Vegetarian bodybuilders - part 2

[Julez]

Well, a few months ago I mentioned that I was going to try a vegetarian diet. There were many replies concerning benefits/downfalls.

I can honestly say that this option has NOT worked very well for me at all. I guess that I always liked chicken and steak too much. In any case I have got *slighltly* leaner BUT I have lost considerable strength(like down 10lbs on bench.....) and weigh(about 10 pounds). I was eating about 5-6 meals a day.

I can only conclude that, for me, it was not possible to gain adaquete nutrition from such a regime. Although I acknowledge that a vegetarian diet is more healthy, I don't believe that it is conducive to bodybuilding.

I still stand by my comments regarding addiditives, etc but if that's the price I must pay for my sport...

So guys, don't do it. I have learnt by this mistake.

'It's not the years in you life but the life in your years that counts'

 

[diamonddiceclay]

I was a veg for 7 years and now that I've been eating meat for over 1 year, I am MUCH stronger-you just can't eat enough protein on a veg diet, and the lack of carbs causes weakness

 

[serge]

vegetarian bodybuilder seems like a perfect example of an oxymoron

 

[slash747]

Vegeterian + Bodybuilder = 1 small ass dude...

 

[HansNZ]

Defending vegetarianism to BBs is like preaching feminism to Islamic Fundamentalists. But here it goes:

There is no credible scientific basis to the claim that meat is more conducive to muscle growth than a vegetable source of protein like soy.

You can get enough protein on a vegetarian diet. If you are lazy (like me most days) simply consuming a protein powder, either whey or soy will easily get your protein intake up.

I have been a vegetarian and a meat eater while I have been Body building and I haven't felt in any way disadvantaged. In fact the quality of my gains have improved because as a vegetarian I eat cleaner and get more nutrients in their natural form with all their accompanying micronutrients (i.e. as opposited to vitamin supplements).

Maybe being a vegetarian isn't for everyone and (as we know from steroids) everyone's body reacts individually to the same substance. I think if you are interested then try being a vegetarian. Unlike Julez I don't feel I have made "mistake" by being a vegetarian, or that you will make a "mistake" by not heeding julez's experience.

I realise that prejudices run deep and no amount of scientific evidence will ever be any use to people determined to believe the opposite.

 

[MuSuLPhReAk]

Bill Pearl was a vegetarian bodybuilder and had a great body!