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Meet Martina, an all around vegan athlete of many talents from Helsingborg, Sweden. Martina also owns Eco Athletics, which combines two of her greatest passions in life: exercise and yoga close to nature with coaching in a plant-based lifestyle. Eco Athletics offers coaching in Ashtanga yoga, group or private sessions. Be inspired to live a greater life, a life with a purpose, a happier and healthier life. Be inspired to care for the earth and all of its earthlings. -Martina  How long have you been vegan? 2 years What led you to become vegan? Always for saving animals Do you have any influencers or favorite books? Since I became vegan I've watched a lot of documentaries about eating plant based. Forks over knives is probably one of my favorites. What sports, activities, adventures do you do? Running, outdoor functional fitness/calisthenics and yoga mostly. I run races, both Marathons and Obstacle races. No serious competition. Do you have any big events or races planned for 2015? Just the one and only: Helsingborg Marathon, on September 12 How does eating vegan improve your performance? I became vegan halfway through my marathon training. Since then I feel more energized and my recovery time is really fast. My wrists have healed since I became vegan, which I had lots of troubles with before (I couldn't do pushups or handstands or anything like that without hurting my wrists).  What are your favorite 5 top things to eat? Rice, potatoes, strawberries, asparagus, hummus How about bars and smoothies? Raw bars such as "raw bite" and "get raw", made with dates and nuts Explain your nutrition routine. I fast during the morning, only drink water or herbal tea, and some mornings I start with a glass of spirulina/chlorella. Lunch is preferably raw, either raw food or banana ice cream/fruit. I eat nuts and dried fruits as a snack in between meals, and for dinner a high carb meal with either rice and potatoes, or gluten free pasta (brown rice or beans). I plan my training according to my meal times. I usually train after my snack, which I have 30 min-1 hour before training and eat a high carb dinner after training, about 1 hour after. I don't use any protein supplement or any other artificial supplement to boost my training. What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Chia Seeds What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Quinoa Buckwheat Chia Seeds What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Beans Brown Rice Chickpeas Seeds Kale Broccoli  What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? Do your own research on nutrition. Don't rely on others to tell you what to eat and when to eat what, or how much you need of this and that. Do your research and find your own way of getting all the nutrition you need, and when you need it. In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? It means that my strongest muscle is my heart. What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? I have several: Peace is my natural state of being. I lead with my heart. Compassion is my purpose. Stay connected with Martina: Twitter @ecoathletics Instagram @veganjourneytohbgm Facebook @ecoathletics Website: Ecoathletics.wix.com/ecoathletics Want to be interviewed for a future article?
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Meet Brooke, a vegan ultra runner from Arizona with vibrant passion for nature and the untouched earth. She loves running the trails, hanging out with friends and meeting new people. "I believe that experiences, good or bad, are far better than material possessions! " - Brooke  How long have you been vegan? 2.5 years What led you to become vegan? Personal beliefs Do you have any influencers or favorite books? The book, Skinny Bitch opened my eyes to horrors of factory farming. It is horrifying what factory farming has done to our planet and how people can justify murder and indifference towards life. It's all so unnecessary and demonstrates just how sick our society has become, not only in their mentally but also with the diseases they are creating for themselves. What sports, activities, adventures do you do? I'm an ultra runner, mostly in trails. Connecting with nature and the untouched earth gives me energy and renews my soul. My husband, kids and I have hiked the Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls and many other trails eating plant based foods. Our next adventure is hiking the PCT in California. Do you have any big events or races planned for 2015? I'm currently training for my first 100k this October. The Javalina 100. How does eating vegan improve your performance? I have more energy eating whole grains and plant based proteins. I'm also in a better place mentally now that I have eliminated animal products from my diet and lifestyle. I just feel really good!  What are your favorite 5 top things to eat? Avocado, bean and corn wraps. These are easy to carry and perfect for my long runs. How about bars and smoothies? I don't really eat bars or drink smoothies. I preferred to eat as little chemically, genetically modified or preserved food. Explain your nutrition routine. Before I head out for my run, long or short doesn't matter, I will eat half a slice of a whole wheat bagel with almond butter. During my shorter runs (8-12 miles) I don't usually eat but hydrate with NUUN and maybe half a peanut butter sandwich. My long runs and for races I carry wraps and eat soups (black bean, pea or lentil) at my checkpoints. Real food is so satisfying as opposed to a gel pack.
