Try telling these guys that vegans don't get enough protein

[arissa]

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/









How do people react to you being a vegan bodybuilder?
by robert on April 24th, 2003.
April 24, 2003

How do people react to you being a vegan bodybuilder?

Thank you for the question. This is a topic that interests a lot of people.
I’ll share a few stories about the kind of reactions that I get from other
people.

When I was living in Arizona a couple of years ago, pro bodybuilder Lee
Priest came to House of Fitness to spend the day signing autographs and
talking to fans. I had the opportunity to speak with him for a couple of
hours and before I told him I was vegan, I asked what he thought of
bodybuilders following a vegetarian or vegan diet. He thought it was great,
and was supportive of the idea. He also went on to talk about the meat
consumption in the U.S. compared to his native Australia, and how he
understands why people follow this type of a diet for animal rights reasons.

Another top bodybuilder, Troy Alves is very supportive of the idea of vegan
bodybuilding and on a regular basis he encourages me to be the #1 Vegan
Bodybuilder in the world. So those are some reactions from the pros that
have talked with me. From other pros that haven’t talked to me about it,
but have listed their opinions in magazines, I’ve heard things like,
“vegetarians are weak and sickly with thin hair and weak bones,” and “bottom
line, muscles need meat to grow.” So just like anything that is not part of
the norm, there are mixed views.

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/article/40

Also, meet Dave Scott - 6 time Ironman Triathlon champion and vegan.

Profile

Dave Scott began his triathlon career by making history. From 1980 to 1987, he won six Hawaii Ironman World Championships. In 1994, at the age of 40, he shocked the triathlon world by placing 2nd overall in the Ironman. Throughout his 20 plus years of racing, Dave has developed a much broader perspective on triathlon. He has become one of the premier speakers and ambassadors for endurance sports. He is the epitome of a leader and coach -- charismatic, intelligent, and well respected. Presently, Dave is focusing his talents on coaching, fitness consulting, motivational speaking and corporate engagements. Dave continues to draw the largest of audiences wherever he appears.

Here's an article Dave wrote about being vegan and an athlete:

http://www.insidetri.com/scott/articles/209.0.html

[smbolisnch]

1. Post that in GD and you'll be educated.

Those boys are on steroids! /sarcasm :eyes:

[Maru Kitteh]

2. I'll bet you're exactly right about that!

Because of course, they couldn't possibly build muscle without eating the flesh of dead animals. Either that or he is "cheating", i.e. eating flesh when nobody is looking. I can see that one coming too, nevermind the inherent lack of logic in suggesting someone promoting veganism would violate their body and soul by eating flesh when a vegan knows perfectly well how unnecessary and harmful it is.

Of course, none of the flesh eating muscle builders ever take steroids. :eyes:

Forget the fact that the first thing the judges are going to do when this guy walks in is take a quart of blood and a half gallon of piss because they have the exact same prejudices.

[flvegan]

3. I never get asked about protein

I'm a gym rat, as well, and although diet is extremely important, it doesn't matter much without determination and genetics. I'm 5' 11" and 208 pounds, low body fat and excellent musculature. I'll be honest, a lot of this I do SPECIFICALLY to debunk the "you gotta eat meat to build muscle" myth.

Ken Williams is no slouch either: http://www.idausa.org/kgw_frame.html

Lastly, a vegan couldn't take steroids. They aren't vegan.

[livinginphotographs]

4. Wasn't Bruce Lee a vegan?

I'd heard that somewhere...

Thanks for that link, though. We'll see how fast it really shuts up someone in GD, though.

[flvegan]

5. Bruce Lee was a vegetarian. Don't think he was a vegan.

Andreas Cahling is another very successful veg bodybuilder...



Bill Pearl and pro-wrestler Bill Goldberg, too.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. I did make-up for one of his...

"Keys to Weightraining" videos back in the day. He had to be in his late 50s/early 60s (tough to tell cause he looked so good!) and the man was a rock. I had just turned veggie a few years earlier and we had a good discussion about veggie health and potential problem areas. He was a total sweetie to work with and impressed me with his old-school class.