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| Competing in 2011. |
Because I had an enormous respect for people that followed a vegan lifestyle, during that time I kept insisting to anyone that would listen that someday I would be a vegan bodybuilder. For several years I had read about plant-based bodybuilders and what they ate (particularly during the multiple-week contest prep stage, when things get insanely particular, and competitors start living and dying by their macronutrient totals), and had done a great deal of experimentation preparing dishes free of animal products (dating a young vegan lady for a year or so helped in this department). However, even though I already consumed no pork or beef, for some reason I couldn't bring myself to go all the way. I reasoned that complete veganism would be too expensive, the learning curve too steep, and ultimately, my diet would be missing something vital, causing my physique to suffer.
Thankfully, all that changed in late-2016. Knowing how much the vegan bodybuilding lifestyle appealed to me, my buddy David passed along a YouTube video of a recreational vegan bodybuilder breaking down exactly what he eats during the day. While I certainly am not trying to disparage the young YouTuber (he clearly works hard, is passionate on the subject, and is willing to put himself out there), I was incredibly disappointed watching the video. The guy's daily food intake amounted to something like a half-dozen pea protein smoothies and a couple handfuls of berries. It didn't look the least bit satisfying or manageable for the average person. Though I knew (or at least hoped!) that he didn't represent the "typical" vegan bodybuilder, his awful-looking diet gave me inspiration to try and top it. "I know I can do better than that," I reasoned.
The final straw, however, presented itself in the form of the Disney film Moana, which I watched on Thanksgiving Day, 2016. By no means did the film carry some sort of pro-vegan message, but I couldn't help but notice the similarities between the film's dimwitted chicken Heihei, and my real-life feline companion, Crab Rangoon. As I sat there in the theater, I began to realize I could no longer justify the eating of animals such as chickens. Yes, I realize how ridiculous this may seem to many, but I write that without a trace of irony. I had done my homework and talked about making the switch for years, but it took a damned animated chicken to push me over the edge.
Hoping to inspire other meat-eaters curious about a vegan lifestyle (whether bodybuilders, or not), I will be updating this blog regularly (at least weekly) over the next 18 weeks as I prepare for a small handful of summer contests. I'll use it as an online training/nutrition journal, as well, detailing my training routine, nutrition plan, and more as I gear up for what will be my first competitions in four years, and my first ever contests as a vegan bodybuilder.