 What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? Use fuel foods that are easy to carry and will provide between 100 to 200 calories per serving per hour. In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? Life! What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? It is what it is. Stay connected with Brooke: Twitter: @aztrailrunner2 Want to be interviewed for a future article?
Meet Katrina Ji, a professional vegan dancer in Seattle with a wealth of dance experience. Katrina teaches and perform Bollywood, Belly Dance, Bhangra and Rajasthani Folk Dance. She has numerous outstanding certifications. (Learn more here) A vegan of 18 years, Katrina truly values and respects her vegan lifestyle. "Being vegan means having a better quality of life"- Katrina
What sports, activities, adventures do you do? I'm a professional dancer. I teach and perform Bollywood, Belly Dance, Bhangra and Rajasthani Folk Dance Do you have any big events or races planned for 2015? Yes. My group is performing at Ananda Mela Festival in Redmond Town Square Sat Jul 25, we are hosting a Bollywood Dance Festival Oct 8-11, and performing at Seattle Children's Festival Oct 11. Follow us on Facebook to find out about more events Http://Facebook.com/cultureshakti How does eating vegan improve your performance? Being vegan keeps me clear headed and lean
What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Flax Seeds/Oil What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Hemp seeds What are your other favorite plant proteins? Beans (all varieties) What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? As long as you keep snacks with you at all times, it's easy and feels great! Almonds and fruits make great snacks. In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? Better quality of life What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? No negative inner dialogue Learn more about Katrina: http://cultureshaktidance.com http://rajasthanigypsycaravan.com http://Facebook.com/cultureshakti Want to be interviewed for a future article?
Meet Sami Page, an all around vegan athlete and D1 soccer player from Seattle. Sami's inspiration and passion for Veganism is contagious! Her positive energy really shows what a vegan lifestyle means. Sami also runs a rockin' food Instagram called @dudethatsmyfood, so be sure to check it out! "Being vegan makes me energized, awake, and light when I compete!" - Sami
What sports, activities, adventures do you do? I played D1 soccer at the University of Washington. I also enjoy doing yoga, hiking, and running on my off days. Do you have any big events or races planned for 2015? Now that my soccer career is over I don't compete in anything too serious. I mostly stay active for pleasure and not so much more competition anymore. How does eating vegan improve your performance? Being vegan makes me energized, awake, and light when I compete!  What are your favorite 5 top things to eat? Dates and almond butter, tacos/burritos, veggie sushi, and a good tofu scramble How about bars and smoothies? Lara bars and Luna bars! I had one just about every single day before early morning soccer practices Explain your nutrition routine. Before I work out I typically have some kind of nutrition bar (Luna or Cliff) and a banana. During my workout, I stick to water and avoid sugary Gatorade drinks because they just make me feel more thirsty. If I did some kind of activity by myself like yoga or running I love coming home and making a huge fruit and spinach smoothie with various 'boosts' I have in my pantry like flax seed, chia seed, hemp seed, or a scoop of plant based protein powder. My favorite protein powder is MRM Veggie Protein Vanilla. I love to top my smoothies with refined sugar free granola or more chia/hemp seed. Post soccer game I was always given a pre-ordered meal that was usually a Chipotle burrito bowl (sofitas and black beans for protein!) or a sandwich. The night before a big soccer game we typically went to an Italian place to a good carb heavy meal. I always stuck to a tomato based sauce and had the restaurant add extra grilled vegetables to whatever entree I got. What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Hemp Seeds/Oil What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Soy What are your other favorite plant proteins? Beans (all varieties) Chickpeas Broccoli  What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? Don't over due the amount of vegetables you eat before working out because it can cause a lot of bloating. Make sure you are eating substantial calories for the amount of activity you are doing. Make sure you get in your post work out protein! Bars and shakes are perfect and easy. Don't let people convince you that you will be weaker, slower, and tired from sticking to a plant based diet and being an athlete. You don't need animal products to be strong and healthy. Get educated and do your research! In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? Thriving What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? Keep your body strong, mind sharp, soul nourished, and spirit positive. Want to be interviewed for a future article?
