Bodybuilding and Fitness Team

Famous Olympic Wrestler Sushil Kumar Promotes Vegetarian Lifestyle With PETA

BradleySaul — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:37:24 -0800

Kumar is teaming up with PETA to promote the vegetarian lifestyle and propagate the cause of animal protection. Sushil said, “I am a vegetarian myself and I want to send out this message to everyone that vegetarians are powerful, they have the stamina. Look at me, I defeated non-vegetarians from America and Kazakhstan in the Olympics. So, you can see that vegetarians have a lot of strength.”

Bodybuilding and Fitness Team

Almost looking forward to winter....

GeoffHart — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:38:05 -0700

Finished my first 24hr Adventure Race this weekend!!
Highly,highly recommend these events.They test you in a whole new way...

Bodybuilding and Fitness Team

Pills, Potions, and Powders No More

BradleySaul — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:21:19 -0700

In an article in last weeks' New York Times, Gina Kolata discusses the idea that athletes need special protein and carohydrate mixtures for optimal recovery. If you've been in endurance sports long, you've heard of the magic 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein. It's true one needs carbohydrates and protein, but "as so often happens in sports, those grains of truth have been expanded into dictums and have formed the basis for an industry in 'recovery' products."

The bottom line of the article is that recovery products are not, as the marketing would have us believe, essential for performance. Furthermore, the article quotes Dr. Michael Rennie, a physiologist at the University of Nottingham, as saying at that 10 to 15 grams of protein per day is adequate for any adults. Bullocks, most people would say. It's true, though. As you eat enough calories from whole, plant foods, protein is a non-issue.

The article did use eggs and chicken as example of where to get that protein, which was too bad. Plants have protein too, along with carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients, and essential fats. Animal products are seriously lacking in those areas.

Staff

Why do you eat meat?

BradleySaul — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:41:06 -0700

I remember the last hot dog I ate. I barfed afterwards.

Having been vegan now for going on 6 years, I sometimes wonder why it took me so long to give up eating dead animal flesh. I know why. Meat embodies the values of the consumer culture I grew up in. As much I like to think I'm a nonconformist and free thinker, when it came to meat, I was with the in crowd.

Through college, I had "vegetarian tendencies." I liked the idea of being of vegetarian, but I also wanted to be an elite athlete. How could I get my protein? I bought the myth that meat and protein meant strength and power. It's those values that made the hunk of cooked cow muscle at the end of my fork palatable for me. New research confirms this theory.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I like the taste of meat"? The satisfaction may have less to do with what their taste buds tell them, and more to do with what the food symbolizes. According to researchers Michael W. Allen (University of Sydney), Richa Gupta (University of Nashville), and Arnaud Monnier (National Engineer School for Food Industries and Management, France), found that the symbolic meanings of food and beverage can influence a person's taste based on their social values.

Fortunately, I gave up eating meat and dairy. I feel better for it. And I have strength and power without it. In fact, I'm probably more better to preserve my lean muscle by eating my fruits and vegetables, according to (would you believe it?) the USDA.

Triathlon Team

The Cover Boy

BradleySaul — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:37:54 -0700

Robert Cheeke made the cover of the Willamette Week, Portland's weekly newspaper with the feature article "Lean, Mean, Meat-Free Machine."

Way to go Robert!

Pro-Activist Team

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

BradleySaul — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:13:31 -0700

I've always been fascinated with why people take drugs. This looks like it will be interesting.

Bodybuilding and Fitness Team

Vegan Bodybuilding Match

BradleySaul — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:54:08 -0700

In the battle of size vs. endurance, who wins? Robert Cheeke and I battled it out last night to see who had the biggest muscles.