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 Mascha Tieken
Categ
ory you compete in: Womens Physique Divison
Date of birth: wauuuuwww uhmm LOL
Hometown: Hillegom, that`s about 15 min from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Career: I own a gym in the Netherlands called For Fun Sport in Hillegom, a place where athletes and non athletes come together to do just one thing, sweat!!.
I`m a personal trainer and travel back and fourth to the USA to work with my clients in both country's.
I`m the coach of several athletes both on the national and international level. I`m also the Dutch National Female Coach. A writer for several magazines and I love doing photoshoots.
As you can see I`m a little busy bee...but sometimes I wish to be a budha, you know the one with all the arms :D
Competition history: Do you have some time?? here it comes...
1991 IFBB Open Noord Hollandse Zaandam(C) 1 + overal body building-57 kg
1991 IFBB C-Grand prix Amsterdam(C) 2 body building +57 kg
1992 IFBB Empire Cup Rotterdam(B) 4 body building +57 kg
1993 IFBB NK(A)(dutch National) 4 body building +57 kg
1994 IFBB NK(A) (dutch National) 5 body building +57 kg
1994 IFBB Grand prix(A) 1 body building +57 kg
1995 IFBB NK(A) 5 body building +57 kg
1996 IFBB NK(A) 4 body building +57 kg
1998 IFBB NK(A) 3 Miss Fitness
1999 IFBB NK(A) 5 body building +57 kg
1999 NABBA NK(A) 4 Miss Figure
2000 IFBB NK(A) 3 body building +57 kg
2000 SET NK(A) 2 Miss Figure
2000 WFF Universe Austria(I) 3 Super Body
2000 WFF World Championships Germany(I) 1 Super Body
2001 WFF Universe Austria(I) 2 Super Body >30 years
2001 WFF World Championships Germany (I) 4 Athletic >30 years
2002 WFF Universe Germany(I) 5 Athletic >30 years
2002 WFF World Championships Germany (I) 1 Super Body >30 years
Received Pro card -IFBB
2003 IFBB New York Pro(Prof) 19 Figure
2003 IFBB Jan Tana Classic(Prof) 19 Figure
2004 IFBB California Pro Figure(Prof) 23 Figure
2004 IFBB Hungarian Invitational Pro Figure 4 Figure
2004 IFBB GNC Show of Strength(Prof) 17 Figure
2005 IFBB San Francisco Pro(Prof) 16 Figure
2005 IFBB California Pro Figure(Prof) 17 Figure
2005 IFBB Sacramento Pro Show(Prof) 11 Figure
2006 IFBB Colorado Pro(Prof) 18 Figure
2006 IFBB California Pro Figure(Prof) 18 Figure
2006 IFBB Grand Prix Holland(Prof) 12 Figure
2008 IFBB Europa Supershow (Prof) Figure
2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro (Prof) Figure
2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro Masters (Prof)
2012 IFBB Grand Prix 14 Womens Physique
C = low level competition
B = middel level competition
A = National level
I = International level
Prof = Professional level
Next competition: Women`s Physique Divison. I`m looking forward stepping onstage again.
I started my career in Female Bodybuilding at a national level and I simply love to pose. I love telling a story within my posing routine as they also did in the 80`s.
I was the first pro figure athlete of the Netherlands, Now I will be the first pro WPD athlete of the Netherlands and the first European Pro to step on stage in the WPD.
In your opinion, how important is motivation and confidence when aiming to accomplish a goal?
They are the key to reach your goal. If you are motivated to reach something and you have the confidence you will always reach your goal. That does not automaticly mean you will win a competition because there are a lot more aspects there that will influence your placement, but if your goal is to be the best you can be, better then before and you believe you can do it, you will!!
One of the motivations I always have/had was, I have Spina Bifida and Bechterew (also called spondylitis ankylopoëtica or ankyloserende spondylitis) and everybody told me I could not do it. I`m soooooo glad they said it..because that`s the reason I`m still doing it today (owww yeah and because I`m hooked on the iron)
In your eyes, what combination of hard work and natural ability is needed to reach the top?
Ok, you need natural ability and yes you need good genes. But if you do not have the will to work hard you will never ever reach anything. I have seen athletes that certainly where not blessed with the best genes, but worked there butts off and reached beyond there goal. I have seen athletes which have genes to become world champions in a heartbeat but simply were to lazy to work hard and up until today have reached nothing.
So I would say the total package would be nice; natural ability, good genes and willing to work hard.
But is not necessary if you are only willing to work hard!!
Give me some examples from your life where confidence has helped you to achieve?
I have started my gym from scratch. Just an empty building and a lot of stuff I had to buy with no money. I was 27 I think.
I just knew I could do it and I did. With in a month or 2 I opened up my gym For Fun Sport. Some people told me it wasn't smart of me to open up my own gym and others said I could not do it, but I had the confidence I could do it.
What do you find the most challenging about 
competing?
Most challenging... Well I think for every athlete this would be the challenge to see if you can improve your physique year by year. The next competition you want to be better and better.
For me as an athlete its the same thing but because of some birth defects I never know when I have to stop. To be honest the first time they told me I had spina bifida and Bechterew my world just fell apart. This was just before I went to my first international show. I was angry and upset for a day, the next day I put on my running shoes and started my prep for the show. After 12 years I'm still putting on my running shoes and loving every bit of it.
So for me the challenge is the road to a competition, the ups and down and the hurts and the pains. But at the end to be onstage in a gorgeous bikini, well that`s the icing on the cake (mmmmm would love to have some right now... LOL)
What are your top 5 key strategies for success?
· focus
· hard work
· having fun in everything I do
· Rob my boyfriend who is a wizard when it comes to nutrition and workouts
· just do it, no way out!
What is your favorite protein powder? Why do you like it?
I like Whey Isolate by Berry DeMey nutrition. Well I can honestly say it`s one of the best products I have used in a long time. When I want a protein powder I do not want carbs or other stuff in there. Berry DeMey is almost carb and fat free and he has a 100% guarantee. He uses the purest ingredients.
One other product I have used, which I did not before, was Palatinose. Sometimes you have to workout at a certain time but the time between your last meal and your workout will be to long. Palatinose will give you a fast energy source but “waits” until you need it. So you will have the energy to workout like an animal.... LOL
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
Please tell me I can not do something and I will prove you wrong!
In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?
First of all my boyfriend Rob for helping me with my diet and making my breakfast every morning :D and preparing all my food for the day.
My mom and my friends for making it possible for me to travel to the USA to compete. They take care of my dogs and cats and make sure my Gym For Fun Sport is open for the members.
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