Meet Karine Brighten, an all around vegan athlete, vegan fitness expert and vegan business woman from the SF Bay Area. Karine is the owner of Karine Brighten Events - a certified green business, specializing in eco-friendly and vegan wedding planning and consulting. Karine is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor. She teaches spinning, bootcamp, pilates and foam rolling classes.
What are your favorite 5 top things to eat? Peanut butter, avocados, almonds, banana, dates How about bars and smoothies? I love larabars, and I make my own date balls. Vega smoothies! Explain your nutrition routine. It all depends on what else I have going on that day. I teach 10 fitness classes a week so I'm pretty active. I usually snack on dry roasted almonds and dates in between my classes/workouts, have a smoothie after my workouts. What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Chia seeds What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Quinoa What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Brown Rice Beans (all varieties) Chickpeas Swiss Chard Kale
Meet Melike Sayman, a vegan olympic lifter from Madrid, Spain. A vegan for 5 years, Melike is an all around athlete, with a successful background in marathon running, powerlifting, weightlifting and competitive badminton. Melike is also a personal trainer, nutritionist, bookworm, and healthy food addict. Being a vegan athlete means to be the different one, be the compassionate one, be the fair one, and be the greatest one!
Explain your nutrition routine. I start my training 3-4 hours after breakfast. I generally have something high in complex carbs such as spelt bread and tomato, avocado and a fruit (or soaked oatmeals). During the workout I drink water, I rarely have a protein shake (if I have time to complete my workout, which takes 3 hours), and first meal after my workout is a protein shake with unsweetened coconut water along with my homemade protein bar. Then in an hour, I have lunch: quinoa, broccoli and pumpkin, or any kind of homemade burger. I always prepare my meal at home. How about bars and smoothies? I used to drink a lot of smoothies when I used to run. Right now, as I've changed my routine, I prepare protein shakes with raw vegan protein powders, coconut water, maca, and sometimes peanut butter or any kind of nut butter. What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Chia seeds What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Quinoa Hemp seeds What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Beans (all varieties) Chickpeas Broccoli
Follow Melike via Twitter (@RunningCinnamon) for inspiration and education as a successful vegan athlete! Want to be interviewed for a future article?Meet Gina Cracchiolo, a vegan cyclist from Florida. Gina has led an active lifestyle for many years. Before she became the avid cyclist she now is, Gina was a bodybuilder for 25 years. She is living proof that as an athlete, vegan health not only drives overall performance, but also quality of life. I do not suffer from inflammation as a result of being vegan. I can also think more efficiently.
Explain your nutrition routine. I eat a healthy amount of oatmeal with soy protein, walnuts, ground flax, fruit, cashew milk in which I make into oatmeal cakes. They are so delicious. They give me the energy I need for my ride. Four days a week I ride 10-12 miles each time. My two days off from work is when I ride 30 to 40 miles. What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Olive oil, flax and walnuts What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Quinoa Soy Pumpkin Seeds Sunflower Seeds What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Beans (all varieties) Brown Rice Chickpeas Seeds Kale Broccoli
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Life is a continual flow of learning and teaching, inputs and outputs. Cristobal has launched a series of educational and inspiration videos, helping people understand how easy and exciting it is to transition into a plant-based lifestyle. He offers many tips that are simple to implement. His energy will leave you feeling vibrant and motivated to find your authentic self through a plant-based lifestyle. Follow Cristobal's Video Blog, Plant-Based Jiu-Jitsu via his YouTube Channel and Facebook Fanpage, where you can discuss his episodes and ask questions.
