Simple Life RVing Blog

July 1, 2021

If you are out traveling with RVers, Van Dwellers, or in Car Dwelling camping groups, I wrote this article to educate you on some of the dangers and to know when it’s time to move on.

When I first came out west in January 2020 to the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) to learn this #NomadicLife, I hung out with 6 other women at the event.

Because me and another lady were the last to leave the area, the other lady thought that I was going to travel with her after the event.

However, I was more comfortable and had always traveled by myself. I did not know her so traveling with another person that you just met, whether a man or woman, can be quite dangerous — at least that is how I felt at that time.

I had an itinerary when I first came on the road and one of my main goals was to give my Health and Business Seminars and Workshops, which would have made it impossible for me to travel with others.

Later on, my reasons for coming on the road was –to meet family and friends and do welfare checks on them on the road, and just meet others and enjoy myself. 

When I did decide to travel with camping groups out here on the road in 2021, there were plenty of good times — but mostly lessons learned especially about how I will choose to travel in the future.

Will You Travel With Women, Men, or Just People You Know or Meet on the Road?

There are women who travel together, but many have said many of these groups of women are gossipers, so, therefore, many women rather travel with mixed groups of both men and women.

The group that I was with was men and women, which I prefer because I had met gossipy women on the road. In Flagstaff, AZ, there were 4 women and 4 men, but people came in and out of the group.

Beware of Caravan Leaders and Their Desperation to Grow a Traveling Group

The caravan leader had told us that he had recently left another group because of two gossipy women. And then he started another group but be wary of these caravan leaders that keep going from group to group. It might not always be others – it might be them. This is what I learned.

The caravan leader, which had only been in his van for 3 months, was so desperate to grow the traveling group as if this was going to be his claim to fame. 

Just remember that some people who hadn’t been fulfilled in their prior lives — will bring many issues out here on the road as a Nomad. Be careful — but sooner or later they will tell you what has happened to them – if you even care to know.

As an author I had left the group initially for several days because I needed my solitude as a writer and wanted to catch up with my youtube shows because most of the time the internet was spotty on BLM.gov and National Forest land – when I camped with them.

When I left the group for a few days, the caravan leader, who followed me on facebook messenger, urged me to come back to the group. He kept asking me — who pissed you off and why did I leave the group?

That should have been warning signs right there that there was something not right with him – but I did not pick up on it at that time.

That was the first time I had traveled with a Nomadic traveling and camping group in my 20 months on the road.

Basically, I left the group for a while because I just wanted some alone time. People can be quite nosy when you are traveling with groups. Sometimes they want to know all your business and I am a private person.

Look for Warning Signs Early On

Remember that in 2020 – everything changed. Many people got weirder and weirder. Many travelers in RVs, Vans, and Cars sat around isolating themselves because of COVID for an entire year and many became alcoholics because of that.

Others probably developed other mental health issues especially if they consumed mostly processed foods, GMOs, which can cause mental health issues because these foods are not real food.

Many people expressed how they had been alone for months, so again, be careful. Many men were ready to pounce on women so women especially need to be careful out there.

I have even had men come up to me at Walmarts, men that I had talked to briefly, and ask me if I knew any single traveling nomadic women — so men out here on the road can be desperate to find the opposite sex — especially after isolating for a year.

When you sit around the campfires at night, or just in a circle, or just meet people online or face to face that you are traveling with, try to pay attention to the backgrounds of these people.

Look out for the ones that always want to talk as if they have had the best experiences and they constantly repeat these experiences.

These people can potentially be some of the people who will turn mean or even violent in the future. And many of them will be the gossipers of the group so stay clear of them.

Don’t change any habits you had before coming out here and living or camping on the road. If you don’t like texting, talking on the phone or posting in facebook or meetup.com groups, drinking beer or alcohol — then by all means don’t change any habits you had before coming out on the road.

Especially if you had healthy habits because there are going to be so many people around you drinking a ton of alcohol and pouring garbage down their throats — 24/7. Just be yourself and continue with your good habits!

I have seen people start conversations and they will sit there all day talking without eating or going to the bathroom, so again, don’t form bad habits dealing with these people. You should be eating at least every 3 to 4 hours — keeping your blood sugar regulated.

If they make a text group or facebook messenger group, posts on facebook.com or meetup.com groups — follow the conversations on there without participating much yourself.

