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How to Avoid Injury When Working Out: Safety Tips

It’s no secret that working out can be great for your health. But if you’re not careful, you can easily injure yourself. This blog post will discuss some safety tips to help you avoid injury when working out. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced athlete, these tips will help keep you safe and healthy.

Via Pexels

Warm Up and Cool Down

One of the most important things you can do to avoid injury is to warm up and cool down properly. A good warm-up will increase your heart rate and body temperature, which will help prepare your muscles for activity. A cool-down, on the other hand, will help your body recover from the workout and prevent excessive soreness.

 

Stretch

Stretching is another important way to reduce your risk of injury. Before working out, take a few minutes to stretch all of the major muscle groups that you’ll be using. This will help improve your range of motion and flexibility, reducing your risk of injury.

 

Choose the Right Exercise

Not all exercises are suitable for everyone. Choosing an activity appropriate for your fitness level and health condition is essential. If you have any injuries or medical conditions, be sure to consult with your doctor before starting a new workout routine.

 

Use Good Form

Using good form is essential for preventing injury. When lifting weights, for example, be sure to use a controlled motion and avoid jerking the weights. If you’re unsure how to do an exercise correctly, ask a certified personal trainer from a reputable organization for help. You can click here for different fitness certifications available.

Know The Difference Between Good and Bad Pain

There’s a difference between the excellent pain of a challenging workout and the bad pain of an injury. It’s essential to be able to distinguish between the two. Good pain is usually muscle soreness after a day or two. This is called delayed onset muscle soreness, and it’s nothing to worry about. Bad pain, however, is sharp or persistent pain that doesn’t go away. This could be a sign of an injury. If you’re ever in doubt, it’s always best to consult with a medical professional.

 

Listen to Your Body

It’s essential to listen to your body and pay attention to any pain or discomfort you may feel. If something doesn’t feel right, stop doing the exercise and consult with a medical professional. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Rest and Recovery

After a workout, you must rest your body so your muscles can recover. Avoid working out too often or intensely, as this can lead to overtraining and injury. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy diet to support your recovery.

 

Nutrition

Eating a healthy diet is vital for overall health, but it’s also crucial for preventing injury. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help improve your joint and bone health. Getting enough protein is also essential, as it helps repair muscle tissue.

 

Following these safety tips will help you avoid injury when working out. Remember to warm up and cool down properly, choose the proper exercise, use good form, and listen to your body. And don’t forget to rest and recover after your workout. By following these tips, you’ll be able to stay safe and healthy while achieving your fitness goals.

How Can Trucking Companies Improve the Overall Health of Drivers?

 

How Can Trucking Companies Improve the Overall Health of Drivers Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

https://images.pexels.com/photos/7540485/pexels-photo-7540485.jpeg 

 

If your trucking company wants better employee productivity and performance, it’s time to focus on your drivers’ overall health. Researchers from the NIHR in Leicester revealed that drivers’ average BMI and waist circumference are higher than normal levels. Since most drivers pursue sedentary lifestyles, they are at a higher risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

 

Unfortunately, the researchers also discovered that truck drivers suffer from poor mental health. It was highlighted that US truck drivers have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the average worker, thus increasing their likelihood of experiencing collisions on the road.

 

Given these dire health conditions, you need to start supporting the wellness of your employees. To start, here’s how your trucking company can improve the overall health of your drivers:

 

Digital Fitness Programs

 

Many truck drivers drive long distances for many hours, so it’s much easier to catch up on sleep than hit the gym. Unfortunately, when this happens, drivers’ physical and mental health can suffer.

 

Trucking companies can put a stop to their drivers’ sedentary lifestyles by making it easier for the employees to exercise. Our article on the ‘Benefits of Yoga for Travel’ highlights that mind and body exercise can be practiced everywhere through the guidance of digital platforms and books. Through these accessible yoga resources, drivers can do a quick yoga routine to improve their body’s circulation and relieve any pain, then hop back on their trucks to continue their drives.

 

Virtual Care Services

 

Truck drivers have a higher risk for physical and mental illnesses, so it’s crucial to boost their access to medical services. But since truck drivers travel to numerous locations, it’s easier for them to connect with telehealth professionals than in-office physicians.

 

Since trucking companies need to provide on-demand healthcare services for drivers on the go, the telehealth platform Wheel illustrates how companies can customize virtual care services for their employee benefits program. A customizable healthcare solution allows companies to achieve up to 70% savings while allowing their drivers to benefit from primary care, behavioral health, and diagnostics services in one solution. By boosting the accessibility of healthcare services, your company can ensure your drivers get effective, timely care.

 

Regular Sleep Disorder Screening

 

Truck drivers also have a high risk for sleep apnea. This sleep disorder interferes with the quality of their rest, and drivers with sleep apnea may experience daily memory issues and daytime fatigue, which can lead to accidents.

 

Recognizing the hazards of sleep apnea, the chief medical officer at the National Transportation Safety Board recommends that all transportation operators must be screened and diagnosed for sleep apnea. Companies must also provide flexibility with the screening and treatments for this sleep disorder so that it’s easier for drivers to get the help they need.