Do you have any influencers or favorite books? Tony Horton of P90x was vegan for a while. He inspired me by turning on the lightbulb in my brain, fueling my curiosity about making the jump. Eventually I found Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life and learned about Brendan Brazier. When I saw that he was a successful triathlete, I told myself I had to give this a shot for Jiu-Jitsu. Some other vegan athletes I'm fond of are UFC's Mac Danzig, Vegan Bodybuilder Robert Cheeke and retired Boxer, Mike Tyson. A couple of books I recommend are Engine 2 Diet and THRIVE: Energy Cookbook. Engine 2 gives you a great perspective on the science as to why a plant based diet has so many health benefits. It also does an excellent job debunking a lot of common myths, such as vegans not getting adequate protein. THRIVE: Energy Cookbook gives you a great list of whole, plant-based foods. It also explains the science behind foods helping reduce inflammation in the body which drastically speeds up recovery, as well as boosting performance. It has great detailed shopping lists as well as detailed simple recipes. Its a must for anyone who wants to eat clean amazing meals! As an athlete, I make it a priority that everything put into my body is going to improve my performance, help with recovery, as well as make me feel amazing. I'd also recommend some movies, including my personal favorites: Forks Over Knives, Vegucated, Food Inc., Supersize Me, and Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. Also, if you still have trouble trying to under the compassion side of being vegan then Earthlings is a must watch... fair warning you will want a tissue box and a loved one close by. What sports, activities, adventures do you do? Do you compete in any of them? My main activity and sport is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's one of the biggest motivating factors to me being vegan. Without Jiu-Jitsu in my life, I don't think I would have spent so much time and effort looking into nutrition, diets and becoming vegan. Plus, it's such a wonderful martial art in which the lessons gained apply to so many fields of life. I've competed twice so far: The IBJJF World Championship in 2011 and the IBJJF American National Championship in 2014. In addition to Jiu-Jitsu, I enjoy weight training as well as yoga. In order to be successful at Jiu-Jitsu you really have to take care of your body in all aspects. Yoga really helps me recover, stay loose, get flexible, as well as really learn how to properly control my breathing which is VITAL in any sport! I weight train because I feel it's a great supplement in Jiu-Jitsu as well as injury prevention. In weight training, you really want to take your time to focus on proper form and technique. Anyone who has done a martial art knows form, technique, and posture are essential. Weight training really helps with this and the extra strength is always a plus.
How does eating vegan improve your performance? I honestly feel amazing. From having more energy to not feeling so sore and tired, it's been a huge help in my sports performance. I've noticed I can push harder in my workouts, I have more stamina, and I don't tire as quickly. I've noticed that even when a workout starts to get intense, I don't have that feeling of over exertion and wanting to puke. When I'm on the mats, I feel my recovery rate between sparring sessions is much quicker. I feel like a new man ready to go. When I wake up in the morning my joints don't feel stiff or tired, my muscles will have some minor fatigue, and over all I just feel charged up and ready to go for another day of training!
