Photo By Staff Sgt. Anne Ortiz | Airman 1st Class Matthew Blasberg, 47th Healthcare Operations Squadron referral...... read more read more
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Growing up, Airman 1st Class Matthew Blasberg worked out but was never what you’d call ‘fit’. His senior photos showed a round-faced boy who could have passed for a 12-year-old and he felt his confidence drain.
Blasberg, fresh out of high school, moved away from home to take college classes. With the influence of his older sister, he began to dabble in healthy eating to reach a higher level of fitness. Not long after, he made the life-changing decision to join the U.S. Air Force.
“I was at a crossroads in my life, living vicariously through others around me,” he said. “I needed to start my own journey. I have always known when I set my mind to something, I give it my 110 percent.”
After training, he arrived at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, his first duty station. Like many young airmen and lieutenants, the 47th Healthcare Operations Squadron referral management and patient travel technician, began his military life in the dorms--and as dorm residents can attest to, they’re not living off three-course meals most days.
One of the key obstacles for him was nutrition. He had never really cooked for himself before, and was unsure of where to start. So he did what most in this day and age would do, and opened an internet browser.
“I had watched videos of people meal prepping, and I always had an interest in doing it myself,” he said. “There were so many benefits from cost-effectiveness to saving time, I decided to give it a try. Meal prepping is a tool, and what you do with it determines the outcome. I chose to make it healthy for my personal goals and everything else fell into place.”
Blasberg came to the realization that everything he wanted--to be toned, healthy and to live his best life--was all within reach. All he needed to do was make and follow a checklist to get there.
“It took a while to see results in the lifestyle change I wanted to achieve, but the more progress I made at work, in the gym and furthering my education gave me the motivation I needed,” Blasberg said. “The vast amount of fitness gurus on the internet and recipe options can be intimidating, but I kept trying and learned through trial and error.”
With that, he set off on his journey toward learning how to meal prep. Along the way, he discovered it not only provided him with healthier eating options, but it also saved him money and time, not to mention a sense of accomplishment.
These days, some of his favorite ingredients are beans, brown rice and lean ground turkey. His meals are simple and seasoned tastefully, with varied garnishes to keep things interesting.
Blasberg isn’t shy about his enthusiasm for cooking and is always willing to help anyone along their own health journey.
“Meal prepping benefits me on many levels,” Blasberg said. “From allowing me more time in my day not spent in the kitchen, to accountability of a healthier lifestyle, to even conversations with others when they see I have food already prepared. I’ve come to realize I have a passion for helping others get healthy because I struggled with that at one point in my life.”
For Blasberg, it’s all about growing to be the best version of himself possible and helping his friends on their path to creating the best version of themselves.
With two years of meal prepping experience under his belt, Blasberg is content. He’s certainly has come a long way from the baby-faced high-school graduate considering a life in the Air Force.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2020 12:16 |
| Story ID: | 370900 |
| Location: | LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | SHERMAN OAKS, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Laughlin Airman makes a lifestyle of healthy eating, by SSgt Anne Ortiz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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