What a perfect Thursday! Here’s a video blog on the most essential thing you must have if you’re looking to lose fat and drastically transform your body. It doesn’t happen overnight – it takes hard work, consistency, and a little bit of what I discuss here in the video.

I also want to take a second and congratulate Deron on his absolutely amazing progress after just 7 weeks. See the video for more on his story. Deron, the sky is the limit and you’re an inspiration to all that sees your transformation.

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

This is one of my longer posts in quite a while, but while working on emails and reflecting on the last several months and what lies in store for me in the near future, I allowed a small, seemingly simple topic to become a 1300 word post, so enjoy!

While going through my emails Sunday evening, I read one from a personal trainer here in San Antonio that was contemplating hiring me to advise him as he prepared for a bodybuilding show in June. He and I have spoken numerous times, and I think he is an excellent personal trainer and is quite competent – if someone asked me about his services, I would gladly give him my endorsement.

One question he asked me was if is being a competitive bodybuilder has helped my personal training business. While I will admit that some potential clients have viewed it as an accomplishment that lends credibility to what I do (walk the walk/talk the talk kind of thing), I think that many of my clients have often felt my passion from their first meeting with me.

He mentioned that his primary reason for wanting to compete was to help his personal training business and attract more clients. My advice to him was to save his time, his effort, his energy, and his money (competitive bodybuilding is an expensive sport when followed the way I do it: all organic food (in HUGE amounts), best cuts of meat, supplements, tanning, registration fees, posing trunks, NPC card, and most importantly, time).

Don’t get me wrong – I’m extremely proud of the effort I put forth when preparing to compete. I like having every aspect of 16-20 weeks laid out in front of me. I loved feeling like every day was a contest, and I had to win every single day to stay alive in my “season” to eventually make it to my imaginary “playoffs”, culminating in my “Super Bowl”, which is the show itself. Funny thing is, by the time you’ve reached that day, unlike most other sports, you already have won and the result of the competition is of little consequence.

But to decide to compete to increase business? I couldn’t do it. There’s only one reason on this earth I choose to compete: because I want to. If your heart isn’t in it, you WILL find excuses not to continue with preparation. Trust me, adversity presents itself in many, many forms, from injury to job related stress, relationships, family sickness, and the regular drama that we live with each and every single day seems to multiply to an almost unbearable level when we’re under that type of stress. So, to do it for any reason other than yourself just isn’t going to be enough.

With that being said, while I am talking about bodybuilding in this specific post, I am actually foreshadowing a bit: and it has helped my business evolve to what it is today. You see, I actually pick and choose my clients. I often turn clients away if I don’t feel they are a good match for me, as I would hope they’d not train with me if they weren’t completely confident about what I can bring to them.

I’m not crazy, and of course, a bulk of my income comes from personal training and actually training clients. But I’ve found that my business THRIVES when I am training the type of people that I hand choose. Of course, I can’t go out on the street and say “I want to train you” and have that person walk in my studio. That’s not the “hand picking” I am talking about. Of course, people need to find me first. A majority of those people are from referrals of clients, and since my clients know the way I operate, they don’t refer people to me that aren’t completely serious. Of course, the internet and searches for “personal trainers San Antonio” is my other form of leads. I do get leads from local doctors and other professionals, but a bulk of my clients come from current and former clients and the internet.

With that being said, what do I look for? It’s simple: determined individuals. I am looking for motivated individuals. I want to train driven individuals. Most importantly, I want to train people that want to make a change PRIMARILY for a specific person: not their children… Not their spouse or significant other. Not their parents. Those are great sources of motivation, but the people I want to train have to want to make a change for themselves.

I get the occasional “My wife really has been riding my ass about losing weight, and well, thought I’d give this a shot” email or walk-in to my studio and I simply explain how I don’t think that I am the person that you want to train you. I’m hardcore. I am demanding. I expect high levels of progress. I’m not afraid to make drastic changes if something isn’t making the changes that I’m expecting and I’m not afraid to say “you’re not pushing it hard enough.” I’m very compassionate, I’m also very talkative, usually entertaining, and I understand that “life happens”. But I’m also a professional and I’m also very direct.

