Tips for vegan athletes, and others..

I was thinking about my diet and how it has developed over time, here is an accumulation of my thoughts and general tips for vegan athletes, or people flirting with a plant-based diet. 

First and foremost, do your research and develop an understanding of the basics for health and wellness. Eliminate fast food, minimize your sugar intake, and learn to identify processed foods, and eliminate as many as possible. Oreo’s are vegan, but that doesn't mean they are good for you. I've been here trust me. When I first became vegan I ate a lot of processed foods such as frozen vegan pizzas, burritos, ice cream, sugar filled juices, and potato chips. The more involved I became with nutrition and understanding my body, the better my diet became. I use to track through the whole grocery store, now I go directly to the produce section and spend a considerable amount of time there. I also schmooze with the grains section, and the refrigeration unit for my almond milk. Point being, I began consuming more whole foods and cut the junk! 

Once you have developed a general understanding of healthy food, begin adding more vegetables and fruit into the mix. This will increase your energy,  and overall health. If done correctly you will provide your body with the proper nutrients to function and will no longer need a multivitamin. Athletes that perform on a plant based diet are not much different than any other athlete. We choose plant-based foods as an alternative to animal products and receive the same nutritional intake to fuel our body. 

Discover an alternative protein source such as spiralina, TVP, pea protein, as well as grains and veggies. Sun Warrior protein makes a great raw protein powder. I have a protein shake after my workouts with a scoop of glutamine to support muscle growth and recovery.

Develop a plan or a schedule for eating. What are your goals? Develop a plan and determine what your body will require for fuel. Study your macro-nutrients, and what to eat pre and post workout. There are some great vegan books out there such as Thrive by Brendan Braizer, and Vegan Body Building by Robert Cheeke. Follow forms, blogs, and websites to develop a data base of knowledge to build and develop your diet.

Most importantly listen to your body! No one is going to know your body better than yourself. If dairy upsets your stomach stop consuming it! Do you feel swollen? It’s probably because your consuming large amounts of sodium, cut the processed food and stop eating out! Are you trying to loose weight, but you keep gaining weight? Check your diet, you may be consuming to many calories, or not burning enough energy for the amount of food you are consuming.