Beyond-Brawn-2nd-Edition

BEYOND BRAWN
20.90 I thought it was possible to gain on a vegan diet. I believed it so strongly that
I was a vegan for four years during my early twenties. Not only did I find
it impossible to gain strength and development on a vegan diet, I found it
impossible to maintain what I already had. I persisted with training as well
as I could, and I ate sufficient calories to even gain bodyfat (so I was not
deficient in calories), and I paid attention to balancing the shortcomings in
amino acid profiles. But it still did not work.
20.91 Veganism was a calamity for me, and on hindsight I wonder how I persisted
with it for four years before coming to my senses. I had tried to convince
myself that size and strength were unimportant, that health was where it
was at, and that shrinking to about 130 pounds was okay because I was
“healthy”. at “health” precluded any demanding exercise because of the
severe soreness I suffered in some joints following any heavy work. Activities
which used to be very easy became impossible, even in a watered down form,
e.g., I could not jog very short distances on a giving surface without suffering
severe joint soreness, let alone actually run.
20.92 Perhaps I was an extreme example, but adding animal protein—initially
just a few eggs a day—made me feel like I had been given a new body. It was
miraculous. Almost immediately I could do what previously was impossible,
and do it without any negative reactions. I was slowly but gradually able
to build back size and strength. I believe even to this day that I still suffer
from some reduction in the hardness of my joints as a result of the four-year
period of veganism.
20.93 I have known of no one who, on a vegan diet, was able to gain (not re-gain)
a large amount of muscle and might. But I know of a number of vegans
who woefully failed to build any significant size and strength. I would never
advise anyone to combine veganism and intensive weight training. ey are
diametrically opposed, at least for the huge majority of people. But a lactoovo
vegetarian should be able to build size and strength without problems
if he trains properly and includes enough animal protein from eggs and/or
diary products. Some fish in the diet is a wise addition, especially fish rich in
essential fatty acids, but meat and fowl are not necessities. I have not eaten
meat or fowl for nearly twenty years, but during that time I was able to build
considerable strength, including deadlifting 400 pounds for 20 rest-pause
reps.
420