Wii Fit Users?

Erica - I had some scar reduction surgery done over Thanksgiving and was on very strict upper body restrictions for 6 weeks - no lifting, bending, stretching, reaching, or even jiggling.  I put together a routine on the Wii and I just didn't do the arm stuff - for instance, on tree, I just put my leg up on my other leg, but didn't raise the arms.  On half moon, I bent over sideways, but kept my arms next to me instead of extending them.  On warrior, I didn't extend my arms.  On the strength leg extension stuff, I just did the leg motions, not the arms.  I didn't do stuff like plank or other exercises, but I did several sets of rowing squats (minus the arm action).  I was able to put together a decent 30 minute routine between the yoga and strength exercises - not the greatest workout in the world, but it kept me going for those 6 weeks till I was cleared to get back to normal workouts. 

Also, about the risers being hard on my knees - about 10 years ago, long before b/c , I began to have trouble with stairs because of my knees.  I went to a PT who gave me some simple exercises to strengthen my quads - they only took about 15 minutes but I did them daily for about 6 months.  They really made the difference, and trained my body to put the strain on the quads and hammies, not the knees.  Steps, and aerobic steppers and the Wii riser really don't bother my knees anymore as they are no longer getting the brunt of the stress.    

As for your shoulder, do you have a shoulder impingement?  I had that on both sides after surgery.  My LE therapist said that it's not uncommon among b/c survivors because we've gotten into the habit of hunching our shoulders to ease the pain and stress on our chests after our surgeries.  She incorporated treatment for that into my LE therapy, and it's really helped.  I noticed that I began to get a bit of shoulder pain right after my Tkg surgery, so now that my restrictions are off, I'm incorporating some of my therapy exercises into my workouts to work on that issue as well.  Good luck! 

Fellow Wii Fit Users - a story you might appreciate.  This morning I actually managed to complete the entire 180 seconds of the Lotus Focus.  Not really all that amazing, except that this was Wii Fit With Cat Assistant - the cat was rubbing against me and head bumping me for the first minute or so.  Then, his eye caught the flickering candle and the moth flight on the screen.  Then he sat in front of me, bolt upright, facing the screen, and stared.  So there the two of us were - lined up one behind the other, both sitting upright and still, staring wide-eyed at the screen. I almost started laughing imagining how we must have looked.  But I held it together and successfully finished.

Anyone else have to do Wii Fit With Cat (or Dog) Assistant?  It can be a challenge, especially in some of those balance activities!   

I love my WiiFit.  By the way if you have regular WiiFit you can just buy the WiiFit plus CD.  It's just more advanced excercises and only costs $19.99.   I love the WiiFit Plus excercises. For aerobics I like the Rhythm Parade, the Basic run, the kung fu (for a little break), and the Obstacle Course.  The balance games are great and the Yoga is good too.   The bicycle course is good but difficult.  I can do the short course but I won't do the long course after trying it just once.   It's really a workout!   I just bought a Zumba CD for the WiiFit that is also a good workout. 

LG300,

The ZUMBA CD is for the Wii and it's called ZUMBA Fitnees Join the Party. It just came out a month or so ago and it's quite a workout.

Hello, Finally getting healed up after having the flu for 2 weeks. Going to start with the wii today. Sounds like fun for all