See who in the group tries to lead all the conversations on or offline and if the group wasn’t made by the caravan leader of the group, avoid the group all together especially if you have never met the person.

Sometimes these caravan leaders like delegating powers to people who were part of the group before, but if you have never met these people just keep down your conversations with them. Some can be gossipers.

Why I Ended Up Leaving My First Traveling Group

For the first time in my 21 months on the road in my van, I traveled from the state of Arizona to the state of Colorado with 3 other people.

I felt safe in Flagstaff, AZ because I had spent 6 months there last year in 2020 and I was waiting to start my buildout in a couple of weeks there.

The problem that started with me was when we had to move out of the area to Colorado because of the Arizona fires in 2021.

I only left because my female friend from Canada, 74, agreed also to go to Colorado. I had known her for 2 years and I would not have followed these two men to Colorado without other women being present.

In Flagstaff, there were about 8 of us — 4 women and 4 guys so I felt comfortable being around other women. However, I did park away from the group and kept to myself especially when I saw that one of the males was going to be problematic because he enjoyed doing all the talking and some women had started to complain about him also being sexist and verbally abusive.

He often talked about being homeless at one point and he often bragged about being highly educated. He and another guy, both in their 60s and both heavy drinkers, were almost fighting over my 74-year-old friend from Canada that I had brought to the group so I felt responsible for her.

It was very obvious from the time she arrived that they both wanted her attention. They convinced her to go to Colorado but after one night there, she was smart and turned around and came back to Flagstaff because she said she could no longer stand to be around the man — who refused to allow others to talk.

She also left because they made fun of her on the text platform because she enjoyed parking at Walmarts because they had good internet and she still had to work online.

Remember many people are going to be traveling differently than you and no one way is the right way. Some Nomads will still need to work or hold down a business so just learn to respect others and embrace their differences.

The 5-hour trip from Flagstaff to Colorado seemed like 12-hours to me because I never followed anyone out here on the road. I was so tired that I did not take the 5 hours trip back to Flagstaff with my friend.

I decided to stay and take pictures and videos of Colorado since it was my first time there. I did do as much as I could because something in the back of my mind told me to get it in because I too — might need to leave especially since I was the only female left in the camp. However, I was there with 2 men and I felt I could take them physically if I had to.

The problem was the caravan leader of the group told me several women were on their way back to the group and that the new person in a van across the road was a woman, but it turned out it was another male.

By then one of the guys had also arrived in his travel trailer from Flagstaff so when I arrived back at the camp one night at almost dark, I saw that there were 4 men there and me.

I had seen the women’s conversations online, who had actually been at the camp before, and they did not say they were coming back so I was very suspect of the leader of the group from the very beginning. He was actually on his facebook group begging the women to come back.

By the time I figured out he was lying about the women coming back, I was surrounded by 4 males, 2 that were heavy drinkers so I felt for safety reasons I needed to leave the camp two days after my friend left. 

Take These Steps and Monitor When It is Time for You to Leave a Group

–Don’t touch everyone: I do agree that we need to get back to hugging again, but I do not touch people because I have a very sensitive system and I can’t tolerate others that wear perfume, colognes, or other smells.  

–Be careful traveling with people who don’t have good grooming habits: When traveling with others, you quickly will learn who has good grooming habits and who does not. Especially stay away from people and their animals that don’t look clean. One guy’s fingernails were always dirty and his van was always unkempt too so I avoided him. He also had a nasty little dog too so I avoided the dog too. Listen to what people say. One lady, who was traveling with a cat, told me she had tons of flies in her van. Don’t park near these people and especially don’t accept anything from their vehicles — especially food. I have run into several people who complained that they had severe diarrhea for several days. This is usually a sign that they have worms and parasites and these people and their animals can be contagious. Doctors won’t test you for parasites unless they see them crawling under your skin, in your eyes, or witness them coming out of your anus area. 

–Park away from people initially and just observe people: You will see the ones that have alcohol and anger problems and the ones that are caring and loving. When a group becomes too controversial leave the group.

–Be careful of people joining your group just to beg for money: Be careful, however, of people begging for money. I am not talking about donating money to those that really need it and helping the homeless, but some will say “well I am down to my last $10” — expecting you to rally the entire group and give them your hard-earned money so they can travel off to some unknown place. Remember that many of these Nomads were scammers before they got out here and many are still scammers.

