Link: http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=230443

About five years ago I hired a personal trainer. It cost a ton of money, but my hard work brought me benefits galore. I got into a great workout routine. I knew what I was doing with the machines and free weights at the gym so there was a significantly less chance that I would get an injury. I lost weight and looked pretty darn good.

Now, going back to where I mentioned that the trainer cost a ton of money. . .After a few months I decided I no longer needed the trainer. I was going to work out all by myself. And I did for a while - at least until I didn't anymore. Like all of the other exercise routines I have ever had, this one got lost in the shuffle. I gained back some of the weight, lost a lot of the strength I had built up, and felt guilty the whole time it was happening. Four years later I still haven't reestablished an exercise routine.

This brings me to the "Be Fit with Wii" link I provided. I am obviously not in a position to preach to anyone about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. I don't like to quote stats so I am not going to provide any here, but I don't think anyone would argue that many children (and adults) today in the U.S. get less exercise than they should, don't eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables, and are generally not the healthiest generation the country has ever turned out.

I question what seems to be the willingness of a great many people to accept what seems to me to be very silly ways to justify the use of a video game controller over the use of a treadmill. I firmly believe that if a child or adult does not currently exercise on a regular basis that purchasing an $89.99 (plus sales tax) balance board connected to the Wii is not going to improve your chances of being the person you always wished you could be.
I know that my attitude falls on the negative end of the expectation spectrum, but there happens to be several other realists down here with me most of the time. Spending money to increase the profit line of Wii is not going to make anyone healthier. This is a marketing ploy like so many others. "Look at how easy we are making it for you!" If life were that easy, I would still be a size 8 and have great abs.

My point is this; if you are going to buy this product, buy it because it looks like a fun toy and not because you think you or your child will get the exercise you need and suddenly start eating right. And please don't think I have a crusade against Wii. I love the Wii and have played several games on the Wii. I don’t, however, feel swayed to believe that the little white box under the TV is going to provide the emotional encouragement I personally need to put myself on track to lose the extra 25 pounds I carry around my hips. Little white boxes can't do that, not even if they come in shiny packages and cost only $90. Even if I wake up tomorrow and decide that making the Wii my new personal trainer is a great idea, I am going to wait a few weeks after the release and buy one of what I expect will be thousands of used "Wii Fit with Blance Boards" on the gaming market.