Some meat-eaters may still be, even in 2019, under the illusion that a vegan diet is fundamentally lacking in protein. To help blow this misconception out of the water, Totally Vegan Buzz takes a look at seven top vegan bodybuilders who are proving the endless potential of plant-power.

Erin Fergus

Erin Fergus was titled as the Women’s Physique Pro by OCB (Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders) in 2017.

She decided to stop eating meat after high-school graduation when she saw a PETA campaign. She eliminated dairy, fish and eggs in 2007 and has been a strict vegan since 2013.

Fergus, who also loves vegan baking, argues that a vegan diet helps her to complete heavy training load and recover quicker than non-vegan bodybuilders.

She told Viva La Vegan: “This is me grinding away every day so I can put a winning vegan physique on stage and make other bodybuilders question how it can be done. Better yet, it makes them realise there’s a better way than having animals die for meals that can barely handle eating.”

Nimai Delgado

Vegan International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness pro Nimai Delgado has never eaten meat in his life.

He went fully vegan for ethical reasons, and said in an interview with Muscle and Fitness: “Immediately after I went vegan, I could feel a huge difference as far as my recovery time and energy levels. Now I have less inflammation, muscle soreness, everything. I’ve never looked back.

“There’s a huge misconception that you can’t build muscle without animal protein.”

Korin Sutton

Vegan Koring Sutton is a pro bodybuilder, personal trainer and health coach. He became vegan after listening to a speech from activist Gary Yourofsky. 

He said: “I’m vegan because I truly love life. Each living specie on our planet is amazing and has a complexed and beautiful life to live, and sure enough can experience the world much like we do, to our surprise, which can include thriving or suffering.”

Sutton’s digital cookbook ‘Where is the protein being vegan?’ offers vegan recipes suitable for bodybuilding.

Sutton recommends Trader Joe’s Extra Firm Tofu, Tempeh, Beyond Meat Chicken Grilled Strips and Gardein Meatless Meatballs as good sources of protein for a vegan diet.

Laurel Fredette

Fredette was 16 when she stopped eating meat, and turned vegan at the age of 21. She was woken up to the horrors of the dairy industry by animal rights activism on social media.

Fredette told Vegetarian Bodybuilding: “Oddly enough, seeing posts about the dairy/egg industry and how it was all connected to the meat industry made me really question my lifestyle.

“I felt like a hypocrite for calling myself an animal lover but still supporting these companies that were directly connected to the meat industry, so I cut out all animal products from my diet and finally felt clean.

“I am so grateful for social media and activists on these sites showing the world (and me!) the truth.”

Torre Washington

Torre Washington has been a vegetarian since birth and became vegan in 1998. He champions the benefits of a muscular body built solely on plant power, without any supplements.

Washington told Great Vegan Athletes: “My sudden switch to vegan came out of wanting to not be a hypocrite as a Rasta who professes to live off the land. Some Rastas still consume fish and even chicken, I wanted no part of that and as such a new vegan arose not knowing that there was a term for this lifestyle back in 1998.”

Billy Simmonds

Australian professional natural bodybuilder Billy Simmonds is also a powerlifter and martial artist. He won Mr. Natural Universe in 2009 and holds multiple Black-belts in martial arts.

Simmonds told Vegan Easy: “Vegan bodybuilding is not only possible, its optimal.

“Within three years from first lifting weights properly and walking on a Bodybuilding stage as a novice, I had won Mr. Universe and become a Pro Bodybuilder. Steroids? Meat? Not a chance.”

Simmonds is a passionate advocate of a vegan lifestyle, and told Viva La Vegan: “Each and every person who decides to be vegan makes a massive difference.

“From literally saving animals from suffering and death, to improving their health and the environmental benefits – being vegan means seeing the bigger picture and saying I’m going to do what I can and take a stand.”

Simmonds loves eating fruit, veggies and whole foods and believes that a vegan lifestyle makes him feel clean, energised, humble, and empathetic.

Dominick Thompson

Dominick Thompson has been vegan for two years and hasn’t eaten meat for 12 years due to respect for animals, and a belief that humans are not designed to eat them.

He told Badass Vegan: “We do not have fangs or claws.  Without the use of machinery and technology, we are not able to hunt and kill another animal with our bare hands.  So what makes us feel we deserve to consume another life form? It just doesn’t make any logical sense to me.”

He used to believe that consuming dairy did not cause harm to any animals. However, he soon realised this wasn’t true and turned 100% vegan.

He said: “The cruelty and torture that can be involved is just as bad as the slaughtering. Nothing against vegetarians, I was one myself at one point, but continuing to consume dairy products is still contributing to animal cruelty. It’s that simple.”

Thompson is a big advocate for the physical health benefits of a vegan diet. He added: “I am able to train and physically perform four times a day. That is true endurance, and I love it.”

• Read: A boy was terrified about telling his mum he’s turning vegan, and the support he received is inspiring

What’s your approach to vegan health and fitness? Tell us in the comments section below!

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