According to an article in The Atlantic, long-haul truck drivers can face some serious obstacles to staying fit and healthy. Extended time sitting, convenient fast-food stops, and a tight schedule all contribute to the difficulty truck drivers experience with maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Here are just a few tips and tricks to staying healthy on the roads of Indianapolis and across the country.
Track your Intake
With over fifty McDonald’s restaurants in the Indianapolis area alone, it’s no wonder it’s difficult for truck drivers to eat healthy when travelling across the country. Fast food meals are quick, easy, and affordable; a tempting combination for someone who is on a tight driving schedule. However, even though the meals are cheap and tasty, they might not be the best option all the time. Using a calorie tracker can help you stay healthy by keeping you aware of what you’re eating and how it’s affecting your body, especially in comparison with how many calories you burn each day. There are plenty of apps that offer options for counting and tracking calories. Find the one that best fits your habits and start thinking about salads and turkey sandwiches instead of fries and burgers.
Do High Intensity Movements
As an Indianapolis Bay and Bay Transportation, Inc. driver, it’s hard to find the time to have a full-blown workout, not to mention finding the space to stay fit. Truck drivers have to find a flat place to park, change clothes, and take out their workout equipment, only to have to pack it all back up to keep on schedule. This isn’t always a great option for Indianapolis drivers, but there are options for shorter workouts that will still keep your lungs, muscles, and body healthy. Siphiwe Baleka, nicknamed “Fitness Guru of the Trucking Industry,” recommends that truck drivers spend fifteen minutes doing high intensity movements rather than an hour doing moderate or low intensity exercises. For example, movements like jumping jacks, squats, or jogging around a parking lot can give you a great workout and boost your metabolism in just fifteen minutes, so you can get back on the road. The biggest lesson: just get out of the truck and move.
Get Enough Sleep
It seems that truck drivers are notorious for bad sleeping habits. Indianapolis drivers can experience changing schedules that have them driving at night and sleeping during the day. This can make it difficult to get proper restorative rest and contributes to weight gain— the opposite of keeping healthy. One tip to achieving better sleep is creating a pre-sleep routine that will indicate to your body that it’s time to sleep. This could be ten minutes of reading, some deep breathing, or music. To get to know your sleep schedule even better, fitness bracelets can track your sleep and tell you how much deep sleep you get each night.
Here’s the bottom line: it takes a little work to stay fit and healthy on the road. Indianapolis Bay and Bay Transportation, Inc. drivers can use these tips to stay healthy, and also look online for testimonials of other long-haul drivers for motivation.