Chelsea Lyster

Chelsea is an Edmonton-based personal trainer

Healthy drivers, healthy families

The life of a truck-driver can be full of freedom and adventure, but it can also breed isolation and loneliness - and not just for the driver, but for the spouses and families they leave at home. Today, cell phones and the Internet make it easier to stay in touch with loved ones, but they do not replace the hugs and kisses, simple missed moments and comforts of home.
     “I drive home every day on the highway, and I see so many professional drivers who travel great distances, and I think to myself, ‘how do they do it?’ ” says Chelsea Lyster, an Edmonton-based personal trainer and wellness coach, who runs corporate seminars for professional drivers promoting health, fitness and work-life balance.
     “Professional drivers are up against more road blocks than the average person because of their on-the-go lifestyle, work isolation and long hours away from a family at home. It can take a toll on their mental and physical well-being.”
     Drivers need to incorporate life at home and life on the road to ease the load on their family and themselves, says Lyster, who is optimistic that, with the right support and advice, it can be happy trails for everyone.
     So she is spreading the word about the 14th- annual Family Health & Fitness Day, on Sept. 25, a national event for families across the United States that celebrates health and family involvement in physical activities.
     “On this day, families can join in local health and fitness activities in their area, including games, walks, exercise workshops, health screenings and seminars. It's a great way for them to have fun together and learn how to adopt some healthy habits at home and away.”
     For drivers, it is more challenging to make healthy food choices and get into a regular exercise routine due to a hectic work schedule, irregular hours and a changing environment. But small changes, like buying a mini-fridge for your truck and stocking up on fresh produce, ordering healthier fare at truck-stops, keeping running shoes and a skipping rope in the cab of your truck and exercising on breaks, will increase your chances of making healthy choices.
     “Our minds and our bodies are connected. If we neglect one we neglect the other. If you make a conscious choice and plan ahead, it will be easier to build that balance into your life - whether you're at home or away,” says Lyster.
     “Every little effort makes a difference. You will improve your health one step at a time, and it will make a difference in our communities and in the trucking world.”
     Lyster recommends the Web site Dads at a Distance (www.daads.com/) for tips and ideas on staying connected with your spouse and family while on the road.

     For more information on Family Health & Fitness Day, go to www.fitnessday.com/famil