Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

Hey everyone,

On May 14, my client Chelsey Young competed in her first NPC Figure Show, the Optimum Fitness Classic in Shreveport, LA. When I first met Chelsey, I knew that she had the potential to do really well at absolutely any level. After a brief discussion, we decided on the show she was going to compete and the work began.

Then, twelve weeks later, she was on stage for the first time:

Due to luck of the draw, Chelsey ended up in the middle. During a Figure Competition, they do what is known as “Call outs” and bring the top competitors to the middle initially and compare them against the others. Chelsey stayed front and center, and they moved girls around her. As soon as I saw her against her competitors, I knew that we were going to place well, and it’d be a travesty if she didn’t win her class.

Here are pics of her next to the girl that would be the eventual class runner up:

At the end, I had little doubt – I actually posted “CHELSEY WINS OVERALL” on Twitter and Facebook before the official announcement (and showed her husband as I was doing it.

Chelsey’s next show is the Europa Pro/Am in Dallas on August 17/18 and is a national qualifier (which will enable her to compete for her IFBB Pro Card). I have a lot of confidence that she will do well and I feel like she will be very tough to beat. Actually, I’ll say it: I expect nothing less than victory.

Chelsey, I’m extremely proud of you – few people have the dedication and the work ethic that you do, and your focus is extremely evident. You are an inspiration and a role model for everyone you come in contact with!

I’m extremely honored to have the opportunity to work with you!

Hey everyone,

About to do a software update, so hang with me for a few hours! Hoping to add a few new plug-ins to make the blog more user friendly and more interactive as well!

Of course, I’m doing this between clients so it may take a couple of hours. I’ll be right back with updates on upcoming events. Figure Competition season is in full effect and I will have clients competing regularly from now throughout the Fall, so that’s always a fun time!

Update: Ok, the latest version of WordPress went through painless. Now I’m checking out new PlugIns to install!

Be right back!

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

Hey Everyone,

For those of you that don’t follow my Facebook Fitness page or my Twitter feed, Chelsey dominated her first show, the 2012 Optimum Fitness Classic in Shreveport, LA this weekend, winning not only her Figure class, but the Overall title for the show.

As soon as I get a chance, I’ll post photos and a full recap, but wanted to give congrats to the competition world’s newest figure champion, Chelsey Young! If you’d like to see photos now, go check out my Facebook Fitness Page – Boyd Myers Personal Fitness Training and Advanced Nutrition (hey, and give us a LIKE!)

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

Hey everyone,

It’s gametime! Well, kind of. My client Chelsea is competing in her first Figure show this weekend, the Optimum Fitness IFBB/NPC Pro/Am in Shreveport, LA. This is the toughest week – making sure that all of the hard work is in presentation form. She’s so competely ready, and I’m confident that she’ll do amazing and bring a nice trophy back to San Antonio! I always feel the jitters as my clients compete, probably moreso than they do when they’re on stage, but my track record has been amazing over the last few years, and I’m very confident in the work that Chelsea, her husband Troy and I have done.

I’m hoping to have some free time over the next few days to sit down and finish some writing. I’ve been living gluten and grain free for the last few weeks, so I’m looking forward to writing about that. I’ve been wanting to write a bit about the Meat and Nuts Breakfast as well. AND yes, I do have another CrossFit article in the works. Don’t worry CrossFitters, it really isn’t bad whatsoever.

Summer is HERE – there’s still time to look great at the pool, lake, beach, river, or wherever you may be heading!

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

Hey everyone,

Fit/Figure competition season is in full effect, and right now, I am working with several competitors who will be competing through the spring and summer. I receive numerous emails daily where potential competitors are asking questions about competing, what to expect and more. Here are a few of those recent questions.

Hi Boyd: I’m about 4 weeks out from my first show and still haven’t started posing practice. How important is it to learn in advance, and how much do they teach you on the day of the competition?

-Start practicing your posing NOW. After months of training and dieting, why risk bad placement by not taking time to master the posing? Posing is an art, and to a novice, a difficult art. I’ve seen very good physiques look terrible on stage because of lack of presentation ability. Posing will always be a work in progress and there is always room for improvement. Remember, on stage, you’re nervous, tired, the lights are hot and you are probably near dehydration. It’s important to look calm and relaxed while remaining flexed and presenting your body in the best possible way. In short, you cannot spend too much time practicing your quarter turns. You could be on stage for a very, very long time – you need to look as if you’ve been there (whether you have or not).

