“Discovering the gym
changed my life. It became my new coping mechanism, and instead of being
harmful and negative, it help me heal myself physically, mentally, and
emotionally.”
Name: Simone Collins
Occupation: Graphic Designer for the Arnold Classic Australia and Dohertys Gym
City/State/Country: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Age: 28
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 128 lbs.
Training: CrossFit and bodybuilding
Website: www.simicollins.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/simivegan
Instagram: @simi_collins
Q: What are your
personal passions outside of fitness?
I love music and art. I
secretly love to sing, and although I haven’t done it for ages, I love drawing.
I am also a bit of a nerd – I love Anime, playing games, watching or reading
fantasy/sci-fi.
Q: What is the biggest
obstacle you have had to overcome in your life?
Beating anxiety and depression. I was in a dark place in my late
teens/early 20s. I really struggled to find a way to cope with my emotions and
mental state. My coping mechanisms were harmful and negative, including
self-harm and eating disorders.
Discovering the gym changed my
life. It became my new coping mechanism, and instead of being harmful and
negative, it help me heal myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. It gave
me self-confidence, motivation and a healthy relationship with food.
Q: What was the hardest
part of going vegan for you?
I didn’t find it hard at all! I
was vegetarian for 10 years before I went vegan, so it was really easy to substitute
eggs with tofu, and whey with plant-based protein, which was really
the only animal products I was eating.
“For anyone making the
switch, I suggest keeping your diet as close as you can to what you are used
to, and simply making substitutes to the animal products in your meals.”
Q: What are your top three
tips for women who want to compete?
Be mentally ready
– competition prep is as much a mental test as it is a physical endeavor!
Don’t crash diet!
If you feel you have to drop your calories so low, or do tons of cardio to
get lean in time, you’re probably not ready for the show. Slow down
and prepare for the next one, there’s no hurry, competitions are run all
the time!
Just have fun! Competition prep is hard, but the
challenge is extremely exciting and there’s no better feeling than being
on stage in your best shape!
Q: What does your
daily meal plan offseason look like?
My diet varies a bit,
especially now that I’m not prepping for a show. I tend not to count calories
or macros in this time and eat more
intuitively, to give myself a break from the regiment of competition prep. Here’s an example of
my meal plan:
Breakfast: Huge bowl of oats with protein powder and berries topped with
cinnamon and ginger
Lunch: 200g tofu,
tempeh, seitan, lentils, beans or chickpeas (protein and iron
source!) 1-2 roast potatoes or a cup of rice or quinoa (carb source) and unlimited
non-starchy vegetables or raw salad, topped with nutritional yeast (b12)
Himalayan salt (for iodine) and a splash of sauce (usually no added sugar
barbecue, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salsa or pasta
sauce)
Snack: 4 rice cakes made into sandwiches with 1
chopped banana, fruit puree spread on each one
and topped with cinnamon
Before bed:
Plant-based protein mousse (just mix in less water or nut milk!) and
flaxmeal (omega 3)
Throughout the
day: A couple of cups or tea or coffee with almond milk. I tend to snack
if and when I’m hungry. I try to eat natural whole foods most of the time.
Sometimes I like to have a treat here and there, like some mock meat, veggie
burgers, vegan pizza, fries, chocolate, lollies etc. I keep this pretty
minimal though.
Q: Philosophy on supplements and which ones you take?
B12 is crucial for vegan
bodybuilders. I manage to maintain high B12 levels simply eating nutritional
yeast, however if you’re low, I would recommend a supplement or even
injections. Sports aren’t always necessary, but personally I feel they assist
my training.
Q: Describe your
training regiment.
At the moment I am doing mostly
CrossFit.
We start the class generally
working strength or a particular lift, then we do a WOD (which is usually high
intensity work for time or reps).
We usually have an upper-body
focused day, followed by a lower body day, then a “skills day” where we work
more on strength and technique.
“I love the CrossFit
training style, you develop a great skill base, it keeps you very fit, and it’s
heaps of fun!”