If I went to a doctor and had a condition that was caused by something I was or wasn’t doing, I’d want him to be direct, up front and open with me. Don’t beat around the bush and don’t make simple recommendations like “Well, I’d really like for you to do this.” BS. I don’t do that either. I expect my clients to follow my nutritional guidelines and ask questions about things they’re not clear on or simple changes they may want to make (it may not be simple and it may end up catastrophic). I want them to give me feedback on how they feel. I want them to ask me why, do research, and understand the methods behind my guidance.

So, in a nutshell, I’m picky. There are hundreds of personal trainers in San Antonio. Many of them may at least look like they know what they’re talking about. Most of them probably have a few impressive letters by their names representing popular certification programs. A few of them may have been lucky enough to train someone who has made a decent transformation.

But be clear – change starts within. If you’re motivated, a caveman could point you in the right direction on how to change your body, lose fat and become healthier. However, I think most people expect more than that – they expect the bodies of their dreams. They want to be taken to a different level and they want their friends to ask them “what on earth are you doing?”

While many people obtain “results” with a trainer, there’s a difference between hiring a young motivated rep-counter and hiring a professional fitness coach and life coach.

Personal Training and Fat Loss Management are results based businesses, and in San Antonio, these career fields have a very high level of attrition. Time is expensive and results don’t come easy. Most personal trainers guide every single client through the exact workouts and are happy with whatever results they may obtain. I would never allow myself to become so complacent and I’d never settle for marginal results, and I expect the same from my clients.

Life is too short to settle. Live each day as if it is your last on this earth. Motivation dwindles, and there are days we fall down and wonder if getting up to our knees, much less our feet, is even possible. Short term goals being regularly accomplished lead to great, sustainable results in the long term.

Become amazing, expect amazing, and never, ever settle.

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 think that too many people just “accept” that they must live with pain and just deal with it. Well, this is not true. Pain is your body’s way of saying “Something is wrong.”

Prepping for a bodybuilding show is just about as physically (and of course, mentally intense) as anything you can do. The repetitiveness of training and cardio really does a number on the body. Since you’re fighting against the clock, time off is a luxury that most competitors don’t have.

I really pushed it during my prep. I was aching and in a measurable amount of pain by the time November 21 came around. I did what I could to push through it during prep, including massage, chiropractic care and used many antioxidant based supplements to keep my physical defenses high. But I had been working extremely hard for months, and with the stress of the holidays and of course, the new year stress (and throw a few hard collisions :), my spine finally felt like it had quit. Friday, I thought I was going to absolutely die – I couldn’t move. Couldn’t even sit up without assistance throughout the weekend. Couldn’t roll over in bed without grimacing in pain. It was, in fact, miserable.

So, today, I visited my chiropractor and good friend Dr. Greg Otterman (http://advantagecpt.com) and let him work his magic.

I know that a lot of people are skeptical about chiropractic care, but I’m telling you – a good chiropractor can and will cure pain, period.

Today, I received a few types of treatment, and although the relief wasn’t instant, it has been about 10 hours since I left his clinic, and my pain is very tolerable. I will still take it easy for a few days, but I am certain that I’ll be at 100% sooner than later.

I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank Dr. Otterman and his staff for the amazing treatment. I have referred numerous clients, friends and even my son (who had a small ankle problem when he was 2 years old that Doc took care of) to Dr. Otterman, and he has taken care of each of them. I don’t loosely recommend any service or business, but I do recommend Dr. Otterman’s clinic without hesitation.

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’ve added another goal for this year. As I have mentioned in the last few weeks, I am preparing for a bench press competition on March 27, 2010. While bench pressing is very specific and not for everyone, I have found another event that I am going to simultaneously be training for that would be something that more people can enjoy, the Warrior Dash.

