Our Cruising Diet and Exercise

 What keeps us in shape? Our lifestyle of cruising.

 With plenty of healthy food available and all the exercise you care to have, it is a choice you make as to the amount of activity and how healthy your diet.

As for exercise, I have my own personal stairmaster, it's called the companionway stairs.  With just six steps up and down, my lower half receives a great workout as throughout my day, it seems, I am constantly going below and what goes down has to come back up.  I should keep a count, because I bet on some days it is at least a hundred times or more.

 And for my upper body, doing laundry by hand gives the hands, arms and shoulders a good workout.  Wringing out clothes can be tiresome, even using a stanchion to wrap the towels around helps make the drying process easier and faster. 

Or how about when we have to secure the dinghy and motor.  This is a workout for the arms and back.  Hoisting the outboard motor to the stern rail using a crane and pulley system,  and the dinghy takes both of us one on each side to pull and pull the dinghy higher and higher on the davits.

Whenever we sail, hoisting the main, trimming sails  and rolling in the jib is another good arm and back workout.  Plus all the isometric exercises when sailing!

 And for stretching exercises, the engine room is the location for some really good contortionist moves.  The part that needs aid is always on the bottom and the furthest from the engine room door.  Aaron is getting quite flexible! 

 Thank goodness we have an anchor windlass!  That would be a helluva workout and one neither Aaron and I care to master.

We own an inflatable kayak, so on calm days, its fun to paddle around the islands and explore.  I also take my snorkel gear and just float along towing the kayak over colorful reefs. 

 Going for a swim is easily accessible.  It's just a quick drop into the sea from our deck, but just remember to attach the swimming ladder before going over the side.  I either take a few laps around the boat, or swim to the nearest island.  It's easier to swim if you have a pair of flippers and a mask to keep the saltwater out of the eyes.

Beachwalking is a favorite as I always look for shells, hamburger beans, or sea hearts. A walk around the island, or thru a Kuna village, or for the adventurous a hike up a hill or up a river is sometimes available. 

Of course, there are the days we go snorkeling for hours at a time.  If it is a calm day and the sun is shining, that is the prerequisite for a great snorkel.  Well, and a good reef nearby is a must.  We like to spearfish as well, so we take along our spear guns and hunt for dinner.  There is always that adrenaline rush you get when you see a nice snapper just in range and the effort to swim closer for the killshot.  Sometimes you win and other times you keep trying and trying.  Practice makes perfect? Or just more exercise, now that’s a win win situation.

As for our cruising diet -

 Since we are away from any fast food restaurants, or any restaurants for that matter, our favorite place to eat is onboard.  Fixing food becomes a big part of our day;  whether it is baking a loaf of bread, making yogurt, or trying out a new recipe.

Although our freezer contains meat, beef, chicken and pork, we consistently eat fresh crab, lobster, conch or fish. And why not? The Kuna Indians come by our boat everyday trying to sell their catch of the day, mainly lobster and crab or it could be conch or squid or octupus, so the hunting and gathering part is done for you if you can part with a few dollars.  And we do!

The vegetable boats come by our boat on a regular basis.  The availability of quality veggies is a boon.  Fresh heads of lettuce, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, oranges, pineapples, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, passion fruit, avocados, and delivered right to your door.  Our favorite veggie guy is Jeraldo, who lives in Miramar on the mainland.  He also delivers diesel and gas, but in another boat and a different day.  Gotta love that service!

 And at the end of the day as the sun is setting, we kick back and relax with a rum and coke or a glass of wine.   Here's to another day in paradise.