The new Wii Fit video game is providing the Baker University community with fun ways to stay in shape during the chilly winter months.

Released last year, the Wii Fit is an interactive video game for the Wii console.

The Wii Fit uses the players’ heights and weights to calculate their body mass index and keep track of their fitness goals. A lot of people are using the game as a new form of exercise.

Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said her family got a Wii Fit over the holidays and she has already seen positive results due to the game.

She said her husband, Erik, 1991 Baker alumnus, has played the game 30 minutes a day, for 40 days and he has lost 15 pounds.

Bailey considers Wii Fit to be regular exercise and said she can get her heart rate up during the game. Wii Fit is simple enough for her children to play and they hold a lot of the records in the different activities.

“There is so much game to it that you don’t know you’re working out,” she said. “I have not set my goals to lose weight but I have improved my balance and my strength.”

Bailey said she recognizes how expensive the Wii Fit can be for college students to own and knows it would be cheaper to go to the gym or walk outside.

She said the game is nice because her family can watch each other and be active participants.

“It gets a lot more use than the treadmill did and it takes up less space,” Bailey said. 

Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, said the only discrepancy with the game is that it does not take into account if your BMI is mostly fat or muscle mass.

"People who have not been exercising need to make sure to not go into it too quickly. It is like any other exercise routine," Sarna said. "Your body needs to build up a tolerance."<br/>Sophomore Hannah Bausch received her Wii Fit for Christmas. Sophomore Hannah Bausch received her Wii Fit for Christmas.
Sophomore Hannah Bausch received her Wii Fit for Christmas.

Bausch said activities she enjoys with the game include balance, strength, aerobics and yoga.

“It is fun and it doesn’t seem like you are exercising,” Bausch said. “It is a good competition.”

Bausch said she has not played enough to see any results yet, however.

“It is not nearly as vigorous as regular exercise, but it could help somebody who is not doing any exercise,” she said.

Sophomore Sara Schwarz also got her Wii Fit for Christmas and her favorite activity is simulated hoola hooping.

"You look absolutely ridiculous, but at the same time it takes some work," she said. <br/>Schwarz said the game is limited because players have to be careful not to break the board and the residence halls have limited space to play in.Schwarz said the game is limited because players have to be careful not to break the board and the residence halls have limited space to play in.
Schwarz said the game is limited because players have to be careful not to break the board and the residence halls have limited space to play in.

Schwarz said she played the Wii Fit every day during interterm but has had less time since her classes have started.

Ultimately her goal is to use it every day so she doesn’t have to leave the comfort of her room.

“I don’t have to go out in the cold and walk all the way across campus to exercise,” Schwarz said.