Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
TP: Tell us about yourself Sheila. What do you do for a living? Where do you live and how long have you been competing?
SB: Well after about 13 yrs of being a hard laborer, it seemed life sort of forced me to go on my own. Which was fine for I needed to be confident within my bodybuilding career-- to learn, to be on my own, to build business relationships in which that learning never stops. For now, it's internet business; I do work for Eric Davis of HARD CULTURE. It's a clothing line that I do a lot of the fitness designs. I'm also a spokesmodel at trade shows as well as one of his main clothing models.
Now that we are well into the 2009 contest schedule, I thought it would be interesting to travel back in time to the year 1987 when I interviewed Bev Francis following that year's Ms Olympia contest. This contest turned out to be very challenging for Bev; however, being a true champion, she not only meet the challenge head on, she went on to place a very respectable third in a great lineup. Here's her story, which begins with a look at her preparation for that year's show....
Katherynne "Kitty Kat" Ramirez is one slippery kitty! Turns out my 5'7", 130 lb, Dominican friend is not just a sexy, fiery girl with a sense of humor, but she's bright and talented, too. Every time we tried to talk she was busy with her job at the Department of Buildings as an Enforcement Assistant in New York City. She sends inspectors into the field, reads their violations, and sends the violations to the courts. In fact, she's on call 24 hours a day. Last year when there was a tornado in Queens (yeah, I didn't know about that either) she worked for three days straight without a day off.
While Alisha Morrow was car shopping with her husband she graciously took my phone call so that I could interview her. I found out that she's a 31 year old, 5'2", PE teacher at a public high school where she also coaches the girl's Dance Team which she took to States this past year (they placed 3rd). She's also a full-time student herself, as well. In her off season, one of her favorite things to do is go out to eat. "My husband and I don't smoke, we don't drink and we both love to eat! I even joke with him that I can out-eat him!"
When she was 20 years old, she decided, on a whim, to spend one day in LA with some Sorority sisters. Their plan was to get tickets to The Price Is Right game show. Before she left, she jokingly told her friends and family that she was going to "meet Bob Barker and win a car!" So they sat in line all day and never made it in to the show. Apparently everyone gets tickets, but only the first 300 people in line actually get in to the show. They were so disappointed, they all decided to stay another night, cram seven girls into one cheap (we're talking college students) motel room, and get in line the next morning at 5AM.
In a recent survey by the American Dental Association only 19% of women said they were happy with their body. This is both alarming and yet completely understandable at the same time. It is alarming because dissatisfaction with body image is one of the primary triggers leading to eating disorders. However, it is also understandable when you consider the pressure put on women by the media when it comes to dictating how a woman should look, with supermodels being presented as the ‘ideal'. 
When you visit her web page, one of the first things you might notice is the "I am not available for sessions or private wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask." message on her home page. It's located right beneath what appears to be a completely nude photo of a blond bombshell with an extremely muscular, well-sculpted and symmetrical physique. Obviously a female bodybuilder, you might think.....but you'd technically be wrong. To date, she has never competed in bodybuilding; and "wrestling?" hmmm... what is that all about? 
We like to bring you the most intriguing stories we can about exceptional women athletes. This story about Tonya Todd is about as intriguing as they get, and I imagine, pretty damn motivating.
Check this out, imagine your trainer tells you to enter two totally unrelated contests that take place on the same day and are run simultaneously. That's right; at the same time. I know, sounds crazy but just stick with me here... The goal is to get ready for a Strongwoman contest that requires both endurance and strength while also prepping for a physique contest. You need to be lean, tight, hard, feminine, beautifully coiffed, carb-depleted, energized, strong, and focused. . . all at the same time! And did I say strong
The use of anabolic steroids by female bodybuilders is an issue which sparks controversy in media circles and a degree of secrecy in the world of bodybuilding. Ask any male competitor what drugs he uses on and off season and you will usually get a fairly honest response (some are even prone to exaggeration!). On the other hand, steroid use in the female bodybuilding world is still shrouded, to some extent, in a veil of secrecy. Few women will open up (except possibly to their closest friends) and reveal exactly which anabolic substances they're using.
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