Virtual Muscle - Vegetarian Bodybuilding: Does It Have A Chance?

[webmaster]

I know, I know... real men eat meat. My mission in writing this is to merely present the idea that it is possible to adhere to a vegetarian diet while trying to gain lean mass and/or decrease bodyfat and to do so in a healthy manner!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vm7.htm

HOW TO REVIEW: Post Your Review Of This Article - CLICK ON POST REPLY BELOW! You do NOT need to be a registered member to post a reply in this section!

Thank you for the wonderful article on the vegan/vegetarian diet while bodybuilding. I have composed very similar articles and have posted them on my website www.veganbodybuilder.com

Based on my website name you can guess that I am a vegan bodybuilder. I have to agree with just about everything you said in the article. Any diet needs to be planned and well thought out for it to be healthy to maximize your potential.

I have had articles on vegan bodybuilding posted in FLEX Magazine as well as other publications such as Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness. I used to be a cross country runner then gained 60 pounds (vegan the whole time) and became a competitive bodybuilder.

Thanks again for addressing the vegan/vegetarian diet in a bodybuilding article. I also liked how you mentioned the environmental and health implications. So many people ignore or don't understand that aspect of the diet.

For more info about me check out www.veganbodybuilder.com

Thanks,

Robert Cheeke

Man, I thought I was the only veggie lifter in the world. Let alone bodybuilder. It's nice to see this article (and this site) recognizing!


I have had no trouble -- I mean NO trouble -- putting on and maintaining mass with a vegetarian diet. Yet I get constant surprised looks when people find out. All the same questions you addressed so knowledgeably.

Real men don't eat meat. Real men can't define themselves in a sentence!

Thanks,

Brad McCray

[lucubration]

Originally posted by Unregistered

Real men don't eat meat. Real men can't define themselves in a sentence!

Thanks,

Brad McCray

hmmm.. and double hmmmm

Brad - I have recently turned Vegetarian by choice.. Though i was neve an avid non-vegetarian - but I often used to eat.
Off late I have become eggatarian
My goal is to have more of lean muscle and I workout regularly
But I still put on more fat than muscle

Can you please describe your diet and work out routine

thanks a lot
Rocky

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Man, I thought I was the only veggie lifter in the world. Let alone bodybuilder. It's nice to see this article (and this site) recognizing!


I have had no trouble -- I mean NO trouble -- putting on and maintaining mass with a vegetarian diet. Yet I get constant surprised looks when people find out. All the same questions you addressed so knowledgeably.

Real men don't eat meat. Real men can't define themselves in a sentence!

Thanks,

Brad McCray

[Veggeep]

For an article that makes so many good points, there's nothing like getting off on the wrong foot (even if it was just a light-hearted, self-effacing jab). I always thought that cliche should be re-phrased "Unimaginitive, lazy, gullible men eat meat".

Real men are kind to animals -and THEMSELVES.

Considering the staggering wealth of benefits beyond mere protein content that plant-based foods provide (compared to meat), it seems to me that the wrong food category is under the microscope. Maybe we ought to be asking "Meat for bodybuilders - isn't there a HEALTHIER way?"

With the infinitessimal exception of a few micronutrients (i.e. vit B12), there isn't a shred of essential nutrition in meat that cannot be acquired through a carefully planned vegetarian diet. The only reason more people don't go veg is because they can't see through a lifetime of food-industry brainwashing and their entire vocabulary, methodology, and logic amounts to little more than regurgitated propaganda. That, and the fact that vegetarianism requires EFFORT. You would think anyone who can handle the rigours of a strenuous workout regimen could handle the strain of actually PLANNING a meal...

[ANIMAL69]

Originally Posted by webmaster

I know, I know... real men eat meat. My mission in writing this is to merely present the idea that it is possible to adhere to a vegetarian diet while trying to gain lean mass and/or decrease bodyfat and to do so in a healthy manner!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vm7.htm

HOW TO REVIEW: Post Your Review Of This Article - CLICK ON POST REPLY BELOW! You do NOT need to be a registered member to post a reply in this section!

