How to Become a Vegetarian Bodybuilder?

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

If you’re wondering how to become a vegetarian bodybuilder (any form of a plant-based diet), you have come to the right place!

Ready to live a healthier, thinner, more physically fit lifestyle? It’s time to go plant-based.

Professional bodybuilders and athletes often enjoy improved physiques and athletic performance when they make the switch to plant-based diets. Beyond beating PRs and bulking up, there are many other reasons why people decide to make the switch to vegetarianism:

• It’s good for health, energy and fitness levels
• It’s good for the environment.
• It reduces inhumane practices toward animals (i.e. industrialized meat production).

Interested in making the switch to vegetarianism? Read on to learn how to make the transition comfortably and ensure it lasts.

Addressing Concerns About Going Vegetarian

Cutting meat from your diet can be both mentally and physically challenging, even for bodybuilders and athletes. It’s natural to stress about how a plant-based diet will impact your performance. You’ll find yourself fretting about how to get enough protein to build lean muscle, and when a monster workout or competition date looms, you’ll wonder if plants alone can sustain your energy levels enough to succeed.

However, switching to a plant-based diet keeps you in good company within the athletic community. Health organizations around the world, including the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada, endorse vegetarian diets for sports training in their Nutrition & Athletic Performance Position Statement.

Increasing, a number of vegetarian athletes, like Carl Lewis, Jane Welzel, and Brendan Brazier, continue to prove the merit of a vegetarian athlete diet.

Tips to Gradually Transition to a Vegetarian Diet

When you’re ready to try out a new lifestyle it’s natural to want to jump right in. However, that can be a mistake. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, people who attempt to transform themselves into vegetarians overnight are less likely to stick with it for the long term. If you’ve been a meat-eater all your life, a gradual approach may be better.

To get started going vegetarian, try incorporating these eating habits into your weekly routine.

Educate yourself with vegetarian-friendly magazines, websites, and cookbooks.

Make easy modifications to your favorite recipes, replacing meat with beans and vegetables.

Hate veggies? Instead of eating salads, start with fresh green drinks that include stuff you should throw in a salad, especially dark green leafy veggies. This way, you slowly introduce these new foods into your system. Over time your palate/taste will change, and you will crave these kinds of foods.

Plant-based protein powders will easily bridge the gap in your protein needs.

Stir-fries and scrambles: You can make an endless combo of meals by mixing some veggies (broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, spinach, etc.), some protein (quinoa, tofu, tempeh, seitan, etc.), and some spices (turmeric, coconut oil, black pepper, sea salt, etc.), and cooking them up together.

Seek out vegetarian restaurants and try new vegetarian-based ethnic foods

Regularly search for new recipes to keep you excited about you diet

Eat healthy fats for calories. Plant foods you should be eating include avocados, nuts and seeds, and coconut oil.

Making the Transition to Vegetarian: A Timeline.

There’s no reason to rush the process of becoming vegetarian. By following this timeline, you’ll gradually (and painlessly) switch over to a vegetarian diet within a matter of months.

• Weeks 1-2: Start with eliminating meat from only one meal per day for a couple weeks to build momentum.
• Weeks 3-12: In addition to subtracting meat from one meal per day, eliminate all four-legged animals from your diet.
• Weeks 13-24: Subtracting meat from two meals per day, eliminate all four-legged and two-legged animals from your diet.
• Weeks 25-52: Subtract fish from your diet, which means you are now not eating any kind of meat at this point.
• Week 52 and Beyond: If you feel that going vegan is right for you, then spend the next six to 12 months making the transition from vegetarian to vegan.

Vegetarian Diet Guidelines

Ready to start following a vegetarian diet? These meal plans and guidelines are designed to get you started, no matter what your health and fitness goals are.

Standard Baseline Diet

Put simply, a standard baseline diet is what your body is used to before you go vegetarian.

Therefore, it is the starting point from which comparisons can be made. Baseline diet studies are often evaluated in terms of meal frequency, caloric intake, water intake, and protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake.

Once you understand the effects of your current diet, you can determine what your baseline response is and gauge how dietary changes affect your fitness performance.

