excersise while on the road....

OK, I'm going to add my 2 cents to all the good info already here.

My first year and a half on the road, I gained 25 pounds. Not a lot, but enough to have me saying "no more". I had studied weightlifting a few years before I started driving, and enjoyed the benefits immensely, but I got away from it for some reason I can't even remember. Well, I decided to start again. The problem? I'm OTR, and OTR drivers have no set schedule. Therefore, it's impossible to set an exercise schedule. Exercise is habit-forming, but how can you form a habit without a routine?

Well, I discovered it's all about motivation. Motivation is the difference between the drivers who are fit and the drivers who say it can't be done. I personally love hiking, especially in the mountains (east, west, anywhere). If I'm not in good shape, though, hiking is more painful than enjoyable. Right there I found my motivation.

I made a promise to do a full body weightlifting routine at least twice a week. Sometimes I manage to do three. In between days, time permitting, I go for a brisk walk (through the hills where possible) or jump rope, or both. Sometimes I can only squeeze in a few minutes of light aerobics and some stretching in the cab, but that's better than nothing.

As for food, healthy choices are available. Shopping at grocery stores instead of truck stops is always the best option. You get the best selection of fresh fruits and vegetables for snacking and side dishes. I stock up on canned as well, for when the fresh stuff runs out (it doesn't seem to keep very long in a truck, especially bananas). Even when fast food is the only thing available, healthy options are there as well. Like I said earlier, it's all about motivation.

It is harder to be fit and healthy while working as an OTR driver. But it's not impossible.

P.S. I've lost 15 of those 25 pounds so far.

 

I know this thread is about exercise, but it looks like most are concerned about becoming over-weight. I gained 35 lbs over the last 20 years. Slow and steady! LOL. Anyway, this past January I decided enough was enough and set about losing weight. I read an article about Jon Favreau (director of "Iron Man") who was 300 lbs and his wife (a doctor) put him on a 1,200 calorie/day diet. Also, she told him to eat 6 200 calorie meals per day; eat every 2 hours. He lost nearly 100 lbs! Now, I'm not exactly an exercise fanatic, so I liked the idea of losing weight WITHOUT exercise. Well, I lost all 35 lbs in 3 months. The keys are to keep track of what you eat and eat smaller meals more often. That way you will not get too hungry. Buy a calorie counter book that lists the calories for all foods, and eat every 2 hours. Look around and you can find 100 calorie packs for many foods you like. I will maintain this program while driving too. Just my 2 cents.

 

I've read a lot of advice saying eat small portions often. It seems to work for most people. Same with the advice to never skip breakfast.

I have a friend who wanted to lose weight. She started exercising, but nothing happened. She actually gained weight from the muscle she was building, but the fat wasn't going anywhere. Well, I figured out why; she ate nothing until dinner, then would heap her plate full because she was hungry. Then she went to bed.

 

Right! I do walk several times a week now with the family, and I notice lots of over-weight people walking, jogging, running, & biking. My guess is they have not changed their eating habits. At a brisk pace you burn 7 calories a minute. You have to walk for over 8 hours to burn 1 pound of fat! It's much easier to pull your head out of the KFC bucket imo!