I usually do
CrossFit 4-5 times a week, and a squat-only day (as I am working on
increasing my squat at the moment).
If I do 4 days of CrossFit, I
also do an arms/shoulders/chest day in the gym. I also stretch and
practice basic gymnastics holds.
Q: If you have to
pick only three exercises, what would they be and why?
Can’t go wrong with the “Big 3”
in powerlifting! They require the use of multiple muscle groups and I believe
you could keep very fit and strong, and even build a decent physique, just
doing these 3 lifts.
Q: What are the three
biggest trends you see in fitness right now?
Fasted cardio: Seems to work
for some, personally it makes me feel gross. I hate it so I never do it!
Fitness Model Competitions: It
feels like every other girl in the gym is getting ready for her first
“Fitness Model” competition, which is great, however I hope they are all doing
it for the right reasons, and are mentally prepared as well as physically. I
often notice these girls have not been training very long. I even met one that
had never been to a show, and didn’t even know what federation she had signed
up for!
Sometimes I think these girls
are pushed into competing by their coaches, or want to do a competition just
because it’s the in thing to do.
Nutella: I don’t understand why
everyone is so obsessed with it, it drives me nuts!
Q: What advice do you
have for someone who wants to try a plant-based diet?
“I think the hardest part
from a bodybuilding perspective, is trusting that you can still get the same
results without animal products.”
But there are plenty of
athletes who prove that it’s completely possible, not only to maintain muscle,
but to gain muscle or to get lean and shredded for
a competition without meat or dairy.
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.”
“A few years ago, I changed
my viewpoint on a number of popular and controversial topics, including protein
consumption, supplement use, and my overall views about the sport of
bodybuilding.”
Robert Cheeke is responsible
for creating one of the first plant-based fitness websites in history,
and has over 20 years’ experience as a vegan athlete. It’s pioneers like him that
have made it possible for bodybuilders, athletes, and gym rats like me to wake
up to a healthier path of fitness.
Robert and I agree almost
entirely on the topic of bodybuilding nutrition.
We both believe that
a supplement-free, whole-food, plant-based diet is optimal.
The only difference between in
our philosophies is that he advocates a low-protein diet across the board.
“Whereas, I think some
individuals may need more protein based on genetics, fitness goals, etc.”
That said, I try to stay open
and remain willing to learn more.
Hell, I used to think that
eating exuberant amounts of meat was the only path to packing on muscle
and now I own a website called VegetarianBodybuilding.com.
It’s nice knowing that a guy
like Robert is traveling the globe, spreading the good word about our
lifestyle, and bringing us together.
Our tribe is much stronger
because of him without question. I also share and respect his belief in
consistency and creating positive habits.
You will certainly have an
opportunity to learn a lot from him in this interview!
Q: What does your morning ritual look like (first 30-60 minutes)?
When I wake up, I cuddle with
my little Chihuahua, Benny, for a few minutes before using the bathroom and
brushing my teeth. I then check my email, Facebook, and Twitter from my phone
as I wake myself up. Once I’m up, I take Benny out for a walk and then make my
way to the kitchen for some fruit.
I usually grab a handful of bananas and a bottle of yerba mate or glass
of water, and fire up my laptop and start working for the day. My girlfriend,
Karen, makes a bowl of oatmeal with fruit and walnuts and checks for book and
clothing orders that came in during the night to prepare packages to be shipped
out.
I sign books if necessary and
then settle into social media work, promoting my Vegan Bodybuilding &
Fitness brand from my laptop in my home office. That covers my first hour upon
waking.
Q: What key
rituals/practices do you try to maintain at all costs, even while you
travel?
One of the rituals I am very
proud of is my daily commitment to completing more than 100 push-ups and
crunches per day. I have not missed a day performing at least 100 of each since
August 16, 2013. I average about 145 push-ups and 285 crunches completed per
day.
“Regardless of where I am,
what time zone or country, I do these exercises every single day. I believe in
consistency and creating positive habits, and this is my longest-running
current daily practice.”
Q: Who were/are your
mentors in life? Tell us about them and why.