As an athlete, it’s important to consume more calories at breakfast than lunch, and more at lunch than dinner. This way, you’ll have the energy your need for your workouts and your metabolism will stay active.

It’s also important to spread protein intake throughout the day so your muscles can synthesize it. Recent research conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests limiting protein intake to 20 grams per sitting. (Bodybuilders will need significantly more).

Here’s what an average day our 135lb woman’s diet, with 90 grams of protein and 2,000 calories, should look like (a 225lb man trying to build muscle will almost need twice this):

• Breakfast – 20g protein & 700 calories
• Snack – 10g protein & 100 calories
• Lunch – 20g protein & 500 calories
• Snack – 10g protein & 200 calories
• Dinner – 20g protein & 400 calories
• Snack – 10g protein & 100 calories

“Light” Vegetarian Bodybuilding Meal Plan

If you’re looking to bulk up without gaining too much weight, this meal plan is a smart place to start.

(courtesy of top endurance athlete, Rich Roll)

• Pre-Workout Morning Smoothie: Kale, Beet, Chia seeds, Hemp seeds, Maca, Orange, Flax Seeds, Vega Whole Food Optimizer
• Post-Workout: Coconut water, and cold quinoa w/ coconut or almond milk, berries & Udo’s Oil & Hemp seeds
• Lunch: Salad with mixed veggies & vinaigrette or brown rice, beans & greens, hemp seeds
• Snacks: Vitamix with brown rice / pea / hemp protein, almond milk, cacao, almonds, walnuts.
• Dinner: Lentils over brown rice w/ beet greens & avocado, arugula salad, sweet potatoes
• Dessert: Coconut milk ice cream, Chia seed pudding (or homemade protein bar)
• During workout: On bike – coconut water, vega sport, perpetum. On run – coconut water, Vega Sport, Heed.
• If you want to add a little more “weight” to the meal plan, you can throw a black bean and quinoa veggie burger into the mix.

In Summary

Although most people will benefit from eliminating meat from their diets, athletes and fitness enthusiasts have the most to gain. Transitioning to a vegetarian diet is just as much of a mental mindset as a physical experiment.

Evaluate your current baseline diet and slowly make small changes every day. This is more than just a dietary change; it’s a strong, pure, and sustainable path to lifelong wellness.

As a vegan or vegetarian bodybuilder, it’s important to carefully plan your meals to ensure you reach your nutritional needs and avoid deficiencies which could hinder your strength training and athletic performance.

So long as you have a plan in place, your body will soon be enjoying the long-term benefits of adopting a healthier, more natural diet.

For more ideas on how to become a vegetarian bodybuilder, watch these 2 videos below –

Vegetarian Bodybuilding- Full Day of Eating - Pro Natural Bodybuilder Chris Elkins

 

HIGH PROTEIN VEGAN MEAL PREP | FULL DAY OF EATING

 

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – How to Become a Vegetarian Bodybuilder

 

What is the Ideal Vegan Meal Plan for Putting On Muscle?

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

ANTJUANE SIMS, THE CROSSFIT VEGAN BODYBUILDER

“YOU HAVE TO CHEAT! I’m talking about doing cheat reps. It seems that real growth comes from sacrificing form, just a little, to get those last few reps.”

Name: Antjuane Sims
Occupation: Health and Fitness Educator
City/State/Country: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Age: 41
Height: 5′ 6″
Type: Crossfit (current focus), bodybuilding
Weight: 157

Q: Tell us about the path that led Antjuane Sims to vegan bodybuilding?

I started getting bored with chicken, from purchase to preparation. The texture began to bother me, too.

I didn’t look forward to eating another chicken meal. Besides, meat is way more expensive than vegetables. So instead of chicken, I figured I would change it up a little by eating turkey, goat, and bison.

However, the same thing happened while eating those products.

I got bored eating them, and those products were just as expensive, not to mention I experienced the same uncomfortable stomach issues.

More than purchasing and prepping, I began to notice how my stomach would react when I ate those meat products.

