Wildflower Walk

My son, Tim and I have been doing various hikes during the mornings when he's home from school.  He and I have been enjoying it.  Our favorite activity is to search out all the different wildflowers on our trek.

Virginia Bluebell at O'Neil Woods

This Spring we have noticed a bounty of wildflowers.  Tim's favorite is the Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  While at Nature Realm, we found about thirty to fifty Pulpit plants on the Seneca trail.  Tim favorite pastime is to lift the Pulpit or hood to locate the "Jack."  It's interesting how the "Jack" or spadix varies from green to dark brown.  We do have to be careful, Jack-in-the-Pulpit has three leaves which are trifoliate and can be confused with poison ivy.

A Cut-leaved Toothwort near Yellow Creek

When walking in O'Neil Woods on the Deer Run trail we have found a plethora of wildflowers.  The trail skims Yellow Creek which is a tributary to the Cuyahoga river.   The moist woodland floor is a suitable environment for wildflowers.  We've seen numerous Virginia Bluebells, Cut-leaved Toothwarts, Common Blue Violets, Downy Yellow Violets and Yellow Trout Lilies.  I have to admit that the Yellow Trout Lily is my current favorite wildflower.  It's petals are such a charming shade of yellow and are drawn back.  An additional identification is the lily's green leaves mottled with brown.  

Another stomping ground for Tim and I is Silver Creek Metro Park.  We love to ramble through Pheasant Run Trail since it loops through the woods.  There are a couple of nice ponds and fields to walk by which promote the growth of wildflowers.  I was amazed at how many wild strawberry plants we found.  We also saw countless Mayapples.  The plant looks somewhat prehistoric but has a beautiful lone flower found at the axil of two leaves.  Tim and I hunt for the Mayapple plants that have white flowers on them.

The last impressive wildflower that Tim and I saw was the Large-flowered Trillium at Nature Realm.  Seeing this flower is a real treat.  It is the official wildflower of Ohio and there are few plants around.  If you see a Painted Trillium in the woods (I haven't yet), you are witnessing a plant with an uncertain future.  So when you walk through the woods, contemplate but don't tamper with nature.

I hope I have inspired you to take a stroll through the forest.  I know Tim and I will be soon.  Remember to stop, listen and look for the wildflowers.  You will be impressed by their understated beauty.

Psyching up for Summer

It's swimsuit season soon.  Some of you may be groaning already.  If you need some help to get ready, I have a great workout video for you.  It will help you prepare for the body-revealing summer.

Ellen Barrett's video requires just a yoga mat and dumbbells.

I've been working my gluteus maximus off all spring thanks to an exercise DVD by Ellen Barrett.  As I mentioned before in my "Million Ways" blog, I keep searching for new workout DVDs.  My latest find is "Slim Sculpt" by Ellen Barrett.  It's a great exercise program that includes both cardio and strength training.

My initial reason for choosing this video was due to Barrett's low impact method.  She uses Pilates techniques with resistance training.  Her added benefit is that you can do it in your bare feet!  A yoga matt is suggested but not required for this workout.  Likewise, three to five pound dumbbells are useful for this exercise routine.

For the unfamiliar, Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates of Germany for rehabilitation of World War I veterans.  Just like yoga, the practice entails you focusing on the breath.  The Pilates method has you breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth (unlike yoga which has you inhale and exhale through the nose).  Barrett is excellent at reminding you to be mindful (see my last blog) as you perform the exercises.

At first, I wasn't sure this exercise routine would be rigorous enough for me.  However, by the time Barrett has you doing upper arm circles with the weights, I was feeling fatigued.  Since Pilates incorporates stretching while strengthening, Barrett has you perform leg stretches while you are working your arms.  It is amazing how many muscles are being utilized while exerting her moves.

Barrett's video also contains floor work.  Central to Pilates is fortifying core muscles, so Barrett has a number of abdomen exercises.  Her simple maneuvers work out the torso as well as the gluteus maximus.

