Nordine Zouareg

Nordine Zouareg
Avtar Nordine Zouareg, 2017
Born
Nordine Zouareg

(1962-07-01) July 1, 1962 (age 62)
El Houamed, Algeria
ChildrenArmand and Isabella

Nordine Zouareg (born July 1, 1962) is a French-American fitness personality, high-performance coach and author who has won Mr. France, Mr. Europe, Mr. World, and Mr. Universe in 1986.[1][2][3] He currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with his two children.[3]

Background

Early life

Nordine Zouareg was born in Algeria to Bedouin parents in the back of a French army truck. He was a sickly infant with a birth weigh of two pounds and constantly fell ill. In order to seek advanced medical care for their newborn, Zouareg's parents took him to France where he was diagnosed with rickets.[3][4] Zouareg's parents settled in France where he spent a major of part of his childhood in the suburbs of Paris with the 13 siblings that followed him. Poor health eclipsed a major part of Zouareg's childhood, resulting in a weak constitution which made him an easy target for school bullies.[3]

Introduction to bodybuilding

Avtar Nordine Zouareg
Avtar Nordine Zouareg

During his teens, he focused on becoming a gymnast. In his struggle to become a successful gymnast, Zouareg broke his wrists and moved into the world of professional body building.[5] He claims that as his physical presence improved his resolve to become a body builder strengthened.[3] In 1985 Zouareg won his first title of Mr. France.[citation needed]

Awards and recognition

Zouareg was overall winner of the World Amateur Bodybuilding Association (WABBA) in 1986.[6][7] Zouareg added the titles of Mr. France,[8] Mr. Europe[citation needed] and Mr. Universe twice,[9][10][11][12][13] once in 1986 and once in 1988.[14] In 1987 Zouareg turned pro and joined the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB).[15] Shortly afterward, he took second place at the Italian Grand Prix in Rimini and 15th at the Night of Champions[16][17][18] in New York, both in 1991. In March 1995, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded Zouareg with an Alien of Extraordinary Ability Status (EB-A1). To get this status, an alien must be able to show extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim.

The "Mind Over Body" philosophy

In an effort to promote what he calls a "mind over body" philosophy, Zouareg moved to the United States to reach a wider audience.

In 2007, Zouareg's Mind Over Body was released by Springboard Publishing.[19] The book details Zouareg's life experience, the personal struggles and challenges he has overcome to succeed in life, and a detailed explanation of the positive influence of "mind over body". Zouareg worked as fitness manager at the Miraval, Life in Balance Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona from 1999 to 2004, where he created their fitness program, and now works independently as Miraval's professional fitness coach and has his own business as a motivational speaker toward fitness and health.[3][20][21]

In 2021 Zouareg’s book InnerFitness was published by SkyHorse Publishing to address mental health stigma and offer readers different tools to cope and overcome fear and anxiety.

Books

  • Zouareg, Nordine (2012). Weight Loss Secrets of the Stars. Avtar Wellness Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61979-308-8.
  • Zouareg, Nordine (2007). Mind Over Body: The Key to Lasting Weight Loss Is All in Your Head. Springboard Press. ISBN 978-0-446-58077-9.
    • Review (third from bottom) of Mind Over Body in Publishers Weekly 4/16/2007, Vol. 254 Issue 16, p47-48.
  • Zouareg, Nordine (2021). InnerFitness: Five Steps to Overcoming Fear and Anxiety While Building Your Self-Worth. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1510757417.

Additional sources

  • Arizona Star, by Bob Oro, January 8, 2009, "Nordine Zouareg's international experience with health and bodybuilding drew me in — Zouareg is a former Mr. Universe — but his understanding of lifestyle changes blew me away."[22]
  • Armchair Interviews, by Cerri Ellis, review of Mind Over Body: "...oddly enough I enjoyed the stretching exercises, even found them relaxing. The more strenuous exercises…well, I’m still working on those"[23]

References

  1. ^ Nordine Zouareg: Author's Bio Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine mindoverbodyonline.com
  2. ^ Bodybuilding Achievements On MuscleMemory.com musclememory.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f Messina, Irene (May 24, 2007). "Pick of the Week Mind Over Body". Tucson Weekly.
  4. ^ Mentioned on page 3 of Mind Over Body
  5. ^ Mentioned on page 5 of Mind Over Body
  6. ^ "WABBA 1986 Results" (PDF). executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  7. ^ "Zouareg, Nordine". Musclememory.com. July 1, 1962. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "World Amateur Bodybuilding Association 1986". executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "World Amateur Bodybuilding Association". executiveinnerfitness.com. March 14, 1995. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  10. ^ Oro, Bob (January 8, 2009). "Get healthy, one small step at a time". Arizona Daily Star. [dead link‍] "Zouareg is a former Mr. Universe"
  11. ^ Khalsa, Dharma Singh (December 31, 2002). Food As Medicine. ISBN 978-0-7434-4226-8. p. 95, Nordine Zouareg of Paris is a two time Mr. Universe body-building champion.
  12. ^ Khalsa, Dharma Singh; Cameron Stauth (May 1, 2000). The Pain Cure. ISBN 978-0-446-67586-4.p. 389 ...Nordine Zouareg M.A. a two time Mr. Universe body-building champion.
  13. ^ Neff, Cary (April 1, 2005). Conscious Cuisine. ISBN 978-1-4022-0405-0.p. 58 ...two time Mr. Universe winner (WABBA), Nordine Zouareg
  14. ^ "World Amateur Bodybuilding Association". executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "IFBB". executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  16. ^ "IFBB2" (PDF). executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  17. ^ 1991 Night of Champions Results musclememory.com
  18. ^ "Night of Champions Results Card" (PDF). executiveinnerfitness.com. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  19. ^ Springboard Press / Hachette Book Group USA Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine hachettebookgroupusa.com
  20. ^ Leigh Bureau Archived 2008-12-25 at the Wayback Machine, "Nordine Zouareg - Personal fitness coach. Author, Mind Over Body", leighbureau.com, accessed 01-13-2009
  21. ^ motivationalmagic.com, by Nordine Zouareg, "YOUR MIND IS YOUR BODY'S BEST FRIEND", accessed 01-13-2009
  22. ^ [1][permanent dead link‍] Arizona Star, by Bob Oro (Juauary 8, 2009), "Get healthy, one small step at a time ", accessed 01-13-2009
  23. ^ reviews.armchairinterviews.com Armchair Interviews, by Cerri Ellis, review of Mind Over Body, accessed 01-13-2009 Archived November 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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