March 19, 2024

Review: Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness By Robert Cheeke

Before I begin this review, I feel it’s important to share some information about myself. Let me start off by saying that I am not a bodybuilder. SURPRISE! I am not a meathead or a jock, and no one could ever consider me “ripped.” But I would like to think I stay in shape. I hit up the gym on a semi regular basis and have some knowledge about eating right and lifting nutrition. That is enough of a foot in the door to fully understand this book by Robert Cheeke. While it was written with bodybuilders in mind, it isn’t so far out of the realm of reality that a little guy like me can gain a better understanding of myself from it.

That was my initial worry going into this book. I was afraid it would be full of charts and gram measurements of how much protein was required per hour. If you’ve ever sat down with a bodybuilding book or magazine, you know what I’m saying. This book is different. For one thing, it’s a book centered on veganism. That automatically sets it apart. Instead of saying, “eat chicken breasts and tuna,” he actually breaks down ALL the protein sources. And it’s more than that. He breaks down proper nutrition for ANY athlete from full meals to supplements to recovery drinks. This includes menus for raw vegans, as well as those with soy or gluten intolerances.

The menus are a key element to this book. He gives excellent breakdowns for pre and post workout meals, pre and post competition meals (I’m sure you could tweak these for races or other sporting activities), bulking, toning, fat burning, … you name it, he’s covered it. Just prepare for that 6 meal a day lifestyle before embarking on this one.

Robert’s Top 10 tips and lists are also a great addition. With each tip list, he succinctly wraps up the chapter with great takeaway information. I find myself agreeing with a lot of his top ten lists, except his west coast bias and his shunning of NYC. Even if you’ve never been to NYC, you have to put it in your top ten vegan friendly spots. I’ll cut him some slack since he’s never been there .. ha.

If that doesn’t win you over, I could always just name drop John Joseph (author of Meat Is For Pussies, ironman in training, cro mag). He gives this book thumbs up. What more can you ask for? You can pick up your copy on Amazon. Now step away from the computer, do 45 squats, eat a cup of pea protein and go get that book!

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