When I look back at my mentors
over the years, the people who stand out are my high school psychology of
success teacher, Eric Dazey; my high school soccer coach, Jon Bullock;
America’s Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine; my older sister, Tanya;
and most recently, Dr. T. Colin Campbell.
Mr. Dazey helped me create
formulas for success, and his leadership transformed my academic performance
during an important time in my life, when I was a freshman in high school
struggling to adjust academically.
I just bumped into Mr. Dazey in
my hometown in July 2015, and it was one of the highlights of my summer.
“Coach Bullock taught me to
demand excellence and work hard to achieve meaningful goals. He challenged me
to become a leader on my team and in my community.”
I just saw him in a TEDx video
a couple of weeks ago, giving a motivational speech about creating a
compassionate world. I’m proud to call him a friend and mentor.
“Prefontaine showed me what
the human body is capable of when you give everything you have to your sport
and follow your passion fully.”
Steve “Pre” Prefontaine was the
athlete I looked up to above all others. He died before I was born, but his
legacy impacted me more than anyone else and shaped the way I would approach my
own athletic performance for the rest of my life – with reckless abandon and
disciplined hard work.
My older sister, Tanya,
introduced me to the vegan lifestyle back in 1995 and has been a
continual role model for me ever since. It was her leadership that changed
my life forever and influenced the paths I would take and dreams I would
pursue.
Lately, Dr. T. Colin Campbell
has been one of my greatest role models, impacting the way I look at food,
health, and the intellectual honesty that is part of a public discussion I now
have about the whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.
I am honored to be an annual
featured speaker on the Holistic Holiday at Sea Vegan-friendly Cruise with Dr.
Campbell and other leaders.
Q: What is something
you believe in that other people usually think is crazy/different (besides
vegan-related topics)?
One thing that is a little
different about me is that I still write handwritten thank you cards on a
regular basis.
When I offer online contests,
giveaways, and incentive prizes, I include a handwritten thank you card with
each package I ship out. I sent out more than 500 personal thank you cards in
2014.
I leave handwritten thank you
notes for the cleaning staff in motels and hotels, along with a cash tip, and I
even include thank you cards when I pay bills via check in the mail. I feel
like handwritten notes are a lost art these days, but it is something I enjoy
doing.
“Based on the feedback I’ve
received over the years, the thank you cards are greatly appreciated by the
recipients, and it brings a smile to their face and joy to their day. That’s
ultimately why I do it.”
Q: What have you
changed your mind about in the past 10 years?
A few years ago, I changed my
viewpoint on a number of popular and controversial topics, including protein
consumption, supplement use, and my overall views about
the sport of bodybuilding.
For many years, I was an
advocate and promoter of a high-protein diet. I believed it was necessary for muscle growth and synonymous with the sport
of bodybuilding.
In 2012, I took Dr. T. Colin
Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certification Course through Cornell
University, and based on what I learned, I adopted a relatively low-protein
diet. As a result of that course, I also decided to give up use of all
supplements aside from vitamin B12.
My views of the mainstream
sport of bodybuilding had been waning for years, and the obsession with
animal-based supplements among the mainstream bodybuilding community was
another turnoff.
As a result, I became a lesser
fan of the sport of bodybuilding than I had been for years.
“I appreciate the art of
weight training and building one’s physique and all the hard work that goes
into it, but supporting mainstream competitive bodybuilding is becoming more
challenging for me since I disagree with the animal-based diet and supplements
that are so prevalent in the sport.”
I am now into my fourth year on
a low-protein, supplement-free, whole-food, plant-based diet, focusing on promoting vegan bodybuilding within a mainstream
bodybuilding culture.
“I’m in my 20th year as a vegan athlete, and I am as strong now as I ever was
when I was using supplements and consuming copious amounts of protein.”
Today, I follow a 70/15/15 approach,
consuming approximately 70 percent of my calories from whole-food carbohydrates
and 15 percent of each proteins and fats. I prefer to promote the general
fitness lifestyle over competitive bodybuilding, as fitness appeals to far more individuals.
