Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
Spotlight On IFBB Figure Pro: Christine Kluger
Category you compete in: Figure
Date of birth: 5/4/1981
Hometown: I grew up in Indianapolis, IN. However, I have chronic wanderlust and have called ”home” everywhere from the high-desert of Albuquerque, NM, to the high-rises of New York City. I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area and will soon be moving to Orange County.
Career: Balancing the demands of competition with a demanding career requires dedication and careful time management. I have worked for eight years with JPMorgan in Institutional Asset Management and have earned my Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. I was named JPMorgan's Top 30 Global Associate in 2009 and was given the opportunity to work alongside Senior Management in London and New York during the height of the financial crisis. In 2011, I was promoted to Business Development Executive and relocated from New York to San Francisco to help build our West Coast business.
During the course of my day, I am responsible for discussing and negotiating portfolio strategy with CFOs and Investment Staff from the largest Public Pensions and Corporations in the country. A short work day is 10 hours. On top of this, I commute three hours per day. Due to the demands of my career, I realized that if I were to reach my goals, I had to begin my training at 4 am. You make time for what's important to you. The bodybuilding lifestyle, if approached correctly, builds character qualities valued in the business world: determination, focus, mental toughness, integrity, and the drive to win. In my view, bodybuilding is more about strengthening the mind...the body just follows.
By leading through example, I have been encouraged by my ability to motivate and inspire my colleagues to eat healthier and begin working out. In return, I have gained strong support from my managers and colleagues to persevere in my sport and to go get a WIN. It was touching to see how genuinely excited they were for me when I was able to report that I finally earned my pro-card and achieve a lifelong goal.
What is your favorite contest prep recipe? My grandmother publishe
d four cookbooks and was careful to pass her knowledge and love of cooking on to me. Although my family always ate healthy, whole foods, I learned to adapt my cooking to meet the rigors of a competition diet. I am a creative cook and have learned to make due with limited ingredients by experimenting and being versatile. I have many favorite recipes, but below is one simple dinner idea and an easy dessert:
Salmon Crème Portobello Mushroom Caps with Roasted Asparagus
· 4 large Portobello mushrooms
· 12oz salmon (may use fresh or canned)
· 4 Laughing Cow Light cheese wedges
· 1/2c low-fat parmesan cheese
· 1/2c egg beater egg whites
· Handful of fresh herbs, chopped (basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, etc)
· Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste
· 12 spears asparagus (trimmed ends)
· Cooking spray
Spray the Portobello mushrooms with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Place under the broiler for 10 minutes. While mushroom caps are roasting, sear or grill the salmon to a medium temperature. Mix together Laughing Cow, parmesan cheese, and egg beaters until smooth. Add chopped fresh herbs and cooked salmon to cheese/egg mixture and mix until salmon just flakes apart. Do not stir until smooth. 
Remove mushrooms from the broiler and face underside of Portobello upward. Spoon ½ cup of salmon mixture on top of each Portobello. Place asparagus with trimmed ends on cooking sheet beside stuffed mushrooms. Place the mushrooms and asparagus under broiler for another 10-15 minutes until salmon mixture has ”set” and is lightly browned. Remove from the broiler and serve each stuffed Portobello garnished with roasted asparagus spears.
Nut Butter Protein Truffles
· 2 scoops of Muscle Milk Light (I like Graham Cracker, Vanilla, or Chocolate)
· 1/2c. Almond butter, sodium free (or any nut-butter of your choice)
· 1/2c. Honey
· 1/2c. Quick Oats (dry)
Mix together all ingredients until a ball forms. Measure mixture into tablespoon-sized servings. Roll each into a ball and refrigerate before serving. I’ve found this recipe to be ideal for loading the day of a Figure contest.
What part of your physique are you currently working on? To sculpt my body to the ideal figure shape, I am focusing on bringing some body parts up and others down. I am working on building my glutes and hamstrings and toning down my arms. I train legs 2× per week, with one day dedicated to glutes and hamstrings. On non-leg lifting days, I do 30-45 minutes of Stair-Climber and Treadmill walking on a 30° incline. I have overdeveloped my arms according to figure standards, so I’ve eliminated isolated biceps and triceps movements. I train my back especially hard, but select exercises and use straps to reduce ancillary activation of the biceps. Strangely, I find it harder to reduce muscle size than build it.
Name one piece of nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with you. Consistency is the key to success. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is an extraordinary physique. Even if you are tired and don’t feel motivated to train, discipline yourself to “show up to work” and do something. A short 30-minute low-intensity workout is better than being sedentary. Unless injured or ill, develop the habit of being active daily. Furthermore, I’ve found that once I get to the gym and start training, my attitude changes and I kick into high gear.
If you could compete in one other event (FBB, physique, figure, fitness, bikini) which would it be and why? If I had the skill to do back-flips and gymnastics, I would love to compete in fitness. I have the utmost respect for fitness competitors w
ho follow strict, low-calorie diets yet also manage to perform high-energy, explosive routines that display their athletic prowess.
