Kinect: Your Shape - Fitness Evolved

Eight years ago I suffered a serious and ongoing spinal injury. Prior to this I had been a keep-fit maniac, my main activities being karate and mounting biking. Since the injury I've been advised by the medical professionals to avoid high-impact work-outs and stick to Pilates, Tai Chi and so on. I was given a ten year window before my back became deteriorated to the point that surgery would be on the cards and last summer through to the end of the year I was knocking on that door and the usual exercises weren't doing the usual stuff. My wife also has recent health issues - the joys of mid-life - and suggested getting a treadmill. For that money I thought I'd just get a Wii instead. Good stuff but when we started chatting to folk about the Wii many said how much better the Kinect was... so we went out and bought one of those as well. It's good having the Wii and Kinect as it ups the variation no end, but I have to say Fitness Evolved is head and shoulders above anything else in terms of keep fit. Much of the Wii restricts you to the balance board and a work-out feels just that - restricted and clunky. The free-movement here is the major selling point for me, it feels much more like being in a real aerobics class and the exercises are more akin to the routines I was familiar with back in my sporting days.

Weight loss is not my main priority, although the cherry on the cake by-product of getting back in shape is that I have lost half a stone in three weeks. As someone who can't go out for a jog on concrete or uneven terrain and who never cared for gym culture, this product is perfect. I can even have a swig of tea whenever I want!

This is really good. it has personal training classes that take you through lunges and general cardio workouts, being unfit, I found it quite knackering. Has yoga type stuff on it and out of the four games I got on release for kinect, this shows it's capabilities very well.
Worth getting if you think mixing gaming with exercise could finally burn of the belly. If you're lucky like me, your girlfriend will buy it for herself!

Forget Kinect Sports, Adventures etc - this is what Kinect is all about, this is what a person like me who finds the gym repetitive and boring wants in exercise. This is what people who haven't got the time/can't be bothered to go the gym, go for a jog or afford a treadmill in the house.

I got this yesterday, I was on it for a solid 2 hours last night and I was absolutely knackered - and I only burned off 300 odd calories! You can choose how you want to work out, be it cardio or toning etc. But also there are a few mini games to work off the fat such smashing blocks on the screen using boxing techniques.

For those that are skeptical to whether it will actually keep you fit/lose weight, rest assured you will be sweating by about 10 minutes. It doesn't just throw you into the thick of it however, it does allow you to ease yourself into each routine which gradually gets more strenuous as time passes. You can either set up a fitness regime with a "personal trainer" or if you don't want to be told what to do, you can simply pick any activity you want - it's that simple.

Another clever thing about this game is that Achievements are linked to burning off calories - so you will get an Achievement for burning off 100, 200 300, 600 calories etc.... so there's motivation there to gain them.

There is a section where you can use dumbells so it's worth buying a couple for this, and there is also a section for women who have recently given birth. This is a big bonus because currently my wife is pregnant and she said it'll come in handy post birth.

I highly recommend this for anyone who's like me who would love to work out and do some exercise, but hasn't got the motivation to plug in some earphones and jog on a treadmill or work on a cross trainer - because this isn't boring, it actually makes exercising fun and interesting and before you know it, an hour's exercise has passed and you feel great about yourself in mind and body.

I purchased this yesterday and have to say after 30mins of playing it I was sweating and panting, which is a good thing :) It is after all a fitness game. It's very responsive and accurate and good fun too. A must have for kinect users and fitness fanatics...well worth the money.

I got this for my wife really. She's not fat or anything, just needs to get her flexibility and balance improved along with a cardio workout now and then. She has a mobility issue due to a debilitating condition. Anyway, i can't believe how good this is. She is able to do some zen-tai chi, and some gym games. i have had a go and have thoroughly enjoyed getting the ol ticker going and working up a right sweat. The body mapping is amazing, the routines are varied and can be short and sharp or longer and slower, the gym games are fun and it just looks perfect. The zen classes are relaxing as well as giving you a good stretch. Doing a fitness programme and being totally in sync with the trainer quick time is a sight to behold ! i am going to show this to as many people as possible. Another person i know in a similar situation has gone out and bought the whole set up for her husband after seeing a vid i sent her on my mobile of my wife doing some exercises. TOP NOTCH.
As i said in my kinect review, try and mount the sensor high up, the play area is a lot nearer the tv this way.