–Be careful of the places you camp: If you have been on the road longer than the leader of the group and if you are questioning some of the things he is doing — especially the places he picks for camping – it’s time to leave the group.

The caravan leader had only been out on the road for 3 months before starting the group so he barely knew what he was doing.

Many times I questioned his actions. For instance, one time in Flagstaff, he moved us next to a Gas Plant where we all could hear a bugging noise every night, which probably omitted some type of unhealthy EMF signal.

I believe it was just an unhealthy decision to pick a spot like this. At the other location, 4 out of 8 people at one time or another ended up going to the hospital.

So you have to take care of yourself out here on the road especially if you are going to be out here for a long time.

–Is the Caravan Leader a good leader? Remember that good leaders – lead. Especially pay attention to the caravan leader of the group. See if he tries to keep the group in line when their behavior becomes abusive or violent especially against women.

–Is the Carvan Leader protective of women? See if the caravan leader is protective of women or just trying to flirt with them himself.

–Is the Caravan Leader lying to you? Remember that women like to join groups where there are other women. See if what he is saying is true and other people, especially other women, arrive as he said. Otherwise, he might be lying to keep you there. Also, these men will pretend to know how to do something on your vehicle — just to keep you there. I eventually heard the caravan leader ask another guy about amps and wattage so I realized he had been lying to my friend — when he said he would help her with something.

–Check the Caravan Leaders’ messages: Again, view the caravan’s leader’s conversations in text groups, facebook groups including facebook messenger groups and at www.meetup.com groups. If he has favorites and openly demeans or degrades anyone in the group — on any of these public platforms — then it’s time to leave these groups. If they stay off the traveling topic too much and too long discussing absolutely non-sense, it’s time to leave the group.

–Is the Caravan Leaders begging people to join the group: If the caravan leader is begging people to join his camp or group, again, that is a sign for you to leave the traveling group. A good traveling group will gain a reputation without the caravan leader having to beg others to join them.

Stay Stocked Up and Be Ready To Move at the Drop of A Hat

Stay stocked up at all times and put your chair in your van every night so you will be ready to leave at the drop of a hat.

You might have to leave your rug, a table, or chair behind especially if you feel threatened or just can’t take their non-sense anymore — so be prepared to leave these items behind.

At the very beginning when you arrive at a new location and you are traveling with others — scout out other locations in your area.

Look for local Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, other BLM.gov, or National Forest land – in your area,  especially in the next towns over — in case you must leave the group and park somewhere else — especially for safety reasons.

Sign up on the ‘Life 360 App’ so family members and friends know your location at all times. Remember you don’t owe an explanation to anyone for leaving a group so be ready to block everyone on text, facebook messenger, meetup.com, and facebook.com groups because these people will keep bothering you to come back to a group that you have obviously outgrown.

Supposedly, Bob Wells, from CheapRVLiving.com, will start the caravans again this fall. So for now many of the traveling groups get together at his virtual platforms at www.Meetup.com/Caravans and on facebook at www.Facebook.com/groups/WeCampTogether. 

Remember ladies that many men could be using the above links as a dating app so be careful. But you as a traveling Nomad, whether you are traveling by RV, Van, or in a Car, need to make better decisions about who you are meeting on the road.

Again, if something does not seem right, it is probably not right — so be ready to leave a group at the drop of a hat.

 

 

 

 

Feb. 22, 2021

After over a year in my van and after reaching another city, Orlando, FL, I realized that I might have picked up a mice in my van.

I had reflectix under my bed so a couple of times, I thought it was raining outside, but found out instead something was walking on the reflectix.

Shortly after buying the van when I was in Houston, one night after Stealth Camping and dosing off to sleep, I had heard a mice in the van then. However, because the Van was so new and clean, the mice jumped out after one night.

The goal is to keep the van clean and your food in an airtight container. I had made it a point not to park near dumpsters, where these critters hang out, but they had still made their way into my van for the second time.

The first thing I did was to stop and just clean out everything. I did find a couple of pieces of rotten fruit such as an apple and watermelon, which might have attracted them in the first place, so it is important to account for everything – every piece of food — that you bring in your van.

If something falls on the floor in your van – make sure you retrieve it and start looking throughout your van every week or two to take inventory of everything you have in there.

