Susan Torres
Transformation of the Year 2010
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
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Susan Torres was our Transformation of the Month in April 2010 but, she was picked for our Transformation of the Year 2010! Susan originally weighed 209.5 lbs. and 51% body fat in April 2008. She just competed at the Arnold Classic and weighed in at 119 lbs. with only 10% body fat! She hit her 90 pounds mark the day she got on the Arnold Stage!
She is a 40 year old mother of two children. She wants to reach out to mom's all over the world to show that you can change. She wants her story to inspire and motivate others.
“My life has gone in an entire new direction. My initial goal was to wear single digit clothing. Well, that, and to be hotter than my hubby! Ha-ha! Now, I am a role model to other mom’s sharing my story.”
WP: This is truly an amazing transformation! That took a lot of hard work! Can you tell our readers a little about what who you are, what you are made of, and where you came from?
ST: Well, I am a 40 year old mom, wife, daughter, friend, business professional, athlete, and now, a National Level Figure Competitor! I have been married to my hubby for over 10 years and we have 2 beautiful high spirited children! Our son is 8 years old and our daughter is 6! I am a Sr. Project Manager for one of the largest telecommunication companies. I have a high stress job and have figured out how to fit exercise into my hectic day! I am a “tell it like it is” kind of person and I appreciate being treated the same. I was raised in Georgia all of my life as an only child. I was taught at an early age by my parents to think outside the box. As an adult, I am an all-or-nothing kind of person. That is how I have finally tackled changing my lifestyle into a healthier one!
WP: What percent of body fat did you begin with?
ST: I started out with 51% body fat.
WP: What percent of body fat do you have at the present?
ST: Well, just coming off of the Arnold Classic, so I am still a bit on the leaner side. I’d say my body fat is around 10%. I like to maintain around 15%, or so.
WP: Wow! What an inspiration! How many pounds of muscle did you gain?
ST: I have no idea. I was not interested in gaining muscle! I was only interested in losing fat! I didn’t really pay attention to muscle gain/loss until January 2009.
WP: Did you decide to go with a Personal Trainer, self knowledge, or a gym?
ST: I decided to use all of it! I began with Weight Watchers online and walking in the neighborhood. At 209.5 lbs. and only 5’2”, I was about as round as I was short! I was not interested in the beginning to join a gym. I shed about 25 lbs. before joining my gym. In reality, it was my asthma that got me into the gym. As I was walking, jogging, and skipping in my neighborhood and the weather started getting warmer, my exercise induced asthma (or so I thought) was getting worse due to the humidity, and I was puffing on my inhaler about 4-5 times during my 45 minute workouts. At that point, I decided to join the gym and workout in the air conditioning!
WP: Did you have a support group helping you or did you do this alone?
ST: I had a huge support group. My family, online site called, “Sparkpeople,” my friends, my Phat Girlz Team, and all of my trainers! Phat Girlz Team consists of Jen Hendershott, Lishia Dean, Latisha Wilder, Sandy Lentz, Heather Bear, Christie Gann, Leigh McDonald and Joan!
WP: They have made so much difference in so many people’s lives. They are an awesome team! What made you decide you were ready to transform?
ST: I had a life changing moment where I knew I had to change me or my life, as I knew it was going to change on me and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
WP: What was the biggest challenge you faced while going through your transformation?
ST: The biggest challenge for me during the process was probably when people were talking behind my back and accusing me of “taking something illegal” when the fat was shedding and my true muscle definition was starting to show. These were the same people that would see me day in and day out at the gym busting my azz. This was truly a new experience for me and I finally overcame the negativity and have an “I don’t care” attitude. “If you don’t like the way I look or don’t like the way I work out, then quit staring at me!”
WP: That right! Just do your own thing! Did you take any type of supplements during this time? If so, which ones did you take?
ST: Here is my current list of supplements. Keep in mind, they better taste great for me to take them and spend my money! Ha-ha!