Boyd: How long should one diet and train for a competition?

-There’s no way I can answer this question because everyone is different. Hopefully, you have been working out and eating reasonable for some amount of time before deciding to compete, as few people have the God given genetics to just hop up on stage and be competitive. I typically recommend between 12-24 weeks of prep time, with 12 weeks reserved for those that are already well conditioned and relatively lean. Most people fall into the latter. As a bodybuilder, I typically prepare for 16-20 weeks. I’d rather have TOO much time than not enough, and the more time you have, the more time you can focus on preserving lean body mass while losing all fat. Make no mistake, although the competitors are female, muscular development is still the name of the game. It’s not about starving yourself and getting on stage looking like you are terminally ill.

Boyd: I’d like to see a schedule of bodybuilding contests in Texas. Is there a good central list?

The NPC is the most popular and the most competitive organization: NPC Texas 2012 Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Schedule. There are numerous other organizations that put on shows all year long with different requirements (drug tested versus non-tested, etc).

Hey Boyd: What is the technical difference between the Novice and Open Divisions?

-Without looking it up, I’ve always been told that novice is for competitors that have competed in less than 4 competitions. Of course, there are trophy collectors out there that will compete in every single possible division regardless. I don’t know that there is oversight (should be, but shows aren’t always organized as well as they could be).

Boyd: Any basic tips for someone who wants to compete in a figure competition?

If it is something you are serious about, pick a show and JUST DO IT! I know people who have told me they contemplated it for years and finally got the courage. Give yourself enough time to get ready, but don’t look too far ahead. A deadline gives you a sense of urgency and will help you bring out your best.

There are many other divisions outside of figure, with bikini and physique. There are distinct differences, but there is something for every conditioned physique.

Preparation can be overwhelming, but keep things in perspective, keep your life balance, and enjoy the ride. There’s a reason why so few people compete: it isn’t easy, and in my mind, anyone who competes has accomplished something that only a small group will ever know.

Find someone who understands the arts of prep and competing. There are a ton of nuances that you cannot be expected to know if you haven’t gone through all of it before (training, dieting, competition week, posing, tanning, posing suit, contest recovery, etc). There’s a huge difference between getting in shape and getting in competition shape.

As a personal rule, I limit how many competitors I train at one time because competitors require a lot of attention (I give everyone attention, but competitors need even more!). I honestly feel as if I am competing along with my clients.

Enjoy the ride – the time does go by fast, and comp day arrives before you know it!

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

Hey everyone,

I want to take a few seconds and congratulate Rachel S. on her decision to compete in the NPC Texas State Natural Bodybuilding/Bikini Championships on November 19, 2011 in Austin, TX. She took the first step on her journey today and I cannot wait to post her progress pictures over the next 17+ weeks as she works her way into competition shape.

Competing is NOT easy: there is a reason why so few people do it. The amount of discipline, physical and psychological effort, and sacrifice that it requires is not for the weak-minded. On top of that, just reaching stage is not enough: WE fully intend on winning her division (I say “WE” because I will be with her every step of the way!).

I know, 113 days seems like an eternity, but in the blink of the eye, it will be half that, and then inside a month, and then prep week – and during the entire cycle, I fully intend on keeping the readers of this blog informed on her progress, all the way through comp night when she is holding her trophy on stage.

Get ready for Rachel, everyone!

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

Hey Everyone,

Meet my new client Renee. She has decided to utilize my services as she prepares to compete in the NPC Europa Super Show on August 13 in Dallas. This show is 2 shows in one, and consists of the amateur portion that she will compete in, along with a IFBB show the same evening. Ironically, that date is exactly 5 months from today, and Renee is out having her “last supper” as I type this. :) It goes without saying that this is one of the premier figure/bodybuilding shows in Texas.

I’ll be discussing her training and tracking her progress here on the blog over the next few months, so if you’re interested in fitness related competitions (bodybuilding, figure, fitness, etc) then stay tuned – most people are shocked at the amount of time and preparation that goes into getting ready for that one day on stage. My track record with competitors is very good, and I’ve helped several win their competitions and several more have obtained professional status while working with me.

It’s important to understand that every person is COMPLETELY different, and no two people respond the same way to nutrition and training. I enjoy training competitors, as it is the ultimate test of what I do and validation of my experience and knowledge.

It’s Sunday, San Antonio! Make your week amazing!