I had done this practice since buying the van, however, because I was passing into a cold city and area, Atlanta, I had stopped looking through everything.

Once I heard the mice walking on the reflectix, I had found droppings (urine) on a stack of toilet tissue and paper towels – that I had stacked on one side. So I believe I had made myself a target by carrying so many of these items in my van.

Once I threw everything out – I cleaned out everything and now I can see all the way under my queen-sized bed.

I took three (3) steps specifically to get rid of the mice in my van and ensure that it stays out:

-First of all, I put out a bowl of cotton balls containing peppermint essential oil. If mice can’t smell they feel they are in danger and that is also how they find food so they have to be able to smell.

-Secondly, I bought Irish Spring soap – cut it in half, and placed it in every corner of my van. Again, the soap will block their ability to smell.

-Thirdly, I bought the Mice/Rat Glue traps from Home Depot and put peanut butter instead of cheese in the middle of it.

So far, I believe all these methods have been working in my van after I heard a mice or two in my van one night. I believe they did the job and again, I have a ‘peace of mind’ as I travel with my #VanLife.

 

 

 

 

Feb. 23, 2021

Hello Everyone:

I grew up in rural Georgia so I had to deal with the cold early on as a child. I guess that is one of the reasons I have been okay out here on the road as a Van Dweller.

However, initially, when I started Van Life, I found myself unprepared a couple of times and had to endure the cold just like I did in the military, which back then was part of the training.

You want to take the following steps to keep warm out there in a Car, Van, RV, or in your home:

–Eat Chocolate: For some reason, chocolate will warm up your insides so it was recommended to me by other van lifers to eat chocolate. I did and it did work.

–Drink Hot Chocolate/Cocoa: I learned from a survival expert at the yearly event for RVers and Van Lifers to drink hot chocolate or hot cocoa instead of drinking hot coffee or hot tea. He said the effect of the coffee and tea would not last as long as the hot chocolate or hot cocoa. I believe he was right. I always keep hot chocolate in my van.

–Buy Sleeping Bag: Most people never think about just having a sleeping bag (or two or more) at home for emergency purposes, but this is a wonderful idea. I would even buy two of them and use the one on top like a tent to bring in instant heat when you get under there. Walmart sells them for $15. Make sure it is 20 or 30 degrees below. Even if the zipper breaks — if you buy a cheap sleeping bag, the sleeping bag will still serve its purpose.

–Wear Long Johns: There are plenty of long johns out there, but the best brand to really keep the cold out is ‘Cuddl Duds’. They are available at Walmart.

–Buy Electric Blanket: If you have any type of power source then Walmart has a $15 electric blanket, but again, you need some type of power source such as a power box, inverter, or generator to plug it up to. Most people prefer also not to go to sleep in an electric blanket because even on the low setting, they can get too hot. Many just use it to lounge around — before they go to sleep for the night.

–Wear Layers: Instead of putting on one big layer — wear layers of clothing so you can take items off if you get too hot. 

–Wear Socks/Gloves/Mittens: Wear socks to lounge around in. Many people can’t sleep in socks especially if they are in a sleeping bag. The goal is to keep your hands warm because if your hands freeze then you can be at risk for frostbite so keep them warm by wearing gloves or mittens or just put socks on your hands for warmth if you don’t have these.

–Wear Hats/Scarves: The goal is to keep your head warm because most of the time warmth exits your body through your head and feet. Make sure you wear hats and/or scarves, which cover your ears and neck. The goal especially is to cover your chest area. 

–Massage Your Shoulders: If your feet get extremely cold and you don’t have warm water to dip them into then try massaging your shoulders with some type of oil such as olive oil. It will warm up your feet.

–Snuggle Up: Make sure you snuggle up with your mate/spouse, children, or an animal. You can put a tent over the bed and create a wave of heat under the tent. An extra sleeping bag unzippered would work the same way as a tent over the bed.

–Check On Seniors: Make sure you check on Seniors especially elderly neighbors. Most Seniors die due to a lack of air conditioner in the summer and heat in the winter. Make sure the services in charge of checking on Seniors are actually doing their jobs.

The weather is an uncertain today so you need to have survival items at your place of residence at all times – whether you are living in a car, van, RV, or in a home such as:

-Extra water

-Extra food

-Extra clothing (coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, long johns, socks, etc.)

-Extra wood if you have a wood stove or fireplace.

