When you think you are broken, your body responds. It reminds you that all broken things can be repaired. The military works much like the body. When part of a line, a unit, is broken, it sends reinforcements. The individual parts collect their efforts to return the body to glory, to victory.
When Tiranda Brown went down, she repaired herself. When she fell a second time and her military career was in jeopardy, she doubled her efforts and returned to battle.
This active member of the United States Army just left for Afghanistan. She went as a part of the great military body. Her body is repaired. The Army is stronger because she is part of it.
I was always active growing up, and in my senior year of high school, I took a BFS gym class. All the girls called me crazy because that was a gym class "for guys." At the time I did not know that BFS (bigger faster stronger) was a preseason football training gym class. From day one I was hooked. I became addicted to weightlifting and the physical changes I saw.
The hardest part transitioning from civilian to military life is being away from family and friends. You have to adapt to your surroundings and trust the people to your left and right as family.
This question makes me laugh. I have been injured twice during my military career. I broke my patella and had knee surgery in 2010; in 2011, I broke my arm in three places. When you are injured, the military will do everything it can to get you back out on the front line. Sadly, this is not always an actual fix but a temporary fix. It is not that Uncle Sam does not care about us soldiers, but if you are injured you are of no use and you can be replaced. I was almost booted out the Army after my knee surgery because I could not pass the Army's physical fitness test. The doctors told me I would never run again and I had the knees of a 40-year-old NFL player. When I broke my arm, the doctors also told me I would never do push-ups or lift as much weight as I did before. You have to fight to prove you are not broken, but are just temporarily out of order. For post-injury care, the military has physical therapy, occupational therapy and every other kind of therapy. The problem is finding the time to properly heal and attend the proper care. Just because you are hurt, the military life style does not stop.
The biggest obstacle in living a military lifestyle is dealing with the loss of a soldier. As a solider, the military tries to train you for anything and everything. But preparing yourself for death is just impossible. It's not easy in civilian or military to see people die, but we have to deal with it as the mission must go on.
While on tour in Afghanistan my physical training increased. I went from one-a-day workout sessions to three-a-days. I would go to the gym before work, during lunch, and after. I love deploying and being a gym rat. There is nothing over there: no mall, no Wal-Mart, no clubs, so everyone tries to focus on some kind of fitness or education goal. Military training also increases; we stay up longer and get use to four hours or less of sleep. I don't mind the extra workload. It makes the time in a day go faster, which makes the deployment go faster.
I think it is easier for military women to stay in shape verses civilian women. The military is not a job; it is a lifestyle. Being active duty, we are obligated to the ones we protect and serve to stay in top shape. We do not get a choice if we want to work out, it is mandatory. If a civilian woman gains five or 10 pounds, or if she can't run two miles, she doesn't get fired. We do! So yes, it is easier for military women to stay in shape.
My future long-term bodybuilding plans are to one day stand on stage at the Arnold Classic and also to gain an IFBB pro card. My plan is to share my story with as many people as I can. I want to motivate and inspire people to get off their butts and make a change in their life. My short-term goals are to enter my first figure competition in late 2013 upon my return from Afghanistan. I want to participate in the Mr. and Mrs. Fort Campbell bodybuilding and figure competition. Another goal/dream of mine is to join the Bodybuilding.com team. I will be participating in the 2012 Military $100K Transformation Challenge with a chance to hold the title of Bodybuilding.com Military Spokes Representative.
Female: Oksana Grishina and Tanji Johnson
Male: Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Balance is key. As a solider you live a strict lifestyle, but as a bodybuilder you live an even more demanding lifestyle. You can have both. Just stay focused and commit yourself. Be willing to make sacrifices. You can have anything in this world if you just dedicate yourself. Also, remember that you represent the best of the United States of America in and out of uniform, on and off the stage.