2015

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Kindle Audio Books On Tape Great Entertainment For Truckers

Basically driving a truck is hours of boredom punctuated by moments of shear terror followed by lots more hours of boredom. What better entertainment then to have books read to you?

Visit the Kindle Unlimited Section
Read The Audible
Jump To The Suitable Devices

All of this time driving could be spent learning new things, or just transported to a new place and adventure if only in your own mind.

Amazon has a great little program that allows you to check out books on tape via Kindle, where the book will read itself to you. Actually there are two programs...

AudibleBack to top

Amazon bought Audible.com which features in the neighborhood of 180,000 book titles to choose from all whisper sync ready. (which means they will read to you) With Audible you get 1 book a month for free and it is yours to keep. You also get access to 30% discounts on books in their library as well as the fact that there are always sales running.

The cost after the free month is $14.95 billed monthly. Which is pretty cheap entertainment in my world.

The books are downloaded to your device so you do not have to be connected to wifi to listen, so the long and short of it is that you can listen while you drive.

Kindle UnlimitedBack to top

The other choice you have with Amazon is to get the Kindle Unlimited membership.

Kindle Unlimited is electronic book borrowing. While you don't own the book, you can rent ten at a time. If you want to check out the 11th book you must return one of the ones you have in your library. The down side is that Kindle Unlimited only has about 2,500 books that are whisper synced.

Kindle Unlimited will run you $9.99 a month. A little less expensive but if you are more of a traditional reader this might work well for you. You can start your free membership here.

Any books you pay for with either membership you get to keep even if you cancel your membership.

Which devices work best for Kindle books on tape?

Suitable DevicesBack to top

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/audible-audiobooks/bdc813dd-c20b-41f8-8646-de72fa0b365d

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiobooks-from-audible/id379693831?mt=8

http://audible.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5103

https://www.audible.com/mt/support_KindleFire

https://www.audible.com/mt/test_support_iphone

When we first started trucking our audio books selection was limited to what we could check out from the local library (in our home town) and then we had to make sure to return them. Audio books are a much better option for trucker entertainment these days. Amazon makes it so easy!

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Friday, November 20, 2015

5 Easy Recipes For Truck Drivers Sick of Fast Food

The thing about truck driving that gets old first is eating fast food. Not only is it bad for you but it is expensive! Personally I'm not convinced that fast food is actually food at all, but that's just me.

Visit the List of Staples Section
Read The Cooking Equipment
Jump To The Spicy Peanut Noodles Recipe
Visit the Chicken Fajitas Recipe Section
Visit the Chicken Taco Salad Recipe Section
Visit the Fresh Salsa Mix Recipe Section
Visit the Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe Section
Visit the Pot Roast Recipe Section

Let's look at 5 easy recipes for truck drivers sick of fast food to solve that problem. Cooking in a truck isn't all that difficult and almost every Walmart has truck parking of some sort. While it might not have the best produce in the world, if you shop what is seasonal as far as fresh goes it will give you a head start on better quality fruits and veggies.

You also need to have a few staples on hand so that you can have variety. Here is a list of my "go to" spices.

Staples List Back to top

Garlic powder
Italian blend spices
Hot pepper flakes
Cinnamon
Oregano
Cumin
Chili powder
Salt (I like real Salt)
Pepper
Hot sauce
Balsamic vinegar
Olive Oil
Corn starch
Sugar (in a small container)

A few cooking utensils are also a must have for cooking in the truck

Cooking Equipment Back to top

A microwave
A microwave safe bowl (I prefer glass)
A microwave safe plate
A Hot plate
A pot for cooking on the hot plate - I like this one as it has a lid and is deep
Crock pot
Refrigerator
Power inverter

Okay, now we are good to go as far as creating fun easy trucker meals.

Recently I got a vegetable spiralizer like this one here. These little spiral making tools are fun to use and add some zest to otherwise kind of ordinary food.

This spicy peanut noodle recipes is filling and satisfying.

