MERIZA DEGUZMAN – IFBB Pro Figure Olympian
Physique Specialist / Fitness Consultant
Specializing in Fitness, Nutrition and Contest Prep
Personal
“Hi, everyone! I’m Meriza DeGuzman – I’m a Capricorn. I am a Filipina. I have two brothers and a sister. I’m the oldest of us 4, so some of my first “workouts” included chasing my siblings around! When I was 17, I moved to California with my whole family.
I’m a Catholic school girl. I grew up in a very strict household. As a young girl attending St. Mary’s Academy in Manila, our school days were long! My athletic background included gymnastics and cheer.
I trained in gymnastics from the age of 6 until high school. (I also remember my mom “forcing” me to play piano too, but that didn’t last very long)
In high school, I played volleyball and track. I also became more serious in competitive cheer. (I was even cheer captain!)
When I came to the states, everything changed. My Dad got even stricter! My social life was pretty much non-existent. He wanted me to concentrate more on school and family. After high school, I pursued a career in the medical field, since my mom was an RN. I got my college education through the US military.”
My Start in Fitness
“I worked in the emergency room at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth , Virginia . After more schooling, I ended up working in the Laboratory. I got transferred to Japan in 2000.
After the birth of my daughter, I gained weight, which caused me to start hitting the gym! Not knowing much about exercise, like most girls, I turned to magazines like Oxygen and Muscle & Fitness-hers for tips. Once I joined a gym and started exercising, I found that my body changed faster than I ever thought it would. This got me excited to learn more. I explored further and got my personal training certification through Coopers Institute, ACE and AFAA. This is when I fell in love with the fitness lifestyle.
It was (and still is!) the most rewarding feeling to help my clients change their lives through healthy living and fitness! I loved it so much, I gave up my career in the medical field to pursue what my Dad calls, my “hobby that has gotten out of control.” It’s funny, but I can’t think of a more fulfilling career than guiding people to improve their quality of life through exercise and nutrition.”
Competition
“My first competition was in 2002, the Ms. Yokusoka Bodybuilding Championship (yes, bodybuilding!) There wasn’t a figure competition in this show and there were only 5 competitors in my class. I can’t believe I got the overall trophy! It was in Japan that I met my friend, Masae Tagami. She’s now an IFBB Pro Figure athlete as well and was an early inspiration to me! She was my first role model in this sport.
In 2003, I moved to San Diego , where I continued my career as a personal trainer. Funny enough, I went to my first NPC event here, the 2004 World Gym Classic where I ran into my friend, Masae again. She was onstage, winning her first show in Figure! That’s when the bug bit me again!
Since then, I’ve competed exclusively in the NPC and now in the IFBB.”
Contest History
2004
LA Championships: 4th
Pacific USA Naturals: 2nd
Armed Forces National Championships: 3rd
Border States: 4th
San Francisco: 2nd
Excalibur: 1st!
2005
Ironman: 6th
Emerald Cup: 5th
California Championships: 5th
Border States: 3rd
2006
World Gym Championships: 1st
LA Championships: 1st
USA ’s: 2nd
IFBB North Americans: 2nd
2007
Junior National Bodybuilding, Figure & Fitness Championships: 3rd
Figure National Championships: 2nd *EARNED PRO CARD
Tournament of Champions Pro Figure: 3rd *qualified for the Olympia
IFBB Ms Olympia: 18th
Palm Beach Pro Figure: 12th
2008
IFBB California Pro: 11th
IFBB Europa Dallas: 12th
IFBB Tournament of Champions: 5th
2009
IFBB California Pro: 4th
IFBB Europa Dallas: 3rd *qualified for the Olympia
IFBB Pro Houston: 3rd *qualified for the Olympia
IFBB Ms Olympia: 15th
IFBB Border States: 8th
IFBB Sacramento: 7th
2010
IFBB California Pro: 4th
IFBB New York Pro: 7th
Meriza runs a successful personal training business in San Diego, primarily focusing on women’s fitness. Meriza specializes in RESULTS, transforming each of her clients into their own ideal physique. Her clients include successful, national level competitive figure and bikini athletes, as well as general fitness and weight loss clients.
Meriza regularly conducts busy and popular Posing and Presentation Clinics for local competitive athletes, and is one of the industry’s most respected presentation coaches for both Figure and Bikini clients.
Meriza can be contacted for 1 on 1 presentation coaching, or personal training and contest prep at meriza@merizafigure.com. Meriza is sponsored by MAN Sports and uses several MAN Sports products during her contest prep. See www.MANSports.com and www.FigureFuel.com for more information on these tremendous products.