How about bars and smoothies? I'm a person who's on the go and very busy so getting in clean and healthy bars is a must. My top 5 bars are: 1. Organic Food Bar Active Greens and Active Greens Chocolate 2. 22 Days Nutrition Nut Butter Buddha 3. Go Macro Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip 4. Larabar (I love way too many to pick a favorite) 5. Vega One Peanut Butter Chocolate For smoothies, I make a lot of my own at home. I love mixing fresh fruits and veggies with a great protein like Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Vanilla or Garden Of Life Raw Marley Blend Protein. Explain your nutrition routine. (Before, during, after) Pre workout: 1 cup coconut water, banana, coffee (1 tsp coconut oil, 1 tsp maca powder, 2 tsp coconut sugar, 2 tsp raw cacao) Post workout/Breakfast: Green smoothie (1 c coconut water, 1/2 c coconut milk, 1 tsp maca powder, 1 scoop Amazing Grass Raw Superfood Powder,1 tbsp white chia seeds, 1 scoop Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Vanilla, 1/2 c kale, 1 packet acai, 1/2 c blueberries, 1/2 c mango, 1/2 c pineapple, & 2 frozen bananas.) I top it with 1/4 cup Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Cereal OR Natures Path Hempseed Granola, 1 tbsp raw cashews, and 1 tbsp raw goji berries Snack: Larabar & almond butter or sunseed butter sandwich on sprouted grain bread with dates Lunch: Organic Food Bar Active Greens Raw Bar & 22 Days Nutrition Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Bar OR second smoothie similar to breakfast/post workout one. Snack 2: Two small bananas or one large Dinner: This varies on the day, but if I'm not at work I tend to love to make a nice meal. My goto favorite is Amy's Roasted Veggie Pizza with homemade Tofu Ricotta, Tempeh Sausage, and Cauliflower Mash on the side. If it's been a long/busy day I usually do a can of Amy's Vegan Chili with a grain I've prepped for the week (quinoa pasta, forbidden rice, multi- colored quinoa, and brown rice are some of my favorites), some Wildwood Sprouted Baked Tofu (teriyaki is my favorite!) and steamed veggies (usually brussels sprouts or cauliflower). What's your primary source of essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Chia Seeds! I love to keep my diet diverse by using flaxseeds as well as Vegan D3 Spray from Garden Of Life (a blend of pumpkin seed and cranberry seed oil.) What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Hemp Seeds Quinoa Soy Tempeh Chia Seeds Hemp Protein Powder Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein Powder What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Beans (all varieties) Wild Rice Brown Rice Chickpeas Ancient Grains Seeds Kale Broccoli What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? Take your time, do some research, and don't be afraid to experiment. Try a lot of different foods, find ones you like, eating clean as a vegan isn't hard or torturous. Thanks to Engine 2 Diet and THRIVE:Energy Cookbook, it's been VERY easy for me to adapt some of my favorites before I was vegan into healthy 100% plant based dishes. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people and ignore people who are going to tell you it's impossible to be a vegan athlete. Read books, go online, find helpful resources (my videos and Kristin's Blog are a great place to start) and most of all find some great restaurants and grocery stores in your area. All of these little things help make the transition so much easier. In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? Performing at the top of my game, being in peak shape, as well as practicing compassion and eliminating suffering for all living creatures on the planet. What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? My belief is one that a wise man once spoke many, MANY years ago: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” It's what my success and I feel all success boils down to. Staying humble, working hard, and creating positive habits that stick with you for the rest of your life.  Want to be interviewed for a future article?"Real, whole plant-based eating nourishes my body, running nourishes my soul!" - Carrie Weldy  Carrie Weldy is a vegan competitive distance runner from Phoenix, AZ who runs on team Sonoran Distance Project. Outside of her love of running, she also enjoys cycling, hiking and yoga. Carrie is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and vegan recipe developer, where she is always coming up with fun and creative plant-based meals! Checkout Carrie's website, Nourished Body and Soul, where she demonstrates how compassionate living can go hand in hand with being healthy and active. You can follow her on Twitter as well.
What are you go to choices for complete proteins (including all essential amino acids)? Hemp Seeds Quinoa Buckwheat Chia Seeds What are your other favorite plant proteins? Lentils Beans (all varieties) Wild Rice Brown Rice Chickpeas Swiss Chard Ancient Grains Seeds Kale Broccoli What essential tips do you have for athletes moving to 100% plant-based? Focus on ALL the great foods you CAN eat. Be patient, it may take some time to adjust. Don't worry what others think of you! In as few words as possible, what does being a VEGAN ATHLETE mean to you? I don't define myself by the way I eat but I have definitely found what makes me thrive & go after my running goals! What is your motto? Your mantra? Do you have a famous quote? Count nutrients not calories. It's about the journey and I just LOVE TO RUN! Want to be interviewed for a future article? |
Kristin WuhrmanOwner of BEVEGAN® Grassroots Health. Board Certified Holistic Health Coach. AKA Miss Bellevue Vegan. Plant-Based Health Consultant. Vegan Athlete. Outdoor Enthusiast. Outdoor Gear Reviewer. Author. Cotopaxi Local Ambassador. Animal Lover. Dreamer. Believer. Categories
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