PGN Whey Sensible Protein - Vanilla and Chocolate (Super low in carbs, sugar and sodium)
Scivation Solution 5 Protein MRP - New protein with fiber, antioxidants, and the equivalent to 5 fruits and veggies for each shake! Vanilla is my favorite! Again, super low in sugar and carbs.
PGN Trimfat - Fat Burner
EFA
Multi-vitamin for women
Scivation xTend - Watermelon, Grape and Blue Raspberry are my favorites! I take them for muscle recovery!
BSN EndoRush Pre-Workout
Scivation QUAKE - Brand new and loving it! It’s great for pre-workout.
WP: What program did you follow and explain how it worked for you.
ST: Well, losing 90 lbs. has been a journey. And in this journey, my “program” changed constantly! I actually lost 74 lbs. in the first 9 months, April 2008 - December 2008, it’s the remaining of the 1st year and part of the 2nd where I transformed and sculpted into a figure competitor.
As I stated before, I began Weight Watchers and walking in the neighborhood for the first couple of months. (April 2008 until June 2008.) In June, I joined the gym and took cardio classes at 5:45 AM! In August ‘08, I was at the grocery store and saw Jamie Eason on the September cover of a magazine. I had never read this magazine before, but decided to pick it up because I liked her look! I decided to make her my “body idol” and began reading about her and her workouts. That is where I started reading more and more about “eating clean”. Hmmm, I decided to make a change from Weight Watchers and began eliminating the processed foods and migrating to “my” version of eating clean. I began dabbling with supplements at this time; mainly protein shakes and pre-workout drinks.
In September ‘08, I added strength training workouts to my pumped up cardio routine and began seeing more progress. Of course, my new diet helped too, since now I realize how much sodium I was consuming by following Weight Watchers. Don’t get me wrong, Weight Watchers was a great start for me. However, getting super lean means getting the water out and I tend to hold a ton of water!
By December 2008, I had met my goals of single digit clothing; well, I was a size 2 and 4. Ha-ha! I was told (even by my hubby!) that I was hotter than him! Ha-ha!
January 2009, I was starting to focus more on body fat % vs. my weight on the scale. This is when I also heard about “Phat Camp” with Jen Hendershott. I did my homework and decided to sign up for her Atlanta Phat Camp. Wow, little did I know that this weekend would have changed my life as I forever knew it! Continuing on, I was continually learning and reducing my body fat %. I also signed up for Pilate’s reformer training at my gym. Wow, talk about zipping up your core! Then, in April 2009, almost 1 year from now, is when I met Jen Hendershott at the Atlanta Phat Camp! We determined I was cannibalizing my muscle by doing too much cardio and not eating enough calories! Wow, really! So, I signed up for her Phat Girlz training program and began my competing career! I have continued to follow Jen’s training plans and my body is constantly improving! We are in the midst of “leaning” out the muscle on me, so my diet is a bit different these days prepping for my next comp! Jen’s program and trainer’s rock. I couldn’t imagine getting this far on my own!
WP: What an amazing story! How does your life compare now to before your transformation?
ST: My life has gone in an entire new direction. My initial goal was to wear single digit clothing. Well, that, and to be hotter than my hubby! Ha-ha! Now, I am a role model to other mom’s sharing my story. I am getting up on stage and competing and being competitive! I am teaching my children a healthier lifestyle and impacting other mom’s out there to do the same! In some ways, it is very surreal and I have to pinch myself and make sure I am not sleeping! There are times when I am having a tough day mentally or diet wise, I try on some of my old clothes and I just start crying but with a smile. I smile because I conquered something that I wasn’t sure if I could ever conquer. It is a sense of accomplishment that no one can ever take away from me and I feel very proud and ready to tackle whatever is in my path.
WP: What type of effects has your transformation caused?
ST: Honestly, I have sugar binges. I have never had these before to this degree. Yes, this is mainly after a competition, but it did happen to me while prepping for the Arnold. I had to put myself through some extra cardio for 2 weeks to recover from the damage it caused, and honestly, I didn’t know if I was going to make it.
