Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

Wanted to start keeping track of my workouts here over the next bit as I get ready to begin prep for my bodybuilding show in August!

Right now, my focus is still primarily muscle gain. Well, net muscle gain is always the goal, even during dieting, but that’s a conversation for another post on protein synthesis, etc.

Oh, and while I still have time to toy around, I’m going to wear a device that detects my caloric expenditure from my movement. Adding that to my resting metabolic rate will give me a decent idea of where I want to start with my calories and macro breakdowns. I have numerous calculations I use, but I think this will give me a closer to exact idea.

Monday’s Bench Press Festival

bench press
roughly 4-5 sets of warming up and acclimating
315x8repsx4sets
405x8x3
545x2x2
315x10x2

No reason why I bounced around so much later on in the sets – my workout partner was running late so I stayed at 315 for a bit, and that’s not a terribly bad thing because it forced me to get some reps in, and I was doing those sets VERY controlled (3 seconds down). Still, 11 sets of moderately heavy weight worked well.

decline bench press
405x8x5sets

Just one of my favorite exercises, and overall, a good tricep builder as well :)

flat db bench press
150lb dbs ea x 10-12×5 sets

If the gym I typically lifted at had 160-200lb db, I’d do db bench a lot more often but more than anything, I just get bored.

Lateral DB raises
My shoulders are definitely a strong point for me, so I keep direct shoulder volume light. Seems to have worked well, as a) I have nice shoulders and b) I have been able to stay shoulder injury free for years.

40x15x5s

DB Skull Crushers on a Decline Bench
An exercise I highly recommend if you’ve never done them. At the top, keep your palms facing. At the bottom, turn your hands to where you are looking at your palms.

40×12-15×6 sets

Overhead cable tricep extension
200×10-15×5 sets

Just wanted to finish off strong here.

Hey all,

I’m pretty open about my fitness goals – I’ve found that by letting people know my goals is a great way to keep me accountable and motivated. Ultimately, my personal goals are mine and I’m very self-motivated, but I’m human, and a big part of being human is our internal desire to please and to not let people down, and in a way, I feel that sharing goals kind of “puts me out there” to where I don’t want to let anyone down (if that makes any sense at all).

Nonetheless, having goals in the short, mid, and long term give us kind of a road map as to where we intend on going.

Last week or so, I shared that I’m competing in bodybuilding again in August. Actually, this past Sunday was exactly 5 months out. While I don’t actually start my hardcore prep for a few weeks, I have begun what I call Stage 1 and I’ll blog more about that later this week. Obviously, that’s my mid-range goal, and to get on stage, I have to focus on several short-term goals (following my exact plan of training and nutrition, getting plenty of rest, etc).

Most people aren’t surprised that I’m competing. I’m often asked about when I plan on getting back on stage, and those close to me know I toyed with it a lot last year.

It’s my long term goal that surprised a lot of people. During the early part of my military career, I spent a lot of time in martial arts training. Of course, that was several years ago and while I’ve focused on keeping my skills at least relevant, I haven’t put forth the complete dedication that I once did. Anyway, my goal after my show is to dedicate 12-18 months toward my martial arts skills (Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, and Tae Kwon Do) with the goal of fighting an amateur mixed martial arts fight before my 39th birthday (I turned 37 just over 2 weeks ago).

My life motto is this: Suffer from the pain of dedication or suffer from the pain of regret. Given the choice (which I do have a choice), I’m going to choose the former. I’ve been blessed with a healthy life and an intense work ethic, and I’d love to be able to say “I did that”.

But first things first… On August 31, 2013, I’ll be on stage at approximately 198lbs in the light heavyweight division of the NPC Sun City Bodybuilding Classic in El Paso, Texas. I’ve been very objective on my weaknesses and body parts I need to improve on to be competitive and will do absolutely everything in my power to make those improvements and be ready to put my best physique on stage come August. I’ll be documenting the whole process here on my blog, and as I mentioned, I’ll not only explain the “what”, but also the “why” and “how” – I like to share the entire process with anyone who takes the time to read my blog!

