Fellow Military Members,

I wanted to get some feedback on how everyone else manages the requirements of military training with their fitness or nutrition goals.

One reason I've never been able to do a full Velocity Diet even though I've wanted to for years is PT requirements in the Army. The need for carbohydrates for long distance runs and ruck marches just can't be sustained on the shakes.

Its funnay that, I've enjoyed some great gains on deployments on dirty nutrition and supplements. In the states I often fall back into the issues poor nutrition with field time and long hours sabotaging the best of nutrition plans, with the competing demands also of spending time with my family.

Recently, I'm back into a school house environment where I have a reasonably predicatble PT schedule and I've been able to balance heavy weight days with the long distance runs days...

Just curious how others have balanced competing demands over the years....

I've always just stuck to my personal training and nutrition goals despite the fluctuating demands of unit fitness. Fortunately, as a JAG, I've always been part of the staff, and in the AF, the staff doesn't always do unit fitness like squadrons do. In the rare cases where group fitness was the norm, I would always do my workouts at night to avoid any conflicts. I think the amount of carbohydrates needed to sustain me didn't fluctuate with the two-a-days created by unit fitness and personal fitness regimens.

I get mine at about 0400. That way, I've got my workout done, and there's no excuse not to after work, plus I don't have the extra diet restrictions that come with 2adays after unit PT.

If you are running/ruckung alot, carbs shouldn't be a problem. Cut 'em back slowly until you're at a point where you feel good after PT, but aren't gaining weight. Trust me, that magic point is there.