Yup, you read that right! Vegan athletes do exist, actually they don't just exist, they're thriving and many of them find themselves at the top of their game after going vegan.
I was prompted to write today's blog after reading this article by Vegan Food and Living about footballer Calum Ferguson. He had been struggling to stay healthy and while recovering from back surgery, he took some time to reflect and began exploring what he could do to get and stay healthy. He took a few months to transition to a vegan lifestyle but, he has seen considerable gains since then. In the article he admits to being the guy asking about where his protein would come from and talks through the difficulty he faced personally as initially some of his family members didn't "get it." Make sure you check out the article to read Calum's own words.
Calum isn't alone in finding veganism actually improved his athleticism. Have you heard of "the strongest man in Germany", Patrik Baboumian? He was featured in the 2018 documentary Game Changers and is a real-life Hulk. Inspired by helping a bird who had been injured, Patrik started to look at who he was eating and moved to a vegetarian diet where he saw impressive improvement in his weightlifting. He eventually went vegan and has continued to thrive. Since I was already on the Vegan Food and Living website, I found an article about Patrik there as well. You can read the full article here.
Tia Blanco is a professional surfer who grew up vegetarian but went vegan after watching the video Glass Walls and reading The China Study. Tia won the first place Gold medal in the 2015 International Surfing Association (ISA) Open Women's World Surfing Championship and defended her title again 2016.
Interested in body building but think you can't do it as a vegan? Torre Washington has you covered. Just click on his name and check out his website, whoa.
These are just a few vegan athletes who are enjoying the benefits of a vegan lifestyle in their professional careers as well as personally. Each one has seen a significant benefit since going vegan, so, if you've ever wondered, can I get enough protein eating a vegan diet? These athletes (and all other "regular" people who are vegan) are proof that the answer is yes.
Feeling inspired to go vegan after reading a blog or hearing an episode of the podcast but are now wondering what the heck you're supposed to eat or wear or what it all really means?
Check out my Vegan Voyage 12 week one on one coaching program. We go deep. Each week builds upon the last so you're regularly implementing and taking actions where by the end of the 12 weeks you'll be confident in your choice to have adopted a vegan lifestyle, nourish yourself - body, mind, and soul, and address any comments or questions from those in your life who haven't yet made the switch. Get more info here and schedule a free call here to connect with me and see if this program is a good fit.
If you are looking for this kind of help but in a group program, I am pulling that together now to share soon, so book that free call linked above and put "group coaching" in the notes section.
All sessions, group and one on one, are offered via Zoom. In these programs, I have combined my 20+ years navigating life in a non-vegan world with coach training and healing modalities and have pulled it all together to help you become a confident vegan in 90 days, not bad, right?