Overall, I highly recommend her "Slim Sculpt" video.  It is an excellent approach to integrating aerobics, strength training and Pilates.  If you like this DVD you might want to try her "Barefoot Cardio" which doesn't require dumbbells.

So remember, summer doesn't have to be a body concealing time of the year.  Make time to do some "Slim Sculpt"-ing.  You will look splendid in your new tankini.

Being Mindful

If you go back to my December 2009 blog, I resolved to meditate more in 2010.  Increasing my meditation frequency has been time well spent.  I just finished my finals and still feel energized.  Last year after finals, I noticed I was lethargic and tense.

Diane is practicing mindfulness.

Today I meditate twenty to thirty minutes once a day.  If I have a particularly bad day, I meditate twice in one day.  In my December blog I mentioned about using the Healing Waterfall for my meditation time.  Since then, I was able to find some additional sources for reflection.  I tend to need variety in order to be consistent in my practice.

Because I am a yoga devotee, I discovered a DVD by Yoga Zone with Alan Finger.  He guides you through two methods of meditation.  The first session uses alternative nostril breathing which seems strange at first, but it works.  Finger also incorporates the Kriya breath to help with preparing for internal reflection.  I always feel transported after completing this part of the DVD.

In the second segment of the DVD, Finger has you focus on the various chakras with colored shapes.  I like his use of imagery which assists in reaching contemplative mindfulness and calmness.  For me, guided imagery is best for my meditation practice.  Both sessions on the DVD last about twenty minutes (yoga poses before meditation add an additional ten minutes) which is ample time for meditation during a busy day.

Some of you may be scratching your head at my use of "mindfulness."  The word refers to a type of metacognition.  Metacognition is the psychological study of an individual's awareness of what he or she is thinking at the present moment.   It is hard for me to stay connected in my thoughts with the present moment.  I am usually thinking about plans in the future or events that have already occurred.  The act of mindfulness teaches me to be conscious of the here and now.  The purpose behind mindfulness is to let go of stressful situations that may have just happened (like my final exams) and concentrate on experiencing the present moment (this beautiful Spring weather). 

That is why I love yoga.  My yoga practice gently brings me to awareness of my breathing and sensations that are occurring in my body.  It relieves my accumulated tension.  Yoga does this by prompting me to to be mindful, observe my thoughts and let them go while I am practicing my poses.  I am remarkably relaxed after practicing yoga.

Meditation has the same application.  It helps me to let go of worry about my daily activities and to zero in on my breathing.    I found an excellent iPhone app and podcasts to assist in my mediation practice.  Meditation Oasis has a selection of podcasts for guided meditation by Mary Maddux.  If you download the iPhone application, it has a larger selection of guided mediations with Maddux.  I especially like her meditations on "opening the heart" and "the inner child."  

For those of you who know me, I am a spiritual person.  I wanted to incorporate a more mystical aspect to my meditation.  I came across a guided meditation by Dr. Raymond Lloyd Richmond.  His guided imagery relaxation meditation centers on the Catholic faith and is extremely praiseworthy.  I realize that meditation is very personal and not everyone will agree with me that his recordings are beneficial.  However, after a month of listening to Richmond, my faith in Christ has strengthened and I feel an intense peacefulness throughout my daily activities.

Yes, my finals are over and I feel wonderful.  I believe the difference has been due to practicing mindfulness.  I think our society needs to unplug on a regular basis.  Meditation is a great way to disconnect from humankind and find a path to inner peace.  Now, when I am in the car, I don't always turn on the radio.  I enjoy the quiet more.  I enjoy being mindful now.

A Million Ways

I had to go pants shopping yesterday because my current trousers are extremely baggy.  During my intensive clothes hunt, I realized I may have reached the pinnacle of fitness for my body.  I couldn't wear a size 8 which was the last size I wore after Ben's pregnancy.  I had to try either a size 6 or even a 4 for pants.

Diane in 2010.

It was a satisfying feeling.  Now, you must know, this took me 42 plus years to do it.  I was never this trim or shapely.  Weight loss has been hard to achieve for so long.  That is why I sympathize with either side of the fitness battle.  It takes a mountain of effort and a persistence of a lifetime.

