V-STORY
Vegan power in strength events
Time to bust a few myths! Pure muscle power from plants
In the world of weightlifting, there are many stereotypes and prejudices against vegan diets. Many people think that a protein-rich diet can only be achieved with animal products, and that vegans are therefore not able to achieve strong, muscular bodies. But that simply isn’t the case. More and more sportspeople in various disciplines are showing that a vegan diet can indeed be enough to help you get a powerful, sinewy body. Read on to find out more about vegan weightlifters and some of the most successful vegan bodybuilders in the world!
These athletes stand for the power of a vegan diet
At first glance, many people don’t believe that veganism can go hand in hand with bodybuilding. After all, bodybuilding is often associated with consuming meat, protein shakes and protein-rich dishes such as chicken or omelets. However, there is a growing number of bodybuilders – both male and female – who eat a vegan diet, and still manage to build up muscle mass and successfully compete in sporting events.
One of the most famous vegan bodybuilders is Nimai Delgado. Born in California, Delgado has been a vegan since he was 18, and he has managed to build up an impressive body. Delgado has participated in several competitions, and in 2016 he won first place at the prestigious NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic event. He says that not only is a vegan diet healthy – it can also be very effective for building up muscle. Delgado is a living example of the fact that it is possible to build up impressive body mass on a plant-based diet alone.
Another vegan bodybuilder is Torre Washington, who lives in Florida. He became a professional bodybuilder in 2009, and since then he has appeared successfully at several competitions. Washington emphasizes that a vegan diet has helped shorten his recovery time, and helped him to increase muscle mass. His diet consists mainly of whole grain products, vegetables and fruits. At the same time, he stresses how important it is to eat a balanced diet in order to be successful – not just in the world of sport.
Derek Tresize is another outstanding example of a successful vegan bodybuilder. The athlete, who lives in Maryland, has won several competitions including the NPC Mid-Atlantic Cup in 2013. Tresize likes to emphasize how a vegan diet helped him to build up very toned muscles, while at the same time maintaining his health and energy levels. He mainly eats plant-based proteins such as tofu, seitan and pulses, as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables, in order to give his body all the nutrients it needs. For Tresize, the key to success lies in consuming enough calories so that you can build up muscle mass.
Not just the US, not just men: vegan power worldwide
One European vegan power-machine is Patrik Baboumian. Having become well-known for becoming “Germany’s strongest man”, he has broken several records in various strength sports, and then held them for years. Baboumian believes that veganism is the future of sport. Outside of the sporting arena, he likes to use his energy to do his bit for good causes. For example, he has worked with various animal rights organizations, and is active in the fields of animal and environmental protection, for example as part of the “Pflanzenfresser” campaign.
But plant-powered vegan success isn’t just limited to men, of course. One of the best-known examples of powerful women is Vanessa Espinoza, who lives in California. She has won several competitions, including the NPC Nationals in 2015. Espinoza is convinced that her vegan diet has helped her to develop leaner, more defined muscles. She mainly eats plant-based proteins such as pulses, nuts and seeds, and emphasizes the importance of making sure you get enough protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Another example of a successful female vegan bodybuilder is Crissi Carvalho from Australia. She has won several competitions, including the Australian Pro Show in 2014. Carvalho particularly emphasizes the importance of the quality of the food we eat. She prefers to eat organic produce, and mainly eats whole foods, to make sure that her body gets all the nutrients it needs.
Success for body and mind
The success of these vegan weightlifters and bodybuilders shows that it certainly is possible to build up an impressive amount of muscle mass even if you don’t eat animal products. A balanced diet – which contains enough protein, carbohydrates and fat – is crucial for body and mind. It’s fundamentally important to make sure you eat a broad range of plant-based foods. This way, you can be sure that your body will get all the nutrients it needs.
Vegan diets can even offer advantages, as they are often rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, and can support the body’s absorption of antioxidants. This can contribute to improved health and a strengthened immune system – something which is particularly important for bodybuilders so that they can recover from taxing training sessions. It’s well-known that mental fitness is just as important to sporting performance as physical fitness is.
Of course, being a bodybuilder on a vegan diet comes with its challenges. You have to make a conscious effort to eat enough protein, as not all plant-based protein sources contain as much protein as animal-based sources do. Meal planning and preparing particular plant-based foods can also require more time and effort.
Plenty of training and a generous helping of willpower are also needed
Nonetheless, it is possible to overcome these challenges and to forge a successful career as a vegan bodybuilder. By focusing on a balanced diet and selecting the right foods, bodybuilders can get enough energy, amino acids and nutrients to be able to reach their goals – even without consuming animal products.
Overall, the successes of vegan bodybuilders such as Patrik Baboumian, Nimai Delgado, Torre Washington, Vanessa Espinoza, Crissi Carvalho, Derek Tresize and others show that a vegan diet can be an effective solution for building up impressive muscles for competitions without reaching for animal products.
They all disprove the clichés and prejudices against vegan diets, and show that you can achieve anything – with willpower, plenty of training, and good vegan food. It’s up to you to deliver the willpower and the rest, but velivery can help you out with the food!