 

Nutrition Education

 

Many truck drivers also struggle to maintain a healthy weight because of the lack of nutritious food options on the road. Long-distance truck driver Carlos Soto explains that he had to make a significant effort to fit a healthier diet into his lifestyle. Rather than relying on convenient, fast food, he preps his meals and brings a supply of healthy snacks for his shifts.

 

Similarly, companies can encourage truck drivers to consume a nutritious diet by providing educational programs. Truck drivers need to learn how to prepare nutritious meals to bring healthy meals for their long drives instead of resorting to fast food.

 

Due to the nature of trucking, truck drivers may pick up unhealthy habits on the road. By making it easier to pursue a healthy lifestyle, trucking companies can reduce the occupational hazards that come with the job.

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers

If there is something truck drivers know about themselves, it’s their unhealthy lifestyle. It is hard to stay healthy when you’re on duty, filled with a lack of exercise, a shifting sleep schedule, long work hours without breaks, and unhealthy diets. Lower your healthcare costs and sick days, and enjoy a healthy life with our guide to top healthy trucker food!

5 Best Healthy Diet for Truckers

1. Fiber-Rich Food

Tummy troubles can make traveling distances a nightmare. To avoid them, ensure your body gets enough fiber to process food without causing problems. Some foods with high fiber content are wheat products, granola bars, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and rice.

Fiber-rich foods are readily available and make for great healthy trucker food options!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Fiber Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

2. Lean Meat

Meat is an integral part of meals as they provide nutritional protein and fats to our bodies. With truck driving being physical labor that requires top strength and agility, meat is essential in the trucker diet. Hence you must eat the healthy form of meat, which is lean meat. 

Lean meat is boiled or steamed poultry or fish packed with the proper nutrients. Fish are rich in omega-fatty acids that are great for the eyes and heart. In contrast, organic poultry meat is essential to fulfilling your protein needs! 

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Lean Meats Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

3. Healthy Snacks

If eating in small portions is something you tend to do, we have you covered! Snacks don’t need to be unhealthy, and they also don’t need to be complex to make or find. The list of healthy snacks is almost endless and can suit every time of taste bud there is. 

Popcorn or corn cakes (watch salt content) and salsa chips are great for crunch lovers. If you have a sweet tooth, we have to suggest flavored yogurt, fresh berries filled with antioxidants, and apples with peanut butter or almond butter. And now brands have peanut butter with no added sugar! I call that a win!. Dry nuts, trail mix, and hard-boiled eggs are healthy snacks you can easily prepare and find wherever you go!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Healthy Snacks Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

4. Water

We couldn’t complete this list without mentioning the basic essential: water. Drinking water yields many health benefits and keeps you away from health conditions. Water keeps your cognitive functions working, helping you lose weight and aids in digestion. Not only that but drinking plenty of water keeps your organs healthy and protects you from overeating by making you feel full. 

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Water Image Mother Trucker Yoga BLog

5. Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are a tasteful bundle of essential nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and fit! Fruits and berries are filled with proteins, antioxidants, and glucose. Vitamin C is also found in all citrus fruits, protecting you from skin diseases such as skin cancer which many truck drivers risk.

So ensure to take your regular fresh fruits and berries whenever possible because they are just as crucial to your diet!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Fruits Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Conclusion

In this blog, we have listed the 5 top healthy trucker food that significantly affects health. With the transport industry making you its backbone, you must take care of your body and mind by eating right and living right. 

7 Essential Stretches for Truck Drivers

7 Essential stretches as a truck driver.

You are expected to sit in uncomfortable durations as a truck driver. On the surface, comfort is what you seem to be sacrificing, but it runs deeper than that. Constant sitting with minimal mt or exercise can be quite detrimental to your health. You must include a trucker workout in your daily routine to fix eight. This article tells you 8 essential stretches for a truck driver workout regime!

Essential Stretches to Practice

1. Shoulder Pull

Shoulder pulls are effective for the tension in your shoulders. When you feel stress gathering in your shoulders from sitting upright while driving, place one arm straight across your chest and pull it with your other arm.

7 essential stretches for truck drivers blog shoulder pull image

2. Neck Rotation

Before your neck is so stiff you can barely move it, try including neck rotations in your trucker workout. You can start by taking your hand over your head and holding the opposite ear gently, pulling it towards the shoulder. This releases tension in your upper shoulder and neck, regions that quickly strain due to extended driving hours. 

7 essential stretches for truck drivers neck release image mother trucker yoga blog

3. Wrist Bend

Wrist bend is the most accessible form of stretching you can do right in your driving seat and enjoy its effectiveness. It can help you relax your forearms and your wrists. Wrap your fingers on the steering wheel and move your wrists forward and backward. And if you are outside your rig, try placing your palm on the side of the truck with your fingers pointing down and stretch your wrist while you fill up with fuel.

7 essential stretches for truck drivers wrist bend image mother trucker yoga blog

4. Classic Lunges

Lunges are known for being a great exercise option regardless of the goal. If your goal is to stretch, lunges can be your best friend. Take a giant step with one leg and bend that knee as long as you are comfortable. You must maintain a symmetrical position and not extend the knee from the toe. Repeat this slowly with the other leg. Doing so will show you drastic improvements in your overall flexibility and muscle retention.