I have also become an expert on
fat loss and muscle growth with a high-carbohydrate, low-protein, whole-food, plant-based diet from my years of
experience following this approach and writing about it extensively in my
latest book, “Shred It!”
Q: What would your
friends/colleagues say you’re really good at?
My friends and colleagues would
probably say that I am good at leading by example:
Released another
bestselling book about the whole-food, plant-based athlete lifestyle in 2014
I run the largest
vegan athlete social media pages on the Internet
As a result of those efforts, I
believe many friends would say I lead by example from putting in the work to
create projects I believe in.
Q: What would your
naysayers say you’re bad at?
I believe naysayers would say
I’m bad at building muscle as a vegan by comparing me
to mainstream steroid-using bodybuilders. They might also say that I am bad at
running my website and that I’m not very good at responding to emails.
I have 700 unread emails in my
main email account, and I run an out-of-date-looking website, so I would agree
with the criticism, and I actively work hard to improve in many areas that I
currently struggle to thrive in.
Q: What would you tell
your 18-year-old self?
If I could go back in time, I
would tell my 18-year-old self to spend more time in school. Though I have
become successful in many areas, both personally and professionally, I never
went to a traditional college or university, and I don’t have a degree in
anything.
I relied on hard work to get
where I am today, but I think I would have enjoyed college, learning and
becoming smarter, as well as developing life-long friendships during those
post-high school years in my late teens and early twenties.
Q: What are your three
favorite books?
My three favorite books are:
1. “How to Win Friends and
Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
2. “The Thank You Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk
3. “Made to Stick” by Dan and Chip Heath
Q: What was the hardest
part of writing your book? Tell us about the events that led to the
decision to write it.
The hardest part about writing
“Shred It!” was creating a 300-page book following my 300-page “Vegan
Bodybuilding & Fitness” book released in 2010.
Coming up with new material
covering a similar topic is always a challenge.
Fortunately for me, I have had
a dramatic change in my views about protein consumption, supplement use,
training, and other related topics, so I was able to write about a lot of
completely fresh and innovative ideas.
Following my completion of Dr.
Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certification Course, I was determined to
write a plant-based fitness book. One that
contained the fundamental principles of eating real, healthy whole plant foods
combined with enjoyable exercise.
Perhaps the aspect that I am
most proud involving my latest book is the endorsements I received from many of
my biggest role models, including Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell B.
Esselstyn, Jr., and the producer of “Forks Over Knives,” Brian Wendel.
It took nearly two years to
write “Shred It!” when factoring in my initial drafts, hiring and working with
an award-winning professional editor for six months, doing the photo shoots and
book layout, and recruiting 28 world-renowned experts to peer review and
endorse the book.
I am very proud that “Shred
It!” is one of the bestselling vegan books of 2015 and has inspired thousands
of people to achieve their health and fitness goals.
Q: What are the three
biggest changes in fitness you’ve observed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the
biggest changes I’ve seen in the fitness industry are the trends that
include CrossFit, the use of kettlebells, and the growing popularity of
calisthenics and Parkour, or bodyweight training.
Programs such as P90X and other
DVD training programs seem to be at an all-time high, as well. In general, I
view these changes to be a good thing, because there are now more options
available to the mainstream public, which appeal to mass audiences.
This, in turn, gets more people
to become active, and should result in improved levels of health for this and
the next generation if the fitness lifestyle is supported by healthy eating
practices.
I believe changes and trends in
fitness come and go, but as long as people are active and enjoying themselves
doing physical activities, I think we’re on the right path.
Q: How did you become
the founder/president of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness?
When I became vegan, I was a 15-year old, 120-pound
sophomore in high school in 1995.
I was a five-sport athlete,
finding most of my success in endurance sports such as cross-country, soccer,
and track and field.
As a skinny teenage athlete, I
wanted to be bigger and stronger.
It wasn’t until 1999 that I
decided to start lifting weights. I wasn’t even familiar with the sport of
bodybuilding, but I knew I wanted to build muscle.
