As fitness and supplement experts, there’s a fascinating trend in the world of exercise and gaming we want to discuss: fitness gaming. This trend is gaining traction as more people realize the potential benefits of combining their passion for video games, with their desire to stay fit.
Active Gaming and Exercise
With the increasing popularity of fitness gaming, it’s essential for us to know how beneficial the incorporation of physical activity into gaming can be. After all, it contributes to improvements in our overall health. This is why the fitness gaming community is a growing trend.
On the other hand, workout supplements can improve our gaming performance and health. Therefore, these two elements combined can lead to a much more comfortable gaming experience.
For example, supplements such as BCAAs and high quality pre-workout formulas can provide us with the energy and focus we need. This is why they’re now being considered crucial elements in many athletes’ diets, including gamers.
Popular Fitness Games
In recent years, there are various fitness-oriented games available for consoles like Xbox and Nintendo that make working out more enjoyable. One example is Ring Fit Adventure, which offers interactive strength exercises while you explore a virtual world. Another option for a more immersive experience is using the Oculus system with its built-in fitness tracker, Oculus Move.
Benefits of Integrating Video Games and Fitness
Incorporating gaming into an exercise routine adds excitement, increases motivation, and makes workouts more effective. A “gamifying” exercise can make fitness more fun and engaging, which may lead to more consistent workout habits. Also, active gaming can offer similar benefits to traditional exercise by replacing sedentary video gaming with a more dynamic experience.
Best Fitness Routines for Gamers
Since gamers might spend a lot of time sitting down, they need a good fitness routine that doesn’t fully interrupt their gaming session. However, some gamers need different routines than others, therefore, you need to pick the one that fits your needs the most.
The following routines can also be turned into a game if you want to get more immersed in it. For instance, if you have a friend that can join you, you can turn it into a 1v1 competition: the one who does more repetitions wins. Or, you can simply do these routines while playing a very hard game like Elden Ring.
Just add a simple twist, every time you die, you do another set. It is also essential to remember that these routines should always be accompanied by great nutrition. No matter how much you do these routines, your body will not feel the benefits if it doesn’t have enough nutrients.
HIIT Routine
A HIIT routine, or a High-Intensity Interval training routine, is composed of short, yet intense movements that you need to do quickly. Since this training requires no equipment you can do it at home. Also, this is convenient for gamers as it can improve their mental agility and overall mood.
Here you can see a good HIIT Routine. This routine is targeted at beginners who want to move their bodies and either maintain or lower their weight. Remember, if you feel too tired to keep going, finish for the day, and try to give your best the next day.
- Start with 20 seconds of Jumping Jacks
- Follow with 20 seconds of Mountain Climbers
- Next, do 20 seconds of High Knees, bringing your knees as high as possible.
- Follow with 20 seconds of Jumping Jacks
- Then, do 20 seconds of Mountain Climbers
- Finish with 30 seconds of burpees.
- Rest for 30 seconds and repeat three more times.
Weight Gain Routine
A routine that helps you gain weight is composed of slow movements that require a lot of strength and control. This way, your muscle fibers will break, allowing you to achieve hypertrophy, which is the process where muscle grows.
Although this routine can be done both at home and at the gym, gamers can benefit from doing it at home. After all, it is much quicker, and it doesn’t require as little equipment as a pull-up bar. On top of that, strength training improves the health of your muscles and joints, which is beneficial for gamers.
Since they often sit down for a lot of time, their muscles and joints can deteriorate, which can lead to injuries and even blood clots. To do this routine at home, you can simply start by doing 10 repetitions of each of these exercises: push-ups, squats, dips, lunges, and, if you have a bar, pull-ups. After that, you should repeat it three more times.
Gaming-Inspired Supplements
There’s a growing trend of supplements designed specifically for gamers. These gaming-inspired supplements, aim to improve concentration, performance, and overall gaming skills. Some popular options include brands like G-Fuel, and ingredients such as Creatine, and BCAAs.
When evaluating the effectiveness of gaming supplements in workouts, it’s essential to consider the specific ingredients and their impact on both physical and mental performance. Common ingredients in these supplements include caffeine for increased energy and focus, and L-Theanine for enhanced relaxation and reduced stress.
However, keep in mind that caffeine might cause an energy crash on you, which is associated with feelings of fatigue and sleepiness. If this happens to you, you can try alternatives such as breathing techniques and meditation. This is claimed to be a good way to increase your energy and mental awareness.
Nootropics
Nootropics are supplements that help you improve the way you learn, think, and remember things. Supplements such as caffeine and creatine are considered nootropics, and are one of the most used substances by gamers and athletes.
Some popular options include supplements like Bulk Pre-Workout, Naked Creatine, L-Theanine, L-Leucine, L-Tyrosine, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine. All of these are natural supplements that can improve focus, attention, and mental energy. On top of that, they can improve athletic performance, and help you reach a better physique.