Let me say one final thing: thank you for letting me share my journey with you!

Get busy living or get busy dying!

Hey gang,

Last week I mentioned here, Facebook, and Twitter that I plan to return to the bodybuilding stage in August of this year, which led to several questions about my competition and prep. As many of you already know, as far as competing goes, my focus has been on my many figure clients. Well, this year, I’ll be sharing their agony!

When is the show you are doing?

August 31 in El Paso at the NPC Sun City Classic. Actually, it looks as if there will be several of us competing in the same show – as I’ll have friends, clients and family competing in figure, bikini, and bodybuilding. I’ve competed with a friend before, but never with a group of friends.

When will you start your competition prep?

Well, I never really quit training and eating at least a somewhat clean diet. I’ve started my “baseline” phase already, where I focus on eating my “prep” foods, just a lot more of them. I’m evaluating on a weekly basis to see exactly when I’ll start the countdown. As it stands now, my goal is to start the stretch run around Memorial Day.

How will your training split look as you prepare to compete?

Personally, I don’t train a traditional split. My training revolves around squatting, bench pressing or dead lifting. Sometimes two or all three of those movements or an alternate version of these lifts. However, the premise doesn’t change. I’ll also throw in work to focus on the groups that aren’t getting much direct work as well.

The biggest change will be the volume during each training session. As my calories become more restricted, I’ll lower training volume, but, more than likely, I’ll increase frequency.

How much cardio will you do?

Minimal. I mean, very minimal. More so, to get blood flowing on days I don’t weight train. All based on high intensity and low volume. No session will exceed 15-20 minutes, as my goal is to preserve absolutely every ounce of muscle that I can.

A few weeks ago, you discussed cost of competing for a female. Are there any differences in cost for a guy to compete?

No huge differences. We all have the same entry fees, same lodging, travel, etc. Posing trunks are MUCH cheaper than the posing suits that the females wear (typically no more than $60-85). Other than that, I personally eat a lot more food than most of my female competitors, and that adds up. But overall, it is much more inexpensive for a guy to compete.

What is the hardest thing for you to give up?

I’ve often said that my favorite food is simple: a good cheeseburger and french fries. If I were on death row, that’d be my final meal. But I don’t eat them often enough to say that I’ll miss them.

The thing that most people dislike that actually doesn’t bother me is the monotony. After a couple of weeks, I just become a robot and actually enjoy the constant routine. It’s probably easier for me to objectively assess a client than it is myself (I’m brutally hard on myself), so that’s a challenge, but I try to look at myself from the outside while listening to what my body needs (versus the peanut butter that it wants).

What’s the worst part about prep? What’s the worst part about the day of the show?

For me, the worst part about prep is the wait. I’m an intense person. Prep is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a long grind.

The worst part about the day of the show is how long the day lasts. It’s a very long day. You’re up late the night before, the day starts very early and ends very late. Lots of standing around and waiting, lots of being herded like cattle. Mooooooooooo.

The actual getting on stage is the greatest feeling on earth. THAT is the fun part.

What song are you going to do your posing routine to?

Honestly hasn’t crossed my mind. Something will click into my head at some point between now and then. My 8 year old may pick it for me.

Thank you for your questions and support! I’m very grateful and appreciate all of it!

Hey San Antonio,

I’m kind of annoyed with the state of personal training right now. It’s becoming kind of comical: the perpetuation of the same old, tired myths (“get that cardio in”, starvation diets, bullshit exercises, and limited results).

Whether you are considering me or one of my personal trainers as your trainer of choice, hopefully you’ll find this useful. Finding a quality fitness trainer can be tough. It’s important that you are comfortable with the individual and that you are able to communicate – that is why it is called “Personal” training. Here are a few other things that should make your search for the perfect trainer a little easier. Don’t be afraid to shop around – you should never feel pressured. Legitimate trainers expect you to shop around and investigate their offering. Don’t worry – the right deal for you will be available tomorrow as it is today.

