Monique Minton has graced the covers of FLEX magazine, Muscle & Fitness and Muscle & Fitness Hers over the last year. She’s no stranger to the fitness scene and she’s undoubtly one of the top fitness models in the biz today. This weekend she’ll take the stage for the first time as an IFBB Bikini Pro in the MuscleContest Pro. I caught up with Monique as she heads into Los Angeles for the first bikini pro show.
How do you feel going into your pro debut?
I feel great! Very excited for my pro debut! I love competing and I like being on stage. I feel really comfortable there. I love the way I look and feel going into my debut!
You appear a bit tighter and on point for this show. What did you do differently to prepare for your pro debut?
Honestly, my bjj training has played a huge role in my appearance. You work a lot of your core, sweat and burn a ton calories during training! Another reason is my diet! I believe so much in nutrition…you are what you eat…or so they say! hahaha! Jeff Dwelle has changed my diet significantly for bikini, it has worked wonders for me! We have the same philosophies.
You do a lot of MMA training but that can leave ya bruised and banged up. When did you put that training on hold or did you to prepare for the show?
Well according to “some” people… wont name names… A.D. say two weeks no training before a show or photo shoot. That is so hard to do because I’m addicted to training! Sometimes I cut it out three days before but for this show with all my traveling I have only done techniques and no training! So I did good hahaha. Plus the cardio you get from training is so much more fun than treadmill! I’ll trade that any day! If I didn’t bruise easily, I would train up until the day before!
You recently signed with Muscle Tech – How was it working the Arnold for them?
Muscle Tech has been so great with me! I love working for them. At the Arnold we were sooooo busy! We had an elite group of athletes at our booth. The line was huge for all the bodybuilders. I enjoyed working the big 3 day event in Ohio. I’m looking forward to it again next year!
Some big fights this weekend in the UFC. Who do you want to see more – Carwin or GSP?
Carwin smash Frank Mir! hahaha We shall see.
As a bikini competitor what type of training do you do?
High reps, moderate weight. I still wanna keep some muscle. I do a lil plyometrics and some cardio. It was very hard going from figure training to bikini because I wanted to still lift very heavy and low reps!
How has your nutrition differed from when you competed in figure?
More carbs! A much happier Momo! hahaha a lil more freedom and variety in my diet ! A huge THANK YOU to Jeff Dwelle my nutritionist and my friend!
What’s more fun to prepare for figure or bikini?
Bikini! Because it’s a healthy lifestyle you can live everyday and plus you can still keep your curves. It works great with my bjj training! I can work more on endurance as well.
When will you be back on the mat grappling?
The day i get back from Culver City! haha class starts Monday 6pm! I will be there, ready and thirsty!
Goal for this weekend’s contest?
Fun! fun! fun! My goal is to enjoy life! Enjoy as much as possible!
