Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Tina Petersen
Category you compete in: NPC Figure
Date of birth: 2-1-63
Hometown: Santa Ynez
Career: Accounting Administrator for International Wine Co.
If you could change into a superhero for a day who would you be and why? I know this sounds crazy but growing up I always watched Wonder Woman and was so in awe even though it wasn’t real to be like that. I wanted to be like her in the fact that she wanted to stop the bad people and bad things from happening, but only used force if necessary. I would love to save the world and get rid of the bad people and for this world to be a trouble free place. I know that isn’t possible but what a nice thought! I wanted to be her because of what she represented and also that she had the strength to do it and still remained a beautiful feminine woman.
What made you begin dedicating your lifestyle to this sport? It was important to me to be healthy and fit and I enjoyed working out in the gym. I lost my dad at an early age of 43 and I wanted to be sure that it didn’t happen to me. I met a couple of friends of mine at the gym and they were the ones who encouraged me to compete. I said I am too old to compete and they said you are never too old!! I went out and competed and placed in my first show. From their I was bitten by the competition bug and its been an amazing experience since then.
What approach do you take to dieting...carb cycle..keto? I have a trainer that I work with who has me on a pretty strict diet during competition prep. It starts out with good healthy carbs in each meal but through the weeks as it gets closer to competitio
n we start cycling down the carbs slowly. The proteins stay and the fats decrease maybe a little, but it just depends on how I am looking. My body definitely responds better to a bit more carbs than less, but it works and my trainer has had me place in every competition that I have done except one or two. It’s been an amazing journey.
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about competing? I think there is more than one misconception but people in general when they see someone with a good body and decent amount of muscle automatically assume that the individual is on steroids and that is so not true. In my division it takes strict dieting and a hard training and cardio program period. I think all people think if they work out that they will see results, but here is the fact. Whether you work out 3 days or 5 days a week unless you change your diet you will not see results. It takes discipline and dedication and everyone is capable of doing it.
What is your most embarassing childhood memory? When I was in 8th grade I had a pair of satin ditto pants and I wore them to school one day. We went on a field trip and I sat next to a boy that I liked. It was hot that day and when we got off the bus my pants were all wet and it looked like I peed in my pants but I didn’t. It was just sweat. So embarrassing.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about YOURSELF during your contest prep? That I get tired and there are days where I ask myself why am I doing this again? I know that I say that because I am tired but in reality the biggest lesson for me is that I need to stay driven and dedicated to what I am doing. This is a goal and a dream of mine to be doing this at age 49! This is what I wanted and I am stepping out and doing something for myself after raising my family. I set a goal, train hard, compete and do the very best that I can on stage as well as remembering to have fun. It is a blast on stage and I have had great experiences meeting different women across the country. We all share the same hard work, dieting and dedication it takes to compete.
Who do you look up and admire and why? I would say it would have to be my grandmother who is still alive and 91 years old. I am very close to her and I am the first grand daughter out of 38 grand children. I admire her because of her love and dedication of being with my grandfather, having 10 children together and being married 72 years until he died last November. She is a woman who has worked so hard to raise a family of 10 children especially back in the day when they were doing laundry on a washboard! She made a commitment and stayed true to it her whole life. She has never been with any other man except my Papa. I only wish that I could have been half the woman that my grandmother is still today.
Competition history: I competed in December 2009 in the bikini division at the Excalibur in LA and placed 5th with a trophy in my first show. Then I met my trainer Kim Oddo who told me that I needed to move to figure as I had too much muscle for bikini. I came out in March 2010 at the Culver City show, borrowed a suit and won a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place trophy in Masters Figure 45+Masters Figure 35+ and the Op
en all ages division.
May 2010: Contra Costa -3rd place in Open Figure
LA -2nd in Masters 45+, 3rd in Masters 35+ and 5th in Open Figure
November 2010-Sacramento Show-1st in Masters 35+, 5th in the open and 4th in Masters 45+
December 2010-Culver City Excalibur show-1st in Masters Women 45+, and won the overall!
I was training to do National level shows in June and July of 2011, but after a hysterectomy and mistakes that were made by the doctor, I was shut down for the rest of 2011.
I fought hard to come back starting January 1st of 2012 and competed in March 2012 at the Sacramento Show-2nd in Masters 45+ and 4th in Masters 35+.
April 2012-1st in Masters 45+ and 3rd in Masters 35+
Next competition: Team U in Teaneck, New Jersey on July 6th and 7th. It’s a National level show and I am going for my Pro Card.
Favorite Motivational Quote: I have two that I put together that I believe.
Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do. No matter what obstacles come in your path with work and determination you can do anything you set your mind too.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my fiancé, Eddie Hsueh and both of my kids, Charlene and Brad for all of their love, encouragement and support through all the difficult times and the good times. They all encouraged me to go on when there were times that I didn’t think that I could. Those three are the greatest gifts in my life.
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