I  read an interesting article in the New York Time's travel section.  Michelle Higgins wrote about a conundrum with morbidly obese airline passengers.  How do airline companies treat people who struggle with their weight.  Do they publicly embarrass them, secretly hoping it's  a wake up call for them?  Or should they look upon them with compassion and find a equitable way for large people to travel.

I am on the side of being empathetic toward overweight or obese people.  Granted I have never been morbidly obese, but I did have a BMI of 37 post pregnancy(it is considered obese).  Sometimes overweight people find themselves in a no-win situation.  They may also lack the knowledge or self-motivation for healthy change.  Luckily, I was able to climb out of the hole I dug myself into.  Not everyone is that fortunate.  I know I don't want to be that large again, but I still feel some kinship with those that wrestle with their weight.

Diane and Ben in 2001

The United States is a strange country to me.  We love the idea of thinness and fitness but not quite 30% of Americans are obese.  That means we are more than overweight.  We are extremely large people.  And what type of people do we watch on television or view in our magazines?   The perfect human specimen.  Supposedly, the average female model is  23% thinner than a typical woman.  Why do we set an unattainable goal for ourselves?  Eating disorders are prevalent among models and actors.  How do we find a more realistic view of ourselves?

I want to share some of the wisdom that I've acquired over the course of my forty-two plus years.  I started dieting when I was in my teens.  Gosh I was so hopeful.  I never could fit in with the athletic set but I thought I would try.  I tried counting calories but failed miserably.  I just never learned how to eat right.  Yes, I was a little obsessed with my weight.  I thought it was the key to my happiness.  My adolescence was all about image and I believed I didn't have the right look.

My weight problem escalated in college.  I probably gained another forty pounds while working in the fast food industry.  What a place to be for an overweight young woman!  Unfortunately, I didn't have very good eating habits as a young woman.  I was eating high calorie foods and not exercising enough so I put on the weight.  I felt powerless under my condition at the time.  It would take another  five years before I could master my health.

After I was married and finished graduate school, I was confronted with my physical state.  I saw the doctor for a check on my noisy knees.   My physician said the best way to treat it was to lose about fifty pounds.  I was upset and didn't like his prognosis.  However, it got me motivated to learn how to eat better.  I discovered that initiative helps tremendously with weight loss but later realized it wasn't the only ingredient.

Mike and Diane in 1999.

I started to exercise after my wake up call.  I would ride my bike indoors on a trainer after work.  I liked riding my bike so much I even started commuting.  It felt good and I thought I turned the corner with my weight struggles.   I also stopped eating second helpings during meals and ate salads for lunch.  After six months of this routine, I dropped about 40 pounds.

I got pregnant shortly after achieving a healthy weight.  Since this was my first pregnancy, I had no clue how to eat in that condition.  I pretty much let myself go and didn't worry about how much weight I gained.  Unfortunately, that attitude helped me reach the same obesity level I had before kids.  My weight gain was frustrating.

I decided to join Weight Watchers which was a good thing at the time for me.  After about a year, I was able to lose about sixty pounds.  That was a huge success for me because I don't think I was that thin even in my high school years.

Diane and Ben in 2002.

The only problem I had with Weight Watchers (WW) is that the program doesn't teach you how to eat properly.  At this moment in time, I am sure there will be some WW fanatic that will tell me otherwise.  I was starving (and I mean, I am about to chew on Michael because dinner is late type of hunger).  I realize that you should reduce your calories to progress to a lower weight, but there has to be another satisfying way to do it.  In addition, Weight Watchers endorses manufactured food which is heavily processed and not natural.  I wanted a healthier way to eat.  

After I got pregnant and had my second child.  I decided to lose the pregnancy weight by using FitDay.  FitDay is a free website that helps dieters to keep track of calories consumed each day.  The website has a journal in which an individual can enter weight changes and compile calorie burning activities.  It was good for me to realize how much I was eating in the course of a day.  I was amazed at how easily calories could add up.  One drawback with this weight loss method is that you can underestimate the size of portions you consume and therefore undercount your calories.  Another problem with the calorie journal is that it only works if you are faithful to keeping track of food consumption.  I wanted a less intensive weight loss method. 