What should you look for in a Personal Trainer?

A Personal Trainer should look like a fitness professional.
If they take pride in how they look, they’ll take pride in your results. I’d be concerned if my personal trainer was flabby, unhealthy thin, and smells like a Carl’s Jr Bacon Cheeseburger.

Before you exercise, you should meet with your trainer for a consultation.
Be on high alert for trainers that want to schedule a workout immediately. At first, they should be ready to sit down with you, get to know you and your goals, and allow you to get to know them and the way they like to do things.

A Personal Trainer should provide full diet and nutrition information to their clients as part of their training program.
Believe it or not, some trainers do not offer this information for free. If you’re looking to train, you have to be willing to eat a clean diet that minimizes junk food and unnecessary calories. Find a trainer that has a background in nutrition, and knows how to tailor diet plans for people as individuals. Everyone is different, and every diet is different.

A Personal Trainer should be easily accessible.
You should be able to contact your trainer at any time for any question you might have about your diet or program. That means that they should promptly return your messages and answer your emails in a timely fashion. Many trainers only deal with their clients while they’re in the gym. Make sure your trainer is always available to assist you. Your session doesn’t end when you leave the gym.

Find a trainer that can answer your questions.
A trainer should be able to answer most of your questions with minimal research. If a trainer volunteers to look something up, that’s fine, but don’t settle for a trainer that tells you that the answer is in a new supplement, hours of cardio, or crash diets. Don’t be afraid to check the answer your trainer gives you to ensure accuracy.

A quality Personal Trainer will tell you “Why”, not just “What” and “How”.
“Trust me, it works” isn’t an acceptable answer to why you are doing something. Many clients don’t care why, and that’s fine, but it is your right to ask and know why you are doing something. Don’t waste your time doing something if it isn’t going to help you just because the trainer “Said so.” Never be afraid to ask “Why are we doing this and how does this relate to my goals?”

A Personal Trainer should look like they workout.
Would you go to a dentist that had bad teeth? Probably not, so why go to a trainer that isn’t lean and in respectable shape? A trainer should look like they know what they are talking about. Don’t be confused, many bodybuilders feel that because they have competed, they should be trainers. Many will try to lead their clients to believe that knowledge, not genetics, hard work, illegal drugs, or many years of trial and error, got them to where they are.

A Personal Trainer should have several quality certifications and at least some health/fitness related educational background.
There are many organizations that provide organizations, but not so many of them are reputable. Look for individuals that are certified through ISSA, ACE, ACSM, and NASM, to name a few. Ask your trainer who they are certified through, and check out the organization. Understand that a certification only allows a personal trainer to train and does not qualify them as THE expert. A true professional will always look to further their fitness education through numerous classes, seminars, and other forms of continuing education.

A good Personal Trainer will have experience training others.
Ask your trainer about their body of work. Don’t settle for a trainer that can tell you the changes they’ve made in their own physique, but ask them about the results they have helped others achieve. Certifications and degrees are great, but can they apply what they know? Have they helped numerous competitors get on stage? May not be what you’re looking for, but it’s the ultimate in body transformation. Do they have references? Testimonials?

Be Aware – If you train at a commercial gym, the trainer will try to sell you things.
There are many quality trainers at commercial clubs all over the country. However, the clubs usually require them to sell you a bigger training package, a longer gym membership, or items from the club’s supplement and apparrel line, and they get paid to do so. A professional should be able to draw the line and give you an objective answer about without a conflict of interest or doing what is best for “the club”.

A Personal Trainer should have liability insurance and a current CPR certification.
Accidents and injuries happen. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that your trainer isn’t covered or can’t help you in an emergency situation.

