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Back to "Enjoy Yourself RV Style" 

  Get close to nature! Hiking, Biking and Boating are 
wonderful activities and offer a change of pace. 
Here are some tips and information to consider.

Enjoy yourself and stay healthy.

Its been proven that activity sustains youth. New research shows you can fix decades of inactivity in a surprisingly short time. UT southwestern Medical Center in Dallas trained five me, ages 50-51. Thirty years earlier doctors had recorded each man's aerobic fitness level. Now could they get it back? The guys started slowly, choosing a modest jogging, walking, or cycling program, and setting a fitness target of 75 percent of maximum heart rate.

 Workout first featured two 15 minute workouts. After that, exercise time increased 5 to 10 percent per week. At six months they were up to 4.5 hours a week and they regained their aerobic fitness levels of 30 years earlier.

Beware of sitting and driving for long hours. That's not healthy. Take a 5 minute break every hour or so. Get out of the vehicle and walk around. If you use a Motorhome and find it convenient to fix lunch while on the go you are forming a bad habit. I know, that's why you bought it. Well, just imagine sitting on a plane for ten hours. You wouldn't like that and you would probably complain about it. The fact is, you will be tired and become cramped and hurt after a long time.

Get into the habit of exercising and take a walk every day. Before you walk, stretch a bit.

Here is a set of exercises that I do often do and I feel that it helps me keep limber and fit. Use this sequence, five each, in both directions using a slow motion. If you do these on a regular basis you can start doing a set of ten after six weeks.

1.Start by bending your head and neck forward (looking down) and back (looking up) five times in both directions, slowly. This will loosen your neck. Be aware of dizziness. If you feel dizzy sit down and do these exercises very slowly. Then go side to side.

2.Then do the shoulders by moving in a circular motion. Five times one way and then 5 times the other way.

3. Next the arms around in big circles. Remember, five, both ways on each exercise and slowly. 

4. Now without moving your feet, turn with arms extended, like a "T", to the right as far as you can, as if to point your right hand to the rear. Do this to the left also. It will help the waist. 

5. Bend to the left with your right arm extended over the head and then bend to the right bringing your left arm over the head. From one side to the other. Five each.

6. Now with hands on hips bend forward and turn your torso around to the left in a circle 5 times and then to the right 5 times. Do this slowly and be careful not to get dizzy or lose your balance. If you ever feel pain or dizzy - STOP - SIT DOWN.

7. If you can't its OK. Raise your hands over your head and bend forward as far as you can trying to touch your toes. Do this five times. It is better to not bounce, just stretch, even if you cannot touch your toes. In time you should be able to touch your toes without bending your knees.

8. Now try the deep-knee-bends by squatting and then return to a standing position. Do this five times. If you extend your arms out in front it will give you balance. Use a chair in front of you for balance. This may be hard for older folks are anyone with knee problems.

9. Sit on the floor and put your legs straight out and bring them together. Start with your arms above your head and reach for your toes. Return with your arms above your head and reach for your toes again. Five times.

10. Lie back on the floor and put your legs straight up. Place your legs back on the floor and try to sit up. Do this five times.

Try to set a schedule of three or four times per week. 

Consult your doctor about these exercises, as some movements may not be good for everyone. If you are younger and rather limber you should be able to work with these suggestions. Don't strain or force yourself. Start with only three sequences and when you are comfortable, do four and then five. Performing these movements every day will make you more limber. 

Now! Take a hike! or ride a bike!

If you use these exercises and find some good from it please let me know. E-mail the RVturtle@Hotmail.com

Folding bikes are great for RVers.

We found these folding bikes at Camping World. They cost about $150 and are strongly built. They fold into a compact 
package and will fit into the back seat of a truck. We carry two in the back seat, one on each side.

Backpacking - What foods to take? Watch this video from Expert Village Presents.

Stay Fit during RV Travels

Keeping up with healthy habits becomes difficult, when it comes to RVing. Though your eating habit and fitness regimen will be affected while on the road, it is recommended to eat healthy and do some bodyweight exercises. And for this, you need a little prior planning. Get some compact and convenient exercise equipment and focus more on bodyweight exercises while travelling in your recreational vehicle. Despite not being time consuming, such exercises are effective and help to relax your sore muscles. If you are driving, it is recommended to stop every couple hours, get some fresh air and stretch your muscles.

Apart from cardio and abdominal exercises, you can do exercises with a resistance band. In fact, you can do a number of exercises using a resistance band. These include shoulder presses, tricep extensions, upright rows, and bicep curls. Better yet, a resistance band is easy to store and is lightweight. You can also opt for exercises like push-ups, yoga, vertical leg raises, reverse crunches, traditional crunches, bicycle crunches, and tricep dips (by using the seat in your RV for the later).

In addition, you can even jump ropes, go for brisk walk or jog once you are in the camping ground. You can even be creative in your fitness endeavors. Go for swimming, hiking, bicycling, or rent a pedal boat if our destination and the weather allow for such things. Also, make sure you maintain a healthy eating and sleeping habits while RVing. Enjoy the local fare, but don’t deprive yourself from proper diet and adequate sleep. Avoid fast food; instead, have single servings of healthy snacks while on the road.

More Hiking and Biking on the next page...

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