I did FitDay and started exercising in my basement with weights.  I didn't have time or money to join a gym and wanted convenience so I used Collage Video to find fitness DVDs.  I was able to trim myself down to my pre pregnancy weight.  Unfortunately I got pregnant again when I reached my healthy weight.

Diane and Tim in 2004.

Now, my third pregnancy as you know was hard to control because of being on bed rest.  I was unable to exercise at all so my weight ballooned.  I tried to be kind to myself.  It was hard knowing that I once was a thin person.  I rationalized all my weight gain by thinking I was sacrificing my body for my son (I would do it all over again, if I had to).  Outsiders may have seen me as an obese person but I knew I could loose the weight again after I was done breastfeeding.   Therefore, I am sympathetic to people that struggle with their weight because of my own experience.  Each person is on a different path and it might take him or her time to find a healthy way to live.

Well, I wanted something other than Weight Watchers and FitDay to aid my weight loss.  I tried the South Beach Diet because I didn't want to log in all of my food each day.  It actually was a good foundation for learning how to eat.  South Beach tries to fill a dieter's stomach with lean protein and fiber.  I still wasn't sure if I wanted to follow South Beach religiously.  

When I came across Walter Willet's book Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, his method of eating seemed like a more rational way to eat.  Willet's nutritional plan is less rigid than South Beach which is fine with me.   I started eating more vegetables and less potatoes because of their effect on blood sugar.  I also minimized my portions of protein.  When eating dinner, if I required a second helping, I would have more vegetables not protein or carbohydrates.  This worked great for my weight loss.

I also exercised about five out of seven days each week.  To keep myself interested in exercise, I varied my workout.  I used a bunch of aerobic DVDs for a workout and would do weight training on alternate days.  In addition, I walked two miles a day if I could fit it in my schedule.  I think the combination of eating well and exercising more really made me fit.

In year five of my weight loss after my third child, it has been slow and steady.  I know that's what experts recommend.  Diets only work if they are a lifestyle change and that might be the problem with short term weight fixes.  I have made permanent changes to my way of eating and exercise.  The last refinement that I made to my eating habits was portion control.  I found that by switching to smaller plates, cups and bowls contributed to even more weight loss.  

I see why it has been a struggle for myself and the average American.  I was taught that a rounded meal included a third each of carbohydrates, vegetables and protein.  Today I know a better plate consists of  half vegetables with a quarter each of protein and complex carbohydrates.  Likewise, it's important to exercise aerobically with strength training at least five days out of the week.  Oh and portion size means a lot.  The size of American dinner plates are too large.  It is better to use a luncheon plate or bowl for all meals.

That previous paragraph consists of my wisdom from the last forty some years of my life.  Nevertheless, the most important lesson I have learned about fitness and health is to be persistent and patient.  I have tried about a million ways to lose weight.  Sooner or later some of them worked.

It's Tea Time!

I've been on a tea odyssey.  During the colder months of the year, I am drawn to drinking hot tea.  Maybe it's because I need to warm up after going to the bus stop with the kids.  Or perhaps it's because I crave the taste.  Either way I wanted to find a better tea to drink.

Lately, I had been buying the Tazo tea bags like Calm (Chamomile) or African Red Bush (Rooibos).  I also tried tea bags by Two Leaves and a Bud.  They sell a hibiscus tea, Alpine Berry which is delicious and fruity but not too sweet.  I also bought their Pomi-berry which is a luscious chamomile-pomigranite blend.

On my tea hunt, I decided I wanted to go bag-less so I could save a few bucks and be more environmentally conscious.  Thankfully, I saw an episode of America's Test Kitchen in which they reviewed tea pots.  The ingenuiTEA by Adagio Teas was their only recommended pot and  I thought why not try it.   Adagio Teas sells it for $19 and gives you a four tea sampler with a guide to tea book.  The pot is a plastic container with a lid and a filter located at the bottom.  To release the filtered tea, a teacup must be placed under the pot.  How ingenious.  I chose the herbal collection which includes chamomile, blood orange, spearmint and rooibos.  Adagio even threw in a sample of Gemini Tea (because of my birth date).

