How important is your health?

If I asked you to tell me who was the most unhealthy person you know, would you raise your hand?  Many of us put everything else before our health.  You have to make money, right?  If the wheels aren’t spinning, no money is being made.  So who has time to be sick?  As a driver, you are constantly changing climates, and locations.  What about the germs and bacteria you encounter at any given truck stop shower or bathroom?  How about the food that is presented to you anywhere you go.  Is it healthy?  A poor diet, and constant exposure to germs and bacteria can put you at risk of being sick at any given time.  And over time, your diet can create many more problems, like diabetes or obesity.

Your health directly effects your income.  If your health is poor, you can be constantly at risk to be sick.  You could catch minor illnesses, like the flu, or the common cold.  That could lead to small spurts of down time, which costs you money.  Or you could have bigger health problems that could lead to weeks or months of down time.  I don’t know many who can afford that.  Then factor in all of the doctor bills too.

It may be easy and cheap to eat fast food, but how much will that cost in the long run?  I know that drivers are told time and time again what they should and shouldn’t eat, or that they don’t sleep enough, or that their lifestyle is just not conducive for good health.  Are you really given the options to change though?  I have never seen a health food store close to a truck stop, have you?  I usually see the opposite.   Truck stops are usually riddled with fast food restaurants, which carry mostly all high calorie, high fat items.  Do you want to change your diet, but just don’t know how, or have the options.

The first, and easiest thing you could do is start taking multivitamins.  I started taking One-a-Day Vitamins about a year and a half ago.  I started because, I never have had a great diet.  Anytime my kid was sick, I would get sick.  He is always bringing illnesses home with him.  And I used to always get them.  Last time, he gave me the flu, and I ended up with a double ear infection.  That went off and on for about a month.  I started taking multivitamins, and I wasn’t sick for over a year.  I usually use the Target brand vitamins, and they are only $3.99 for 100.  I swear by them, and will probably never stop taking them.

As far as improving your diet, going to the grocery and stocking the fridge up is the most important thing you could do.  It’s tough though.  It’s hard to store that much food, and also hard to prepare it with just a microwave.  Has anyone thought about using NutriSystem?  You pay monthly, and get a wide variety of healthy food that is pre-packaged, and ready for the microwave.  As long as you follow the plan, it helps control your portion size, and calorie intake.  It costs about $280-$310 per month.  Sounds like a lot, but that is really only roughly $10 per day!  I bet you are already spending more than that.  And it would be tax deductible!  Your Per Diem would practically pay for it.   The only trouble would be getting your food wherever they mail it to.  If anyone is currently using this, let me know how it works.

I found a new company that is starting to open clinics at truck stops especially for over the road drivers.  Roadside Medical will soon have around 80 clinics at various truck stops around the country.  They have a really helpful website, www.roadsidemed.com.  It lists their current and future locations, and it also has a meal plan that you can follow to eat healthier, and improve your diet!  They also do DOT physicals too.  Their website shows 3 current locations that are all in Pilot truck stops.  I know that some of you might be putting off aches and pains until you get home to see your doctor, but as these clinics open up, it will make it easier for you to receive prompt health care.  If any of you visit one of these clinics in the future, let me know how it is.

I am definitely no health guru.  I probably have just as poor of a diet as most of you.  But I do want to live healthy.  Especially for my family.  If you want to live healthier, you have to start now.  Do it for your you, your career, and your family.  Have a great day, and be safe!

Jason Schaftlein is a Contractor Advocate at Mercer Tranportation and he writes and maintains the Mercertown Blog. Read more of what Jason has to say here.