Fitness OTR

[sean71]

I am going into the trucking industry here very soon and I have some questions. With all of the impending FMCSR 2010 stuff and even more regs healthwise coming down the road, I see a heavy focus on driver health. I am into bodybuilding and healthy nutrition and I have no intention of giving that up to go OTR. In fact, I want to ask how you all stay in shape(those that do :-)? I am looking into getting a 35lb kettlebell and keeping that in the cab with me and maybe some powerbands too. I also have a folding paratrooper mtn bike that I'm sure I can get aboard. I also have a prepaid (COSTCO) 2 year 24 Hour Fitness membership so I also would like to maybe get input as to how anybody gets to a gym and how often?

I have often thought how cool it would be if say TA, PETRO, Love's...etc would put in small fitness centers and of course charge a fee for daily use and memberships....have a hot tub and sauna available as well...truckers spend a sh^%tload of money on CRAP anyway, so whay not on something constructive like a stationary bike and a quick dumbbell workout?

[ronjon619]

GL with the workout. Holding a steering wheel for 8AM to 7PM is a tough gig. Then getting your chow and s h i t shave & shower done. A little Internet / monkey wrestling and your looking at 9PM easy. And those are just driving days with no loading or unloading.

[xcarsalesman]

I use a jump rope and i do pushups, for stomach i do crunches in the bunk. I usually do this before i take a shower. You would be amaze what a jump rope will do.

[GMAN]

Throwing tarps can help keep you in shape. I think that you will find it difficult to have the time to get to a gym while on the road. It will be difficult to not only find the time, but a place to park the truck. We run irregular schedules and routes, for the most part. That in itself can make it difficult to find a gym.

I seem to recall one truck stop that had a gym, but closed it due to non participation or lack of interest by drivers. I suppose most were either not interested or too tired to do a workout after a long day of driving. With the takeover by Pilot and others who seem to be more interested in short term profits than driver health, you will be hard pressed to find those who would be willing to give up the revenue from video games for sauna's and workout rooms. Pilot in particular has a reputation for taking out TV and drivers lounges and putting in video game rooms. I think that it would be great to have a place to workout while on the road. It might curb the amount of obesity we see daily out here.

I met one guy who carried dumb bells with him and he exercised while waiting to load/unload. I think that he worked it in as he could. Workouts do better when you can adhere to a schedule. That can be difficult to do in this business. Starting out you may be paired with another driver. He may not want the extra weight for you to carry weights or other equipment. Space will be limited. Before packing your weights I would check with the company whom you go with to see their policy. Once you get into your own truck it may be a different situation. With a team operation you both live in a very small space. There isn't much area for storage. I am sure that something can be worked out, but I would mention it to my company before going to orientation.

I try to watch what I eat, but it can be a bit of a challenge on the road. I stay away from the buffet. Most of the offerings are carbohydrates. Your best bet would be to get a small refrigerator or electric cooler and take your own food with you. Not only will you save money, but you can eat much healthier. Good luck. All of us need to be more health conscious.

[Bigmon]

Can you imagine how dirty a sauna or jacuzzi at a truck stop would be? It'd be good if you could keep the slobs out of it. Fitness center is a good idea. Like Gman said, it doesn't make money for the TS.

[sean71]

Yeah, I won't get my own truck until late september so I figure on sit-ups and some push-ups until then. I know of most people who do not workout all have a "reason" as to why they don't have time or are too tired. 30 minutes every other day will make significant changes in health and energy levels! I know finding time and places to workout will be a challenge but it IS possible to do. Hell, simply parking truck farthest from truckstop/terminal buildings alone would be a help. I could site hundreds of examples of people from far more difficult circumstances than OTR trucking who make fitness a priority.

[cdswans]

The empty 194 oz Mountain Dew cup may look easy going in but, after an hour or two at the buffet, it's all I can do to lug it back to the fuel island, switching hands every 20 paces for balance, while I stop to light up a fresh one to help catch my breath. Between that and the Ben and Jerry's, I manage to keep a memorable profile.

[sean71]

The empty 194 oz Mountain Dew cup may look easy going in but, after an hour or two at the buffet, it's all I can do to lug it back to the fuel island, switching hands every 20 paces for balance, while I stop to light up a fresh one to help catch my breath. Between that and the Ben and Jerry's, I manage to keep a memorable profile.
Today 03:55 PM

Haha! Nice cdswans! You could increase your cardio output by 50% by simply switching hands every 10 seconds!

[sean71]

Can you imagine how dirty a sauna or jacuzzi at a truck stop would be? It'd be good if you could keep the slobs out of it.

Oh GAWD! I didn't even think of that! Hahaha.....wow!

