So I'd like something a little more tough than Wii Fit Plus, but am a little afraid of hurting myself at the same time.

Can anyone please advise on a good way to get into EA Sports Active? (the original version, not the plus version)

I would say to just take it easy. Start on the easiest intensity, and try to stick to the schedule. I have found that if I miss too many sessions that getting started again can be quite hard.

I actually think More Workouts is an easier program than the original Personal Trainer. Just start off with the easy setting and if you find things you can't do then skip them but remember if you never do them then you'll never get so you can.

Hi, I was also wondering how best to approach this. I have been very nervous of starting it as I realise I need to be committed to it.

Is there not a menu where you can select what exercises you would like to do then?

You can make a custom workout but it's much better to just jump in on the easy level and go with it. Depending which one it is there is either the 30 day challenge or the 6 week challenge but the program doesn't really care if you do the days it tells you to. I sometimes work right straight through or we went away for the weekend and I missed 3 days.

You have the option at the beginning of each workout to uncheck anything you don't want to do but it kind of defeats the purpose of working out if you only pick the easy things. The workouts are planned to be balanced when done as they are and in the order that they are.

Hi,

I was brave and set this up yesterday. First impressions are that it is quite tough even on the easy setting. I hate running and it gave me two lots of running so I found that hard going but I'm keeping an open mind and will see what today holds for me!

The boxing looks good though .

It is a tough workout but that's why it works. Wii Fit is fun and better than sitting on the couch but it isn't a workout even if you do the exercise portions. There's not much cardio work in Wii Fit. In order to get your metabolism up you have to get your heart pumping hard. In a good workout you should be able to still talk to someone but not easily or really want to. A trainer once told me that was the best measure of whether you were getting benefit. You shouldn't be able to carry on a conversation easily but you shouldn't be so out of breath that you can't talk at all.

Stick with it, it's really worth it. I started out on easy almost a year ago and remember thinking I was going to die. My legs were so sore I couldn't walk up the stairs at work the next day. I kept at it everyday and now I go through the challenges on hard without any trouble. It's a great feeling to have increased my fitness that much and it just makes so many other things easier too because I have the strength and cardio stamina now.

Wow Mokey, that's amazing! I feel the same, can barely do some of the exercises at the moment can't quite believe that I can improve! I find the running just sooo hard (large chest, really not comfy at all running...)
Did you find you lost weight using this software then? I am just desperate to lose even a few lb, I find Wii Fit isn't shifting the pounds so quick. I really need to start seeing results as I am putting the work in but little to show for it so far (And I have been really controlling food intake too)

I started with Wii Fit, my daughter got it for me, because I've had surgery on both knees due to an old injury and now have a torn ligament in my shoulder from a work injury. So I only have one good arm left to work with. My physiotherapist suggested that doing some low impact strength training would help because if I could improve my muscle tone then it would help support my joints. We thought maybe Wii Fit would be a good thing.

Starting in April 2009 I used my Wii Fit everyday. I faithfully weighed in and that motivated me to eat a bit better so I'd see some pounds come off. I got really hooked on seeing that loss so really took the eating seriously and cut back to between 1200 and 1500 calories a day while keeping up with my Wii Fit things.

By June of 2009 I had decided that Wii Fit was fun but not really helping much with building strength or really burning much in the way of calories. My daughter had purchased EA Active and let me try it. At first it was hard but I stuck with it and I can't believe the difference it has made. I have virtually no knee pain now and I've strengthened my shoulder to the point that most things don't cause me pain there now either.

I can't say that Active was the reason for weight loss but it certainly didn't hurt. Everything helps, even if I only burn 100 calories its a 100 more than if I sat on the couch. Building more muscle means your body burns more fat and that can only be good. My suggestion for running is to invest in a good sports bra. Get it so tight it fits like skin. My friend wears her regular bra with a sports bra over top because she is "top heavy". The running is great cardio exercise so you don't want to give it up.

You might not see weight loss at first because your poor sore muscles will store water but once they start to get used to the exercise you'll see definition starting to happen and probably pounds going as well. It's a good idea to measure yourself now when you're starting so you can see if you are losing inches. I wish I had done it because I have no record at all.