AND HERE I THOUGHT IT WAS BACKWARDS...... THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS HOBBY, WHAT I NOW I CONSIDER MY LIFE...... EACH DAY I COME HERE AND READ, READ, READ. I LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND MUCH TOO MY SURPRISED PLEASED AS WELL...... IT IS LIKE A WHOLE NEW WORLD A PASSION THAT CAN NOW BENEFIT ME IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE THANX ALOT REALLY

I have been lifting weights for over 30 years, a true vegetarian for 25 . Not only do I remeber it as a smooth transition, I just find it easier to build muscle . In fact, nowadays, the choice is so obvious, I just can't understand how anyone with a little nutrition sense would opt for the beef. I never heard a doctor order his patients to consume extra quantities of meat, it's always " Drop the roast, eat more fruit and vegetables".
I always get the surprised look when someone finds out I am a "vegan" and that just shows that despite all the evidence, the pro-meat/milk propaganda is all powerful and will not allow dissent. Lately, the milk lobby was at its best in its milk-moustache campaign using The Hulk(the cartoon version not Lou Ferrigno) to promote drinking milk instead of water(or other sports drinks) during workouts !! The worse part is that it appeared in a leading bodybuilding magazine; the editors should have known better... It was stupid, ignorant, idiotic and irresponsible (and I leave a few unmentionables). When this industry is not using fake research or even blatant lies to sell its wares, it will just use what almost always works; money .
There will always be someone to forgo everything in order to grab it first


Avi Lehyani
Deavman@fastmail.fm

Thanks! Keep it up for the veggie builders out there!

Just a tid bit of info, You do get vitamin b12 from plant products and some herbs. Plant sources that I know of include spinach, bananas, Comfrey root, marshmallow root, alfalfa, kombucha and the list gos on. Not only that but the 500 different types of beneficial bacteria that live in your stomach actually produce B12 as well and if your body was lacking b12 and you are getting plenty of the other b vitamins your body can actually convert those b vitamins to ones you are lacking.

[innermusic]

I just saw this thread. Nice to see the article. All the best.

[MrTriceps]

I'm also one of the vegan bodybuilder.this article really keeps me motivated.

[innermusic]

Just figured I would bump this thread. Anything new out there?

[Capirgo]

One more vegetarian here! It's good to see others.

[innermusic]

Originally Posted by Capirgo

One more vegetarian here! It's good to see others.

Pretty quiet though.

[dude57]

Bodybuilding.com has started bodygroups.
Join this great new group for people that want to be veggie and fit!

http://groups.bodybuilding.com/veggies_united

We can support each other along the way.

[Freezebot]

Nice article.

Try adding quinoa to your diet as well. "Its protein content is very high (12%?18%), making it a healthful choice for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it a complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest."

[scrazzers]

hi all im new to the forum and am a vegan was thinking ov joining a gym to put sum muscle on not necesseraly bodybuilding but that strong defined luk like in my pic, i got ill and had to quit now iv become vegan was wondering iv its still possible to gain hard muscle wivout meat and supplements fanx

[whatyaar]

Originally Posted by scrazzers

hi all im new to the forum and am a vegan was thinking ov joining a gym to put sum muscle on not necesseraly bodybuilding but that strong defined luk like in my pic, i got ill and had to quit now iv become vegan was wondering iv its still possible to gain hard muscle wivout meat and supplements fanx

hi, this is my first post....joined today from one of the posts from slickdeals. Hi folks one more vegan (purest). Be ready will ask you more questions. first one, will whey isolate better than whey.

[scrazzers]

Originally Posted by nkliquidz

yeh i think vegetarians trying to lift weights is just pathetic. get back to eating meat like mother nature intended
(unless ur religious and really want to)

ur pathetic iv become ill and cnt eat meat jus wanted to carry on my dream (lifting weights) n was wondering iv i would benefit from it or it i were asking for advice iv you aint got any then dnt say ewt a didnt ask for your opinion i ask for help oviously you aint vegan so y u here.

[scrazzers]

Originally Posted by nkliquidz

yeh i think vegetarians trying to lift weights is just pathetic. get back to eating meat like mother nature intended
(unless ur religious and really want to)

ur pathetic iv become ill and cnt eat meat jus wanted to carry on my dream (lifting weights) n was wondering iv i would benefit from it or it i were asking for advice iv you aint got any then dnt say ewt a didnt ask for your opinion i ask for help oviously you aint vegan so y u here.

[kinoblemeister]

Im pescatarian (eat fish thats it) so not strictly vegetarian but thanks for posting the article. Its good to hear of others who adhere to a slightly different diet (I get mad looks most times if I mention not eating meat...in this day and age too haha).

Ben