Vegan Bodybuilder: Robert Cheeke
Vegan bodybuilders’ experiences of eating vegetarian food
Robert Cheeke from the United States is a bodybuilder and a vegan. The relationship between bodybuilding and vegetarianism seems to be unrelated, because people have generally believed that meat is the most effective source of protein. But Robert and many other vegetarian bodybuilders have proven to the world that plant-derived foods can also help people gain a strong body. Below is a conversation between a reporter and Robert. After reading it, your questions will definitely be answered.
Reporter: Why did you decide to be vegan?
Robert: I grew up on a farm in central Oregon, so I grew up with a love and respect for farm animals, just like other people love and respect their cats and dogs. When I started to treat these animals like friends, naturally I decided not to treat my friends as food. I started living a vegan life in the mid-1990s when I was a fifteen-year-old teenager.
When I was fifteen, I weighed 120 pounds. By 2003, I had increased my weight to 195 pounds and became a professional bodybuilder.
Reporter: What is your favorite source of protein?
Robert: To be honest, I don’t have a “favorite” protein source. I eat from a wide variety of food sources and I choose my meals based on the specific circumstances of the day, especially my training and competition schedule. Generally speaking, I like to eat traditional food from countries such as Thailand, India, Mexico, Japan, and Ethiopia, because the diets in these countries tend to be more traditional.Tend to contain more rice, vegetables and beans. They provide me with enough energy and protein and are very tasty. If I feel that I really need protein in addition to my regular diet, I will choose a protein powder like Vega, which is made from pure plant-based protein.
Reporter: What are your favorite vegetarian foods?
Robert: I like fruits more than any other vegetarian food. I travel a lot, so I'm lucky enough to be able to taste the freshest local fruits in different places. And fresh fruits in summer can be said to be my favorite. Of course, fruits that are common throughout the year in the United States such as bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, etc. are also my favorite foods.
Another favorite of mine is tacos. I eat it almost every day. There's usually rice, different beans, etc. in the burritos, which give me a lot of energy and are delicious at the same time. Sweet potatoes, potatoes, kale, quinoa, and Jerusalem artichokes are some of my favorite natural foods. Thai and Indian dishes such as Thai vegetable soup, curry, samosas, etc. are often included in my main meals.
Reporter: Do you accurately calculate your daily protein intake because you practice bodybuilding? (Protein Calculator)
Robert: When I need to prepare for a competition, I do count my daily protein intake. My protein intake is also higher than that of people who are not into bodybuilding. Based on body weight calculation, supplementing 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight every day, combined with one to two stages of strength training every day, can make my body stronger.
When I don’t need to train at a high intensity, I don’t consume as much protein. Probably less than 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day is enough. Because my muscles rarely strain, I don't need as much protein to repair them.
Reporter: You used to be a long-distance runner. Why did you decide to become a bodybuilder? Does being vegan give you an advantage in this?
Robert: In high school, I competed in five sports—soccer, cross country, wrestling, basketball, and track. I also participated in other extracurricular sports such as skating, tennis and dance. After high school I decided to pursue a career in cross country running. I was an NCAA cross country runner at OSU, and I really enjoyed that time. But inside of me, I always aspired to be muscular, so I gave up running and started bodybuilding instead. No.I gained 30 pounds in one year of training, and later won many awards in bodybuilding competitions.
A vegetarian diet is very important to my success. Because plant-based natural foods are the best source of nutrients and have the most natural form of various nutrients. The vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and glucose we need are all found in vegetarian diets. Whether running, swimming, soccer, or bodybuilding, athletes of all types can benefit from a naturally plant-based diet.
Reporter: How do you choose the right food when you travel?
Robert: As a vegetarian, I started to develop the habit of bringing my own food more than 10 years ago. I bring fruit, energy bars, protein powder, nuts, and other vegetarian snacks during my travels. Sometimes even a whole meal is brought. Whether I’m driving or flying, there’s always plenty of good food around me. When I arrive in a city, I go to a vegetarian restaurant or order vegetarian food from a Thai, Indian or Mexican restaurant. I also go to the farmers market in the summer. In fact, any restaurant will have a lot of fruits and vegetables, they may or may not be on the menu. But even in restaurants or cities that seem to be the hardest to find vegetarian food, I can still eat the food I like.
Reporter: What is the biggest benefit of becoming a vegan?
Robert: For me, the best thing about going vegan is knowing that I’m saving a lot of animal lives and that I can encourage others to adopt the same eating habits.
Reporter asked: Are other bodybuilders curious about your diet?
Robert: When I first started the Vegan Bodybuilding website in 2002, I was the only vegan bodybuilder I knew. Now my site has 5,000 members, and we are constantly discovering new vegan athletes, both professional and amateur. Nowadays, vegetarian fitness is becoming more and more accepted by people.