Monique Cormier, who has overcome obesity and severe depression en route to becoming a world class amateur bodybuilder, joins Dave [ ... ]
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Spotlight On NPC Bikini Competitor: Alexa Tafralis
Compete in: NPC Bikini and fitness modeling
Birth: 3/31/1988
Hometown: San Francisco, CA.
Career: Gym co-owner of Team TAF, personal trainer and health coach
My family are my biggest fans and support system when competing and in life! My father and uncle owned gyms when I was younger and taught me early on the importance of fitness. Greg Tafralis, my father, once the world strongest man and former Olympian, instilled in my brother and me that we are born athletes. Adam Tafralis, my brother, is a retired professional football player, my best friend and biggest motivation. He pushes me to be the best, never letting me give up! Between my brother an my dad I have had the best training team for learning and honing my skills but without Mama Taf we would not be the strong minded successful athletes we all are! She is the model of positivity. Her never-ending positive attitude along with her unconditional love has kept me grounded.
Recently Adam and I opened a gym called Team TAF. It had always been my dream to own a gym like my father and now I am living the dream! I am blessed to have such an athletic family whether doing morning cardio with my mom or weights with my dad, working hard and to our potential is what my family does best! "Just believe" is our family motto. I know how to train, I've experienced the pain of hard work, and I have as much heart and dedication as anyone else and this is because of how I was raised! The support from my own family and now my Team TAF family is my inspiration that keeps me going and believing!
Goals: I have so many goals the list is endless, but consistency and balance in fitness and in life is daily goal.
My long-term goal is to have a fitness camp getaway with life and healthy eating seminars. Along with this I would like to finish my healthy eating cookbook so that you can continue what you have learned at home. It's my passion to help people live a healthy balanced life.
Fitness and healthy eating are how I live but I continually strive to be a positive role model for the young athletes I train. Being a young athlete these days is harder than ever. I feel it is .jpeg)
important to not only teach and support these young people in how I train them but also how hard I train me! My daily goal is to close my eyes at night knowing I left everything out there when I trained my clients and me!
What is currently on your IPod: I listen to New Edition, Jackson 5 and Bobby Brown and give me old school R&B!
Honestly most times I am listening to Pandora because I still have yet to take the time and learn how to download music on my Iphone! Depending on my mood I have everything from Country to R&B to Christian music. Depending on the day and what I am feeling is what I listen to.
Interests: I love to cook and bake for people, trying new recipes off Pinterest seems to be my thing this month. Typically I go to my grandparents cabin in Russian River as much as I can...but other than that what girl doesn't love to shop and I'm good at it !
Food interests are always the same sushi and frozen yogurt... Always!!!
Favorite exercise: Squats baby! But I love doing dynamic/plyo circuits, burn baby burn!
Competition history: Contra Costa 2010 1st show 3rd place bikini
USA's Las Vegas June 2011 bikini
Fitness and Model World Finale Hollywood September 2012 Fitness model and bikini
Next competition: Tomorrow ...competition or not I bust my butt every day!!
Favorite fitness tip: Log everything! Your food, your workouts, your ups and downs while you were eating or working out, your progress pictures. It truly helps to see where you were and where you are now. This is something you can always refer to when you need motivation or you just want to feel good about you and what you have accomplished. I am always buying or making new journals to make the process fun. I just started to make videos of my workouts it's nice to watch it an.jpeg)
d then beat my reps or weight the following time!
People I want to thank: God for everyday I wake-up.
My brother, Adam Tafralis for showing me what hard work and dedication can become. My parents Mary (Mama Taf) and Greg for being my biggest support and fans! Team TAF gym for the best elite training facility around. My friends who understand when I'm in competition mode and for the positive encouragement they are always giving me. I am so blessed with everyone in my life and am so thankful for their love and support!
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