OK. I've been vegan for a little over a year and a half, and vegetarian for about 15 years. I am obviously healthy (not always the case, but I am now). So, I'm kinda getting pissed off with all the negative attitudes people cop when they find out I'm vegan (formerly, when I was vegetarian).
The other day a co-worker, a guy who wants to be a personal trainer, could not wrap his head around me not eating meat or animal product. We're roughly the same size (muscle-wise), yet he has the nerve of asking if I'm getting protein. Obviously I am getting enough protein, I'm not small.
I had to explain to this guy, who claims to know about health an fitness, how proteins work, and that all things living are made up of proteins. I told him that yes, I do take supplements as I am trying to build muscle and require more nutrients than my diet provides (sometimes I eat like crap). I explained that it's not difficult to gain muscle mass as a vegan if you know what you're doing, and where to get the necessary nutrients to stay healthy.
He also seemed surprised when I told him that, aside from the minor throat tickle, I haven't been ill since becoming full-vegan.
I just wish people, especially people involved in fitness and/or nutrition, knew that meat does not equal muscle, and that a person can be perfectly healthy not having to ingest anything coming from an animal.
Drew
The other day a co-worker, a guy who wants to be a personal trainer, could not wrap his head around me not eating meat or animal product. We're roughly the same size (muscle-wise), yet he has the nerve of asking if I'm getting protein. Obviously I am getting enough protein, I'm not small.
I had to explain to this guy, who claims to know about health an fitness, how proteins work, and that all things living are made up of proteins. I told him that yes, I do take supplements as I am trying to build muscle and require more nutrients than my diet provides (sometimes I eat like crap). I explained that it's not difficult to gain muscle mass as a vegan if you know what you're doing, and where to get the necessary nutrients to stay healthy.
He also seemed surprised when I told him that, aside from the minor throat tickle, I haven't been ill since becoming full-vegan.
I just wish people, especially people involved in fitness and/or nutrition, knew that meat does not equal muscle, and that a person can be perfectly healthy not having to ingest anything coming from an animal.
Drew