Troxell, Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, mom and professional bodybuilder, obliges autograph seekers as guest poser during Sunday’s 14th Far East Bodybuilding Championships at Camp Foster, Okinawa. “Time management is key,” she says about balancing bodybuilding with a military career and being a mom. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Troxell, Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, mom and professional bodybuilder, obliges autograph seekers as guest poser during Sunday’s 14th Far East Bodybuilding Championships at Camp Foster, Okinawa. “Time management is key,” she says about balancing bodybuilding with a military career and being a mom. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Jamie Troxell shows her stuff as guest poser during Sunday’s 14th Far East Bodybuilding Championships at Camp Foster, Okinawa. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Life as a bodybuilder can be challenging. But try balancing that with being a mother of two and a gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps.
"Time management is a big key," said Jamie Troxell before her appearance as guest poser during Sunday’s 14th annual Far East Bodybuilding Championships at Foster Theater. "It’s a chosen lifestyle."
But to see all that she’s done in 20 years of bodybuilding would make one wonder if there are enough hours in the day.
She’s entered 19 competitions during that span, winning five of them, including the 5th Far East Championships in 2000 and the 2003 Armed Forces Bodybuilding Competition in the lightweight division. She earned her International Federation of Bodybuilders pro card in 2006.
When she’s not training, Troxell can be found working as an avionics supervisor, helping maintain C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with the 4th Marine Air Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in upstate New York.
Much of her Marine Corps career has been spent on Okinawa — seven total years on three different tours. She said she was thrilled when Marine Corps Community Services invited her to return to be a guest poser.
So what is a typical day like for her?
Rise at 3 a.m., cardio session, get ready for work, train during lunch and another cardio session at night.
"Nothing is ever easy," she said. "It takes sacrifice, dedication."
Oh, and there’s also ensuring that Troxell’s daughter Lauren, 12, and son Jaren, 10, get ready for school and making sure their homework is done and they’re prepared for the next day.
"My kids are very supportive. They understand," Troxell said, adding that her mother, Johna, "has helped out a lot."
What’s the most difficult part of maintaining that balance?
"When I’m traveling, watching my diet and being sure I can train wherever I go," she said.
What’s the best part of it?
"I like inspiring others to want to be fit and healthy," she said, adding that her life can be an example to others considering a bodybuilding career. "It can be done."
Far East bodybuilding champs
Category winners
Women’s heavyweight: Enid Tatum, Camp Foster, Okinawa (unopposed)
Men’s bantamweight: Bobby Rowe, Camp Hansen, Okinawa
Men’s lightweight: Ryo Yozaki, Futenma, Okinawa
Men’s light-middleweight: Tomoya Nakadomari, Uruma, Okinawa
Men’s middleweight: Jeffrey Velazquez, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan
Men’s light-heavyweight: Shinichi Itosu, Koza, Okinawa
Men’s heavyweight: Roosevelt Moody, Torii Station, Okinawa (unopposed)
Overall winners
Women: Enid Tatum
Men: Shinichi Itosu
