Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On IFBB Bikini Pro: Sabrina Nicole
Category you compete in: Bikini.jpeg)
Date of birth: Oct. 1
Hometown: I consider myself a citizen of the world, an Army-brat, so I've moved around all of my life. I currently live in Dallas, TX
Career: IFBB Pro Bikini competitor, and fitness model, plus I am a partner in a travel company, and work in luxury retail. A whole lot going on, I know-I like to keep things interesting:-)
Competition history: Last year I received my pro card. Yeeeaayyy!! The 2012 season consisted of: March-Ronnie Coleman Classic in Mesquite, TX (2nd in my class); May-Jr. USA's in Charleston, SC (13th); Aug-North Americans in Pittsburgh (1st and overall, pro card); Oct-Houston Pro in Houston, TX (11th); April 2013-Europa Show in Orlando, FL (15th).
Next competition: My next show will be the Europa Show in Dallas, August 16-17. I plan for it to showcase me as a top pro contender.
How has your life changed since you adopted this lifestyle and started competing? I have seen the impact that I have on family, friends, and especially with people I have not ever met. I find a strength and peace in motivating and encouraging others to overcome there fears, reach for their dream
s, and discover their potential. For myself, it has made me realize that I can be a positive influence on all those that are willing to do be the best they can. It has given me confidence to accomplish everything I have set my sights on..and now, I'm really looking forward to it! :-)
What have you found to be the best way to balance family, friends, career, this lifestyle, etc…
My daily devotion is how I start everything, my fellowship at church, along with maintaining a fairly regimented schedule. I try and keep balance with time management and prioritizing commitments. I'm a big believer in moderation-so I do have time with fam and friends, as well as healthy fun meals :-) It's easier to listen to myself when I have balance, and I don't feel deprived of fun socially or through meals. It isn't 100% fail proof, but I do my best with goals and guidelines. Since EVERYTHING stops when it's time to eat, work is a tough one. So for the moment, I work everything around that. Once my work is my livelihood (the ultimate goal I'm gunning for) I'll have to find a different word to use for it!!
If you could change places with one competitor for the day who would it be and why?
Ideally, I would take half a day with AMANDA LATONA and the other half with AVA COWAN. :-) Amanda, is in the same division as myself, and I feel that her and I are a lot alike in that she has several things that she loves to do. So, to see her living the life that I hope to soon emulate would be an absolute blast!! She is modeling full time, sponsored athlete, and has many creative interests. She's versatile in her talents, and I feel to be her would be dabbling in so many different projects on top of competing. How fun! Starting the day as Amanda, I may be hosting a web video or working at a photo shoot in studio or even on location. She lives in non-stop Las Vegas, and it'd be nice to be her connecting with fans and inspiring and motivating others through day-to-day activities. Now, I know that Ava is a IFBB figure pro, but I feel that we have so much in common. She is a Libra, like myself, and is constantly reinventing herself. She's intelligent, and went to school to seek a degree in a field she loves and turned that into a career. I think to do her workout in the gym, would kick my a@@, and I'd love it!! No nonsense. She's been in the fitness industry for a little while and has such a sophisticated and incredible presence. Being in her shoes, I'd learn a ton because of her extent of industry knowledge, and the established connections I'd be interating with would be the best way to end the day. Whether it be working on a shoot, conducting a demo, or even responding to emails. Love it, love it all.
Name two of the most inspirational people in yo.jpeg)
ur life and tell why they inspire you.
I am inspired by my nephew, Jailen. He has been through more things in life as a nine year old, than most people ever have had to endure their entire lives. He has such joy and perseverance, it motivates me to be my best self. He is a loving, and truly incredible little guy!! A sweet spirit, Jailen, is eager to make everyone smile, and is a caring assistant to his mom, my sister. He has such a considerate heart, and has a deep desire to find the best in all given situations. I see what he has overcome, and it makes me want to succeed in this fitness industry to help support children growing up with healthier eating options, and physical activities. In doing so, it gives them the encouraging support reminding them that they are here to be whatever and whomever their grandest dreams desire. He proves to me that kids want you to show them the proper way to live, and eat, and give them the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
I am also inspired by the memory of my mother. I know that you said "in my life" and even though my mom has passed, I feel that she is very much with me. She was talented, smart, and knew how to connect with others-and I mean ANYBODY. Being able to identify with people from all walks of life, is a characteristic that I feel she has passed onto me. Partnered with the fact that I've traveled all over the world, being raised as an army-brat, I can easily adapt and find common ground with most everyone. My mother was a loving, thoughtful, fun-loving, and passionate educator. She always told me that I could be whatever I desired, and I have always believed her. She ultimately gave me the ability to believe in myself, and that what I have inside of me is unlike anyone else, and it is my responsibility to cultivate and share. Her legacy propels me to pursue every single one of my dreams, discover new ones, and to help others in achieving theirs as well.
Tell one recip
e or supplement you can’t live without. I can't live without Mrs. Dash Salt Free Garlic and Herb!!!…on my turkey breasts, on my tilapia, and even on my asparagus! No Salt Free Mrs. Dash in my kitchen equals an immediate trip to the store. Stay stocked. :-)
Tell about a typical training day for you. What exercises, how many sets/reps…etc…
I'm in endurance training mode, and all of my days are more "circuit training" in the pm. Mornings start with cardio. First, I'll warm up on the bike or the elliptical for 10-15 minutes and stretch. Recently, I have been running more lately, between 5 and 7miles, and that takes about an hour and twenty-five minutes. It's been fun switching things up! If I'm not running that morning, I'll do the "skiing elliptical" for 30 minutes, and then the stair master for 30 minutes. Since my pm regiments change daily, and they are set up as circuits, with some done as supersets*. I run through each exercise (with the appropriate reps) once, completing the circuit three times. My fav day is: Wednesday :-)
Warm-up, stair master 10 minutes
*Stability ball wall squats-50,50,30
*Jump squats-50,50,30
Seated hamstring curl-20,20,20
Seated leg extension-20,20,20
Stair master-5 minutes
*Assisted pull-ups (wide)-15,15,15
*Push ups 15,15,15
Stair master-5 minutes
Lying glute lifts-20,20,20
Walking lunges (each leg)-20,20,20
Dumbbell single rows (planks)-20,20,20
*Barbell standing curls-20,20,20
*Seated dips-20,20,20
*Barbell shoulder p.jpeg)
ress-15,15,15
ABS-stability ball-30,30,30
Using foam rollers..Stretch it oooouuutttt!!!! ;-)
In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?
I'd like to thank my family, friends, and fans for all of the support and encouraging love!! To my coaches, Dexter Jackson and Gale Elie for the tough love and butt-kicking support:-) Special thank you to Sheilahe Brown, Leah Wilson, and Greg (you know who you are;-) for their direction, guidance, and belief in my gifts and abilities. They are the ones that ignited my passion to compete. To my sponsors, I really appreciate you! My guidance guru, Reidland Tucker, you are a force to be reckoned with, and I owe you a large part of my sanity!! To my supporting cast, my special guy, the one that endures the diets along with the training schedule and traveling-you are the very best.
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