Staying Fit on the Road

It's been said that sitting for long periods of time is one of the worst things you can do for your body. While we tend to associate RVing with camping, hiking, and adventuring, a majority of it tends to be just the opposite: Sitting. Sometimes, you might find yourself sitting for hours on end.

Whether your goal is to stay in shape while you're traveling, or just keep your body active and mobile, there are plenty of ways you can stay fit on the road. The good news? Many things you can do from the comfort of the passenger's seat. Let's take a quick look at a few simple exercises you can do during your next long road trip.

Chest Fly and Triceps Curls

Looking for a quick and effective way to work your upper body while hanging out in the passenger's seat? Try a combination of these two exercises. For added effectiveness, hold onto light hand weights (cans of soup work well, too!).

For a chest fly, reach your arms out straight in front of you, keeping your elbows up. Pull them back, as though you're opening up your wingspan, and then bring them together again so your palms are touching. Repeat for ten repetitions, or as many times as needed for you to feel the burn!

Triceps can be an easily-ignored part of the arm, but it's just as important to keep them strong. Using the same light hand weights, sit at the edge of your seat. With a weight in each hand, raise your arms above your head. Keep your elbows close to your ears. Slowly 'dip' the weights behind you, then raise them back up. Repeat for ten repetitions.

Planking

Planking was more than just an Internet fad a few years back. It's actually an effective abdominal exercise that you can do in the narrow space of an RV. To 'properly plank,' start out by laying on your stomach. Bend your elbows near your sides, keeping your palms flat on the ground in front of you.

Use your strength to lift your torso off the ground. Your elbows, forearms, hands, and toes should be the only parts touching the floor. Hold this position as long as possible for an awesome core work out. Try to work up to a minute, if you can!

Calf Raises

Want to keep your blood pumping and build muscle at the same time? Calf raises can be done just about anywhere from a standing position. If you don't have a lot of control over your balance, you may want to use a wall or the back of a chair for support.

Standing up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart, raise up onto your toes. Hold the position for a few seconds, then slowly lower them back down. Repeat for 10-15 repetitions.

The Benefits of Exercising on the Road

These are just a few simple exercises to get you started on your 'road' to fitness. They'll keep you from staying inactive for too long when you have a long trip ahead of you. But, don't be afraid to combine them with some of the natural workouts RVing tends to offer. Get out there and hike a trail as often as possible!