Staying Fit on the road - How do you do it? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Staying Fit on the road - How do you do it?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Full-timing is not an extended vacation. Once you get out of that mindset you can skip the food temptations more often.

Go places where the weather is good and get out and walk. Take the trails, walk your garbage to the dumpster instead of driving it on the hood of the car, swim, kayak, wash your rig and tow vehicle by hand when you can. You can sit in the chair all day or get out.

I admit I am not good at getting enough exercise, but I know whose fault it is.

Tmcblane · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paul, I swore be darned I would be in better condition cause I thought with all the going and doing that we would get more exercise but that sure hasn't panned out

I guess we do more eating and the exercise just doesn't equal up to the amount of movement as working a regular job. Of course getting older doesn't play any favors. That's my excuse because if I use that I don't have to admit I am lazy.

mikeway · RV-Dreams Family Member

My wife and I had those issues; shrinking clothes.

I walk and exercise some and that helps, but the major aid is not eating out. We limit ourselves to 2 nights out a week. That limits the intake and the amount of fats we take in. The Foreman grill helps a lot when it's too cold to grill out. The biggest benefit of eating in in portion size. We clearly eat less in than restaurants out. Our clothes still fit after 6 months.

In addition some campgrounds have work out equipment. You don't need a lot of space for Tai Chi or karate or yoga for balance and fluidity.

Today's paper points out how important exercise and diet are for limiting disabilities. Having multiple sets of clothes isn't good for storage or budget.

Mike

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good question!

When we came out we had all kinds of plans to excercise, and hike, and bike, etc.
Reality is that we've hiked twice, biked 3 times and haven't ever taken the dumb bells out of the closet. I'm starting to think that the bike rack and cover were a total waste of money.

Truth is, the time flies by, we seem to do nothing all day, while eating and drinking what we like, and we've only gained a few pounds in 9 months.

Is this a great life, or what??

Fred

Sandra · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was always prone to weight gain when I was working but I haven't had to change the size of my clothes since we've been on the road. Eveything still fits and it's been 2 1/4 years! I try to walk every day, sometimes twice a day. Some campgrounds have fitness equipment but I usually don't use it because then I'd miss it when I went to a campground that didn't have it. Walking is best for me!

Sandra

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

When your married to a retired RN, staying fit is high on our list. Well we exercise by riding our Bikes, been riding this morning. We also try and find a Fitness center, if the Rv park doesn't have any equipment. Since this park doesn't have treadmills or any weight equipment, we are going fitness center shopping today. Being retired Army, I'm well aware of what exercise does for you. Walking is a excellent way to stay fit. Good Luck....GBY...

P.S. It's in the 70's and low 80's today in Mission TX...

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't do well in the winter months. We make decisions that lead to a more sedentary life in the winter. The big one is the television. We hardly watch the thing at all in the late spring, summer and early fall but in the cool months it seems to be a magnet. Internet time is also a popular sedentary sport. If we didn't choose to spend so much time in front of these devices we might actually find more time to walk and get off the chair or the couch. Anyway that is what my cardioligist keeps telling me. The truth is we lose about 15 pounds in the summer months and they most likely reappear by the first week of January or so. Just say no is so easy to say and so hard to do.

LOL

Larry and Jacki

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Paul:

I have found this to be very interesting. Both my wife and I have actually lost weight since hitting the road. We both had sedentary jobs and the stress levels were high. That is one of the reasons we retired early. I have actually lost 20 pounds in the last 2 years and ditto my XYL. We eat better now even though we eat out a lot and we both get outside a lot more even in the winter but mostly I think it was the stress. I am even growing some new hair back into my bald spot.

I can only say that stress kills.

Tmcblane · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ahoweth, I have not managed to regrow any hair but in the last year my cholesterol is down 13 points from the last time I had it checked. We certainly eat better than before.

jomago · RV-Dreams Family Member

ahoweth---

In case you want to find that 20 #'s you lost, send me a PM, because I've found 20 #'s someplace and it might belong to you. Would be more than happy to return it.

Went to gym and had a personnel trainer (old buddy) set up a program for conditioning and strenghtening. Followed this program religiously, 2 hours/day 6 days/week. Just had to get that 20 #,s off. So after 6 mos of this routine, the only thing it got me was tired.

Went to doctor and he explained that normally by the time you get 60 to 65 one loses about 25% of your muscle mass and by 80 to 85 one has lost another 25% of your muscle mass. Trouble is you lose muscle mass but not #'s. The #'s just get redistributed.

Ya'll keep on trucking and enjoy

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

My lovely bride suggested I take up jogging, and if I get too tired, she offered to tie me to the back of our motorhome and assist me down the road.

Maybe I shouldn't have taught her how to drive it?

Best Regards!

-- Edited by Old Snipe at 10:45, 2006-11-24

Tmcblane · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paul, at least she offered to TIE you to the back and not CHASE you with the motorhome!

Doncat · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do you have to stay fit on the road? No body told me that, I am going to have to rethink this whole thing again.

We have cable tv back in the stick house and they have an exercise channel. I try to watch it for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. I haven't lost much weight, but I have found I am getting out of my recliner much easier lately.

Someone told me running would help me, so I tried chasing women. That didn't work either, however the wife found out and she beat me into shape in no time.

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tmcblane wrote:

Paul, at least she offered to TIE you to the back and not CHASE you with the motorhome!

Tab,

Fortunately for me my MH is so underpowered I'd probably be able to beat it!

Best Regards and Happy Thanksgiving!

Tmcblane · RV-Dreams Family Member

Doncat wrote:

Do you have to stay fit on the road? No body told me that, I am going to have to rethink this whole thing again.

We have cable tv back in the stick house and they have an exercise channel. I try to watch it for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. I haven't lost much weight, but I have found I am getting out of my recliner much easier lately.

Someone told me running would help me, so I tried chasing women. That didn't work either, however the wife found out and she beat me into shape in no time.

They say you should get your heart rate up into THE zone to do any good. I would suggest you get up more during the exercise show and walk ....no run to the fridge for snacks and beer! Then chug and chomp them fast as you can to get your heart rate up.

-- Edited by Tmcblane at 06:50, 2006-11-22

Joan On The Road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well that perfect figure left me long ago! And since we've been on the road I've added a few more pounds (my lucky hubby has maintained, even lost some inches :).

Given everything we know about staying fit and the RV lifestyle it seems that walking is the best. I have a picture in my mind of a guy at the Escapees park in Bushnell FL who used to walk by our MH day after day, week after week. And after 4 months he had lost 30 pounds. But man oh man...he walked for a couple of hours a day! That is dedication, perseverance and will power. Now how do you get all that?