My stomach would get warm inside, and sometimes, I felt like the meat wasn’t breaking down completely.

“Although there is no argument that the smell and taste of meat is good, the fact is, it doesn’t digest well in our system.”

I wanted to make a change.

At the same time, my friend was beginning to experiment with juicing.

I didn’t think I would get enough calories by juicing, but I decided to eliminate meat from my diet and add in the carbs.

A major part of this decision had to do with the many documentaries I watched regarding the effects of meat on our cellular health.

After watching those documentaries, I was convinced that my performance would greatly improve if I eliminated meat from my diet, because my cellular health would improve.

I decided to conduct an experiment on myself before sharing my decision with others.

“I didn’t have bodybuilding in mind when I made the decision to go meatless, but I did want to have better internal health and improved performance in my workouts.”

As a result, I’ve noticed that my strength has increased and my recovery time has improved.

My body feels cleaner on the inside. Making the decision to go meatless did become a bit of a challenge when I finally factored bodybuilding into the equation.

The challenge was what to eat in order to maintain my size or even to put on muscle. Over these past few years, I have been able to slowly figure out what works best for me.

However, in the initial stages of my transition, it was pretty difficult because I didn’t know which foods would be beneficial in achieving my goals. Although I’m still learning, I’ve primarily been eating more complex carbohydrates for size and super foods for nutrients and energy.

Q: Ideal vegan meal plan for putting on muscle:

As I continue to learn, it appears that one of the best things to do is eat complex carbohydrates:

• Sweet potatoes
• Yams
• Quinoa
• Brown pastas
• White potatoes
• Squash
• Oatmeal
• Buckwheat
• Black rice
• Red rice
• Brown rice
• Wild rice

These are my staple superfoods:

• Avocados
• Chia seeds
• Flax seeds
• Black seed
• Goji berries

I’m still learning, too. It’s best to choose foods that you like. In other words, choose what tastes good to you. Usually, the difficulty is with breakfast. For me, I have a smoothie and half cup of cooked buckwheat for breakfast.

In my smoothie, I use:

• Two cups of organic rice milk, or any other nut milk
• 1 frozen banana
• Hemp protein powder
• 2 tablespoons of goji berries
• Teaspoon of black seed
• Teaspoon of turmeric
• Half a stick of cinnamon
• Tablespoon of sunflower seed butter
• Couple of ice cubes

In my cooked buckwheat, I put:

• 3 dates
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower seed butter
• 2 tablespoons of mixed nuts
• Powdered cinnamon

Again, find out what you like to eat, and have that for breakfast.

Some people feel the need to have breakfast food for breakfast, while others can eat lunch and dinner foods for breakfast.

If you are fine with eating lunch and dinner foods for breakfast, then have a sweet potato or yam for breakfast. Add mixed nuts, cinnamon, and kale or chard or spinach or any other green leafy vegetable.

You can also have polenta with kale or spinach or any other leafy green for breakfast, too.

If you are a fan of tofu, you can easily make a tofu scramble for breakfast with whole wheat toast.

“The bottom line is to find out what non-animal based foods you like, and eat from that list.”

It also helps to go online to read various recipes to give you ideas of what to prepare and what foods to eat.

“I don’t think it’s important to eat every three hours as we’ve been taught, but I do believe you should eat when you’re hungry.”

Remember, keep it simple. When you try to overcomplicate it, it becomes overwhelming and you can become easily discouraged. Lastly, don’t be afraid to eat those complex carbohydrates!

Q: Philosophy on supplements:

I believe if one has a nutritional deficiency, it’s a good idea to take quality vegan supplements. For me, that includes creatine and B12. With so many options on the market, you really have to do your homework. I would suggest to stay away from any capsules that are coated with magnesium stearate, as this could be toxic to the digestive system.

Other than that, research the options and find out which ones work best for you. However, by sticking as close to whole food nutrition as possible, you will consume plenty of vitamins and minerals for your body’s needs.

Q: Describe your training regimen:

Working out is an interesting topic. What may work for me may not work for you.

Ultimately, when you work out, you want to be focused, intense, and have a purpose.

