National Gym Memberships

I was thinking the same thing. I know the gym I currently use, Ive used in many cities across the country. I also was thinking bike or uber. I know planet fitness are usually in the older strip mall sort of setting with ample parking.

Not going to happen. If u were able to pull it off that's a red flag for not enough miles. Take the advice of the other guys about in truck things to do . If u drive a Freightliner you can actually fit an upright exercise bike in it. Just have to tilt it a bit to pass by into sleeper . Tons of used bikes on Craigslist. Good luck with exercising outside of trucks at Pilots , rest stops, loading docks etc. Ok if you don't mind an over powering smell of **** and God knows what else, 95 degree heat, truck exhaust, and don't mind the risk of getting hit by another trucker, not to mention every parked truck watching you. Best advise is to limit your food intake by eating the same pre planned meals everyday and drinking a lot of water . When your taking your 34 you can cheat a bit like I do and still lose weight . Walmart sells a six pack of cheap meal replacement drinks which help a lot,,, Good luck .

I'll echo what several have said - getting to a gym will be difficult, at best.

Our company sponsors the Live Strong program. In addition to work out rooms at our terminals, there are small fitness rooms at a number of TAs and Petros. Those include a treadmill, elliptical and multi-purpose free weight machine.

Just my 2 cents, but I think you'll find your time on the road too short to plan any kind of regular gym visit. Having the rooms at the truck stops will be your best bet.

Are there enough Gold's Gyms around for that to work? I was thinking maybe 24 hour fitness, but they're pretty limited between the coasts.

You aren't going to be getting big gains with that kind of setup, but you could definitely remain tone and in great shape.

Will definitely argue with that. You can work everything you need to with some dumbbells and see your big gains from it. You don't need expensive equipment in a gym to build muscle. A couple dumbbells and a piece of earth to work on with a knowledge of how to use those dumbbells to get the results you want, that is enough. If all you ever do is arm curls, you won't see the results you probably want (unless you just want bigger biceps) but if you take advantage of all the different exercises you can do with dumbbells, you can work every inch of your body to great effect.

I will say that, in addition to some adjustable dumbbells, if you can manage to get some sort of collapsible bench to bring with you (just big enough that you can lay down on it from the top of your head to the bottom of your ass) it can make your workouts more comfortable and allow you to add more variety to what you are doing.

Rather than a gym membership, I would suggest you spend money on two things. One is adjustable dumbbells (you can spend a few hundred on fancy ones, you can find sets with the same weight options for quite a bit less). The other is an appointment for 2-3 sessions with a trainer whenever you can get the time. Call around and make sure the trainer focuses on resistance training and explain your situation so they can prepare for you and you can get the most out of your in-person visits.

You want to go in person so that they can show you how to do the exercises they chose for your situation, and make sure that you are doing them properly before you go off on your own. Properly is to make sure you get the most value from the effort, but also because you can hurt yourself if you don't do something properly.

Some truck stops have small gyms in them. I know I have seen several bigger Petros with small exercise rooms.

F.Y.I. - 32 times around an 18 wheeler = 1 mile

HAHAHA, Good to know!!!!!

BILL F. - That's perfect!!! This shall be my new fitness goal, haha.... literally haul a tractor.

This is an old thread on Fitness LINK

Older thread on subject above.

There was a guy with Anytime Fitness who I read somewhere (I thought here) talking about how many of their gym's were pretty accessible for trucks. I have never seen anything from Anytime Fitness except their App. I guess you could use that along with Google Maps (Satellite view) to see if you can find parking near one. I believe they have over 1,400 clubs, all 24-hour. I don't use them. I have a couple of 20 lb dumbbells, 4 or 5 resistance bands and double loop strap that I can loop through itself and the truck or trailer and use the resistance bands for doing rows, chest press, etc.

Thank you all for the input. I'm already aware it may be difficult and is unorthodox of a typical trucker's life. Personally speaking, I will not be content with "just getting the blood pumping" with stuff that can be done anywhere (i.e. laps, biking, dumbbells, stretches), which was already indicated and mentioned would be done on the norm anyway in the question. I'll be figuring out a way to get the heavy weights workouts (i.e. "gym rat", with various weights and machines) at a gym into my schedule -- it doesn't need to be routine and nightly, but as often as my schedule and routes would allow. I'd naturally be looking into gyms with 24-hour access (already have an account with Gold's, but that doesn't mean it's a good membership for nationwide gyms).... so scheduling is impertinent, even less so considering the heavy workouts are my stress relievers (and hence "worth the hassle", especially if it's also doubled as a shower stop). Obviously, I'm into fitness (again, "gym rat"), not just general "maintaining". I'm sure there's another driver out there who shares a similar level of ('shredded' or 'elite' might be appropriate word here) fitness/training that I'm seeking to continue onto the roads. I know they exist even if not prevalent, so... question of experiences with nationwide gym memberships while OTR still remains for the "shredded" drivers.

Please don't take offense by my response -- I did want to make it clear I wasn't looking for basic "anywhere" fitness tips! It had already been stated it'd be part of the OTR norm.

Matt M. - Thank you for mentioning a fitness program with Prime. I see they also have a pet policy. I shall look into it further! That's actually one question I will have for employers - what fitness incentives and programs/discounts they offer to their employees!

While I understand I may not be able to park at a facility, I figure I'd be able to come in just enough to use a bicycle or to walk, even if it's still a couple miles away. Just chalk it up as extra exercise LOL

Oh, and no, the gym wouldn't be for treadmills. I can walk/run around on breaks for that! I actually use gyms for the gym things (the equip) and spend a while, haha. Don't quite think jugs of water will do for deadlifts, so yeah, anyone with experience as OTR driver with a nationwide gym membership?

You want a good workout just about daily, go to flatbedding, thats what I'm gona do once I get in with a company!!

Are there enough Gold's Gyms around for that to work? I was thinking maybe 24 hour fitness, but they're pretty limited between the coasts.

TERRANCE G. - Thank you!!! You understand the exact concern -- This seems to be the common thing with "nationwide" gyms, including Gold's, to be limited between the coasts. Hence, the prompt to ask on here for any "nationwide gym membership" experiences.

*WARNING: MUST HAVE GRASP OF DRY HUMOR TO READ BEYOND THIS POINT*

So far, what I've gotten is:

#1-- there isn't time for a gym & shower facility (but there is time for a do-stuff-around-the-rig and shower truck stop).

#2 -- one must be confined/trapped in strict close proximity to the rig and within the rig during the legally-required 10 hour breaks.

#3 -- no prior development is needed for the self-discipline and self-motivation with extremely limited equipment.

#4 -- environmental and social factors are absolutely not influential nor promoting factors in creating desired "vibe"/"environment".

#5 -- innate desire to be a sociable fitness person in a public fitness setting with like-minded fitness persons are to be ignored.

#6 -- efforts to be the non-stereotypical/typical trucker will be failed, because: #1, #2, #4, and #5.

#7 -- recognizing and planning for one's own motivational factors/needs/wishes/desires/goals is impermissible, as #6.

#8 -- 'inconvenient' is generally accepted as equivalent to 'impossible' and translated as 'don't bother'.

#9 -- refusal to accept any from #1 through #8 as predestined trucking laws = me.

[I crack myself up. Especially with #9.]