January 15th, 2009
We have several video game systems in our house. Too many, to be honest, but my children rarely use them. Which, I suppose is a good thing, but it brings me back to ask, “Why do we have so many if we don’t use them?”
We have a Nintendo 64, a PS2, a PSP, a Nintendo DS, and yes, we even have an original Playstation and Game Boy Colors. Two of them. And up until a few years ago, we also had a Super Nintendo.
No, I’m not lying. I should’ve kept it but the kids were fighting, I got angry and I threw it away.
So, if I told you that I’m dying to get a Wii, you would probably ask me why, since I have all these other systems in my house and don’t use them, right? (Case in point: We bought the PS2, or rather, Matthew did, with his birthday money last January for the sole purpose of playing Guitar Hero. We now own them all and I can’t tell you the last time that we played. However, he wanted Rock Band, as did I, and Santa delivered it. We’ve not played since the kids went back to school almost two weeks ago.
We just have other things to do with our time.
Again, not a bad thing, but even though I know that we have ones that we don’t use, and too many of them at that, I still and DYING for a Wii.
And the reason is kinda funny.
I want Wii Fit.
That’s the only reason.
I look online all the time for used ones, deals, sales, and specials. I have a Google Alert set up to let me know when someone is giving one away online, just so that I can go over and enter to win. I don’t know that I would ever buy one, especially now that I have Dave Ramsey in my head everytime I am anywhere that I can spend money, but the desire is there.
And I have convinced myself that I would lose weight if I had a Wii Fit. More importantly that I would excercise.
What’s even funnier is that all the money that I’ve spent on gym memberships that I don’t use? Coulda bought a Wii or two for me and some friends. Heh.
One of the places that I look for the Wii is Game Stop. It’s in the mall. It’s online. I can check all the time. It’s where we bought the used PS2. The PS3’s had come out and people were trading in. We cashed in. We only needed it to play Guitar Hero.
We also get many of our games there. We love Game Stop.
Game Stop is on to us though. They know that people are more technologically savvy these days and that working out in the gym or walking through the neighborhood just isn’t as fun. As I’ve confessed in the past about my desire for a Wii solely for Wii Fit, others have chimed in, stating that they thought the same thing.
Now, we do have Dance Dance Revolution, but it’s the Disney edition. There’s only so much Hannah, High School Musical and the Cheetah Girls that I can stand. In fact, the game that she HAD to have still sits in the box. I think she had it out Christmas Day. She said something about how the whole house shakes when she dances.
I’m sure it wouldn’t do that as I was working out on my Wii Fit.
But Game Stop, not ever expecting video games to increase fitness levels but knowing that January brings resolutions and many of them include losing weight came up with the “Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body” initiative that will run the entire month of January that includes a special incentive to discover active gaming. So you can stop by a local store and demo a range of titles that match your interests and skill level.
And, As a special incentive, all shoppers who spend $35 or more on designated products will receive a free 12-month trial subscription to their choice of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook, Good Housekeeping or Esquire.
So you can add reading to the list of things you’re doing to sharpen your mind so you can increase your Brain Age right before you hop on the Wii to Shape Your Body.
Wow. You’re going to be smokin’.
It’s January 15th. If you’ve been thinking about losing weight or getting smarter this year, and started out strong and are starting to taper off, or if you’ve just been thinking about it alot, wondering if you really wanted to give it the old college try, let me tell you something.
Do it.
Consider me your conscious.
And do it the fun way. If for no other reason, than I can’t. 
Seriously, though, video games have come a long way. While most still allow you to sit and stare at a screen all day pushing buttons and recovering from “Nintendo Thumb” there are games out there that do provide a value and do serve a purpose. Those are the games that I wouldn’t mind my children playing over and over again.
Sharpening Your Mind and Shaping Your Body can now be convenient and fun and less expensive than the more traditional routes, but hey! If it works…
Check out Game Stop for games that would interest you and your family.
And if you get a Wii and Wii Fit, I don’t want to know how much weight you’ve lost or how good you feel. Because I would have to call Dave Ramsey and tell him that it’s all his fault I’m still 30 pounds heavier than I want to be.
Until next time…
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I have the Bert and Ernie Building Set up for grabs. Pint sized building buddies can construct their favorite Muppet duo with this building set. Forty-six vibrantly colored parts, including blue and red sneakers, molded hair and striped blocks for the pair’s colorful sweaters come together to create impressively accurate characters. It includes three fun, educational activity cards and a sheet of additional building ideas as well as come packaged in durable storage containers. (Does K’Nex know Mom’s or what??)
I’ve already talked about how it’s hard for me to find 
