Say What?

Question: How do you stay healthy on the road?

William Weeks, 64, Strasburg, VA 
Professional driving experience: 27 years   
“Exercise and eat well. That’s all you have to do. I avoid fast food. I mostly eat in the truck. I might eat one hot meal a day in a truck stop or a restaurant somewhere, but that’s it. Truck stops need to get away from the fast food and offer healthier choices.”

Donna Wing, 49, Independence, MO  
Professional driving experience: 10 years 
“I have a dog in my truck, so we stop every couple of hours for potty breaks and get some exercise. We don’t just go potty and jump back in the cab. We take a little walk and get out and play.”

Paul Arndt, 79, Glenham, SD 
Professional driving experience: 35 years     
“I’ve had some heart problems. Recently, I tried alternative medicine. I started taking herbs within the last few weeks, and I feel much better. I had a heart valve replaced in 2005, and it seemed like I was getting weaker and weaker, so I started taking these herb pills. The doctor said I could spend my money on them, but they won’t do any good. All I know is my energy is way up.”
 
Rick Cooper, 45, Chattanooga, TN  
Professional driving experience: 14 years 
“Eat right and exercise as much as you can. I don’t really follow my own advice, though. I don’t do as much exercise as I should, and it took a toll on me. I actually ended up in the emergency room because of it. I had a heart flutter. I’m going to start drinking more water and moving a little bit more.”

Greg McMichael, 50, Beaumont, TX  
Professional driving experience: 5 years 
“One thing they can do is stay out of the truck stops as far as eating is concerned. Cook in the truck. It just takes a little bit of planning. Go in and get some stew meat or a roast and put it in a crockpot. What I spend to fix a roast that can last me two or three meals would pay for one meal in a truck stop. Unfortunately, I don’t get enough exercise. It’s the usual story: you get through driving, you crawl in the bunk and that’s it.”