Spicy Peanut Noodles Back to top

The ingredients needed:

1 cup spaghetti noodles (I cook a whole bunch of noodles, put them in quart baggies and freeze them for my hubby)

1 cup zucchini spirals (or 1 smaller zucchini spiralized)
1/2 cup carrots spirals (or 1 small carrot spiralized)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tbs (tablespoon) water
2 tsp (teaspoon) soy sauce
2 tsp rice wine vinegar (or balsamic)
1/2 agave nectar/maple syrup or a 1/2 tsp sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil (she says canola, but that is really bad for you)
a shake (or more to taste) hot sauce

Mix your peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sweetener (sugar/syrup/agave nectar), oil and hot sauce together in your glass bowl, microwave for 15 seconds, stir to blend.

Microwave your noodles (in the bag until they are defrosted if still frozen) If they are at room temperature, add to your glass bowl stir to blend the sauce with the noodles, microwave for 2 minutes until warmed through.

Add the carrots and zucchini stir them together to warm them up.
~Enjoy

Chicken Fajitas Back to top

Either bring chicken from home or buy packaged fajita pre cooked chicken
Tortillas
Shredded cheese (optional)
Fresh Salsa mix

Fresh Salsa Mix Back to top

one red onion chopped
one red bell pepper chopped
1 bunch cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper chopped

You can add tomato but I would put that on separately.

Heat your chicken up, add your cheese, salsa mix, tomato and avocado (if you so desire) and a shot of hot sauce (we like spicy in our house/truck)

Chicken Taco Salad Back to top

Tortilla chips
Pre cooked chicken
Pack of mixed greens
drained canned beans
Fresh Salsa Mix
Salad dressing (this one is to die for!)

Layer a small amount of chips at the bottom of your plate/bowl, add the other ingredients

Spaghetti and Meatballs Back to top

Pre cooked meat balls
Jar of your favorite sauce
Pre cooked noodles (from home) or boil them in your pot

Heat the sauce and meat balls together in the microwave, in your bowl. Then add your noodles and heat it a few more minutes to get everything all warmed up.

This tastes great with garlic bread that can be made by heating up a roll sliced in half, butter it and then sprinkle with garlic powder.

Pot Roast Back to top

You will need a package of dry onion soup mix
1-2 lb pot roast (use left overs for burritos/tacos or sandwiches)
1- 2 carrots chopped up
1 large red potato chopped up into wedges
1 small onion sliced
water to come half way up the roast and cover the veggies

Add everything to your crock pot, let cook for 5 - 8 hours while you drive.

I particularly like this crock pot as it has clips to keep the top from coming off while it is cooking and you are driving...

https://t.co/6mnVa3GcSC this is a super crock pot for #trucking as it has clips on the lid!
— Jill Hart (@justjillin) November 20, 2015

With the technology we have today and a good power inverter, one can cook just about anything in a truck that one enjoys at home. Cooking seems to be becoming a lost art, which is sad. Fresh food is so much better for us.

It might take a bit of planning but armed with some ideas and strategies you can eat well on the road and save money too!

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Exercises for Truckers to Stay Fit

Here are a selection of videos showing exercises for truckers to stay fit. Some require weights like these:

Squats with adjustable weights

The next video is a selection of exercises using an exercise band and yoga mat. This guy just works out in a parking lot!!

Here Cisco explains some simple exercises using small items that don't cost a bunch and store in the truck easily:

He makes a good point about the soda pop. Soda is so easy to pick up, it gives you a sugar rush and most have caffeine but soda is so bad for you. On top of adding empty calories to your already challenged diet, soda actually causes heart disease! The first step to getting healthy is to drink more water and cut out the pops.

Another point on diet is that studies have shown that eating all of your daily calories at one time versus spreading them out over the day will cause weight gain too. Better to eat smaller meals through out the day then to have one big meal and then fast until the next day. Even if you are eating a take out meal, break it up into smaller meals and eat it over the course of several hours.

If you must have something sweet, pick something with fiber. Fruits are very sweet and come designed to help your body process it. Many of us are addicted to sugar. Sugar is flat out a poison. It causes heart disease, high cholesterol, and narrowing of the arteries.

Taking the first step is the beginning of big changes for you. Make the decision to be fit though trucking. Choose to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet.

Purium makes several products that come in shake form (just mix with water, or almond milk/water or coconut water/water) that will boost your nutrition without having to carry lots of fresh veggies on the road. Purium's transformation kit comes in two selections.