In fact, L-Leucine is an amino acid that can both improve muscle growth and your mind by improving your ability to focus. This supplement is ideal for gamers who want to get into shape.
Whey Protein
Whey protein supplements are a great way to increase your daily protein intake. This is great for gamers who want to improve their physical performance and increase their strength. Protein will help their muscles develop over time, making their physique evolve.
Creatine
Creatine is a supplement that helps athletes by improving recovery time, strength, and muscle energy. Meaning that, if you were able to do 10 repetitions of push-ups in a row, with creatine you will likely be able to do more before feeling fatigued. Therefore, this is a great supplement to improve your athletic performance and stamina during a long gaming session.
BCAAs
BCAAs or Branched-Chain Amino Acids, are, just like the name mentions, essential amino acids that improve muscle growth, and energy. Also, it supports liver health, prevents soreness, and fatigue, and improves mental functions. Because of that, these amino acids are great for gamers who are into fitness.
Natural Supplements
There are many natural supplements that may enhance your mental, and physical health. One of the most famous ones is Ashwagandha, a plant that can modulate stress and anxiety, improves focus and memory, and increases strength. This is very convenient for athletes who also need to sharpen their focus for gaming purposes.
Another natural supplement is Turmeric. This root can improve the health of your joints, and, since gamers can be sitting for a lot of time, this can be convenient for their legs, arms, and hands. Also, it can improve digestion, which is really important for your general health.
Many doctors agree that our gut health affects our whole body, after all, conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, insomnia, and poor memory come from a bad gastrointestinal process. If your gut is healthy, your brain, muscles, eyes, and even joints will be healthy.
Energy Boosters
Energy boosters are a famous pick among athletes and gamers. However, it is important to pick the one that doesn’t cause your body to crash after a couple of hours. For instance, one of the current best energy supplements is G-Fuel. This gives you a boost of energy without making you feel jittery, or tired after a couple of hours.
Also, if you want to improve your physique, you should look for energy supplements that contain amino acids, as they can improve blood flow, strength, muscular hydration, and overall mood. These benefits allow your body to have more energy while reducing crashes and improving performance.
eSports and Fitness
Exercise plays a crucial role in the performance of eSports athletes. Just like traditional sports, these competitors need to maintain their physical and mental well-being to enhance their in-game abilities. In fact, incorporating exercise routines into their lifestyle can lead to improved focus, faster reaction times, and increased endurance.
Ensuring proper nutrition and supplementation is also vital for eSports athletes. A well-balanced diet, along with targeted supplements can help gamers maintain energy levels and mental acuity throughout long gaming sessions.
Video Game Characters and Fitness Goals
When thinking about video game characters with impressive physiques, Kratos from God of War: Ragnarok is one of the first ones that come to mind. The current redemption story around Kratos, his character development, his physique, and his strive to be better, serves as a great motivation.
If you choose to draw inspiration from him, you can start tailoring your routine to achieve a similar evolution. Both physically and mentally talking. For instance, incorporating compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, and push-ups can help you mimic Kratos’ physical shape.
On the other hand, maintaining a well-balanced diet, caring about your mental health, and including supplements can help you grow as a person.
Balancing Gaming and a Healthy Lifestyle
It’s essential to find the right balance between gaming and living a healthy lifestyle. The first tip is to set time limits for gaming so it doesn’t consume your entire day. It’s also a great idea to incorporate exercise into your routine, either by taking breaks to stretch or doing a full workout before or after gaming sessions.
Safety and Precautions
When it comes to gaming and fitness, it’s crucial to be cautious and informed. First, we always recommend consulting a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. This ensures that you’re taking appropriate dosages and avoiding potentially harmful interactions with supplements.
On the other hand, you should always set a healthy boundary when it comes to gaming. An excess of gaming hours could cause your eyesight to deteriorate. Therefore, you need to be aware of this and follow a routine that allows your senses to rest.
Proper Use of Supplements
Keep in mind that some relieble pre-workout supplements often contain ingredients that alter your body. For instance, ingredients such as nitric oxide precursors improve blood flow. Because of this, it’s essential to follow the product’s guidelines and be mindful of any possible side effects.
Fitness Gaming Injuries
Fitness games are a fun and interactive way to stay active, though injuries can still occur if adequate precautions aren’t taken. To minimize risks, we suggest warming up and stretching before engaging in fitness gaming sessions. This warms up the muscles and helps prepare your body for physical activity, reducing the likelihood of muscle strains, and sprains.
Additionally, listening to your body during gameplay is critical. If you feel pain, dizziness, or discomfort, it’s essential to stop and assess the situation. Overexertion and pushing through pain could lead to more severe injuries. By paying close attention to proper form and technique, we can safely enjoy fitness gaming and reap its health benefits.
Conclusion
We encourage everyone to find a balanced approach to gaming and fitness. It is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even when focused on gaming or esports. By integrating fitness gaming and responsible supplement use, we can achieve better health through exercise while still having fun.
