2.7.2013

I have had this game for over one week now. Never watched the show but I am familiar with its concept.Gameplay:It gets my heart rate up in the same way that Zumba does. You don't require a US-sized living room to do the workouts. I have a balance board but you can change the settings to 'wii remote only'. When you start the game you can choose whether you want to do one of the preset programs - which I have opted for. You can then set the number of days, the workout duration, etc. You can't pick which days the workouts fall on. However having missed my Sunday session I found that the game moved that session to the next free day which was Monday.I don't know how this would work if you missed say a week's worth of sessions because you went on holiday. You can also do freeplay sessions and other workouts whenever you choose, so you can make up for missed sessions. Once you pick your program you will go straight into a session, after which you can amend your settings if you found the session too hard/easy. When you go back to your main user screen you will be prompted to create an avatar by the game. You really can make the avatar resemble you - but don't expect the Sims 2-type detail.The game will encourage you to do lifestyle tasks such as eating a new fruit. You can turn these prompts off under the profiles and settings menu. You can also choose not to log your calories. Before each session the game will weigh you. It doesn't display the weight but you can view it by going into the body analyser feature. However doing so will make the 'big reveal' at the weigh-in much less of a surprise. The sessions are broken up into segments that the game calls 'stations'. There is a progress bar in the top left-hand corner of the screen during your workout. When each station ends the game gives you a minute to get a drink. Motion recognition on this game is pretty good. There are some exercises/stretches that don't require the remote or board; it won't tell you this but you will notice. Other reviewers have mentioned that you will be asked to put the remote in either hand or pocket. You'll also be told to move the board into position or out of the way. At the start of each exercise the game will give you time (approx 2 reps) to get in time with you trainer before it starts to track your moves. At the end of the session you'll be shown your best and worse exercises, given the option to save the workout as a favourite, view the calories burned for each exercise and some other information.Tips:- pick Bob as your trainer (apparently he's nicer and I don't find being yelled at motivational)- personalise you avatar, it's nice to see 'you' in the game- wear shorts/trousers with pockets big enough for the wii remote- follow your trainer, not your avatar, as they're always a step behind- monitor your weight with your scales as well as the balance board may not that accurate (you can also manually adjust your weight in the body analyser section)- don't bother securing the wrist strap, it's a pain as you swap hands etc all the time- keep an eye out for what exercise is next, as this can help you move the balance board around in due time. It's really handy if you are working in a small space. You will get to know which exercises the images refer to as you play.I also have Exerbeat, two Zumba games and wii fit. So this fits in with these and is really quite enjoyable and different.

9.9.2011

So, I had a gym membership until recently which I was using less and less, my reasons ranged from feeling too lethargic to make the effort to feeling akward next to the almost olympic running abilites of fellow gym members whilst I lumbered along with my dodgey knees, excess weight and blistering breathlessness. Love the US Biggest Loser (the UK version always seems a poor relation) so felt that buying this 'game' for less than the price of one month's membership was smart and likely to yield results.I must say I was pleasantly suprised at how tailored you can make your use of this home personal training and it didn't take very long to set up but boy, if I discovered anything,it was how unfit I am starting off. Had I been with a trainer at a gym, I would not have ventured back however in the comfort of my lounge with no one watching, I was able to accept my poor fitness level not as a negative but as a confirmation that I am now able to do something about it without feeling judged.You do need a Balance board and if you can find cheap resistance bands, invest in them (they are instead of weights and will really help with upper arm toning etc). You don't need a great deal of space and instead of moving the Balance board every few minutes when changing exercise, simply step back and work behind it. I know there have been negative comments about the breaks between exercise sessions and complaints that it let's your heart rate drop BUT the best way to burn fat is to create an environment where your heart rate is taken up, allowed to drop then taken back up, this shock tactic of 'suprising' your body increases exercise results. Also there are quite a few complaints that it doesn't register certain movements such as rope skipping but I haven't found this and wonder if it's simply because users focus on the jumping rather than the wrist movement - you have to imagine you are actually using a skipping rope.Jillian is a tougher trainer but for many people like myself, tough love works better. The music isn't irritating and it's good that both trainers continually encourage and advise how you should be positioning yourself throughout the exercise. My very slim and lovely looking teenager daughter loves the programme and is using it every other day not to lose weight but to tone her muscles and she thinks it's great fun!You can chose what you want to achieve eg weight loss, toning particular parts, increasing cardio etc and over what period of time you would like to achieve results, so there is no pressure to work to the creators' timeline, you create your own and if you find you have over/under estimated you ability, you can amend it.I think this is marvellous value for money and my only gripe is that it uses metric and I like to know what I am in stones and pounds, not kilos. I recommend this to all ages, male or female, of whatever starting fitness level and I'm intending to buy it for my grown up daughter who has an office job and always moans that she often feels unfit and tired. Go for it, you won't be disappointed and you will definitely lose weight/tone up seeing your first results within a week.

