Hi everyone!
It has been a while but things are finally starting to settle down. I was in Cleveland for the North American’s and then to Vegas for the Olympia Expo weekend. First and foremost, I would like to thank my sponsor MANSports for bringing me to the Expo this year. Special thanks to all of you for your continued love and support and to EVERYONE who stopped by to say hi. It was so nice to meet you all in person.

Well the competitive season is over for me this year and aside from a few photo shoots and running our store, it’s time to step back to refocus and retool for 2012. I often get asked what do I do to maintain during my “offseason” or do I just forget everything and relax until it’s time to compete again. It is important to me to live a balanced healthy lifestyle in the off season so I am not back tracking when it’s time to buckle down for contest prep. I generally use this time to work on lagging areas or areas that I feel I need to improve on. My progress happens behind the scenes so to speak and not on stage when everyone is looking. Although my diet is not as strict as when I am in contest mode, I do maintain a balanced diet with a cheat meal once a week. Usually during my offseason, I am feeling much stronger and able to push myself harder. I also continue to use Figure Fuel, Body Octane and Vaporize.
I take 1 scoop of Figure Fuel before my cardio or weight training sessions. Figure Fuel is arguably the best pre-workout, anti-fatigue supplement on the market packed with AjiPure Amino Acids and it also taste great!
I add 1 scoop of Body Octane to my Figure Fuel for an extra boost of energy. Body Octane is also a caffeine and stimulant free pre-workout performance enhancer that supports recovery and helps blood flow and oxygen into working muscles. It also removes metabolic by-products and wastes, as a result of physical activity such as ammonia and lactic acid.
I take 1 capsule of Vaporize with three of my meals. It’s a tremendous fat oxidizing phenomenon. It is believed to be attributed to augmenting the release of potent thermogenic enzymes through optimized liver function. Fascinatingly more, the sesamin’s potent fat-blocking and health promoting effects are further amplified when used in conjunction with the essential fatty acids contained in Vaporize.
Absolutely love this stack

Khay’s off-season high-performance stack:

Next blog I will post some of my off-season workouts and how I’m using this time to hit the stage better next year. As for what contest….well you will just have to wait and see.
Until next time!

Khay
xoxo

Many people ask me all the time about how I Train and the simplest answer that I can give is that I GO HARD and I LOVE IT!!! I definitely find that with having a Full-Schedule, Several Full-Time Careers, and Training Myself that the only way for me to really get things done is to give my ALL and to make the most out of what I am doing! That doesn’t mean that I don’t also look at my Overall Work Load and plan for Recuperation Days, but it certainly does mean that whatever I am doing, I am going to give my all! One of the Biggest Issues that I find many people to have is not being Honest or Realistic with themselves, to summarize; If you TRULY want something bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen, otherwise you will find an Excuse! So… Make sure that before you make a Goal or “say” you are going to do something that it is what you ultimately want and you are able to give your all! If you give anything less than your all, there is always room for doubt and in the end that will only defeat you! The True Competition is with ourselves; Become Your Best Constructive Critic and Your Own #1 Fan and you WILL become UNSTOPPABLE!!! Speaking of unstoppable… Let me run you through my High Intensity Leg Day from a few days ago!

I can certainly tell you that my “Intense Combo” of MAN Sports Supplements that I took prior gave me an extra edge! I LOVE the combination of 1 Scoop Body Octane, 1 Scoop Figure Fuel, 4 Orotine Caps, and 1 Yohimbine HCL Cap about 20-30 Minutes Pre-Training! Definitely covers all of the bases for Energy, Endurance, Strength, Power, Fat Loss, and Muscle Gain! What could be better?!

Intense Combo!!!

This was an awesome Leg Day and was geared more towards “Functional Fitness,” everything was done with Minimal Rest, but also Maximum Intensity, and Heavy Weight! I also did this workout with a couple Training Partners, Will and Josh, which really helped to motivate one another to push harder!

We started off with a Core & Plyo Warm-Up done in a Circuit Fashion without rest between the exercises;

Decline Leg Raises 15-20

Suspended Sprints 60 (using the Dip Bar and “Running” in air)

In & Outs 20 (a Push-Up Plank with Jumps Forward and Back)

Rocket Jumps 7 (crouching down and EXPLODING up as high as possible with arms overhead)

We went through this Circuit 3 Times with Maximum Effort and Little to No Rest… Definitely gets you going!!!

Next we moved onto Legs, again everything was done with Minimal Rest, but also Maximum Intensity, and Heavy Weight!

Leg Press 30 (done 10 Close, 10 Medium, and 10 Wide)

Super Setted w/High Box/Bench Jumps for 7 Explosive Reps! We went through this combo 3 times, I definitely love how the Plyometric Exercise feels right after a Heavy, High Rep Set… WOAH!

