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: Eve Dawes
Category you compete in: Figure Open Class A
Date of birth: November 2nd 1979
Hometown: Los Angeles (originally London)
Career: I toured internationally as a ballerina and with musical theatre productions before earning my personal training and Sports Massage Therapy Diploma in London. I practiced in London for about a year before meeting my husband and moving to America. Since being here I’ve continued my love of health, fitness and performing. I completed my yoga and spin instructor course and have been pursuing writing and modeling. This year I set myself a new goals and challenge; I started competing with the NPC this July with my vision being my pro card! I was originally going to do bikini but I built more muscle and got leaner than expected so I switched to figure. I also work for my husbands company doing the social media and national sales which involves a lot of time spent on the road.
Competition history:
GNC NPC Orange County Muscle Classic XXXVI, August 11th 2012-2nd Place Figure Open Class A
GNC NPC Los Angeles Bodybuilding, Figure, Physique and Bikini Championships, July 21st 2012 – 4th place Figure Open Class A
Next competition: I’d love to be competing in the Nationals this year but I am waiting on my citizenship to process. I’m using the time until it does to work on everything and bring the best I can be to Nationals next year, I can’t wait! I’ve been on stage since I was 3 and nothing beats performing. I’m focused on getting my pro card; it’s my goal, ambition and dream and until I get it I have one word-‘Unstoppable’.
What do you feel is the WORST part of contest prep?
I think scheduling meals and balancing a social life is difficult. I always try and time meals so that I can at least have one of my evening meals with my husband. It’s easier when I’m on 6 meals a day but when I’m up to 11 meals a day pre-competition it’s difficult to get all of the meals in and to be able to do anything but eat and train. There are times where it’s a little embarrassing such as going to a 2 ½ hour movie and whipping out my zip-lock bag of fish and hoping no
one complains! I had family visiting me from England for a month straight this summer; we’d go to restaurants every night and I’d order hot water with lemon and watch them eat. It’s difficult when temptations in front of you and they don’t understand why you’re doing it. The results and feedback I get, knowing I’m inspiring people makes any sacrifice more than worthwhile.
Also, my training’s really structured and restricts anything off of the plan so I miss classes such as Bikram yoga and spinning.
Would you please tell us a little about your workout schedule? Shannon Dey at Team Bombshell does my workout and nutrition plan. I do cardio 6x per week and weights 5x per week. My cardio lasts anything from 30 minutes to an hour, uses different machines and varies intensity. My weight training is different everyday but I workout each body part once a week, besides my butt which gets a double dose; gotta get that booty tight and toned! The workouts include varying reps and sets, straight sets, supersets and giant sets.
If you had to lose one of your 5 senses, which one would you prefer to lose and why? That’s a tough one! I definitely would need my sense of sight, sounds and touch for training, performing and living life to the max. I really appreciate food so not taste so it’d probably have to be smell. Although not having taste would get rid of any food cravings!
If you could change one thing about this sport what would it be? I wish there were more competitions; I’d be on the stage every week if I could be.
If you had a time capsule what would you put inside it and why?
Today’s newspaper so people can see what was happening in the world today. Family photographs to give an idea of today’s fashion. An Iphone for them to see the evolution of technology and different denominations of US dollars and a credit card; who knows how inflation will be and even if we’ll be using notes and credit cards in the future.
What is your favorite vacation spot? The Maldives; it’s so beautiful, romantic and tranquil and the water is so warm and clear. I’m a huge seafood fan and eating clean fresh food here is easy and delicious.
What advice do you have for women who would like to get involved in and compete in the sport of bodybuilding? Do it! Step by step day by day you can do it with discipline, determination, dedication and desire. Before starting, research and find a good coac
h; there’s nothing like proper training and nutrition as well as a good support system because a lot of people won’t understand what you’re doing or why. Love the process and your body, appreciate the changes you are making and never make excuses. For me when the last rep seems impossible I just remember, if I’m not doing it someone else is and I don’t want any regrets when I step on stage.
What is a day-in-the-life of Eve Dawes like?
As soon as I get up I hit the gym (pre-breakfast), there’s no hitting the snooze button otherwise I’d never get going. Even when I feel beyond tired and sore I hit cardio, I always feel better and energized afterwards and it gets me mentally focused and prepared for the day. That’s followed by a good breakfast with supplements, a cup of black coffee and a long hot shower. My days vary; I could be doing a shoot, reading emails, or traveling the country doing conventions and sales. I try and get my 2nd workout of the day, which is weight-training, in mid-late afternoon before the evening peak session. It’s not always possible though depending on flight times so often I’m the loner in the hotel gym at midnight. It’s easy to find excuses not to do something but they’re normally just barriers we’ve made for ourselves that actually have a solution. If you want something bad enough there’s always a way. I love to find an hour to myself in the evening whether it’s an Epsom salt bath and a little TV or a long dinner with my husband. I always aim for 8 hours of sleep a night; rest and recovery is so crucial.
Favorite Motivational Quote: I have a lot and am always looking for new ones as staying mentally focused is so important and can make or break us. These are a few of my favorites:
"No regrets"
“Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
‘When you are old and grey, and you look back upon your life - are you going to remember the time wasted worrying about what other people think, obsessing over your perceived flaws, and dreams lost because you were afraid to take a chance? Or are you going to remember the dreams you pursued, people you touched, accomplishments that you made and the obstacles you conquered to live the FULL life you were meant to live? This life ain't no dress rehearsal - start LIVING today!”
“You have exactly one life in which to do everything you’ll ever do. Act accordingly”
“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”
In closing, who would you like to give a shout out to? RX Muscle for the opportunity, Team Bombshell for my training and contest prep, the NPC for putting on the competitions for us, my fabulous hair and make-up artist Hope Zarro who makes me stage and shoot ready, my husband Lewis for his support, Robert Reiff, Rob Sims and MA2 photography for their incredible photography and to everyone who’s taken the time to read this.
Subscribe to RxMuscle on Youtube
