Posted on: Monday, February 14, 2005
FITNESS PROFILE
Putting some muscle into message
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
The face and physique of Michael Monis are familiar to school kids all around O'ahu. Monis volunteers to help the police department and public schools get out the message "It's Cool to be Drug Free!"
Monis also writes a monthly column called Health and Fitness for the Honolulu News. He currently holds the title of Mr. Europe World Natural.
Name: Michael Monis. Profession: Machine operator, Matson Navigation Co. Height: 5 feet 7. Weight: 187. Workout habits: Mondays, weights for 1y´ hours (chest, arms and abdominals) and a half-hour on the treadmill; Tuesdays, weights for 1y´ hours (back, shoulders and abdominals) and a half-hour on the treadmill; Wednesdays, weights for 1y´ hours (legs and abdominals) and a half-hour on the treadmill. Repeat the cycle on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, go to church and rest.
My good foods: Egg whites, chicken breasts, raw fish, apples and oranges. My bad foods (that taste good): Brownies, chocolate, Chinese food, pizza and okazuya. My biggest motivator: "A good pump after a workout." My biggest roadblock to fitness: Injury from overtraining. "I tore my left pec (pectoral) by bench-pressing beyond the pain and it took six months of rest to recover. I tore my left elbow tendon doing a pullover with too much weight and needed surgery to repair the tendon." What saves my sanity: "My faith in the Lord and working to help kids stay drug-free." My next challenge: "To do a photo shoot this summer and land the cover of MuscleMag International magazine so my message 'It's Cool to Be Drug Free!' can be spread around the world." Advice: "Make fitness your lifestyle and don't give up! That's the only time being stubborn can help you."
He speaks in schools, as well as posing for photos for anti-drug posters that are placed in Department of Education classrooms, libraries, private schools, various retail locations and city, state and federal offices.
Michael Monis, a bodybuilder who holds the title Mr. Europe World Natural, works out 2 hours a day, six days a week.
When and why I started working out: "I started working out in high school to get strong for football, baseball and surfing."
Monis rotates his daily workouts to focus each time on particular muscle areas. He also focuses on promoting anti-drug messages.
