Okay, seriously, no surprise, I am planning to buy something much smaller than the class A I test drove. I am going to write more about that later, but wanted to thank you all for sharing your experience and opinions last week.
I know some of you have expressed reluctance about sharing your opinions or concern that they were overwhelming me, but I want to clarify that I always appreciate them and absolutely believe that my being frustrated serves me very well.
I mean, I would be really sad if you all said, “I don’t give a sh*t, buy whatever you want.”
Anyway, with the new plan for a smaller RV, I have to re-think my fitness plan. I know my original wish to have the Stairmaster with me might sound strange (though I think Clarke suggested he might try to do that one day?), but let me explain…
I have to work out very regularly. If I don’t, my mental health goes bad.
If you’ve seen pictures of me, you might notice that I am very, very pale. I cannot tolerate sun at all, so have to wear a heavy zinc oxide sunscreen on my face and on any exposed skin. (You know, the white stuff that you use to see on lifeguard’s noses, but newer versions are a bit more transparent.)
If you try to work out outside with the zinc oxide on, two things happen. First, you overheat immediately. Second the critical zinc oxide starts melting off your body. (Oh, and third, I start having a panic attack.)
So, I can cover my skin with sunscreen and UV clothing to go on a nice leisurely hike, but I can’t go outside and get the hard core workout that I need.
Hence, my love of indoor aerobic fitness equipment. Thirty minutes on the machine and I am good. Then I can take my leisurely hike in the park.
So, now I am shopping RVs and alternative (intensive) fitness options…
perfect
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On another note, a couple of you asked me if there was an email notification option for this blog and I told you no. Well, um, I guess some of you know that I obviously had no idea what I was talking about. If you click on “Register” on the bottom right hand corner, that should take you through the process to get blog postings emailed to you. (When I am logged in I don’t have that button, so I didn’t see it.)
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Countup: 29 days of sobriety! (30 days tomorrow!)
Countdown: 129 days until I move into my tiny ass RV!
21 Comments
You know that you can modify anything that you buy, don’t you? I’m in a 32 ft TT and have removed the dining room set and sofa bed that came with it. Since I’m by myself, I don’t need for my home to be able to sleep 6. I have plenty of room to set up equipment if I want to.
I’m really liking the flower-power one at the bottom!
XOXO
Too frikkin funny!
OUCH! No sun!? I’d hate that! I’m a Sun-worshipper…prob kill me one day, but Oh well. Maybe become a Moonlite Jogger?
Anyway, I thought those stairmasters folded up? I have a glider-thing (Gazelle) which is great exercise (zero impact), and folds away.
So, are you still contemplating a smaller A (are there small ones? HAHA!)or now perhaps a ‘C’?
Maybe ask Mar of “Life at 55MPH” about her interior’s capacity…she wants less space so is selling hers. (It seems to have lots of room.)
Narrowing it down…the fun part!
OH BTW… I saw this HR at the Houston place.
(BUT 30′ seems really long!) The HR people (Forums) seem to think highly of the (older)ones from what I have read. At this price (they’d prob come down more) you could customize and still come out ahead…hehheh!
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/classc/2003-Holiday-Rambler-Atlantis-16484.htm
Perhaps someone on here knows more about HR’s?
I read on someone’s blog someplace out there that they use a Wii Fit in their RV. http://wiifit.com/ I am not helping the company advertise in any way, I am just suggesting it as a possibly convenient source of indoor exercise for a small space.
Oops…missing post.
To repeat…(in case it appears?) I saw a nice HR on ppl…30′ !!! (THAT seems LOOOONG!) but all the HR people on HR Forums seem to think highly of them…esp older versions. The price seems a wee bit too high, so perhaps they’d come way off it….you’d be $$$ ahead enough to fully customize it the way you want!
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/classc/2003-Holiday-Rambler-Atlantis-16484.htm
Wonder if anyone on here has more info on HR’s?
Curious myself.
OOPS! It did appear…sorry for double post!
In my mind, Over time the floor structure of most rv’s will not stand up to a constant pounding of a treadmill or such and therfore I would never do it. In almost every ssmall town there is a fitness club or gym that is open very early in the morning and that stay open late at night. They always welcome walk-ins and usually just for a small fee…..they probably would love to have you park in their parking space overnight too.
I love love that HUGE rig in the first picture above! How cool is that!!
Keep searching for that Class C – it will show up when you least expect it.
Best wishes on figuring out your fitness routine. I am in a campground where they have a full gym for us to use (at no additional charge). I’m sure you’ll figure something out.
Nearly one entire month of sobriety! Congratulations Jennifer! That’s an amazing accomplishment.
Enjoy your day!
Angie
Wii Fit and yoga seem like naturals. Also if you bring a bike you can put it in a stand to ride (and call it spinning). Love these rigs!
Hey Jen!
There is one thing I’ve been thinking about!