My journey didn't stop there.  At my local organic foods market, Mustard Seed Market and Cafe, I had seen a Provence Rooibos tea.  It's a red bush tea with lavender and Mustard was sold out.  I decided to look online and found it at The Tea Table.  They sell an Organic Roman Provence Rooibos that contains rooibos with lavender, rose petals, elderberry and currants.  I bought 8 ounces.

After waiting a week, my packages started arriving in the mail.  I was impressed with Adagio Teas.  They ship their teas in pretty green tins and list the brewing instructions on the outside label for each type.  I already had an electric kettle by Chef's Choice, to boil my water.  Adagio recommends using 180 degree water which means hot but not boiling.  Likewise, herbal teas require a longer steep time.  The first tea that I brewed was Gemini tea.  I infused the tea for seven minutes and then placed the empty cup under the ingenuiTEA.  The Gemini tea was aromatic with fruity notes.  That was the first time I had white tea and learned that I like it.  I prefer green tea but white tea is a nice change from a grassy taste.

I sampled blood orange tea later that day.  It smelled so good coming out of the tin.  If you like Red Zinger from Celestial Seasonings, you will love blood orange.  The tea has a citrusy flavor that isn't overly cloying.   I like a little bitterness to accompany sweetness of a tea.  I typically drink my tea straight up with no honey, sugar or lemon.

The next tea I brewed was chamomile.  When I spooned the tea out from the tin, I was surprised to see actual buds from chamomile flowers.  Chamomile actually is from the Greek word chamaimelon which means 'earth apple.'  After filtering the tea, I detected an herbal scent right away.  The chamomile tea had a pleasant taste of apple with a refreshing grassy tang.

I decided try each tea that first day.  My next sample was the Organic Roman Provence Rooibos.  It smelled so good right out of the bag.  I love the lavender scent.  Mike brought back from a vial of Haute-Provence Lavender essential oil from France.  I usually put the oil in my bath because it relaxes me.  Lavender actually comes from the Latin word, lavare which means 'to wash.'  The Romans supposedly used lavender in their bath water.  Now I found out about rooibos tea while reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexcander McCall Smith. The main character, Precious Ramotswe enjoys drinking red bush tea.  I wanted to find out first hand what the tea tastes like.  It turns out that rooibos tea is grown only in South Africa and was used as an alternative to expensive black tea.  I am partial to the flavor of red bush tea because it is slightly sweet with a nut-like taste.  The Roman Provence Rooibos was all I expected and more.  It had a honeyed flavor with a floral aroma.  I could sit and drink this tea all day because it not only has a arresting fragrance, it has a superb taste.

The final tea I evaluated was spearmint.  For those of you that like Sleepytime tea, spearmint tea is a satisfying alternative.  I cannot drink any caffeine past 5 p.m or I end staying up past my bed time.  The spearmint tea is an effective signal for my body to get ready to crash.  I love mint tea because it smells refreshing and makes me feel calm.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my tea odyssey.  I acquired a lot of information about tea and discovered I could learn even more.  I haven't had a chance yet to savor oolong or black tea.  I'll save that for another blog post.  In the meantime, fire up that kettle and brew yourself a nice cup of tea.

The Family That Plays Together...

I confess I have a problem.  I am a Rock Band junkie now.  I didn't intend for it to happen, but it did.  Rock Band is a music/rhythm game for the Wii.  Ben got  The Beatles:  Rock Band and Lego:  Rock Band for Christmas.  It includes the drum kit, a microphone with stand and a Paul McCartney's Hofner violin bass controller.  Santa also brought Ben a John Lennon's Rickenbacker 325 guitar controller.

