4 answers
Lucy
Student
4
Questions
Updated
2844 views
Machine operations?
What should I do to prepare myself for the workforce for heavy equipment when it is mostly a male profession?
Login to comment
4 answers
Robiah Thabit
Process Engineer
13
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Robiah’s Answer
Hello Lucy,
Entering a male-dominated field can sometimes mean facing people who don’t expect to see you there.
Some might underestimate you at first, but that doesn’t mean you have to prove anything to them.
What matters most is showing up, learning your craft, and doing your work with confidence.
I had a similar experience during my internship as a process engineer operating an extrusion machine, once I focused on doing my job well, the respect came naturally. Trust your abilities and let your skills speak for themselves.
Rooting for you.
Entering a male-dominated field can sometimes mean facing people who don’t expect to see you there.
Some might underestimate you at first, but that doesn’t mean you have to prove anything to them.
What matters most is showing up, learning your craft, and doing your work with confidence.
I had a similar experience during my internship as a process engineer operating an extrusion machine, once I focused on doing my job well, the respect came naturally. Trust your abilities and let your skills speak for themselves.
Rooting for you.
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Lucy!
WORK OUT
The 5BX exercise program was developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) by Dr. Bill Orban in the late 1950s to improve pilot fitness, not specifically for astronauts. It's an 11-minute, no-equipment routine consisting of five basic exercises: stretching, sit-ups, back extensions, push-ups, and running in place. The program uses six charts with increasing difficulty, where repetitions and exercise variations (like push-ups) advance as you progress through the levels based on your age and fitness.
The Five Basic Exercises
Stretching: Warms up the body and stretches large muscles and those on the back of the legs.
Sit-ups: Conditions abdominal muscles.
Back Extensions: Focuses on strengthening the muscles along the long back.
Push-ups: Develops arm, shoulder, and upper body strength. Difficulty increases from modified versions to standard and hand-slap push-ups.
Running in Place: A cardiovascular exercise to improve heart and lung capacity.
How it Works
Charts: Six charts outline increasing levels of difficulty for each exercise.
Progression: You progress through the charts based on your age and current fitness level.
Duration: Each workout takes only 11 minutes.
Equipment-Free: Designed to be performed without any special equipment, making it convenient for anyone.
Why it was Popular
Time-Efficient: Its short duration was ideal for busy pilots, especially those in remote locations.
Accessibility: No equipment was needed, making it a truly at-home, anywhere workout.
Foundation: The program's principles, emphasizing intensity and efficiency, laid groundwork for modern fitness programs.
Connection to Astronauts
While the 5BX wasn't originally an "astronaut" program, the fitness crisis that led to its creation was a major factor in space exploration's early emphasis on astronaut fitness. Astronauts did and still do need rigorous exercise programs to combat the effects of spaceflight on the body.
Eleven minutes a day, is that too much to ask? The “5BX” (Five Basic Exercises) plan.
SEE https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~rfburger/xbx-plan.pdf
GET NUTRITION HAPPENING
Eat from The Healthy Food Pyramid!
THE HEALTHY FOOD PYRAMID - DIVIDE THE DAILY AMOUNTS INTO SEVEN SMALL MEALS “If you wanna fly the jet fighter plane, you have got to put the correct fuel in it”
SHOPPING LIST
One loaf of Black Pumpernickel Rye Bread
2 Cans Sardines
2 x 96gr cans tuna with chili
3 Tomatoes
1 Lettuce
1 Jar of Peppers
1 Tub Olive Oil Spread
12 Pitted Black Olives
1 Container Low Fat Milk
Green Bananas
2 liters water
RULES
7 SMALL MEALS A DAY, EACH 2 HOURS APART
WATER 33 MILLILITERS PER DAY FOR EACH KILOGRAM OF BODY WEIGHT
A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE -
Artichokes, Asparagus, Aubergine, Bamboo shoots, Bean Sprouts, Beet Greens, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Chilis, Chinese Veg Mix, Coffee, Collards, Courgettes, Cucumber, Dandelion, Endives, Garlic, Green beans, Herbal teas, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Mushrooms, Okra, Onion, Peppers, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rocket, Soup made from these vegetables, Soy beans, Spices, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Tea, Tomatoes, Tomato juice, Vegetable juice, Zucchini ad libitum. These are not starchy, but have minerals like magnesium, phosphate, and potassium. [1/2 to 1 cup per meal stop] [These foods do not perceptively raise blood sugar.]
