An Interview with Vegan Athlete Robert Cheeke!
When and why did you become vegan? I grew up on a farm and developed an appreciation for farm animals similar to the respect and appreciation someone might have for a dog or a cat. Given this perspective and my closeness to animals – raising them as pets – through my involvement in 4‐H, it seemed fitting to stop eating my animal friends. In the mid 90’s, as a teenager, I no longer wanted to contribute to animal cruelty and suffering and decided to go vegan. I have been vegan since December 8, 1995 (when I was 15 years old and 120 pounds – By 2003, I was up to 195 pounds and a competitive bodybuilder running www.veganbodybuilding.com). Was that before or after your interest in bodybuilding and what spurred that interest on? Growing up as a skinny kid, bodybuilding was always intriguing and something I was interested in from a young age. I didn’t pursue bodybuilding, or even weight training for that matter, until about five years after I became vegan. I quickly gained muscle and traded my running shoes for weight lifting gloves and became a competitive, 2‐time champion bodybuilder. What do you do for a living and what is your favorite part of that? In 2005 I joined Vega, a product line created by fellow vegan athlete Brendan Brazier and today,
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continue to work for them. I work in sales for this innovative plant‐based nutrition company from Canada, focusing on outreach at vegetarian and vegan festivals around North America. Additionally, I run www.veganbodybuilding.com full‐time and am actively pursuing a writing career. Having published a best‐seller a few years ago called “Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness” I am currently editing my second book. My new project is a personal development book about finding your passion and making it happen. The best part of my work is that I am doing what I am passionate about, and the amazing travels and places it takes me to. In what ways does being vegan affect your ability to build muscle, maintain tone, and recover from workouts? From my experience as a vegan athlete the past seventeen years, coupled with my education from Cornell’s plant‐based nutrition certification program, I can say with a great deal of confidence that as opposed to a regular, meat‐centered western diet, a plant‐based whole food diet is optimal for providing energy, building healthy muscle and quickly recovering from exercise. This is because plant‐based whole foods are the original – and healthiest – sources of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein, fatty acids and other nutritional components necessary for optimal health. Getting nutrition from plants leads to
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higher levels of health and avoids the negative side‐effects that come with the consumption of lower quality foods (animal‐based and processed foods). There are numerous scientific studies, including the China Study, that show correlations between the foods we eat and numerous preventable illnesses. Therefore, a plant‐based diet appears to be best for bodybuilding or any other athletic or health‐centered pursuit. What challenges do you face as a vegan bodybuilder and how have you overcome them? The only challenges that come with a vegan bodybuilding lifestyle are defending the vegan lifestyle among others unfamiliar with it, especially before veganism was more mainstream and popular as it is today. In the 90’s and early 00’s there weren’t a whole lot of people in the mainstream athletic sphere who were vegan and talking about it. Now, many of the greatest athletes in the world are vegan, including some of the biggest names in tennis, boxing, ultimate fighting, powerlifting, professional football and Olympics. Veganism is coming of age before our eyes. Have you seen any changes in attitude in the athletics world in the past five years? We have seen more progress in the animal rights and vegan movements in the past five years than in the previous 50 years combined. What we have seen recently with some of the greatest athletes in the world becoming vegan has been inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting. The mindset among typical athletes appears to be more geared towards openness to new ideas. Veganism is one of those ideas being explored and embraced by many. You inspire quite a few people! What would you say is the achievement you are most proud of? My goal from the beginning was to save animal lives and reduce animal suffering and cruelty. That is still my primary objective and where my passion largely lies today. I am proud of the number of animals that have been saved and proud of the friendships and relationships that have been developed among the community members of my Pizza!
website. Saving lives and bringing people together is something I am dedicated to doing for the rest of my life.
What do you like to eat to prepare for a competition? As I prepare to for competition, I ensure my diet is entirely comprised of whole foods – no processed foods. Foods such as yams, potatoes, oats, brown rice, greens, and fruits make up my pre‐contest diet. Avoiding processed foods is a great way to reduce the consumption of sodium, fat, and refined sugars which can have an adverse effect on bodybuilding. Eating cleanly leads to a lean and healthy physique. What is your favorite dish that you prepare at home? In general, my favorite types of food are Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, Mexican and Japanese. These types of foods include a variety of protein and quality carbohydrates, as well as healthy fats. At home, brown rice with beans and avocado is a favorite meal that is also quick and easy to prepare. I also eat fruit throughout the day. If I am feeling more adventurous I will make an elaborate green or fruit salad, focusing on presentation, flavor and whole food goodness. What advice can you give upcoming vegan body builders?
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This is an exciting time to be a vegan athlete. Veganism is more popular than it has ever been. The opportunities for athletes to spread the vegan message, via their athletic platforms and achievements, are increasing by the day. Using athletic success to inspire others, save lives, and contribute positive messages to the world is what I would suggest vegan athletes do. Network with others, write about your experiences, document your progress and share it with audiences far and wide. Work hard, stay grounded and always remember why you decided to dedicate your life to benefitting others. Let that reminder fuel your passion. What's on the horizon for you? At the moment I am taking a break from bodybuilding to pursue other interests including working toward the completion of my next book and focusing on meditation, introspection, contemplation, writing and learning more about myself. I am continuously working to discover how I can most effectively and efficiently help others in numerous ways and share the vegan message. Thanks Robert! Pizza!
Bio Robert grew up on a farm in Corvallis, OR where he adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15. Today he is a best‐selling author of the book Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness ‐ The Complete Guide to Building Your Body on a Plant‐Based Diet. As a two‐ time natural bodybuilding champion Robert has been considered one of VegNews Magazine's Most Influential Vegan Athletes. He tours all over North America regularly giving talks about his story transforming from a skinny farm kid to champion vegan bodybuilder. Currently Robert works for Vega, a line of vegan whole‐food products, as a representative of the pro‐vegan film Forks Over Knives and also works full‐time running Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness on www.veganbodybuilding.com, which includes writing books, touring and maintaining the popular website. Robert recently moved to Austin, TX and continues to spread the vegan way of life leading by example as an accomplished vegan athlete. Contact Info You can find out more about Robert at www.veganbodybuilding.com.
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