-Power boxes (Jackery.com), inverters, generators, solar panels (small and large), etc. Remember any type of solar panel might not work if there is no sun out so be prepared.

-Sleeping bags 

-Electric blankets

Just because you made it out of this winter – not needing any of these items, it doesn’t mean that you won’t need these items in the near future. It could mean the difference between life and death – so be prepared and stock up. Good luck!

 

 

1. Will You Be Mobile or Stationary? Remember there are several types of Van Dwellers and RVers. Some move every 2 to 3 days, which can be costly (gas). Others move every 2 to 3 weeks, and others every month or two or every 6 months. However, a large portion of Van Dwellers and RVers are what you call stationary. Many times they are stationary due to their health, to be around family or they might have a job that doesn’t allow them to be mobile, so figure out early on what type of traveler you will be. Personally, I enjoy moving every 2 to 3 weeks. I like exploring and checking out one area at a time to see if I can come back to that area when I need to relax.

2. Have Some Type of Protection With You: It doesn’t matter what type of background you have. It is not safe to be out on the road with no protection. You might need a taser, pepper spray, bear spray, gun, pellet gun, knife, whistle, jogger’s alarm, take a self-defense course, etc. Read the article I wrote “Keep Safe When Camping.”

3. Get Regular Maintenance on Your Vehicle: You need to get regular maintenance on your vehicle especially if it is new. This might just take paying attention and keep a maintenance log. This way especially if you travel a lot, you will have your favorite places to get maintenance on your vehicle.

4. Carry Emergency Supplies With You: I believe some people just forget to carry the orange cones in case they break down on the freeway, fire extinguishers (at least 2), CO2 detectors, and plenty of batteries. Many new van dwellers and RVers end up getting on the road without these.

5.  Clean Your Van Everyday: Remember living in your van is just like a house so it is important that you clean up everyday so you don’t attract flies especially in the heat. Also, try not to park by a dumpster because this is where rats hang out at – which can also get into your van.

6. Park Your Van Level: Park your van level, otherwise, you will be rolling out of your bed at night. I did not invest yet in any type of levelers for my tires. I just make sure my emergency breaks are on every night and I try to park level on a flat surface.

7.  Download Weather Apps: Monitor at least 4 or 5 weather apps such as #Weather, #TheWeatherChannel, #WeatherNation, #MyRadar, #Windy, etc. You never know how the weather will change from day to day so take advantage of nice, breezy day — days where you can be comfortable especially if you only have a temporary build. At month number five (5), I made the statement that I finally feel like I am on vacation and the very next day, I literally almost blow away in my van. About 3 times I got up to go and find a building to park beside off that could block the wind off. So you have to be on your toes living in this lifestyle. You want to especially be careful on BLM.gov or National Forest land. It can be problematic if you fall asleep on this land and wake up in the rain in mud, so again, you have to pay attention. Also, one of the reasons I have not utilized it as much as I should is that I like being somewhere where I can get on the internet.

8. Birds Chirp All Night: I have been woken up all times of the night by the birds chirping. I do believe because of what has happened, we are moving back to nature and this is why you hear birds chirping at all times of the day and night.

9. Keep Changing Your Temporary Build-Out: I believe everyone who has a temporary setup will continue to make small or large changes to it. However, at this point, I don’t plan on spending any more money on my temporary setup. I did, however, go ahead and buy the portable solar panels (100 Watts) to charge up my Jackery 500 power box. That way I do not have to idle my car or drive just to charge up my box. 

10. Get Referrals for Your Permanent Build-Out: If you still have a temporary build-out and you do need others to help with your build then get around others that can give you referrals. Attend events such as the yearly Van Build in November in Parker, AZ, and the yearly Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) in Quartzsite, AZ. Also, join caravans at www.Meetup.com/Caravans. The good thing about caravans and when you find your tribe. When you want to be alone, it’s easy to just get up and leave.

Many people on the road especially those that live in cars and van are viewed to be homeless. As a former veteran and a person that loves traveling and who has traveled quite extensively in the U.S., I feel quite lucky as a #VanLifer to have several residences that I can go to if I need to get off the road. First of all, my family owns over 30 acres in Georgia so I can always go back there or with other family members or friends in other areas.