Remember, running is not one of my favorite activities (as most bodybuilders and power lifters prefer less impact forms of cardio exercise). However, climbing massive hay bales, running through rivers, climbing mud hills (and subsequently sliding down), cargo nets, forest runs, jumping fire (really) and running through 3 feet of mud sounds like a very good time.

The event is held in Forney, TX on May 1, 2010, so make plans to join us!

For more information, check out this link:

Warrior Dash – May 1, 2010 – Forney, TX

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

My son and I have been playing in the snow, as I hope for his first “White Christmas” – he has tried counting snowflakes, has caught a few on his tongue and is absolutely in awe of the snow falling outside.

So, from me and Peyton to each and everyone of you, please have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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

Here I am 2 weeks removed from my last bodybuilding competition, and now, without the intensity and insanity of getting to sub 3% body fat, I can now calmly and objectively think about the whole process.

First and foremost, I learned more about me than I ever knew. For 16 weeks, I didn’t have one cheat meal. I didn’t deviate from my plan. I didn’t miss a training or a cardio session. My plan was developed by one person: me. I talked to competitors, but more so about the mental aspects of preparation. So for me, it wasn’t just getting on stage – it was also testing my knowledge and experience as a personal trainer.

It’s easy to hide behind the role of being the teacher and telling people to do this and do that, but I’m not that kind of person. I want to lead by example, not just point you in the right direction. I hope that the way I live the fitness lifestyle, the way I am meticulous about every meal, supplement intake and training intensity is inspiring and motivating. I’m a normal guy. I am a busy guy. Just like you, I have to make time. I have to make decisions. I have to exercise when I really don’t want to nor feel like it.

I’m proud of the year I’ve had. I’ve competed in a bodybuilding show. I’ve performed as a model. I’ve expanded my business and instead of saying “I’d like to do that”, I am doing it.

So, what’s to come? I am competing again in August. I am already excited about it. I get to take what I’ve learned in my last prep and show and apply it and I believe I’ll be even more ready. I have no doubt that I can honestly say that at my show, I was the most conditioned person on that stage. That is the one thing I could control and I took care of business. However, I know so much more about my body and how it reacts and I will use that to my advantage and will become more conditioned, bigger, leaner and more prepared. I say prepared, because the actual part that requires you to walk on stage was the one thing that could not be duplicated. Losing fat and gaining muscle, to me, are a science that I thoroughly understand. The actual performance was the unknown, and now that I’ve experienced it, I’m ready to dominate.

From now until April 1, I’ll be training extremely heavy and intense. My goal will be to add as much muscle as possible while staying as lean as humanly possible. Trust me, I’m not one of those “bulk up” and get fat guys and then spend the next 15-20 weeks killing myself to get rid of that – the more fat that you have to lose will lead to more muscle loss, and that’s obviously contradictory to what I’m trying to accomplish.

Right now, I’ll be resting 7.5-9 hours per night. I’ll be eating 8-12 times per day. I’ll be lifting weights 3-4 days per week. And of course, I’ll be doing 2-3 cardio sessions per week of varying intensity and varying volume.

Don’t forget, it is the New Year. I’m not the average personal trainer at Lifetime or Spectrum. I screen clients just as I expect them to screen their personal trainer. I want clients who I feel are dedicated and committed and who are looking to be serious and make drastic changes, far beyond what they believe they are capable of. Fat loss, body transformation, lifestyle change – these are the things they can expect to discuss when they come and visit me for their initial consultation.

This is going to be an intense week, but I’m ready to tackle it. So, in essence, my prep starts today – a day that will forever live in infamy. It’s December 7th. Why wait until January? The time is NOW.

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

Of course, for the title, it’s too late for me. On Saturday, I will be wearing those phenomenal posing shorts (sarcasm) and will be tanned and oiled up showing what I’ve worked on for the last several months.

When someone comes into my studio, I infer that they have no desire to compete in a bodybuilding show. That is a “gimme” – so it goes without saying. But in my opinion, anyone who wants to change their body and “build” it into something different than it is (and by build I mean remodel, transform, lose fat, or whatever term you prefer) is a bodybuilder. Just because you don’t compete does not make you a bodybuilder.

