Question about trucker health and fitnes

Fortunately, I think that myth has already been de-bunked. The difference between someone with a 'slow' metabolism and a 'fast' metabolism is a miniscule. If I recall correctly, it's something like few calories to maybe a few hundred at most(the possible exception being people with actual thyroid issues). Not enough to eat your way to needing to use the same scale your truck uses.

 

Thank you.

And if somebody has thyroid issues that is not their fault. They cannot help that. However I've seen 3 threads on this in the past 6 months. Most have more excuses on how you CANT workout and CANT stay healthy than ways to stay healthy. I am by no means a health nut. No means to I take care of my body especially my lungs (they're blacker than a coal miners with the way I smoke). But I'm not poking around the truck stop eating the most ridiculous things and making excuses about how I can't lose weight. I eat once a day, get 2 hot dogs and 2 energy drinks. Rest of the time I'm drinking either ice tea or water. Maybe a mountain dew here or there. Now if I was a driver who didn't get much exercise like a reefer or dry van driver when I stopped for the night I'd take laps around my truck.

I suggested that in another thread like this and people laughed. Well if you're so health conscious why do you care what the 500lb moron that chwoing down on his KFC and his big Mac thinks? Heck you're bettering yourself he's not? See my point? We have an image its not a very good one. I don't think the fact that half the drivers need a Cat scale to get their actual weight is right nor does it help Our image. Is there a good way to solve this problem? No habits are hard to change, I don't think taking all the junk food out of truck stops is right nor do I think it would work. Gyms would be nice if they would actually be used. The obesity problem is a big problem but solving it is a bigger problem.

 

There's a plethora of opinions from truckers about health and fitness but alas, as you've surmised most of them are obese or at least overweight so I would take many of their ideas with a pinch of salt. Yes exercise is great and if you've got a bike or walk regularly then that's at least something, but frankly diet and what you eat is everything, it's the most important aspect of life on the road. Without good nutrition habits, you face an uphill battle
and if you're lazy and not motivated then it's all a big waste of time. Truckstop food by and large is garbage, sorry to say, fast food such as Wendy's mcdonalds is the most perverse of all food, if you can call it that I regard it as poison.
Personally I stay in shape, I'm 60'yrs old and weigh 180 lbs. I've never taken meds of any kind and my metabolic rate is low, which means I can put on weight very easily. Unless you understand nutrition and how your body reacts to certain food groups, then you're really spinning your wheels. I've been in trucking for 17 yrs so I understood right from the start that what I saw been offered at truck stops was unacceptable.
Yes there are a few exceptions and I've had the occasional breakfast at a TS that produced home cooking but the vast majority I wouldn't give a second look.
What I've devised over time is my own way of eating and I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I can eat just as well as any 5star restaurant. It helps too that I can cook a bit and on my truck I've got a proper truck fridge and a 2 cu ft deep freeze which allows me to store such yummy foods like salmon, prime steak, gourmet sausage, bacon and top quality cold cuts like ham and turkey. Together with my APU I have power and a multi use sauté grill pan gizmo that can cook in many ways. Microwave comes in handy to de frost. At any one time I've got enough food to last me at least 2weeks.
Don't believe what doctors and the health media tell you. Most of it is a bunch of BS and lies. I do my own research.
bottom line, is that the real killer and the main saboteur of keeping in shape is CARBOHYDRATES, not FAT.
there lies the real problem. We in the USA eat waaaaaaaaaay too much carbs. And don't set me off on this Cholesterol mumbo jumbo either. That's another set of propaganda I've dismissed as nonsense too.
As a result of my research I eat very little carbs, which means NO bread, potatoes, rice, pasta in addition to the usual suspects like cookies, sweet stuff, yada yada. You get my drift.
unfortunately though, it's a very very difficult lifestyle to maintain. We've been conditioned and brainwashed for years to eat sugar. It took me a very long time to break the code and now, as a result I feel fitter, healthy, in better condition and be able to keep my weight constant throughout. Certainly works for me.. My doctor can't understand how or why I'm in such great shape and health. Ha, you've got to laugh. What the heck does he know about healthy eating ???
good luck

 

Well put DrFandango! Very well stated and so true.

If I may twist the thread only slightly here? I'll soon be teaming for six months as part of a newbie commitment. In talking recently to another team driver he says I will be hard pressed to find 30 minutes a day to get in my 2-mile walk because the truck is always rolling. Is this true? If each of us drive ten hours /day seems to me there is 4 hours out there somewhere where I can find 30 min to walk a couple miles. I have to exercise at least this much each day.

Any suggestions here? What is the real world really like for team drivers to find time to take a walk?

 

truck is moving most of time when teaming. unless you don't work for co that knows how to dispatch teams. you are going to stop here and there and your shift is likely going to be 12 hrs or so. And 30 min breaks are showers or eating.
As for exercise in truck.... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Marcy-Mini-Bike/15609894
there is also stair steppers like this