Living Your Dream: Feeling Fit on the Road

By Connie Gleason

How to stay healthy while traveling full time in an RV.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9780983759447

Book preview

MOVE!

The Fats of Life

There is no secret to being healthy:

Eat Right, Drink Water, and Move.

But how many of us do this?

Our first year at college, we gained the Freshman 15 pounds and with each baby we kept some weight. We become comfortable in our lifestyle and more weight accumulates. Well, the first year on the road, we gained weight. The average is about 10 pounds. I am above average.

We think we are on vacation stopping at all the local restaurants and ice cream bars. That is fine when you are on a two-week vacation or a weekend getaway, but not on a daily basis. This is your lifestyle now and you have to plan accordingly.

I am in my early 60s and can do more than somebody in their 70s or 80s. Yet, an active 60-year old also could easily do more than me on certain days. Listen to your body. What is it telling you? How far can you go and what type of exercise is best for you?

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Disclaimer: The ideas in this book are merely suggestions that have worked for us. I am not a doctor or therapist. I am not prescribing anything. Do what works for your body. Feel free to use any of these suggestions if they help you; if not, quit. Do not hurt yourself.

Heart Rate

Just what is your heart rate supposed to be and how do you figure it? Your pulse is your heart rate, or the number of times your heart beats in one minute. How do you get your pulse?

1. Place the tips of your index, second, and third fingers on the palm side of your other wrist below the base of the thumb. Or, place the tips of your index and second fingers on your lower neck on either side of our windpipe.

2. Press lightly with your fingers until you feel the blood pulsing beneath your fingers. You may need to move your fingers around slightly up or down until you feel the pulsing.

3. Use a watch with a second hand, or look at a clock with a second hand.

4. Count the beats you feel for ten seconds. Multiply this number by six to get your heart rate/pulse per minute.

Count your pulse.

_________beats in 10 seconds x 6 =_________beats/minute.

Be sure to know the maximum heart rate to achieve during exercise. One simple method is to calculate your predicted maximum heart rate using this formula:

220 - your age = predicted maximum heart rate

Ideally, you want to reach your target heart rate zone. That is when your exercise heart rate (pulse) is 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. Intensity at this level increases both cardiovascular and orthopedic risk with minimal, additional health-related benefit from the exercise.

When beginning an exercise program, you may need to gradually build up to a level that is within your target heart rate zone, especially if you have not exercised regularly