Can you lose weight by playing video games?

The answer is an emphatic “YES!”

You simply need to know how to do it right. There are three very important steps in this process:

1) Choosing the games that will help your weight loss goal,

2) Knowing when and how to play these games, and finally,

3) Knowing what modifications you need to make to the game so that you don’t lose sight of your weight loss goal.

The first thing you need to do is narrow down the type of video games you want to play for your weight loss regimen.

There are two types of games that will help you get in shape: workout games and fitness games.

Workout games are designed to help you exercise your body, while fitness games are designed to help you exercise your mind. I’ll start with workout games.

Workout Games

As the name suggests, these are video games that do double duty by being both fun and physically beneficial.

These days there are so many of them that it’s easy to find one that will match your style and fitness level.

Your best bet is to do a Google search for “video games that help you lose weight.” There are literally thousands of titles to choose from, so narrow your results by specifying the type of video game system you have or the most popular ones in your age group or gender.

From there it’s just a matter of choosing your favorite. If you’re not sure which one to start with, go with a Wii Fit or Dance Dance Revolution game. You’ll be able to tell if you like the game style by trying it for a few minutes.

Just remember that not all workout games are created equal.

As an example I’ll use Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009. This game have over 100 workout routines, which means you can find one that suits your skill level and fitness goals.

If you’re just getting started it will offer some easy workouts so you have the confidence to move up in difficulty as you get stronger. This way of progressing allows even novice players to become experts at difficult routines very quickly.

The great thing about this game is that it has separate difficulty settings for each routine, so you can select the workout that matches your skill level and needs.

If you haven’t exercised in a while or are just beginning to shape up through diet and exercise, I recommend starting with routines 1-5, which are designed for beginners.

Once you’ve become more experienced, you can move up to routines 6-10 (intermediate) and then 11-15 (advanced). There are even three routines dedicated to fitness buffs.

Of course, with most workout games, eventually you’re going to want a new challenge. When that time comes, take a look at the Vault section of Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009.

Here you will find new routines that require you to master all types of workouts before they will be unlocked. You’ll need to complete such activities as jogging, jumping jacks and pushups before you can play them in this game.

As with other games, the difficulty settings for these routines will match your skill level.

When you’re ready for a real challenge, check out Jillian Michaels’ Ultimate Workout. This game gives you 30 days to complete all workouts and become an “ultimate” fitness machine!

If you succeed, the game will unlock 60 additional routines that are so hard they can be classified as torture. However, if you accomplish this fitness feat you’ll reap some serious rewards.

I’m talking about over 600 different exercises and workouts that will keep you in shape for the rest of your life!

Workout games make it easy to lose weight because you can turn exercise into fun by playing them anytime, anywhere.

Just plug in the game, pop on your special shoes and start exercising. When you’re done, take off your shoes and step on the Wii Balance Board (if you have one) to see how well you did.

As if that’s not enough, some people even use their workout games to shape more than just their body; they also want to get in shape mentally. So let’s take a look at some games that sharpen your mind.

Brain Games

One of the hottest new fitness trends is called Brain Fit or Mind Fit. This type of game trains you to use parts of your brain in ways that are difficult (but very beneficial) for most people.

For example, there’s a game called Simon (by Hasbro) in which you must follow the pattern of lights and sounds by pressing the appropriate buttons. If you keep playing, eventually your brain is trained to memorize patterns and sequence so that your reaction time improves.

This is really important because it helps your memory and can even help you score better on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT.

Other games train players to enhance their ability to visualize. These kinds of games work on your spatial awareness and can help you become a better mechanic, architect or engineer.

Just make sure you get the right tools; some mental momentum games require special glasses, such as 3-D glasses or motion sensitive sunglasses .

There are even games that train your brain to focus and ignore distractions. These games are great for students who have a tough time staying on task when studying.

Some of these exercises train you to use both sides of your brain at once, just like Jillian Michaels does in her fitness routines!

Of course, no one likes doing things they’re not good at. So try mastering some easier games before moving on to the more difficult ones.

One great place to start is the Vault section in Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009, which keeps track of your progress and scores (but won’t let you advance to the next routine until you’ve mastered the current one).

If you want some additional help on techniques or strategies, check out any of the information sites for video games.

Today’s workout games have been scientifically proven to help people lose weight, increase reaction time and even become smarter.

So the next time you need a good way to work out, pick up a controller and start playing!

Workout Video Games Help You Lose Weight, Boost Reaction Time & Make You Smarter!