Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On IFBB Fitness Pro: Darrian Tissenbaum
Category you compete in: IFBB Fitness
Date of birth: June 4, 1991
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Career: Student at University of Pittsburgh
Competition history: 1st place NPC Pittsburgh 2012, Class B and overall fitness winner 2012 Jr. Nationals
Next competition: Ft. Lauderdale Cup
How has your life changed since you adopted this lifestyle and started competing? To find joy in this crazy world of competition, it’s very important to understand the lifestyle this sport requires. If you’re able to realize you’re living for your own health and wellness, the diet and exercising don’t become just other items on a checklist to get ready for a competition, but instead become the basis of how you live your life. As a 21 year old, it is definitely challenging because many of my peers don’t understand my devotion to health and fitness. They see the life I choose as “boring,” “terrible,” or that I’m “depriving” myself. I have simply realized life is full of sacrifices, but as long as I find passion in my various endeavors, it creates joy within my life. For me, orienting my life towards health, wellness, and fitness has created a higher level of integrity and confidence in my life.
What have you found to be the best way to balance family, friends, career, this lifestyle, etc… The key to balancing friends, family, career, and lifestyle is exactly the word you used—balance. Life is a balancing act. The most important way to find balance in a busy life and schedule is to keep your most important goals and duties in the back of your mind. It’s easy to get side tracked and lose site of what’s most important, so orienting yourself within your daily life and actions towards what’s most important to you, can help achieve the balance you desire.
If you could change places with one competitor for the day who would it be and why? India Paulino, I think the bikini poses are so fun and sexy! It looks like it would be so fun to get on stage as her and rock it. I also love all of her articles on health and fitness advice.
Name two of the most inspirational people in your life and tell why they inspire you. My Grandma, Ellen Tissenbaum, is my biggest inspiration. She’s a holocaust survivor who lost everything and has since created an incredible life for herself and her family. She acts as a constant reminder that life will hand you struggles and difficult situations but those who persevere and overcome these struggles, in the end will be successful. My Dad, Allan Tissenbaum, also inspires me c
onstantly with his commitment to a healthy, fit, full life. He’s a very busy orthopedic surgeon, but on top of a full surgical schedule, he still runs master’s track and field competitions, placing among the top in the world. In addition to running and working, he also takes a lot of time to devout to his loving family. Yet, the most inspiring thing about him is that no matter how busy or tired he becomes, he never makes excuses and continues to run and exercise to the fullest.
Tell one recipe or supplement you can’t live without. Protein pancakes!!! ½ c. instant oatmeal, ¼ c. 1% cottage cheese, 4 egg whites, 4 Splenda packets, and 1 tsp of cinnamon—put all the ingredients together in a blender or cuisinart and then make the pancakes in a frying pan with cooking spray! They’re fantastic!
Tell about a typical training day for you. What exercises, how many sets/reps…etc…
Leg Day—4x12 barbells squats shoulder width apart, 4x12 barbell squats with feet together heels raised on a 25 lb plate, 3x15 leg press with feet wide and toes pointed out, 4x12 leg extensions superset with 4x12 lying hamstring curls, 4x12 butt blaster on each leg superset with 4x12 walking lunges
In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to? The biggest shout out has to go to my Mom. She’s been there every step of the way and helped me more than I could ever imagine! Other incredibly important people along this journey were my lifting partner Danyelle Mastarone, my boyfriend Angelo Morasca, Dr.Victor Prisk for helping me with my routine and posing, Gary Udit for helping me with posing, and Tim Wood for going to my first Arnold Classic with me—Tim, I never would have gotten on the NPC stage if it wasn’t for you!
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