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TORRE WASHINGTON, VEGAN
BODYBUILDING CHAMPION
Torre Washington picked up
his first weight while living in Jamaica with his grandparents.
In 2008, the seed was planted
as he witnessed his longtime friend win his pro card as a natural
bodybuilder. Reading magazines and watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies led
Torre to want to compete on stage.
Today, he is a four-time vegan bodybuilding champion.
You can find more information
about Torre
Washington on his website: thavegandread.com
Q: Tell us about your journey
as a natural bodybuilder, and how many competitions you have
entered:
All my life I admired the
physiques of comic book characters (Wolverine, Superman) and cartoon characters
like HE-MAN.
Real life heroes like Arnold
Schwarzenegger developed my attention to detail in terms of my physique.
I watched his movies and read
every article or book he had.
The more I dug into this new
passion, the more it ignited a strong desire in me to start my journey toward
my first competition.
Fast forward to 2008, when I
supported a close high school friend’s competition in Atlanta, GA.
He won that show after
competing in numerous shows, which was just the motivation I needed to choose a
show and get ready.
In April 2009, I got on stage
for the first time and placed third out of eight guys.
“This was confirmation for
me because I was not sure how I would fare against meat-eaters.”
This outcome was a defining
moment to see this journey through to the very end.
I competed again in October
that same year. I placed first and earned a Pro card in that organization.
Since that time in 2009, I have done a total of 16 competitions so far, placing
in the top three every show except one.
Q: Do you observe a
disadvantage between vegans and your meat-eating peers?
I have to admit that there is a
slight disadvantage, if you want to call it that, when it comes to putting on
huge amounts of muscle mass. Although I tend to put on mass slowly, it is
definitely lean quality muscle.
“I hope it helps others who
are considering a vegan bodybuilding lifestyle
to see that they can still put on mass and build a great physique.”
In the strength department,
there is no difference, as it is built based upon your training regimen. If
anything, I am at an advantage being vegan, since plants expedite the recovery
and recuperation.
Q: Do you think it’s
possible for a vegan bodybuilder to compete at the level of a Mr.
Olympia competition?
This is a very interesting
question. I say that because just recently I was asked this on social media. Of
course, I have even pondered this question myself. There needs to be a test
done to see if this is possible.
“At times, I get pointed
out as having used performance-enhancing substances to attain my physique, and
I find this as a compliment. I say this only because my hard work suggests steroid
use even though I’m natural.”
So do I think that it’s
possible for a vegan bodybuilder to compete at the level
of a Mr. Olympia? Yes. And I say that because I think anything is possible; we
now fly to the moon on a regular basis, so who needs limitations?!
Q: Do you think one day
we may see a vegetarian bodybuilding competition equivalent to the Mr. Olympia?
YES, and as a matter of fact, I
am working on one right now. Keep your eyes peeled for this.
Q: When you are
competing, how many times a day do you eat, and what does your daily
nutritional intake look like?
Whether I am competing or not,
my eating frequency doesn’t change much during the year.
What I mean is that I make sure
I eat my total macro nutrients for the day, which could be
every three hours, four hours, or five hours.
I eat the same consistently
throughout the year.
This is because I understand
that my physique development is based upon total nutrition consumption for the day,
not restricted to every certain amount of hours.
“Unfortunately, I am not a
person to track my nutrients; I go off of look and feel.”
Q: What does your vegan bodybuilding diet look like off season?
I don’t understand the term
“off season.” It is not a term that I use personally. I eat about the same all
the time, and when it comes close to a competition, I just cut back on the
sweets and treats. I also significantly increase my water.
I like to stay very
close to my competition weight so I am always in striking distance.
Q: What are your three
primary sources of vegan protein?
My three primary sources of proteins are beans in the form of tofu and
tempeh, lentils, and seitan.
Q: What do you think
about the new vegan protein powders coming out and what supplements do you use?
I think it is great
that vegan protein powder is making an impact on the mainstream
supplement scene; variety is the spice of life. I also use vegan BCAAs.
Q: In your view, what does
the future of vegetarian bodybuilding look like in the next
10 years?
Wow, that is a loaded question!
“I believe that vegetarian bodybuilding will grow astronomically because the
fitness industry is moving more toward a natural look versus a
performance-enhanced physique.”
As a vegan bodybuilder, our food is becoming
easier to come by; we are making an international impact on mainstream fitness.
We will also witness great vegetarian competitions become common in the
bodybuilding industry as well.
The next 10 years will also be
an exciting and promising journey for Torre Washington.
To get more ideas about vegan bodybuilding, watch this video - What a vegan pro bodybuilder Eats in a Day VEGAN BULK |
Workout with Amanda Bucci
Author
Bio:
Chris
Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.
V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a
mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with
optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians
only.
A
lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of
professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising
its progressiveness and efficiency.
The
program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your
potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this
system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any
carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in
your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of
proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Instead
of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and
bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a
plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to
prove it.”
To
find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Vegan Bodybuilding
