I am hot, sweaty and getting tired. I am moving as best I can, but I keep getting popped in the face. Next to me, Lacey has a determined look in her eye. She is moving fluidly, but I am flailing about, just trying to keep my head above water.

In a stunning flurry of blows to the body and face, I go down. Working as fast as I can, I get myself back up only to face another barrage of fists that Lacey sends my direction.

Several shots to my face, almost too quick to count, and I am down again. Lacey is standing over me like that famous Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston photo.

"Stay down," Lacey screams, nearly at the top of her lungs. "Stay down, Bryan."

In what seems like a miracle, I pull myself up once more. This time the end comes swiftly.

A quick right sends shock waves through my face. An even quicker jab to my body causes me to slide right. I see it coming, but I am nowhere near fast enough to defend myself or stop it. A crushing right-handed uppercut blows me backward. I'm down for the final time.

Lacey stands over me with her hands in the air screaming once again for me to stay down like the loser I am. Mercifully, the Wii counts me out, and my wife's undefeated boxing streak remains intact.

Since we got our Wii a couple of years ago, I haven't found a way to beat Lacey in boxing. She pummels me every time we play. My one saving grace is tennis, where I can beat her sometimes.

Video games are a big part of American life. In 2010, Americans spent $18.6 billion on video games and equipment, and gamers older than age 2 play more than 13 hours each week, according to consumer-research company NPD Group.

At the same time, we're getting fatter each year, and TV and most video games account for large amounts of inactivity.

The Wii makes video game players get off the couch and move. Wii games like boxing, tennis and baseball require movement, and not just to push buttons and shove a joy stick around.

Lacey was not much of a gamer before we got our Wii. I gave her a Wii Balance Board for her birthday recently, and she uses it regularly. She also enjoys yoga and strength training.

One of my favorite things is the Wii ski jump, but my balance stinks. Surprisingly, I do well with the hula hoop game.

Wii hasn't completely replaced other exercise for the two of us. We go for runs and walks in our local park. Lacey works out at home and at her office during down time. I enjoy playing soccer, football and basketball, and I love playing sports with my nieces and nephews.

To get anything productive out of exercise, however, you must devote time to it. Scott Owens, University of Mississippi associate professor of health and exercise science, found that the Wii had little effect on family fitness and that the use of the Wii declined over time.

There is no telling if the Wii can get anyone as fit as a regular gym workout. I kind of doubt it, but it can't hurt.

Surely, if kids spend 13 hours a week playing video games, they could benefit by playing Wii games during at least some of those hours.

And you don't have to rely on Wii, either. Sales for the Wii have been so brisk that Microsoft introduced the Kinect with the X-Box 360, and Sony introduced the PlayStation Move for its PS3 systems.

Microsoft has added voice technology to the Kinect and uses no controller, just body movements.

I would love to play the Kinect with the X-Box 360. I'm curious to see how well the technology works, and I like the idea of using my whole body to play video games.

Video games cannot fully replace exercise, but you can use them for some exercise and to get moving in the privacy of your home. If one of your 2012 resolutions is a new or renewed emphasis on health, you should use every tool you can to get your hands on to get yourself and your family excited about fitness.

When it's really hot, cold or rainy, it is nice to have the Wii. Lacey and I can still stay active and entertained at the same time. I can tell you that it is a real workout, and it is a lot of fun.

That is, unless Lacey is beating me without mercy in boxing.

Follow Bryan Flynn at http://www.jfpsports.com, Facebook and @jfpsports.