Fat Loss – Body Transformation – Advanced Nutrition

Unfortunately, I’m not talking about the world record in the raw bench press (not yet anyway, I’m still about a year away, but I’m getting there).

No, this weekend, I’m changing things up here on the blog. I’ve been working on it slowly on my test server and I almost have it ready to change over.

I get to play in my old career (I’m a former computer programmer/engineer).

So, get ready for my new format – it is much easier on the eyes and it eliminates this ridiculous green color scheme. Much more interactive, easier to read, etc.

Thank you for spending your valuable time here – I always appreciate 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,

Free Mobile Fitness Trainer
I’m now offering a new service! If you’re interested in receiving regular tips from me on training, fat loss, and body transformation right on your mobile phone, you can simply text FitnessTrainer to the number “90210″ – this is MY service, and I’ll be sending out regular messages on training and nutrition, and also notifications of important posts on this blog to help you maximize your body transformation endeavors. Of course, it is completely free.

My Mobile Business Card
If you’re interested in my “Mobile Business Card“, simply text BOYD to the number “90210″ (yes, really). From this mobile business card, you have the option of adding my contact information to your address book. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you and I’ll never sell your information (I HOPE you know that anyway :)

If you’re interested in setting up a mobile business card for you and/or your business, feel free to send me a message and I’ll help get you up and running.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend! It was nice to relax and recover from the week I had of being under the weather. No, me being sick had nothing to do with the NCAA Basketball Tournament being on, but there were some very entertaining games, especially this weekend.

I plan on adding more body transformation friendly, low fat, and healthy recipes this week, so check back often!

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
Text BOYD to 90210 for my mobile business card!

I totally understand that I don’t look like what many would consider average. And not a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask me about my fitness, training and nutritional lifestyle. It may be when I’m drinking a meal, between sets at the gym, ordering extra chicken breast with a meal, or stopping by Cost Plus Nutrition to pick up a few supplements or an energy drink.

And most of the time, for my answers, I receive a look that makes me wonder if I have suddenly grown an extra nose or another ear.

Initially, when you don’t get it, you simply don’t get it. The extra snacks during the day, constantly carrying a water bottle around, making time out of the day to absolutely torture yourself (or in many cases, paying someone else to seemingly torture you?)? It may sound a little crazy.

For me, I look at it this way: if I’m going to do it, I’m really going to do it. If I’m going to put myself through the intense workouts that I put myself through, I’m going to eat what I need to eat to get the most out of my training sessions. If I’m going to think about everything I put into my body, then I’m not going to the gym for a social gathering – I’m going in there to bust my tail and get the most out of the time I’m in there. I want to look a certain way: my body is my business and I have to ensure that I stick out in a crowd.

What’s great? I have helped so many people that once would’ve thought this lifestyle was absolutely crazy adapt to it seemingly overnight. No matter how odd it may seem when you’re an outsider, once you step into it, it really takes control of you and the difference in the way you feel and the way your body responds is really overwhelming. And the people that now live this way aren’t what the people you think live in the gym: they’re your co-workers, neighbors, people you go to church with, nurses, teachers, doctors, general contractors, and from every walk of life you can imagine.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in looking better. You’re wondering how to get the most out of the workouts. You’re probably trying to decide if you’re doing the right things when you go to the gym and if you’re heading in the right direction. For taking the time to read my words, I want to say “thank you” and invite you in to read more or to contact me and allow me to help you further, whether you’re in San Antonio or anywhere else in the world (I have online clients all over the planet!).

It isn’t one size fits all, but if you take this lifestyle for a test drive, you’ll never go back to what you view as “normal” again.

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,

Today happens to be my 35th birthday. I realize that as a lot of people get older, that birthdays start having a negative connotation to them. While I may say that “it is just another day”, to me, my birthday still holds that special occasion like it did when I was my son’s age (he is 6). It is a special day that celebrates another year of life and experience.

There’s nothing negative about being a year older. In my opinion, I’m a year better! Whether or not you are where you want to be in life, the key is to continue to grow and improve, period. That cannot be accomplished by self-imposed obstacles and excuses.

To all of my friends and family that have taken the time to wish my Happy Birthday this morning, thank you all so very much :) I definitely appreciate it and do not take any of you for granted. Nor do I take one day on this earth for granted!

