PC Format November 2009

Your PC as a keep-fit device? Surely not...

The world is divided into two camps – those who like to run around in public and those who don’t. So, while examples of exergaming such as Dance, Dance Revolution have been held up as a solid example of getting fit using gaming, the question remains: do they work?

Says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams (www.laurawilliamsonline.co.uk): “You’d have to be prepared to dance for an hour every day to lose about a pound a week and you’d need to be breaking a sweat the entire time.”

“People don’t realise how tough it is to use exercise as a means of weight loss. You need to do a lot!”

“A typical 13 to 14 stone male will burn approximately 545 calories an hour cycling at moderate intensity, so if you wanted to lose say two pounds a week you’d need to burn 1000 calories a day, the equivalent of running 10 miles for most people.

Exergames where conventional gym type equipment, like the PC-Pro and the PCGamerBike provide a gym-style workout combined with the fun and engagement of a video game. Laura added that if she were to create a routine including exergaming then she would recommend a combination of longer, lower intensity aerobic sessions of around 40-60 minutes with interval training and resistance work like lunges and squats to build your muscle mass.

To book a session or to find out how Laura can help you get into shape, email her at laura@laurawilliamsonline.co.uk

Or call her on 07712 001525.