 

Being stationary as an RV Tech has its perks, but so does being mobile. Marketing will be key for both of these professions. Not only should you market your business on the side of your vehicle, but also in local newspapers, RV radio shows and podcasts, but don’t forget to form relationships with Campgrounds and RV Parks, who can send referrals your way.

Let me know if you have any other questions on business ownership and don’t forget to check out my two business books “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business’ (Series 2)  and “The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs.’ 

 

Mar. 26, 2020

The reason many people buy an RV instead of becoming a Car or Van Dweller is so they can have more space and all the comforts of home. Not staying cool while you are out there on your part or full-time adventures is not what RV, van or car dwelling is about.

Tips to keep RVs and Vans cool include:

• Point RV or Van west when you pick a spot, especially when boondocking.
• Try to park near grass versus near blacktop.
• Install a second air conditioning unit and make sure the air conditioner is tuned up. 
• Avoid opening the door as much as possible. 
• You can camp by the ocean and get the breeze coming off the ocean.
• You can camp in the mountains where there are higher elevations and you will be cooler.
• Use a humidifier. Remember that humidity is the enemy of RVs. It destroys RVs. 
• Use more ventilation. The more ventilation — the better. 
• Run a fan (or two) as well. It makes a big difference.
• Get ahead of the heat. Keep windows opened at night if there is a breeze and run a fan before it gets too warm in the day. This could trap cool air in an RV.  
• Use blinds, curtains especially blackout curtains, and day-night shades, and/or black out your windows with reflectix. Home Depot has some foil-lined bubble wrap that works extremely well at blocking heat and sunlight or use the silver insulation from Lowe’s to cover your windows and keep the heat out. You have to cut it to size and it will make your RV or Van dark and much cooler. It works great in cold weather too. Also, get reflectix for your skylight.
• Use blackout curtains to separate the cab from the rest of the RV or Van.
• Always cover the windshield.
• Put aluminum foil in the vents on your roof, which will reflect the heat.
• Take a garden hose up on top of your RV rig and wash the radiator inside and out and remove all debris from your unit.
• Ask to park in the shade at campgrounds and parks. Park your RV in the shade when you can, unless you need the solar on top to power your RV. If you have portable solar, park RV in shade and place solar panels in sunlight. 
• Try to get in a pool at campgrounds and parks or go to local gyms, LA Fitness, YMCA, 24-Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness, etc.
• Use RV awnings to block out the sun and add more awnings by using shade-cloth. Put a second awning on the other side of the RV or Van and small awnings on the windows. You need an awning on the side where the refrigerator is located to keep cool air in the refrigerator.
• Don’t cook indoors. You can use a butane stove outside.  
• Use micellular cleansing water to keep cool. Keep it in the fridge and use it on your arms and legs. 
• Use freezer ice cubes.
• Until you can buy enough solar to run one or two air conditioners, become a Snowbird and chase 70 degrees around the country.

 

Cathy Harris Educates on Staying Healthy on The Road – Van Life Health Playlist

Don’t Go to the Gym – Do a Detox Program First!

(Excerpts from “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days”) Series 3

Did you know that many people will start the New Year off by joining a gym and by the month of March (some by Valentine’s Day) they will already be out of there?

Why You Should Engage in a Detox Program?

If you are apparently overweight with very low energy, then don’t go to the gym but instead engage in a detox program first. This process will take anywhere from 1 to 2 to 3 weeks depending on the type of detoxification program you choose from a health food store.

Remember your health begins in your colon so a colon cleanse (detox) should be a priority while you work your way up to a liver and kidney detox.

Detoxification (detox for short) is a natural healing process needed more than ever in today’s toxic world. Just as the outer environments in which we live can become polluted with trash, violated with industrial chemicals, our inner environments (our bodies) can become filled with toxic garbage as well.

Many of these toxins come from our diets, drug use, and environmental exposure. By engaging in a detoxification program we are actively assisting and supporting the body in its own natural cleansing actions to help in ridding the body of substances that may be detrimental to our health.

Learn how to find all the health food stores in your neighborhood and the type of detoxes you should purchase by reading the article at the end of this article or the health book.

Couch Potato Lifestyle

It’s estimated by many experts that this will be the first generation that WILL NOT outlive their parents. The main reason is Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) found in 90% of foods in grocery stores which have no nutritional value and leading a sedentary (sitting posture) lifestyle.