I was skeptical of the game.  Why would anyone want to pretend he or she can sing or play music?  I watched Ben, Natalie and Tim start to play the game.  Or should I say heard.  Our Wii console is in the basement.  The first few mornings after Ben got his present, he would wake up at the crack of dawn and go downstairs.  Mike and I could hear him belting out "The Final Countdown" or "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" at 6:30 a.m.

Mike began playing the guitar on some of the songs.  I tried the drums which is not easy for me.  Mike sang "Accidentally in Love" while I played drums and Ben played guitar.   That is Mike's favorite song on Lego: Rock Band.    In Lego:  Rock Band, the focus is to keep performing songs and collect Lego bricks.  The kids can build cool vehicles from the bricks and move onto hipper venues.  The Beatles:  Rock Band has a similar goal.  Band members play Beatles' songs to rack up points.  As your band becomes more competent, the game takes you to historic Beatles venues.  The band also can make landmark records like the Beatles did.

I attempted singing "Let's Dance" which was tough for me because of an upper respiratory infection.  The drums also weren't working out for me.  I am rhythmical but not coordinated for drums.  I decided to switch to bass.  Thankfully, Rock Band lets you play left-handed.  After I took a stab at the game, it became a breeze.  Of course, I had to do the tutorial a few times with Iggy Pop.

Since Lego: Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band didn't have all of the songs we liked, Mike ordered  Rock Band 2 for us to play.  We decided that we would "tour" after the kids went to bed.  Mike and I created the Treacherous Goons for our world tour.  He's the guitarist and I'm the bassist.  Granted we are missing a few other members but the game lets you play with just two players.

I was playing at the Easy level while Mike started on the Medium level.  Each guitar has a color coded fret board from green to orange.  There also is a strum bar which is this little white lever that you "strum" with your fingers.  Oh and there is a way cool, whammy bar that you can use to distort notes.  On the easy level, a guitarist has plenty of time to change fingers on the fret board.  The game only expects the easy level guitarist to play one or two colored notes at a time.  The medium level is obviously harder.  The guitarist is expected to play one, two or three notes at a time at a faster pace.

The game has your band start out poor and under-promoted.  As you play more increasingly difficult songs and reach greater than 70% proficiency, the game awards you fans and money.  As the band earns more cash, you can hire promoters, roadies and managers.  You also can change your musician's appearance.  The game lets you spend your cash for attire in various garbs from punk to rock.  Tattoos are an option along with diverse, almost freaky hair styles.  Oh and you can buy new instruments.

The bizare thing that Rock Band 2 does is let you create an online character.  The intention is to have you buy "merchandise" for your band.  The Rock Band website lets you create a "photo shoot" which transfers images to t-shirts, posters, stickers and keychains.  That seems a bit much to me.  I know some people are really into their online persona.  Come on!  It's just a game.

We started our tour in New York city and had to play songs like "De-Luxe" by Lush
or "Today" by the Smashing Pumpkins.  We then moved onto Chicago and got to play songs like "Psycho Killer" by the Talking Heads
and "Give It Away" by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.  We were cruising during most of our gigs with Mike and I scoring in the 90's for most of our songs.

I got more confident and decided I would move up onto the Medium level.  Oooh, that hurt!  With bass, the musician doesn't play two notes simultaneously very often.  I still had a hard time keeping up with the pace.  The one song that confounded me was "Let Be There Rock" by AC/DC.
The bass playing in that song is fast and relentless.  I started "practicing" in the afternoons while the kids were at school.  In the practice mode, a player can choose the speed of the song.  You can ratchet it down to 50 percent if you like.  I had to slow down the AC/DC song until I could master the notes.

After about a week of practice almost every afternoon, I got a handle on the Medium level.  Mike and I were able to move on to L.A. then London and finally Spain.  Rock Band 2 kept throwing harder and harder songs at us.  I felt sorry for Mike when he had to play "Master Exploder" by Tenacious D.  The guitar notes are wicked and the bass doesn't kick in until half way through the song.

