Bethel Body Building Mom Lifts almost Twice Her Weight Daily, and Does the Housework, too.

In most ways, Bethel resident Theresa Evans, 40, is a typical wife and mother.  Every weekday morning, she gets her two kids—11-year-old Nick Meier and 8-year-old Erin Meier—up and ready for school.  She takes care of the house and does all the cooking, shopping and cleaning.  When her children get home from school, she helps them with homework and takes them to activities.  

Yet, all it takes is one look at her very muscular physique to realize there is something different about her.  Evans describes herself as a natural, professional, figure competitor; a physique athlete who places a strong emphasis on symmetry, muscularity, conditioning, and overall appearance for the purpose of competing on stage. As a natural competitor, she must adhere to strict drug regulation guidelines. 

Evans became interested in the sport of figure after giving birth to her second child.  “It was a gift to myself to get back into shape,” she said.

Evans hired a trainer—Sean O’Malley—who she later ended up marrying, and trained for 18 months.  She enjoyed the results from working out so
much that she said,  "I wanted to take it to the next level."

Her first figure competition was in 2006, and by 2008 Evans had turned professional after becoming the overall champion at the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders Hudson River Classic in White Plains,
N.Y. To date, she has taken part in 15 figure competitions throughout the U.S.

As a professional, if she places well at a competition, she typically wins from $1,000 to $1,500.

Despite what many people may think, a competition doesn’t involve lifting weights. Instead, it’s all about making a series of poses that reflect how
defined one’s muscles are, Evans explained.

“The judges have you move around on the stage.  It is brutal. You are under 100 degree lights, wearing a little bathing suit, while standing in front of an audience.  You are flexing your entire body from head to toe,” she said.

Evans’ next competition will be in October 2012, when she returns to Massachusetts, where she placed third at the Gaspari Nutrition IFPA Pro Classic in 2011.  She also placed second at the MusclePharm IFPA Yorton Cup Pro World Championships in Washington DC. 

It takes Evans four months to prepare for a competition.  She trains 4-5 days a week with heavy weights and exercise machines.  During
competition season, Evans—who is 5’ tall—weighs 108 pounds.  “Nutrition makes up 75% of the results you can achieve from this sport.  ‘You can’t
out cardio a bad diet.  If you are not eating properly, the results you want from your workout will not come,” she said.

Evan’s current coach, Joe Franco, a Pennsylvania resident and IFPA Professional,  said, “Theresa’s qualities as a competitor are numerous, but most important, it’s consistency and attention to detail."

“When I coach someone, we need to be on the same page so I can make needed changes to their program.  This has never been an issue with us since I know she is following and willing to trust the process. Along with her hard work and motivation in the gym, the results speak for themselves,” Franco said.

“I love challenging my limits of strength. I have recently deadlifted 285 pounds and squatted 225. As small as I am, it’s empowering to know I have strength like that!” she said.

In 2010, Evans and O’Malley, 39, founded O’Malley’s Training LLC, a personal training business in Bethel.  “We cater to the local area.  We are unique from a large gym setting in that our services are very personalized. Some people feel more comfortable working out in a private setting,” Evans said.

Bethel resident Samantha Bachman, a 20 year old student at Western Conencticut State University, has been training with Evans for the past 18 months.  Bachman said, “I used to be a gymnast and I want to keep up a muscular physique.  Theresa gives me nutrition advice to help supplement my weight training.  She writes me customized workout plans that fit into my schedule."

"I’m most impressed with how passionate she is in helping me reach my goal.  She is 200 percent committed to me,” Bachman said.

"The (real) trophy should be yourself,” Evans said.  “Being a competitor is really about the fun of a particular day and the endeavor to get there.”

To contact O’Malley’s Training, visit www.omalleystraining.com or call 203 942-8074. Classes can be arranged throughout the Greater Danbury area.