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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jul 1, 2009 - 8:09:22 PM |
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| Spc. Prentice Martin-Bowen concentrates on specific muscle groups in order to gain maximum results. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Nathan Hutchinson) |
Blackanthem Military News, BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Deployment is a time for focus, hard work and for many servicemembers it is a time to hit the gym.
Each day the multiple gyms here are packed with troops determined to return home a tougher, stronger person.
“I try to make it a goal to work out as much as possible,” said Spc. John Sheck, a 25-year-old military intelligence analysis for Combined Joint Task Force-82 Joint Operations Center and an avid visitor to the gym.
“It's a lot easier to have my lieutenant and sergeant right there to motivate me and make sure I don't fall off the schedule,” Sheck said.
Sheck, a Philadelphia, Pa. native, said that he tries to go to work out at least five times a week and his leaders give him time to run during the work day.
Working out is also a healthy release to a stressful day at work and in this environment the stress levels can get pretty high.
“The stress kicks in and I take it out here as opposed to the people I work with,” Sheck said. “It's better for me and better for everyone else.”
Some people are a little more motivated to add size and strength than to relieve stress.
Spc. Prentice “MB” Martin-Bowen, Mobile, Ala., is a former armed-forces bodybuilding competitor and plans on competing again when he returns to Fort Carson, Colo. with the rest of the Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 43rd Area Support Group.
“At Fort Carson I used to just work the whole body to maintain,” said the 34-year-old multi-media illustrator. “I was playing it safe,” said MB, “It wasn't really that intense. I wasn't going for strength.”
“I competed back in '99. Now that I'm back in the Army I'm determined to get back on that stage again,” said MB. “My workouts have been two hours long and different days I work different body parts.”
Getting big enough to be a bodybuilding competitor can affect other parts of your fitness.
“For me to bulk up my cardio has to decrease a little and my eating habits have to increase,” added MB. “I have to eat more meals a day; about five to six meals a day.”
MB said that he takes minimal amounts of supplements, only vitamins and protein, but the main ingredient in a good workout is lots of water and plenty of stretching.
“The main thing is you have to be motivated. If you're not motivated and you don't have a goal it's not going to work for you,” MB said.
“As far as overdoing it; I never overdo it,” Sheck said. “If the other guys are lifting more than me they have no problem taking weight off for me.”
“My workout here is more rigorous than at Fort Bragg, but I know my limits,” Sheck continued.
Bagram Airfield offers multiple gyms including the Clamshell and the smaller camp- and building-specific gyms. Many are open 24 hours-a-day to accommodate the different constantly changing schedules of the servicemembers and civilians located here.
Talk to someone at your local Moral, Welfare and Recreation to find the gym that is most convenient for your situation.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| The gyms on Bagram Airfield offer a wide array of machines such as cardio and free weights for total-body workouts. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Nathan Hutchinson) |
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| Not everyone is pushing more than 300 lbs. like Spc. Prentice Martin-Bowen, but it is always important to have a spotter to ensure safety. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Nathan Hutchinson) |
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