16.6.2011

I don't normally write reviews but thought I would for this particular item because I was really impressed with it.Like most people that are fairly body conscious I'm often looking for something new and fun to keep me motivated to work out and this does exactly that. However you do have to follow it closely to get results. The first time you log on might seem a little disappointing as you just do a basic fitness test and nothing else, but log into it again the next day and you can start your workout regime and then create your own character, which I have to say matches your body shape pretty accurately.Normally I have only been using it once or twice a week, but for the past week I have used it every day.

23.12.2010

I love this game - the versatility and player specific workouts are excellent.You can design your own avatar, work out on different difficulty levels and choose from a range of exercises including boxing, yoga and circuits on as many or few days of the week you want to.There are weekly weigh-ins (in lbs or kg) and challenges to keep you motivated throughout the week, its like the tv show but without the nastyness of the other competitors. Im still on the easiest mode but for me it can be a struggle sometimes (this is good).You can add resistance bands and balance ball for even more variety but if you use a balance board it is a bit of a pain moving it around for different activities,

23.2.2011

I love this! I do go to the gym but wanted something that I could also do at home. I love The Biggest Loser TV programmes and was so interested in purchasing this challenge.I find the workouts interesting and variable and with Bob/Gillian showing you each move it is also easy to follow. The ranges of effort will suit all fitness levels. The exercise variety is good too ~ you can target specific areas to concentrate on and you can also incoporate the exercise ball of bands if you have them. It is a tailor made trainer, dietician, motivator all in one and is serious but fun. The tips are encouraging.

1.4.2011

I should start this by saying that I'm a 66 year old grandma who hasn't done much excersize for quite some time. My aim was to loose about 1st. and also get a little fitter and after one month I can honestly say it's been a real success as far as I'm concerned and I much prefer it to the Wii Fit DVD's.I've lost about 6lb - not exactly earth-shattering but fine by me and I've just moved onto the intense workouts.Yes, it takes a little while to set up your character and add in your details (you need to measure your neck, chest, waist and hips in cm.) but I didn't find that a problem.I know some people don't like the rests between sections and the fact you're told to move the controller to the other hand etc.,

22.2.2011

This is a great product that gives you different workouts every day from cardio thru yoga-type sessions. You do need to get past a couple of things that might put you off right up front. Firstly, to assess your fitness, the tests are quite gruelling and this put me off going back on to do my training the next day. However, I steeled myself and found that the scheduled training was at the right level for me - not easy by any means, but not so difficult that I was struggling to complete the exercises. The second is that the 'fat person' training turned out to be me, and although they do a body analyaser, is a completely different size and shape to me (honest!).

2.4.2011

I got this game a couple of days ago to tide me over if I can't get to the gym.I did the fitness test and was happy to find it recommended I did Hard level. It's just like having a personal trainer in your own home. Yes sometimes it doesn't pick up the remote for skipping etc and when it says put it in your pocket I find tucking it into my shoulder strap more effective. I am aching after the work out (I do 40 mins) and can feel muscles tightening, I'm doing a very low calorie diet so have not used the recipes yet but will do soon.Some people have commented on the time taken to swap hands, or when it tells you to take a drink but it is proven that raising the heart rate then doing something to drop it,