Cheaper isn’t always better!
So many trainers just want to have a huge number of clients that they drop their prices extremely low and look to make money off of volume. Remember, you get what you pay for. Many of those trainers are just looking to make a buck, and they don’t value your goals as an individual. Find a trainer that is flexible and is willing to do whatever it takes to help you get into shape, even if it means long talks on the phone at night or answering several emails a day from their clients.

There are many things to look for when you’re searching for a personal trainer. These are a few of the common traits that a good trainer should have. Don’t be afraid to shop around, and never feel pressured with your trainer.

Until next time!

Greetings Figure, Bikini, and Bodybuilding Competitors:

While the exact show dates have yet to be announced, the times are pretty consistent year to year, and before you know it, we will be in prep season for the shows in early 2013.

Last year, I reached my personal capacity for clients very early in the year. As it comes to training for shows, I do cap the number of competitors I’ll train to ensure that each of my clients receive my full attention. My prior clients do get priority for future shows, and others are on a first come/first serve basis.

In fact, I have numerous people in “pre-prep” right now, as they get ready to go into full blown prep mode for their shows.

If you are interested in using my competition prep services, now is the time to at least touch base with me and let me know what you’re thinking! Thus far, 2012 has been an absolutely dominant year that will culminate in early November when Chelsey competes at the NPC Nationals in Atlanta.

My premise is simple: you will look your very best on the day of your show, period. No magic, nothing drastic – my approach is both scientific and experience based, design on your exact needs.

I do train competitors both locally and online, so contact me now for more information!

I will be holding a figure posing and coaching clinic Saturday morning at 10am at my studio on 16613 Huebner Road here in San Antonio.

We will go over the basics of posing and presentation, stage presence, simulate pre-judging and practice all of the posing with personal adjustments to each competitor. We will conclude the session with a Q&A to answer any questions you may have about competing. Competitors of all stages of prep and competition experience will be there, so there will be something for everyone.

I have been to several shows over the last few weeeks, and overall, the posing has been terrible, costing many ladies higher placing and trophies. Posing is not something you can take lightly…

The cost is $40 for non-clients. Most ladies will be wearing their suit tops, a regular bikini top, or a sports bra along with shorts. If you want to partake in the practice posing (where we will be adjusting you to help you optimally present your physique), let me suggest that you wear posing shoes!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (call or text) at 210.391.1454 or email me at boyd@the-personal-trainer.com. Please RSVP so I can know how many to expect!

Due to the fact that I’ve been a) attending shows almost every weekend with clients over the last 2 months and b) blogging quite a bit about figure competitions, my competitors, coaching and such, I’ve been receiving quite a few messages with figure and competition based questions. Now that things have returned somewhat to normal, I’ll take the time to respond to a few of those inquiries!

Boyd: I’ve competed in two figure contests this year here in Iowa and haven’t been very happy with my placings. I’ve used the same coach for both shows, and it seems that he uses almost identical programs for all of his clients. My question is mainly about cardio (I do two one hour per day sessions during prep), but relates to the entire program that you use for your clients: how much cardio do you have figure girls do and how much do programs vary for each girl? Is it normal to have everyone doing something very similar or are there cases where two girls are doing things drastically different? Congrats on all of your ladies’ success, they look great!

Anytime I put together a training program and/or a nutrition program for ANY client, it is custom. I take into consideration that person’s specific goals (where they want to go) and their current condition (where they are). While the goals are very similar, no two of my figure clients are doing anywhere near the same thing. Renae and Chelsey, for example, did very little (or NO) cardio during their preps and both ate a fairly high amount of carbohydrates. Early on with Brandy, I realized that she greatly benefited from an extremely low carbohydrate approach with huge refeeds (almost a ketogenic style diet). Same goes for the training: preparation for a figure contest requires me to evaluate each physique regularly and make changes based on what muscle groups/body parts need to be prioritized.