Try this on the step of your truck, and don’t forget you can use support like a chair or even the side of your truck for better balance.

PRO TIP: If you have sore knees and lunging is hard, try knee lifts instead. Standing tall, use support as needed, and try to lift one leg in front of you to belly height. As you lift, do not round your torso; feel your glutes contract.

7 essential stretches for truck drivers lunge image mother trucker yoga blog

5. Chest Pull Neck Stretch

Press both hands on your chest and move your head away from your wardrobe. This exercise feels like a relaxant as you enjoy a stretch in your neck and chest regions. Chest pulls are great for unwinding before bed after a long day of driving. And work amazingly well for keeping the elasticity in your neck as you age. Plus, if you have upper back pain, you need to do this stretch. 

7 essential stretches for truck drivers chest and neck stretch image mother trucker yoga blog

6. Arm Rotation

Arm rotations should be part of a truck driver workout regime that can be done whenever you step out of your vehicle. Placing one palm straight on your truck side, rotate yourself away from the truck with a slightly bent arm. Repeat this with the other arm. 

If you are inside the truck, sit on your bed and reach up overhead and as you lean to the right and reach to the right, press into your left hip to create a deep stretch in the underarm to help improve shoulder mobility. And don’t forget to focus on rotating your arm inward towards your face from the shoulder socket to enhance the stretch.

7 essential stretches for truck drivers arm rotation image mother trucker yoga blog

7. Quad Stretch

Stand straight for a quad stretch and watch it erase any muscular tension in your body. Raise one leg behind yourself and reach to grab that leg right above the ankle, and pull it towards your middle body. Hold yourself in that position and repeat with the other leg.

PRO TIP: If it is difficult to clasp the ankle behind you, try looping a belt or a towel around the ankle and pull up. Or place the top of the foot onto a chair and stand tall.

7 essential stretches for truck drivers quad stretch image mother trucker yoga blog

Conclusion

Taking time off the road to provide your body with its necessary movement is essential for your wellbeing. Take the time to practice these stretches as a truck driver workout regime when you spend time away from the driver’s seat. With this trucker workout, you can engage your entire body in exercise and stay far from life-altering medical conditions.

Facing Back Pain and Stretching: 7 Effective Fixes for Driver Fitness 

Facing Back Pain and Stretching: 7 Effective Fixes for Driver Fitness 

Traveling can be a fun experience if you lead a busy lifestyle. It means you’re going out to meet family after a long time, going wherever the road takes you, and a lot of time to stop and admire the moment alone. But if back pain comes knocking, everything is turned upside down. It can ruin the simplest moments of joy, and if you’re someone who drives for a living, it can make your life miserable. Back pain can be triggered by sitting in the driver’s seat and being unable to stretch for a more extended period. Thankfully, due to modern science, many pain relief creams can be applied externally to help fight back pain.

This article will cover some ways to reduce back pain on the road!

How to Avoid Back Pain? 7 Easy Tips

Use Supports

Creating lumbar support can be quite a relief, and it doesn’t need to be complicated. You can roll a towel and place it against your back to give you the support your hurting back needs. Our favorite here at Mother Trucker Yoga is BackShield (Use code: MTY10). BackShield is perfectly designed with a driver’s most significant needs in mind. 

BackShield is a unique tool to use when facing back pain. There are many reasons for this one-of-a-kind product created to help our customers experience relief from back pain. It is unlike any other product for back support on the market. The BackShield assists in supporting the spine’s natural curvature and works—unlike cushions, beads, and different variations of back support on the market. This is the product drivers, and office workers have been waiting for! Grab yours and let us know what you think!

Move Your Seat Forward

Moving your seat forward can force you out of slouching or awkward lending position as there isn’t too much space between your chest and the steering wheel. It also helps relax your feet from the pedals, which can alleviate pain, when your seat is too far back, the muscles in your leg strain more to keep constant pressure on the pedals and can also leave your arms at an unnatural height and position, causing aggravating shoulder, neck, or when you might be facing back pain. 

Backshield - seat for truck drivers

Use Pain Relief Creams

While it is not advised to be on medicinal drugs, pain relief creams can step in as a major lifesaver. These creams are produced to delve deep into your skin and reach the muscles that are stressed and causing back pain. It is an effective and quick fix for all truck drivers. If you haven’t yet checked out STIFF Mother Trucker pain relief cream, what are you waiting for? We uniquely crafted this pain cream with 12 all-natural ingredients six active ingredients (most name brand creams only have 1-2) so you can get relief fast. 

Stretch Your Body

Whenever you get the break, taking time to stretch your body can do wonders to reduce your back pain. Being cramped in awkward spaces for long durations can increase stress in your muscles, and that can improve your health problems. By 20, we lose about 10% of our flexibility every decade. It might be time to stretch. Stretching doesn’t have to mean you are in yoga pants or own a yoga mat. It’s simple moves you can do right from the driver’s seat when you have just a few minutes to find relief. That’s all it takes. Twist your torso, roll your neck, ankles, and wrists, arch your back. All these moves add up and impact your health when done regularly and adequately. Check out Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform and APP to get instant access to our driver-focused content so you can keep on moving. (Use the code: MTY30 for a free 30-day trial).

Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART App and platform image

Change Your Steering Wheel Grip

Due to the additions of airbags, holding the steering wheel by ten o clock and two o clocks is outdated. Now specialists suggest that you have the steering wheel by nine o clock and three o clock, which allows you to rest your elbows on the armrests, which helps support your spine, reducing back pain. Next time you are at the wheel, check your elbows. Remember: relax the elbows, so they drip down, then slide your shoulders down your back as well—ah, relief. 

Heat Your Seats

If the option is available, heating your seats can be a blessing in disguise. The heat applied will release tension from the body, and the release can remove any signs of an ache in your body. Plus, warm muscles move better, which is a benefit as well. Many people reportedly turn their seat heaters on if they feel any form of ache in their muscles or back.

Use Ice Packs

If you have an immediate injury or strain, consider using ice right away to help reduce inflammation from the body fast. In contrast, you can use ice packs to reduce the inflammation on your back and numb the region so you can’t feel any pain. There are many ice packs available in stores that you can take on your travels and alternate between, making it a relatively accessible option for the truck drivers who need it most. 

Conclusion

Facing back pain on the road is not as easy of a task as it would seem, but our guide to help you might step in just when you need it. Stretching and pain relief creams are amongst many effective ways to deal with a poor lumber position, and for your truck driver’s health, this guide tells you all that you need to know!

3 Driver Exercises To Do Anywhere As An OTR Trucker

Living as an OTR trucker is not easy. I am not a driver, but do find myself quite a bit over the road and in the air. And living out of a suitcase has its pros and cons and finding time for fitness is definitely one of the cons. 

When it comes to driver exercises, scheduling a trucker workout does not have to be a time suck. And it indeed doesn’t have to be approached as that dreaded after-work activity. It can be fun. And it does play a very positive role in how we feel and even how we sleep.

Figuring out when and how to work out doesn’t have to be complicated, and the first step is to have an open mind. 

As someone who has spent more than half her life in the fitness and wellness arena, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion: why the number one reason I hear from people as to why they don’t exercise more is that they seem to think “they don’t have time.” 

And it appears that roughly 75% of the American population seems to have trouble finding time to work out.

So to all my truck drivers, I assure you, most of America struggles to find the time, at home or on the road. And I do believe from my own experience working with thousands of students over the last fifteen plus years that making a mind shift is step one in building any new skill.

When it comes to driver exercises, STEP ONE simply opens yourself up to the idea that “yes,” this can be done.

And what if adding in a bit of exercise every day could be as simple as just moving more during the day?

No, not “exercise,” but the intention of moving in those small pockets of time where you are doing nothing.

Because here is the thing, exercise will not change your current outcome. Adding more overall movement to your day will.

So instead of making “exercise” a goal for you. How about we start small.

One simple step at a time and consider our daily schedule and where we can insert a move or extra squat here and there throughout the day. So that by the end of the day, we have increased our overall quota of movement for the body.

3 Simple Driver Exercises You Can Do Today:

Truck Driver Workout #1: Reach High and Squat Low 

Reaching and squatting are two of the three basic movements we all must be able to do to age healthily. These just so happen to be two basic movements that we begin to stop doing after the period of 18 (totally my opinion here).

It just so happens this is about the same time we become an adult and adulting begins to take over our lives. We play less and sit more. We choose convenience over functionality. And quite possibly become a little less mindful of how and why we are doing things.

Dropped something. Squat down to get it. You are standing in line, squat to break up long-standing time, looking under your truck or trailer? Squat to look underneath. There are dozens of ways to add to this movement. You have to choose it.

And as for reaching a bit more. Why not consider a quick stretch in traffic. Or both hands on the truck door and step back a bit to stretch your underarm like a Downward Facing Dog. Chatting with a fellow driver. Reach up overhead, clasp your hand and push your palms to the sky. There are dozens of ways to insert this type of movement where you would otherwise be just “sitting or standing around.” 

mother trucker yoga blog hope zvara squatting

Truck Driver Workout #2: Core Marching 

There are plenty of times you are seated that you are not driving. Waiting to load or unload? Team driving, sitting as co-pilot? Is break time scrolling Facebook?

How is it you can get your heart rate up? Get your cardio in? Get your core muscles revving? This is the second move of our 3 driver exercises any trucker can do.

Based on the facts, truck drivers are among the highest at risk for cardiovascular risks due to their work environment (long-haul trucking) than their neighboring professions.

So the next time, you find yourself just sitting around. Sit up tall. Try not to lean back or round forward. Take your back off the support of the chair behind you and begin to march your legs up and down off the ground. And slowly start to increase the speed of your marching until you are up to a pace you are challenged to hold a conversation at.

Try to do this for one minute, and then notice your heart rate. Try to do these three times with a one-minute rest in-between. The faster you go, the more it’s cardio! But at any pace, you are giving your body a much-needed tune-up!

Core Marching Mother Trucker Yoga BLog

Truck Driver Workout #3: Pumping Iron

Well, how about, for starters, you take a look in your truck and find anything that has some weight to it, and you can grip hold of it. I would suggest a water jug (doubles for hydration and as a workout tool), a duffel bag filled with clothes, or even a hand-weight with easy storing. Here are 3 driver exercises you can do, pumping iron can be easy and fun and doesn’t require weights at all!

