jormagund

I wasn't overweight before I learned to drive a truck. That isn't to suggest that I hadn't put on a few pounds since leaving the Marines in the mid 90s. I surely had... but it wasn't much. But I've been driving a truck for a while now and it has slowly and steadily packed on the pounds. I don't FEEL as if I over-eat, but I imagine that at times I do. My meal schedule is so messed up at times that once I finally get to sit down to a hot meal, I often feel starving. Add to this the fact that truck stop food isn't exactly the healthiest fare around.

Lots of Pilot truck stops have Subway. Which is fine except... that isn't the chain of truck stop that I go to most of the time. I actually do TRY to stop at a Subway for lunch when possible but this usually only ends up happening a couple times a week at most. I end up having plenty of meals that consist of all the wrong foods. Once in a while I end up eating fast food because... there really isn't any other choice. I'm having Popeye's tonight, for example... because the choice is either that or Burger King. Or the cold cereal that I carry in my truck.

But I need to do something. I don't enjoy weighing 235 lbs. While my ideal weight is most likely in the neighborhood of 180'ish, I would frankly be satisfied if I could just keep it under 200 permanantly. It's difficult though. I know I could do that if I had an "ordinary" job where I went home every day to my home where I have a refrigerator, stove, microwave and other anemities one expects to have in their kitchens. I have none of the above. Well... a small electric cooler that serves as my fridge. Think one step DOWN from college dorm fridge.

Microwaves use a lot of power. In order for me to get and use one in my truck I'd need to invest in a much larger power inverter as well. It isn't impossible, but it is more difficult than simply buying a microwave and using it. I currently have no suitible way of powering it.

The other issue is I get no exercise. I work constantly, and when I am not working then I am eating, showering, or resting. Truck stops do not have gyms. I'm not willing to go jogging in strange areas (especially when my time off is at night). Exercise is almost a non option, thus making the foods I eat even more important to maintaining my health.

I surfed on over to the Nutri-System website. Of anything I COULD do, that looks reasonable. The cost is aproximately $300 a month but that is less than what I spend on food now. In other words, it looks like a lot in one chunk, but it really would actually save me money on a monthly basis if I stuck to it. But my main concern here is food preparation. The website says:

Obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables could also be a problem. I'd need to try to get as many meals as possible that are litterally ready-to-go without having to add other stuff that I'm unable to obtain at a truck stop. So... while I am willing to finally do something to get myself back to a reasonable weight, it looks like there are some technical obstacles I will need to overcome somehow.

Anyway... does anyone know of someone who has used NutriSystem before? I'm certain that it's rare for someone to face the same challenges I have (in regards to not having a kitchen), but I'd certainly still be curious to hear any good or bad commentary about this program. Or perhaps something else that you know about.