Healthy RV Habits: How to Stay Fit on the Road
What makes RVing so special is having the freedom to travel and choose where you spend your days. However, long periods on the road can sometimes get in the way of your health goals. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay fit while RVing. If you’ve been wondering how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in your RV, consider following these helpful tips to stay fit on your next trip.
1. Take Frequent Breaks
When cruising down the highway, it’s tempting to limit your stops to get to your destination quicker. However, sitting for extended periods can lead to back pain and affect your overall health—and that’s no different in an RV.
Since you can’t stand and drive, practice taking frequent breaks from driving every two hours to get out and stretch. It’s easy to get in a rhythm when driving, so consider setting alarms to remind yourself to pull over. Once you’ve stopped, be sure to exit your RV for about 15 minutes to stretch your arms, back, and legs to get your blood flowing again. If possible, switching drivers every few hours can also help.
2. Purchase Basic Exercise Equipment
When traveling in an RV, packing smart is essential. While it may be impossible to bring large exercise equipment with you on your travels, it is possible to bring lighter gear. Packing small exercise equipment such as a yoga mat, a jump rope, and resistance bands will help you stay healthy on your RV trips. The best part? These types of equipment store easily!
With these three pieces of equipment, you can create a workout regime that is easy to follow:
- First, start your day using your yoga mat for morning yoga and stretching.
- Next, use your resistance bands for exercises such as squats and curls.
- Complete your workout with some cardio by using your jump rope.
Use each piece of equipment for 10 minutes, and congrats, your morning workout is done!
3. Plan Your Meals
One of the best ways to stay fit on your RV travels is to eat healthy. While eating out at each new destination is tempting, doing so could lead to bad habits.
To combat your dine-out cravings, consider planning out your meals for the trip. Doing so acts as a cheat sheet to staying healthy and will influence you to cook rather than eat out. If you’d still like to eat out, plan on doing so only a couple of times a week.
Since you’ll have your RV, traveling to different grocery stores shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you have a long drive ahead of you into a remote area, be sure to stock up on fresh ingredients before heading out. If you have the space, purchasing an Instant Pot is a great kitchen appliance in an RV. It’s easy to use, and there are plenty of recipes online that require minimal prep.
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Being healthy isn’t just about achieving a faster mile time. Keeping your overall body at its best and paying attention to your mental health is crucial to staying fit.
Although driving an RV is a stationary activity, long drives can still be tiring. To be at your best and help your body recover, it’s essential to be well rested every day. Aim for at least 8 hours a night, but be sure to listen to your body if you require more.
If you find it challenging to get adequate sleep in an RV or at a campground, try drinking herbal teas, purchasing earbuds, or playing calming sounds to help you fall asleep.
5. Enjoy the Outdoors
Our last tip for staying healthy in an RV is probably the easiest to follow: be sure to enjoy the outdoors.
RV life is about exploring and venturing to new destinations, so don’t let a comfy chair keep you from doing just that. When visiting a new campsite, consider spending a day exploring the campground and the areas surrounding it. Activities such as hiking, rock climbing, or even a nice walk around the site can benefit your health.
When choosing your campsites, look for those that can accommodate the kind of activities you like. That way, you’ll know what to expect at each new stay and have a plan in place.
Don’t Forget About RV Insurance
Regardless of how you stay fit on the road, it’s important to have the proper RV insurance to keep your rig at its best should an accident occur. A specialized RV insurance policy offers you greater coverage options that are unavailable in a traditional auto policy, such as personal belongings coverage and campsite liability.
To learn more about RV insurance, give our specialists a call at (866) 501-7335, or start a free quote online.
The information in this article is obtained from various sources and is offered for educational purposes. Furthermore, it should not replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.