I’ve said for years that most female competitors do way too much cardio. IF I have a female do cardio, it’s mostly HIIT and sprinting based, as fat loss is mostly a product of our nutritional approach. Most coaches are stuck in the stone ages on what it requires to get a person down to competition ready leanness and believe that starvation + excessive cardio will do the trick. For the record, it does not.

(This one is kind of based on the last question and was left as a comment. Had to share it :) – Boyd: It is literally impossible to have washboard abs without high amounts of cardio.

Really? No cardio.

Boyd: I’ve always wanted to compete, but to be honest, I don’t have the time to do what I need to do. Any tips for a busy woman?

I don’t think I can say this without sounding condescending, but please don’t take that as my tone: Either make a way or make excuses. I hate to tell you, but everyone is busy. My competitors are mothers, have demanding jobs that require 70+ hour work weeks, tend to family and/or go to school full time all during prep. Sometimes it requires them to go to the gym at 10pm or 4am, but they get it done. I’ve found that when most people trim dining out, Facebook, and television from their days, they’re often amazed at how much time they’re able to come up with.

The great thing is? While competition prep is always on your mind and is about making proper decisions, the actual training doesn’t require an insane amount of time. Most people have the misconception that they need to be in the gym for 25 hours per week to get ready for a show, when, in truth, it is typically less than 5 hours per week and a couple of hours to make a bunch of food at once so that you have it.

When anyone tells me that they don’t have an extra 7 hours in a week, I dismiss them as lazy, poor time managers, or not serious.

I was laughing at your Twitter feed when you were talking about “gurus” and some of the stuff they have clients doing. Any new “material”? (:

Actually, there was a lady “pumping up” backstage at Renae’s show last weekend with a Shake Weight… I really got a laugh out of it, and we tried to get a pic, but she was elusive.

Boyd: I want to compete but don’t think I could ever look like some of the girls that I’ve seen in magazines or on the net, and would just get laughed at.

I’ve been to hundreds of bodybuilding and figure shows in my life, and I’ve never laughed at a competitor that was willing to get on that stage and be judged against other competitors, regardless of their condition. It takes a lot of guts. When I think about competing, I think about it in terms of “competing against yourself”. I believe the people that have the most fun and get the most personal gratification from competing are the ones that do it to improve themselves. I believe that individuals that go into it thinking “let’s see, I’m at least going to get in the very best shape of my life, be able to say ‘I did it’ and have memories that will last far longer than any trophy ever could”. My only response is “How on earth could that ever be a negative experience?

The biggest mistake one could make is to say “I wish I would’ve”. I’ve seen seemingly normal people make drastic changes and get on stage. Renae told me last Saturday before finals that she never thought she’d be in the best shape of her life just weeks before her 40th birthday. And I’ve always said that: the “best shape of your life” should NOT be a thing of the past. Anyone that thinks in that mindset often or thinks that it cannot be a thing of the future is simply wrong, misguided, and needs to be smacked (okay, a little drastic)!

I have other questions to get to as well, but wanted to trim these down while things are a little more calm!

Follow EVERY dream! Only you can limit YOU.

Just received this awesome email from Renae about her journey, which culminated with a class win in her first figure show, the NPC Sun City Classic.

Now that the spray tan has been washed off and the hair extensions have been put away, I can start to absorb the true rewards of what I’m calling my “mid-life crisis of sorts.” I went into this because I didn’t want any regrets. I will be turning 40 in a few weeks and I just felt like the hands of time were coming down on me fast and now was the time to go for it.

Having known Boyd for a couple of years, he would occasionally throw out the idea of competing. But I always shrugged him off telling him he was crazy. You see he obviously didn’t know that I was, and had always been, the “big” girl….at least in my eyes. I had NEVER been comfortable in my own skin and would hide behind any cute wrap or cover up I could find. So the idea of getting up on a stage in a bikini was just plain absurd!

But 14 weeks ago after watching Chelsey on stage, I decided to step outside my insecurities and go for it. So with the support of my husband, Brent, and the guidance and direction of Boyd, I took a leap of faith and dived head first into this. I gave it 110%. I was not going to fail and let anyone down. There was not one single cheat along the way. No hiccup. No nothing!