The following year, I
discovered there was an actual competitive sport of bodybuilding and embraced
it, adding 30 pounds in one year, peaking at 185 pounds in 2001.
In 2002, at age 22, I founded
Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, a brand designed to share my vegan bodybuilding lifestyle with others.
My website,
www.veganbodybuilding.com, went online in early 2003. By that year, I weighed
195 pounds and had been featured in FLEX Magazine three times.
The vegan bodybuilding lifestyle was put on the
map in a major way when I started competing and winning bodybuilding
competitions in the mid-2000s.
I shared those experiences in
newspapers, on TV, on the radio, in books, and all over the Internet.
“My vision behind creating
Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness was to lead by example to show that you can
successfully build muscle on a vegan diet and achieve fitness goals without
having to compromise ethics to excel in athletics. Ultimately, I wanted my
actions to inspire others to lead to a more compassionate world.”
I went from weighing 120 pounds
when I became vegan
to weighing 195 pounds eight years later, and felt like I had a compelling
story to share.
That story is still relevant
today, as I am a keynote speaker sharing my transformation from skinny farm kid
to champion vegan bodybuilder to audiences around the
world.
Q: Next big plans for
the site and you personally?
One of the exciting things that
is part of my role in the vegan fitness industry is that I really
never know what is next. I work hard to create opportunities by writing books,
setting up speaking tours, and completing other projects, but there is also a
lot of spontaneity and unique opportunities that arise on a regular basis.
For example, I take off to
Australia for a three-week tour in October 2015, and I’m still piecing things
together. I also plan to take a trip to Thailand in the New Year and possibly
relocate to Venice Beach for a couple of months in early 2016, but these are
just possibilities in the broad scope of life to be determined as time goes on.
Professionally, I plan to write
more books in the near future, and I will continue to tour and speak to
audiences around the world. Personally, I plan to do a lot of traveling to
exotic places to explore the planet while sharing the compassionate vegan lifestyle with people all over the
globe.
As for Vegan Bodybuilding &
Fitness, we’ll be improving our website, growing our social media communities,
releasing some companion books to “Shred It!,” producing more vegan fitness clothing, and writing more
content for many publications.
Q: What does the future
of plant-based fitness look like in the next five to 10 years?
I was a plant-based athlete before the Internet
came of age, and a whole lot has changed over the past couple of decades. The
awareness of the vegan lifestyle is at an all-time high and
growing rapidly, as is the acceptance of vegans in the athletic industry.
“There are more successful
vegan athletes from all walks of life than we have ever seen, and this will
only continue to perpetuate throughout all sports for years to come.”
I predict that there will be
big stars in all major men’s and women’s sports who publicly adopt and promote
a plant-based lifestyle within the next
decade. This will truly be exciting to watch.
My latest book, “Shred It!,”
can be found on www.veganbodybuilding.com.
Wishing you all the very best.
Follow your passion and make it happen!
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.”
Torre Washington picked up
his first weight while living in Jamaica with his grandparents.
In 2008, the seed was planted
as he witnessed his longtime friend win his pro card as a natural
bodybuilder. Reading magazines and watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies led
Torre to want to compete on stage.
You can find more information
about Torre
Washington on his website: thavegandread.com
Q: Tell us about your journey
as a natural bodybuilder, and how many competitions you have
entered:
All my life I admired the
physiques of comic book characters (Wolverine, Superman) and cartoon characters
like HE-MAN.
Real life heroes like Arnold
Schwarzenegger developed my attention to detail in terms of my physique.
I watched his movies and read
every article or book he had.
The more I dug into this new
passion, the more it ignited a strong desire in me to start my journey toward
my first competition.
Fast forward to 2008, when I
supported a close high school friend’s competition in Atlanta, GA.
He won that show after
competing in numerous shows, which was just the motivation I needed to choose a
show and get ready.
In April 2009, I got on stage
for the first time and placed third out of eight guys.
“This was confirmation for
me because I was not sure how I would fare against meat-eaters.”
This outcome was a defining
moment to see this journey through to the very end.
