Vegetarian Athlete

I have a number of vegetarian athletes as clients and one of the high school coaches was asking me about one of the boys on the team who eats a plant based diet. The coach was concerned that this high school senior might not be getting enough protein. When I asked why he was concerned, he said that he became aware of it when this senior requested a vegan meal at a recent team breakfast at a local restaurant. The coach was concerned that the student needed animal protein. When I asked about this athletes performance, the coach acknowledged that this young man is one of the best players on the team and probably the most physically fit and one of the strongest. The coaches concern was based on his lack of knowledge, not on facts. I provided the coach with some resources for plant-based nutrition. As we talked, the coach acknowledged that he has struggled with his weight for a number of years. We talked and he scheduled a free weight loss consultation. Whether you are spending 5 minutes on the treadmill or are going for a 200 mile bike ride, you can get all the nutrition you need from a plant-based diet.

Here are some excellent resources for active vegetarians:

The Vegetarian Athlete Diet

Vegetarian Protein Foods

Protein Content in Selected Vegan Foods

5 Warning Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Protein: A Guest Post from No Meat Athlete

A vegetarian diet for endurance athletes is really not all that different from a normal (healthy) diet, with the exception, of course, of the meat.  If you’re switching from eating McDonald’s every day, then sure, it’s going to take some getting used to.  But if you eat lots of nutritious, whole foods as it is, there really aren’t all that many adjustments you need to make to go vegetarian.

When I ran marathons, and now as a distance cyclist, I have learned about how to pay attention to my body and how to adequately keep it fueled. I know that the night before I ride 100 miles or more I need to eat pasta or other carbohydrates. Throughout my ride I eat raisins, bananas, oranges, corn tortillas and new potatoes. I eat small amounts of food frequently.  And, I drink lots of water making sure that I am hydrated. (I learned the hard way by hitting the wall because I had not eaten and drank enough).

Of course, hypnosis can help you eat for the best of your abilities and I hope that you are using hypnosis for your sports performance. Self-hypnosis can make the difference for you.

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