 

While filling up with fuel or on your 30-minute break, consider adding in a few rounds of some bicep curls. Standing tall, try to do 10-20 with each arm. And then get creative and try to move your weight around your body: to the side, high, low, and backward, even add a lunge into the mix—notice which directions are more comfortable and more complicated. More than likely, the easier ones mimic basic movement patterns you are already doing during the day. So challenge yourself to work on those that may require you to focus a bit more. And then ask yourself: “how can I incorporate moves like these into my daily life”?

Mother Trucker Yoga Water Jug Exercises Blog

Every movement matters, and every step counts. These 3 driver exercises are simple, fitness doesn’t have to be complicated and it can be fun. But remember, those movements mean nothing until you put them into action. Forget the gym. And let go of the idea that exercising is you carving a designated 30 minutes out of your day. When you add more movement into your day, it all adds up!

 

Looking for more moves tailored to the lifestyle of a trucker? 

Check out our Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP

Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART App and platform image

Beat Stressful Times With A Good Stretch

We could all do with a more peaceful life, and there are many ways to try to get that. One of the most popular ways is with yoga. 

 

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and is something that everybody and everybody can benefit from. 

 

Often our attention is pulled in so many different directions. Our family needs us, work has issues, bills need to be paid, and you still need to think about what to cook for dinner. 

 

It all seems small at the time, but it builds up pretty quickly – until it can feel like it is unmanageable. 

 

Anxiety, stress, and feeling overworked and overwhelmed are no way to live your daily life. And when all of these things start to pile up, it can be too easy to find yourself turning to something to help you cope. 

 

One of the most common reasons people turn to alcohol and then to alcohol rehab is to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

take a deep breath mother trucker yoga blog

Why should you consider yoga?

There isn’t just one type of yoga; there are many different types, so there is something for everyone. It works on engaging more than just your body and seeks to engage your emotions and mental well-being. And with Mother Trucker Yoga- trucking yoga, it’s all about mindful movements, stretching, and fitness explicitly made for drivers just like you. 

 

Since yoga has many different types and intensities, you can explore what works. Typically, the right yoga style will leave you feeling calm, rejuvenated, and your body will indeed thank you. And as a driver, trucking yoga focuses on small, simple changes, the easy, quick exercises you can do in just minutes a day.

 

Yoga will focus on your breathing and help you learn how to control it. Careful breathing techniques are great at reducing anxiety and helping you focus on the moment. It is perfect for calming loud thoughts too. Trucking yoga focuses a lot on breathing because your breath is your lifeforce, and learning to control your breathing can alter how you think, feel and move every day.

 

There might be some meditation in your yoga practice, which will help you to highlight negative thoughts, what triggers them, and how you can remove them. 

 

And of course, the most significant part of yoga is the poses. The poses will release tension in your body and increase your core strength and flexibility. There are some easy beginner poses, and then there are those that require more focus and effort. 

 

Health benefits of yoga

Everything that we gain from doing yoga is positive, and it is well known for offering some of the easiest ways to beat down your stress levels. 

 

Improved fitness is one of the things you will get from doing yoga regularly. It helps with range of motion, flexibility, and balance. And when it comes to driver fitness, yoga is one of the best ways to get moving again, no matter your age or body type is. 

 

Stress reduction is the number one benefit of doing yoga. After even one yoga session, you will get a sense of calm and well-being, and the more you do it, the more often you experience those moments. 

 

A complete yoga flow will help you calm your mind, control your breathing and work out tension in the body. And it has been shown to help improve anxiety, migraines, stress, depression, and sleeplessness. 

 

What makes yoga a great choice is that each pose can be modified to work with what your body needs. 

 

Small changes like adding a yoga flow or drinking more water make a huge difference to our bodies and minds; read more: National Drink Water Day – 6 Reasons Science Says You Should Drink Water

 

Travel Life: 6 Ways Improve Your Fast Food Menu

 

It’s hard to avoid all fast food when every truck stop has a fast food restaurant attached to it. But as your trucking fitness company, I believe that you don’t have to avoid every fast food restaurant, but you do need to be smart when at them or making your own meals. Living a travel life doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and be healthy. Food is fuel, but the food is also meant to be enjoyed, and when you have a better baseline of knowledge as to what to eat and how to eat, it can take the stress off of the actual eating experience. 

 

There is no question, we all need to eat, but for truck drivers, and those living a travel life, convenience often plays a role in what food choices to grab when the dinner bell rings. I’ve been in the health and fitness arena for nearly 20 years, and when it comes to fast food, other people are telling you not to eat the stuff, but I’m telling you to be smart about it. 

 

Not all fast food is terrible, and with a bit more understanding of what you are looking at and looking for, you can turn a pounds-packing meal into a healthier one. Truck driver health is essential, without your health, you can’t drive. But it might be time to tune in and pay attention to what you are putting into your mouth on a daily basis. As a trucking fitness company, I believe that it’s about the small simple changes that you make on a daily basis that will lead you to the results you are looking for for a lifetime. 

 

5 Ways to Improve Truck Driver Health And Eat Better living a travel life.

 Google it.