LIITTLE BITS THROUGH THE DAY / NIGHT SHIFT -
[breads, cereals, grains, pasta, fruit, legumes, starchy vegetables] This ensures blood glucose is normoglycemic. 1 to 2 slices of Black Pumpernickel rye bread is perfect, like 1/2 to 1 cup of baked beans. Other selections are 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked lentils. Bear in mind that this is six to seven small meals a day!
BUILDING MATERIALS -
At each meal 30 grams to supply amino acids to the brain, to make neurotransmitters. [lean meat, poultry, crustaceans/fish/shellfish, egg, cheese, milk, yoghurt] Try vegetarian proteins too like peanut paste.
LIPIDS
Approximately 25 to 35 grams lipids - highest polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil / olive oil spread / fish oil. [Better than Butter / Margarine]. 1 Teaspoon cod liver oil / daily.
GOD BLESS!
WORK OUT
The 5BX exercise program was developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) by Dr. Bill Orban in the late 1950s to improve pilot fitness, not specifically for astronauts. It's an 11-minute, no-equipment routine consisting of five basic exercises: stretching, sit-ups, back extensions, push-ups, and running in place. The program uses six charts with increasing difficulty, where repetitions and exercise variations (like push-ups) advance as you progress through the levels based on your age and fitness.
The Five Basic Exercises
Stretching: Warms up the body and stretches large muscles and those on the back of the legs.
Sit-ups: Conditions abdominal muscles.
Back Extensions: Focuses on strengthening the muscles along the long back.
Push-ups: Develops arm, shoulder, and upper body strength. Difficulty increases from modified versions to standard and hand-slap push-ups.
Running in Place: A cardiovascular exercise to improve heart and lung capacity.
How it Works
Charts: Six charts outline increasing levels of difficulty for each exercise.
Progression: You progress through the charts based on your age and current fitness level.
Duration: Each workout takes only 11 minutes.
Equipment-Free: Designed to be performed without any special equipment, making it convenient for anyone.
Why it was Popular
Time-Efficient: Its short duration was ideal for busy pilots, especially those in remote locations.
Accessibility: No equipment was needed, making it a truly at-home, anywhere workout.
Foundation: The program's principles, emphasizing intensity and efficiency, laid groundwork for modern fitness programs.
Connection to Astronauts
While the 5BX wasn't originally an "astronaut" program, the fitness crisis that led to its creation was a major factor in space exploration's early emphasis on astronaut fitness. Astronauts did and still do need rigorous exercise programs to combat the effects of spaceflight on the body.
Eleven minutes a day, is that too much to ask? The “5BX” (Five Basic Exercises) plan.
SEE https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~rfburger/xbx-plan.pdf
GET NUTRITION HAPPENING
Eat from The Healthy Food Pyramid!
THE HEALTHY FOOD PYRAMID - DIVIDE THE DAILY AMOUNTS INTO SEVEN SMALL MEALS “If you wanna fly the jet fighter plane, you have got to put the correct fuel in it”
SHOPPING LIST
One loaf of Black Pumpernickel Rye Bread
2 Cans Sardines
2 x 96gr cans tuna with chili
3 Tomatoes
1 Lettuce
1 Jar of Peppers
1 Tub Olive Oil Spread
12 Pitted Black Olives
1 Container Low Fat Milk
Green Bananas
2 liters water
RULES
7 SMALL MEALS A DAY, EACH 2 HOURS APART
WATER 33 MILLILITERS PER DAY FOR EACH KILOGRAM OF BODY WEIGHT
A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE -
Artichokes, Asparagus, Aubergine, Bamboo shoots, Bean Sprouts, Beet Greens, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Chilis, Chinese Veg Mix, Coffee, Collards, Courgettes, Cucumber, Dandelion, Endives, Garlic, Green beans, Herbal teas, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Mushrooms, Okra, Onion, Peppers, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rocket, Soup made from these vegetables, Soy beans, Spices, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Tea, Tomatoes, Tomato juice, Vegetable juice, Zucchini ad libitum. These are not starchy, but have minerals like magnesium, phosphate, and potassium. [1/2 to 1 cup per meal stop] [These foods do not perceptively raise blood sugar.]