One is the 10 day transformation which allows you to take a vacation from processed foods. Most people lose 5-20 pounds in 10 days doing this. It is compact and doesn't require a bunch of preparation. The flex foods are easy to prepare because they can be as simple as avocados, apples, oranges, salad (pick up a pre mixed pack).

The second transformation is designed for athletes. It comes with everything you need to get the right nutrition, though working out. My husband has done this one. He is a) a very picky eater and b) works out at the gym a couple times a week pretty aggressively. He dropped ten pounds in ten days of fat, not muscle.

You can order your 10 Day Transformation here and use the gift card code: bewellandprosper to get a $50 discount

You can order your Athletes Transformation here and use the gift card code: bewellandprosper to get a $50 discount on this item

Each kit has slightly different products included to properly support your health and nutrition goals.

My friend and chiropractor, Dr. Mike is available for consultation about these products and health strategies for truckers. You can reach him through his website NewPathNutrition.com

It is possible to get in shape and stay in shape even with a sedentary job like trucking:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Staying Fit Though Trucking

One of my husband's favorite things in life it to work out at the gym. And while staying fit though trucking might seem counter intuitive, over the twenty some years he has been at it, Truck Driver Dave has been able to stay remarkable fit though driving over the road.

This is us having fun at Flaming Gorge

The secret to this fitness has been his ability to go to the gym several times a week.

Working out relieves stress, keeps your blood pressure under control and allows you to do something kind of normal, not really trucking related. Sitting in the steam room and Jacuzzi or simply spending a bit in the pool are great ways to relax and let the worries of the road melt away.

We have found that one of the best gyms to join, as a trucker, are the 24 hour fitness gyms. Get a membership that allows you to use any gym in their franchise. It is relatively inexpensive to get this membership, so don't panic.

Once you have become a member you will look up the gyms in the areas you frequent or along routes you travel often. Then use google earth to figure out if you can park your truck there or not. Sometimes my hubby has to drop his trailer (he puts a lock on it) and bob tails over to the gym. In the beginning, he had a bike in his truck so that he could just bike over to the gym. After a few times of this he realized that most gyms have some sort of truck parking near by - even in Vegas, Reno and California.

Before he got this gym membership my husband was using universal weights in the truck (which he still uses) and on occasion he will do some calisthenics, like deep knee bends (makes my knees hurt just thinking about it) and push ups. Walking around the truck stop or drops is a great way to get a bit of exercise and some fresh air. Even ten minutes of walking can do wonders for your mental health.

Diet is a large part of staying fit in a truck. While raw and fresh is always best, being able to control what you are eating is paramount to feel and being healthy. A microwave and refrigerator are musts for the long haul trucker. Gone are the days when you could eat a decent meal in a truck stop. Studies have shown that eating fast food on a regular basis is a sure recipe for an early death.

The bottom line is that if you think you are going to make trucking a career, or find that circumstances have made trucking your career, you need to take steps to stay fit and eat right.

As time goes on I will be posting recipes and cooking tips so be sure to bookmark this site for updates.

Truckers View of America

I belong to a group over on Facebook called Truckers Lookin at America There are some lovely pictures posted over there. Today I'm going to post a few:

A shot of Idaho at dawn...

Texas at night...Looks downright Christmasy with all of the red

This one is a shot south of Denver. Looks like winter has arrived there already...

As a trucker you get to see so many different things while driving. Once while driving through Oklahoma, I passed a farm that had a giraffe! Totally blew me away.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Cheap Useful Gifts To Get Your Trucker This Holiday Season

Trucks are small spaces so what you get your trucker this holiday season needs to be useful and not take up a bunch of space.

These are some of my top picks:

Neck Messager

You can go with even the lower end neck messager because there is nothing like a message to relax your neck and shoulders after a long day of driving.

Back Scratcher

Back scratchers make terrific gifts for your special trucker. Not only does it help with scratching those itchy spots that are hard to reach but they also make great tools for fetching items that are just a bit too far to reach while driving.

My own husband has gone through several back scratchers in his career - it is the one thing that I know I can get him that he will absolutely LOVE.

Heated Blanket

This is sort of like a normal heated blanket that you would have in your home on your own bed in the winter but it works with a cigarette plug outlet.

These blankets are great if your trucker doesn't have much bedding and for when they need to shut the truck down but still stay warm.

Stay tuned for more cheap useful gifts to get your trucker this holiday season.