Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On IFBB Womens Physique Pro: Joele Smith IFBB Pro
Category you compete in: Women’s Physique
Date of birth: September 12, 1980
Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS
Career: IFBB Pro, Owner of physiqueprofitness.com, mom, registered nurse (in another life many moons ago…LOL)
Competition history:
· 2012 IFBB Greater Gulf States-6th place women’s physique
· 2012 IFBB Pro New York-5th place women’s physique
· 2012 IFBB Europa Show of Champions-4th place women’s physique
· 2012 IFBB Pro Grand Prix-6th place women’s physique
· 2011 NPC Nationals-1st place Women’s Physique Class C (earned pro card)
· 2011 NPC Southern Classic-1st place Figure Class F
· 2011 NPC Jr. USA
· 2010 NPC Eastern USA
· 2010 NPC Southern Classic-5th place Figure Class D
· 2010 NPC Steel World-1st place Overall Figure
Next competition: I’m thinking early 2013
How has your life changed since you adopted this lifestyle and started competing?
My life has changed so much since beginning a life of competing and all that entails. I have to focus on myself a lot more now. I have always been a giver and doer for others. This lifestyle absolutely requires a great deal of “self time”. You can’t just half ass it! It is an all or nothing deal. I have struggled to find the perfect balance between my commitment to training and competing and my family and all of the many distractions/activities in life that can keep me out of the gym.
What have you found to be the best way to balance family, friends, c
areer, this lifestyle, etc…
I think everything in life is a balancing act. Finding harmony in anything is about discovering a healthy balance. It’s not easy, though, and I don’t always succeed at it either. I struggle with multi-tasking sometimes. Occasionally, I put too much into my training, dieting, contest preparation, etc. and at other times I get caught up in family responsibilities and have to remind myself to save enough time and energy for the things I need to do in the gym to be successful. I have found the best thing for me is to make a schedule, stick to it, and plan ahead if possible. I try to plan in advance what has to be done (in life and in the gym) and then make the most of my time by sticking to the plan. You cannot just fly by the seat of your pants!
If you could change places with one competitor for the day who would it be and why?
If I could change places with one competitor for the day, I guess it would have to be the beautiful and talented Oksana Grishina IFBB Fitness Pro. She is one of my favorites! She is stunningly beautiful and has some of the most amazing curves out there. Not only am I a huge fan of her physique, but I wouldn’t mind being able to do some of the little tricks she pulls off in her routines…LOL! She looks like she is having so much fun on stage. I just love watching her.
Name two of the most inspirational people in your life and tell why they inspire you.
My daughter, Avery, inspires me daily. Children have the ability to see the world as it really is. Kids don’t get caught up in some of the nonsense in which we adults do. She inspires me to be my best and work hard. I know that I am setting examples for her and that makes me want to work even harder to show her that diligence pays off. She even poses with me when I’m putting together my contest routines, and will be the first one to voice her honest opinion on how I look. And when I’m getting a little bent out of shape or stressed, she’s the first one to say, “check yourself before you wreck your
self.”
Also, my mother-in-law, Mrs. JoAnn, inspires me to be a better person. I’ve never seen anyone care for or love people like she does. She reminds me what life is genuinely about. She always has my back; if I told her I was going to shave my head completely bald she would support me if it was what I really wanted.
Tell one recipe or supplement you can’t live without.
One supplement I cannot live without is Whiplash fat burner and energy enhancer. I couldn’t make it through my day without it on board. I’d be asleep at the wheel!
One of my favorite recipes is a protein pancake. I like to mix a scoop of protein powder (I prefer chocolate for this recipe) with 2-3 egg whites, Splenda, and vanilla extract. Then I spread a tablespoon of natural peanut butter on top of the pancake then a dash of fat free, sugar free syrup…yummy!
Tell about a typical training day for you. What exercises, how many sets/reps…etc…
Right now I’m lifting very heavy and working on my weaknesses for next year. My biggest weakness is my back so I’m really pushing hard on my back right now. Currently I’m warming up with 2-3 sets of pull-ups. Then I’m doing lat pulldowns, 3 sets of 10, alternating wide grip and close grip. Next I do seated rows or bent over rows, 3 sets to failure. After that I do 2-3 sets to failure of one arm dumbbell rows. Lastly, I wrap up my back workout with rack dead lifts, 4 sets to failure. Rack dead lifts are a new back exercise for me; I’m trying to gain some density and a couple other competitors recommend this. So far, it’s working. I also hit calves and abs on this day. I do about 8 sets of 15-25 reps for my calves along with 4-6 sets of 12-15 reps for my abs. Then I do about 30 minutes of cardio. I like to keep cardio in my workout year round.
In closing, who would you like to give a shout out to?
I would like to give a shout out to my fans & supporters. I have so many people that tell me I inspire them. It really means a lot to me to know that I’m helping others become motivated to hit the gym and/or eat healthy. I have to say thanks to my family for supporting me, and the many people who have helped me along the way with training, diet/nutrition, posing, contest prep, etc. (Just to list a few: John & Amanda Micka, Angela Rayburn, Doyle & Traci Beach, Ryan Shook) There’s just no way to compete without an army of supportive friends, coaches & trainers behind you. I would also like to say a big thank you to Randy for all of his help with www.physiqueprofitness.com. And a really big shout out to Mike Yurkovic with X2X Training Gear for the amazing pictures! xoxo
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