Since 1941, Bay & Bay Transportation has been an industry leading trucking company. We got that way because of our employees. We aren’t only interested in what our truck drivers and staff can do for us, we are also interested in their well-being and success when they are not on the road. We don’t just provide truck driver jobs, we provide the best trucking career opportunities available in the industry.
At some time or another everyone has made excuses why they are too busy, or it’s too inconvenient to eat right and exercise. The downside is that our health and well-being suffers because we are just plain unmotivated to work a healthier diet and exercise into our normal routine.
In our last blog we talked about some tips for eating healthier on the road. We also stressed the importance of taking baby steps to reach our health goals. This blog is going to cover the other side of the healthy living coin: exercise. We’ll offer some tips on how you, as truck drivers, can stay moving and get healthier while you are on the road.
The Excuses
There are thousands of excuses any one of us could come up with for NOT exercising. We’re going to provide the two most popular excuses from truck drivers, and non-truck drivers, and give you our “devil’s advocate” response to these excuses.
“I can’t fit exercise into my busy life.”
You are a truck driver. You do not have a normal, 9-5 schedule. We get that. But, there are times in your driving schedule that you can fit in some type of physical activity:
- Your 10-hour work break- Yes, it is your down time, but how wise and healthy is it to burn off some of that physical energy before you rest? How else would you be spending that time any way? Watching TV or surfing the internet?
- While you wait for loading and unloading- You’ll just be sitting and waiting in your driver’s seat anyway. Get out of the cab and move.
- Before you start driving every day- Talk about a natural energy booster! Get your blood pumping before you start driving and you’ll feel the difference down the road.
- Your 30-minute HOS break- You are required to stop after eight hours of service anyway. Do some push-ups, lunges or simply take a walk.
- You do have time in your schedule to squeeze in a little exercise. So now what’s your excuse?
“I Don’t Know What To Do For Exercise”
There are hundreds of thousands of websites that have simple exercises that do not require a huge investment, fancy equipment, or a health club membership. Google it! Type in “simple exercises” or “bodyweight exercises” and see what you come up with. In the meantime here are some suggestions:
- Push ups- Good ol’ push-ups, done correctly, are great for strengthening your core, chest, shoulders, arms and back. If you can only do a few at first, don’t give up. You’ll be doing more in no time.
- Lunges- In the same way push-ups are good for upper body, lunges a great lower body exercise. They’re simple to do, you don’t need a lot of space to do them, and you’ll feel the burn after just a few.
- Core exercises- You’ve worked on your upper and lower body, but don’t forget your core, specifically your abs. Strengthen your abs to alleviate and prevent back problems. Try planks, leg lifts, or flutter kicks. Steer clear of traditional crunches.
- Walk- We’ve saved the best for last. Of all the things you could do to make yourself healthier, walking is the most effective and beneficial exercise available. And, it’s the easiest. Ancient philosopher and physician, Hippocrates, once said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.” Clearly, he knew something that we’ve all forgotten in this modern age. Dr. Mike Evans produced a video that illustrates the health benefits of walking.
Don’t forget to stretch throughout the day! Stretching is a great way for you to re-energize your body and lower the risk of injury. Remember, we’re not asking you to do all of these things all at once. Just acknowledge that you need to do something. You’ll notice the difference in your energy level, alertness, confidence level, the way your clothes fit, your mood, and in the mirror. There will be times when it is difficult or not practical to adhere to your new routine, but once the rough patch has passed, remember your reasons for doing it in the first place and keep going. You will never regret it.
Twelve Bay & Bay Transportation employees have been taking part in the TCA’s 3rd “Trucking’s Weight Loss Showdown.” They accepted the challenge to represent Bay & Bay Transportation in this round of the TCA’s competition and to lose ten percent of their body weight in ten weeks. Check their progress on our Facebook page and cheer them on as they continue to learn new habits and methods for staying healthy. For information on how to join our team and get the best trucking job, visit our Driver Opportunities page.