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Last Updated on March 28, 2024 by Jeremy
While out enjoying your RV and camping adventures, you need to ask yourself – What is the importance of exercise? Putting things into perspective, you are surrounded by outdoor activities and nature everywhere, regardless of weather, so why not utilize your surroundings, and incorporate the value of exercise into your daily choices, so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
**NOTE: Within this article, certain quotes and exercises will be referenced from the source: 3 Minutes to a PAIN-FREE Life By: Dr. Joseph Weisberg, P.T., Ph. D, and Heidi Shink.**
The Warmup of Overall Health
“It’s a little-known fact that the human body, barring disease or trauma, has the potential to function at a high level for more than a century. Maintained properly, your muscles and joints can last for 120 years.”
The importance of exercise in this instance will eliminate or control pain, arthritis, stiffness, backaches, headaches, limited mobility, and even chronic pain.
“We have become conditioned to believe that pain is an inevitable part of aging that it is hard to believe that there is actually something that can be done about it.”
So, when planning your camping trip, RV trip, whether 3 days or full-time, it’s best to have a routine planned out, so you can maintain that physical aspect of living, and be free of the consequences, should they arise.
As a reminder, you should always consult your physician before starting any exercises or routines that potentially can adhere risks greater than results.
Exercises / Activities you can do Inside / Outside
Per my article The Best Apps for Camping, you’ll recall the short list of outdoor activities you can do while camping, as well some Apps that will lead you to these activities.
Whether it’s a family activity, or a solo mission, one of the most common things you could do whilst on your RV adventure is to go for a hike. There are nature trails galore around our beautiful world, so why be conformed to within your daily confines of your campsite?
Gather your Hiking Boots, plus a backpack with a couple of snacks and water bottles and start with a leisurely walk towards that easy-medium hiking trail that is nearby.
Perhaps you want something a little more hardcore? Hit The Trails With Superior Mountain Bikes or go on an extreme paddle with your stand up paddle boards. You could load your Bikes into your vehicle using a BIKE eRACK, the first electric self-loading bike rack!
Doing either of these activities are merely suggestions, and we know there are far more to choose from than just these two options. Perhaps some other alternatives of indoor/outdoor exercises/activities you could do would be:
- ~Swimming
- ~Frisbee
- ~Push-ups
- ~Lawn Darts
- ~Yoga
- ~Basketball
- ~Sit-ups
- ~Weights
- ~Boxing
- ~Crunches
- ~Rock Climbing
- ~Golfing
- ~Laughing
One would question laughing on this list, but they do say “laughter is the best medicine“, so gather around a fire once you are done the more physical activities, tell some stories, and laugh until it hurts. It’s great not only for your overall health, but your mental health as well!
And remember, before any activity or exercise, you should always stretch first!
The 3-Minute Maintenance Method
If you are in pain and don’t want to be, or are pain free already, take 3 minutes a day (or 180-seconds) and proceed with the following suggestions.
But do keep in mind that:
- ~ “Anytime is the Right Time” – As long as you choose a time, and routinely stick to that time, you’ll be able to pull off this method with ease.
- ~ “Prevention, Not Intervention” – It’s easiest to prevent a problem than it is to solve it. If you don’t want a sore back, prevent it from being sore, or finding ways to solve it from being sore.
- ~ “If There’s Pain, Refrain” – Some will refer to the quote “no pain, no gain”, however that’s a particular quote that needs to be ignored. You should only push your body to the limits when you start to feel pain. Otherwise, if you go over, it will cause more harm than good.
- ~ “It’s Never Too Late to Start” – Even if you’re in chronic pain, it’s not too late to make your overall health, better. The healthier your muscles and joints, the sturdier, stronger and more vital you are.
- ~ “Keep Your Eye on the Prize” – Every day that you’re free of pain is a gift, so let the importance of exercise in the next 3-minutes, be your guide.
The 6 exercises you should do for 30 seconds each are as follows:
- 1- Bow – Primary targeted areas include spine, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.
- 2- Arch – Primary targeted areas include spine, neck, wrists, hands, fingers, and abdominal muscles.
- 3- Lizard – Primary targeted areas include spinal discs and lower back.
- 4- Natural Squat – Primary targeted areas include lower back and pelvis.
- 5- Split – Primary targeted areas include hips, inner thigh muscles, groin region, and knees.
- 6- Sky Reach – Primary targeted areas include proper postural alignment, shoulders, forearm muscles, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers.
The importance of this exercise while camping, and not only being able to do these indoors AND outdoors, is that it is only 3-minutes long, and will help prevent any future pain during your life.
To get more details on this specific topic, I recommend this book By Dr. Joseph Weisberg, as it’s full of valuable information!
Healthy Snacks and Water Intake
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that “an adequate daily fluid intake is:
- -About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
- -About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women”
This is recommended without exercise, so bear in mind the more activities you do, the more you should increase your water intake. The reason being, is because water in general is extremely important for us! Check out this article Why Water is Important in our Life! – Everything Nature and More to learn more!
As far as food goes, of course eating healthy foods is key, but you should always include healthy snacks as well, simply put, vegetables and fruits. For a 2,000-calorie diet, the USDA suggests eating 2 cups of fruits, and 2.5 cups of vegetables, among other things, so adjust these suggestions accordingly to your main meals.
What is the Importance of Exercise – The Cool Down Conclusion
The importance of exercising while camping, simply put, is to maintain your overall pain free health. By following the above suggestions and taking my recommendations for the activities and exercises above, you should be able to enjoy every aspect of your adventure while RVing.
Of course, many of these activities can be done without exhausting yourself. Plus, you’re certain to prolong any extreme health issues just by following the daily guidelines recommended as well.
In the end, when it can be done for your overall benefit, and be enjoyed at the same time, then the more important thing to realize is, it was done for YOU!
Please feel free to comment your exercises and activities, and daily routines that you do to stay active while enjoying the great outdoors, and I’ll gladly respond.
Cheers!
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