Photo By Javier Orona | Sgt. Tkiia Carrington, a paratrooper with Company D, 127th Engineer Battalion, 1st...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - In Callahan gym at Fort Bragg, N.C., Sgt. Tkiia Carrington pushes, pulls, and runs closer to her dreams.
Carrington, a supply sergeant with Company D, 127th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is an amateur body builder who is preparing to compete in August in the International Federation of Bodybuilding [IFBB] North American Championship in Pittsburgh.
The four-time trophy winner said preparing for competitions requires her to follow an intense training schedule and a rigid diet. She said that while she has to tailor her training and diet to work around her demanding schedule as a paratrooper, the motivation to continue to win keeps her showing up for more competitions.
Carrington said she believes that competing makes her stand out from her peers and that it reflects well upon the Army and 1st BCT.
The amateur bodybuilder said she originally drew her inspiration to compete in shows through reading fitness magazines, and said she quickly learned that she feels at home during competitions.
“I love it, I feel like myself,” said Carrington. “I’m comfortable onstage and I have lots of fun competing.”
Carrington began training on her own about a year ago, and it was during her training that she met the members of Team Evolution, a group of bodybuilding competitors assigned to the 82nd Abn. Div. The like-minded athletes work together to prepare for upcoming shows through weight training and other more technical aspects of bodybuilding.
Carrington said working with Team Evolution led to her successes last June as she took home two awards in one day during a competition in Wilmington, N.C. Carrington placed first in the Eastern All Military show and second in the Gold’s Classic on that day.
Carrington said to prepare for her next competition she plans to incorporate posing sessions into her training schedule. The posing sessions will take place anywhere from two to four times a week.
The upcoming event will be the fifth competition for Carrington and she says there will be some obstacles she will have to overcome.
“I have a strict diet to follow,” said Carrington. “It’s challenging, but definitely worth it.”
Carrington says the diet is mostly limited to vegetables, tons of protein, and a maximum of two carbohydrate-rich foods per day. She takes in six meals a day, and tries to eat every two hours. She said there are times when she is unable to stick to that plan due to military duties, such as during airborne operations, but she said she manages to work around those situations when necessary.
Carrington takes her training seriously and makes sure to share her knowledge with members of her unit.
“She’s dedicated to working out in general,” said Pvt. Michael Bonilla, a unit supply clerk with Company D, 127th En. Bn. “She helps me stay motivated with physical fitness.”
Carrington says she has learned to place an emphasis on proper form when training and that she is able to implement that when training her soldier.
“Training incorrectly leads to injury,” said Carrington. “I also make sure they [Soldiers] are taking care of themselves with proper nutrition and hydration.”
The past year has been quite the journey for Carrington and she believes all of the hard work and dedication will pay off in the future.
“My goal is to become an IFBB figure pro,” said Carrington. “If I made it I’d be so happy, that would be a dream come true.”
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2014 16:29 |
| Story ID: | 127666 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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