Travelfit Seminars

Some say laughter is the best medicine. But another remedy might be as effective, according to professional fitness instructor Wayne Hunt.

Exercise is as powerful as any medicine they have out there, he said. Its strong medicine for diabetes, cancers, high blood pressure, all kinds of maladies. So why would you want to miss out on it?

To teach RVers how to exercise properly, in 1998 Wayne and his wife, Dahelia, began conducting fitness seminars at FMCA conventions. We felt RVers werent getting good information about what to do about their health and fitness while on the road, Wayne said. We try to show things that RVers can do to make them feel better.

Wayne and Dahelia are program directors at Professional Fitness Instructor Training (PFIT). The Houston, Texas-based program offers a Personal Fitness Trainer Course & Certification program for personal fitness trainers, group fitness instructors and rehabilitative exercise specialists. They teach topics such as Anatomy, Kinesio-Dynamics, Musculoskeletal Principles, Injury Prevention and Control, Nutrition and Health Considerations for Special Populations..

Together, these FMCA members (F235156), both in their early 60s, have more than 50 years combined of fitness training experience. Wayne carries multiple personal training certifications along with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science & Technology and a Masters in Education. Dahelia also carries a number of personal training certifications and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and a Masters in Education.

Finding the time, a place for beneficial exercise programs is one of the constant quests for both Dahelia and Wayne.

Despite todays roomier floor plans and slide-outs that expand the living area, motor homes do not provide the best environment for exercise. And storing and setting up bulky exercise equipment inside the vehicle isnt always feasible or safe.

Its really easy in a motor home not to exercise, Wayne said.

Especially when motor-homing activities all too often center on food. Many motor-homing people plan activities where theyre going to be and where theyre going to eat. If all you do is travel, eat, sit and talk, you may look and feel like that's what you do.

What are motor home travelers left to do? The most important thing is to get out of the motor home and walk, Wayne said. But he admitted that its hard for motor homers to stop and exercise when driving all day, eager to get to the next destination.

Many are more concerned about their motor home engine than their own engine their body. And theyre quick to take a pill rather than try to see how the body responds to healthful eating and regular exercise.

For example: One experienced traveler wisely went to the doctor after experiencing chest pain. "Would an aspirin a day solve the problem?" "Yes" answered the the doctor. Like any medication, there is, however, a specific protocol adherence to for a positive outcome." He handed him an aspirin and said, Put this aspirin between your thumb and fore finger.
Now, take it for a 30-minute walk every day. When you get home, both of you should feel better."

The message, said Wayne, a U.S. Navy veteran, is: Take control of your own life. Youve got to run it.

The Hunts, on their motor home trips, make it a point to stop at truck stops and get out of their coach to walk around. During our day, no matter where we are, we schedule exercise, Wayne said. If we dont do it, its like were missing a meal.

Wayne and Dahelias exercise also includes cycling and resistance training three or four days a week.

travelfit seminars

In their TravelFit seminars at FMCA conventions, the Hunts recommend moderate exercise regularly and eating foods in moderation. They advise to always consult with a physician before starting an exercise program.

He exercises his shoulders, quadriceps and hamstrings using the tubing. He attaches the handles to the grab handles of the motor home, to the awning frame or to the back of a chair. You can do all sorts of exercises. That can be your entire gym.

The Hunts also demonstrate the Resist-A-Ball, a 55- or 65-centimeter (diameter) sphere used to perform various exercises to develop core muscle strength and stabilization.

on the road again...

The Hunts have been traveling by motor home since the 1980s, and full-timing since 1995. We have an incredibly small house and a huge yard, Wayne said. When we started traveling a whole lot, we decided motor homing was the way to go.

Wayne and Dahelia set up PFIT fitness training classes around the country, at places where they would like to visit. On a recent trip to California, we spent 12 days teaching, and the rest of the time sightseeing, said Wayne.

They have owned four motor homes. Their current coach is a 40-foot Monaco Signature diesel pusher. It has plenty of room and storage compartments for books and papers and exercise equipment. Its comfortable for us. It's home.

Its not surprising that two people who promote physical activity are on the move six months out of the year. At the next convention, theyll have plenty of FMCA members on the move as well.

 

the hunts can be reached at 800.899.7348 or by e-mail: travelfit@pfit.org