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: Jennifer Robinson
Category you compete in: Women’s Physique
Date of birth: Sept 15
Hometown: Small Town, Middle America
Career: Trainer/ Police Officer/ several other busy work activities
Competition history: 6yr highlights: NPC:1st & overall Figure Southern Classic, KY Muscle, Greater Gulf States. 1st & overall Bodybuilding Power Shack Classic. 1st & overall WP Jr Nationals.
Low Lights! 16th place Jr Nationals, Arnold Amateur, Team U, Nationals.
The ALMOST but not quite: 1st North Americans Masters figure… but not overall, no pro card. 3rd Open figure.
IFBB: St Louis 4th, Europa Orlando 5th, Greater Gulf 3rd, Chicago Pro 5th.
Next competition: Tampa Pro. After that… BREEEEAK! And look forward to 2013!!
In your opinion, how important is motivation and confidence when aiming to accomplish a goal?
Motivation is a great tool to fire up your planning stage & to get you initially moving but after that… Motivation only shows up to some of your training sessions… Motivation is hit or miss and doesn’t give you 24hr notice! 
Genuine confidence in your program will out you at ease with your results in the end. Confidence can carry you through some of the rough patches by knowing that you are on the right track.
So, motivation is important to get you going but I don’t think you can rely on it as central source to keep you on track…. Confidence is great as long as its genuine and true. Confidence can keep you focus and prevent stress and distress during prep!
In your eyes, what combination of hard work and natural ability is needed to reach the top?
I have seen folks with a ton of natural ability but they do not have the desire to achieve so they sit on their butts… I have also seen folks with a ton of drive and determination, but not an ounce of natural ability & I watch them work 100X harder to climb the ranks. I believe a healthy dose of both is key because some days your natural ability can get you through the day and other days…. The hard work ethic can make you buckle down and focus to stay on track!!
What are some motivational strategies that have or currently work for you?
I LOVE motivational photos… Photos of cheat food! Preferably CUPCAKES! I love to look at the beautiful photos and dream about how they taste and check the calendar to see how many training days I have until I can go CUPCAKE CRAZY! I also like to read, post, tweet motivational quotes… Some more famous than others, some more raw than others… But all of them I can relate to! I also like to confide in my friends… Not only my competitor friends, although they can usually give it right back to me, but my regular people friends too… My daydreams, my rants and tirades… Lately, I’ve really wanted either a clone or I wish I were Voltron so I could break apart into 5 little robots! Other things that motivate me is talking to newbie competitors and seeing the light in their eyes and the fire for competition. Nothing beats that genuine excitement to see improvements in their body!
Give me some examples from your life where confidence has helped you to achieve?
I’ve had numerous incidents and occasions where I had to put my ‘big girl panties on’ and get things done…. I am a single parent, a self starter and independent personal trainer, I design apparel, I own rental property & that can be a handful monthly, I am a police officer and that has had endless challenges and obstacles daily…. I’m probably forgetting some things. I’m sure I’ll get a text or call that says, Why did you forget blah bla
h blah?
What do you find the most challenging about competing? Believe it or not the part of competing that I try to avoid like the plague and I put off until absolutely necessary…. Booking travel, Hotel, and ground transportation (this is why I need a clone!). Let’s see, I have booked a hotel in my maiden name, forgot, & got totally stressed when I arrived at the hotel & was told I didn’t have a reservation. I have booked a hotel room for the wrong night (problem was it was the PREVIOUS night to what I needed). I have booked a return flight for 1 month AFTER I needed to return home. I have rented a car, turned it in (on time) forgot to drop the key in the correct slot & got charged for 2 extra days. Unfortunately, I can continue….
What are your top 5 key strategies for success?
(1)DEDICATION (top pick for me!) & Perseverance
(2) Flexibility. Go with the flow sometimes.
(3) Get in where you can fit in… Don’t try to force it.
(4) Ability to laugh at my ….. not successes! (can’t say the f word!)
(5) Philosophy that It ain’t over….. It’s NEVER over.
What is your favorite protein powder? Why do you like it?
Favorite Protein Powder Hands Down is Metabolic Nutrition Peanut Butter Cookie! I like it because the macros are on point for my needs and it tastes AWESOME!! Versatile too, I can’t cook a lick ,but I am learning how to whip up some nice little recipes with the powder.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
I have some favs that are famous and some …. Not so famous, but they all mean something very important to me…. Right now… My favorite inspirational quote is: They Sleep, I Grind.
In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?
Super Shout out to my on site trainer Roland Genesy of Elite Sports Training 
Memphis TN.
Another Shout out to Pauline Nordin author and creator of Fighter Diet Nutrition and Training Program
Huge HUG and KISSES to my daughter who is off in MCT (Marine Combat Training) I half way think she joined the Marines to get away from my lifestyle! Ha! My daughter is a great supporter, anchor, and fan. Love You kiddo!
Shout out to all my competitor friends both old and new! Ya’ll keep me coming back for more.
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