Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

From the time that I started training others as a hobby (16 years ago, jeez, I am getting long in the tooth) until the time I walked away from my “FULL TIME” job to open my own personal training studio here in San Antonio, I have seen a lot of changes to this industry and many trainers (from terrible to great) come and go.

Many personal trainers become personal trainers because a) the qualifications to at least begin aren’t many, b) you get to help others, c) you can hang out in the gym all day, d) the pay is not terrible, e) you can meet girls/guys (hey, some people use it as a platform to do so), f) it forces you to stay in shape (or it should) or e) one of another two thousand reasons.

From the time I started doing this as a hobby, I was hooked. But the first thing I promised myself was that I would not be a typical trainer. I wanted to learn everything possible about the body, how to manipulate it to change, become an expert on performance nutrition, be well-versed on training a wide variety of people: competitors, athletes, special populations, pre/post-natal, children, senior citizens, and anyone else that may need my assistance. From that point on, I started putting in the work: I studied, attended seminars, took classes, obtained certifications and licenses, read, experimented on myself, listened, followed and made it a point to figure out as much of this puzzle as I could.

Here it is, 16 years later, and I am still doing the same: from researching every amino, vitamin, mineral, hormone, nutrient timing, and how the body reacts to different training loads and stressors.

The big move in the personal training industry began to take place a few years ago, and now, group training is much more prevalent than one on one training. While there was obvious pressure to follow that route, I decided to stick to what I enjoyed: specializing and helping specific clients that are not looking for a one size fits all approach. For the most part, the experience in this industry has moved on and most trainers have less than 2 years experience.

I do not have a “training style” – my style adapts based on where a client is and where they want to be and in many cases, how they need to perform. Throughout any given day, I may train someone like a powerlifter, another person using Plyometrics, another person with circuit training, and spend an hour helping someone increase their flexibility.

Many people enjoy the one sized fits all. Others demand a little more and understand that every BODY is different – and those are the ones that I specialize in helping become 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

NOW – that is when we want it:

Want to look different.

Want to see improvement.

Want to see a major change in the scale.

Want clothes to fit better (or looser).

Results do take time. While it is important to remember that you do not get out of shape overnight (so you cannot become amazing in a matter of days), change DOES happen.

YOU see YOURSELF daily – not to see drastic changes immediately can work the mind over and make you feel like your effort is a waste: it is NOT!

Keep pushing it – a step at a time. The changes will come and be followed by compliments and those compliments will motivate you to keep it up. Remember, this is a marathon and not a sprint!

We are the most obese society in the history of mankind (as a whole). If it were easy, everyone would look amazing. Be the exception, not the rule.

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! Hope you had a great weekend. Of course, if you are in San Antonio, you have been dealing with this intense heat – please make sure to account for that while focusing on hydration.

I have had several interesting questions asked lately, so it is time for a little Q&A session.

Hey Boyd: What do you think of Vibram’s Five Finger shoes for weightlifting?

You must know me, because they are the only shoes that I have one for the last 2 years (I mean, I try to avoid wearing regular shoes at all costs). I LOVE being barefooted, and as a power lifter, not having to exert force into a shoe padding is a great asset when it comes to lifting heavy. I actually used to lift barefoot, but most gyms frown on that. Now, there are several minimalist shoes to choose from, and I find all of them very comfortable, even if they look ridiculous.

Hi Boyd: What are your thoughts on using pot and how it affects training? (Seriously received this one haha)

Just to be clear, you do know that marijuana is illegal, right? Now that the moral/ethical dilema has been covered, I would assume that it would have an effect on VO2 capacity (and more than likely, training motivation). And nothing that induces “munchies” can be great for fat loss (I love all of my readers :)

Boyd: Which do you prefer: low fat or low carb diets?

I do not prefer either. There are cases for each, but the best approach is consistency and timing of nutrients based on need.

As humans, we natually look for the quick fix – however, extreme depletion or removal of a specific nutrient is not that fix. Of course, there are times for lower levels and amounts (relatively speaking, based on what you already eat) but eliminating either fat or carbs from the diet is an excellent way to lead to many more long term issues.

Hey Boyd: I have read you since way back in the day at MW, BB4U and several other message boards and you are a man ahead of the game! I remember you suggesting D3, CoQ10 and many other nutrients years before they became mainstream. Right now, what is the one that you would recommend that people need and are severely overlooking?

