You know when the Yuletide season is fast approaching when you see more and more people doing the locomotion and sprinting all around Makati, Bonifacio High Street, or UP.   I’ve begun prepping myself for the post-holiday beach trip by signing up for Barre3 classes at The Spa. Sure, my thighs and butt hurt like hell but that’s’ what you get when you want to gain some serious muscle poundage.  MSN shares some fun games that will help you beat the holiday bulge:

'Your Shape: Fitness Evolved'

Required: Xbox 360, Kinect sensor

This smartly done workout program does an excellent job putting Microsoft's newKinect full-body motion sensor to work. "Your Shape: Fitness Evolved" starts by running you through a series of exercises and questions to assess your fitness level. It then provides you with a variety of fitness routines designed to cater to the kind of workout you'd like to do or the physical improvements you'd like to see.

You'll then follow a virtual personal trainer as he or she leads you through your regime while the Kinect sensor reads your body movements to determine whether you're staying in synch with the trainer. The game tracks the calories you burn and the exercises you complete so you can follow your progress over time. All-in-all, this program is very well put together. In addition to the the 80-some exercise routines available, you can take Cardio Boxing classes or Tai Chi/Yoga classes. And if you simply want to have some fun, don't miss the Gym Games, which provide players with some really enjoyable (and athletic) mini games to play.

'EA Sports Active 2'

Required: Xbox 360 (plus Kinect sensor), PlayStation 3, Wii

Designed to help you improve strength, endurance and flexibility while also giving you a good cardio workout, "Sports Active 2" provides you with customizable guided workout regimes and tracks your improvements over time. But where "Sports Active 2" sets itself apart is in what comes packaged with the game itself. Whether you're buying the Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii version of the game, all three come with a heart rate monitor that you strap to your left forearm. Your heart rate is then displayed on-screen so you can get a better feel for the intensity of your workout. All three versions of the game also come with a handy-dandy rubber resistance band, which you use in conjunction with many of the exercises tossed your way.

Additionally, EA touts its "Total Body Tracking" wireless control system. For the Xbox 360 version of the game, it'll use Microsoft's Kinect sensor to follow your body movements and make sure you're doing your exercises correctly. The PS3 version of the game does not make use of Sony's new Move controls, but it does come packaged with its own small motion sensors — one that you strap to your right arm and one that you strap to your leg. The Wii version includes the leg motion sensor. Though peripheral pile-on can be something of a hassle, these devices do a pretty impressive if sometimes imperfect job registering your movements. All around "EA Sports Active 2" packs a whole lot of fitness punch.

'The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout'

Required: Xbox 360 (plus Kinect)

'The Biggest Loser: Challenge'

Required: Wii

Fans of "The Biggest Loser" TV reality show get to be the star of these two games based on the series. Both of these games do a fine job of offering players helpful fitness and nutrition advice as well as personalized and preset exercise routines meant to improve you shape and overall health over time. You'll be guided through these regimes by virtual versions of the show's trainers — Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. The Xbox 360 version of the game uses the Kinect sensor to track your movements (it does a fairly accurate job). The Wii version of the game uses the handheld Remote controller and the Wii Balance Board (though the board is not required) or lets you go hands free. The game also includes some fun "challenges" (i.e. mini games) that make working out more entertaining.

'Active Life: Explorer'

Required: Wii

Packaged with a pressure-sensitive floor mat, the game pits kids and their pals against each other in a variety of physical activities (up to eight can play). Kids run and jump on the mat to do things like leap across canyons, stomp crocodiles and catch falling gems in the game — just to name a few of the many sweaty activities. This one will tire out your kids (and even you) for sure.

'Wii Fit Plus'

Required: Wii, Wii Balance Board

"Wii Fit Plus" does a nice job bulking up the "Wii Fit" regime, offering all the original strength, yoga, balance and aerobics exercises plus a host of new exercises to boot.Even actress Helen Mirren uses it – at age 65!  You may also note that, in the British version of that advertisement, she compares "Wii Fit Plus" to having a new lover every day.