Health and Wellness on the Road: Fitness in Your RV

The most important step to fitness on the road, in your RV, is to maintain your routine.  It is easy for changes or disruptions in our daily schedule to get us off track.  If you are going out for a brief getaway, or are new to RVing, managing the rig can easily contribute to activity changes.  Here are some ideas to stay fit on the road.

Space and Weight

One of the main difficulties with staying fit in an RV – you can’t bring heavy work-out items, and you usually do not have the space to store them either.  One of the best solutions to this is resistance bands.  They are small so you can fold them and put them in tiny spaces.  They also work out every muscle in the body.

Try ‘Chair Workouts’.  All you need is a chair!  There is a workout for all types of goals.  You can build muscle, do stretches, or aim for weight loss.  No matter your routine choice, the goal is to save on space and weight.

Memberships to Fitness Centers

If you join a local gym, try to find one providing services in your RV destination as well.  When you can take advantage of a membership on the road it will help you stay fit.  You also continue using familiar equipment and services to keep up your routine.  A bonus is gyms may have other features you can take advantage of like showers, saunas, and swimming pools you may not have available.

Check into using local community services.  For a small fee, you can take advantage of swimming pools or other health classes to stay fit – even healthy cooking classes.

Video & Apps

Incorporate video workouts or health apps on your phone.  This gives you routines or guidance you can easily take and continue to do on the road.  Tip:  Look for routines that don’t require a lot of space or use tools you can’t take with you on the road.  Ensure you can access exercise features or download them to your phone in advance if you encounter limited Internet services.

Walking

You can never go wrong with walks.  The great thing about being on the road in the RV is the change of scenery.  You can invigorate your walk and put a new ‘pep in your step’ because you are not walking the same path daily as you do at your brick-and-mortar home.

Plan by looking up the local walking paths.  You can usually find how many miles each path covers along with details on shade, difficulty, and distance from your campground.  Also note any safety issues you may need to watch for, wild animals, closures, or the busiest walking times.

Diet

If you are following a strict or special diet, have a plan!  Check the storage capacity to store or refrigerate required foods for the period you will be on the road.  Not all locations will carry the same special food items.  Are you planning to stay a long time?  Maybe you can order special foods to be delivered to your location.  Make sure the campground will accept packages though, not all do.

Don’t forget to add local farmers markets to your ‘on the road’ experience.  This is a great way to see what the local area has and replenish your fresh garden foods.  You might even incorporate some local recipes into your diet.

Eating healthy to stay fit on the road is not hard.  But it may take a little planning.  That is OK though.  You are adding adventures to your RV trip and maintaining your fitness on the road simultaneously.

A word of caution. Do not expect to start a new routine if you are going out for a temporary RV trip or just getting started in your new RV.  What you practice at home will not magically change when you get in your rig.  Remember, it can take 30-plus days to create a new habit.  So, start now!  And look for ways to modify your current fitness routine so it is a success in your RV.  Or adapt your routine now so you are ready.  A smooth transition of your routine for your next RV trip will help ensure fitness success.