Bodybuilding Staff Sergeant.

Staff Sgt. Alayna DeHerrera is executive assistant to the 50th Space Wing command chief. She began bodybuilding in 2012 and now stands at a lean 5’3,” 120-pounds.

She told DVIDS Hub:

“When I first started, I had no idea what to do in the gym or what movements target what body part,” DeHerrera said. “If I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the elliptical or ran a mile, I thought I was really getting after it. I also I had no idea what proper nutrition meant.”

Her husband Derrek deployed later that year, and that’s when Alayna reall ramped up the focus and intensity.

“I began lifting daily, educating myself and cleaning up my diet. I started following bodybuilders on social media and found myself continuously inspired. This continued for about three years, I found myself always driving to cardio harder and lift heavier; I found myself constantly being approached by strangers asking if I was a competitor.”

In 2017 she could finally answer ‘yes,’ placing first in the National Physique Committee Colorado Muscle Classic open class. She has since won in five different categories of the 2017 Nspire Sports League Colorado State Open.

As a natural athlete DeHerrera’s next step will be earning a pro-card through the Nspire Sports League in July at the Denver Pro Qualifier. SHe is certainly living the lifestyle of a pro, waking up early to smash cardio every morning:

“Post cardio, I typically eat breakfast and then go lift for about an hour. I typically train five or six days a week. From the gym, I head straight to work. At night when I go home, I ensure I get as much rest as possible along with prepping for the next day … that means making sure my meals are ready, my gym bag is packed, and my clothes are set out for the morning.”

And on top of her bodybuilding and military work, she finds time to pursue her Bachelors Degree. Husband Derreck is more than impressed:

“Her motivation and perseverance are truly inspiring. Regardless of what her goals were over the years, she has always accomplished them. She does not stop when she loses and does not take it negatively. Instead, she takes the constructive criticism and tries to better herself for the next goal.”

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