Take your Abs Workout On the Road with Resistance Bands


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SONY DSCResistance bands….they’re the one piece of gym equipment James and I always RV with. Resistance bands are so portable, space-saving, and light; plus, we just really love using them on the road. We become like kids with their toys, “Yay! We’ve arrived at Okey Bajokey Campground! Grab the bands! Down by the water looks perfect!” I think that’s why we love them so much. Our gym is ever-changing. It takes on new scenery depending on where we happen to be. You can see the photos below; how can anyone hate a workout in such a beautiful setting? The bands make it easy for us to be part of that setting, and it adds an entirely new dimension to RVing.

The Abs Workout:

The great thing about the 4 abdominal exercises in this workout is that each one sneaks in an upper body muscle group as well. Yes, that’s right, two exercises in one. I just cut your workout in half. How awesome is that?! It’s okay, hold the applause.

With all four of the exercises, the resistance band will be wrapped around the bottom of a pole, so go find yourself a sturdy pole. And PLEASE make sure it’s sturdy! For the bands and anchors, we use a Bodylastics kit.  You can find ours here, but they also sell smaller kits.  We’ve tried a bunch of bands, and we’ve decided on the Bodylastics bands for a number of reasons, but the main one is that they actually have a safety cord inside them which makes them very unlikely to break!  I’ve seen enough “house bands” break on clients that I now bring our Bodylastics kit with me to the rec center to use with my clients.

Also – we need to give a big thanks to Hugger Mugger, for providing us with the Tapas Ultra Mats that you see in the photos.  Lying down in the dirt to do these exercises would be a lot more difficult without a good mat.  And to top it off, Hugger Mugger is a local Salt Lake City company!  And with that out of the way, on with the exercises!

Resistance Bands Exercise #1: Abdominals and Triceps:

Abs Triceps Curlups Exercise with Resistance Bands

Lie on your back with your head towards the pole, your knees bent, and your feet flat on the ground. Both hands grasp the resistance band’s handles together in an overhand grip. Elbows are bent, and the handles are above your forehead. Exhale as you slowly curl your head and shoulders up off the floor while simultaneously extending your arms.

Resistance Bands Exercise #2: Abdominals and Biceps:

Abs Biceps Leanbacks Resistance BandsExercise

Sit facing the pole slightly leaned back with your knees bent and your heels touching the ground (toes stay up). Grasp the handles in an underhand grip with your arms extended. Exhale as you lean farther back and simultaneously curl the handles up to your shoulders. It’s important to keep your back completely straight!

Resistance Bands Exercise # 3: Abdominals and Chest:

Abs Chest Obliques Curlups resistance bands exercise

Lie on your back with your head towards the pole and your legs straight. Hold the handles in your right hand in an overhand grip, with your elbow touching the ground, and your forearm vertical. Press your right arm across your body as you roll up to your left elbow and set most of your weight on your left glute. Repeat on your other side.

Resistance Bands Exercise #4: Abdominals and Back:

Abs Assisted Situps with resistance bands exercise

Start lying on your back with your feet towards the pole. Bend your knees and place your heels into the ground. Hands hold the handles down at your sides with straight arms. Palms face inwards. Use the bands to pull you up to sitting using a row motion (elbows pull behind you).

You’ll be doing 3 sets of 10 repetitions of each of these four exercises. Always move slowly and with control. You’ll want to exhale with the effort, as in any exercise. Also, it’s important to keep your core tightened and engaged even when you are lying back. Never stop squeezing your core throughout any of the exercises in the workout.

And there you go! Unfortunately, I can’t bring the scenery to you, but hopefully your RV is somewhere just as inspiring for your own resistance bands workout. Or! Just point your RV to Potash Road, just outside of Moab, and you can do this workout in the same breathtaking setting we did!



After 15 years as an educator in both the public K-12 setting and the University level in Special Physical Education, Stef made the leap to her true passion… the fitness world. She’s currently a personal trainer and wellness coach specializing in seniors, medical conditions, and injuries. Stef loves running, cycling, and being “Mugga” to her two favorite mini-humans — Punky and Marshmallow. ❤️


    3 thoughts on “Take your Abs Workout On the Road with Resistance Bands

    1. BODYLASTICS

      LOVE THIS ARTICLE! ARE YOU ABLE TO SEND US THE ORIGINAL VIDEOS? WE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THEM ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

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