Wii Fit - Can it Replace the Gym?

If the invention of TV remote controls and video games ushered in the couch potato lifestyle, could a similar device rescue us?

Nintendo's Wii Fit, which debuted in late 2006, has grown in popularity, but is it a brilliant rescue device for the overfed, a novelty that will soon fade in popularity, or a clever motivator that appeals to the addictive and/or competitive personality?

Betting on the fact that Americans love their TVs (the average American spends 19-25 hours per week in front of the screen!), Nintendo fashioned Wii Fit with a little competitive edge to keep your interest with the addictive qualities of a video game.

Depending on the activity you choose (Wii has tennis, baseball, boxing, bowling & golf, and the upgrade Wii Fit features weight lifting, aerobics, yoga, jogging, hula hoop, ski jumping, rhythm boxing and step aerobics), you might be holding a wand-like device about the size of a remote control or wearing wrist bands while standing on a surfboard-like balance board in front of your TV. You simulate the movements and force of whatever activity you are playing and the game console translates it onto an animated picture on your TV screen.

So, does it work?

Research shows the majority of people report they get a great work out from the Wii, but measuring their output doesn't back up their perception.* While they may be working harder than if they were playing a regular video game, their calorie-burning numbers were nowhere near the range they'd achieve actually playing the real game.

For instance, Wii Boxing burns 216 calories in 30 minutes, about 51 calories more than walking. Real sparring would burn over 300 calories so the Wii numbers are about 2/3 of what you'd burn actually doing the sport.*

Yoga and strength training have a virtual 3D personal trainer so you can view what you're attempting from every angle in real time, but the aerobics and balance games are less structured. When you reach benchmarks, new difficulty levels become available.

Another game, Ubisoft's My Weight Loss Coach, is a computerized accounting of food intake and activity output.

Advantages:

1.Many people report the Wii encouraged them to try activities they ordinarily would not attempt.
2.The games are simple to use and done in the privacy of your living room.
3.It may be a stepping stone to more effective gym workouts.
4.Many users report using it more when it's prominently displayed in the living room and hard to ignore.

Disadvantages:

1.You might get stuck in a low-intensity rut and not even know it.
2.The games provide no "real life" monitoring or attention from trained personnel, so don't try it if you have health problems or tend to visit the chiropractor often.
3.Once the novelty wears off, it becomes just another expensive piece of equipment gathering dust, so make sure the gaming aspect appeals to you before you buy it.
4.It's easy to lie to a game or computer. Studies show approximately 95% of people lie when inputting information into an online calculator like eDiets or Weight Watchers!

Summary:

1.If you use a Wii Fit, know that, while it's better than doing nothing, you still need to control the intensity and constantly get better and stronger at it.
2.While the Wii Fit can supplement a more intensive workout routine, it does not burn nearly as many calories. However, some users reported using Wii Fit energized them and encouraged them to follow up with a visit to the gym.
3.It's easy to have fun when playing a game. If games suit your personality, go for it!
4.If you tend to start and stop exercise, the Wii probably won't be any different. A better approach may be to figure out the sabotaging behavior's root cause and develop a different attitude about yourself, exercise and eating healthfully.

* Study of the Nintendo Wii, sponsored by the American Council on Exercise and conducted by John Pecori at The University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

Should I Stick With the Canada Lotto 649 Or Switch to Lotto Max?

The newest lottery game from Canada certainly provides a unique twist not seen before in the lottery world. But is Lotto Max just a novelty or is it time to change the game you play?

Let's Talk About Your Chances Of Winning First

Lotto 649 is obviously a 6 balls from 49 game. That gives pretty standard chances of 1 in nearly 14 million per ticket. The Lotto Max game however is a 7 balls from 49 draw. Which means you have to match 7 balls now to win the jackpot. This is countered slightly because you can't actually buy just 1 ticket. You have to buy 3 picks which costs $5. Your chances would be just 1 in 86 million, but for 3 picks that comes down to 1 in 28.6 million.

So Lotto Max is harder to win. Twice as hard in fact. But that's not the end of the story.

More Jackpot Winners Promised

The idea behind this game was to create more big prize winners. And the unique feature of this game that aims to do that is called MaxMillions. The jackpot will start at $10 million. But if nobody wins that week, then the jackpot rolls over to next week. Just like most lottery games. But, if the jackpot rolls over again and again and gets bigger than $50 million, then the new feature comes into action.

Somebody can still win $50 million. But every $1 million more than that becomes another jackpot prize. If the jackpot is $60 million there will be 10 extra $1 million prizes, and more balls drawn to pick out each of the 10 extra jackpot winners. So you get a better chance of winning when the jackpot is over $50 million.

In Conclusion

Your chances of winning are better with Lotto 649. But keep an eye on the Lotto Max jackpot. Because when it gets large enough and MaxMillions comes into play, you may find your overall chances of winning become better if you switch games for those draws.

5 Electronic Gadgets Kids Will Love

If your son or daughter are gaming fans and especially fans of Star Wars you might like to lead them into the Sith Realm with the Oregon Scientific Darth Vader Laptop. This innovative device will challenge your child's skills and logic in amazing games that will help to improve hand-eye coordination, memory and reflexes as well as any musical talents that might be waiting to be discovered. It comes with a light saber with motion sensors which when swung plays sound effects. It is also extendable at the push of a button and interactive throughout the games reflecting your choice of character and allowing you to select activities. The player can choose to battle Darth Vader as a Jedi knight or a Sith and there are 50 English games which will keep the player entertained for hours. You'll also be pleased to learn that there is a plug-in audio jack so games can be played quietly!

