Can a Vegan be physically fit?

[NiVRaM]

Long story short, is it possible to be physically fit (aka, body building status, or athletic status) and be vegan? Any vegan I have come across looks malnourished, so I couldn't imagine it as healthy for you.

Asking friends, they proposed that if you were vegan you could take supplements, but I don't see how that could cover everything you need. Example: bodybuilders bulk up on chicken AND take supplements, why not just take supplements? There has to be something in chicken or whatever animal product that they eat that cannot be gained from supplements?

Stealth edit: for those that don't know, vegetarian = doesn't eat animals, vegan = doesn't eat animals or animal products (milk, cheese, etc).

[TanTheMan]

Its not impossible, i wouldnt call the process pleasant.

sorry, i like my meat and milk, and cheese, and yogurt, and all forms of milk. and furr coats (just testing you!)

:-p

yes its possible. learn to love soy, legumes, nuts, etc etc.

[woodym]

It's very hard I would say. I seem to remember reading something that said Tofu and Soy are not full complements of protein like flesh is. I was raised a vegetarian and now 15 years later I disagree with it completley from a nutritional standpoint. I think most people in American society turn to vegatarian diets due to their false perception that meat=fat. They could not be more wrong!

[Insane Clown]

Long story short, is it possible to be physically fit (aka, body building status, or athletic status) and be vegan?

Long story short... yes.

I think a lot of the idea about vegans and vegetarians being gangly/malnourished is less a direct causation of the diet and more about the people on the diet/stereotypes society has given to it.

I'm not a vegan, but I know a lot of people are surprised that someone my size (6'1, about 240 lbs. at the moment) is a vegetarian. I think a lot of people hear vegan/vegetarian and think of skinny hippies who don't want anything to do with sports, but that's not necessarily true.

Asking friends, they proposed that if you were vegan you could take supplements, but I don't see how that could cover everything you need.

It doesn't cover everything you need. You still need to eat regular food. But if chicken itself covered everything you need, why do most meat-eating bodybuilders still take supplements as well?

Because supplements make it easier.

I seem to remember reading something that said Tofu and Soy are not full complements of protein like flesh is.

This is half way true. Soy and tofu are not complete proteins, but chicken and beef aren't actually considered 'perfect' protein sources either. Eggs (whole) are considered the arbitrary '100' for perfect protein source. (Of course, eggs aren't available in a vegan diet either.)

However, you can combine incomplete proteins to make 'complete' proteins. Combining grains with legumes (including soy) comes pretty close to a complete amino acid profile. So, rice and beans or wheat bread and nuts (like a peanut butter sandwich!) could be brought together for a meal to get protein.

Also grains and seeds are a recommended combination for more complete proteins as well.


Being a vegan isn't going to be easy, whether bodybuilding or not. It simply does limit your food choices to an amazing degree. Just being a vegetarian is fairly difficult when it comes to what's available to you at restaurants and everything, but being a vegan is probably twice as hard.
But, it's definitely possible and once you get used to it, it will become routine and no big deal. It's just the initial step that will prove really difficult, but once you know what you are doing, it'll be much smoother sailing.

[orb85750]

Incorrect. Soy is a complete protein. And soy protein isolate has the same PDCAAS of 1.0 as egg protein and whey protein. Guys.... Do your research, please. (I have been vegan for many years and I am physically fit.)

[anonymous]

a) strong bump
b) your WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, Daniel Bryan, lives a vegan lifestyle and is quite fit. (YES YES YES)

[Kenneth196]

Resurrecting a 6 year old thread? Cool story bro.

[mattypoole]

Nice bump....I think dat dare vegan lifestyle is messing with your ability to look at a post date.

[orb85750]

Nice bump....I think dat dare vegan lifestyle is messing with your ability to look at a post date.

I simply did not want the thread to end with incorrect information, given that many come to the forums to search for vegan bodybuilding advice in old threads (some of which is good, some of which is complete garbage). Just doing my duty. :-)

[rand18m]

Incorrect. Soy is a complete protein. And soy protein isolate has the same PDCAAS of 1.0 as egg protein and whey protein. Guys.... Do your research, please. (I have been vegan for many years and I am physically fit.)

Can you post some data on that, I have never seen such data and what you say is in contrast to many I have read or listened to that have doctorates in the field. I am serious, I certainly wouldn't want to give someone bad information.

[orb85750]

Can you post some data on that, I have never seen such data and what you say is in contrast to many I have read or listened to that have doctorates in the field. I am serious, I certainly wouldn't want to give someone bad information.

Bodybuilding-dot-com won't allow me to post links yet, because I have under 50 posts, but I got the following from Wikipedia. You can also go to Google and research 'soy protein isolate PDCAAS' -- lots of info from various sources are available. Thanks for your interest.

1.00 casein (milk protein)
1.00 egg white
1.00 soy protein
1.00 whey (milk protein)
0.92 beef
0.91 soybeans
0.78 chickpeas
0.76 fruits
0.75 black beans
0.73 vegetables
0.70 Other legumes
0.59 cereals and derivatives
0.52 peanuts
0.42 whole wheat

[MontyMagpie]

Soy is a complete protein. And soy protein isolate has the same PDCAAS of 1.0 as egg protein and whey protein. Guys.... Do your research, please. (I have been vegan for many years and I am physically fit.)

Also Quinoa is complete protein. It was considered a sacred food by the inca who harvest and planted it with golden tools. Their soldiers rolled it into balls of Quinoa and fat and noted for their strength and endurance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

I'm a pescetarian btw.

[freeheeler]

Brendan Brazier

Rich Roll

both ultra triathletes

Dave Scott 6 time winner Hawaiin ironman

Lance Armstrong now turning Vegan

Timothy Bradley, undefeated boxer

Matt Danzig UFC champion

The list goes on and on

Healthier and fitter than their meat eating rivals

[Broseph82]

Yes, google my name or get the newest edition of Vegan Health and Fitness magazine.

old post is old.....

[itsmejoeyb]

being vegan is the sh*t.

[AlwaysTryin]

being vegan is the sh*t.

Bumping really old threads is ****

[NJR923]

Yes

[Ethetan]

Yeah vegans can be fit sure, anyone can be fit if they run a few miles. The question is one of health, can vegans be healthy? Yes. Check out veganbodybuilding.com

[caitlinpee]

Do I look malnourished?

[BWC101]

yes they can - research Billy Simmonds.

He is a successful vegan bodybuilder and is one of the fittest and healthiest people I have ever met.

[boo99]

Are you finding it hard to stay on the vegan diet? We know you have been trying to follow a strict vegan lifestyle only to face tougher challenges every time. We recommend you rather browse online to find the best vegan personal training. You can rest assured that it will give you the best results.

Brah

Look at post dates here

Originally began 2006 then bumped in 2012

It's been thru 3 Presidents lol