share. learn. thrive!

Looking for Vegan Nutritional Advise for an Accidental Vegan Bodybuilder Boyfriend

This June 2010, I found myself having to suddenly "retire" because my job went to another state. I have a small pension, and consider myself lucky to have one. The last few months of work, found me "packing on the pounds" from stress. So, 4 months later, I find the best part of not having to work, is being able to go to the gym more often, and walk whenever the mood strikes and eat more mindfully and peacefully..thus I have lost 7 pounds so far and counting,(hooray!) and am feeling much more calm and healthy.

I have been a vegetarian for several years, and found myself suddenly "going vegan", after web surfing and reading about what horrors go on in big business factory farming. Suddenly reading about the last egg recall just seemed to "shut the door", for me, on eating eggs and anything with milk in it.

Really the biggest change for me was that, we loved going out to breakfast to non vegan restaurants and since I love omelettes I had to consciously choose something vegan like oatmeal or fruit which has surprisingly been easy for me, because I have watched enough Youtube "animal misery moments" to never want an egg again!

So yes, since retirement, I have lots more time to surf the web, which is how I found this My Vega site. I have been reading ton's of books on Veganism and Animal Rights and Factory Farming. And, of course, is how I found "THRIVE" and read all about Brendan Brazier. I am very inspired by Brendan as an athlete and as someone who has really researched what is involved in eating a vegan diet and what foods are essential, and what are not good and even harmful. Since I am really emotionally suddenly very committed to this lifestyle, having his products and nutritional knowledge to rely on, means everything!

Which brings me to the point of all this.

My boyfriend, John, has also gone through the same "sudden retirement." He has been a committed bodybuilder for several years. Most of the nutritional advise he gets are from the people behind the counter in his local "bodybuilding supplement store" and the guys at the gym who all seem to promote the Whey and Creatine (milk) products for "getting bigger". Along with eating chicken and lean meat of course.

Meanwhile, I have gone through what feels like a complete revelation or transformation on the spiritual, emotional, physical, mental level when it comes to animals....it's been building up...ebbing and flowing in different degrees for 4 months now. Sometimes I can't sleep at night or wake up early, with facts on my mind, or images in my heart such as, "Animals are skinned alive for their fur, so we can wear expensive coats" or "Chickens are boiled while still conscious and able to feel pain, as the result of cost cutting procedures in big business factory farming." I'll spare you the rest. Or you already know this.

Anyway, I have been silent about "this thing" I have been going through for the most part. I haven't pressured him to change his chicken and bacon eating habits, however-yes- I have shared with him a few "factory farming facts", and we have taken a trip out to a local abused farm animal sanctuary. And just because he has a soft heart for animals (we have 2 cats and a dog) I've noticed, he has stopped eating much meat.

Like, I noticed, he hasn't barbecued anything in a month, and he used to every 3 days. So yesterday, he finally mentioned, he's putting on weight, because he's hungry all the time, (ahem...he eats those non vegan sugary calorie laden protein bars in the middle of the night, and has gone through jars and jars of peanut butter recently) and he feels he isn't getting enough protein and feels his arms are getting smaller (his huge arms are his pride and joy-or vanity-whichever), and although he didn't say it, he's blaming my Veganism on his gaining weight. So he actually asked me what to eat.

Now bear in mind, this man shudders at the thought of Tofu...(I have tried to sneak it in his salads) He recently tried (and ate a bunch of) and then decided he hates Hummus. His actual meals consist of- driving to the local fancy $$ market and getting a salad from their $7 a pound salad bar after his gym work out. (so he doesn't prepare his salad himself, is my point) He's addicted to Avocados, and consumes then almost everyday. He stated "brown rice isn't protein" today. (we argued that fact)

I make our morning smoothie with fruit (he's suspicious about calories in fruit) and one of several different plant based protein powders, so he does start out the day pretty good. But...to get to the point of this rather longwinded blog. I just ordered about $200 of all the Vega products, to see if he (please God) likes and will continually use them. (since he has no clue about what plant based foods have the most protein-this seemed easiest to start with) and he doesn't want to eat some of the ones that do....tofu..etc.

Hopefully the Vega products will help him feel full and satiated.

He asked me, if I could direct him to any Vegan bodybuilder websites, so he can see nutritionally, what Vegan bodybuilders eat to "get bigger."

Although he is a little resistant. Today, I asked him to PLEASE log on to this Vega website and join this bodybuilding group, so he could get some advise. I think his tender heart for animals is going to win out from the chicken and pork eater he was, although he swears he won't go Vegan. I'm just sayin'...no barbecue has been lit up for a month...so thank you for your group, and I'll be checking back with you, when (and if) he log's into your website, and when he try's all the different Vega products. Here's hoping!.....Thanks for listening!