WP: Did it ever come a time that you came to a ‘stand still’ in your progress?
ST: Yes, that time came during the first quarter of 2009. After meeting Jen Hendershott, I quickly moved past my stand-still and immediately started seeing results! There comes a time when you have done all you can on your own, and then it’s time to hire a professional!
WP: What did you do differently to overcome the ‘stand still’?
ST: I trained and dieted differently.
WP: How long did it take for your complete transformation?
ST: It is still a work in progress! My goal is tiny ‘n tight and to continue to lean out additional muscle.
WP: Can you give me an example of your current workout?
ST: I train with weights first thing in the morning 4 days a week at 5:30am. This is a 30-40min workout that is high intensity and fast paced with light weights and or body weight only. That was followed by 45 minutes of cardio. My 2nd session for the day is cardio only and is generally done at lunch or just after I finish work late afternoon.
My workouts constantly change from week to week. I am never doing the same workouts 2 weeks in a row. I train with weights 4 days a week combining legs and arms on one day.
Monday I train legs and arms.
Tuesday is chest.
Thursday is back.
Saturday is shoulders.
My new found favorite for cardio is the spin bike! I love it!
WP: How does your diet compare now to before?
ST: Well, before, I ate anything and everything I wanted. Now, I weigh all my food and take a cheat meal on Saturday night!
WP: Can you break down your daily diet into a sample diet for us?
ST: I eat 6-7 meals a day depending if I am prepping for a comp or not.
Meal 1 - Egg whites and strawberries
Meal 2 - Protein shake or oatmeal and peanut butter
Meal 3 - Chicken, fish, or flank, green veggies and sm. sweet potato
Meal 4 - Grapefruit; whole and 1/2 serving of cocoa dusted almonds
Meal 5 - Chicken or Fish with veggies and salad
Meal 6 - Protein shake and peanut butter! Yummy!
WP: What have you accomplished since your transformation?
ST: I can race my 8 year old son and finish the race; regardless if it is by foot or in the pool! I can jump on the trampoline with my daughter and last longer than her! I have the energy, stamina, and drive to play with my high spirited kids! I now enjoy some of the same things my husband like to do, such as, going to the gym together on Saturdays! I have competed in 5 figure competitions and qualified to compete at a National Level. I have competed in the largest International Amateur Figure Competition and placed 10th! I continue to share my story with other mom’s and show that it can be done.
I have been featured on numerous websites and just made a live appearance on a local news station and shared my story! It is a feeling of accomplishment transforming my body and mind into a healthier one. I now eat to live instead of living to eat.
WP: That is truly amazing! What would you like to say to motivate others to transform their lives?
ST: If you’ve got the gotta wanna, that is all that is needed. Focused, consistency, and determination will make it happen. Nobody else can do it for you; stop the excuses!
WP: What competitions have you entered and what place did you take?
ST: July 2009 - NPC Jen Hendershott’s All Women’s Weekend - Charleston, SC - 4th Masters Figure - 3rd Open A
I was also the recipient of Jen’s “Most Inspirational” Award! (This was huge for me and still is the highlight of my competition journey!)
August 2009 - NPC Coastal - Atlanta, GA - 12th Masters Figure -5th Open A
August 2009 - NPC Excalibur - Charleston, SC -2nd Masters Figure - 4th Open A
November 2009 - NPC All South Championships - St. Augustine, FL- 6th Masters Figure
March 2010 - Arnold Classic Amateur - Columbus, OH- 10th Open B
WP: How does your routine and life changes when you go from pre-contest to off-season?
ST: I do a little less cardio in my off season; however I still eat decently clean. I don’t follow my contest diet in the off season.
WP: What do you like and dislike about competing?
ST: I love the process it takes for me to get to the point where I am stepping on stage to compete. I like having a plan to follow and seeing the results from my hard work. As Jen says, “I am like a science project.” I enjoy seeing my body transform, especially during the last couple of weeks before a show. It is an amazing feeling that I can’t describe!
