
To support my 2014 resolution, my husband set up the Wii Fit in our room. The idea of being able to hop out of bed on a cold winter morning, walk 3 steps, and be on my Wii Fit board for a work-out is infinitely easier than going out to exercise in the snow. Most of the 2,132 days I have used the Wii have been in in the winter. I have hula-hooped, hopped across rocks, boxed, golfed, and chased beach balls across the sand in the sun as virtual me, while snow fell outside the windows of physical me. I love the Wii exercises and the praise you get for completing them. There have been days when my Wii Me has been the only one to give me a compliment. It’s not all sun and beach balls, though. Wii Me can be very hard to please.
This morning after his own work-out, my husband turned on the Wii so it was all ready for me. I could hear the Wii sounds even though my face was buried in my pillow. I turned over, opened one eye, and peeked out to see the glow of the TV showing off the line of Wii characters which represent our family. All had their heads down in a sleeping posture, all that is, except mine. I could see Wii Me outfitted and eager. Dressed in pink, she was staring straight at me even though our TV is quite a distance and at an angle from my bed. I shut my eyes and told myself that my Wii character did not really care whether or not I got out of bed. Cautiously I opened my eyes again, just to reassure myself, and there she was still staring at me while the others slept. Now, I know that the Wii Characters are programmed to fall asleep and look up hopefully, in sequence. So, I figured it was just a matter of time till she started to snooze. I shut my eyes, counted to ten, and looked up again. Wii Me was not only staring at me, she was actively motioning me over to exercise. I was rather terrified to shut my eyes again.
"Okay, okay, I am getting up," I muttered. I pulled myself out of bed, hopped on my Wii Fit board, and grabbed the control. If Wii Me was in such a hurry, she'd have to take me as I was, in my jammies and before I’d brushed my teeth. I clicked “A” and Wii Me jumped up and down. “Why are you in such a good mood?” I fairly snarled. I clicked the fitness board with my toe and jumped on the board. "Owwgghhhhhh!" she said, as if the weight of real me was too much for Wii Me to bear. "You wanted me to do this!" I groaned back. Wii Me responded, "You need to work out every day to improve your health and your posture . . . “ I hurriedly clicked to skip the familiar lecture on my way to the yoga. "I know, I know," I said.
I did several yoga moves, and cheered up as I was praised by my virtual instructor. The Wii had just complimented me on my nice balance, when my non-virtual daughter popped her head in and said, "Nice work, Mom! Sounds like you are doing great on that yoga!" I smiled and then gave a ‘don’t get any ideas that I am enjoying this’ eye roll to Wii Me as I went on.
I was just considering a light run through a park scene with water falls, when I noticed the time and realized I had to get going or I would be late for work. I clicked to end and Wii Me congratulated real me for my efforts. "Thank you. It was tempting not to get out of bed. But I am glad I did," I replied. Taking advantage of the moment, my Wii Me then reminded me I needed to exercise every day if I was to meet my fitness goal. "Would you quit griping! You are lucky I got out of bed," I shouted.
"Who are you shouting at?" my husband asked. “My Wii Me,” I said. “I do one thing she wants and then she asks for more. I just can't keep Wii Me happy!” "I know exactly how she feels!" retorted my husband.
I have a feeling that tomorrow when my husband turns on the Wii I will be in the mood, and motivated, to do a round of boxing. We girls -- Wii Me and real me -- need to stick together!”
From the desk of Kim Power Stilson, host of The Kim Power Stilson Show on BYU Radio.