You don’t have to be a vegan bodybuilder, to be inspired! But whether you’re a present bodybuilder or simply want to gain a little fitness inspiration, here are some peeps to inspire!
Robert Cheeke is an animal welfare campaigner who has become ‘the face of vegan bodybuilding’. Growing up in Oregon (USA), he went vegan age 15, when he weighed less than 9 stone. Read what Robert eats on a typical day.
If you want it to be, your heart can be your biggest and most powerful muscle in your body. Robert Cheeke
Most bodybuilders actually aren’t that healthy, as it’s not good to eat around 10 egg whites a day, and many go overboard when preparing for competitions. But these vegan bodybuilders look after their health, and show that you can still eat just plants, and be strong!
Read of a vegan doctor who transformed his physique through plant foods!
Vegan Bodybuilder Nutrients
Macronutrients act as building blocks to grow muscle, and you can easily get these, without eating animals. Protein is very easy to find, from lentils and chickpeas to tofu and tempeh to seitan and quinoa.
Carbs are used to fuel workouts. Vegan bodybuilders eat wholegrains (like brown rice and oats), fruits and vegetables. All these release energy slowly, keeping you powered through the day.
Healthy fats help with recovery. There are ethical issues with avocados (choose fair trade organic if bought), but nuts and seeds offer similar benefits.
Vegan protein powders are easy to find online. Pea is a popular choice, as are rice and hemp proteins. Just mix them into smoothies and shakes. And be sure to take an all-round supplement to cover your bases (like vitamin B12).
Example Vegan Bodybuilder Recipes
High-protein smoothies are good. Try this chocolate cherry protein shake (Minimalist Baker).
Add protein to salads, or try chickpea sandwiches with ‘smashed pea’ spread. Try this chickpea masala sandwich (So Vegan).
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets.
Vegan curries (The Veg Space) need few ingredients. As does a vegan chilli non carne.
For snacks, try veggie sticks with hummus or protein bars. Or these oatmeal chocolate chip protein bars (Full of Plants).
Meet Some More Vegan Bodybuilders
Torre Washington is one of the world’s best-known vegan bodybuilders. A vegan due to his Ital Rastafarian heritage, he began to sculpt his body using a bench and dumbbell, and after studying engineering, is now one of the fittest men in the world!
Patrik Baboumian is often the man rolled out to the media, when people say you can’t be a vegan strongman! An Iranian born to Armenian parents and raised in Germany, he is a retired bodybuilder who now spends his time promoting the plant-based lifestyle.
He set the log lift record by lifting 190 kilos (almost 30 stone in old money) and also won Germany’s Strongest Man competition. Some argue he may even qualify as the world’s strongest man. Yet what does he eat? Vegan sausages and falafel and lots of smoothies!
Don’t listen to those self proclaimed nutrition gurus and the supplement industry trying to tell you that you need meat, eggs and dairy to get enough protein. There are plenty of plant-based protein sources and your body is going to thank you for stopping feeding it with dead food. Go vegan and feel the power! Patrik
Nimai Delgado is an American bodybuilder who has always been vegetarian and is now a vegan advocate, who loves eating plant-based proteins, lots of veggies and protein smoothies. He says that his diet is more varied than other bodybuilders who are fed up of always eating fish, egg whites and asparagus.
Puerto Rican Natalie Matthews is powered by tofu! She has lots of simple recipes and e-books on her site. A sickly child, she gave up dairy to cure her sinuses, and look at her now!