A sedentary lifestyle or “the couch potato lifestyle” has contributed to over 200,000 PREVENTABLE deaths a year. The leading causes of death for people with heart disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes are most strongly influenced by lifestyle.

What to Do Before Starting an Exercise Program

Before starting any type of regular exercise program see your doctor first to make sure your body can take working out. Remember to always start off slow (start off walking) then work yourself up over the next few weeks and months to a more intense form of working out, if and only if, you are in shape for that type of workout.

If you have been sedentary for some time, try exercising in water. Water aerobics are excellent for those who are overweight or who find walking or running difficult.

Some easy ways to add physical activity to your daily routine include:

• Park the car farther away from your destination.
• Get on or off the bus several blocks away.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
• Take fitness breaks instead of cigarette or coffee breaks. Walk, stretch or do some office exercises.
• Perform gardening, yard work, heavy house cleaning, or home-repair activities.
• Exercise while watching TV. For example, use hand weights, a stationary bike or treadmill, stretch, or perform body-weight exercises such as crunches, push-ups and squats.
• Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office. You’ll be ready for activity wherever you go.
• Walk while doing errands.

Know the Dangers of Working Out in a Gym

Many people will start the New Year off by joining a gym and by the month of March they will already be out of there. Why? Because they should have engaged in a detox program first so they could gain the long-term energy they will need to pace themselves.

Did you know you can freeze your membership at most gyms if you don’t plan on attending for a while? Fitness gyms have memberships for $20 or $30 a month and you don’t have to sign a contract (LA Fitness, Gold’s Gym, YMCAs, etc.). But be careful when working out in a gym.

Some of the dangers of working out in a gym include:

-Underqualified staff or physical trainers (untrained staff members pretending to know what they are doing)
-Bacteria on equipment (including exercise mats so bring your own or clean off mats) and in showers (always wear shoes)
-Faulty equipment (many persons have been paralyzed from using faulty equipment at gyms so pay attention and don’t exercise when you are sleepy or too tired).

Wear the Right Equipment to Work Out

It’s very motivational to have on the right equipment when you are working out especially your shoes. If you plan on starting a walking program then invest in walking shoes.

Sports Authority has a great selection of workout clothes and tennis shoes for under $60. If you have a foot injury then chances are you will stop working out altogether so invest in expensive socks so your feet can feel comfortable.

If you plan on starting an aerobic program then buy cross-trainer shoes. If you plan on running everyday then invest in running shoes.

Don’t forget that water bottle so you can sip water throughout your workout. Wearing the right equipment will help you feel good about yourself and will help you get results even sooner.

Warm It Up

Make sure you warm-up before exercising. Your warm-up is just as important as your workout, however, with busy schedules, people forget to stretch and heat up their bodies. Many just settle for a few toe-touches which can leave them in pain or injured.

A good warm-up will provide increased flexibility and will activate the necessary muscles for training and competition. It also speeds up your blood flow and causes your core temperature to rise, which will prepare you to train at your highest levels. Good preparation makes for a great workout.

Preventing Soreness When Exercising

Getting sore after exercising will not only keep you from continuing to exercise, it might make you stop all together. Therefore, to prevent soreness remember to use natural remedies for soreness versus the over-the-counter creams that can leak into your blood system and cause your body to become toxic.

For instance, always keep Epsom salt by your bathtub to use when you go home from the gym and for muscle cramps rub pure, unprocessed olive or flaxseed oil into your muscles before and after strenuous exercise.

The Right Way to Lose Weight

In order to lose weight, you must exercise. When you look at the people that are successful at losing weight and keeping it off, they are active, plain and simple.

Being overweight is caused most often by overeating and under-exercising. Excessive weight can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, diabetes, and gallstones.

Get Some Type of Cardiovascular Exercise

The more fit you are, the longer you are likely to live. Being fit usually means you engage in some type of “cardio” or “cardiovascular” exercise. Cardiovascular exercises are any type of exercise that gets your heart rate up and keep it up for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

Everyone should be engaged in some type of cardiovascular exercise (fast or power walking, running, aerobics, swimming, bicycling/spinning, etc.) at least 3, 4 or 5 days a week for 30 to 45 minutes.

Learn more by reading my health book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days” (available as an e-book or paperback book at www.AngelsPress.com) or read the e-article below.

How To Engage in A Complete Detoxification Program
– E-article by CathyHarrisSpeaks.com

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