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

I like to use variety in training. Not aimless variety like CrossFit – but custom variety based on a client’s needs, strengths and weaknesses. Whether it’s using ropes, kettlebells, Olympic Lifts, the heavy punching bag, plyometrics, the foam roller, powerlifting movements (right, Mary Lou?), circuit training or Yoga, everything has a time and a place.

I’m working toward setting a world record at my bodyweight on the bench press. Yesterday, I inched a bit further, surpassing my former one rep max by a few pounds. My next goal is 600 at a weight of under 245lbs. My long term goal? I want to bench press 720lbs. I’m now well into the 500s!

Right after I nailed my new personal best, I was really curious to see if I could decline bench press 315 20 times. No rhyme or reason – I was somewhat exhausted, almost seeing little birds fly around my head (hey, bench pressing more than a quarter of a ton is hard work). So, I decided to try it:

Didn’t even struggle, even though my foot had fallen completely asleep by rep number fifteen. haha Funny thing? My training is very streamlined and based on percentages and each movement is planned based on what needs to be improved. I was just being spontaneous. Why not?

Just another way to push it! Making the body do things that it normally does not do is key to forcing your body to adapt and change – it is the most basic mechanism that Mother Nature has given us.

No matter what it is, find your “other gear”. Don’t fall into redundancy and never allow yourself to fall into a comfort zone. I routinely force my clients to do things that I KNOW they can do, yet I also know they doubt that they can do it. Last week, when Mary dead lifted 205lbs (at 125lbs of bodyweight), she couldn’t believe that she was able to do it:

Funny thing? Her goal is to become more lean and defined. Most trainers would allow their clients to continue to believe that performing this exercise would make them big and bulky and hulking, yet that is the furthest thing from the truth: it is the most essential exercise ever (I mean, lifting something from the ground is as basic as it gets) and it does wonders for the core, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and the rest of the body.

How are you stepping outside YOUR comfort zone? Is it 3 more reps? 10 more pounds? 500 more feet? Find your threshold and blast through it!

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

Don’t forget that Personal Trainer Gift Certificates are available for the holidays, so give the gift of body transformation and fat loss this holiday season. All packages include complete nutritional guidance, 24/7 access to your trainer to ask any question you may have during your program and complete directions on what to do when you’re not in the gym. We have gift certificates for any of our fitness program packages, so for more information, feel free to email me at boyd@the-personal-trainer.com or give me a call at 210.391.1454.

Hey San Antonio,

This past weekend was a very big fitness related weekend here in San Antonio. Saturday was the Lackland Bodybuilding and Figure Classic while yesterday was the Rock and Roll Marathon. I work with both fitness competitors and marthoners, and I’ll tell you that both are accomplishments to be proud of. The dedication and training that go into preparing for a bodybuilding show, figure competition or a marathon isn’t the type of dedication that many people readily display on a regular basis.

But no matter how daunting either goal may seem, YOU can do it. I don’t mean tomorrow or next month: no matter what condition you’re in, they both take time and a lot of effort. I regularly train fitness competitors for 6-12 months as they prepare for figure and bodybuilding (and it works because they win). Regardless, although a goal like that may seem so far fetched for you, if you wanted it, you could do it.

Set a goal. It doesn’t have to be a competition, but set something worthy. A photo shoot. A big vacation. Something. Anything. Then take control and make it happen. Only you can stop you…

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

Hey San Antonio,

I just received this amazing write up from my client, Sarah, who obtained professional status as an IFPA Figure Competitor by sweeping all three of her classes last weekend at the Gateway Naturals in O’Fallon, Missouri. This is an amazing write up about her decision to hire me as her personal trainer and her experiences over the last six months as she prepared for her show.
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Being an athlete is part of who I am, it always has been. I find solace in competing in intense sports – from ultra-running to mountain biking to figure competing, I have always been amazed by what the human body will do, if we just ask it and don’t question whether or not it can.

To compete in extreme sports, it takes dedication and intense focus. The more serious you become about achieving your best (no matter what that may be), the more you begin to prioritize and detail out every facet of your training, nutrition, time and training support.

After taking a year plus off from competition and serious training due to a new job and relocating, I decided it was time to refocus my efforts, make a plan, and set a goal of competing in a natural figure competition. New to San Antonio, I knew very few people outside of my professional circle, but was determined to find the right trainer who could take me to a new level. If I knew more then they did, there would be no deal!