I competed again in October
that same year. I placed first and earned a Pro card in that organization.
Since that time in 2009, I have done a total of 16 competitions so far, placing
in the top three every show except one.
Q: Do you observe a
disadvantage between vegans and your meat-eating peers?
I have to admit that there is a
slight disadvantage, if you want to call it that, when it comes to putting on
huge amounts of muscle mass. Although I tend to put on mass slowly, it is
definitely lean quality muscle.
“I hope it helps others who
are considering a vegan bodybuilding lifestyle
to see that they can still put on mass and build a great physique.”
In the strength department,
there is no difference, as it is built based upon your training regimen. If
anything, I am at an advantage being vegan, since plants expedite the recovery
and recuperation.
Q: Do you think it’s
possible for a vegan bodybuilder to compete at the level of a Mr.
Olympia competition?
This is a very interesting
question. I say that because just recently I was asked this on social media. Of
course, I have even pondered this question myself. There needs to be a test
done to see if this is possible.
“At times, I get pointed
out as having used performance-enhancing substances to attain my physique, and
I find this as a compliment. I say this only because my hard work suggests steroid
use even though I’m natural.”
So do I think that it’s
possible for a vegan bodybuilder to compete at the level
of a Mr. Olympia? Yes. And I say that because I think anything is possible; we
now fly to the moon on a regular basis, so who needs limitations?!
YES, and as a matter of fact, I
am working on one right now. Keep your eyes peeled for this.
Q: When you are
competing, how many times a day do you eat, and what does your daily
nutritional intake look like?
Whether I am competing or not,
my eating frequency doesn’t change much during the year.
What I mean is that I make sure
I eat my total macro nutrients for the day, which could be
every three hours, four hours, or five hours.
I eat the same consistently
throughout the year.
This is because I understand
that my physique development is based upon total nutrition consumption for the day,
not restricted to every certain amount of hours.
“Unfortunately, I am not a
person to track my nutrients; I go off of look and feel.”
I don’t understand the term
“off season.” It is not a term that I use personally. I eat about the same all
the time, and when it comes close to a competition, I just cut back on the
sweets and treats. I also significantly increase my water.
I like to stay very
close to my competition weight so I am always in striking distance.
Q: What are your three
primary sources of vegan protein?
My three primary sources of proteins are beans in the form of tofu and
tempeh, lentils, and seitan.
I think it is great
that vegan protein powder is making an impact on the mainstream
supplement scene; variety is the spice of life. I also use vegan BCAAs.
“I believe that vegetarian bodybuilding will grow astronomically because the
fitness industry is moving more toward a natural look versus a
performance-enhanced physique.”
As a vegan bodybuilder, our food is becoming
easier to come by; we are making an international impact on mainstream fitness.
We will also witness great vegetarian competitions become common in the
bodybuilding industry as well.
The next 10 years will also be
an exciting and promising journey for Torre Washington.
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.”
Name: Ella Magers
Occupation: Vegan Diet and Fitness Expert, Published Author
Location: Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Age: 35
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 122lbs.
Type of Training: Functional Fitness, Muay Thai, General Strength and
Conditioning, Bodybuilding
Fitness
has been a part of my life since I was just five years old.
I feel so fortunate that my
parents got me into sports so early. I started with gymnastics and swimming.
By the time I was in fifth
grade, I could out-pull-up the guys at my school on field day!
“I loved the feeling of
being strong and energetic. I got into the fitness industry because I wanted to
help everyone get to that place of feeling strong and unstoppable physically,
as well as mentally.”
I also have a clean, plant-based diet to thank for all the
energy I had from such a young age.
My journey to adopt a vegan diet began when I was seven years
old. We learned about Daniel Boone in school, and I came home and told my mom
what a mean guy Daniel Boone was because he shot and ate animals. Her reply
changed my life forever. She told me that we were just fortunate that we have
grocery stores now, so we pay someone else to kill the animals for us to eat.
It was at that point that I
connected the food on my plate with the animal it came from and I told my mom I
would never eat an animal again – and I haven’t!