Yes, Google the fast-food joint you are going to eat at BEFORE you go to eat. Fast food chains with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name that sells restaurant-style food are required to provide customers with calorie and nutrition information. By before? Well, when you walk into a restaurant, you will more than likely be hungry, and that means you will be picking and choosing your menu options based on hunger, not on health, which means what you leave with might be more than a burger and fries, but the pounds to go with it.

 

A study posted in Science Daily shared that Dr. Benjamin Vincent from the University’s Psychology department found that: “hunger significantly altered people’s decision-making, making them impatient and more likely to settle for a small reward that arrives sooner a larger one promised at a later date.” The study above means that out the window, go your intentions to eat healthier, and stay on track. Once you walk in the door and smell the food and see the food photos shot in perfection, your brain goes nuts. 

 

Eat smart, and that means doing a little prep work beforehand. With COVID, you can now order your food for curbside pick up, which means you don’t even have to walk in and smell those smells. And with apps now making it easier to have food brought to you (even as a truck driver), you can order before you get hungry and make those good choices. My suggestion, make a list; if you know that there are certain fast-food chains at your regular stops, make a list of the menu options you feel are better options and write them down. That way, when it’s time to stop, you don’t make a decision you will later regret. 

Aim for 500 calories.

It’s easy to grab that brown paper bag and jumbo size drink and in just 10 minutes have ingested upwards of 800 calories per meal. A published in MBJ noted that the average adult consumes 847 calories every time they eat fast food, but what I found was interesting is that those adults all thought they were eating less-175 calories less. What if you are someone who eats fast food three times a day> Well, that’s oversight of 525 calories, an entire meal! 

 

What does a 500 calorie meal look like?

At a burger joint, that could be a small burger and fries. Hungry for chicken? How about a four-piece chicken nugget and a side salad or grilled chicken sandwich and side salad. Are you feeling Mexican? Ditch the tortilla and go for a chicken burrito bowl with black beans instead. Or how about a single chicken and beef taco to go?

You can find all of these options at various fast-food chains, and when in a pinch, they can do the trick and are a better option than the Double Big Mac with XL fries.

Be mindful of unhealthy possibilities in disguise, salads loaded with cheese, croutons, and other toppings can tip the calorie meter well past 500, as well as the new rage on veggie burgers. Not only can these options account for way more calories, but they can also take your sodium through the roof. Truck driver health is not just eating a burger without a bun, although that’s a good start, it means you start to pay attention to what you are putting into your mouth first and what that looks like in reference to what maybe you should be eating. 

Mix n’ Match- Bring your items.

Some drivers do not have space or the ability to travel with a fridge in their truck, but the good news is there are many food items and condiments that you can travel with that do not need refrigeration. If you like the convenience of fast food but know it’s not the healthiest choice, why not mix and match some of their food with some of yours. Items like nuts, seeds, seasonings, and dried fruits and veggies not only travel well are super yummy when added to a salad or as a replacement for your fries. 

Swap it out.

That swap can create a better balance of healthy fats, proteins, and an overall boost in nutrition, for those of you who don’t regularly travel with food and prefer to buy as you eat. I suggest you head into the truck stop first and grab a container of carrots and hummus, or a bag of nuts (lightly or unsalted), hard-boiled eggs, an apple or orange, and you have yourself a well-rounded meal once you order that single burger or DIY salad. 

Understand Portion Sizes.

Do not fall victim to the “value” menu advertising angles. Your waistline and heart health are not worth a few pennies saved. As the fast-food industry has grown over the years, so has the size of their food. Although the appeal is there, “buy more for less.” Do you need a 20 piece chicken nugget? Do you need five roast beef sandwiches? Now I know the logic would be “I’ll eat them later,” but let’s be honest, how many people save them for their next meal? It’s a vicious cycle that needs to stop, and the best way to stop it is by becoming more aware of how much you should be eating. 

Portion Sizes Guide To Better Truck Driver Health.

As your trucking fitness company, I take your health seriously and want to make it as easy as possible for you to be healthier. Check out my portion sizes guide made just for you.

  • Fist/Computer Mouse = 1 Cup (veggies, fruits, rice)
  • Cupped Hand = ½ Cup or 1 Ounce (nuts: almonds, cashews, cheese)
  • 2 Cupped Hands = 1 ounce (popcorn, pretzels, chips)
  • Palm = 3 ounces (lean meat, dairy, roughly 1 serving protein)
  • Fingertip/Thumb Tip = 1 Teaspoon (fats, butter, mayo, sugar) 
  • Thumb = 2 Tablespoons (peanut butter, hard cheese)

Mother Trucker Yoga Blog Hand Portion Sizes for Truck Drivers

If I were to say you should never eat at a fast-food restaurant again, I would be a hypocrite. I do not believe in black or white, but rather many shades of gray. How can you paint your fast food pitstop more of a gray tone? How can you improve your menu choices a little bit at a time? Next time you stop for a bite, remember this: is it a good option? Is it better than what I could have chosen? Is it the best option? 

We may not always (be able to) choose the best option, but I believe there is still an opportunity to do better and find one good choice to put a checkmark in the healthy eating category. Over time, those small little changes add up, and that, my friend, is how you create a healthier, happier you. 

