Gamer!Exercise

[jajalala]

I got a Ring Fit at the end of March (A game for the Switch that includes a peripheral ring and leg strap it uses to track/encourage movement), and have been loving it!

Back in college I sometimes got in the rhythm of going to the gym regularly, but I don't think I had the best gameplan about it... I would cycle through the machines, focusing on arms or legs depending on the day, and would run on the treadmill for a bit at the beginning and end to "warm up" and "cool down"... but after college I didn't have much access to a gym (especially with COVID-19) and my at-home efforts were quite weak. Doesn't help I ended up working-from-home for the most part, so I wasn't even walking to a bus stop or going out much.

But after moving to Boston, I've been having to do more activities (walking around, going in-person to work sometimes, etc) and have been embarrassed at how quickly I get out of breath... so after a coworker of mine recommended the Ring Fit, I gave it a try. There's not a gym in a convenient location for me, so I figured I should splurge on the pricey gaming periphery that won't expire like a gym membership would (in case I end up on-again off-again).

I love it! I always enjoy a game-ified exercise experience (As a kid I used to come home from school and just play Dance Dance Revolution for an hour), and the Ring Fit does a really good job of slowly ramping things up, but staying flexible, encouraging, and entertaining. The "story" is a little silly, but I'm okay with it as a framing device for me to fight little monsters with planks XD. Plus, the game does a really good job of always making me warm up and cool down after the exercises--My coworker warned me that the one time she skipped her cooldown, she was super sore the next day, so I've stayed vigilant. I think I've never really learned how to do proper warm-ups/stretches, so a machine that tells me exactly what to do and how long is super helpful.

And I only play a couple of times a week (sometimes a few days in a row if I've got time), but I do feel like I've been doing better. I'm no longer as easily tired when I go to work and have to go up those subway steps... And I feel better generally as well. If you have a Switch already and like gaming but want to exercise, I would recommend!

Comments

[corvidology]

That sounds great!

I know my base level fitness that was always pretty good declined rapidly thanks to the enforced at home time due to Covid.

[jajalala]

Yeah normally I'm a fan of working from home, and there are a lot of benefits... but I can't help but notice I get winded so much more quickly than my roommate who has to go to work and walk up and down steps in her building all day. Even just walking to and from the station every day makes a difference!

[vriddy]

Hehe, I'm still playing it, too!! I skipped the post-workout stretches twice because no xp, and I regretted it dearly each time so I'm more careful about it now, and I like that they adapt them to what you actually did!! Have fun :D

Edit: Also super impressed the plank seems to be your main attack, this is one of the most difficult ones imo 🤣

[jajalala]

Omg now I'm realizing your post must have also encouraged me, bc it looks like it was posted before I ended up buying it! Thanks for the ad, it worked out great!

Oh nononono plank is NOT my main attack (just used it as an example). I hate them. I actually do a lot of overhead and front presses when I can, because I want to get my arms stronger (and it has gotten easier over time due to me using it at least once or twice a session!.... but now I'm realizing I'm weak at other exercises like planks and even squats XD)

[vriddy]

Subtle product placement works I guess XD XD <3

Haha the plank is so damn hard. I do a lot of arms/shoulders and core exercises as much as possible, I find it helps a lot with back pain from spending too much time sitting. Squats are....... interesting, too XD Nice work on the arms, it's super nice when things start to feel easier :D

[octahedrite]

Exercise is so much better when you're having fun :D

[jajalala]

It really is! Nothing kills motivation to exercise like dreading it

[tropicsbear]

Dance Dance Revolution! I love that game (and rhythm games in general, but DDR has a special place in my heart). And big same; the pandemic lockdown really did a number on my endurance. I never realized how big an impact the daily walks I had to do as part of my commute had on my cardio until now.

[jajalala]

YESSSS DDR truly best rhythm game.... something about the feet instead of the hands hits right with me.

YEAH doctors are like "you should walk a certain amount each day", but tbh a lot of people's schedules have that walking built into their daily life! And once the pandemic hit, all of a sudden that baseline walking time disappeared....