Barbell Straight-Leg Deadlifts w/Powerlifting Bands 10 (these are absolutely amazing when done properly far hitting the Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers in you Glutes and Hamstrings, really have to focus on EXPLODING through the Reps to make the most of the Bands!)

Super Setted w/Single Leg Glute Bridges 10 a side! We went through this combo 3 times as well, Glute Bridges are a great exercise for Targeting/Activating your Glutes and Hams! Most people cannot effectively use these muscles and this exercise is a perfect way to change that!

Seated Leg Curls 3 Triple Drop Sets of 12! We started with a weight that we could use for 12, got 12, then dropped the weight to get around 12 more, then dropped it one more time to get around 12 more! That’s 1 Set, we did 3 My Hamstrings were screaming after these, it actually got a bit hard to lift my Legs! YEAH!!!

Leg Extensions 3 Triple Drop Sets of 12! Done the same way we did Leg Curls and every bit as Painful/Fun… Sick, I know

Standing Calf Raises 15! We varied our foot positions from Straight, In, Out, and Straight to target different areas of the Calves and really focused on lowering slow, pausing, and then exploding up! Calves are all about taking the Achilles Tendon out of it!

Super Setted w/Tibia Raises Max Reps! We went through this combo 4 times! Tibia Raises are done by only put your heels on the edge of a platform/bench/box and raising and lowering the front of your foot! These will REALLY burn and are great for developing the front of your Lower Leg and aiding in overall Calf Size!

I always take time to fully stretch the worked muscles after lifting/exercise, it was definitely needed after this one Feel free to try this one out for yourself and let me know how it goes!

Powerful Calves! Built By Intensity!

-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-

-Derek aka “Diesel”-

HEY BIKINI & FIGURE COMPETITORS!!

MAN SPORTS Presents:
The Art of Figure™ – Meriza’s Posing and Presentation Clinics for Figure and Bikini Athletes!

MAN Sports sponsored athlete, Meriza DeGuzman, is the Premier posing and presentation coach for Figure and Bikini competitors in the greater Southern California region.
Meriza’s competed in over 30 professional and amateur contests and has competed in the IFBB Figure Olympia two-times in her 4 years as a professional. Her clinics are extremely popular and continue to grow, selling out every event since 2008.

“No matter what your experience level, come join us and share your experience, learn, and make new friends! With both Figure and Bikini, it’s all about the details. Join us to sharpen your presentation to be your best the day of the show!”
“Come learn about the powerful MAN Sports products that I use during my prep and recommend to all of my clients!

- Figure / Bikini Posing & Presentation
- Figure / Bikini Walk – “The Strut”
- Suits, with fitting and color selection on site at each clinic
- Tanning/make up/hair services coordinated
- Nutrition, Supplementation, including MAN Sports powerful products!

Come and learn about why MAN Sports new REVEAL THE STEEL STACK is the industry’s premier fat loss protocol!

REVEAL THE STEEL STACK by MAN Sports:

Use MAN Sports new REVEAL THE STEEL fat loss stack to take your physique to the next level! Formulated for athletes, this Born 2 Perform thermogenic/lipolytic combination is perfect for hard-training competitors. Add it to your regular dose of performance-boosting FIGURE FUEL for the most productive training you’ve ever experienced!

UPCOMING DATES:
Oct 15, 2011
Nov 19th, 2011

WHEN: Saturdays, above dates, 10am-1pm

WHERE:
World Gym, San Diego
2949 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109

WHAT TO BRING:
Competition suit or bikini, clear heels, towel, water, food (esp if you’re dieting)

cost:
$90 for participants; $50 for observers

Please note that these clinics are only open for the girls who are preparing to compete, or for you ladies who would like to learn more about Figure or Bikini competition, you’re also welcome to observe. Girls, this is YOUR time, so please, out of respect for all hard-working ladies, men will not be allowed to attend these clinics.

Thanks so much, everyone, for your continued interest in competing, and thanks to everyone who’s participated in the past. These clinics are so much fun! I can’t wait to see everyone again!

