Staying Fit and Healthy as a Full-Time Traveling RV Family
Our family of four will soon be entering year 6 of full time travel. Most of the time we are traveling in our RV, all around the U.S. and Mexico. When we lived in a house, we enjoyed having gym memberships where we would workout and stay fit.
However once we hit the road, and our lives were turned upside down by a drastically different lifestyle, we found other ways to stay in shape.
Finding a Gym While full-time traveling
Having a gym membership on the road isn’t out of the question. We have known RVers who join gyms that have locations around the U.S. and they can stop in and workout, shower, etc. whenever they want. (Those free showers can be really useful when you’re boondocking!)
Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness are three options to look into if you’re considering a membership.
Aaron did join a gym when we moved to Syros, Greece for three months but that’s the only time we’ve had a gym membership in the last 5 years. That gym was a short walk from our house on the island of Syros, and he enjoyed going with friends we were there with.
To learn more about why we were living in Greece and how we had multiple families/friends living there with us, check out this article about Boundless Life.
Other than our 3 months in Greece, we haven’t had any type of gym memberships. We love staying at RV parks that have a gym, and we’ve seen some nice ones! Since we typically don’t stay at RV parks very long though, we have to rely on other ways to stay fit!
How We Exercise While Full-Time Traveling
Our workout equipment
Dumbbells
I love dumbbells and get a full body workout with my 12 lb. weights. I try and do a little something with them every day, even if it’s not for long. I’ve just created the habit of picking them up each day and doing something.
Aaron has a set of Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells, which are a game-changer for full-time RVers looking to maintain a consistent workout routine on the road. Their adjustable weight feature allows for a wide range of exercises without the need for an entire rack of traditional dumbbells, saving precious space and weight in the RV.
There are lighter options for equipment (see the bullet points below), but we just really love using weights, so for us it was worth it to get rid of other things we had in order to make space and weight allowances for our weights!
Adjustable Workout Bench
Aaron got an adjustable workout bench for Christmas last year that he enjoys using. It folds down to a small compact size that makes it easy to store. It is not very heavy either, so it’s an easy addition even with our minimal storage capacity.
Other Workout Equipment Options
We know other RVers that travel with equipment such as:
Jump ropes
Yoga mats
Kettlebells
When selecting equipment, consider your specific fitness goals, available space and weight availability, and personal preferences.
Exercise Apps and Videos
We subscribe to Apple Fitness+ which has several benefits for full-time RVers. Here are some of the things we love about it:
Portable: Apple Fitness+ workouts can be streamed on your Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. That means we can workout outside while streaming to our iPhone/iPad, or inside our RV while watching the trainer on TV.
Variety: The 10, 20, and 30 minute workout options are great, allowing you to pick a workout based on how much time you have. Apple Fitness+ offers various workout types, including
Cardio
Strength training
Yoga
HIIT, and more.
Minimal Equipment: Many Apple Fitness+ workouts require minimal or no equipment. You won't need a full gym setup to stay active.
Guided Instruction: Apple Fitness+ instructors provide guidance during workouts and various options to complete the workout based on your fitness level, making it easier for beginners and experienced exercisers alike to follow along and stay motivated.
This one isn’t specific to Apple, and isn’t just yoga. A friend recommended YogaBody to Aaron to help out with his back pain that he still deals with from prior sports injuries.
The yoga challenges & at-home programs are great for flexibility, back pain, and core strength. Unlike Apple Fitness+, you purchase the programs you want and you get to keep them forever.
Healthy Activities We Enjoy
Other things we do that burn calories are:
Hiking
Biking
Swimming
Playing pickleball
Paddleboarding
Rock climbing
Of course, there are times of the year when we’re traveling in places with lots of mountains and trails and these are the times when we are outside most, doing outdoor activities.
During times when we’re more in cities, around less outdoorsy areas, we have our weights to keep us strong. We also love going on walks, which is a really great exercise you can almost always do.
Our kids love playing organized sports, so once a year we stay put for 3 months and register them to play fall sports. We’ve done this in Las Vegas and also in Southern California and had great experiences.
Diet
Keeping our bodies fit and healthy is important to us, so we also try and eat healthy foods. We are always trying to eat less and less processed foods and fuel our bodies with whole foods that are good for us.
Managing Stress and Mental Health
We are learning more and more about how health is so much more than just working out and eating right too. Stress and not being mentally healthy can be detrimental to your well being, even if you’re working out and eating right.
We try and not overfill our schedules, keep a healthy balance in our work and social lives, schedule in down time for rest, and communicate regularly, checking in with each member of the family about how they are mentally.
Checking in on each other's mental health in a supportive way is important for family well-being. Here are some easy and casual ways we do this:
Regular Family Meetings: Schedule regular family meetings where everyone has a chance to talk about their day or week. Create an open, safe, non-judgmental atmosphere where the kids feel comfortable talking about anything they want to talk about. For us, this is at meal time. We make family dinner a priority and eat together 6-7 nights a week.
Casual Conversations: Engage in everyday conversations where you ask open-ended questions like "How are you feeling today?" or "Is there anything on your mind?" Be genuinely interested in their responses.
Shared Activities: Participate in shared activities like cooking, crafts, or playing board games, building with Lego, coloring/drawing, etc. These moments can provide opportunities for casual discussions and bonding.
Family Walks: Go for family walks or outings. Physical activity can reduce stress, and it's a great time for informal chats while enjoying nature. We do this often by playing Pokemon GO with the kids.
Summary
Full time RV travel has been the best thing for our family and the past 5 years have been nothing short of amazing. We are closer as a family, active and healthy in all areas, and we are all hopeful for the future. Even with a lifestyle we love, it’s important to establish good habits to ensure we stay happy and healthy.
I hope this article gave you some ideas about how you can either stay healthy if you’re traveling or get healthy if you’re currently not. Drop any questions you have in the comments below!