And so it began – I researched online, made phone call interviews and scheduled in person interviews in search of the right trainer. After 2-3 weeks, I kept coming back to the same name – Boyd Myers. We met and in the first consultation, I found myself selling HIM that I was a worthy client! (What an unexpected turn of events!)

I began training with Boyd in April 2010. Although I wasn’t overweight, I had a lot of work to do to gain strength and build back my basic fitness. Boyd knew that I had quite the road ahead, and understood that as an athlete who was making a comeback, it can be very challenging; you know what you USED to be capable of, but now have to fight your way back – it’s very humbling.

But then began our true partnership. Boyd encouraged me and was there to answer every question along the way with detailed explanations for all of my “why’s?”. He helped refine my lifting technique and offered constructive feedback that got the message across but left me feeling solid. I was learning and growing as an athlete – this was and continues to be exciting for me!

I was making progress. The nutrition guidelines that Boyd provided were broad and flexible but based on strong nutritional principles – the main movement was from relying on protein bars and shakes to mostly whole foods. This was new to me – former trainers had requirements of measured and scheduled meals 4-5 months out, while Boyd’s strategy is based primarily on timing nutrient intake. I wondered how this was going to work, but placed my trust in him.

In July I picked a show and told my closest friends and family. This was nerve-racking. It meant I was committed to a hard and fast goal; I am not one to take commitments lightly. As we progressed, the training became more intense and Boyd constantly challenged me to push. While I often worked out on my own, he made it priority to be there for my hardcore workouts where I needed the extra support. I broke new ground with my leg press (pressing 800lbs at a bodyweight of under 110lbs) as we worked to build my muscle mass that had been decimated from my ultra racing.

My body was responding – this was no workout designed for a man. This was no pre-designed workout used for the masses who wanted to prep for a show – Boyd had a customized plan to get me there and this plan he constantly changed in complete response to my condition and nutritional needs.

Two months out from my competition and I was getting nervous. The good news – while Boyd’s approach was different than every other trainer I had ever worked with, I knew my body was improving. A battle I fought was for energy and sleep (have I said that I have an upper management position in a large corporation?:). Many times I was working long days – I would get up to workout at 4:30, shower and work and be free go to workout again at 9:00. He helped me balance my supplements to ensure that my body had the fuel and vitamins it needed to best sustain. This was NOT a litany of random supplements – Boyd zeroed in on specific needs and kept them manageable.

As we closed in on 5 weeks out, Boyd planned out a run-through of my depletion. This seemed a bit risky to me, to take my body through this when it was already stressed…this ended up being invaluable as we saw exactly how my body would respond to the varying levels of sodium, water intake, nutrition etc. Boyd proved himself through results to be a bio-chemistry expert – I have never seen my body respond like this.

Boyd had agreed to travel with me to St. Louis – I wanted him there to ensure that every detail had his guidance. What a great decision – I could have never asked for a better helper. Round two of depletion went well – we flew to St. Louis and finished the last two days of prep there. The lessons learned from the run-through depletion allowed for tweaking to optimize our results; on show day we were confident that we were in the right spot.

Competition Day was finally here. While I was carb depleted and dehydrated, Boyd kept me focused and calm. He was a rock throughout the day and constantly coaching and advising on my nutritional intake. Mind you, the last few hours can make or break you as you may be competing in finals (and I ended up doing just this!). He pumped me up and encouraged me – entering two categories meant a T-walk and two pose downs in the morning judging and then a T-walk and pose downs in the evening… if I made it that far. This is gruelingly tiring – Boyd was there through it all.

In the end, we won – and we won big. This was a complete surprise to me – I never imagined this happening. I simply wanted to compete and do my best and left the rest up to God… I was able to go above and beyond and sweep the Open Figure Short Class and the Open IFPA Pro Card, in addition to the 35+ Pro Card. Surreal and very humbling as the ladies I was on stage with looked AMAZING.

Issac Newton once said, “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Boyd Myers was/is definitely my giant and has been key to my unexpected accomplishment of becoming an IFPA Professional Figure Athlete. Boyd, you deserve this win just as much as I – thanks for sharing your gift with me and all of your clients! I look forward to our continued partnership – get ready… time to take on the Pro ranks!

Sarah L
IFPA Professional Figure Athlete
San Antonio, TX

Sarah,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you, and I look forward to working with you as we get ready to win your first competition as a professional! You are unstoppable!

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