The game continued to up the ante with various challenges like the Mystery Set List.  Rock Band 2 would throw at us three different songs usually with one simple and two difficult.  We can also made our own set list and earned more fans.  Right now we are "invited" to play a Rolling Stone Rock Immortal set list in Shanghai.  The first song was "Battery" by Metallica
and it was a doosey.  Both Mike and I failed out of it since we were below 70% of mastery.  Now our difficult task it to become proficient in the Metallica song.  Unfortunately, "Battery" is not available yet in our practice list.  I'm not sure how we are going to lick this song.

Needless to say, you will find me "practicing" in our basement the next week or two or three.  Yes, I'm a Rock Band devotee.  It's a fun winter pursuit that whole family can enjoy.  Rock on out !--Janis Joplin.

Time to Get Fit?

For Christmas, I put Wii Active:  More Workouts on my wish-list.  If you check my earlier post about Wii Active, you will know how much I love their fitness platform.  Santa brought me More Workouts and it is even better than its predecessor.

More Workouts is a perfect accompaniment to any person's workout routine.  I usually use exercise DVDs or outdoor walking to supplement my Wii training.  It's hard to believe that a video game platform could make me sweat.  Wii Active is the only video game that kicks my butt every time.

Why do I like More Workouts?  It still uses the resistant band training but has added new strength and aerobic exercises.  The game also added a warm up and cool down session to each workout.  Unfortunately, that is the game's weakest link.  I am not an exercise specialist but I would have liked more upper body stretches along with the hamstring extensions.

Kudos to EA Sports for needed changes within the game.  I can now select dominant hand preferences for the sport activities like squash.  The overall game requires right hand holding of the Wii remote but I won't quibble with that.  More Workouts in addition allows calendar changes for the six week challenge.  I failed the thirty day challenge with Wii Active because of an illness.  Now I won't have that with More Workouts.

Another feature that I love about More Workouts is the multiplayer function.  Ben, Natalie or Tim can now join me in water skiing or running an obstacle course.  I believe that companionship is beneficial to a successful fitness program.  Time seems to pass faster while exercising with another person.

I could go on further about More Workouts but I wanted to save space for Wii Fit Plus.  Ben got a copy for Christmas.  I was skeptical playing this fitness game because of the disappointing prior game.  This new game doesn't make me sweat as much but has some nice features.  Nintendo must have paid attention to complaints from users.

I like the fact that Fit Plus incorporates the Wii board in almost all of its exercises.  More Workouts only uses the board in select activities.  Fit Plus does a Body Test every session which use to be laborious in the earlier version.  Nintendo now gives the user the option of doing a quick test to gauge weight.  More Workouts also uses the Wii board to measure weight but only does it weekly.  I'm not sure which game does a better job with weight measurement.  I might side with Fit Plus because the game gives you the option of setting the weight of your clothes you are wearing.

Fit Plus has a chart that tracks the user's progress.  I was able to log in my waist size and the steps I took from my pedometer's measurement.  Since my weight is in the low 140's now, I have a BMI around 24.  Fit Plus suggested to a set a new goal with a BMI of 23 or 22.  Whether or not that is realistic is another story.  The CDC sets the normal healthy weight at a BMI from 18.5 up to less than 25.   Losing another ten pounds would be harder to do and  I'll have to let you know what happens.

Under the setting My Fit Plus, the game offers a calorie goal for the day.   The user selects a food item which lists the calories needed to burn for eating that treat.  The game keeps track of all the calories burned from your activities on Fit Plus.  Another function of My Fit Plus is customizing your workout.  Under Lifestyle, Youth, Health and Form, the games allows the user to choose his or her type of workout.  Separate workouts can be combined into one routine.  Nice feature, Nintendo!

The other advantage to Fit Plus is its multiplayer mode.  So far my kids favorite shared activity is snowball fights.  Fit Plus uses the Wii board and remote to simulating snowball fights.  The activity is done with each player taking his or her turn by hitting as many Miis with snowballs while evading theirs.  More Workouts is different because it has simultaneous activities that players can view side by side.  Fit Plus can't do that because of the one Wii board.

Overall I am pleased with both More Workouts and Fit Plus.  Both games have improved and added flexibility to their platforms.  I only hope this has inspired you to try them and get fit.