Pro vegan bodybuilder and founder of bodyhdfitness.com
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’m a vegan bodybuilder and I’m glad to compete and stand for animals rights. Eating on a plant-based diet, I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m not involving myself in any killings of animals. I’m also ISSA Certified Sport Nutritionist and Fitness Trainer, Mad Dogg Athletics Certified SPIN Instructor, and have an AA in Exercise Science. Before I was in the health and fitness field I was in the military for 8 years and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom III and IV. 4 years active United States Marine Corps and 4 years in the United States Navy Reserves. I have been vegan for 1 ½ years and loving every moment of it.
Why do you follow a plant-based approach?
I follow a plant-based because I truly believe that the Earth has everything for us humans to survive and be healthy without filtering nutrients through another animal. Why do I need to participate in killings of millions of animals for my own health. I regret the 25 years that I was eating meat and I believe showing the world through bodybuilding, this is the way I can apologize and give back to the animals which I participated in there death when I was a carnivore.
What benefits have you experienced from making the change?
Overall wellness!!! Here’s my Journey to Veganisim!!!
Upper left frame 2009: 205 pounds, 17% body fat, and carnivore. Bottom Left frame 2011 : 190 pounds, 14% body fat, and pescaterian. Right frame 2012: 173 pounds, 4% body fat, and vegan.
What are your top 3 tips for individuals wanting make a switch/ depend less on animal products?
Tip one: Budgeting your money, becoming vegan will be a little pricey. I had to cut out a lot of extra activities that was not benefiting my health. I had to cut back on going out to restaurants every weekend, canceled my satellite, and quit drinking. Making these cut backs made it possible for me to afford to live healthier.
Tip two: Choose a diet which you think is easier to accomplish step by step. As much that I wanted to go straight cold turkey when I wanted to become vegan, I didn’t. This is why I chose to be pescaterian first. I knew this would be an easier transition for me than going straight cold turkey. While I was pescaterian for 2 years, I was doing a lot of research on how I can stay healthy and keep all my gains being on a plant-based diet. Most individuals don’t succeed this transition because they try going straight to veganism and then become Mal-nurish, because of lack of knowledge.
Tip three: Education, Invest more time reading books on health and fitness. Especially, living on a plant-based lifestyle. Look for documentaries, websites, books, and magazines. The more education you know about being on a plant-based diet the better and more nourish you will be as a vegan.
What is your current training regime?
I usually follow a split routine exercise program:
- Monday: Chest, Abs, Triceps
- Tuesday: Back and Biceps
- Wednesday: Legs
- Thursday: Shoulders and Traps
- Friday: Functional Training “Full Body”
- Saturday: Yoga/Paddle Boarding
- Sunday: Rest Day
Could you give us a sample meal plan for your average day?
6-8 meals a day. It would consist of :Morning: Organic oats, organic brown rice protein shake w/ almonds, peanut butter and almond milk, 2 tsp of truvia or raw sativa. Morning Snack: Almonds and 2 Boca vegan patties on organic brown rice bread, and any type of organic fruit source. Lunch: Organic brown rice pasta w/ Tofurkey sausage and organic tomato sauce and any type of organic vegetable source. Lunch Snack: Almonds, 2 Boca Chik’n patties on Brown Rice Bread, and any type of organic fruit source. Dinner: Special dish I make myself baked in a slow cooking pot. It’s all organic quinoa, mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes, tofu, and a little bit of vegetable broth. Dinner Snack: Organic brown rice protein w/ almonds, peanut butter, almond milk, and 2 tsp of truvia and homemade vegan brownie that I will have occasionally.
What was a major physical/ emotional challenge you faced and how did you triumph over it?
Actually, physical and emotional challenge that I’m facing right now is what I’m going through now. I’m right now in my life trying to accomplish so many goals. School, work, bodybuilding,animal rights, and everyday challenges. Everyday I strive on accomplishing one of these goals. The only way I’m going to be able to triumph over all these challenges are the people that helps supports me and myself. I wake up every morning with my head up and refuse to give up. The road I’m on is extremely difficult but I’m a survivor and will not give up.
What do you value in your life?
I value and applicate God, Family, Friends, and Animals. I value all things in life, because everything is precious to me.
What are 3 empowering beliefs that propel you?
Always think positive.
Never give up on anything you do.
There is always room for improvement.
What is your next goal?
Creating my own business in personal training.health, and fitness. I love helping others and getting other people to there goals. Training is my passion. That’s why I love bodybuilding and I love sharing my knowledge to others so they can live a healthy and happy life.
How would you like to inspire others?
The reason I chose the sport of bodybuilding is so I can prove to the world that people can live be an athlete, stay in shape, and be fully nourish on a plant-based diet with out the harming any other life form.
If there was one thing that you would like to change in the world, what would that be and why is this important to you?
By meeting new people every day, I hope I’ve made a positive change in other people’s heart.
What is the one idea that you can give to others to contribute to a positive change (on a personal level or the world at large)?
The famous golden rule: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.
How are you Evol’ved (along the lines of our manifesto: awaken, connect and inspire)?
Learn from the past and others people mistakes and misfortune. Learn from it and don’t repeat. Learn, Grow, and Evolve!!
What is one of your favorite recipes?
Vegan Cheesecake
1/3 cup Vegan Butter or non-hydrogenated margarine, melted 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Maple syrup 1 Vegan Graham Cracker Crust 1/2 cup, + 1 Tablespoon Truvia ¾ cup plain non-dairy almond yogurt ¼ cup organic all-purpose flour 2 Tablespoons unsweetened almond milk 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 24 oz Tofutti (or similar brand) vegan cream cheese (3, 8oz containers
Really simple:
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and use a hand blender to blend it together, then pour the batter on the graham cracker crust.
Evenly spread the batter along the graham cracker crust.
Place oven on bake and set temperature at 325 degrees and let it bake for 90 mins.
Take the pie out of the oven and let it cool in the refiderator for 24 hours.
Add any toppings which you like for example coconut shreds, strawberries, etc.
How can you be connected?
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