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Active Lifestyle

Lisa Kelly battles more than the big boys on ‘Ice Road Truckers’

Eating right and staying healthy can become a challenge when the stress, the long hours and the relentless, unblinking cameras take their toll

Fans of the hit series “Ice Road Truckers” can be forgiven for expressing surprise when Lisa Kelly began competing against the grizzled, hard-bitten veterans who made their names on the show during previous seasons. After all, most professional drivers who earn their keep in the Lower 48 – even those with decades of experience – have surely viewed the whiteout conditions in the Alaskan frontier and said without apology, “Not for me, thanks.”
     But Lisa has proven to be a worthy competitor, and she took time out from her hectic schedule to talk with us about the show and what it takes for her to remain fit with so many pressures and distractions weighing on her:

How did you get your start as a professional driver? 

When I was a teenager, I delivered pizzas and enjoyed being out of the building and driving around. I thought, “Hey, maybe I’ll be a truck driver and get to travel.”

You must get some double-takes when you climb down from your cab.

Yeah, sometimes when I come to a pit stop, people will stop and say, “Oh, you’re driving that big truck? How do you do that?” And I say, “Like anybody else.” I’ve enjoyed driving a truck since Day One.

How did you earn your nickname “The Tomboy?”

I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere. I like my animals, and I enjoy running around in the woods. I wouldn’t classify myself as a tomboy, but I guess it fits pretty well. I like riding dirt bikes, and I like riding horses, too.

Were you a fan of “Ice Road Truckers” before being approached by the show?

I had only seen a couple of episodes. Without a TV, I went to Blockbuster and rented a DVD.

What has been your most harrowing experience out on the ice roads?

I haven’t had any harrowing experiences, fortunately. The wind can blow very hard up here, and it takes concentration to drive through it. There were also times I went up a hill a little fast and said, “Whoa, I’d better slow down.”

Our readers are interested in getting healthy and staying healthy. Do you have to watch what you eat?

Yes, watching what I eat is difficult, and it takes most of my thinking power. I have to be careful what I put in the truck, and food never lasts long there, so I eat it the first day. If a trip lasts three days, I go grocery shopping when I return to Fairbanks and get all my fruit and stock up. I make all my sandwiches and soup. I only put healthy food in the truck because that’s all I have access to on the road. I try to stay away from the truck stops where they cook stuff. Rather than a big messy omelet, I just eat a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. Luckily they have gyms in Prudhoe and Fairbanks. This year, I want to stop every time I get to one of those places and get in some exercise.

Do you try to eat three meals a day?

No, I do the grazing thing. I’ll eat a little bit here and there, like maybe yogurt, and then a couple of hours later I’ll eat a half of a sandwich. So I eat whenever I’m hungry and I don’t schedule actual times. Your sleep schedule is messed up when you’re a trucker…sometimes you stay up all night, then you sleep all day. I eat when I’m hungry, but I don’t eat a lot. When I’m about to reach a destination, I’ll snack so I’ll have some energy.

Do you think about the calories you consume each day?

Yeah, I keep measuring cups in the truck.
This lets me measure everything out for each meal and count the calories. And, no, it’s not easy.

You mentioned exercise…how often do you get some in?

Well, I know that they say the ideal amount is three times a week, but the days turn into weeks, and it’s easy to forget what day it is. I try to set up a routine in my schedule, and it changes every time I go out. It’s really hard because things are changing all the time – it’s a constant struggle. I’d just encourage people to live longer, be healthy and enjoy life. You’ll feel better and you’ll have more energy, but it’s never going to be easy. It’s just not.

And the dirt bikes…do you get much of a chance to ride them? Does this give you some exercise?

It sure does! We just had a freestyle show where we jumped off ramps, and that was really fun. I haven’t ridden as much as I’d like during the last four years, because I’ve been concentrating on my career. Now that everything is getting established, I look forward to doing it more regularly.

A number of our readers are looking for inspiration to shed unwanted pounds. Do you have any advise for them?

You know, trucking down in the Lower 48 is so different than trucking up here in Alaska. I know they are away from home for weeks at a time and so much of the truck stop food is unhealthy. I’m just lucky that I go on the same route each time, and I know where everything is.

You’ve been married just under a year. What does your husband think about your career?

(Laughs) My career? He’s fine with it. He’s like,
“Whatever makes you happy.” He’s laid-back and easy-going about it all.

Do you get a chance to hang out with the other drivers on ‘Ice Road Truckers?’

Well, I know all of the truckers, and we drive all over the state, so I consider them to be my friends. Most of the guys are from Fair-banks, and I’m from Anchorage, so I don’t see them all that much. We do call from time to time to see how the others are holding up. We have something in common, so there is always something to talk about.

So do you see yourself continuing to be a part of the show?

You know, I like to drive, and I’d like to continue being on “Ice Road Truckers,” but we’ll just have to see what the future holds…whatever life throws my way. I’m ready to do it, so bring it on. If the show presents itself as an opportunity next year, I’ll say yes. It’s fun, so I’ll do it. It would be great to see some other opportunities come out of this. Most people don’t have things like this presented to them, so I’m very appreciative. Right now, I’m having fun with it.

When does shooting start for the next season of ‘Ice Road Truckers?’

I think they’d like to get started in January, but it’s all still up in the air. So if they want me back, that’s cool with me!