Xoxo
Meriza

Leading a VERY Busy and Active Lifestyle is truly a Blessing and one of the most important aspects of what I do is always trying to make the most out of what I do! There is Time Management, Efficiency, Multitasking, Planning, and one of the MOST important to me is MAXIMIZING whatever I do! One of the best ways for me to do this is to ALWAYS make sure that my Eating Plan and Supplementation Schedule are On Point, you can only go so long without the proper Fuel before your Engine eventually burns up and by making sure that I am Dialed In on my intake, I know I will be MAXIMIZING my outtake! One great addition that I have recently added to my Supplement Schedule is Yohimbine HCL; while not costing much and being very convenient to take, it packs a serious Performance Punch! Yeah, I just said that… PERFORMANCE PUNCH!!! Yohimbine HCL is not just any “Yohimbe,” but rather the purest form of the Active Ingredient that is actually making the difference and that is exactly what I’m after! Yohimbine HCL has been shown to be very potent at Fat-Loss and not just any normal Fat-Loss, but specifically the “Stubborn Fat” areas, such as Abdomen Fat on Males and Butt/Hip/Thigh Fat on Women! It also is shown to Decrease Fatigue by Decreasing Energy Expenditure from Exercise! If that’s not enough, Yohimbine HCL has also been shown to Increase Blood Flow (think Recovery and Pumps) and Increase Testosterone in Males! All of this sounds too good to be true, well it’s not and that is exactly why I have added it in! Yohimbe has been around for a long time, but it is difficult to find it in the Pure Yohimbine HCL form, so I’m very happy that MAN Sports has brought it to the table! Sooo… How have I been using it? Well, my Goal right now is to use it for it’s Performance Effects and to keep Fat off since I am not specifically in a Cutting Phase and not wanting to use it each day like I would if I was in all out Shred Mode!

Gotta LOVE How They SHIMMER

So what I have found is that by using it before my High Intensity Conditioning Sessions along with Figure Fuel that I am able to perform at a much higher output without getting fatigued as fast and I definitely notice feeling warmer from the increased Thermogenesis! I also have been taking it along with Figure Fuel before my Lifting Sessions a few times a week and certainly notice the Pumps here in addition to Less Fatigue and feeling warmer! So, total I am using 1 capsule a time, once a day, 3-4 times per week! For those out there that are specifically Cutting, that is where you want to use it each day 1-2 Capsules a time, 2-3 times per day! Yohimbine HCL has a relatively short Half-Life (roughly 2-3 hours), so frequent dosing is beneficial. As far as my High-Intensity Conditioning goes, I do several forms, but one of my favorite is waking up, taking 1 Yohimbine HCL Capsule along with 1 1/2 Scoops Figure Fuel and heading downstairs to my Concept 2 Rower! I really like to mix up what I do, but it is always something very intense and usually only lasts about 15 Minutes… 15 Grueling Minutes I may add I use it more to get my Metabolism REVVED UP for the day and the Yohimbine HCL and Figure Fuel help me to MAXIMIZE my efforts! For those of you that haven’t tried a Concept 2 Rower before, there really is no comparison! It provides you with an amazing Full Body Workout with Low Impact, oh and it really SMOKES you in NO TIME!!! Fun

The Rower In The Basement!

Another awesome aspect of the Rower is that it develops your Back quite well, especially when done for Shorter, High Intensity Bouts like I do! I am Loving the ability to MAXIMIZE my results and really would have it no other way! Speaking of MAXIMIZING… While I wrote this I was sipping on my Body Octane… Time to hit the Gym!!!

A Back That Rows!!!

-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-

-Derek aka “Diesel”-

I’m proud of myself, I must admit! I didn’t miss a beat this weekend!
Working the busy expo, getting to meet friends and fans, with the boss (Greg, you’re such a “mean” boss to work for! ~ ) the travel, the hotel, the change in the routine – it can be challenging to stay on track nutritionally, and getting your cardio and workouts in can be next to impossible! Unless you’re super-organized, and disciplined…and I have to admit, I did pretty good this weekend. Peter is now officially “off-season” which can make the challenge even tougher! And Khay is also a bit more liberal with her nutrition, just coming off a very successful trip to the North Americans last week…so with me staying tight on the program, it can be doubly tough to be sure I don’t indulge in the many temptations of Las Vegas and the Olympia weekend! Bar samples, shakes and even eating out with the sponsors, or the buffets of finger foods at the night-time shows…if you don’t keep your mind about you, it can mean diet-destruction!

But, I’ve been doing this a while now, and being professional, it’s kinda my role to lead by example…and as long as I’m prepared, I’m ok. I did some planning and research in the weeks leading up to this trip – we picked a hotel that has a 24 hour fitness center, with good quality equipment to do my cardio on…and I pre-packed most of my meals…and had back up protein shakes pre-packed, just in case. Our room had a fridge, so storing my meals was not a problem, and the restaurant in our hotel catered to clean eating…I know because I called ahead to be sure! And, even though Peter’s in “growing mode” he still likes to keep his foods clean! So, we had a long, exhausting trip to the Olympia weekend this year, but it was worth it, and I didn’t miss a single beat with my prep for the 2011 Border States!
It was a great weekend, watching Phil win! (We love Jay, but Phil’s back gave me chills!) and Jay is such a precious and dear friend to our family, it was definitely an emotional Saturday night for us…maybe that’s why I feel so drained tonight! (Nah it couldn’t be that I’ve only had the equivalent of 65 grams of carbs all weekend! lol!
Khay and I got to take a photo with Jenna Jameson!
And, thanks to Europa Sports, we got to enjoy both nights of the show – thanks Kris!
Well, I’m off to bed, because I have to get up for morning cardio before my clients start showing up! See you all soon!
xoxo
Meriza