Why athletes are going plant-based with vegan bodybuilder and bestselling author Robert Cheeke

This conversation is with Robert Cheeke, also known as the “Godfather of Vegan Bodybuilding.” Robert grew up on a farm in Oregon and adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15, weighing just 120 pounds. Fast forward to today, and Robert is a two time natural bodybuilding champion and author of several books, the latest being the New York Times bestseller, The Plant-Based Athlete. This is a fun conversation that is packed with practical information. It is for any athletes out there curious about all the hype surrounding plant-based diets these days or just for anyone passionate about health and fitness.

We cover:

• How Robert went from a skinny farm kid to a champion vegan bodybuilder
• Why a plant-based diet is beneficial for athletes
• Why recovery is essential and how diet plays a role
• If an athlete can get all their protein from plants
• Plant protein vs animal protein for muscle building
• Whole foods vs protein supplements
• If there are nutrient deficiencies plant-based athletes should be concerned about
• Tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet
• How to deal with common issues when eating more plants
• What Robert learned from interviewing many elite plant-based athletes

If you would like to connect with Robert, you can find him on Instagram: @robert.cheeke and be sure to check out his website, veganbodybuilding.com Resources mentioned during this episode:

• Book: The Plant Based Athlete
• Book: Shred It!
• Book: Plant Based Muscle
• Film: Forks over Knives
• Resource: No Meat Athlete
• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020: Is a vegan diet detrimental to endurance and muscle strength?
• Sports Med. 2021: High-protein plant-based diet versus a protein matched omnivorous diet to support resistance training adaptations: a comparison between habitual vegans and omnivores

That’s all for now! Be sure to subscribe and if you are enjoying the show, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review!

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Theme music: Tyler Gaudon & audio editing and processing: Wyatt Pavlik

*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*