My deep sense of compassion for
animals led me to seek out information on the meat industry at a young age.
When I learned that the dairy and egg industries were equally as cruel, I
became fully vegan. I was 15. I felt so strongly, I organized groups and led
protests and campaigns to educate people about the truth behind the closed
doors of factory farms throughout my teenage years.
“I even won the Bill
Rosenberg Award given by F.A.R.M., which honors a young person under the age of
18 who has made a substantial contribution to ending abuse of animals raised
for food.”
Given that my two deepest
passions were fitness and animals, I began researching the health aspects of a vegan diet and I was thrilled to find all
the hidden research showing just how healthful a whole food, plant-based diet really is! “Why isn’t this
information more accessible to people?” was my next thought.
It was then that I decided I
wanted to spread the word and help as many people as possible take their
fitness to the next level with the right exercise and even more importantly, a
better diet. My vision brought me from North Carolina to Miami Beach, where I
fell in love with the warmth, the sun, and the sexiness of the city.
WEC (World Extreme
Cagefighting) champ Patrick Assalone shot straight from the hip and told me to
get my ass to class. This was exactly what I needed – someone to crack the whip
and snap me out of feeling sorry for myself. I’m not exaggerating when I say
that he kicked my ass. I was black and blue the whole time we trained together.
He didn’t believe in shin
guards, so there was no padding for protection from kicks. It may sound
sadistic, but the physical pain forced me to take control of my mind in order
to push through training sessions – as they say, “mind over
matter.”
“Muay Thai turned out to be
a form of active meditation that gave me my emotional strength back and allowed me to
take charge of my life direction and eventually develop my own brand, Sexy
Fit Vegan®.”
Q: In September 2013,
you were featured with a spread in BodyBuilding.com as the
Personal Trainer of the Month. Also, in 2014, you were named in Shape
magazine’s Top 50 Trainers in America. How did each of those opportunities
come about?
My boyfriend submitted me for a
shot at BodyBuilding.com’s Personal Trainer of the Month. I had no idea
until I got the email that I had been chosen. I was honored!
And to be honest, I have no
idea how I got on the Shape Magazine’s Hottest Trainers in America
list, but I’m very lucky to have been featured.
It was because of the
recognition in Shape Magazine that I was invited by the Sheraton to lead a
workshop at their largest hotel in Macao, China, which was super awesome!
Q: What is your
greatest achievement? What are you most proud of?
I would say that my new
book, The Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan, is what I’m most proud of. Not so
much because having a book published is a great achievement, but because of
everything I overcame to get to a place where this book became a reality for
me.
“It’s like my entire life,
through all the ups and downs and twists and turns, was building up to this
chance to have something tangible to share my passions, experiences, knowledge,
and excitement with the world … something that can help people look and feel
their best while helping save animals and the environment.”
Q: Who has inspired you
the most in your life?
Wow, there is a long list of
people who have played important roles in my growth as a person and as a woman.
My parents come first, because
they have always given me the unconditional love, freedom, and support I’ve
needed to be myself and stand up for what I believe it.
They not only had my back when
it came to my strong and passionate side, they have been there for the troubled
side of me, too.
“I struggled with anxiety and depression starting in my teenage years and
compensated with drugs, put myself in dangerous situations, and dated abusive
guys from the time I was 15 until I was 21.”
If it weren’t for my fitness
addiction being stronger than my addiction to drugs and bad boys, and the tough
yet unconditional love from my parents, who knows where I would be right now.
As for inspiration, my first
Muay Thai coach, who believed in me and saw me for the strong woman I am, and
Ingrid Newkirk and President of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals), who I saw always standing up for what she believes in with
conviction, were some of my earlier inspirations.
At this point in my life, I feel
especially inspired by John Salley (four-time NBA Champ turned vegan), who
wrote the forward for my new book; Brendan Brazier, Ironman triathlete and
founder of Vega; vegan bodybuilders Torrie
Washington and Robert Cheeke; vegan calisthenics phenom Frank
Medrano; 87-year-old Dr. Fred Bisci, who is my favorite speaker of all time;
detox specialist Dr. Gil Jacobs; Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org; and
so many more people who have devoted their lives to promoting a healthy, fit,
vegan lifestyle.
