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: Evangeline Belton
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e in:IFBB Women’s Physique
Date of birth: 03/23/1959
Hometown: New York, NY
Currently reside:Columbia, SC
Career: Personal Trainer
If you could change into a superhero for a day who would you be and why? I would change into Spiderman! I love the way he soars through the sky and uses his webs. He is so athletic and acrobatic. And of course he is a good guy.
What made you begin dedicating your lifestyle to this sport? When I was a young girl I started looking at muscle magazines. I was amazed at how muscular and defined the women in these magazines were. Over the years I would admire the photos of beautifully sculpted bodies but I never believed that I could look anything like that. A few years after my daughter was born, I began my fitness career as an aerobics instructor and eventually personal trainer. I would frequently watch aerobic and fitness competitions on ESPN and I thought to myself that I could do that! I am a technically trained dancer so I knew I could do the routine but I was unsure about the physique round. After much encouragement from local fitness experts I began to train and competed in my first NPC competition in August 2001. I placed second in my division and I never looked back. I absolutely fell in love with this sport.
What approach do you take to dieting...carb cycle..keto? During contest prep I start out with a balanced diet that includes protein, carbohydrates and fats in every meal. I usually start dieting anywhere from 8-12 weeks out. As the weeks progress, I will start to decrease carbohydrates if necessary. If I am holding on to excess body fat I find that carb cycling is a good way to decrease body fat without slowing down the metabolism.
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about competing? I have often heard women say that they do not want to compete because they do not want to “look like a man.” The ladies that I compete with are feminine, beautiful and sexy. None of them look like men. I must admit, there are a few female bodybuilders who extreme
ly muscular and super hard but they are the exception.
What is your most embarrassing childhood memory? My friends were at the front door waiting for me to come out and play. The door was open so they could see directly inside. My Mom called me to come downstairs and play with my friends. As I approached the staircase I took one step and that was all she wrote. I tumbled down the entire staircase while my friends watched. How embarrassing!
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about YOURSELF during your contest prep? The biggest lesson I have learned about myself is that I can accomplish any goal through mental discipline combined with patience and faith.
Who do you look up and admire and why? One day I saw a picture of Lenda Murray and I could not stop looking at her. I thought she had the perfect feminine physique with just the right amount of muscularity. I guess the IFBB judges agreed because she won the Ms. Olympia title eight times! I looked forward to buying the latest copy of M&F just to look at her photos. I had the opportunity to meet her on two different occasions. She has a beautiful personality and is a great representation of this sport.
Competition history:
2013 IFBB Chicago Pro Illinois Women’s Physique 18th
2013 IFBB Mile High Pro Colorado Women’s Physique 10th
2013 IFBB Optimum Pro Louisiana Women’s Physique 4th
2013 IFBB Europa Show of Champions Florida Women’s Physique 16th
2012 IFBB Houston Pro Texas Women’s Physique A 4th
2012 NPC Team Universe New Jersey Women’s Physique A 3rd
PRO CARD WINNER
2012 NPC JR USA South Carolina Women’s Physique A 5th
2011 NPC Nationals Florida Women’s Physique A 9th
2011 IFBB North Americans Ohio Women’s Physique A 7th
2011 NPC Masters Nationals Pennsylvania Figure B 6th
2011 NPC Charlotte Cup North Carolina Open Figure B 3rd
Masters 35+ A 3rd
2010 NPC South
Carolina State South Carolina Masters Figure 35+ 4th
2009 NPC Nationals Florida Figure B NP
2009 NPC SC Excalibur South Carolina Open Figure A 2nd
Masters 35+ 1st
2008 NPC Masters Nationals Pennsylvania Womens BB 45+ A 11th
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lassic North Carolina Women’s BB 35+ 2nd
2002 NPC South Carolina State South Carolina Women’s BB Open LW 5th
2002 NPC Metrolina North Carolina Women’s Open MW 2nd
2001 NPC SC Excalibur South Carolina Women’s Open LW 2nd
Next competition:
2014 IFBB Optimum Classic Pro – May 24, 2014
Shreveport, LA
Favorite Motivational Quote:
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Who would you like to thank?
First and foremost I give thanks to God. I thank God for providing me with a wonderful family and great friends who support and encourage me. I thank God for my daughter who stood by my side through each and every competition until she went off to college. I thank God for the new friends that I have met on the circuit. These relationships mean the world to me.
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