In terms of equipment and kitchen tools, you really don’t need much to embark on and stay fit on your health journey. A well-rounded fitness routine will consist of stretching, balance and core exercises, resistance training, and cardio. For diet, focus on small improvements and better choices rather than a complete overhaul.
For starters, a good pair of walking shoes and a yoga mat will get you moving and stretching. Bodyweight movements will keep you progressing for quite some time. Take advantage of the equipment you already have on hand for assisting with balance such as chairs, countertops, and picnic tables.
As you advance from bodyweight you will want to venture into additional equipment that you can use for resistance training. We have spent nearly two years rotating and experimenting with our personal equipment in our van. We now have settled on one set of adjustable dumbbells, a pair of parallel bars, and a set of high-quality resistance bands (loop style). We find these three pieces of equipment to be most versatile, effective, and RV-friendly.
Each individual will have different goals, preexisting body conditions/injuries, storage capacity, preferences, and other variables that affect what equipment you need. Identify your goals, set some urgency, and prioritize. You can carry the fanciest and largest equipment out there, but if you don’t have persistence and determination it will just sit and get dusty. Cheers to a healthy 2021 ahead!
These are amazing tips to staying fit on the road. I RV full time and hike to stay fit. When the hiking is good, meaning I can find trails and the weather cooperates, I stay fit since it’s something I enjoy. But if the hiking is bad I tend to get a little lazy. I was thinking of taking up yoga inside the RV (which is a challenge) on bad weather days. I carry light free weights but forget I have them, lol.
It’s nice to see even the fitness gurus (you guys) have the same challenges in working out and staying fit as the rest of us.
Thank you for the tips.
Hi Allison, thanks for the comment! It’s not always easy to get those workouts in, but consistency is key. Get those dumbbells out!! 🙂 Chris
Hello. We are starting full time for the second time. We spent 20 on the road and have been off 4 years. Just had to get back out there. We are both 83 years old. That in itself isa challenge. We are in 30 to this time where before we were in class A or 5thwheel. Any suggestion for people our age. Walking has always been our main stay to be fit.
Wow, 20 years on the road and now back for round two…that’s incredible! Keep it up with the walking, walking is amazing. I encourage adding in some resistance training. Perhaps get a light set of adjustable dumbbells or a high-quality set of resistance bands. I would go for the resistance bands, myself. Good luck out there – Chris (Irene Iron Fitness)
I love using stretchy bands for my muscle preservation exercises. I use the 4KOR set which come with a strap that I put around the truck door. With the strap at about shoulder height, I find I can do most chest, back and arm exercises. I bend at the waist to do shoulders and pull-downs. They are light and fit in a small bag.
In addition I road and mountain bike, lake kayak with an inflatable and disc golf (which isn’t high energy exercise, but lots of fun). We are on our 5th year of full time in a 120 sq foot Escape 21 trailer.