Why NPC: Actually, when I first began competing at age 20, I didn’t even know any other organization existed besides the NPC/IFBB. Later, I learned there were other organizations, but they didn’t seem to garner as much exposure or sponsorship from the broader industry. Furthermore, I noticed these organizations didn’t attract the same quality of competitors compared to the NPC. In my view, I want to compete against the best. This raises the bar and motivates me to become better and push myself harder.
What do you like best about competing? I operate at my best when I am under pressure and have specific, concrete goals. Sports were always a major part of my life while I was growing up, and I developed a desire to compete and a drive to win. I was involved in gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, track and field, and competed in equestrian events. My father began my strength training at age 12 to enhance my conditioning and performance. From the outset, I loved lifting and noticed I had a natural ability to build muscle and strength. When I went to college, I was no longer involved in competitive sports and I missed the feeling of having a competitive edge.
As a freshman in college, I decided to dedicate myself to the sport of lifting and to compete in a figure contest within two years. At age 21, I recognized that I still needed years of muscular development if I were to reach my goal of earning IFBB pro status. I set a goal to have my pro-card in 10 years, and I achieved my decade long goal by earning my pro-card at the 2012 USA Championships. Through hard work and unwavering focus, I know I can achieve anything I set my mind to. The rigorous demands of competition push me to my full potential and develop a habit of success in all areas of my life.
What are your goals for the future? I have decided to step-it-up a notch as I prepare for figure competitions in the IFBB. Weight training is my passion, but I don’t believe that treadmills, elliptical machines, or stationary bikes are ideal for peak conditioning or fat loss. After more than 10 years of restricting my training to the confines of a gym, I’m seeking a new challenge and mental stimulation that incorporates performance sports and my lifelong hobbies. It has always been my dream to compete in Pentathlons, but the time demands of training and excelling at five sports (running, marksmanship, fencing, jumping horseback and swimming) could be all-consuming. However, I would like to incorporate the Pentathlon disciplines into my figure training regime. That said, my future athletic goals are to place top 10 by my 3rd pro-Ffgure competition by the end of 2013. In addition to competing in figure, I plan to enter my first Pentathlon within the next 2 years
Competition history:
· 2012 NPC USA Championships - 2nd Figure E, new IFBB Pro
· 2012 NPC Team Universe Championships - 4th Figure E
· 2012 NPC Junior National Championships - 8th Figure E
· 2011 NPC USA Championships - 5th Figure E
· 2011 NPC San Jose Figure Championships - 1st Figure D
· 2010 NPC USA Championships - 3rd Figure E
· 2009 NPC Team Universe - 5th Figure E
· 2009 NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States Bodybuilding Fitness & Figure - 2nd Figure C
· 2008 IFBB Arnold Classic and Amateur - 10th Figure E
· 2007 Southern Indiana Figure Championships (Evansville, IN) - 1st Figure C and Overall
· 2002 NPC Mid-USA Figure Championships (Albuquerque, NM) - 1st Figure Tall Class
Next competition:
I would like to make my pro-debut in my state of residence at a California-based event: Perhaps the California Governor’s Cup in Sacramento or the May 25th IFBB California State Pro Figure Championships in Culver City, CA. 
However, I’m itching to get back on stage before the end of the year and I am contemplating competing close to my hometown at the November 3rd Kentucky Muscle Pro Figure.
Hobbies: Besides the gym, I have varied interests and hobbies. My lifelong skill sport is horseback riding where I compete in jumping and was a member of the Indiana University Equestrian Team. I was also a member of Indiana University Fencing Club and would like to resume participating in this activity as part of my conditioning regime.
Besides my athletic hobbies, I collect succulents and find relaxation in gardening. Unfortunately, I have a brown-thumb and have killed many of my plants by overwatering. This is quite disappointing, but I am progressively getting better through trial and error and reading up on how to care properly for my plants.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years when it comes to competing? Develop an attitude of humility and value constructive criticism for its ability to guide you on your path of personal improvement. Be eager to listen, willing to learn, open to new ideas, and have the courage to change.
What is your favorite contest prep supplement? I swear by fish oil. I take 4 g in the morning, 2 g with lunch, and another 4 g before bedtime. Fish oil helps reduce inflammation and can help improve mental balance and focus. I have also noticed a dramatic improvement in the condition of my skin and the health of my hair and nails.
When I’m training for competition, sore muscles and the sensation of hunger often interfere with my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. I have been very impressed with the efficacy of Biotest Z12. I am able to get a full night’s rest and wake up feeling energetic instead of groggy. Rest is critical to our ability to repair between training sessions and maintain mental focus.
Favorite Quote:
“Motivation makes things easy, but determination leads to greatness.” – Myself
"Fall down seven times, get up eight" - Chinese proverb
“Everybody pities the weak. Jealousy you have to earn.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Life is too short for mediocrity.” – Dr. Scott C. James
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