Cherish every day – they are YOURS!

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’m going to do something a little bit different in the next few days that I’m looking forward to sharing. I’m going to breakdown a UFC fighter’s performance from a nutritional standpoint (which is what I think cost him a chance at being the heavyweight champion of the world). I’ve personally asked him questions about his preparation, and am waiting to see what he says. Regardless, I have a lot of theories about what happened in that match, and am looking forward to sharing those thoughts with my readers and discussing my theories and how the fight could’ve been changed. I really have no other reason to do so other than for informational purposes, so if you’re a UFC fan of performance nutrition, you’ll enjoy that.

I’m also toying with a few other sample workouts and such that I’d like to post as well that I think will help you get focused on your warm weather goals.

Right now, my thoughts and prayers are with Japan, as they’re going through catastrophe after catastrophe since the earthquake on Friday.

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

Hi everyone – hope your day is starting off on the right foot! Hard to believe this week is almost over.

During a training session this morning, a client of mine made a great statement about exercise, nutrition and overall fitness. She said “just reading about it in a magazine doesn’t work.” We talked about how important actual execution is, how the best of intentions won’t get you in the shape you want to be in, and she even said that her husband told her (in reference to her condition and changes) “if you don’t think that lunges and squats work, you’re crazy!”

Wanting to do something about your body but finding the reasons why you don’t have time or are unable to do what you need to do will not get the job done. Sadly, just going through the motions isn’t enough either. While plan execution is key, plan design is the other half of the equation. Just doing more and eating less isn’t going to transform your body – you have to do the RIGHT STUFF, while eating the right things in the right amounts at the right time.

Stop thinking, stop reading, start doing!

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

Lately, I’m seeing more and more gadgets and weight loss solutions popping up. First and foremost, this is a multi-billion dollar industry, so pretty much anyone with a heartbeat can come up with a scam, claim it as a revolutionary breakthrough, make a fortune and vanish into the night. From shoes that “tone the legs”, to shirts that “work you out while you wear them” and things you “sprinkle on your food to make you eat less” – does any of this really make sense whatsoever?

The truth is you are not going to reverse months or years of making unhealthy decisions or being sedate by wearing a certain type of shoe, a special shirt, or sprinkling something on your food. If something says “No need to exercise or change your eating habits”? It is a scam. Shut it off, tune it out.

Unhealthy habits must be replaced by healthy ones. Lack of physical activity has to be replaced by exercise. Just any “diet” won’t work – you need the proper exercise and nutritional strategy for YOU. Discipline and dedication must be improved or enforced!

If you have to ask “does this work” the answer is typically “NO”. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Lifestyle changes must be made – do not waste money, time, and/or HEALTH on hype!

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,

As you can see, I’ve made it a little easier to share any blog post you like on your favorite Social Media tool on the right side of each post. I’ve also enabled “Comment Love”, which allows you to link easily from your blog while leaving comments.

Hopefully, this will make your experience here on my blog a bit more enjoyable!

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,

Big recovery day for me. I’m training a few clients this morning and then I’m quickly off to a couple of hours worth of brutality (AKA Active Release Therapy massage).

The Twitter suggestions for upcoming articles were phenomenal, and I want to thank everyone who gave me an idea. There were suggestions for articles on Yo-Yo Dieting, Healthy Fats, Different Modifications for Women and Men, and several others that I want to write in the upcoming days. I’m always open for suggestions on what you’d like to read, so feel free to send me any ideas you may have. I’m here to help, and even if it is helping one person, it’s worth it.

Oh, and I received a nice comment this morning from a mouth-breather defending P90X against my P90X Sucks post from several months ago. I have no problem with people disagreeing with my point of view, but if a comment is poorly written with lack of support for your argument, I’m probably not going to respond – especially if you only respond with their infomercial and advertisement propaganda as your supporting evidence as to why the program is great. In short, it was basically a poorly written comment from someone who read something and inferred only what they wanted to, and actually argued my point well – its results/progress are short lived (anything will work for a short amount of time), and explained to me that it does exactly “what you need when working out” and that my philosophies are nonsense, etc, etc. It was just the laugh I needed first thing this morning!

