How to stay fit on the road


The wind in my hair. The fresh countryside air. The new experiences and exciting memories. These are the things that I look forward to when I’m about to hit the road on my next adventure. What I don’t enjoy is all the sitting, resulting in a massive drop in my fitness levels. It got me thinking, are there ways to stay fit on the road?
Here are six tips to stay fit and healthy while in your van for long periods of time.
If you’re on a trip, I’d bet you’ve already got a rough plan of where you want to end up and when. If you’re more on the organised side, you’ve likely also slotted in places to see and activities to do while you’re at each destination. In between these activities, make sure you slot some exercise time into your plan. Whether it’s in the morning before you head off, after lunch or even just a sunset stroll around the campsite.
One of the biggest blockers to exercising on the road is thinking you can’t fit it into your schedule. If you’ve planned it into your schedule you’ll be able to see there is in fact time.
Of course, if you’re on holiday and want to relax and rejuvenate, you may not plan this into your every day. However, for those that live on the road, this may be a good option to keep yourself accountable on an ongoing basis.
Most gym franchises give you the option to sign up for either one studio or multiple locations. Naturally, you’ll be paying more for the nationwide pass. However, if you’re always on the road you’ll certainly be using it to stay fit.
Fitness First has a passport membership that allows you to access all gyms in NSW, ACT and VIC. This is a great option for people who like to work out with equipment and weights and with the option of classes. Whether it’s a spin bike marathon, a weight session or a yoga class, there are varied options a gym can offer. Keeping exercise fun and different is one way to maintain motivation on the road.
Most of the time I know I’m ready for a driving break when I can feel my bum going numb. Use the break time to get some circulation flowing again through your aching legs with a brisk walk. The fresh air will also do wonders to wake you up and keep you alert when you jump back behind the wheel.
If you want to go that extra mile at a rest stop, consider adding in some exercises during your break. Some easy options for road trip relief are squats, jumping jacks and lunges. Take it that one step further and add in some stretching to relieve some of the tightness that builds up in the hips and hamstrings from being seated.
When I say ‘fitness’ most of us think of physical activity. Although it’s important for cardiovascular fitness, if your goal is to lose weight then the 80% nutrition and 20% exercise rule applies. Being on the move constantly will unfortunately negatively influence your eating habits.
There aren’t exactly salad bars situated along the highway. Instead there’s a sea of fast food restaurants from KFC to Mcdonald’s to Hungry Jacks. You’ll very quickly notice how eating burgers and hot chips each day makes you look and feel.
One way to combat this is to prepare your meals ahead of time. Generally, when you eat better, you also feel better. Therefore, creating snacks and meals that are healthy and nutritious will give you the energy to continue exercising on the road.
Not dissimilar to eating well, sleeping well also allows you to exercise more efficiently. When you get a good night’s sleep you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and revitalised. You’ll have the energy you need to complete your campsite workout or your daily hike through the bush.
Being on the move requires a lot of energy, let alone adding exercises on top. Ensuring you have a good mattress to rest on each night as well as comfortable pillows and sheets will do wonders. Although it’s tempting to stay up late each night telling campfire stories and eating marshmallows, you’ll be thanking yourself the next day when you feel fresh.
It can be challenging to come up with exercises for your workouts, especially if you are used to being coached or trained. Thankfully, technology has really come through in this area with the development of apps. Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, the app centre has many options of apps you can download to help you with your fitness.
If it’s meal planning you’re after, then My Fitness Pal will encourage you to log your meals and their calories to keep track. For workouts created by Nike trainers, check out the Nike Training Club: Fitness app. With many forced to work out at home during the COVID isolation period, there are now more options than ever to enable you to exercise remotely.
With all of these avenues, you no longer need to choose between being on the road and staying fit. By incorporating workout time into your plan, you’ll be able to see all the sights the open road offers, while getting your steps in.
Have any other tips for staying fit on the road worked for you? Let us know in the comments.