We went on a two week vacation in Colorado and I packed a hot plate and cooked my meals in the room for the next day. And worked out anyway I could:

I’m not sure where this drive and determination came from, but my family and friends pretty much thought I was crazy. I think I probably was, but where there is a will to succeed, there is a way! “No excuses” became my motto! As I saw the changes taking place, it fueled my determination. Again, this is all so outside my box. I was seeing something in myself that I had never seen before. People started asking what I was doing. They wanted details, but the truth is…there is no magic. I just follow directions really well! I listened. I didn’t question. I trusted and had faith in the vast experience that Boyd has, and that was it. His track record and obvious knowledge allowed me to feel confident in the process. It is to his direction, that I owe so much of the credit.

So when it came down to getting on that stage, I assumed that the nerves would set in at some point. My goal though through all of this was to just have fun with it. I didn’t want any stress and pressure. I wanted to have the time of my life, and thankfully that is exactly what I did! There were no nerves. I was completely relaxed. That in itself is crazy because I had no wraps to hide behind on that stage.

As it turned out, my work was rewarded and I walked away with two visual reminders of what I personally accomplished, but this goes so much further than I ever imagined. The blessings are coming now. Just today alone I have been told by several friends that my crazy mid-life crisis has inspired them to step outside and reach for their own personal goals. They are taking the first step to better themselves and make the changes necessary to help achieve their individual successes. That goes so much further than medals and trophies. Those things will only be reminders that is never too late. As corny as that sounds….it’s true!!

Renae Poss
(Boyd adds: NPC National Figure Competitor)

“Definitely one to mark off the bucket list!”

This is what Renae said to me just a few minutes after earning the Open Tall Class victory in her very first figure show a month before her 40th birthday.

While she’s obviously not the first mom to win an NPC Figure Show, she is the perfect example of what one can do with hard work. This one is especially rewarding for me as her trainer because we were friends before she ever decided to compete.

Renae decided to compete when she tagged along with us to Chelsey’s show in Shreveport. I had suggested that I knew she could, and she admitted this weekend that she had her doubts. Here is a pic of Renae after that weekend, roughly 14 weeks ago:

She obviously wasn’t obese or in bad shape, but the condition it takes to get on stage is not achieved easily.

Initially, we decided to compete at the NPC Texas State Championships on October 13. About 3 weeks ago, I felt like she was ready to get on stage before that point, and suggested that she compete in the El Paso show this past weekend (August 25).

All she did was win the Tall Class in the Open Figure Division!

I’m always proud of any client that competes, but I’m more proud when a client and a friend realizes that limitations are only placed on us by ourselves and that anything is possible.

Her goal was to get on stage, have fun, and be in the best shape of her life at almost 40 years old. She did those things. I posted on Facebook that she was calm and confident, and looked like she had done it 100 times. There was no way, it seemed, that this was her first show.

Winning her class was a huge bonus to cap off 15 weeks of hard work!

Not only did she win, but she also became Nationally Qualified in the NPC, which means she can compete to become an IFBB Pro at a national competition!

Proof that when you believe in yourself, the SKY IS THE LIMIT! Congratulations, Renae!

Hey everyone,

I’m sitting in my hotel room in El Paso with the air conditioner down to about 65 (I really love that about hotels), someone on ESPN babbling incoherently about Lance Armstrong, Roger Clemens, and a host of other irrelevant topics – simply trying to pass the time until my client Renae competes tomorrow morning at 9am in the Figure Division of the Sun City Classic here on the campus of UTEP.

Last night at dinner, I met a couple of guys that are in the Air Force and are here TDY in El Paso. Being former Air Force, it was nice to hear about current “going ons” and it never surprises me, but we actually had many common friends (the military is the small world). When they found out what I was here for, like many others usually do when they find out what I do for a living, they wanted to know exactly what it takes to get into amazing shape.

