by Beks
Most Sundays, my brothers, sisters, and I trek to my parents’ house to spend the afternoon together. Mom and dad, ever looking for ways to keep everyone entertained and united, purchased the Xbox 360 Kinect as a family Christmas gift this year. I have to admit, I rolled my eyes as I saw my mom pull out the cheap black plastic kids toy. THIS was meant to entertain all of us?
We plopped the game in the console, connected the Kinect, and let the small children play the silly game while teasing to mom about the ‘immature’ choice for a Christmas gift.
Five very short minutes after watching the kids laugh uncontrollably with joy, we, the responsible adults, shoved the kids out of the way and told them to play outside. We restarted the game and found ourselves laughing hysterically as we ran, jumped, and dodged obstacles on our game rafts.
Five even shorter minutes later, gasping for breath, we called the kids back in and relented our control of the gaming system.
The game we were playing wasn’t intended to be a workout program but judging by the sweat, the gasps for air, and the sore muscles, it was effective as such.
If you want to get in shape as part of your new year’s resolution, forget expensive gym memberships and personal trainers. Play the game that comes standard with the Kinect package. It won’t kill you… but you’ll be so sore, you’ll wish you were dead.
Beks is a full-time government employee who enjoys blogging late into the night after her four kids have gone to sleep. She’s been married to Chris, her college sweetheart, for 15 years. In 2017, after 3 long years working the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, they paid off more than $70K and became debt free. When she’s not working or blogging, she’s exploring the great outdoors.
We’re still ‘old school’ with the Wii, and I agree you do get a workout playing games that keep you up and at ’em. However, I wouldn’t really say it’s ‘cheap’ exercise as the console and the video game costs sure add up!
I LOVED watching all of you jump, laugh, stretch, and run in place. That just made my day! For me this was ‘cheap’ as it more than covered a gym membership for every one of you that were in the room. And I have to say it was also considered ‘cheap’ as I would have paid any amount just hear and see all of you acting out all of the things that each game required you to do. PRICELESS!!!! I look forward to each Sunday that you are here and put each game on… especially the dancing one. Michael…. you crack me up son! However.. you need to practice on your moves. 😉 Love you guys, mom
We just got a Kinect also, along with the Biggest Loser “game”. SO. MUCH. FUN. Kicks my butt. We also love the Kinect Advendures too with the rafts and the one with the cars. It gets your heart pumping! Yes kind of expensive, but its a nice alternative for people who would prefer to workout in the privacy of their own homes. Like me. Its fun because i can get my daughter up with me to plan and she gets some exercise!
i was actually looking for a cheap exercise at home that can be fun too and I was thinking of Wii. which one is better? which one is more affordable?
AML… I hope you don’t mind me responding to this one, I think everyone will offer up different opinions, but here is mine. Get the Kinect. I own both and have noticed that there is much more interaction with the Kinect. Also, you truly do get a work out with this product. My kids were dying after each game! (Which was fun to watch! 😉 ) Another thing.. with the Wii, you must something in your hands at all times… with the Kinect… nothing. I’m still not sure how that works but it sure frees you up! (It also takes pictures of you during your game, which are sometimes hilarious!) Go try one out… you’ll be amazed!!