Q: Tell us about
working toward your Doctorate in Holistic Sports Nutrition.
I actually have my Master’s in
Social Work, which I earned in my mid-twenties in order to have more skills
working with people and helping change lives. It was through my social work
education that I learned it’s essential to take people from where they are at
that moment; as the awesome Dr. Fred Bisci says, “You can’t take people from
penthouse to outhouse.”
“Everyone is at a different
point in their journey and has a different level of awareness and openness, and
tuning into that as a fitness trainer and nutrition coach is how to find success with clients.”
As for the nutrition degree, I thought, “I do research
on nutrition all the time anyway and have a
lot of knowledge, why not learn even more and get a degree to back it up?” I’m
in a go-at-your-own pace program and have a way to go. Getting a book deal last
year and having success with my website, ebooks, and blog have kept me
incredibly busy the past year!
I’m in no hurry though; getting
the information out there to as many people as possible takes priority over
putting “Dr.” before my name.
Two of my best friends when I
was a teenager were competitive bodybuilders, so I know all about the
traditional “chicken and broccoli” dieting and how to make “protein powder
pudding.” I also witnessed the effects steroids and supplements can have – from
gynecomastia to death.
“One of these best friends
was found dead in his apartment earlier this year; the cause technically
unknown, but I’m sure it had to do with toxemia from all the supplements he was
taking.”
Hanging out with bodybuilders
and being as fit as I am, I heard the comment, “You should compete” for all of
my adult life. I had no desire until finally in 2007, I saw that FAME World
Championships was coming to Miami, and it had a more playful vibe than NPC
competitions.
So I said, “What the hell!” I
figured doing well in a show would be a great way to promote plant-based eating. It was also a great
goal that I needed at the time to push myself harder at the gym. I was
competition ready in less than a month and ended up winning the bikini division
and receiving second place in the fitness and fitness model categories. Plant
strong!
1. Cross-training is
huge right now. One common misconception is that you have to lift as much
weight as possible, because, watching the CrossFit Games, you can easily get
that impression. I love watching the XFit games by the way – wow.
Cross training is just a method
of training that is highly variable in the ways you move your body, the muscles
you use, and the amount and type of stress you place on your body. It’s a great
way to get in shape fast and maintain a high level of fitness. I teach a class
that combines Muay Thai (heavy bags), spinning, and bodyweight exercises that
can be considered cross-training, for example.
I am working on unwinding and
relaxing – not my strong suit! But I do enjoy taking my dog (rescue Chihuahua)
paddle boarding and to the beach as healthy ways to chill. I love watching UFC,
football Sundays, eating vegan wings, and drinking strong dark Belgium beer as
my “cheat” time.
Also, I started doing yoga
consistently several years ago, and it is definitely an activity that not only
stretches my tight muscles but also expands my ability to “let go” and breathe,
which relaxes me.
Q: What one piece of advice
can you give to those who are struggling with the decision to try going plant-based?
“Don’t worry about making
the decision to become plant-based for the rest of your life. Make the
commitment to go vegan for six weeks and then you can re-evaluate. In the
grand scheme of things, six weeks out of your life is a blink of the eye.”
We are capable of anything we
put our minds to. Plus, after the six weeks, when you feel and look better
than ever eating delicious plant food, you won’t even want to go back!
I actually wrote my new
book, The Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan for the purpose of helping
people get through six weeks of healthy, plant-based eating successfully.
The plan is easy to follow, and
there are 100 simple, delicious recipes to go with it. I also talk about what
you can expect, and give you guidelines and shopping lists at the start of each
week for convenience.
There is a bonus workout
program to go with the plan, but the focus is on diet, because what you put in
your mouth will mean the difference between a flabby and a sexy midsection! I’m
excited for this book to get in peoples’ hands because it really does give you
the tools you need to have an amazing vegan experience.
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.”
