Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

Hey San Antonio,

When I began preparing for the Lackland Bodybuilding Classic almost 100 days ago, I had decided that I’d make an effort to not make this blog simply about bodybuilding and I’ve really focused on keeping things mixed up. Of course, I’m so close now that it’s tough to focus on anything else! Also, I’m fascinated at the interest from so many people that normally probably wouldn’t care whatsoever about bodybuilding but for whatever reason, they’ve taken an interest in this blog.

Remember, I am a new competitive bodybuilder. I know a lot of personal trainers compete early and then decide “Hey, I should be a personal trainer” but like I said in my interview, I started as a personal trainer and then decided that I wanted to compete.

I don’t care to hide that I am hooked on preparing for the show. In reality, while I will welcome a somewhat regular life, I am going to miss the intensity. I have already circled a few dates on the 2010 NPC Bodybuilding Schedule that I am going to compete, and I’m not going to stray too far away from my prep diet. I’ll recover for a couple of weeks with a lighter workload and then it’ll be back to business, focusing on bringing up body parts that I want to improve.

In the last 14 days, the mental ballgame is at it’s peak. There’s a lot of strategy that could seem daunting. I know a lot of people put this time in the hands of others, but this is my health I’m concerned about. My skin already looks paper thin and my definition and conditioning is as tight as I had hoped it would be 14 weeks ago when I began. I have studied and studied what needs to be done to look my best on stage, and instead of the insane dehydration games and sodium manipulation that a lot of bodybuilders depend on, I decided 14 weeks ago that it’d be easier to just be in the best possible shape, have the least amount of body fat and the most muscle that I could possibly have and not torment my body and risk health issues by drastically dehydrating.

I bought every single ticket I could get my hands on (17) and those are all promised to friends and family. My cheering section will be awesome, but I’m most excited that my little boy will be there and get to see his daddy on stage. Since he’s only 5, it may not seem like a huge deal, but I hope he reflects back on it when he’s older and think “Wow, that was neat!”

I’m also happy that I have friends that are competing in the bikini and the figure competitions. So rooting for them will provide a calming and welcomed distraction.

Am I nervous? Not really. Not yet. Will I be? I’m sure I’ll feel nerves, but I’m also confident that I’ve executed my game plan to perfection and will be the best I can be on November 21. I’m very anxious and very excited. I can honestly say that I didn’t deviate and will not: 14 straight weeks (up until this point, two to go) without a cheat meal, without skipping a meal, without missing a workout, without skipping cardio. No excuses – as a personal trainer, that’s what I expect from my clients, and I was able to live up to my own standards, which have always been very high.

Right now, I’m relaxing on the couch, recovering from my first one hour cardio session. I had a great first meal and am already thinking about the next one :)

My greatest reward is that tomorrow I have a two hour massage planned with Jessica (my fellow Tennesseean). She’s about as good as there is at deep tissue massage, and she’ll have me ready to go. Monday will be another chiropractic adjustment with Greg Otterman (Advantage Chiropractic San Antonio), who is not only my chiropractor (and IMO, the best in town), but also someone I consider a friend. Between Jessica and Dr. Otterman, I’ll be at my peak and ready to attack these last few days with the same intensity (and lack of pain) that I have from the start.

One thing that makes me want to scream… A LOT of friends of mine that know me and that workout but can’t quite get the diet down are absolutely determined that if they follow my workout regimen and cardio regimen, they’ll lose fat and maintain muscle and be ripped for the Summer. Here is the deal: you are what you eat. If you eat good 80% of the time, you’ll hang around 20% body fat. Sad, but true. Your diet is what determines what is used for fuel, when fat is burned, if muscle is preserved, and how you look in the mirror. You can’t do part of it and expect to look great. Nutrition. Cardio. Weight Training. Recovering. These things are synergistic and work in unison. You can’t drive a car without wheels, no matter how the engine, transmission and frame are. Trying to do any of these things without the other pieces will not yield the fat loss and body transformation results that you are after.

If you’re going to play, play right. Don’t use the holidays as an excuse. Don’t hide behind not having time, the wife not cooking healthy, having kids, job stressing you out, school, or anything else. If looking and feeling great is a priority, treat it as such.

If you’re interested in my fitness and nutrition newsletter, just drop me an email at boyd@the-personal-trainer.com. I’m going to do all I can to mix up the content and keep it a little different from what is here on the blog, and it won’t be full of fluff and advertisements. I think you guys know that I won’t put my endorsement on just anything. I hate multi-level marketing scams and I hate solicitors. These are not things you have to worry about – your email is always safe with me.

Again, thanks to everyone (that I have met and those that I haven’t) for your support. If you plan on attending the Lackland AFB Bodybuilding Classic, please come up and say “Hi” – I really enjoy meeting readers!

Make the weekend great – tomorrow is no guarantee, so live accordingly!

Boyd Myers
Personal Trainer in San Antonio
Owner, San Antonio’s Top Personal Training Studio
16613 Huebner Rd (corner of Huebner and Bitters)
210.391.1454