Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/596928
40 | Overdrive | November 2015 DIVERSIONS HEALTH After a whirlwind of sum- mer and fall truck shows, George and I are getting back into our regular fl atbed routine. George can be home every other night, which is fantastic for our eating and exercise habits. I've lost 18 pounds, George is down 11. He at- tests that going from a box to a fl atbed has helped him drop at least half of that in the last few weeks. Speaking of health, I gave myself a series of silent strokes while hosting a nutrition talk at the Great American Trucking Show in the Landstar Health Pavilion. They handed me a microphone, and everything went blank. I smelled smoke and realized it was a brain synapse burning, so my body was auto-forced into doing what I told trucker Tom Kyrk I'd do for him, which was to stand up in public and talk to real live people, on my personal emergency power and lights. Thankfully, a good panel made up for my fl oundering as we dis- cussed ways to be healthier on the road. George got it on video. Other than sounding like a drunk hillbilly, you can hardly tell I'm terrifi ed. The biggest point made by the panelists was that it's important to choose a health routine that suits you. Even though the panel represented every perspec- tive from vegan to no-grain diets, everyone agreed that if you don't choose a diet or method that you'll stick with, it's not going to work. Don't make drastic changes and expect great results. Make slow, small changes in diet and exer- cise. You can use any of the countless free programs to educate yourself about almost anything for free. There is a large public movement toward cooking in the truck, though it does require extra work. Truck stop marketers are paying attention to this, so even- tually there will be better food choices in truck stops. Until things change, it's still possible to be healthier on the road. Finding a routine that fits For more from Overdrive's "George & Wendy Show" blog, go online at OverdriveOnline.com/wendy. Trucker fi tness: Mobile apps to get you started ROLLING STRONG Bob Perry, president of trucker fi tness outfi t Rolling Strong, has hosted truck stop gyms in coordination with Snap Fitness and has helped to make driver-designed health programs a key focus across the nation. His new app has a free and a paid members sec- tion, each off ering tools to promote driver health. The free section off ers locators for truck-friendly medical clinics; stations where self-administered blood pressure checks, hydration checks and vision checks are available; and certifi ed medical examiner clinics. Drivers also can listen to or watch recorded wellness seminars specifi c to driver health, nutrition and exercise. The members section goes further with a nutrition guide, over-the-road exercises and healthy grocery lists. ACTIVE TRUCKER Former owner-operator Siphiwe Baleka announced the avail- ability of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of a workout program designed specifi cally for truckers, in tan- dem with the Workout Trainer smartphone app for Android and iOS devices. Each phase of the new Active Trucker program is available for $29.99 or as part of the Pro+ paid subscription to Workout Trainer. The app is free for download with in-app purchases for upgrade. "Real truck drivers coach you through four weeks of daily progressive workouts that boost metabolism and burn fat," says Baleka, adding that the program off ers the possibility to "connect with other drivers following the program, track your heart rate after each workout and watch the weight come off ." Trucker fi tness: Mobile apps to get you started The Rolling Strong app is available for both iPhone and Android users. trucker fi tness outfi t gyms in coordination with Snap Fitness