Cruisers: How do you stay fit?

[MAJICDAN]

My wife and I have found that because of the cruising lifestyle, we have lost weight and are in better condition than twenty years before we retired.
We travel constantly.
We hike and explore whenever we stop.
After a few days we move and do it all again.

[RobPatterson]

When cruising:
Every morning I stretch my imagination.
I get plenty of exercise – jumping to conclusions, pushing my luck, and dodging deadlines.
Sometimes I fly off the handle.

[VeinDocFL]

A fellow next to my old slip in Key West had a portable rowing machine he used daily. Looked like a good work out. I’m on a quest to find one now. I definitely do not improve my 61yo shape while cruising. Swimming? In the northern Atlantic or Chesapeake? Forget it! We typically don’t leave the boat for days at a time so walking and biking, while great when available, hasn’t been cutting it.

[dougweibel]

Originally Posted by NedX

Thank you, Doug, this is great intel. Do you have a link to that article?

Sorry for the delay - holiday merriment distracted me.

https://latsatts.com Click on the Read Online button on the top and scroll to the Summer 2019 issue, page 114.

[Flaps40]

I am reminded of someone I once knew. He famously said when ever he thought of exercise, he would sit down and rest until the feeling past!!

[tomtriad]

I get plenty of exercise when living aboard especially in the tropics when I free dive and go spear fishing; no windlass, simple systems, and big sails help. When not I ride a bicycle, swim, sail a Sunfish (yes, year 'round), do you yoga.

[Perfect Ride]

Originally Posted by NedX

Do many of you have workout regimes geared toward being able to do the things you need to do on a boat?
Want to share any tricks for keeping fit during a passage?

Totally agree that each will need to adjust to current level of condition. Core is key. Here is what I have done in varying physical conditions over the years:
- Warm up in the am with a brisk swabbing of the decks, actually drying dew off the decks using a squeegee on a pole, if there is any. Other cleaning if not, just to get the blood moving.

- Follow this with a modified combination of stretches, yoga, & Thai Chi.
- Finish off with a collection of exercises using a soft shackle on the mast and some suspension straps like TRX.

All of this is modified for passage, anchor and other conditions. My focus is to keep in good enough shape to really enjoy the kayak, hiking, surfing, free diving, scuba, SUP and other daily activities and to counter vibrant or extended sun downers and beach fires.

[SV_Lusca]

I’ve been keeping fit and lift weights most of my life. Was supposed to be full time cruiser starting 2020 but covid hit. I had already planned my ”keep fit boat life“ program. So when the gyms closed due to covid, I trained in our apartment (house was already sold for the boat live aboard project). Loops bands are the best for this, light simple and offer a bunch of different resistance choices. I later added olympique rings to compliment the bands but the bands would of sufficed for resistance training. You can just search youtube for a bunch of videos on how to train with them. I dislike the ones with handles and prefer the loop bands.

This with all the water sports, diving, rowing, swimming and walking on the beach are the best combination of keep fot

[japawil]

Originally Posted by tstano

Well you could do what I’ve done. Start with a 5 pound potato bag in each hand and hold them out to your side building your time up to 10 minutes. Then get a 10 pound bag and do the same. Then get a 25 pound bag and repeat until you can make 10 minutes. The next step is a 50 pound bag (that’s where I am) and hold them out for 10 minutes. If you finally reach this level then you can try it again but now add a potato to each bag. Happy Holidays.

🤣 Love it!

The best part is the “incredulous” replies from those that didn’t bother reading the punch line! [emoji23]

[and4ew]

The other side of the coin is avoiding injury. I'm 57 and pretty fit (I do martial arts) but that doesn't mean I'm not at risk of tearing an Achilles or something similar. I'm told that most people heal broken bones and torn tendons at pretty much the same rate between ages 16 and 60. It's the muscle atrophy that's different. Make sure you include stretching and pay attention to any injuries and pain in your muscle groups and joints.

[pianopraze]

Long walks to the marina bathroom.

Carrying water and fuel And provisions to the boat.

Scrubbing the deck.

Diving the anchor. Fishing. Snorkeling.

A million projects constantly need worked on.

How does one not stay fit living in a boat?

[Steve Perkins]

Rip 60 Suspension Resistance Strength Training! We bought the dear brand name unit but pretty sure anyone with a few sail ties and a couple of aluminium handles could knock this up in a few minutes

We pop it up on the spinnaker topping lift and exercise on the foredeck, amazing how much core and body workout you can get from your own weight and resistance.

Google the training DVD's for free how to use...

https://www.amazon.com.au/RIP-60-Sus.../dp/B07NQ1XN42

Close to 50 btw, perhaps the worst thing I've done for fitness is to get an eWincher handle. I now use it not only for the mainsail raise on our heavy 44ft Adams but being lazy use it for pretty much everything else too!!!

[JacobC1989]

Originally Posted by Flaps40

I am reminded of someone I once knew. He famously said when ever he thought of exercise, he would sit down and rest until the feeling past!!

It's witty, but not worth putting into practice. Otherwise, by the age of 60-70, you will grow to the sofa.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by Sparx

In practice the constant movement of the body while sailing is gentle exercise that tends to strengthen the core. In addition I like to keep to a workout regiment when sailing or on land that also strengthens the core. The intent is to prevent injury from lifting, pulling, twisting.

Throw in daily walking and swimming and we find we are in excellent overall condition after a cruise.

That's our take as well. I felt great by the time we got back from our two long multi-year cruises.

You almost can't be not fit after months of that kind of lifestyle.

[jjuliajul11]

I move all the time and eat healthy food. In the morning I run, in the afternoon I swim and in the evening I walk in the park. Also on Canadian pharmacy I read about vitamins to improve health. Now I have less hair loss and my sleep has become much better