That's Fit

Well, not really. But you can get the body that comes from riding waves with a big bonus: your kid might like watching while you do. Who knows? Maybe they'd even join you.

Surf Stronger is a workout video series that incorporates surf video and stars two-time runner-up World Champion surfer, Serena Brooke. Talk about inspiration!

For me, this workout would be a bit melancholy, as I still miss surfing my native Southern California waves as a Northern Virginia transplant. I'm no Serena, not even close. But longboarding at San Onofre with my dad are memories I hold dear. Watching the waves from my basement is something I never thought possible. I love the idea nonetheless, especially with cooler months approaching faster than a pipeline off the North Shore coast.

Obviously, there's a big difference between clothing you'd need for indoor versus outdoor rock climbing. Either one is a fantastic workout, but they each have their own advantages, as Bev told us all about earlier. However, I'm much more familiar with climbing indoors, and I know that it's an accessible, easy way for people to get started, so for the purposes of this post, I'll be focusing on indoor climbing.

In case you're afraid to try climbing because you don't think you have enough upper body strength, let me reassure you -- it doesn't matter. You use your legs and core right along with your arms, so it's not like you're constantly hanging by one arm, like in the movies. There are lots of different levels of climbing, and if you're willing to give it a try, I'm sure you can reach the top of a beginner wall, at least. And it's totally safe -- you'll wear a harness and be roped in, so even if you fall, you won't go anywhere.

That being said, here are some tips on what to wear for your new indoor adventure:

January isn't typically synonymous with taking a dip, but indoor pools in winter can be a great resource for parents and children. We're lucky enough to live walking distance from such an amenity. Next week, it will be the site of the regular playgroup my daughter and I sometimes host at our house.

The playgroup has become an institution for many modern parents. I can't remember such a thing when I was a kid. In fact, I can't remember playing with anyone accept for my cousins before kindergarten. But anyway, winter has left the moms itching to get out of the house. So among several ideas that came out of a brainstorming session was the pool. It will be a great place for us to let the kids play while we take shifts to do laps or water aerobics.

Talk about multitasking! Playgroup, gossip and workout all in one place in an hour!

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Brrrr Fitz! I live in the waaaaaay cold and am already starting to feel the flab. It's too cold outside to go for runs like I normally do. I can't afford the gym and don't want to look like the snowman on my lawn. What do you suggest? Rick

A. Eeeek Rick! I can't imagine. Literally. I can't imagine, because I've lived in Florida all of my life. It's about 80 degrees outside right now. I have been in the cold and snow though, Norway seems to have a lot, and I do have some recommendations. First, there are a ton of things you can do at home. Sometimes it is just too hot to train outside where I am, so I end up in the same situation you're in now (but opposite).

A treadmill would suit your running needs, but if that investment is too much...here are some ideas. Move the furniture and--jump rope, run in place, do jumping jacks, jump on a mini-trampoline, hit a heavy-bag, dance, do step aerobics, squat jumps, video training, gliding disks, free weights, pull-ups, push-ups, squats, or crunches.

I'll admit that the most exercise I've gotten this week is carrying my kid from the front door to the car because she doesn't like to walk in the snow. But I came across a great idea for moving around indoors if your kid is like mine and cross-country skiing is out of the question. If you live on the West Coast, you might just like something a little different. But if you don't have carpet, you're out of luck.

While shopping for a toddler's birthday gift at the local toy store, I saw these carpet skates for the first time. Apparently they're actually pretty popular. I guess I'm not a cool mom. Anyhow, they could be good for burning at least a few more calories around the house than picking up toys alone.

And maybe they're a good option for that last person on your gift list, no matter what their age.

Because I live in a place where winter is sometimes horrendously unbearable, I tend to favour indoor activities when it's cold outside. It used to be that I spent winters at the movie theatre or in front of the TV, but now that I'm more into being active, I'm looking for indoor activities that get me moving but are fun too.

• Rollerskating or ice skating at an indoor rink is a fun and warm way to spend the day
• Curling is a great event for the family. Or, if you don't like the ice, how about bowling?
  
• eDiets recommends dancing around your house to your favourite tunes.
• A yoga class is a great way to de-stress during the holidays.
  
• If all else fails, take a long walk by going back and forth through the mall. Who knows -- maybe you'll get some Christmas shopping down while you're at it!

How do you stay fit when it's too cold to go outside?

I'm so excited. My husband and I just purchased the Smart Cycle as a Christmas gifts for our kids, ages two and four. The Fisher-Price Smart Cycle Learning Game System is a cool little stationary bike that hooks up to a television and allows children to pedal through learning adventures. Kind of like a spinning class for three year olds, who can learn their ABC's while working out.

My husband and I purposely seek out toys that will encourage our children to be active. Along with the bounce house we keep in the unfurnished dining room and the scooters they zoom around the house on, this Smart Cycle will fit in quite nicely in our playroom.

The Fisher-Price Smart Cycle Learning Game System Cycle retails for $99, but we bought ours for $89 at Sam's Club. I'll look forward to December 25th, when Parker and Ginger can jump on this thing and go for a ride. Of course we do a lot of bike riding outside, but this thing will make rainy days a lot more fun. Hopefully the two of them will take turns nicely.

Although summer is often thought of as the season to do things outdoors, there are always those days when it's just too darn hot to even sit out there, let alone try to get physical and workout. But on those days when outdoor exercise means imminent heat stroke you don't have to skip exercising altogether: simply workout inside. Obviously there are all kinds of ways to exercise indoors, such as heading to the gym, popping in an exercise DVD, or even going mall-walking. But if for whatever reason none of those appeal to you and you're just looking for something quick and easy to get your heart pumping, try this 30 minute routine. No traveling to the gym, no equipment needed that you didn't already have for your outdoor plans (like good shoes), and it'll burn 200-300 calories altogether. Nothing wrong with that!