Derek Tresize and Marcella Torres are the husband and wife team of competitive bodybuilders behind Vegan Muscle and Fitness at, where they have shared their training and nutrition tips, recipes and more since 2009. Owners of Richmond, Virginia’s only plant-based personal training studio, Root Force Personal Training, the pair seeks to promote a fit and active plant-powered lifestyle and shatter th
e perception that strength and athleticism can’t be achieved with a plant-based diet. Derek is a three-time natural bodybuilding champion and pro bodybuilder with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation. He is also an A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer, is certified in Plant-Based Nutrition through the T. Colin Campbell Foundation and Cornell University, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Marcella, formerly a professional mathematician, is now a competitive bodybuilder, professional meal planner, and professional dancer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Physics. Together they work with clients both internationally and locally helping everyone from new vegans to seasoned competitors build muscle and get lean with a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Their mission: to generate as many fit vegan role models as possible to get the message across that a plant-based diet isn’t a handicap in the world of athletics – it’s an advantage! Derek and Marcella have been featured in many online and print publications such as Vegan Health and Fitness magazine, Naked magazine, Vegan Lifestyle magazine, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Style Weekly, One Green Planet, The Daily Beet, Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness, the IDEA Fitness Journal, Bodybuilding.com, Break-ingMuscle.com, the television show “What Would Julieanna Do?”, and online radio programs such as The Big Inside on FTNS Radio. Both have been official sponsored athletes of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness and members of Team Plantbuilt, representing vegan athletes annually at the Naturally Fit Supershow in Austin, Texas. To learn more about Derek and Marcella visit their website www.veganmuscleandfitness.com, or connect on twitter .