Also like others, they prefaced their curiosity with “I don’t want to compete, but…” Realistically, the difference in what it takes to make a drastic physique change and to actually get on stage is very small. Both require intense discipline and more than likely, changes to the habits that you already have – obviously, what you are doing right now depends on how much you actually need to change.

Another key is to learn exactly what it is you need to be doing. I meet a lot of people that really in their hearts believe that they are doing what they should be doing, yet, the progress they desire isn’t being made. There is no one-size fits all program. Ultimately, you’ve got to know when to change the approach and the game plan.

Of course, the best game plan in the world means nothing if you don’t stick with it. In the hotel room next to mine, there’s a lady that hasn’t had as much as an M&M in 15 weeks. Not one sip or nibble of something that doesn’t fit our plan of attack. Obviously, that is extreme. But Figure is a sport of extremes. I have several clients that do not compete and live a relatively NORMAL life – but they exercise discipline and do make sacrificies. And most of them will tell you that it simply becomes their new normal.

I hate to break it to you, but there are no shortcuts. There’s no 15 minute per day workout, there’s no overnight diet or pill that will allow you to eat whatever and however much you want. Serious results take a serious approach.

The coolest thing about my job as a personal trainer and figure/bodybuilding prep coach is that everyone I work with, while extraordinary in their commitment and determination, are normal people that have jobs that require long hours, families that require extra attention, and everyday problems that rise up that they cannot ignore.

The difference between success and failure is how you deal with those obstacles: do you let them become excuses or do you make it happen?

If you’re looking for the right time to drastically change, it’ll never come. Your life will never be stress and obstacle free. If something is important to you, you’ll find a way to make it happen!

I want to congratulate all of my clients that have gotten or will be on stage thus far this year: Chelsey, Maelien, Renae, Brandy, and Lulu (and to the others that are competing early next year: Brian, Tracy, Elimae, Angel, Brooke, Amy, Melanie) – you all completely inspire me and I’m very proud that I’ve had the chance to work with each of you, and look forward to your continued success on stage and in life!

Hey everyone,

I’d say we’ve had a very nice run thus far this competition season. My ladies have competed in several NPC and INBF shows, and we’re somewhere near (maybe a little past) the mid-way point of the busy competition season.

This weekend will be the last weekend of travel for shows until October 13. On Saturday, Renae steps on stage for the first time in the over 35 Figure Division at the NPC Sun City Classic in El Paso.

After this weekend, I have a little over a month between shows to recharge! That means we WILL be having our next posing clinic on September 8 at my studio (more on that to come). Sorry, but I’m taking Labor Day Weekend off…

September 29 is the Alamo Classic that Miles Stoval puts on. I have Lulu doing that show in the over 50 Figure division. I don’t know how many 50 year olds you know that are competitive Figure athletes, but Lulu already looks amazing and I expect her to get her WNBF Pro Card at this show!

October 13 is the NPC Texas State Championships in Stafford, and that will be Chelsey’s third show this year. She looked absolutely perfect in Dallas, and I have no doubt that she’ll come in ripped and defined even more improved in Stafford.

I’ve already chatted with a few different competitors about shows next year (and actually have a few in prep). If you’re thinking about competing, LET ME KNOW! You can find most of the information about my Competition Services on my main website: San Antonio Personal Training and Competition Preparation Services

Busy short week here, but I’ll do my best to post updates as we get ready for El Paso.

Kick ass every day!!!

Hey everyone,

The string of figure competition dominance continues! The big weekend is finally here: my client Chelsey is competing Friday and Saturday in the Figure Division at the NPC Europa Super Show. It is her first show since winning overall at the Optimum Classic in Shreveport back in May.