You spend all of you analysis time talking about your bloging characters, and it’s costing you money.
Then you spend time on your blog talking about analysis.
Would it be more efficient just to have your analysis do your blog and cut out the middleman?
It was just a thought.
I’m sure you will make the right decision on the vehicle. By the way when are your auto mechanic classes?
james
Congrats on your 29 days of sobriety. Are you going to meetings? Maybe I missed that part about that in your blog.
I really like the HUGE trailer in your first photo but I think the little one is about all I can afford, darn it…
Stay safe out there and keep going to meetings.
Maybe a “toybox” unit would meet your needs. I believe you can get 5th wheel or class C toybox units. The rear of these units typically open up to accept motorcycles, 4-wheelers, etc. In many cases, the “garage” area is completely separated from the “living” area. The “garage” area might be large enough to accommodate a treadmill.
Ah! Now I understand. I feel bad that you have those kind of limitations, that has to be hard, but now I understand the absolute need for the stairmaster.
Do you also do some kind of light therapy since it is so difficult to be out in the sun? I know a few people that suffer from lack of natural sunshine during the winter months.
I think there is some really great advice in the comments – the modifications, a light weight stairmaster [cool!], campgrounds with fitness rooms, or the Wii [I want one - just to bowl
]
Looks as tho’ you have a lot of options to make sure you stay healthy. That is great.
Take care and can’t wait to see what you test drive next.
I wouldn’t worry too much about working out, you’ll find ways to do it when you visit all sorts of new places. I was the biggest workout routine freak ever, but once we hit the road, I learned that exercise just came naturally while I got out and explored things. For the first time I wasn’t sitting on my butt all day long, which of course mandates a workout routine. No work routine, no workout routine. Suddenly, working out was just….having fun.
Of course I did start to lose muscle tone, which bugged me. So I got some resistance bands and now I use them. They’re great. I also rely more on situps and pushups and park benches…you’d be surprise what kind of workout you can get without machines around.
my husband and i got a bumper pull toy hauler (30 foot) that has the “garage” at the front and the ramp/door is on the side. the garage part was almost too small for the Harley (we had to turn the front wheel to get it to fit) but i think it would be perfect for a stairmaster. plus it was a LOT cheaper than a fifth wheel toy hauler as apparently the bumper pulls aren’t as popular. we got it at Holiday World in Katy. you should check with them.
and despite what Bob says, our furniture doesn’t fold up. it’s comfortable enough that we’ve been living in it full time for a year and a half now. it has a slide-out, too.
oh! i think i saw that hippie-camper in Oregon once. the one i saw was rigged to run on a wood burning boiler
This may be a dumb suggestion but have you thought about doing exercises way early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is dropping? My partner is extremely sensitive to the sun…extremely, while I’ll be out there for hours basking in the rays. She does her walks early or later in the evening. I would just hate for you to use up such precious space with a treadmill…
Hey, are you planning to get your coin tomorrow???
Kari
Thanks for doing all the work for me in coming up with alternative fitness options! I am getting way too addicted to this… ; )
I’ll probably have to hit the road and figure out what works when I am out there, but these ideas definitely give me the confidence that there are lots of new options…
I am going to AA meetings almost everyday and get my 30 day chip tomorrow.
Auto mech classes start January 19th!
Jennifer
Jennifer, I completely understand your need to workout indoors. I have horrible alergies and if I run/jog outside my mouth swells up and I can’t breathe!
I switched to yoga instead with better results! You don’t need any equipment. Beg pardon if you already know this and I’m not an expert so I don’t know the names, but some need a hot room (bleh), others are easy slow-moving and help with flexibility, others are all about cardio!
With the cardio-type, rather than breath three times (or whatever) you only breathe once and then immediately switch to the next pose. Like I said, I’m not an expert, but I remember what ever the hell I was doing was kicking my ass so I didn’t have the time or energy for my brain think about a million things (which helps with my Crazy Brain Syndrome™)! Perhaps learning some basics and just doing them fast (hold for only one breath) would be better than lugging around a stairmaster? Also, my favorite part is at the end of an hour workout we’d lay on the floor and try to quiet our minds – I’d just pass out instead (just set a timer before you lay down – 10 minutesish).
With all that said, most of the hikes I’ve been on have been in the shade of trees. :p Just use an umbrella as a walking stick, hell, I don’t know!
PS – I’m glad you’re looking at other rig options and try to check the weight restrictions of those floors before you buy – I’d imagine the toy-haulers would have extra reinforcement for their “garages”. Perhaps you could contact the manufacturer about it? Cheers!
Lovin that first picture! That would be awesome!!! LOL
Look funny going down the road, but probably quite spacious!!!
OMG LOL One thing my hubby and I were thinking of was converting a 48 foot van and semi truck to make a 5th wheel. When I saw the top picture, I had to show him. Beauty!!! If we go for it, it wouldn’t be nearly as elaborate…….