Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On Figure Competitor: Taylor Gandsey
Category you compete in: Figure
Date of birth: June, 30 1989
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Career: I am a group fitness instructor at 24 Hour Fitness and I also work at R.E.I. I am studying right now to get my personal training certificate, and hopefully will start training soon.
If you could change into a superhero for a day who would you be and why? I would most definitely be Wonder Woman. She embodies everything that a woman should be. Strong, independent, confident, and sexy.
What made you begin dedicating your lifestyle to this sport? I was always athletic throughout high school, I was a cheerleader for 6 years and danced for 10 years. After high school I started working with a personal trainer and realized that I had such a strong passion for lifting weights and training in the gym. There was a point after high school that this passion took a turn for the worst. I began to obsess about exercise, cardio specifically, and became very meticulous about every single thing I put in my body, this turned into an eating disorder and I suffered some heath issue as a result. Once I went through therapy and rehab I was able to channel my eating disorder and focus on being strong and healthy, not skinny. My new found love of lifting weights helped me reshape my body into being strong and muscular. Being in the gym helps me focus my emotions and is a meditative experience for me. Once I dedicated my life to fitness and being healthy, I had many people approach me about competing. At first I had no idea that this was something I was capable of, but the more I educated myself and talked to people about this sport, the more I realized that this was something I really wanted to do and could give 120% to get there. I am use to being on stage, since I use to dance when I was in high school and had many performances in front of large groups of people, so I knew that I would love that part of competing. The best part about competing is steeping on stage and having the moment of ”This is it, this is what it comes down to.” and knowing how hard I worked to get there.
What approach do you take to dieting...carb cycle..keto? I am very lucky when it comes to dieting. It does not take much for me to start dropping weight. I have tried carb cycling in the past and that did work, but I have to be careful with my carb's since I tend to lean out very quickly and run the risk of looking depleted, especially in my upper body. So this time around, working with a new coach ( Noel Fuller ) we are starting my dieting 20 weeks out, which is a long time for me, but he wants to start slowly and keep the carb's in so I can continue to grow into the show. I have never tried a keto diet before, and don’t think that my body would respond well. I have always dieted with carb's and figure why change something that has always worked. 
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about competing? Most of the time when I tell people that I compete they are either really interested and ask a ton of questions or they automatically start assuming things. There are some people that think this is an “obsession” and that I should live a more “normal” life, but for me this is my normal. I have learned so much about myself already with competing and it takes a very special person to survive competition prep. I think many people really underestimate how much hard work and dedication goes into doing a show, and how much of it is your mind. People think that all it takes is going to the gym, doing some cardio, and watching what you eat. When in reality, if you want to do well, it is a total lifestyle change. It effects everything you do everyday. For me there is no “off seaso.” I always have a goal in mind and am always focused 120%, 24/7!
What is your most embarrassing childhood memory? When I was in elementary school I took a pair of scissors into the bathroom stall and chopped my bangs off! I ran to the principals office and told her that someone came into the bathroom, cut my hair, and ran off. When I got home I tried to fix them, but only made it worse. That is how I got the nickname “no bangs”.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about YOURSELF during your contest prep? I think the biggest lesson I have learned is that your mind is so much more powerful than your body. This not only applies to what you do in the gym, but it applies to your everyday life. I don’t mind cardio, but there were times when it took everything inside me to wake up for the millionth time starving, and having to get on those revolving stairs for fasted cardio. It was all mental for me. Once I told myself I was going to do it and that I was NOT tired I did it. Every time I finished and pushed through the speed bumps I felt like I could do anything! I also realized that my life can become a bit un-balanced and I really have to work hard and focus on not letting my life get to out of control while I am in contest mode.
Who do you look up and admire and why? I definitely look up to my dad, he is such a positive and inspirational person. He has always been there for me no matter what, and can somehow always manage to put a smile on my face even if I am having the worst day. He has a very positive outlook on life and has such a fun personality. He would do anything for his family and I know he will always be there for me.
Competition history:
Oregon State 2010: 1st place
Seven Feathers 2010: 7th place out of 16
Seven Feathers 2011: 4th place out of 17
Next competition:
My next show I plan on doing is Emerald Cup in 2012. I am hoping to eventually compete in physique but at least for this year I am going to stick to figure.
Favorite Motivational Quote: -You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
-Devote yourself to an idea, Go make it happen, Struggle on it, Overcome your fears, Smile, Dont forget this is your dream.
-You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
-Abs are made in the kitchen.
Who would you like to thank? I would first off like to thank my family for supporting me 100%. I could not do any of this without them! Like I said this is a lifestyle for me and having them support me makes it so much easier. Also I want to thank them for putting up with the mood swings during contest prep! I would also like to take the time to thank my first coach, Michelle Anderson. She was the one who initially taught me everything about contest prep and training. She is not only an amazing coach, but she is an amazing person and deserves to be recognized for that. I also would like to thank another person who I worked with for my 3rd show, his name is Brandon Lyons, and I also learned a lot from working with him and respect him both as a competitor and a coach. Lastly I would like to thank my current coach Noel Fuller, I have only been working with him for a little over a month, but he has a lot of experience and insight and I can already tell that I am headed in the right direction. I hope he is ready to put up with all my questions!! :)
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