[Someone1234]

So exercise improves my mood and energy level, and the effect can last anywhere from 24-48 hours. This can INDIRECTLY help you eat better as you aren't using foods (e.g. sugar, fat, caffeine) to boost you in one sense or another. I find that a mix of resistance training and cardio mostly on zone mid-high zone 3 or low zone 4 works best (high zone 4, or zone 5 seems to have a detrimental effect both in recovery and duration). This is also what the CDC recommend[0].

THAT BEING SAID: Exercise works for me, I know it works, and I feel good when I do so (both due to the above AND just a feeling of achievement). But exercise is fucking tedious/boring/brain numbing. I wish exercise games/gaming was a thing, I've tried a Quest but the headset weight caused neck/shoulder issues, and I had to stop. I've tried the gym, swimming, and nothing has really scratched my itch. Machines with videos of instructors exercising doesn't add anything of value (aside from minor eye-candy).

I'd maybe enjoy boxing but CTE/concussions put me off. The only exercise-like experience I ever really enjoyed was laser tag but that isn't really a "thing" (as in "I'm going to my morning laser tag before work"). I am actually shocked and confused that exercise-gaming isn't a massive market (and, no, I don't mean "gamification of exercise" as in Apple Watch rings or whatever, I mean actual FUN games that involve the movement of the body). Currently the Nintendo Switch is the market leader in exercise-gaming and that's just pathetic.

[0] https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/index.htm

[unknown_user_84]

May I recommend Dance Dance Revolution / Stepmania.

I have yet to find a good setup in Stepmania that is fundamentally easier to approach than endless mode on DDR X on the PS2. They have the songs divided up in levels of difficulty. I can roll in level 2 at this point after getting the hang of 1/8th beat steps, this took months (*edit: off and on for years). Before that level 1 kept me in heart rate workout level whatever they call it zone 2 and I'd pop into endless level 2 if I wanted to push it into high intensity (zone 3 I think). Now it's more like level 2 hits me zone 2 and if I want to push it I go to level 3. A decent foam pad with exercise mat like things in it for support seems to run about $100, maybe a little less now that the pandemic-mania is starting to fade.

I've had a Python script started for months to parse and only allow songs in the Stepmania library that have a difficulty level relating to the DDR X endless level arrangement (*edit: grammar is difficult). Their interface leaves a bit to be desired and I find hacking around on my own Python script less daunting than hacking around in someone else's Java.

[NickC25]

Used a DDR setup for rainy-day training when playing basketball and tennis in high school. Loved it, but kinda got bored with it after a while, because once you can do 10 footers in doubles with no bar, there's no real further challenge (RIP In The Groove with its 11 and 12 footers!). Also, the pads tend to suck unless you plonk down a few hundred for a metal pad which really takes up space.

[lamchob]

You mean like soccer, football, Tennis, Squash, or the myriad of other games played as sports?

[lexandstuff]

Have you tried Ring Fit Adventure? It seems like exactly the game you're after.

[valanha]

Second this, and it is good for all ages with a nice variety of exercises. My daughter (17) was both entertained by the challenges, mini-games, and topping previous scores. We also have a boxing game that is beat/rhythm based called fitness boxing 2: rhythm and exercise. This can also be done with two players, so it can get competitive. The downside to these games is the overly cheery/chatty characters can grate after a while, as the dialogue can get a bit repetitive.