“Personally, I change my workout almost every time I train.”

Here’s what that means: the next time I train a certain muscle group, I’ll either do more reps, less reps, change the angle, tempo, etc.

“I even change the amount of time I rest in between sets. The number of reps I perform varies from eight to 20.”

Sometimes I even do 50 reps, depending on my workout program.

I suggest starting with the basic/ traditional muscle group combinations. Those would be chest with triceps, back with biceps, legs with shoulders.

That makes a three-times-a-week workout program.

If you’re looking to put on muscle, make sure the wait is heavy enough where you can only do between eight and 12 repetitions per set. Do a minimum of three sets per muscle group, and try doing four different exercises for the major muscle groups, i.e. chest, back, legs, and shoulders.

For the smaller muscle groups, you can do two sets with higher repetitions, such as 10 to 12. Currently, that is the way I’m training. However, I’m separating my shoulders and legs, so I’m working out four days a week instead of three.

When I work out, I use a slow tempo when I lower the weight. I go for a four-second count in the negative. I have a workout manual, including photos, that I will be releasing later this year with more detailed instruction and explanation of how to get back to the basics of exercise.

Q: What part of your daily routine is the most consistent and has helped you the most?

The most consistent part of my daily routine is prayer. I start the day and end the day with prayer. Acknowledging the one who has given me life, food, protection, and the ability to help others is priority.

If I don’t pray for strength and guidance from the Lord, it’s as if I’m telling Him I can do this on my own, and I know I can’t. It also gives me the opportunity to petition for the well-being of others, as well as ask for His protection over them.

Q: What have you changed your mind about in the past 10 years?

I’ve realized that it’s important to follow your passion. My mind has changed from following/building others’ dreams to fulfilling mine. It doesn’t matter what area of interest; find what interests you and go for it.

I believe more people would be happy if they did something that they were passionate about, instead of doing something just because they have to pay the bills. Pray for guidance, and follow your calling. We all have a purpose, we all have talent, so find yours and go for it!

Q: Fun fact most people don’t know about Antjuane Sims?

I had my very first victorious Muay Thai fight match in Thailand versus a local Thai fighter. That was one of my most incredible traveling experiences as well. Thai people are incredibly warm, kind, and hospitable.

In fact, my favorite food is Thai food. When I was there, I thoroughly enjoyed all the food I ate. One of the benefits of living in LA is that there are plenty of Thai food restaurants. It’s great to have so many options.

Q: What three pearls of wisdom would you tell your 18-year-old self?

I would tell myself that I don’t have to have the answer for everything or have to do everything. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know” and “I need help.”

I believe as teenagers, we tend to think we have all the answers to everything in life. The “shocking” reality is that we don’t. Also, as an athletic teenager, I felt that I didn’t need any help in carrying out physical tasks. I felt that if I was strong enough to do it, I could do it on my own.

“At this stage in my life, I know that it’s okay not to know something and it’s okay to ask for help.”

Another would be to be friendly even to people who are mean to you or mistreat you. Fighting fire with fire is not always the best solution. Kindness quenches fire.

Q: How much sleep do you get? How do you relax?

This is my area of defeat. I don’t sleep enough. Sometimes I get between four to six hours of sleep. There are times, though, when I get a good seven, but that hasn’t been too often lately. I relax by laying down during the day if I get a chance. I call that my recovery session.

Q: What tips can you share that have led to your success in bodybuilding? 

YOU HAVE TO CHEAT! I’m talking about doing cheat reps. It seems that real growth comes from sacrificing form, just a little, to get those last few reps.

Having a training partner is great! They can help you cheat with better form. In life, it’s the opposite. Cheating is a no go. Again, having a quality character that is shaped by the discipline of committing to a workout program, overcoming the obstacle of giving up, focusing in on getting the job done, and helping others in the process can all be gained from working out.

Q: Where do you think vegan bodybuilding is going in the future?

I believe that door is opening. I’m excited to see the attention “healthy eating” is getting, and I believe more people will adopt that lifestyle. I can see it making an impression on non-vegan bodybuilders once they gain the proper understanding and education. It took me a while to wrap my head around it, but knowledge is power.