Truth? I do find entertainment in the P90X and CrossFit Cults that go around searching the internet for defaming articles about their narrow-minded approaches to training (and I think that is a huge part of what they do) and how their programs are the best – I do not have a “program” that I follow – I take the best possible approach for each specific client based on their fitness levels and their goals, and that may be a variety of several different types of training, from cross-training, power movements, high intensity training, etc – there’s nothing canned or “one size fits all” about anything I do (unlike P90X or CrossFit).

In short:

P90X and CrossFit Suck – I’ve explained this in-depth, and will gladly do it again – sorry to call your baby ugly, but wake up! It is human nature to be protective of what you feel safest with.

Okay all, no more being divisive and pissing people off today, we have the government to do that! ;) Decimate this day and let nothing stand in your way. No matter your goals or the methods you use to attack them, doing anything is better than nothing at all!!!

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 have 10,000,000 health, fitness, training, nutrition and related articles that I’m ready to write, but sometimes, I allow my personal feelings to be interjected into this blog. Hey, I’m the poster child for a Type A personality, and I say what is on my mind! I totally get that you don’t come here for my commentary on society, and that you’re here for the skinny on fat loss and body transformation, but I want to get this off of my chest!

Unfortunately, I cannot escape the hysteria, that is the train wreck, that is Charlie Sheen. Although this country is about as divided as it can be, there is unrest all over the rest of the world, the economy is in dire straits, and we’re about to lose the NFL over money (joke, but more important than Sheen), the world is talking about a convicted woman abuser (he even SHOT one of his exes) and a glorified drug addict. Same parallels could be drawn from Michael Jackson’s death (but replace woman abuser with pedophile). What on earth have we come to, and why are we celebrating these leaches?

I’m by no means standing in the pulpit of morals, but as a father, I’d hope that attention would be directed to people that are at least worthy of it. On Monday, the last World War I veteran passed away at 110 years old. Not only was he a veteran of the first world war, but he was also a POW in World War II, living 3 years in a Japanese prison camp. Unfortunately, the actions of a sociopath drug addict are more important to society than the loss of a true American hero.

True irony? Boxer (and accused woman beater) Floyd Mayweather is showing enthusiastic support for Charlie Sheen. Maybe karma will do what is right and will allow them to occupy the same cell.

I’m personally disgusted with the era of people being celebrated just for the sake of being famous. Why on earth anyone even as much knows who Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton are is absolutely ridiculous.

I’m off my soapbox for now – there are a couple 100,000 military guys and gals in war right now putting their lives on the line that I’d rather respect and look up to, even if they are fighting to allow slime balls Sheen to be a waste of flesh.

Boyd

Hey San Antonio,

We are now less than a week away from Valentine’s Day, the commercial joke of a holiday where flowers are marked up 1000% of their normal price and average restaurants have 2 hour waits to get a table. Ahhhhhhh, LOVE!

For most people, the pursuit of companionship isn’t doing a whole lot for their physique. Happy hours, dating (which usually equals dinner, maybe drinks), time away from the gym – these are things that will lead to you not looking the way you want to look.

In a new relationship? Forget it. That sense of urgency to look phenomenal often escapes the newly occupied, and on top of that, people tend to pick up all of their partner’s bad habits. Compound those things, and the pounds will add up. How many people have put on the pounds in the first 6 months of a relationship?

Do not use a new relationship as an excuse to become complacent. Dates do NOT have to revolve around dinner and drink, and just because your new found mate likes to order pizza and have a 6 pack every night doesn’t mean you have to join suit.

In fact, exercising together is an excellent way to become more familiar with one another. Aside from the natural pheromones that are produced during exercise, there’s something bonding about knowing that your significant other puts forth the effort to stay healthy and work toward looking their best. Even if you decide not to exercise together, the gym is a great way to keep your autonomy and have your own time, which is a certain way to help avoid burnout.

Instead of becoming complacent, use a new relationship to become inspired – if their everything you think they are and you want to be the same, challenge yourself to improve and motivate them to do the same. As a personal trainer, I’ve worked with numerous people who share the same story – they were in excellent shape when they met, but kind of fell off the wagon when they got together. While it is very common, it is also avoidable! Obviously a personal trainer for Valentine’s Day probably isn’t the most romantic of gifts, but an active date of hiking, biking, mountain climbing, training, etc will beat the hell out of standing in line or crowding into a local restaurant on Valentine’s Day.