The Europa is one of the largest amateur shows in the country, and it also doubles as an IFBB Pro Show. I have no doubt that all of her hard work will pay off and I am confident that she will be getting her hand raised on Saturday during the finals. I don’t think most people completely grasp what it takes to get on stage, and Chelsey competed in May and went straight into prep for the Europa, so she has been dieting and in “prep” mode for twice as long as most competitors typically are. She is like a machine, and I’ve never seen anyone who is capable of putting her body through what we have over the last several months.

To say I’m proud of her is a complete understatement – it has been my honor to train this future Olympia Competitor Winner!

If you’re interested in keeping up with the Europa (from my perspective), keep an eye on my Fitness Facebook Page or follow me on Twitter.

Our goal is to always DOMINATE, and I expect nothing less this weekend! It’s simply WHAT WE DO!

Things have changed a little bit in my world. Just met with Renae and we’re moving things up a bit. We have decided that she’s ready to get on stage NOW (versus waiting until October 13) and she’s going to be competing August 25 in El Paso in the Figure Open and Masters Divisions. I’d never put a client on stage that I didn’t feel was ready to bring home a trophy (and hopefully an Overall win, but that’s up to the judges), and her hard work has really paid off, and I am sure that she’s ready.

But first things first: August 17-18 is Chelsey’s next show. I fully expect Chelsey to dominate at the Europa and get ready to obtain her pro card in Atlanta in November. It’s a tough show with some of the best competition in the nation (for an amateur show), but just “qualifying” isn’t enough – we want her to win against the very best amateurs in the world.

Of course, I will be having posing practice this weekend at my studio at 10am (16613 Huebner Road in San Antonio), so if you’re a figure competitor, don’t wait. I watched a lot of good competitors POSE themselves out of a trophy this weekend: it does make a difference. I’ll write another post for posing practice in a day or so.

Have a great week!

In a big rush this morning, but wanted to take a second to say “CONGRATULATIONS” to Brandy on competing in her first figure contest and bringing home a few very nice trophies!

I’m extremely proud of Brandy – her story is very inspirational. At one point, she was over 200lbs. Now, she’s a competitive figure athlete. From the day we started her diet and training over 13 weeks ago, she has been absolutely perfect, doing absolutely everything that I asked of her (down to the exact gram of carbohydrates), and obviously, her hard work paid off, and I can’t wait to work with her again whenever she’s ready to get back on stage (I have a feeling that she’s hooked).

Congrats girl – YOU KILLED IT!

Now, we start the countdown at 12 days until Chelsey competes at the Europa in Dallas (August 17, 18).

I train several figure competitors here in San Antonio and online around the country. I am very honest in the fact that I’m extremely selective when it comes to train clients for specific shows. What I mean is that I have a lot of people that contact me and tell me they want to compete in a certain show on a certain date and they’d like for me to train them for that specific show. More times than not, I decline.

I want to be clear: I will only allow a client get on stage when I feel they are ready to be competitive. Picking a show is a GREAT start, but I’m also very objective when letting you know if you will be at your absolute best or not. I know that some may not understand this, but if you’ve ever been to a show and seen the difference between the top tier figure competitors compared to those that weren’t quite ready to compete, you’ll understand. If I assign my name and my reputation to a competitor, I want them to be at their very best. Dieting and getting ready for a show is not easy. If you’re going to do the work, you deserve the opportunity to win.

There are many personal trainers out there that will simply take your money and tell you that you’ll be ready by show date. I’m not one of those trainers. My track record speaks for itself (10 straight figure competitors have at least won their class) – much of that is because I am selective.

The figure season is now in full swing, and it is this time of year that most of the shows, especially in the NPC in Texas, are held. IF you are wanting to compete this year and you are thinking about using me as your prep coach, now is the time to contact me. Also, it’s NEVER too early to start thinking about the Spring shows as well.

I’m not about volume: I could put competitors in shows every week. However, I’m much more concerned with having winning competitors over simply having competitors…

This weekend, we conquer the Dorian Yates Classic in Austin, as Brandy steps on stage for her very first show. Good luck to all competitors that may be competing wherever you are!