Thank you for the message – I am glad that you have found some of my recommendations useful. I am sure that you know my affinity for BCAAs and fish oils. Over the last 5 years, I have been a huge advocate of Sesamin – and the more time that passes, the more I believe in it. Benefits? Kidney and liver support, antioxidants, nutrient parititioning (it improves fat loss and muscle gain), recover, etc. I am not a supplement feind, but Sesamin has a use for absolutely everyone.

Boyd: If I were wanting to learn more about gaining strength, what authors do you recommend? When are you going to write a book on bench pressing? I have seen some of your vids: that is INSANE for anyone, and you are built like a real athlete, not a blocky bench presser!!!

Thanks (I am giggling at that). I hear that comment everyday (about not being built like a traditional powerlifter). Bench pressing is so much technique and focusing on individual areas to support an entire movement. I am a stickler for form and learning HOW to bench has a great deal with how much you can move.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the premier strength training coaches, and one of my mentors is Charles Poliquin. Google his name and read some of his Q&A from years past. He knows his stuff, speaks at a basic level, and has trained an entourage of Olympic WR holders.

A bench press book… Hmmmmm, I think about it everytime I bench or see other people benching. I seriously may put a nice eBook together on building the perfect bench press. I believe it doesn’t take a genetic freak to become at least a double your bodyweight bencher.

It is competition time – I have a lot of people asking for my assistance in competitions coming up. IF you are looking to compete in the Fall and are thinking about using my services, let me know as I do have a hard limit on the number of competitors I train at a given time. It is time consuming, and I limit myself on the number of competitors I train to give each competitor the attention they need.

PUSH YOURSELF FURTHER!!!

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,

Somewhere along the line several years ago, I decided to walk away from corporate America and pursue a full time career in the biggest perpetuator of fad industry in the world, personal training.

I have been training others since 1996, and during that time, I have seen some pretty insane things come and go – I have seen many trainers, in an effort to lure clients in, have their trainees doing some pretty big time wasting, worthless movements.

Of course, the many group exercise classes, fad diets, and can’t miss supplements have come and gone as well: ONE THING REMAINS TRUE.

The science of changing the body is simple, but not easy. IT takes a lot of discipline and effort. More so, it takes the proper plan: if it were as simple as putting a bunch of movements together and breaking a sweat, a lot of people would look amazing. However, obesity is at an all time high.

I push people hard – harder than they have ever been pushed in their lives, and that scares many. The truth it, I never push them further than they can go – just far enough to help them get to where they really want to be. My clients response to my approach (both physical and verbal in appreciation) gives me reinforcement every day!

So if you want the gags and goofy gadgets or groups of people wearing matching outfits, I am not the personal trainer for you.

If you want to look better than you absolutely dreamed possible, then call me – 210.391.1454

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,

So I did it – a full week of being a vegan. Yes, I planned on 10 days, but for a few reasons, I decided to cut it short.

I actually logged it and saved the drafts and will be putting them out there for the world to see over the next few days. Not a whole lot: at first, I was miserable from the drastic change and the intense hunger, but once I got into the swing, it wasn’t that bad.

The main reason for the switch is that I am getting close to picking up the heavy training again and I need the fuel for recovery. I was supplementing with 150g of bcaa, but was still getting insanely (irregularly) sore after the lightest of workouts. I really focused on a wide variety of foods to make sure I covered the full spectrum of aminos, but my demands are quite high.

Anyway, I do feel that it helped me discover veggies I will eat – in the past, I avoided them like the plague.

I hesitated to release my blog as I was doing it because I didn’t want to spend time thinking about it – just wanted to eat and be done with it and not have to answer a ton of questions.

I have an incredible week ahead and I feel great – better than I have in a very long time!

Take on the world and make it beg for mercy!!!

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

So today I embark on a fitness/health challenge that I have never tried before. It is far fetched, crazy, and completely unlike me, BUT it will be a huge challenge and I am jacked: I am a 235lb powerlifter that is going to take a stab at going Vegan for 10 days. Completely Vegan – no animal at all.

Why? Just want to see if I can – I openly hate veggies and that is something I want to overcome, so why not go extreme? It is the way I do everything else! It will be a challenge, mainly because I eat over 7000 calories on a given day but I realize much of it will be psychological.

I will blog all about it right here, including a much more in-depth analysis on why I am doing it and how I do it.

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day!