The last time I took a long walk on the beach, barefoot, my calves let me know about it the next day, which got me thinking about how great it would be if I could do more walking barefoot. There's something really satisfying about stretching one's toes and feeling the changes in terrain while walking, plus, it obviously works the leg muscles differently than walking in shoes. However, it wouldn't be safe (or hygienic) to walk around the places I go barefoot, so that was the end of that.

Only it wasn't actually the end, because this link for Vibram FiveFingers Footwear (which we've also covered here at That's Fit a time or two) popped into my inbox the other day. You know I love fashionable footwear, and believe me, this isn't it, but it is a unique and cool concept based on barefooting, which they define as:

1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings.

Vibram FiveFingers Footwear: It's funky!(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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I'm 36. I'm not overweight, but would love to shed, oh, 5 pounds or so. So I guess that means I'm pretty, well, average? So, when it comes to bathing suit shopping, I'm not filled with dread, but it's not my favorite thing, either. I'm beyond my string bikini days. In fact, I don't know if I ever had one. But I'm definitely not ready for the black one-piece with a skirt down to the middle of my thighs.

I've been successful in the past couple of years at finding something in this in-between category. And this season, I'm actually feeling a little excited when it comes to choosing a bathing suit -- or three!

In recent weeks the catalogues have been arriving in my mailbox and I've discovered within the pages some real-life swimsuits that look cute, provide some cover but are far from dowdy.

During a recent vacation to a nearby national park, we parked ourselves on a secluded lake complete with a shallow, sandy creek. We thought we'd have the place to ourselves, but before too long, the skimboarders arrived. We'd never seen a skimboard before, but by the end of our vacation we realized that no matter what beach we visited, we'd be audience to this hot, new craze.

A skimboard is kind of like a surfboard, but much shorter and wider and very, very thin. The skimboarders we saw searched out shallow, sandy shorelines. They sprinted a short distance with their boards, dropped it, and immediately hopped on. From what I could tell, successful runs meant gliding across the water and maybe doing a turn or two. Unsuccessful runs meant hitting the water, sometimes in a very uncomfortable looking way!

The kids, teens, and young adults we saw were huffing and puffing after several runs, so I can only surmise that skimboarding is good exercise. New skimboards go for anywhere from $150-$250, but the boarders at our beach were selling used boards for $25 and giving tourists a chance to try the sport out.

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Think about it: Why were you so much fitter when you were in high school? Is it because your metabolism was faster? Possibly, but chances are you were also a lot more active. It's not necessarily your fault -- being young involved more than just sitting at a desk all day. Whether it was gym class, walks to the store, riding your bike to your friend's house, chasing the girls (or boys) down the hall or fights with your siblings, you were active so much more. Now you have to make time for such things, unless you work in an office where chasing co-workers down the hall is appropriate (I doubt it) or you still wrestle your little brother for the remote (I hope not). I for one would love to spend less time under the fluorescent lights of the gym and more time engaged in the carefree activity of a teenager. Here are some ways I, and you, can channel our younger selves and get back into that way of life that we miss so much.

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We're starting to see our first 80 degrees days down here in Texas, and with the arrival of summer comes constant pestering from my 2 1/2-year-old to "go to the pool! Go to the pool!"

I'm sure many parents are fielding similar requests from their families this time of year, so now is a good time to remind you that the pool can be a great place for adults, too. Most notably, because there are a number of health benefits to swimming.

In fact, "It's been said that a half-hour of water activity is equal to two hours of walking outside," Mark Smith of the YMCA tells KMBC-TV in Kansas City. Plus, because "The water has almost zero gravity," there's less pressure on your bones and joints, which makes it easier to walk.

So give in to your children's demands. Take them to the pool this summer -- and get some exercise while you're at it!

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While I'm only in my first leg of training for the Detroit marathon this October I'm searching for ways to mix up my cross-training days. I love to dance and it most certainly gets my heart rate pumping, yet I'm not entirely sure how effective my gyrating belly dancing and jive swing moves will be in mile 19 or 20 where I hear most people begin to lose it. Let's just say I'm looking to keep to the same rhythm or movement as my four running days.

So, what next then? Well, I've been told that the AquaJogger could be a great alternative for someone like me and a refreshing way to splash around the pool after a week's worth of pounding the pavement. Basically the AquaJogger is a buoyancy belt that suspends you at shoulder level in deep water allowing you to move freely and breathe normally while performing water aerobics. The idea of taking some of the impact out of exercise is what turns me on most about the AquaJogger. It's also been known to help with weight loss, to rehabilitate from injury or just have fun in the water. If it sounds like something you'd be interested in, make sure to check out their site. It looks as if the equipment goes for about $50 bucks for the classic belt for women and $60 for men.

Have any of you tried the AquaJogger? Any tips for someone like myself looking to order one of my own?

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