Always be your best for YOU – if you’re happy with yourself, you can bet that someone else will be as well! Stay active, stay healthy and stay (or get) lean!

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’ll be honest – one of the major reasons why I decided to stay here in SATX and make this the center for my personal training services was because of the amazing weather 300 plus days a year. I guess my next stop will be Panama City, Panama or Ecuador! Okay, our somewhat stable federal government will probably win out over those locations (for now).

It’s going to be extremely cold for the rest of the week. Of course, all of that would provide an amazing excuse to NOT workout but there’s no way – remember, I’m chasing a world record in the bench press and tomorrow happens to be bench press day. Not that I’d skip if it wasn’t. But I’m very blessed to be healthy and able to workout. I was watching the UFC Fight For the Troops a few weekends ago, and there are a lot of people that have come back from Afghanistan and Iraq without their physical health and they’d give anything to be in my position or condition. I’m not going to use cold as an excuse – those guys are the real warriors and they inspire me every single day to push it that much harder, because I know they do. From the bottom of my heart, a big “THANK YOU” to our military for everything you do. You remind me time and time again that too busy, not enough time, sick, kids have stuff to do, work, business, etc: these things are obstacles, not excuses.

Anyway, tomorrow is going to be an ultra-intense workout where I’ll find out just where I’m at on the bench press, and after that, I’ll be going to visit my massage therapy Nita for some real pain, as she does some myofascial release therapy and puts everything back the way it is supposed to be. It is brutal, it hurts, but it makes all of the difference in the world for recovery, rest and pain reduction. She’s the best I have ever used and several of my clients have been using her as well – if you’re interested, let me know and I’ll give you her info!

Oh, I did see some know it all doctor’s on one of the local San Antonio morning shows touting the ridiculous HCG diet. Yeah, 500 calories per day is a diet I want to be on, especially considering that I’m able to continue to remain lean on more than 10 times that amount! I’m not a starvation guy – I believe in fat loss via making proper eating choices at the right time and increasing resting metabolism. I mention this on a regular basis: My clients (male and female) are usually pleasantly surprised about how much I have them eating. Even my clients that are competitors that are used to starving up into competition are amazed that I prefer to feed them “into contest shape”. The body will fight you tooth and nail, so you have to convince it that it is being fed to make it let go of fat – starvation forces the body to panic and kick in the “starvation reflex” (SAVE THIS BODY FAT!)

Y’all stay warm and stop looking for magic pills. I’ll type more when my fingers aren’t so damn numb.

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 had planned on a lot of blogging and a lot of intense working out this weekend, but nothing in the world will bring a halt to that quite like a bout with food poisoning. Wasn’t so bad that I had it, but my 6 year old joined his daddy in sickness, and there’s nothing worse than having a sick child. Luckily, he only felt bad for about a day, while it put me down for the better part of three days! Nonetheless, since we both ended up sick at almost the exact time and we had only shared one meal that day together (about 8-10 hours before we got sick, and had the same thing at that meal, it was obvious of where it came from. I’m tempted to list the restaurant in question and tell you to avoid their turkey sandwich!!!

Nonetheless, I’m feeling pretty close to my normal self. I was able to stay relatively hydrated and my appetite is slowly coming back (though still not 100%). I have a feeling that once I do legs tomorrow (if I don’t die from not having enough calories down) that it will be back up and running at full speed.

Anyway, life doesn’t slow down because of a little upset tummy. While I’m sure it will affect my workout tomorrow if I allow it to, I can’t use that as an excuse: it is a mere obstacle that I will overcome.

Busy evening for me on the personal training front – but I’d have it no other way.

Even when it’s a challenge, stay focused!

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’ve been slammed today with training and handling other fiscal business, but I have some incredible “Ask the Personal Trainer” posts that I want to post in the next few days, including a “throwdown challenge” from a CrossFit Nancy (for lack of a better term).

I hope everyone has a great weekend – be active! It’s never too late to start becoming the best you possible!