[sean71]

Fitnessanywhere.com |Home of TRX and Suspension Training, the original bodyweight training fitness tool, train with the best in class exercise equipment, fitness equipment

[RostyC]

Can you imagine how dirty a sauna or jacuzzi at a truck stop would be? It'd be good if you could keep the slobs out of it. Fitness center is a good idea. Like Gman said, it doesn't make money for the TS.

Only a matter of time before somebody leaves a floater behind.

[GMAN]

When I hauled cars I would sometimes do pull ups on the upper ramps. Bench pressing cars also provides a good workout.

It can be challenging to find the time to workout. If you pull a van, you might be able to workout while waiting to load or unload. With so many obese drivers we need to find a way to burn some calories. Staying away from the buffet can go a long way toward keeping your weight under control. I have noticed that those with the most weight will often be the ones who have a couple bags of potato chips and other snacks at the checkout. Just because the buffet is "all you can eat" doesn't mean that you should see if they are serious. Some basic knowledge about nutrition could help many to get their weight under control. With some of the new rules coming down those who have excessive weight will either need to lose the fat or find another career. Eating out of the truck can also help keep you in shape. Our bodies require a certain amount of nutrition. Instead of snacking on potato chips you could eat carrots or celery or other vegetables that you can cut up at home and put in a cooler or refrigerator that you keep in the truck. Exercise is only part of the equation that needs to be addressed if we are to improve our over all health. Both require some effort. It may only be a matter of developing a new habit. It has been said that if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit.

[RostyC]

Just because the buffet is "all you can eat" doesn't mean that you should see if they are serious.

I've seen both men and women take on that challenge.
When you don't have any ankles showing, time to stick with the salad bar.

[ronjon619]

not just over eating, that food looks terrible and has been sitting there for hours. I'm an off the menu type of guy. I've been know to walk by the cookies at the Petro buffet in Wheeler Ridge and grab a M&M cookie on my way to the register, but I'm not touching that chicken or meat thats been sitting there since lunch.

[Rebel Yell]

About a year or so ago after eating at a greasy truck stop I was feeling a little bloated so I decided to come up with a regiment that I could use daily on my tractor, it consist of walking around the rig 5 times, then i pick up the pace to a slow jog and do that 5 times, up it again 5 more times and finish with full speed 5 times. Then I take 5 minutes to do a few leg lifts, followed by 20 pull ups on my tanker ladder and 50 push ups with my hands resting on my side steps. I know it looks funny to those who are watching, but I am still young and have no plans of getting out of shape.


Jimmy

[golfhobo]

GMAN said:

Bench pressing cars also provides a good workout.

You beat me to it, GMAN. I was going to say something about 'holding up the pup while my codriver backs under it!'

It has been said that if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit.

That's a FACT! 35 years ago I spent 6 weeks in Basic training and the Drill Instructor kept saying "smoke 'em if you got 'em!" Well.... I thought that was an ORDER.... so..... here I am puffing away while typing this!

[golfhobo]

GL with the workout. Holding a steering wheel for 8AM to 7PM is a tough gig. Then getting your chow and s h i t shave & shower done. A little Internet / monkey wrestling and your looking at 9PM easy. And those are just driving days with no loading or unloading.

So.... that leaves 11 hours a night! You sleep 11 hours???

[sean71]

I saw a trucker last summer with his laptop sitting on the catwalk of his tractor and he was doing P90X! He was ripped and doing all the jumping and pushups and stuff. That was kinda where I started seriously looking at trucking because if THAT guy was doing it...well, I have no fricken reason not to (be a trucker AND fit...not necessarily P90X OTR :-).

[sean71]

When you don't have any ankles showing, time to stick with the salad bar.

Ahhhh....the dreaded "cankle"

[golfhobo]

I saw a trucker last summer with his laptop sitting on the catwalk of his tractor and he was doing P90X! He was ripped and doing all the jumping and pushups and stuff. That was kinda where I started seriously looking at trucking because if THAT guy was doing it...well, I have no fricken reason not to (be a trucker AND fit...not necessarily P90X OTR :-).

Okay.... I don't know what "P09X" is... so, why don't we talk DOWN to the slobs here!

Seriously, sean..... I could probably find a link if needed, but I remember reading an article awhile back about truckers who "jogged" around the tuckstop for "fitness."

Point is.... jogging around an area with that much diesel exhaust was INCREASING their chances of major medical problems! I would tell you WHAT problems... but, I don't remember! Why? Because I have NO intention of ever DOING it!

If you want to "work out" OTR... make sure it is NOT at a truckstop! I'm sure YOU know that ANY "CVR" activity increases your intake of "ambient" air. The air around a T/S could KILL you!