3.2.2011

Fitness is just a word to me now, my days of fitness seems long long ago, my work no longer requires me to be on my feet for hours, now im tied to a computer for long hours & because of this my waist size is fast catching up with my age.Early days for this Wii "game", but i already ache in places long forgotten, i work up a sweat & breath hard partaking in the exercise's, gulp water down when allowed, but at least i don't make a fool of myself in the local gym, which at this time of year is rammed full of those full of good intentions, only to lose their way as the year winds on.For those like me 50 & fat, this is a good way to help lose weight (watch what you eat, no good doing the game,

12.3.2011

I bought this as I've recently got a Wii and wanted something more exciting than Wii Fit. I love the Biggest Loser TV programme so thought this would be a good way to work out - and it is, I really love it!! YOu can sign up to different workouts - different areas of the body, different time lengths etc, which makes it a very varied and less monotonous regime. I do find it a bit frustrating in a couple of areas though - for some reason when I'm doing the Jump Rope exercises the Wii doesn't pick up the fact, and it registers very low or not at all on the screen, affecting my overall workout and calorie burn. I checked the batteries, signal strength etc but it makes no difference!!

17.2.2011

I bought this a few weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I have noticed my flabby bits tightening up already and have lost a couple of pounds.I normally use fitness DVD's and am a big fan of Davina however doing the same workout all the time can be very boring and repetitive. I got a Wii for Christmas and had started off with the wii fit game but that is quite disjointed.The biggest loser is different because:a) You can choose the length of your workoutb) You can choose how often to workoutc) Each workout is different and catered to your fitness leveld) You get a progress report after each workoute) You have a weekly weigh inf) You can do extra workouts at any timeg)

19.1.2011

We bought this after buying Wii Fit Plus. The Wii board is excellent, but the Wii Fit doesn't do much for losing those pounds. So we decided to get this game and see how it went.It starts with an assessment, you go through Warm Up, Moderate, Challenging, Hard stages... If you get tired (and you do!) it puts you on that level to start off with (it can be changed TO BEGIN WITH, afterwards you need to progress into harder levels). You can also choose not to go for the regime, and choose exercises yourself.The regime is quite good with a mixture of exercises (warm up, cardio, muscle tightening, relaxing). The pace is great and you don't loose time checking how many calories you burnt or your place in the ranking (like in the Wii Fit).

21.1.2011

My hubby and I decided that gym membership was an expensive way to NOT exercise so after reading the reviews we decided to take the plunge, and so far ( 1 week) we haven't regretted it.I used to be very fit but over the past 5 years, marriage/ wine/chocolate and baies have taken their toll on the pair of us. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly my fitness level returned with this "game". Very very enjoyable, particularly with the extra challenges they set you. Yes Folks, fitness can be fun!There is a great mix of cardio/ yoga / box fitness etc to suit all requirements and you can add extras such as the balance ball and reistance band if you prefer.The presenters are very motivational and

12.1.2012

I got this because I was feeling too intimidated at the gym. Plus I wanted to be able to workout at home and not have to keep traveling to the gym and pay gym membership fees when I was going less and less. This is a fantastic workout, but you have to stick to it and do the exercises properly. If something hurts too much the next day, it's bad form or posture whilst exercising. I always get a kick out of winning the weekly challenge. I have worked out which alternate movements work on the exercises that don't seem to register (jump rope and butt kick are 2 that fail to register for me), so even if it means I repeat an exercise already done, I know I am still getting a good workout.

19.4.2011

This game is pretty good overall - does what it says on the box. I enjoy The Biggest Loser and some of the transformations have been amazing. Like a previous comment I'm not convinced of the accuracy of the Avatar it creates for you but that is irrelevant. Graphics aren't perfect but the exercise routines are good going. I love the fact that you can choose the precise workout time - as a busy mum of two who works full-time and volunteers for Girl Guiding, I opt for the less than 20 minutes option to fit around my commitments. My daughter loves the challenges and is pretty good at them.Apart from the initial setup which seems to take forever to gauge your fitness level the game is straightforward to use.

The Biggest Loser: Challenge (Wii) - Reviews

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