For more ideas on the ideal vegan meal plan for putting on muscle, watch this video - EASY HIGH PROTEIN MEAL PREP 2020 | LOSE WEIGHT & BUILD MUSCLE!

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Female Bodybuilding Trends and Myths

 

Female Bodybuilding Trends - WHY WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING IS TRENDING

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

Women’s bodybuilding should be about beauty.

But some who are serious competitors are starting to look like a beast. How did we get here?

To be clear, I’m using the word “beauty” in a gender-neutral sense here.

We can all agree that sunken-in eyes, “horse-face,” and a body riddled with popping veins isn’t exactly attractive. On a man or woman. And when you lose touch with the basic affinity for beauty, you get the bizarre aesthetics we are accustomed to seeing.

These days, women can compete in bikini, figure, fitness, physique, and bodybuilding categories. The posing and related requirements are different for each, but the primary difference is muscular size.

I’ll get back to that point in a minute.

I’m writing this, in part, to respond to an article posted on T-Nation “The Death of Women’s Bodybuilding.”

T-Nation has solid articles on bodybuilding, and frankly, these guys know what they’re talking about. That said, they didn’t bring up how bodybuilding, especially bodybuilding for women, has a broader inclusion of demographic.

Traditionally, bodybuilding only referred to those who trained in the gym day and night in pursuit of huge muscles.

“The term ‘women’s bodybuilding’ is a little outdated perhaps. I think women would respond better to the term ‘women’s body sculpting.’ That basically covers all women in all the different competitive categories.” –Debbie Baigrie, Owner, Natural Muscle Magazine

Guys like me who train hard (recreationally bodybuild), and don’t necessarily care to look like Arnold can justifiably call themselves bodybuilders.

Likewise, women who are going after it in the gym pursuing a toned physique can also justifiably call themselves bodybuilders. Technically, we are “building our bodies” by adding lean muscle, we are just not as extreme about it.

So what’s going on here, and why is bodybuilding/fitness becoming so widespread (specifically with women)?

Simply stated, bodybuilding expressed in a healthy and balanced fashion is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Other reasons:

The new trimmed down physique look is simply a less extreme version of strictly mass-building bodybuilding. It tends not to promote the use of anabolics and drugs the same way the older version does. For obvious health and aesthetic reasons, this is more appealing to a larger number of women.

Camaraderie: many women who are in their 30s and 40s want to feel sexy again and reinvent themselves after having children or going through a divorce, for example, so they are entering bikini competitions with their friends.

Confidence in the ability to handle problems and life in general. Little things don’t seem to matter as much.

Added sex appeal.

Increased focus and discipline.

Besides meditation, working out is one of the most effective ways to relieve stress.

Since we are discussing women’s bodybuilding, I would like to bring your attention to two of the most misunderstood topics on the subject…

1. Women Who Lift Heavy Do Not Get Bulky

I feel compelled to address the #1 myth in women’s bodybuilding, that weight training makes you bulky and masculine. This is generally a lazy-person’s excuse not to get in the gym and get in shape.

Every woman I’ve ever trained in gym, I trained like I would a man: intense sessions with heavy weight.

The result? A sexy-toned physique. Each and every time. Not once did they get bulky.

Women do not naturally produce as much testosterone as males do.

It is scientifically impossible for a woman to gain huge amounts of muscle mass by training hard in the gym.

Yes, it seems some of the female bodybuilders showcased in magazines suggest differently.

The reality is they are naturally more built like a man (genetics) and/or they had a little help (anabolics) to achieve their results.

Regardless my hat goes off to their insane work ethic because you don’t look that jacked without spending countless hours in the gym. Again, extraordinarily spectacular genetics doesn’t hurt, either.

Don’t take my word for it. Go to your gym and find a handful of women who have the kind of physique you want and ask them how they got it. I’m willing to bet that nine out of 10 times they train hard with weights.

2. Women Who Don’t Lift Heavy Rarely Get Toned

Another pervasive myth in women’s fitness is that women should lift light weights and/or only do cardio to lose fat, and get lean and toned.