Join Other Drivers Just Like You.

Did you like this blog? Did you find this truck driver health information helpful? For more health-focused graphics, guides, and videos. Check out our NEW Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP for FREE for 30 days!

Use the code: MTY30

Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART App and platform image

Keeping Your Mind Sharp: International Brain Health Week

It’s International Brain Health Awareness Week

(March 14-20, 2022)

Let’s celebrate by taking care of our brain health!

“Even before you leave the womb, your brain works throughout your life to control your body’s functions and helps you understand and interact with the world around you”.  When you focus on maintenance for your brain you will then help your mind stay focused, clear, and alert when you need it to and train your brain to respect downtime play, and rest when needed!

As truckers you know the importance of heart health, but what about brain health?

Brain health is all about maintaining and reducing risk factors and respecting the machine within. As we get older our brains when not taken care of properly can begin to show their wear which can affect your health, happiness, and overall functionality.

 

How do you keep your brain sharp as a truck driver?

What do you do to maintain and sharpen your brain and mind? Many take this for granted earlier in life but just as important as it is to learn new things, so is it important to give your brain a break, and learn to rest your brain.

Does your brain need sharpening?

Does your brain need resting?

Does your brain need maintenance?

Amazing Study

2.4 million people downloaded an app and played a game called the Sea Hero Quest that involved memory from age 19-75 years old; it was the only study of its kind. After these participants played the game, the research was astounding. 

 

“One key early finding, presented at a meeting of neuroscientists in the US, was that navigational ability begins to decline much earlier than was previously thought – possibly from as young as 19. The study found that 19-year-old game players had a 74% chance of accurately hitting a maritime target. By the age of 75, this figure had fallen to 46%.” 

 

And already, at age 20, our strategic memory recall is beginning to decline, and we may not even know it. 

 

The data published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences notes that our peak mental performance is typically at age 35 and then declines by 10% ten years after that. 

 

We need to sharpen our brains regularly. It’s backward thinking in our culture today rather than thinking of brain health as “preventative care,” thinking of it as sharpening and maintenance. 

Brain Health Mother Trucker Yoga Blog Eat Real Food

What Causes Our Brain to Age?

 

Researchers have discovered several factors that speed up brain aging. Things like obesity, especially in midlife, can accelerate brain aging by ten years! And add in our populations’ high intake of sugar, diet sodas all contribute to poor brain health. But that’s not the only thing that can affect brain health as we age.

Living a sedentary lifestyle, eating a highly-processed diet, not socializing, irregular poor sleep, and not practicing self-care, stress-relieving activities can affect how our brain ages. When it comes to truck driver health what you eat plays a large role in how you feel and how your brain functions, but often gets the back seat to other issues. 

 

Truck Driver Health: 5 Practices to Sharpen Brain Health: 

1. Get out and move

Where can you fit in just 5 or 10 minutes of movement into your day? Don’t overcomplicate it; just move, dance, walk, squat, anything, just move! You don’t realize it, but your brain is tracking with you every step of the way, and that extra boost of oxygen and serotonin, dopamine, and neurotransmitters going straight to your brain doesn’t hurt either. 

2. Socialize

When is the last time you talked with that one friend, your mom, your brother, or rolled down the window and said “hey”? Isolation leads to a decline in our cognitive abilities. Socializing can help improve and impact thinking, memory, and behavior. Just like a young child needs others around him/her to mimic and encourage the developmental process, so does our aging population and those in-between.  

3. Eat real food

When we have a disease, what we have is a deficiency. What do you lack that has caused our body to malfunction. Our bodies are like trucks; we require certain maintenance to our parts, specific fluids, lubricants, and fuel to run optimally. You would never consider skimping on what you fuel your truck with because you know the consequences. If you are living in dis-ese or stress what are you lacking, and how can you refill it? The best and fastest way is to eat living food because you are alive. 

4. Get better quality sleep.

It’s not that you necessarily need more sleep but rather better quality of sleep. What do you need to do to improve the quality of your sleep? Better mattress? Darker room? Headphones with relaxing music? Essential oils? When it comes to sleep, focus on quality instead of quantity. 

5. Engage in de-stressing activities

Stress has become a badge of honor like the girl scouts or boy scouts badges when they sell cookies and build a soapbox car. My advice, slow down to speed up. More is not better, and the more stressed your system is, the less effective you will be, and you will begin to see your body, mind, and actions slow. Consider a walk without your phone, deep breathing, relaxing music, meditation, yoga, a shower, or going to bed early. These may seem small and insignificant, but they can make a huge difference. When you take time for yourself, you make time for the essential things in life. This is why Mother Trucker Yoga focuses on small simple changes and moves that you can do in 5 minutes or less and even things you can do safely while driving. [Try us out for FREE use the code: MTY30 for a FREE 30 days!]

6. Choose intellectually stimulating activities

Do hard things. I’m not talking about an Iron Man, but rather things that challenge you. This is where technology can help! Memory game apps, puzzles (electronic or physical), even crosswords, word searches, board games, and cards are all good ways to keep your mind sharp. If you have kids, don’t just let them plop down on the couch and watch T.V. have family game night. If you are on the road, pull out that pen and do a crossword puzzle. These are time-tested practices that will keep your mind at its best. 

