Question:
how do you stay in shape ??
do the truckstops have places to workout?
have any of you brought bikes?
can you leave a loaded rig long enough to go walking /bike ride ect?
when you must layover does the shipper say be back at 4pm or do you just hangout?

Answer:

Drivers? In shape?

Nope.

In general, there's not much room to mount a bike on a company truck. It appears as if there's enough room for one behind the sleeper if it could be mounted securely and not interfere with the trailer during tight turning maneuvers.

Normally, yes. With hazmat, it would depend on whether or not your parking location is considered to be secure.

The term "layover" generally (I use 'generally' a lot in an attempt to avoid having someone come up with an example proving me to be full of crap ) means that you're between loads. You're pretty much free to do whatever you wish.
Probably your best opportunity for regular exercise is either the beginning or end of your driving day. If you walk/jog/run/ski/waterski/sky dive/engage in rythmic gymnastics/hire Richard Simmons as a consultant/etc., you then have the opportunity to shower upon completion of your exercise. Hope that helps to some extent.

Answer:
can you leave a loaded rig long enough to go walking /bike ride ect?
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In some places, your truck will either be cleaned out or your rig will be stolen.
Best advice, if you need to exercise, do laps around your truck!!!

Answer:
It all really comes down to time management. This is the one skill you will need to master. Learn how to make the most out of your time.
There is usually enough time for you to accomplish everything you need to do, from sleep, to eat, to shower, to get some excercise. You just need to budget your time to do it all and still get the job done.
Depending on your truck you can get a good workout without ever leaving the truck. Some of those rubber restance bands can be used for "weight" training. You can do sit ups on the sleeper floor or on your bunk, same with pushups. You can look for parking spaces away from the truck stop building. Even 5 minutes here and there through out the day can all add up.
Any time you leave your truck unattended you should lock it up and take all keys with you. If your company does not provide you with a padlock for your trailer buy one yourself. (Just remember to remove it when dropping the trailer).
When you get out there and see for yourself how things operate you will learn to recognize the best times and places to get some excercise.
Answer:
Want to avoid thunder thighs? Easy.
Don't drive through Oklahoma.
Just kidding, Rokki. Please don't ban me from the boards!

Answer:

That depends on the individual... some drivers keep their shape by being on a constant diet to gain weight.
The only way to stay in shape is to make healthy food choices at least 80% of the time and to get some form of regular exercice... even if only walking for an extended period of time.

Answer:
Some times it's not what you eat---it's how much you eat, and what you do after you eat.
Stay away from buffets---too easy to over indulge. Order fresh off the menu, and order sencible.
Forget you have a dash. It's too easy to put a bag of chips on the dash (heck they got that impulse snack food withon reach right at the register)---don't munch.
Remember---"It's not the clothes that make you look fat...it's the fat that makes you look fat".
Eat early. If you plan to "shut er down" at 10 pm. don't eat at 8 pm.---it takes food 3 to 4 hours to leave the stomach, and close to 24 hours to reach the other end.
Self control does not have to be considered a "diet".
You can easily take a few laps around the parking lot at a truck stop (if the truck stop does not have a reputation for being scanky or dangerous), any chance you get.
I don't recommend you be walking around in a rest area at night.
Just common sence stuff.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
I actually lost weight while on the road...
It was easy, eat very little, drink lots of coffee, stress out, chain smoke, and run that truck like hell!
Seriously, though, all the advice from the others is really great! Eating early, and parking not-so-close to the T/S entrance, etc. Each little thing you do goes a long way! Just try to stay away from the grease in the hot deli counters, and eat fresh fruits and veggies when you can, and the best thing you can do, is drink a lot of water. It does create a few more stops, but soon your body will adjust to the changes that water will bring, and your stops will be a little less frequent.
Answer:
thanks all, the exercise is going to be the biggest change for me i walk nigel about 3miles a day,we also go canoeing and or swimming during the nicer months and i notice a huge difference the days i don't get out.Also i eat a healthy diet most of the time but eat"like a horse"and so must keep active .
am nervous about walking at ts because of reading stories of dogs getting run over even on a leash and creepy folks lurking about.
the bands are a great idea..already have some left over from physical therapy for my ankle last year.
am thinking seriouosly about the bike as i could go exercise and even buy decent food if waiting a couple hours to get loaded,and have read some journals of drivers sitting at truckstop for days.at least you could go see a movie or something.
appreciate all the good suggestions

Answer:
A bike is a great idea... try to get a folding one. Easier to store either inside or out back on the catwalk.

Answer:
I used to be an award winning power lifter (only one award but I like to add that to my title) and I bring free weights and put them in the sleeper or in the storage box, and workout wide open to everybody, at first it was embarasing but no one says anything and I'm used to it now, plus I run around the truck stop a few times and I found a few gyms off the beaten path on my routes that I can actually get my truck down the streets and at most fast food places they offer healthy alternatives so I always get a salad and I always buy bottled water and drink that while I am driving or juice, thats how I stay healthy and away ffrom the thunder thighs

Answer:
Stay on top of your diet, as everyone has said, exercise, most say its tough but its really not you just have to make time for it. Pick up mini stepper fit great anywhere in the truck, you do need a stand up sleeper to use it. You can step at anytime while listening to music. Get yourself a portable gym, rubber tubbing with handles and your ready to go. www.lifeline-usa.com

Answer:
I like to mention that I came up with truck pilates. So far I use it once or twice a day. It is working and I sometimes skip a day to make up for the day I lost.
Sweet WhiskeySweet Whiskey

Answer:
I've stated this before and will state it again. And again, many posters will disagree:
You get in shape before you go OTR. There is simply, for all practical purposes, no time for serious excercise or much else when you are doing OTR seriously at least.
Again, my opinion. But this opinion is based on factual experience and observation.
Soldiers get into shape before going to war-----you gotta do the same.

Answer:
any links to folding bicycles??any recomendations as to brand
pilates is probably great for maintaining tone and hopefully bike will do aerobic stuff.
thanks for taking the time to write back this job is so demanding it seems imperative to keep yourself in good shape.
a humerous aside attempted to give up coffee this am...bad plan ...somehow broadsided fridge and got black eye ,plus am cranky and have headache..sipping as we speak and much happier probably not safe to drive without some at this poiny anyway...better luck tomorrow. dog getting amused by it all....why is healthy so painfull???