I want one so bad!! Lol...Keep at it...it'll be worth it, no matter what your Wii says lol..

Sheila said...

I'm always annoyed when my Wii Fit gets sarcastic as in "Well, if it isn't wife."

I just hope that I remember to close the windows before I climb on the balance board because if the Wii is going to be cheeky with me, well, right back at it! Just don't want to scare the neighbors.

Love the post and your blogs.

2cats said...

I must be the last person on earth to own a Wii. I would respond positively to the lip service and sarcasm. It would stiffen my back and make me want to show it just who is in charge.

Our Scoop said...

I think this is my favorite post yet. This is seriously funny! Oh my. I guess I need to get one to kick my butt. I would feel total guilt and I also would talk to it and explain why I have not used it! and then I'd probably even lose sleep over it :)

Sandra said...

I love this story, Beth. Maybe I need to get the Wii Fit. I've been doing walking videos but obviously they aren't nearly as much fun, they never talk to me!

btw, when you find that therapist, let me know the name, and maybe I'll set up an appointment for Hubby. He talks to the Wii tennis players allllll the time (but at least they don't talk back)! In fact, sometimes he speaks to them verrrry loudly! :)

Becky said...

I know, right? I haven't taken my Wii Fit out in a couple of months for that very reason! I think there's a screen where you can record your non-Wii exercise activity, and I need to figure out how to do that so I can feel like I can justify why I haven't used the Wii Fit in awhile. Because it's not that I haven't been exercising, it's just that I've been choosing other methods of exercise now that it's nice outside. And for some reason, it's really important to me that my Wii knows that.

LOL about the Wii asking you to spy on your husband! So far, I'm the only profile set up on ours, so I haven't come across that yet. Hilarious.

Isabella said...

LOL - I've had it do the same thing to me, but ShankRabbit was standing right next to me. Talk about awkward. :)

(re: what Becky said) There is a screen where you can enter non-Wii exercise. I'm sure the Wii really doesn't care, but I can't take the "you suck for not working out" criticism. I do work out...really, I do!