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,

A true legend in the fitness world passed away yesterday, and I just wanted to pay tribute to a guy that has been preaching the gospel of health and fitness for the last 7 decades, at an age when most people have long forgotten about exercise.

He is credited with one of my favorite sayings: “The only way you can hurt the body is not use it…”

Here’s an article on his death found on FoxNews.com:

Jack LaLanne was prodding Americans to get off their couches and into the gym decades before it was cool. And he was still pumping iron and pushing fruits and vegetables decades past most Americans’ retirement age.

The fitness fanatic ate well and exercised — and made it his mission to make sure everyone did the same — right up to the end at age 96, friends and family said.
LaLanne died Sunday at his home in Morro Bay on California’s central coast, longtime agent Rick Hersh said. The cause was respiratory failure due to pneumonia.

“I have not only lost my husband and a great American icon, but the best friend and most loving partner anyone could ever hope for,” Elaine LaLanne, LaLanne’s wife of 51 years and a frequent partner in his television appearances, said in a written statement.

Lalanne, who had heart valve surgery two years ago, maintained a youthful physique and joked in 2006 that “I can’t afford to die. It would wreck my image.”

“He was amazing,” said 87-year-old former “Price is Right” host Bob Barker, who credited LaLanne’s encouragement with helping him to start exercising often.

“He never lost enthusiasm for life and physical fitness,” Barker told The Associated Press on Sunday. “I saw him in about 2007 and he still looked remarkably good. He still looked like the same enthusiastic guy that he always was.”

LaLanne credited a sudden interest in fitness with transforming his life as a teen, and he worked tirelessly over the next eight decades to transform others’ lives, too.

“The only way you can hurt the body is not use it,” LaLanne said. “Inactivity is the killer and, remember, it’s never too late.”

His workout show was a television staple from the 1950s to the ’70s. LaLanne and his dog Happy encouraged kids to wake their mothers and drag them in front of the television set. He developed exercises that used no special equipment, just a chair and a towel.

He also founded a chain of fitness studios that bore his name and in recent years touted the value of raw fruit and vegetables as he helped market a machine called Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer.

When he turned 43 in 1957, he performed more than 1,000 push-ups in 23 minutes on the “You Asked For It” television show. At 60, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco — handcuffed, shackled and towing a boat. Ten years later, he performed a similar feat in Long Beach harbor.

“I never think of my age, never,” LaLanne said in 1990. “I could be 20 or 100. I never think about it, I’m just me. Look at Bob Hope, George Burns. They’re more productive than they’ve ever been in their whole lives right now.”

Fellow bodybuilder and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger credited LaLanne with taking exercise out of the gymnasium and into living rooms.

“He laid the groundwork for others to have exercise programs, and now it has bloomed from that black and white program into a very colorful enterprise,” Schwarzenegger said in 1990.

In 1936 in his native Oakland, LaLanne opened a health studio that included weight-training for women and athletes. Those were revolutionary notions at the time, because of the theory that weight training made an athlete slow and “muscle bound” and made a woman look masculine.

“You have to understand that it was absolutely forbidden in those days for athletes to use weights,” he once said. “It just wasn’t done. We had athletes who used to sneak into the studio to work out.

“It was the same with women. Back then, women weren’t supposed to use weights. I guess I was a pioneer,” LaLanne said.

The son of poor French immigrants, he was born in 1914 and grew up to become a sugar addict, he said.

The turning point occurred one night when he heard a lecture by pioneering nutritionist Paul Bragg, who advocated the benefits of brown rice, whole wheat and a vegetarian diet.

“He got me so enthused,” LaLanne said. “After the lecture I went to his dressing room and spent an hour and a half with him. He said, ‘Jack, you’re a walking garbage can.”‘

Soon after, LaLanne constructed a makeshift gym in his back yard. “I had all these firemen and police working out there and I kind of used them as guinea pigs,” he said.
He said his own daily routine usually consisted of two hours of weightlifting and an hour in the swimming pool.

“It’s a lifestyle, it’s something you do the rest of your life,” LaLanne said. “How long are you going to keep breathing? How long do you keep eating? You just do it.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Dan and Jon, and a daughter, Yvonne.

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