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One negative aspect of cruising for any period of time longer than a weekend, is that it takes you away from most forms of fitness training. For those accustomed to jogging, biking, weight training or most other forms of exercise, it is hard to maintain any regular routine while at sea. In our case, on board our 44' Motor Vessel, we carry an Exercise Ball, a Balance Disk, a set of Elastic Bands, a Jump Rope and some light to medium Dumb Bells. While there never seems to be enough space on most boats, the items mentioned take up very little space. Except for the Exercise Ball, the rest of our gear is stored in a container the size of a milk crate. At anchor, or alongside, we can get aerobic exercise by paddling our kayaks at a pace which will increase and maintain the targeted heart rate. If we were joggers, we could find just about any place where we could go ashore and do some running. Lifting weights is a good workout. Doing them while sitting or laying on the Ball or standing on the Balance Disk increases the benefits. The Ball can also be used for doing Ab exercises as well as advanced push ups. Due to our boat design, we can only use the Jump Rope when we can get off onto the dock or pier. This item, when used regularly, is one of the best total body exercises. The same can be said for push ups. The secret to success with any exercise program is discipline. This is not an easy task when you are underway, but once you drop the hook or tie up, scheduling time for working out a set number of days per week is imperative. Variety is also helpful in maintaining your schedule. Vary the amount of weight, the number of reps, the specific exercise. To build endurance, use a lighter weight, but rapidly do a greater number of reps and go from one exercise to another without any rest. Substitute using the Exercise Bands in place of the weights. They are extremely versatile and can work just about every muscle in the body. A lot of exercises can be accomplished in very little space. A variety of Ab exercises can be done on any open deck space, topside or below, no equipment required. The same for Push Ups. Anything such as a seat or chair can be used for both exercises to elevate your feet in order to vary the routine and to increase the effort. You can use the same item for doing Dips for upper arm strength. Only a small space is necessary to do basic exercises that include stretching and flexing of major muscle groups. No matter where you are working out, these exercises must be done during any exercise period and should be done anywhere, anytime, even if you are not doing any other routines. Exercise along with proper diet have been documented to be essential for promoting a healthy life style. This, of course, includes the best life style of all, Boating. Whether a weekend boater, blue water sailor or a live-a-board, a disciplined workout schedule should become part of this life style. With a minimum of fitness items and self discipline, you can maintain your physical condition even while enjoying boating. In fact, being in good condition can make it even more enjoyable.............trust me!

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