Are your family weekends all about sitting around in your sweats, giving your thumbs a workout as they click the TV remote or video game controller? Is the most strenuous hike you take the one that leads to the fridge? If so, then you and your family need to take your weekends outside.

Planning outdoor activities on the weekends is a great way not only to get you and your kids in better shape, but also to bond as a family. Spend an afternoon swimming at a nearby lake or pool, head to the closest nature preserve for a hike, or just go to the park to toss a Frisbee around or join a pickup game of basketball. Make your outing a social one by inviting other families to come along and play with you, and soon you'll find you're enjoying the company and the sunshine so much that you don't even notice you're exercising.

Of course, the weather won't always cooperate, but that doesn't mean you have to be stuck at home. Head for your neighborhood recreation center, or take a trip to the mall for a combo of walking and window-shopping. Weekends are too short to stay cooped up in the house, so get out there and take advantage of the free time!