Life in the battlezone.

IRAQ.

I'm sure nothing pleasant comes to mind when anyone hears the word DEPLOYMENT, throw IRAQ or MIDDLE EAST in the mix and people start cringing, and usually praying. I'm not saying it's without reason, but this has turned into my mandatory vacation.

Being deployed has never been a "bad" or hard thing for me personally. Every deployment I learn something new about myself, I grow as a person spiritually and mentally, and it's rare that I return home frazzled - I'm usually eager, motivated, and ready to take on the world. Quite a change from what most people assume a deployment is like, but I guess your outlook changes when you take on a new perspective!

So, what's life like for a figure girl in Iraq? I know everyone is dying to know (insert sarcasm!).

My day starts at 930 PM.

I wake up, run to the potty (our potty is a trailer that has toilets and showers, which happens to be a couple hundred feet away which makes for a really interesting morning especially when you're used to running to the bathroom in bare feet and undies. Can't really do that here!) and hope I don't stub my toe on a rock, brush my teeth, take my daily dose of Jack3d and a protein shake and head to the gym with my husband!

He's here too! Did I mention that? On another shift, but when he gets out of work - I have 3 hours until I go to work, so we get to spend the most important time of the day together - GYM TIME!

Off to the gym, which happens to be a 5 minute walk through our compound in the dark. The gyms here are AMAZING, and surprisingly much more equipped than some I've seen back home. We have a building dedicated to weights, and a separate room for cardio bunnies - which rocks, because there's no more awkward staring happening from dudes thinking their working out on the elliptical.

The hubs and I have different goals (as always when it comes to bodybuilding) - he is getting swole, while I am getting lean. He's a small guy, and has put on a good amount of weight the past month which makes a HUGE difference in his physique. He's seen the changes, and he's hooked - I'm super proud, because even he says I taught him everything he knows! <3

We stick around in the gym no more than 45minutes to an hour which gives me time for a good circuit workout, and enough time to run back to our living area, hop in the shower and head to work.

Work this year is ....different...

It's much easier than I had really anticipated, and much of my time is spent doing homework, and watching movies. I wish I was kidding. I'm here for when shit hits the proverbial fan, so until it does...I'm sitting pretty in air conditioning. This time at work is "me time" - this is when I read, study and research, and in between intermittent bouts of work...get some quiet time. One thing you have to understand, is every job is different and every mission is different, in a deployed environment we all have our place and fill a specific role, whether it be a gate guard, or a troop on the front line. This is by no means a NORMAL deployment and I am not trying to downplay the importance of what we're doing for this country, and it's people - regardless, everyone here is out of their element, away from home and on edge...including myself, but that doesn't mean it can't be a positive and beneficial experience.

During work, I do the most EATING. The chow hall is a hop and skip away which is a godsend in 110 degree heat. I'm following PRECISION NUTRITION (I bought the program YEARS ago, and finally said - if GSP is doing it, and having amazing results...well so will I. GSP is the UFC welterweight champion, and my imaginary second husband, and inspriation...aside from Arnold, and Gina Aliotti of course!)

Food is the same thing, almost every day:

Pre-workout - Dymatize blend with H20
Post workout (when I get into work)- sliced tukey on wheat bread with pickles, and yogurt with fruit
(the yogurt here is AMAZING! Natural, and perfect post workout)
M1- 4 egg whites, 1C fruit, carrot sticks w/ PB
(the egg whites are usually covered in oil because they spray the grill down like a slip and slide, and the PB is in perfectly portioned packets...21g each - you win some, you lose some!)
M2 - I grab lettuce, tomato, cucumber and carrot sticks at breakfast to have with a protein shake
M3  - Grilled chicken breast, 2C cooked broccolli and fruit, sometimes a small baked potato depending on my workout
M4  - Casein shake & carrot sticks before bed

I'm eating every 2-3.5 hours with veggies at ALMOST every meal. This is the first time I've deployed and have been able to follow a meal schedule, and actually be able to go get food 3x a day!

My only supplements are fishoil, a multivitamin, GNC hair skin and nails,my pre-workout Jack3d, and some amino energy before cardio.

I wonder if I'll turn orange from all the carrots?

After work, I head over to do cardio - sometimes steady state, sometimes HIIT and every other day without fail, pop in my ab ripper x on my mini laptop in my room.

Then it's time to hit the shower, and get in bed at 230PM to do it all over again!

That is my life here, simple and easy...for now.

I get to do this for 16 weeks!

The one personality quirk I have (out of many) is that I always want to be prepared. I have this innate need, especially when it comes to changing my physique, to make sure I have all the necessary tools for when crap does happen. I do NOT want to have to eat MRE's, and definitely don't want to be stuck without any way to weight train.I just ordered a set of exercise bands, and am looking into a few more "travel" workout necessities (if anyone has any other suggestions or ideas, shoot me an e-mail!) Granted, I only have 1 bag to have all my stuff in but I think that workout gear TRUMPS everything aside from toiletries.

So folks, that's it! Now that I'm in the groove, and getting "it" done - don't be surprised to hear more from me!