I hate working out. Anything that involves sports, being active, SWEATING... It's a hard pass for me. However, I do recognize that working out is essential to overall wellness. And as we live a life confined at home with minimal movement, I knew I had to get my body moving to improve my health and Chi. Also, none of my cute clothes fit me anymore, BOO. Sadly, YouTube workouts weren't doing it for me anymore. Behold, The Nintendo Ring Fit.
At your own pace, at your own terms
One thing I hated about working out in the gym or a class was the competitive vibe where you are always forced to push yourself... when you already are at 150%. There is nothing more annoying than some coach telling you "you're not doing enough" when you literally are. The Nintendo Ring Fit was so different from that toxicity. The game will run at the pace you want, the difficulty you can deal with, and you can change these settings anytime!
Storified Workout
I'm a sucker for a good story and the Nintendo Ring Fit does exactly that: it storifies the whole workout. You're a hero chasing the evil gym lord Dragaux, defeating his squad of little monsters in a Pokemon-esque gameplay. While the storyline wouldn't pass for a Netfilx series, having a simple story sewed in the game inspires you to pick up where you last left the game.
You can also help villagers along the way as side quests, make your own smoothies as in-game boosters, and even dress up your character! I AM HERE FOR THESE.
Full-Body Engagement
I didn't expect much sweating or body pain with the Ring Fit but boy, was I WRONG. On the first day of using, I was sweating like crazy and my body felt sore the day after. Do not underestimate the Ring Con and running in place, you will sweat and work your muscles. The game has targeted mini-games if you want to focus on your glutes (look at me using these terms), core, legs, and so on.
Tracking
After every session, you're also given a complete breakdown of all the reps you've done. I'm not huge on tracking my stats because I think they don't matter in the grander scheme of things, but the game lets you know any milestones which can keep you motivated. There's also a timer on the bottom left to show you how long you've been working out.
Inspires you to be BETTER.
While stretching, the game gives you small lifestyle advice reminding you to always stay hydrated, stick to a healthy diet, complete your zzz hours.
Verdict: Buy it... If you have a Nintendo Switch.
While I know that the Nintendo Ring Fit is no replacement for a personal trainer or committing to a gym membership, it is the best workout alternative you can do safely at home. From my personal experience, I enjoyed the Ring Fit because it felt more like play rather than working out. I liked the cometitive-free environment and its more nourishing and motivational vibe vs. going to gyms and classes (which is ironic because I felt more empathy from a piece of technology rather than from people/trainers?!). It also spares you from making excuses because it's a plug-and-play device! If you already have a Switch (not Lite), I highly recommend picking up the Ring Fit!