Capt. Hollie Diesselhorst, 909th Aerial Refueling Squadron, and Capt. Tom Hunt, 67th Fighter Squadron celebrate after finishing a "muddy buddy" race together. Muddy buddy is a six to seven mile foot and bike race. (Courtesy photo)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Running in the mud, riding bikes, lifting weights.
When it comes to staying in shape, Air Force Capts. Tom Hunt and Hollie Diesselhorst do it all. Physical fitness is infused in every part of the married couple’s lives.
“The thing is to find something that works for you,” Hunt said.
Hunt, an F-15 pilot, and Diesselhorst, a KC-135 pilot, both stationed at Kadena Air Base, are proof that despite 12-hour workdays, deployments and temporary duty stations, everyone has time to incorporate fitness into their lifestyle.
Exercise has been a part of the couple’s life ever since they met while instructor pilots in the 37th Flying Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.
“We were both gym rats. I almost exclusively lifted weights, and she was a runner,” Hunt said.
“I did some weights,” Diesselhorst added, “but I wasn’t very good at it. One day I asked him to help me lift, and we became workout partners.”
The two got hitched in February 2006.
They say fitness isn’t hard, but that it takes dedication and must be a lifestyle. Both captains exercise every day and said they do not concentrate on developing their upper or lower bodies.
“Our average workout is an hour to an hour and 15 minutes long, and we concentrate on a different muscle group each day,” Hunt said.
After lifting weights, Hunt hits the stationary bike, and Diesselhorst goes for a three-mile run.
On the rare occasion the couple misses a workout, they double up on the weekend.
They accompany their workout schedule with healthful eating. Both avoid refined sugar, and they never eat fast food. Hunt likes engineered food such as protein bars, while Diesselhorst prefers whole foods, a lot of fruits and veggies.
“If you don’t eat right, the gym doesn’t really do you any good,” Hunt said.
