Okay, so I may be a rare breed—one of the few vegan bodybuilders and fitness models—but you know what? I like that!
Especially when they work in the fitness industry, vegans are frequently subjected to myths and questions that can be quite infuriating.
What source of protein do you use?
Please stop asking me this question; it’s the first one I always get, and it’s getting a little old.
Did you know that seitan contains a whopping 75g of protein per 100g? Steak and chicken breast contain 25g of protein per 100g. So once more, ask me where my protein comes from.
Other excellent vegan sources of protein include tofu (8g per 100g), black beans (22g per 100g), almonds (21g per 100g), and tempeh (19g per 100g). The majority of people, especially bodybuilders, are overly focused on protein. Your RDA for protein, plus some, will be more than provided for by a balanced vegan diet!
Do you eat fish?
No, but fish are still considered to be animals..? So, no, I don’t eat them!
So what do you eat after that?
The majority of people appear to worry that if you eliminate meat, dairy, and eggs from your diet, there won’t be anything to eat. This is especially true when competing as a bodybuilder or fitness model because their diet prior to competition contains a lot of fish, chicken, and egg whites!
You’ll be surprised to learn that my diet is likely more intriguing than the typical comp prep diet. Among many other options, I can eat tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans (kidney, black, and chickpeas), and quinoa. While the typical omnivore can have those things too, how many of them do?
Being vegan opens your eyes to more cuisines and more inventive dishes. I always eat delicious, novel dishes that are also nourishing, so I never get tired of the food I eat!
Anything that wasn’t produced by an animal is acceptable to vegans. In order to ensure that the food I consume is as close to its natural state as possible and free of additives, preservatives, and other unnecessary fillers, I try to choose whole food plant based meals.
Do I miss meat?
I don’t miss eating meat, no… Eating rotting meat is not something I miss! Since it has been over ten years since I last ate meat, I have no plans to do so now either.
Where do you obtain your calcium then?
Without the cruelty, dark leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, and silverbeet are actually superior sources of calcium to your beloved cow’s milk!
As you can see, there is absolutely no reason why a bodybuilder or fitness model who follows a vegan diet couldn’t succeed just as well as someone who follows a vegetarian or omnivorous diet.