Hey Beans, my husband is a newbie as well, we are also from Griffin, GA. We could be neighbors! I also worry about him eating on the road and already being overweight.

Well I as well am going with Swift in NY 1/13/09 I have a very fast metabolism and been the same weight since High School (1974) but my wife says "don't eat that #### in truck stops, eat healthy" so since I am a junk food junkie it will be hard but at 52 I need to eat better so I can drive for many more years!

Birdeye

I've known lots of guys who enjoyed high metabolisms... until they didn't have one anymore. Oops.

I just talked with a nice lady from a nearby pneu tanker outfit, and I'm toying with the idea of hopping back in one of those. They seem to have much nicer trucks than I used to drive, and I do like the specialized sort of hauling that doesn't have me dealing with every petty-tyrant dock manager out there. In fact, I got along with just about all the receivers when I was hauling p-tanks... they were just guys who needed to get the job done, and I was bringing the stuff to help 'em.
Shippers could be a bit of a problem at times, though... but that's another thread.

I'm hoping I can get myself back into the mindset I'd somehow achieved, and I'll pack my Montague folding bike and some of those big rubber bands (plenty of places on a truck to hook 'em up), and I'll stock up on healthy food.

Hell, being home and letting my better half cook... or eating out most nights... not a great way to lose weight. In fact, I'm up to 316 now.

i lost 65 lbs since January 2009. No big tricks, however diet and exercise does work. On the road I run (understand this is not for everyone) and anything else I can do. I ran in to guy at a rest area who was just kicking around a soccer ball so I bought a cheap one at walmart. Excellent idea. Like mentioned, stock up on fruits and veggies too. Truck stops are not my favorite place to eat, however they are coming around. I believe I 80 truck stop has an exercise room?

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David

Good luck to everyone... Health and physical fitness has always been at the top of my priority list... I changed jobs because of this single factor alone... It's hard to stay in shape and remain stationary for long periods of time, day after day, but it can be done...

J.

I have found jogging in the morning not only helps with health, but puts me in a better mood throughout the day- always a good thing for a trucker dealing with all the frustrations truckers encounter. Weightlifting keeps me stronger so I'm less sore after unloading a trailer, or cranking stubborn landing gear, or just doing lots of shifting in stop and go traffic. Hiking and biking are fun ways to get outdoors and see the countryside. Isn't that one of the reasons we are trucking- to see the country? And the variety of different ways to exercise keeps me from getting bored and burned out.

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Cowboy up!

I almost wish I could jog, but I never really enjoyed it much when I could do it. Now, my hips won't take it (arthritis), but I can still ride my bike. One thing I liked about the pneumo trailers is that I have to get my butt outta the truck to monitor gauges and turn valves on the trailer. So, I'm already out and pacing.

I started out by just pacing back and forth, tossing my mallet between hands for a mild upper-body workout to go with the walk. When I felt I was ready, I picked up a
10-lb dumbbell and started tossing that around.
In the meantime, I was working out at the Y during my off time, and riding bicycles
more and more. I was also eating considerably less (and a lot healthier) than before, and lost a bunch of weight. By the time I left that job to move to AR, I was doing all sorts of stuff on the equipment while unloading... incline/decline pushups off the trailer fenders, and just bracing off the steps while I lifted heavier weights.

My faxed application was a disaster (to the more recent company as I posted above) so they're sending a hardcopy via snailmail so I can fill it out again. I'm kinda looking forward to it, and now I have a *folding* bike.

good for you. i am trying to eat healthy on the road. it is important because with need both mental and physical stamina.

Im happy with my size 18, but would love to be married and make a lot of love haha

Read my post here in the drivers health corner, its just chocked full of info on how to eat healthy and get daily excercise as an otr trucker. Its really not as hard as some people make it out to be. Self decipline is a must and once you make a few lifestyle changes, you will be well on your way. If you ever past by a dropdeck at a truckstop and theres a guy on the back deck jumping rope, that will probably be me.

Self discipline now that is the real problem.

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