Since its release in May of this year, Nintendo Wii’s exercise game, “Wii Fit”, has sold more than 5 million copies, but many who have yet to join the craze still wonder, does it work?

The answer is yes, to a certain degree.

“Wii Fit” uses four different categories of fitness training (yoga, strength training, balance and aerobics) to build core muscle groups and improve posture. Between those four different categories, there are roughly 40 exercises ranging from push-ups and lunges, to tightrope walking and hula hooping.

Many who have grown tired of the local gym and find jogging the same old routes mind-numbing can now find solace in the fact that there is a new and fun way to get in shape in your own home.

About a month ago, my wife and I decided to ditch the overpriced gym memberships and instead pay the $90 to get an in-home workout with “Wii Fit.” Since then, we have both noticed differences in our posture (which, when corrected, will help you perform the exercise properly) and differences in our body weight.

You begin your “Wii Fit” experience by doing a few short balance exercises followed by a BMI test. BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which is the relation of muscle mass to fat which determines obesity.

You are then given a “fitness age.” This age will tell you how old your body feels compared to how old you actually are. Using that information, you set monthly goals to improve your body’s performance. After each day’s workout, you will finish with a BMI test. A chart then keeps track of your progress, and tells you how far away from your goal you are.

The overall experience is much more than I anticipated. When I first stepped onto the “Wii Fit” platform, which is no larger than two of your average math text books set side-by-side, I was truly amazed at the quality workout I was getting. While I was working up a sweat, I had to remember where to draw the line, because there is such a thing as too much exercise.

“Those who are new to the world of working out should be cautious when approaching the ‘Wii Fit’ system, but those who work out as a daily routine should already know their limits,” said physical therapist Colleen Nelson of Orthopedic Rehab Specialists of Dixon.

For this reason, many retirement homes have already caught on to the “Wii Fit’s” benefits and have purchased the units for senior citizens who are unable to get the amount of physical activity needed.

“This is not something, though, that should be replacing recommended physical activity,” Nelson said. “[The Wii Fit system] works well for those people who are unable to get out to do activities.”

Nelson also advises those with any sort of pre-existing injury to consult a doctor before using the “Wii Fit.”

So does the “Wii Fit” really work? Yes. Should you give up all other forms of exercise? No. “Wii Fit” instead works as a gateway, encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle, while reinforcing the fact that exercise really can be fun.

So to all who may be struggling to get off the couch now that the fall and winter seasons are fast approaching, give “Wii Fit” a try. You may be surprised.