Vegan Personal Trainer by Dan Fivey

I become a monster when I have an empty stomach so I graze most of the day. I listen to my body and eat what it tells me to. Sometimes that’s a lot of fruits and veggies, sometimes it’s a big chunk of tofu. I do try to balance things. But I love soya ice cream, chocolate soya milk, and marmite rice cakes. I run so I can eat them. 

My advice for other gluten free/veggie athletes:

Regardless of whether you’re gluten-free or not, you have to find the foods that work for you. It takes time and dedication, but anyone who wants to be healthy has to try it.

There are a lot of picky eaters out there, and they are scared that their choice of foods would be all but demolished. But the gluten-free diet will push you out of your comfort zone and I’ve tried so many new, delicious foods that I could have been eating all along.

Try to include a protein source and a fruit or veggie at every meal.  This is a biggie, actually. Especially the veggie bit. Produce is good for us for so many reasons, not the least being as celiacs, there some vitamins in those leafy greens we could really use. To get in the recommended servings per day, you'd best be eating something at each meal. Unless you want to eat an entire head of cabbage in one sitting. I've done it. Don't do it. Trust me on that one. Anyhow-you don’t have to try to get creative and actually incorporate it into your meal proper if you don't want to. Have a side of sliced peppers, or a bowl of green beans. My boy eats his veggies first, to "get it out of the way so He can enjoy his food." That's OK. Just eat 'em.

Protein is needed for everyone, and it's also got a laundry list of positive attributes. Here's a couple. Protein gives a high sense of satiety when you have a fairly high level of intake. (Satiety-what a great word, eh? Satiety=fancy word for makes for you feel fuller.) Also, protein is necessary for tissue remodeling and production. To wit, to help heal your gut and your muscles. Good stuff! Veggies+Protein=happy celiac. Ok, so I simplify a bit. 

Potatoes –white, red, sweet, etc

Grits

Rice (brown, white, wild, red, go nuts!)

Rice pasta (gluten free)

Oatmeal

Cereal-low fat high fiber is a good choice

Beans –the musical fruit is actually a high fiber complex carb source

Quinoa –pronounced “keen-wa” tastes better than it spells, can be made and eaten savory or sweet

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Courgette

Green Beans

Spinach

Romaine Lettuce

Mushrooms

Tomatoes (yes, I know, technically a fruit but gimme a break here)

Asparagus

Artichokes (the canned hearts are truly yummy in salads)

Celery

Cucumber

Fennel (also truly yummy sliced thinly in a salad)

Hopefully this gives all you runners/athletes some ideas!  Like I said, this is by no means an all inclusive list, these are just the items I’ve tried and used.  Please leave a comment if there is something else you use and like!

Vegan Fiona Oakes won the Great North Run 2010 “Women’s Masses” race in 1 hr 20 min 51 sec. Fiona finished ahead of former 10K World Champion and Olympic silver medallist, Liz McColgan (1 h 25 m 9 s), six other Elite Women and seven of the Elite Men. Fiona, and her ‘Team Vegan’ colleagues, comprehensively smashed the tired old myth of the 'weedy vegan'. 

Amanda Baker from The Vegan Society says, “This proves that good vegan diets can support impressive athletic achievement. Carl Lewis partly credits his ‘best year as

an athlete ever!’ to his vegan diet in 1991.”

Fiona Oakes says, “My extraordinarily physically demanding lifestyle dictates that I need a very balanced and high quality diet to sustain my levels of fitness and endurance. This is where I believe my veganism has helped me the most.” Fiona is an Elite marathon runner, despite having a replacement right knee and crumbled knee-caps.

Written by Dan Fivey www.danfiveypersonaltraining.co.uk - Great Trainer, great friend and all round top bloke.