Other/Mixed Van Life and Training

[mprevost]

I have been living in the camper van for 3 weeks with my wife. We are in coastal Southern California now. I will be camping for another month or so, then in August, we'll head out for an undetermined amount of time for unknown destinations. I had to come up with a simple training plan that was sustainable and relied on little to no equipment. All I brought along was my set of rings. Here is what I have been doing:

Day 1: Strength: Push, pull, squat, hip hinge, core. Done in a rotation, as "rounds" for about 5 rounds. Simple. Lately this has focused on dips, pullups, single leg squats, and some dynamic core work.

Day 2: Yoga: focus mainly on stretching what needs to be stretched. I need lots of work here.

Day 3: Run: Easy run of about 6 miles or so. I have always been a runner. These runs are as easy as I can make them.
Repeat......

I also do lots of walking every day, some biking and some extra stretching on strength and run days. I am doing something every day. I really like this simple layout for long term. It is not a "performance" plan but a simple "training for life" plan, what Dan John would call a "park bench" plan. It is sustainable long term, and low risk (DFYU !!) Now that I am 50, I find that my feet need a few days in between runs and the extra stretching is as valuable as the strength work.

Goal: Stay healthy, enjoy the workouts, continue to move well.

P.S. Van live is great!

 

[User 7569]

@mprevost

right on man!

i lived in the camper of my truck for a period of 9 months in 2016, when I was 21 and 22. also in southern Cal

the weather is great and living in a vehicle can be quite nice, i just got tired of it personally.

the programming you selected looks like something from Tom Furman.

The Isaac Hayes Template - Tom Furman Fitness

Train For Life - Tom Furman Fitness

 

[User 4484]

DMPM is great!

 

[vegpedlr]

Love the vanlife!

I did the Eight Brocades qigong and the DMPM. And the MTB.

Gotta build another one and get back on the road.

 

[Abdul-Rasheed]

Sounds fascinating @mprevost . I am curious to know about your diet camping or not.

 

[mprevost]

Sounds fascinating @mprevost . I am curious to know about your diet camping or not.

Camping diet:
Breakfast: Eggs, meusli and banana, coffee (pretty standard)
Lunch: Some type of meat/fish/chicken, vegetables, maybe some beans, plus fruit
Dinner: Try to get lots of veggies, plus protein (generally meat/fish/chicken).

This is the day to day diet. Every 2 days or so I eat out somewhere. It could be anything (but no sugar).

Home diet is similar but with more variety. Mainstay of my diet is meat/fish/eggs/chicken plus vegetables and fruit, along with a little beans and some rice, plus big salads almost daily.

 

[mprevost]

In San Clemente for the next two weeks. Camping on the beach.

 

[offwidth]

Camping diet:
Breakfast: Eggs, meusli and banana, coffee (pretty standard)
Lunch: Some type of meat/fish/chicken, vegetables, maybe some beans, plus fruit
Dinner: Try to get lots of veggies, plus protein (generally meat/fish/chicken).

This is the day to day diet. Every 2 days or so I eat out somewhere. It could be anything (but no sugar).

Home diet is similar but with more variety. Mainstay of my diet is meat/fish/eggs/chicken plus vegetables and fruit, along with a little beans and some rice, plus big salads almost daily.

Good, simple, real food... ideal!

 

[Phil12]

Hey Mike, VERY timely post as I'm about to hit the road myself soon if this current contract works out.

I will be following your training & diet with interest. I'll probably take a bell or two myself as I have plenty of room.

If you have some time, I'd love to see some pics of the van.

 

[mprevost]

Hey Mike, VERY timely post as I'm about to hit the road myself soon if this current contract works out.

I will be following your training & diet with interest. I'll probably take a bell or two myself as I have plenty of room.

If you have some time, I'd love to see some pics of the van.

Here is the van I got. It is about the cheapest new camper van you can get right now. I really like the setup and the build quality is very good. Been comfortable for a month or so now. No regrets. They are located just North of Seattle.

Caravan Outfitter | Ultimate Camper Van by Campbell Auto Group Edmonds WA

 

[mprevost]

Good, simple, real food... ideal!

Yes, simple is the key when you live in a van. Tonight I'll cook some steak, cut it into cubes, then cube an avocado, tomato, 1/2 cucumber, add some pinto beans, then mix it all together and season with chili powder and a bit of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning (makes everything taste better). I do this one frequently.

 

[mprevost]

Two interesting side effects from the van life:
1. I never sit for more than an hour. Ever. I am moving around constantly, which is very good. Seems to better match our natural physiology. I figure that I am walking at least 1,000 steps per day just going to the bathroom.
2. I always spontaneously lose weight when I am camping and this time is no exception. I am not deprived, but I still lost 4 pounds in the first week! Too fast really. Not sure what my weight is now since I don't have a scale at this campground (previously used the one at the gym on base). I think this has to do with the fact that I only have fruits, veggies, and nuts to snack on and I am mostly not snacking at all. Just 3 meals per day, but little hunger.

 

[mprevost]

 

[Phil12]

@mprevost what brand of rings do you use?

 

[mprevost]

@mprevost what brand of rings do you use?

I can't remember. They are 10 years old. They are plastic with little slots for the straps. I think I got them from Lifeline USA.