Puzzles for Brain Health Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Don’t wait. We live in a world that is trained to respond to our health in the form of sick care. But the way to address our aging brain is to practice preventative care and create consistency in our health and health practices. 

 

Don’t wait until you see a decline to make a change in your brain health. 

Don’t wait until you feel less sharp to seek help. 

Don’t wait until you need extra care to decide to care. 

Don’t wait. 

As a driver, truck driver health is essential. And out a fully functioning brain, you may find yourself struggling to safely stay in your lane.

Are you looking for more ways to improve your health, mental clarity, and longevity? 

Check out Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP.

Easy videos are designed specifically with a driver’s needs in mind.

No fancy gym.

No expensive equipment.

No stress.

Try us for FREE!

Use code: MTY30 for a FREE 30 days!

Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART App and platform image

References:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/scientists-reveal-age-your-brain-9274294

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/this-is-the-exact-age-when-your-brain-function-starts-to-decline

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319185#Therapies-to-help-slow-brain-aging

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022

The Mid-America Trucking Show is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited!

It’s been two years since we have seen each other in person, and I can’t think of a better place to do that than at MATS 50th anniversary!

MATS isn’t just a place to check out the newest gadgets, get a ton of free stuff or browse some out-of-this-world trucks. It’s also where you can catch Mother Trucker Yoga leading the way in driver health and fitness during this 3-day event.

DRIVING INTO FITNESS AT MID-AMERICA TRUCKING SHOW 2022

Driver Fitness and health is of the utmost importance in the trucking world today, and Hope is dedicated to helping 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness through small, simple changes by 2031.

With the release of her new book, Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul, Hope is making waves in the industry with her practical fitness and wellness toolbox, showing drivers all the little things they can do in their everyday life to see the significant results they have been waiting for.

Hear what she has to say throughout MATS, March 24th – 26th, 2022, and learn how you can start driving into fitness at the Mid-America Trucking Show this March!

Driver fitness mid america trucking show 2022

DETAILS ABOUT THE TRUCK SHOW:

Mid-America Trucking Show 

March 24 – 26th, 2022

https://truckingshow.com/

 

Mother Trucker Yoga & STIFF Mother Trucker 

Booth #69097

West Wing 

Stop by the booth and pick up:

One of our Trucker Camo Shirts, Trucker Tanks and Tees, STIFF Mother Trucker pain relief cream, driver fitness tools, a signed copy of Hope’s newest book- Trucking Yoga, and enter to win some really awesome stuff compliments of MTY!

 

 

Hear Hope Speak On Driving into Fitness & Health at MATS

Throughout the three-day event, there will be several times you can come and meet Hope, grab a copy of her newest book, Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul, and discover practical and straightforward ways you can implement fitness and health into your day trucking style.

 

Thursday, March 24th, 10 am 

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Trucker Tax Tools Mother Trucker Yoga IMage 4

Thursday, March 24th, 11 am 

Shifting Lanes with Driver Health

ProTalks Stage Show Floor Main Lobby

https://truckingshow.com/education 

The health and longevity of a trucking company depend on the health and longevity of its drivers. This session is about how trucking companies can quickly shift from drivers being a liability to an asset. Hope shares fundamental strategies and solutions companies can get behind that don’t cost a lot, and drivers can immediately implement them into their lives for success they can feel. Plus, get a little taste first-hand of how simple this type of programming can be. Let’s all shift lanes towards real profitable solutions.

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Image 1

Thursday, March 24th, 4-5:30 pm

Driving into Fitness & Book Signing with Hope Zvara

ECHO Logistics Booth #63217 West Wing

Come stop by ECHO’s booth the afternoon of the first day to meet Hope and get a signed copy of her book! And don’t forget to ask how you can join the ECHO and Mother Trucker Yoga movement today!

ECHO Logistics Booth Mother Trucker Yoga

Friday, March 25th, 10 am 

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long.

 

Friday, March 25th, 2 pm

Trucking Yoga Book Singing & Yoga Pose Challenge 

RoadPro Family of Brands 

Booth #22035

Come stop by the RoadPro booth and say Hi to Hope and get a signed copy of her new book Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul and see how good your balance, strength, or flexibility is with a fun strike pose challenge. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 RoadPro Mother Trucker Yoga Image 5

Saturday, March 26th, 9 am

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long. 

 

Saturday, March 26th, 12:30 pm 

4 Movements Every Driver Should Be Doing Daily

ProTalks Stage Show Floor Main Lobby

https://truckingshow.com/education 

Living behind the wheel will take a toll on the body, and finding time to exercise is not always an option or realistic, depending on where your run takes you. Feel good again with four simple moves every driver can do from the driver’s seat in 5 minutes or less. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Mother Trucker yoga Blog image 2

No matter what, there is something at MATS for everyone. And if you are looking to take back your health and learn how to insert fitness into your day instead of trying to figure out how to exercise in a truck, stop by Mother Trucker Yoga’s booth at the Mid America Trucking Show 50th Anniversary! You can hop on over to the Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP and start moving today! And don’t forget you don’t have to wait until MATS to join the movement over at MTY.