Airforce Figures

Bodybuilding competitors come from all walks of life. They could work in the corporate world, be shop assistants, labourers, nurses, be at home Mums or they could come from the Airforce!  In which our newest wonder women are from. Ashleigh Foote and Angela Ball work as Physical Training Instructors in the RNZAF in Blenheim and this year they have their sights set on competing at the NABBA Nelson Bays Champs in Oct which will held in Blenheim.  So we thought it would be interesting to find out what its like working in the Airforce and how Ashleigh will cope with the transition from wearing her uniform to wearing a bikini and being on heels!

Angela (left) and Ashleigh (right)

1. what do you do in Airforce?   My trade is Physical Training Instructor and I am a Corporal.  My  working hours  Mon - Fri 0745 - 1630 

2. when and where do you train  I work at the gym on base so we train there as well. Its really handy as its right next to our office. I usually train at lunchtime. 

3. do you still have to do a regular fitness tests?  what does that involve?  Yes. We have to do an OFT (operational fitness test) once a year which involves a max push up test and a 5km march wearing a 20kg weighted vest and belt. There are different requirements for age and sex. 

As a PTI we also have to do an additional test once a year which is a 3.2km run. Again there are different standards for age/sex. 

4. what kind of training do you make the personnel do.  Is it gym based or do you go out on obstacle courses and cane the heck out of them!  We do a whole range of training with them. It ranges from weight training, circuits, running, battle PT (running around carrying logs, tyres etc), swimming and classes on sports skills. We also run a 3 hour sports event once a month for our trainees. These can be anything from orienteering, athletics, cross country, sports tournament to a beach carnival!

5. what kind of training do you yourself at the moment? I have only been training 8 weeks so still a newbe :) I have just increased to 5 trainings a week and my trainings are split into 4 body groups. I do no cardio at all except for what i do at work. Which can vary from cardio everyday to none at all! 

6. how do you think dieting will affect your job - if at all? At the moment it is ok as we are still eating HEAPS! But i think it will be hard when we start to cut down as we still need energy to take our PT classes as well as train. 

7. are there many Airforce personnel wanting to compete in the Blenheim show?  There are about 8 of us that are training but not all 100% on doing the show yet! Me and Anj are definates!! 

8. is where you are quite close knit?  how do you think this will help you with the rigours of competing.  Yes it definately is! We all train at the same gym and most of us work in the same office too! Its good because we can keep on each others cases about food. Due to our competitive nature there is also a lot of banter too... trying to make each other crack and eat junk food is a biggy!  And we also feed off each other with training ideas etc.

9. being in the forces is quite regimented anyway, do you think the discipline of dieting will be easier for you to cope with?  In some ways our discipline is helpful. I think that it is a big benefit when it comes to training... but food... well that is all of our biggest downfalls!
	We have a thing at work called 'Joe Shouts' and they are a nightmare! If someone gets their name in the paper, has a birthday or just does something silly they have to bring in some morning tea for everyone. And that is usually cakes, biscuits, chips and all those kinds of foods. So for us it is very hard to resist when all that nice food is just sitting there staring at you!

10. what would your typical diet be at the mo - when there's no Joe Shouts! 
Haha!! Well. 1cup oats and 2 egg omlette for breaky. 3 rice cakes and 100g cottage cheese for snack. Lunch is either rice, veges and tuna OR Pita breads, salad and tuna. Afternoon snack is another 1/2 cup oats and then dinner is chicken, fish or steak with veges and either rice or potato. I'm on a high carb buzz at the moment because i'm trying to put weight on! Sometimes there is even more oats before bed :)

And I also have a protein shake after my workouts! My big downfall is coffees... i get really cold so i have lots of hot drinks! Need to cut those out! 

	11. how much weight/bodyfat you have to lose . No weight at the mo! My max weight for figure is about 51kg and i have been sitting around 49/50 for ages! Hence trying to put some weight on at the moment! Last time i got measured i was around 16% body fat!

12. how do you think its going to feel getting all glammed up in bikini and heels since you're used to wearing a uniform  I can't wait!!! Our job can be very un lady-like!! Wearing shorts, t shirt and runners most days! So i am looking forward to a chance to get glammed up actually! And the heels are great cos i am quite short :) 

20 May 09