If you're not bothered by noise and you want to test the water, musically that is, before forking out on the real thing, you could invest in the Silverlit Vbeat Air Guitar. It is usually about half the price of other air guitars, definitely a plus on my checklist, and apart from being great fun will give your child a sense of what it's like to learn to play a musical instrument. It works by coordinating movements of the plectrum, pressing combinations of the four buttons found on the arm and varying the distance between the main body and the arm of the guitar. Apart from this you can also switch between a combination of four different guitars, create a tremelo effect and play chords. In my opinion this gadget is fun, educational and reasonably priced. What more could you ask for? A pair of ear plugs possibly!

Moving on, we should think about those children who haven't quite yet succumbed to the technical revolution and who still enjoy the great outdoors. I was certainly one of those whose knees were constantly scraped and shoes caked in mud. I remember quite clearly my brother and I playing at stealth manoeuvres with make-believe walkie talkies, shouting through our homemade devices in the vain hope that the enemy, mother, was out of earshot! Oh, what we would have given for the real thing. Well your kids can have the real thing, so when they're on secret missions in the back garden or out in the wilds they can stay in touch. Apart from all the fun they're going to have it's good to know that if they're out of sight of one another and they get into a spot of bother they can still communicate and stay in touch. Wind-up walkie talkies run on batteries and can also be charged via a mains adaptor and topped up by winding the crank, ensuring long usage time and optimal performance. I would certainly rate this as one of my eco-friendly favourites. So your kids will be happy, you'll have peace of mind and the ingenious cranking option means it's one less strain on our planets resources. Prices vary with this gadget so shop around to get the best deal and make sure that the price includes two sets.

So what about the fashion conscience girly teens? If they have an MP3 or MP4 player then this might just be the perfect gift. The Pink Pod Kit MP3 and MP4 Accessory Kit in Pink comes with a very funky brandy carry case, USB 6v DC power input cable, speaker dock, pink headphones, MP3 and MP4 in-car sound system connector and an audio/visual connection cable. Oh, and it's pink! This is definitely one for the girls that like their music. It's handy for travel, stylish, brother repellent and.... pink! Believe me, they'll love it.

At the end of the day, when it's time to pack away the video games, air guitars, walkie-talkies and music, we can all sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing Rainbow in My Room. This is a childrens favourite, remember the first time they ever saw a rainbow? It's one of natures most stunning special effects. Well now your kids can transform their rooms into a magical light show using a rainbow projector with multicoloured LEDs. It's great for sleepovers and pyjama parties adding drama and atmosphere to the occasion, or it can be used just as a simple night-light. An instruction sheet containing information and facts about rainbows is also included so there is an educational benefit too. The auto shut-off is a thoughtful feature saving the battery charge (4 x triple A batteries are required) and not requiring you to switch off manually risking disturbing your sleeping angels. The Rainbow in My Room is suitable for children aged 5 years and up and won't disappoint.

It's difficult buying gadgets and toys for kids these days. Apart from the fact that they can be expensive, and that there are so many to choose from, they can also become outdated very quickly and you know what children are like when it comes to what's trendy and what's not. These gadgets are tried and tested, some have educational benefits and all are value for money. Thank goodness we don't have to drag our kids kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, rather the other way round I fear! Above all, it's about having fun and these five are my chosen superstars.

An overview of Drinking Games

A drinking game, every race that also includes a number of people drink some kind of liquid after a series of rules that are outside. Although these games are often played with their spirits, it is not necessary to use a drug, and often can be as fun to play these games with fruit juices, soft drinks or coffee. They act as a sort of break the ice, all parties involved and get comfortable interacting with aanother.

Drinking games are divided into categories of relatively few. The easiest way is probably based on the games. A die is rolled, or drawn from a stack of papers and on the basis of what has happened, you must drink a certain liquid a certain amount of time. For example, in Game 6 of Friends "of a group of standard rolling a die, each in turn. The first to throw a 6 is a drink with, what they want. The second shot needs to pay sixWhen to drink in a restaurant or bar, or take a second substance, who drink when added to the house. to roll the third person has to drink it then 6. The fun of this game is that even if the person has implemented the first six drinking is bad, it's still a chance that they roll the third and you're forced to drink.

Another category of games includes social drinking, verbal skills. These games you need to remember the words of a growing number of omake new responses to old answers. drinking games best record you can name the bear, a party that involved another person, and then gives them instructions. Otherwise, someone will say the name of a punishment they will receive all the forces, know all the other pretty quickly.

Some games require items such as drink coasters, novelty toys, board games, cards, dice or other devices. The minutes of the simplest games are better for the publicbut if your a party at home with some of the accessories around for these games can be useful spaces.

The most popular drinking games are those that require a certain level of skill. Of these, the best known are the games to drink. The work requires the establishment of a ping pong for a long time. The glasses are placed in a triangular pattern on each end of the table, with a little 'liquid in each. The teams then try toto raise the legs or a table tennis ball across the table to try to land on their opponent's cups. If successful, then the opposing team must drink the contents of the cup that the ball landed on

Drinking games and exciting way to celebrate a little fun 'in life. While playing with the traditional alcoholic beverages should not be, and we can enjoy a good game by drinking soda with your friends over nothing more thanFruit juice, tea or whatever your favorite soft drink ever.