I don’t like the fact I can’t maintain that lean look year round! Ha-ha! With having kids and being morbidly obese, I do have some extra skin in my abdomen that shrinks to about nothing the week before I step on stage. Once the contest diet is done, the skin makes its debut again! Ha-ha and yes, before you ask; I have had no surgeries to reduce fat or skin!
I also dislike the fact the sport is very subjectional from a judging point of view. I am an analytical type of person. Tell me a certain weight or body fat percent to reach, and I will get there. The point is, the rules seem to change from show to show and I just know that I have to show up looking my best. I now compete with myself and it is my goal to improve based upon my picture from comp to comp. I will never know what the judges are looking for at “that” show, and honestly I am too old to worry about it all the time. So, I just listen to my trainers and show up being me!
WP: Are you aiming for a pro-card?
ST: Pro-card? I am still getting used to the fact that I am a 40 year old mama competing 3/4th naked on stage! Ha-ha! I am possibly looking at trying fitness in the next year or so! I love the aspect of performing a routine! I admire fitness competitors for their strength, flexibility and creativity!
WP: What are your strengths and weaknesses in your physique? How are you attempting to correct them?
ST: Strengths - Well, I gain muscle like crazy if I lift a lot of weight. So, I am just the hamster in the wheel these days with my cardio! Ha-ha! I lift light and body weight only. My weakness - I can look at a brownie and gain fat! Ha-ha! I have to keep my diet pretty tight.
WP: What are your pet peeves?
ST: Not everyone likes my look and that is perfectly okay with me! I am not here to impress others. I am here to live a healthy life to the best of my ability and teach my family the same! However, if you don’t like the way I look or work out, then don’t look at me. I bet those same people wouldn’t have liked my look at 209.5 lbs. either. I don’t have time for the naysayers, or haters. Actually, they fuel me even more to bust my butt harder at the gym! Ha-ha!
My other pet peeve is those that think I am “on something.” Meaning, I’m taking drugs to get this look. No, it’s called busting your azz at the gym and keeping the diet clean. It’s very hard work and its 24/7 for me. I take it personally when someone thinks I’ve taken a quick fix or something. I am genetically gifted and cursed. I can gain the muscle easy and gain the fat even easier. It takes a lot of cardio for me to lean out for a competition, and I mean a lot!
WP: Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows. It’s just between us, no one else will know. Ha-ha.
ST: If I need a softer look for a comp, I’ll down some Chocolate ice cream! Dairy does it every time!
WP: Ha-ha! Dairy does a body good, huh? Any shout outs?
ST: My hubby, JC! My 2 children Jake and Lily! To Tricia, my best friend, who has supported me 100%; when I lost a lot of other friends over jealousy. Christie Gann, my Pilates Trainer! Leigh, Joan, Jim, Gwen, Kelsey, Anthony, Andrew, Gay, Zanna, Samantha, and all the other Gold’s Gym Crew! Also to PGN and Scivation crew for believing in me!
WP: Who had the most impact on you in your life thus far?
ST: My mom and dad; they taught me to never give up. If it’s worth doing then it is worth doing it all the way. They have continually encouraged and challenged me along my life. They have made me the person that I am today and I am grateful to have learned this from them so that I can teach my children the same.
WP: What were you like in High School?
ST: I was friends with everyone in High School. I wasn’t athletic per se, but I did play the flute in the marching band! Ha-ha! I didn’t get into too much trouble.
WP: How cute! A flute! Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
ST: Morning:
4:05 - 5L00 - Waking up
5:00 - Eating
5:30 or so - 1st cardio and workout
7:30 - I’m back at home helping get the gets ready for school and on the bus.
8:00 - Eat
8:30 - Begin my day at work
11:00 - Eat
Noon:
12:00 - 2nd cardio for the day
2:00 - Eat
4:30 - Eat
Night:
By 6:00 -7:00, I’m done with work and fixing dinner for family, helping with homework, baths, etc.
7:00 - Eat
8:00 -9:00 - Spending time with family and getting everything ready for the next day to start all over again!