The body is a constant work in progress. What the body requires to change actually changes day to day and week to week. It is imperatively important to identify those requirements. I’ve said it before, I’m not the average “personal trainer”. I place high demands on my clients and have high expectations. Their success is my success.

Working out doesn’t automatically equal big muscles – it’s not that easy. Training is a definite science, and it is very easy to waste time and not make progress. Think I’m wrong? How many people do you know that workout or do you see in gyms that really NEVER change? They look the same (or worse) day in and day out, year in and year out? They never modify their nutrition nor their training. Nutrition is a lot of it, but as often as that, they aren’t training correctly and doing what they need to do, how they need to do it, and when they need to do it.

Bottom line: training is much more than going through the motions, and eating is so much more than just making better choices.

Don’t guess. Don’t waste time. Most important, don’t waste your money at Lifetime Fitness or Spectrum, San Antonio…

Never settle!

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

A lot of people think they can get away with missing a workout every couple of weeks. Or if they do more cardio and working out, they can skimp on the diet. Or if they take a particular supplement they can not do what needs to be done in other aspects and still transform their bodies.

NO. NO. NO!

It takes a serious commitment. There are strict and defined guidelines and it simply isn’t easy because if it were, everyone would do it. Exercise gadgets, bogus aerobics classes and ridiculous nutritional supplements all wouldn’t be multi-billion dollar business.

As a personal trainer, it isn’t my job to tell you what I think you want to hear to keep you paying me. Instead, it’s my responsibility to tell you what you need to hear to make progress. I have heard that I’m too hard. That I expect too much and I know that many people are going to try to find an easier way.

Ironically enough, I’ve had clients tell me that they read my blog and decided that my writings intimidated them and that my expectations were too high, so they went elsewhere. Then, after weeks of not changing or losing fat, they call me and come clean.

Here’s the thing: I browse other personal trainers websites and they say the same things – Reasons why you need a personal trainer, what a personal trainer can do for you, statistics on fat loss, etc. FEW open up their hearts and minds like I do and tell you how it is – that it’s a hard road, that it isn’t easy, and that changing the body is simply one of the hardest MENTAL things one can do. But that’s for a reason: I don’t want to be the average personal trainer. I am NOT the type of personal trainer you see at Gold’s Gym or Lifetime Fitness or Spectrum. As a matter of fact, I despise being grouped into that same demographic.

CAN YOU DO IT? CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR BODY? Can you lose the fat? It’s not unrealistic – it’s just for those who are willing to do what it takes to REALLY change. It is not easy. It IS called working out. Few people in society actually go through with it. My clients DO make changes.

Training. Cardio. Nutrition. Recovery. These things are all part of the bigger puzzle, and combined, are synergistic in helping you reach goals that you never before thought attainable. Whether you just want to look “normal” or absolutely amazing, it IS within reach, no matter your current condition. Once you believe, it is within reach.

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

Just browsed through a few emails from my boot camp class attendees, and damn, they’re motivating ME even more. We have a couple of groups that are really serious about making life changes and using this as an awesome starting point to not only transform their bodies, but transform their lives.

Group training is definitely a motivating way to transform, while being accountable to the rest of the trainees. I’m excited for my classes because I know the sky is the limit and they have taken their first steps toward fat loss!!!

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 had to update to a newer version of the software I use here for the SA Personal Trainer blog. Good news is that I was able to keep all of the posts that I have entered, so the nutrition, training and other archives are still completely intact. The bad news is that the update made me lose the tabs at the top. Those aren’t that big of a deal, and I can easily re-add those at a later date.

Nonetheless, the newer software is much more interactive and makes updating the blog much easier than before.

I’ll be busy posting many healthy high protein recipes, body transformation and fat loss info, more personal trainer news and updates on my progress as I prepare for the Lackland Air Force Base Bodybuilding Classic on November 21, so keep checking 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