Tags: advise, for, looking, nutritional, vegan

Comment

You need to be a member of Vega Community to add comments!

Join Vega Community

Comment by Julie Davis on November 1, 2010 at 8:10pm: Hey Thanks Ironvegan! I really appreciate the info! (I emailed it to him just now! even though he's only a few steps away!) I actually have to report, that John (my bodybuilding boyfriend) is making more (not all) Vegan choices. I think all this Vegan info is actually starting to rub off on him! I have been cooking more for him too. Vegan Pancakes, Vegan Tomato Lentil soup. (not quite brave enough for the tofu scramble yet, because he "hates" tofu) He's given up the midnight snacking on Whey protein bars and is now eating Vegan Protein bars and reaching for more fruit! Hooray! It's working! The barbecue has not been fired up to cook chicken in over a month now. Yay! Thanks again! And thank you to everyone else that made great suggestions too! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Comment by ironvegan on October 31, 2010 at 11:31pm: There are tons of vegan endurance athletes out there, but more and more strongmen nowadays. He might like to check out this:
http://www.veganstrength.org/
http://blog.rbigwood.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Danzig
http://www.mikemahler.com/articles/vegan_diet.html

Nowadays there are tons of fake meats, some taste pretty real. But not everyone goes for that. Bodybuilders tend to eat large portions, often. When vegan the calories are sometimes lower, the food more fibrous - takes some time to get used to. Upping the fat content by using lots of nuts/seeds can help folks used to meat be more satiated, and eating often helps too. I think a lot of people who quit being vegan do so because they aren't eating enough, they feel tired, etc. The Robert Cheeke book is pretty good, as is his website. I just got the Rich Roll (Ultraman 3 day triathlon competitor) e-cookbook, you might like that, too, only 9.99. http://www.jai-lifestyle.com/cookbook/

This Carl Lewis video is good, too: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=744765316519516434#
Not many people know this:
"Lewis is vegan. He reached the top of his career aged thirty on a vegan diet which he has claimed is better suited to him because he can eat a larger quantity without affecting his athleticism and he believes that switching to a vegan diet can lead to improved athletic performance"

Comment by Julie Davis on October 19, 2010 at 10:15pm: Wow Michele! All the information you gave me was so eye opening, and inspiring! I think even life changing! Thank you! Today John asked for more Lentil soup and brown rice! But I think I'll incorporate more fruit, and he may be asking for fruit tomorrow, I know I will! Wow Thank you so much! I appreciate this information more than you know!

Comment by Julie Davis on October 19, 2010 at 9:02am: Wow! Thank you so much for the great advice! We will check out the Sunwarrior website right now. I've read great reviews about the Veganomicon book. I've bought several other great Vegan cookbooks. I enjoy eatting my own cooking if it's anything with veggies, even if I make mistakes! I usually get a bravo from him when I cook, (unless it has tofu-or has some unusual ingredient to him-then he gags) but I admit, we usually eat separately,(mostly variations on salads) since he was the meat eater, and I wasn't. So time for me to step up the Vegan cooking for him! Great idea! Thanks again for you support!

Comment by Frances Worster on October 19, 2010 at 12:57am: PS: in my experience, men are happy to eat vegan if you're the one doing the meals - I've had rave reviews every time I've cooked from Veganomicon - it's the bible of vegan cooking!

Comment by Frances Worster on October 19, 2010 at 12:55am: I'm surprised that he's concerned about fruit calories, but consumes peanut butter by the cartload - anyway, there's tons of protein in hemp and quinoa (no tofu there)
The Thrive Fitness book (Brandan's second book) may be even more up his alley
Sometimes ultimatums are scary - he doesn't ever have to go vegan - he can just go day by day and see how that goes - there is NO wagon to fall off of!!
this guy is a RAW vegan:
http://naturesfitnessmodel.com/
he has a section for supplements (it's a brand-new site, so it may not be totally up and running)

This site sells vegan products for health and body building:
http://www.sunwarrior.com
including raw vegan protein:
http://www.sunwarrior.com/products/sunwarrior-protein
it's 85% raw protein!

Can someone remember who those two guys were that did 5 marathons in Hawaii back-to-back? Those two guys are in insane shape and they are vegan (raw too?)

Comment by Julie Davis on October 18, 2010 at 5:48pm: Thank you for your advise and support! Yes, John has looked at Robert Cheeke's website, (he still had nutritional questions afterwards) and I have ordered his recent book as well. Plus! I have the "Thrive" book open on the kitchen table, and a variety of Brendan's products about to arrive in the mail. But today, we were back in the non vegan supplement store today, he was asking for advise about peanut butter. I wish there was an all vegan bodybuilding supplement store with buff, healthy looking cashier/nutritional advisors. Maybe someday! I can dream.......