9:30 - Eat and go to bed.
Ha-ha! I eat a lot after looking at this schedule. I pre-cook my food 2 times a week to save time.
WP: Yeah, I noticed that, too! Ha-ha! If I were to open your fridge and kitchen cabinets, what would I find in them?
ST: Ha! You name it! I have kids!
I have Chicken (already grilled and a lot of it), sweet potatoes, tilapia, salmon, ground turkey, turkey cutlets, peanut butter, rice cakes, cocoa dusted almonds, fresh broccoli, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, ice-cream, black beans, taco shells (whole grain of course!) Oreos, strawberries, pineapple, apples, banana, oatmeal, Sunrise Energy Bars from Costco; these are the bomb by the way! PGN and Scivation supplements! Cookies, potato chips, little zebra cakes, cereal, Capri sun roarin water drink boxes, sugar, mocha flavored splenda, sugar free syrups for coffee; caramel is my favorite! 50% less sugar orange juice, asparagus, baby spinach, pretzel rods, sugar free dark chocolate chips, milk of course, yogurt, granola, I mean, you name it. I have all kinds of food from one spectrum to the other! Even though I have some sugary snacks for my kids in my home, they are learning a healthier lifestyle as well. These are minimal and it doesn’t help that I just came off of a comp! Ha-ha!
WP: Can you adopt me? Ha-ha! If I were to walk into your house and have a look around, what type of fitness equipment would I find?
ST: 1 treadmill with rope lighting! Ha-ha! You’d also find lightweight dumbbells, Pilate’s band, ring, and mat, jump rope and a couple of resistance bands. That’s it! Oh, I have 2 flights of stairs that I use to do my “at home workouts!”
WP: What are your hobbies outside of fitness?
ST: What else, but shopping! I am into makeup now since I started competing. Seriously, I am still a mom and my time is taken up enjoying my kids with their activities. They are very active in sports themselves, so it gets to be a juggling act at times. What I have learned during this journey is that it is Ok for my children to take some time off from their activities, as well. They play sports 2 out of 4 seasons for the year. I also enjoy taking vacations cruising and going to the beach. I am also somewhat of a techy into computers, electronics etc. I enjoy date nights with my hubby every 2 weeks and we usually go out for Mexican dinner and booty-shaking dancing!
WP: Where are you going from here? What are your future goals for your career, this industry, and your physique?
ST: I am just living life right now and enjoying the ride! Like I mentioned earlier, I am interested in competing in fitness during the next year or so. As for the industry and my physique, I plan on competing at Jr. Nationals in June. I may enter a local show before then; not sure yet. As for my career, I am in the beginning stages of starting a business helping mom’s via nutritional and fitness workshops! You can visit my website at fitmamasathome.com
WP: I will check that out! I know a lot about Jen Hendershott and her work. Can you tell us a little more about her, so our readers can also learn?
ST: Jen Hendershott at getphatonline.com and her team of trainers; Latisha Wilder, Sandy Lentz, Lishia Dean and Heather Bear, have truly taught me a new way to diet, train and prep for a competition. I couldn’t have made it this far without their support and guidance. I truly value each one of them as a friend. As for the Phat Girls team, you guys rock, and a big shout out to my best friend forever figure girl, Shannon Ditmer! Shannon and I have shared many a day and night dieting together for our shows over the past 6 months. It is nice to have someone on your side that “knows” what you are going through!
WP: The interview is coming to a close now. Is there anything that you would like to add prior the end of the interview?
ST: Thank you for choosing me as Transformation of the Month. Help our children and their futures by sponsoring a “kid’s fitness challenge” in your city. To learn more, go to presidentschallenge.org.
WP: It's funny you mentioned that website. I actually won the challenge a few years back! It was so much fun keeping up with your activties and all. That's a great site!
We are delighted to have you featured as our ‘Transformation of the Month’. Thank you for taking the time out to hold this interview with us. We wish you the best of luck in the future.
ST: No! Thank you! And the same to you and World Physique!
