I've never seen a "muscular" vegan...

I'm new to this whole vegan lifestyle and all and realized today that I have never seen a very 'muscular' vegan or veggie, like ever. I mean yes they have muscle (so do all humans) but in generally they are less toned than other (meat eaters). I generally am a very built person and have been since the day I was born (with or w/o working out). Please don't attack me for questioning this. I would really appreciate some help! Thanks!

Perhaps it's because it's more difficult for vegetarians to consume a good-sized amount of protein as opposed to meat eaters.

I think UFC fighters count as muscular :) http://www.peta2.com/outthere/o_mac_danzig_uf c.asp

I think it is more likely that women tend to be vegan, and are generally less muscular. Also, a lot of coaches and other resources for building muscle push animal flesh as necessary for that type of body. 

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/

http://www.vegetarianbodybuilder.com/

yeah check out the links provided above! i hear about vegan body builders all the time. also, i'm vegan, and i've got tons of muscle tone (not to "toot my own horn" or anything). ;P

You should check out this link to a BBC programme called 'The Truth About Food'.  In an effort to find out if food choices affect performance they took an athlete called Colin Jackson and tested his performance before and after 8 weeks of vegetarianism.  At the same time they asked 11 female vegetarian martial artists to do the reverse.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutf ood/best/martialveggies.shtml 

That study seems flawed at best. If you want to determine if animal proteins are superior, you need to get people similar amounts of protein and iron. If you look at the veg meals, most seem to be lacking a protein source.  We shouldn't be surprised that atheletes that eat protein preform better than those who get very little.  Some of the meals look well balanced (veg chilli vs meat chilli), but others like vegfie pasta vs pasta w/ tuna, veggie couscous vs couscous w/ veggies and chicken seem like meat meals - the meat instead of what a vegetarian athlete who is concerned with their protein level would choose.

A muscular build has more to do with exercise than diet.  In order to build muscle you only need to eat just a little more protein than what is required to meet your daily needs.  If you want to build a pound of muscle a month you would need to eat 15-20 grams more protein daily than your body requires for daily upkeep.  This is not difficult for a vegan it just requires a little planning.  The diet will end up being bean heavy unless you really increase calorie burn so you can eat a lot of food.  I have been vegan for 6 months and I certainly have not lost any muscle from it and I find that my energy levels have been a lot more sustained.  To be muscular you have to work for it, regardless of your diet.

Davey Havok has a fair bit of muscle, and is vegan.

And gorgeous, but thats besides the point ;)

Rich Roll

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Endurance-Spor ts-Examiner~y2009m7d21-Rich-Roll-goes-from-mi serable-man-to-Ultraman-to-fittest-man-to-CNN

I have...

But he was like, the World's Strongest Vegan or something.

Needless to say, he probably had a fast enough metabolism to eat enough peanut butter to get all that protein and be that huge xD.

My goal isn't to get muscular anyways...I don't wanna be like those bodybuilding women who scare people. I don't have the ability to lift enough weights, or the testosterone to get there though.

I am a vegetarian. I think. I eat eggs almost daily, eat dairy everyday and fish occasionally. I get my protein from eggs, milk, grains and yogurt mainly. Otherwise lots of fruit and veggies. I am very muscular. At the moment I am 117.5 lbs and 5'1. Lots of beef :)

'vegan' is no dairy....

Original Post by puppyluff:

I have...

But he was like, the World's Strongest Vegan or something.

Needless to say, he probably had a fast enough metabolism to eat enough peanut butter to get all that protein and be that huge xD.

My goal isn't to get muscular anyways...I don't wanna be like those bodybuilding women who scare people. I don't have the ability to lift enough weights, or the testosterone to get there though.

 Peanut butter is actually not a very good source of protein as it has a lot of fat.  Vegans need to eat lots of beans and lentils if they want to build muscle.  Peanut butter taste good though.

My friend Ed is a personal trainer and has been vegan for 15 years. He is huge and ripped. His pictures will be up on veganbodybuilding.com very soon, so check back!