The bottom line here is if you only do cardio, both your muscle and fat would be burned for fuel. Genetically gifted women aside, those who only concentrate on cardio will have a very hard time achieving the sexy-toned look they want.

Lifting very light weights at high repetitions to burn fat and get toned? Not going to happen.

Muscle responds to progressively harder resistance, and if the resistance is too light, then it won’t activate the body’s inclination to change in any real way.

Why do you think women’s bodybuilding is becoming so popular?

Please contact us here so we can share your ideas with the rest of the tribe.

Reem from Canada writes:

I thought I’d respond to this because I had no choice but pursuing this path of body-toning, body-building to be able to make it through the day and the week (literally).

Each case is unique but here is mine:
– I’m 43, single parent, with mentally demanding job in high tech. I look after my elderly parents who live down the street and I drive an hour and half daily.
– I’m vegetarian who succumbed to eating beef for a year and now back to being vegetarian. I got too sick from meat after 15 years of being vegetarian.
– I had an awful accident three years ago. I could not take any pain killers or anti-inflammatories due to conflict with my HBP medication.
– I’ve always been a little chubby and tried all kind of natural diets.

My goals:  physical strength, energy, pain control, and stress relief.

My solution: Bodybuilding and strength training. My accident pain control relies completely on stretching, muscle building, and limited cardio. I go to my trainer sleepy, weak, and in pain – I come out energetic, strong, and pain free.

Ironically, all my life I tried trimming down by losing weight. I managed to drop a couple of sizes when I gained 15 lbs. of lean muscle, LOL.

Because of bodybuilding and strength training, I owe many smiles with my child and ability to have a relatively active life with her to my kinesiologist/bodybuilding trainer. I now also have the physical strength to help my dad get up when he needs it.

For many busy women, bodybuilding might save our lives.

Thank for the opportunity to comment on this. I’m sharing my story to help out others out there who are seeking answers to fatigue.

For topics related to female bodybuilding trends, watch these 2 videos below

Ripped: Inside Women’s Bodybuilding

 

IS IT WORTH IT ? - Documented journey about a female bodybuilder

 

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Female Bodybuilding Trends and Myths

 

Tips from a Professional Female Bodybuilder - GETTING AFTER IT AND GOING PRO

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

“since I have made the transition [becoming vegetarian], I have gotten stronger and it actually helped me build muscle mass.”

Name: Emilee Peterson
Occupation: GNC, Metro Cop in training
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Age: 29
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 145 lb.
Type of Training: Female Bodybuilding (high-intensity low-rep heavy weights)

Q: Tell us the story of how/why you decided to go pro as a female bodybuilder.

Being a professional female bodybuilder … Wow, that was a dream of mine since I decided I wanted to compete. I knew that I had to compete in an armature show and place top two to be able to compete in a national show where top two go pro.

I competed in my first show in November of 2012. I placed third. I was happy with that placing. First show and getting third was amazing for me. I then decided I would hop right into another prep and try to go for a show in March of 2013.

I ended up hurting my shoulder and needing surgery, and that took me out for the majority of the year. Around November of 2013, I started back in the gym, trying to get myself back into the routine of things.

I talked with my coach at the time and decided I would do a back-to-back show. I would compete in August and November. So he got me ready. I placed third for the August show in Colorado; I wasn’t happy about that placing since I was only one who was the most conditioned.

“I didn’t let it get to my head, I still kept the intensity up and came in fuller and bigger for the November show, where I won the whole show. I won my class and the overall!”

Now I had the fire in me to compete in a national show!

I picked Pittsburgh in September 2015. I gave that show my everything.

I have never wanted something so bad in my life. I seriously ate, drank, and breathed that show.

Everything I did was for that show. Nothing else mattered.

Then the show rolled around. It was the longest day of my life.

It was a one-day show where I did pre-judging in the morning and the routine in the evening.

I ended up going on stage for pre-judging at 5:30 p.m. when the night show should have been starting. That day had bikini and physique going.

I was moved right away to the middle where I smiled so big.

“Nothing could take my smile away.”

