The temperatures are well into the minus double digits where I live, and that definitely puts a kink in my active lifestyle. I try to walk a couple of miles every day, but that's just not possible when five minutes outdoors takes away all feeling in my fingers and toes.

But I still want to be as active as I can this Christmas ... indoors, of course. Here are some things my family is doing to avoid being total couch potatoes:

• Wii. Virtual bowling and tennis are great ways for my brother and I to relive our competitive younger days.
  
• Games. Charades and cranium provide hours of laughs.
  
• Cooking. It's not the most fun activity out there, but helping out in the kitchen will not only get you off the couch, it will make the chef's day.
  
• Better yet, cleaning. Volunteering for dish duty is a good way to earn your keep.
  

What indoor activities are on your Christmas Day agenda?

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

When it's cold outside, there are plenty of ways to get fit -- You can go ice skating, skiing, even shoveling your snow burns a ton of calories and provides enough physical exertion to exhaust you for days -- depending on how much sidewalk space you have at your house, of course.

But not everyone likes the cold weather. Do you?

Do you spend your summer seeking outdoor adventures? Mountain biking on rugged trails or scaling the face of a rocky mountain? While opportunities for your favorite outdoor adventures may not be so numerous in winter, you can still get your adrenaline rush indoors.

Men's Health shares four amazing indoor adventure sports centers across the country. But you may be able to find something a little closer to home. For example, in my neck of the woods there's an awesome rock climbing wall at the community center, a rowing pool at a local rowing club, and an indoor skating/biking facility just a couple hours away.

And don't forget about all the incredible adventure sports -- such as snowboarding and skiing -- winter has to offer as well. AOL Health has 11 fun winter fitness activities to try.

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The days are shorter now, so why not take your walking workout indoors?

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We all know the stereotype of a typical video game geek: pasty-skinned and overweight, never seeing the light of day, except for a brief glimpse when opening the door for the pizza delivery guy.

But according to recent research, the average 'gamer' isn't unhealthy -- in fact, gamers have lower BMIs than the average adult in the U.S.. The average BMI among gamers was 25 -- just on the border of normal and overweight. What's more, the average gamer engaged in physical activity once or twice a week. Gamers did, however, show larger instances mental health issues, including depression and substance abuse.

Are you more or less physically healthy than a gamer?

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I don't have a Garmin or other GPS device for running. One of these days, maybe, but for the moment, I don't. And so, when I run outdoors, unless I've already mapped out the the route, I don't generally know exactly how far I've gone. However, I do know how long I've run, which gives me an idea of distance.

This is a big difference from the way I run on a treadmill. When I have the numbers in front of me, I set a goal to reach a certain distance in a set amount of time. You'd think, then, that these indoor runs would be much harder, and more intense, but that's not necessarily the case.

It's typical to take considerably longer to run outdoors than indoors, especially if you run trails or other rough ground. And so, on your next outdoor run, try a new trail and just go by time. See what kind of workout you get. I find that I'm wiped after a long outdoor run, whether I've gone two miles or six. And unless you're training for an event of a certain distance, I think that's okay -- it allows you to run for the sheer joy of running. What do you think?

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

I have long been a believer in exercising outdoors as much as possible. Of course many folks stay healthy via treadmills, ellipticals and the like more times a week than I log a sweat session. And I make use of those too. But those who rely solely on machines are missing out.

The sensory benefits are pretty big. Breathing fresh air, smelling seasonal blooms, feeling the breeze and seeing your surroundings of sky, clouds and everything underneath all combine to fill your head with the happiness your heart feels after beating several more times per minute for an hour or so. It's invaluable to me. I run, walk, bike or just stretch in a meadow, on the sidewalk, on a dirt trail. Sometimes a brisk stroll through town provides a nice changeup too while enjoying the architecture and human company.

I admit during the heat and humidity or bitter wind chill that can be part of summers and winters here in Northern Virginia, I am happy to partake of the air conditioned air, humming machines, televisions and sometimes views of unfortunate outfits on my fellow exercisers in the gym down the street. But if you've found yourself in a rut that leaves you staring at walls for every workout, try breaking away for a change. You'll be glad you did.

How many of us have splurged on an exercise for the home? Not many, I imagine -- I know buying one sure wouldn't be practical for me. But here's something neat that I read about on Fitsugar -- An attachment for your regular bike that makes it a stationary bike! They come in two style:

• With the Blackburn TrakStand Mag ($159.99), you mount your back wheel onto the stand and remove your front wheel -- the, peddle away!
• With cycling roller ($169.99), you basically ride your bike indoors on a set of rollers. It's harder than it looks -- you have to be really careful to keep on a straight and narrow path.
  

Cool, huh? Would you try it?

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Jump roping really is excellent exercise. It's a great cardiovascular workout, does wonders to tone your calves and thighs, builds endurance, and even appeals to your inner child by being so much fun. But unfortunately you also need a lot of space to let that rope go flying around -- or do you? Not if you have this Ropeless Jump Rope. Now you can jump rope anywhere you can jump! It makes a snapping sound to help you keep a good rhythm, plus it tracks calories burned, jump repetitions, and how long you've been exercising. It even has a talking mode that will keep you up-to-speed as you go.


Via Book of Joe

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When it comes to fashion, not every trend or style is for everyone. Part of being fashionable is knowing what looks good on you, being willing to wear the correct size and working what you've got with confidence. Having said that, there are some looks that really don't look good on anyone.

One fashion don't that I really can't stand is the "muffin top", which Martha Edwards recently talked about banishing forever. I think what bugs me so much about it is that most of the people I see rocking the muffin top do so needlessly. It's more about clothing size than weight, as even a tiny size 2 runs the risk of developing Dunlap Syndrome if they insist on squeezing into size 0 jeans and wearing a too-short t-shirt to finish off their ensemble.

Five other major don'ts include:

• Jean on Jean: Lovingly and hilariously referred to as the "Canadian Tuxedo" in my homeland, this fashion sin is especially terrible when the demin colors don't match.
• Sunglasses Indoors: It's unnecessary and makes you come across as either shady or pretentious. Or both.
• Sneakers with skirts: As the article points out, the only acceptable reason for this is if you're walking to work and are going to change when you get to the office. Otherwise, there are lots of more appropriate yet comfy options.
• Blatant Cleavage: There is a difference between sexy and sleazy and a time and place for everything (but in this case, never at work if at all possible). Every woman needs to figure out for herself how much boob is too much, although if your shirt is so low that you're running the risk of a nipple slip, you've probably gone too far.
• Panty Lines: Almost every woman has been guilty of this fashion sin. To avoid panty lines, wear clothes that fit (too-tight pants mean your undies will show through), try a thong or seamless underwear or, if you're comfortable with it, go commando.

Are there any fashion don'ts that you absolutely can't stand?

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The dog days of summer are here -- the days when it's fun to be outside but it's far to hot to actually work out outdoors. The recycled air of the gym, though loathed in winter, is appealing because of those two life-saving words: Air Conditioning. I love the sun as much as anyone but the thought of running in this heat makes me feel ill, so I'll save my running to early morning (yeah right), late evening (yawn) or during the daylight hours, in the comfort of the gym.

So if it's too hot for your mid-day run, don't feel bad about taking it indoors. You can get a great workout indoors too!

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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!

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