The lifestyle of a truck driver is unlike any other. For most truck drivers, their primary goal is safety. But not only should you be on the look-out for the safety of others on the road, but also your own health. The profession has numerous benefits, but one downside is that it tends to be very sedentary. This is one reason why there is a higher frequency of obesity among truck drivers than other professions. It is undeniably difficult to lose weight while on the long haul, but here are some weight loss tips to help.
As a truck driver, it isn’t always easy to stay in shape. Here are some tips that might help.
Eat Well
One of the most challenging aspects of weight loss while driving your route is diet. Admittedly, the food options you’re likely to come across while on the road aren’t the healthiest. For this reason, it might help to pack your food ahead of time.
If you can, stock up on the healthiest food you can while you’re at home. If you’re in the habit of eating candy on your route, consider bringing fruit. Consider investing in a food dehydrator and use it to dry fruit. This is much cheaper than the dried fruit you can buy in a store, and you can enjoy the benefits of not having to worry about shelf life.
As for drinks, if you’re in the habit of drinking soda on the long haul, consider switching to some less sugary alternatives. If you’re not into the idea of constantly drinking water, black coffee or unsweetened tea aren’t bad for variety.
Get Some Exercise
We know—as a truck driver, exercising is easier said than done. Most of the time, truck drivers are too concerned with getting from point A to point B to give much thought to how they could get more exercise.
Still, exercise can combine with diet to make an extremely effective weight loss strategy. If you can, consider getting a gym membership with a national train. Then you can plan your stops along your route in the proximity of such gyms and get a nice work-out in at the end of the day.
Even if you don’t have a gym membership, or it doesn’t seem practical to try to visit one on your route, there are still steps you can take to get a little more exercise. One of the easiest things you can do is walking. Try to walk for a mile a day.
If your route doesn’t give you much space in which to walk, you could just walk around your truck. It’s been estimated that walking 32 laps around an eighteen-wheeler is roughly equivalent to one mile. You could even do some more serious calisthenics in a parking lot, such as jumping jacks or jumping rope.
You may feel silly trying to exercise in a parking lot. But taking your health into your own hands is one of the best things a truck driver can do.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for all Your Trucking Needs!
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.