LIITTLE BITS THROUGH THE DAY / NIGHT SHIFT -
[breads, cereals, grains, pasta, fruit, legumes, starchy vegetables] This ensures blood glucose is normoglycemic. 1 to 2 slices of Black Pumpernickel rye bread is perfect, like 1/2 to 1 cup of baked beans. Other selections are 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked lentils. Bear in mind that this is six to seven small meals a day!
BUILDING MATERIALS -
At each meal 30 grams to supply amino acids to the brain, to make neurotransmitters. [lean meat, poultry, crustaceans/fish/shellfish, egg, cheese, milk, yoghurt] Try vegetarian proteins too like peanut paste.
LIPIDS
Approximately 25 to 35 grams lipids - highest polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil / olive oil spread / fish oil. [Better than Butter / Margarine]. 1 Teaspoon cod liver oil / daily.
GOD BLESS!
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello again, Lucy !
I am not sure what you mean exactly by heavy machinery, but if you have the desire to do this work, it doesn't matter at all if you are female. You will have to really love doing the work, but you'll need to specify what machine you're thinking about if you want accurate advice.
Working in the fields of construction, mining, agriculture, and forestry will have you using excavators, bulldozers, loaders, cranes, and dump trucks. If you have a different heavy machine in mind, let us know. Where ever you live, you would find a vocational school, trade academy, or industry-specific training center that will teach you how to operate and use heavy machinery. There are some machinery that you can obtain Certification in once you are trained.
Your first step would be to focus on one or two machines that you would like to use and find a place that trains for them. You will start to meet people in the industry while training and learn how to and where to apply for work.
Even though today, this industry may not draw many women to this type of work, you'll be happy to know that women have always done this type of work since World War I. They worked with drill presses, welding equipment, cranes, and screw machines. Women have done and still do this work, it's just that not many women consider it their calling, but you certainly can do it.
This is one of the best types of careers to Shadow. Invest in a hard hat and steel-toed construction protective boots and arrange to go to a construction site. Just stay away from implosion sites for now due to safety. Observing how the team works to do the various duties will help you get an idea of what the work is like. You can also watch videos about heavy machinery on You Tube. If you develop a passion for this work, you can have a well-paying, successful career.
I hope this helps. Keep in mind that women have been in many "non traditional" careers for decades, it's just that if there's few women in some trades, they are not very visible, but all careers can be done by both genders. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in exploring careers !
I am not sure what you mean exactly by heavy machinery, but if you have the desire to do this work, it doesn't matter at all if you are female. You will have to really love doing the work, but you'll need to specify what machine you're thinking about if you want accurate advice.
Working in the fields of construction, mining, agriculture, and forestry will have you using excavators, bulldozers, loaders, cranes, and dump trucks. If you have a different heavy machine in mind, let us know. Where ever you live, you would find a vocational school, trade academy, or industry-specific training center that will teach you how to operate and use heavy machinery. There are some machinery that you can obtain Certification in once you are trained.
Your first step would be to focus on one or two machines that you would like to use and find a place that trains for them. You will start to meet people in the industry while training and learn how to and where to apply for work.
Even though today, this industry may not draw many women to this type of work, you'll be happy to know that women have always done this type of work since World War I. They worked with drill presses, welding equipment, cranes, and screw machines. Women have done and still do this work, it's just that not many women consider it their calling, but you certainly can do it.
This is one of the best types of careers to Shadow. Invest in a hard hat and steel-toed construction protective boots and arrange to go to a construction site. Just stay away from implosion sites for now due to safety. Observing how the team works to do the various duties will help you get an idea of what the work is like. You can also watch videos about heavy machinery on You Tube. If you develop a passion for this work, you can have a well-paying, successful career.
I hope this helps. Keep in mind that women have been in many "non traditional" careers for decades, it's just that if there's few women in some trades, they are not very visible, but all careers can be done by both genders. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in exploring careers !
Don Holland
Member Service Representative/Food Runner
244
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Lucy,
I think you should embrace the role that you have and not worry about what other people might say about your position. You are in the position, you are in because people thought you were able to fill this role. Just be yourself, work hard, have good communication with coworkers, prepare yourself the best possible way when it comes to safety and training. Best of luck to you!
I think you should embrace the role that you have and not worry about what other people might say about your position. You are in the position, you are in because people thought you were able to fill this role. Just be yourself, work hard, have good communication with coworkers, prepare yourself the best possible way when it comes to safety and training. Best of luck to you!