Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On: Brittany Ramsey
Category you compete in: National Figure Competitor
Date of birth: 12/20/85
Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
Career: Fitness Professional- N.A.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer, A.F.A.A. Group fitness Instructor, Bootcamp Instructor, Motivational Speaker, Fitness Model, Figure Coach, Owner of MissFitBritt, Inc.
What is your favorite contest prep recipe? My favorite contest prep recipe is my yummy egg white sweet potato omelet! I mix broccoli, sweet potatoes, onions, green peppers and egg whites together and it is so divine!!
What part of your physique are you currently working on? I am currently working on pulling my latissmuss dorsi (lats) muscles out wider so that my waist line pulls in more. I am genetically boxier in the middle. When I tell someone that who doesn't compete, they think I sound crazy, however a smaller waistline is a target area in figure.
Name one piece of nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with you. My favorite nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with me is "You cannot out train a bad diet!!" I love this saying because it keeps me structured and focused when I'm prepping for a show!! Once I get in the zone, there's no looking at the good ole oatmeal raisin cookie, one of my favorite sweets!! No matter how hard I train in the gym, my results don't show unless I stay on my diet.
If you could compete in one other event (FBB, physique, figure, fitness, bikini) which would it be and why? If I could compete in one other event, it would be fitness, although I can't do a back flip! I truly take my hat off to all fitness competitors, because their training is so much more vigorous. This event would be an accomplishment for me because I've never trained for fitness before. If I could move, flip, and jump like IFBB Pro Tanji Johnson, I would be so estatic!!
Why NPC: I enjoy competing in the National Physique Committee because this organization has the best of the best competitors from all over the world competing. It is an honor to be seen nationwide in this sport.
What do you like best about competing? What I love best about competing is, the STAGE!! The diet and training can be crazy, but boy do I love the hair, make-up and walking out on stage with my posing suit on, shining on stage!! I feel like it's my time to shine. It's my way of putting my "Beyonce" on, just like an entertainer!! The stage is so fun to me!
What are your goals for the future? My goal is to obtain my pro card. I plan on working hard to get there
Competition history: I started competing in 2009, winning my very 1st show, the 2009 ABA Bodybuilding, Figure, and Fitness Championships promoted by Natural Olympian John Hanson. The very 1st year was such an awesome experience and accomplishment for me. No one in my family had ever competed or seen figure before. Everyone thought I did bodybuilding or called me a bodybuilder and I had to correct. I competed in 4 shows that first year, qualifying for the national NPC stage in my 4th show. In 2010, I competed on the national stage for the very 1st time and competed in 3 national shows that year with only 1 year of experience under my belt.
2011
-1st-NPC Midwest Open
2010
-11th-NPC Jr. Nationals
-10th-NPC USA's
-14th-NPC Nationals
2009
1st Place-Ms. Figure Illinois ABA Title
1st Place-Ms. Figure North American INBA Title
NPC Illinois State
2nd Place National Qualifier Short Figure Class NPC Continental Title
Next competition: I am now preparing for my 4th national show and 9th show total at the 2011 Jr. Nationals and there will be more to come for sure!
Hobbies: I enjoy singing and harmonizing with my family and friends. I definitely love the girly artsy fartsy things like shopping for heels, 5 inches that is, doing my friends and competitors make-up, spending time with my loved ones, and cutting up large t-shirts into cute fitted dresses and tops!!
What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years when it comes to competing? The biggest lesson I have learned over the years when it comes to competing is, by keeping my spirituality first, my family second, and then my training, is what will keep my life sane and balanced. Before I learned this, I was all over the place. My mind was unbalanced; I would miss important family functions, church services, and gatherings because I would train all day. Now my schedule is set for my training time and I now work around it so that I don't miss any workouts or important memories that I won't get back again! I am more balanced now making time for myself and others through my busy schedule. I have learned to stay calm and have fun with competing. When I go on stage relaxed with no worries, I perform better.
Competing allows me more visibility and it exposes me to a larger audience that needs my help with creating a healthier lifestyle for themselves. It helps me to inspire others. Those are the biggest lessons I've learned.
Favorite Quote: My commitment to fitness and nutrition changed my life and I wish to share that same joy with others believing, "It's never too late to make a commitment!" and this is my absolute favorite quote, because it doesn't matter how old we are, if we change our mindset as it relates to being healthy and fit, we change the direction we are going!!
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