We all want our workouts to be fun, but in order to get a senior citizen without much of a fitness routine interested in fitness, you'd better have something really interesting. And, one group of senior citizens in Miami definitely got an interesting workout from the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus clowns.

The clowns came to the YMCA's Silver Sneakers program and showed the group of grandparents how they could use circus tricks to stay fit. They balanced peacock feathers (for improved alignment) and juggled scarves (to improve hand/eye coordination and balance as well as mental fitness). They also used the hula hoop -- something "kids" of all ages can enjoy.

Smartly, it sounds like the gray-haired group avoided a few tricks, such as the unicycle, but they all went home with some great new views on staying fit as seniors. For other fitness tips (that don't involve creepy clowns), be sure to check out America Takes it Off!

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If you've been hanging around That's Fit for a while, you know that we're big fans of jumping rope. However, as much as I love it, I understand when other people don't feel the same way -- the reason it's effective is because it's not easy! Still, you used to jump rope for fun as a kid, and Punk Rope, a new grown-up fitness class, wants you to get back that feeling.

Described as a P.E. class for adults, Punk Rope mixes jump roping with other conditioning drills with funky names, like Charlie Brown and Wizard of Oz. Additionally, the class gets split into teams for interactive relay races and other competitive games that get everyone cheering and laughing. The founder of Punk Rope, Tim Haft, says, "It's like recess crossed with boot camp. It's intense, but you're laughing and having fun so you don't realize that you're working out."

To keep things interesting (because, you know, it's not quite cool enough already), each week has a different theme relating to a holiday or event, and the high-energy music is chosen to reflect the theme. Unfortunately, Punk Rope isn't offered where I live (yet), but it is available in 15 states. To see if a class is offered near you, check out the Punk Rope Website.

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Dribble. Pass. Shoot. That's what Danny learned at his first soccer practice on Saturday. Armed with his shin guards, knee-high socks, soccer shoes, and size three soccer ball, my four-year-old made his debut performance on an organized, YMCA-sponsored sports team.

Armed with our matching red canvas chairs, a small cooler filled with water and fruit, and a big brother by our side, we parents watched proudly as Danny did just as Coach Joe told him to do. He was willing, able, and excited. His head was in the game. And besides his one shout out to us -- "I don't want to play anymore" -- Danny remained focused for his hour-long commitment.

"Was I so great at soccer?" Danny asked all day on Saturday. We assured him he was a superstar. He assured us he had fun.

Next Saturday we go back for practice #2. Six weeks of games will follow. And then maybe a lifetime of athletic competition. Or maybe not. It's up to Danny. We'll provide the exposure. He can determine if sports are his thing or not. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

Want to know what experts say about kids and soccer? Click here.

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Part of the reason that I don't belong to a gym is because I live in a city devoid of them. There's a handful of them here, but they are small, have limited equipment, and no childcare. They also all charge more per month than I paid for a membership at a large, well-equipped center when I lived in a large nearby city. But two things have changed recently that may bring me back to my gym-going ways. The first is an exciting new fitness center going in across town. The second is a brand new YMCA that's nearing completion.

YMCA has been around for over 100 years, and in many communities (like my own), it's the go-to place for affordable fitness memberships. The association is stepping up their commitment to physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits with a new program that targets people who want to make exercise a part of their daily lives. Activate America isn't just an additional program, instead, YMCAs across the country are redesigning, retraining, and restructuring to help make physical fitness accessible to the average American.

Pretty exciting, huh? You can read more about Activate America here.

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Who'd have ever thought you'd find an article on weight management in the financial section? A recent article from Bankrate.com on MSN Money notes just how expensive it is to lose weight, in the United States, anyway. With all the fitness trends, fad diets, dieting books and dieting systems (the Zone, the Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are a few) out there, it's easy to get caught up in the latest new weight-loss product--especially considering how notorious Americans are for being overweight.

A closer look at the article reveals that all these weight loss gimmicks and schemes are shrinking our wallets, not necessarily our waistlines. What may seem like a few dollars here and there can really add up, especially for those of us with more than a few pounds to drop.

I've always been a big fan of the outdoors. I'm an even bigger proponent of being thrifty. In fact, one of the main reasons my husband and I dropped our gym membership was to save money. Although our combined membership at our local YMCA was only around $80 a month, that was still over $1,000 a year we were spending that could be better used elsewhere...like a 401(k). We figured that by running around our local park, which was approximately 3.5 miles in diameter, even if we spent money on proper running attire we'd still be saving around $800 a year.

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