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: Patty Zariello
Category you compete in: I
FBB Figure
Date of birth: January 3, 1970
Hometown: Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Career: While my background is in business/marketing, my true passion is fitness and health. After working for a Fortune 500 consumer electronics company for 14 years, I decided to leave the corporate world to raise my family and follow my passion for fitness. I am an ISSA certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. I love the feeling of being able to inspire and help others reach their fitness goals.
How does your family respond to your competing? I’m blessed to have a very supportive family. My husband and kids are my biggest fans. I’m conscious of the sacrifices they make for me to compete and I make sure to let them know how grateful I am for that and give them the same respect in return. It’s easy to get consumed with “yourself” in this sport but keeping balance is top priority for me.
What kind of goals have you set for yourself, short-term and long-term?
Most of my life I’ve been a planner and driven by goals, but I’m at a point in my life where I feel happiest when I focus on the present and enjoy all that I’ve worked so hard for and have right now at this moment. I truly believe that gratitude is the key to happiness. I’m incredibly thankful that I wake up every day and just do what excites me and work on things I’m passionate about. I find that I’m so much happier this way, and believe it or not I’ve been more successful. Just by doing what I love has brought so many opportunites that I couldn’t have planned for.That’s not to say I don’t believe in goals because I absolutely do. I just mean that I don’t worry as much about what’s next. I still dream big and those dreams feed my passion and keep me motivated (for example competing on the Olympia stage someday would definitely be a dream come true…if it’s meant to be. I believe anything is possible!) For now I’m living in the present and loving every minute of it. As long as the passion is there I know great things will happen.
What's currently on your iPod? My iPod is a mix of everything. I have some hip hop and R&B, lots of Bon Jovi and other rock and even country. I love music, it just depends on what I’m doing or what mood I’m in :)
What are your hobbies and interests outside of the bodybuilding world? Most of the time when I’m not at the gym or a fitness related event you can find me at a hockey rink or a football field or a school event watching one of my k
ids. I also love to travel, cook and entertain, read, I love fast boats and watching sports (hockey and boxing mostly). But most of all it’s really just the simple things that I enjoy the most like spending time at home with my family just watching a movie or even going out to the movies (mostly for the popcorn! haha!) I know…I know…guilty pleasure :))
Do you have a favorite exercise? Honestly I don’t. Depends on the day I guess ;) I love to train and there are so many favorites it’s hard to choose just one.
Next competition: NY Pro May 25
Favorite Fitness Tip: Be consistent and patient. Never give up.
Who would you like to thank? I thank God first, and a huge thank you to my husband and children for their love and support, my coach Kim Oddo for his expert guidance and friendship and for making this sport so much fun, my entire family and all of my friends both old and new who have been there for me no matter what even when I’m cranky ;)
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