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Deployed sergeant returns home 36 pounds lighter

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  After Tech. Sgt. Bobbie Lynn Sherman had her daughter, losing weight was a challenge, but when she received a deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in January, she left with a goal in mind: lose 30 pounds. Now preparing to return home, Sherman has exceeded that goal by six pounds.

"I knew that most of my responsibilities of home life would not be here, plus with the draw-down, the gym was one of the things that was still here, so this was the time to be selfish and workout," said Sherman, who is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, and currently serves as the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Judge Advocate NCOIC.

Her weight-loss journey began within her first week of arriving to her deployed location when she joined a few co-workers for an abs workout class offered at the 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron Housing 6 Fitness Center.

"I left early from the first class because it was difficult, I kept complaining and never wanted to go back," said Sherman, who is a native of Springfield, Ore. "But then I realized I felt good and it was fun working out in a group setting, so I've been attending the class ever since."

Sherman's weight loss was not instant.

"I didn't know I could do it," she said. "I worked out five times a week, and I ate what I wanted, having dessert only once a week.

"After three months the weight started falling off," she continued. "It didn't happen overnight, it was a lifestyle change."

When Sherman first arrived, she had a duty-limiting condition which prevented her from doing push-ups, but after she was cleared, she took a physical training test.

"I received the highest score in my Air Force career," she said. "I ran the fastest, did the most push-ups and did the maximum amount of sit-ups."

Halfway through her deployment, Sherman took on an additional challenge.

"The abs class instructor was redeploying and every class, she asked for someone to take it over," said Sherman. "One day I asked if she found a replacement and she asked if I was interested. I really liked the class, and I didn't want to see it go away."

Sherman officially took over the class in March and continued to lead it the next few months. Now, as she begins getting ready to return home, Army Capt. Daniel Rieck, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Staff Judge Advocate office, has taken the lead.

With her return home, Sherman plans to keep her new lifestyle and has already signed up for the Air Force half marathon at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in September. She also plans to keep working out five days a week and continuing to challenge herself with marathons.

"I've never felt this good, so I want to keep it up and keep making goals to stay on track," said Sherman.