Then night show – this is the fun part, the routines.

Physique started at 10:30 p.m.

I was backstage, since the night show was moving fast and my nerves set in.

I didn’t think I could finish the show.

I was eating and eating, trying to get energy, but it didn’t seem to work.

Once it was time for me to head to the stage, I crossed my fingers and just hoped I wouldn’t pass out.

But then I watched the girls in front of me, and I just let myself go and had fun.

There was nothing I could do now, I just needed to have fun. I worked hard, and now it was time to show the judges who I was through my routine. I killed my routine! They called all of us to the side of the stage, and they started to call the numbers as the girls left to go receive their trophy.

I couldn’t believe they said my name and said I was a new pro! I placed second and I couldn’t be happier!!! The girls I competed against looked so amazing. Now Olympia is my next goal.

Q: What were the steps you took to transition to plant-based nutrition?

I first wanted to know all the sources of protein I needed to be eating so I wouldn’t lose the muscle I had gained. I found a few I really liked, like tofu, silk tofu, and sun warrior protein powder; I do have egg white once a day so I don’t [eat] a lot of tofu in a day.

I also looked at complete protein foods like quinoa. I found I really like that post-workout.

I really just read everything I could about how vegetarian athletes broke down their diets. Some were fighters, so that helped me get an idea for when I prep for a show and I can gauge my off-season diet.

Q: Staple post-workout meal recipe (or breakfast).

I will have to put my breakfast, since that is my favorite one! One scoop of raw fit mocha protein powder, 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and stevia, and a nice tablespoon of almond butter.

Q: What does your training look like these days?

Right now, since it is my off-season until March, I train heavy low reps, trying to build some muscle so I can come a little bigger and more well-rounded. I train sometimes seven days a week if I am feeling good.

“I listen to my body. If I feel tired, I rest. If I am feeling good, I’ll train.”

Q: Favorite three exercises, and why?

This one is hard. I love all kinds, but I would say dead lifts are a favorite. I can show that girls are strong too and can pull some serious weight and still look like a girl.

Second would be anything for shoulders. I get a pump so fast, and I loovveee when my shoulders look like baby pumpkins! Thirdly, I would say incline dumb bell press. This is a strong point for me, so I like to toss around heavy weights.

Q: Tell me a story of the mentor who played a key role in building confidence in yourself.

This is something I still struggle with, to be very honest. When I was younger, I had a really bad eating disorder. I never thought I looked good enough for the “hot” guys. I have a great support system that helps me keep a positive mental state.

I have days where I think I look good and feel great, and then I have days where I don’t think I look good or have enough muscle. Sad to say, I have more low days then high days, since it’s hard for me to accept a compliment from someone.

I think they are just trying to be nice. So I still need to work on this area in my life.

Q: What would your friends/colleagues say you’re really good at?

I would say being dedicated. Once I have something in my head I want, I will go for it. I’m an all-in or all-out kind of person, no grey area for me.

Q: What is your most meaningful tattoo, and tell us the story behind it?

I would say my right sleeve. It’s Japanese style art. My grandma was into Japanese stuff and really got me into it, so it’s a little dedication to her memory.

Q: Fun fact most people don’t know about you?

I’m a big kid. I love cartoons; Dragon Ball Z is my favorite.

And I’m absolutely terrified of roller coasters.

Q: What unpopular opinions do you hold?

Being vegetarian would be something a lot of people I know don’t agree with.

They think I will lose size and be weak.

But since I have made the transition, I have gotten stronger and it actually helped me build muscle mass.

Q: What three pearls of wisdom would you tell your 18-year-old self?

It’s okay to eat as long as you’re eating right.

Stay in school.

And don’t try to fit in with the crowd.

Q: What have you changed your mind about in past 10 years?

“To live in the moment, for we are not guaranteed the next one.”

I used to stress over everything. But I have learned that you need to live for now and focus on what you can do right now to better yourself and your situation.

For more tips from a professional female bodybuilder, watch this video - MUSCLE BUILDING 101: The TRUTH You Need To Know

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Tips from a Professional Female Bodybuilder