Famous Vegans - Robert Cheeke

Robert Cheeke,
Natural Bodybuilding Competition, 2009.

Robert Cheeke

Born March 2, 1980. He is a vegan bodybuilder, activist, motivational speaker and author. He became a competitive bodybuilder in 2000. In 2005, he took the title of INBA Northwestern USA Natural Bodybuilding Overal Novice Champion. In 2009 he took first place in his class at the Northwestern USA Natural Bodybuilding Championships.

In 2002, he started Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, a company dedicated to promoting vegan fitness and lifestyle, empowering vegan athletes, and living by the words "healthy food defines you". He is the author of the 2010 book Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness and appeared in the 2006 video Vegan Fitness Built Naturally. He is the National representative for Vega, a line of vegan foods developed by Brendan Brazier. You can find his website at this link.

He grew up on a farm in Oregon, surrounded by farm animals. Members of his family where faculty at a local university's animal science program teaching people how to produce animals for food production. He became vegetarian after helping his older sister Tanya organize an Animal Rights Week in their school. Ten months later he became vegan.

Quotes by Robert Cheeke:

"Vegan Bodybuilding is NOT an Oxymoron."

"The most important recommendation I have for people who want to to start vegan bodybuilding and build muscle, is to continue with the same calories but simply use plant calories instead. ... The biggest mistake and a common problem I see, is that people simply start avoiding animal calories, but don't replace these with proper plant calories. That's when they experience weight and muscle loss, and they feel tired."

"I definitely have more energy, an easier digestion, increased metabolism, and much reduced recovery time after workouts. I have less inflammations, can train harder and faster, and my heart and joints are much healthier - there is really nothing negative I can think of as being a vegan athlete."

"As a vegan bodybuilder, I want to show others that it is possible to gain significant muscle and strength on a vegan diet and I want to inspire others to follow this lifestyle. I love being vegan and knowing that I am having a positive impact on our society."

"My mission with vegan bodybuilding is to reduce animal suffering and to promote the ideas of caring and compassion."

"I always had a love and appreciation for animals, and from an early age, I was concerned about their well-being."

"Once you open your eyes to the cruel realities that animals endure in farm factories, test labs, etc., you become more compassionate towards everything around you, and start making a difference for those who suffer. This benefits not only yourself, but also every other life you are touching."

"If there is a question vegans hear more than any other, it is, How do you get your protein? I often respond by asking the individual if they know anyone with a protein deficiency. Protein is found in nearly all foods and they are abundant in seeds, nuts, legumes, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods. "

"In North America, we are taught from a young age to believe that the only good sources of protein come from animals. This is simply not true. In fact, it is proven by scores of scientific studies that plant-based sources of protein are easier for the human body to digest and absorb. Plus plant-based foods do not come with many of the negative health implications associated with a diet rich in animal protein such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease."

"My protein comes primarily from hemp, tofu, tempeh, beans, nuts, seeds, grains, rice, fruits and vegetables. By getting my protein from a wide variety of sources, I am ensuring my body receives a balance of essential amino acids."

"Though I try to get as much protein as possible from whole foods, I often supplement with plant-based protein powders to help me meet my target of 1.5g of protein per pound of bodyweight for building muscle mass. My favorite protein powder source is hemp."

"Keep in mind that a high protein diet can be taxing on the liver and kidneys so it is important to drink a lot of water."

"When I am on the run and don't have time to prepare a meal, I take a complete plant-based whole food meal replacement called Vega. Formulated by Brendan Brazier, a professional Ironman triathlete and fellow vegan. ... I also snack on Vega raw energy bars before and after workouts for an extra boost."

"I have been drug-free my entire life including alcohol."

"Too many people lack the motivation and optimism to maintain their health due to simply being unhappy. Most people don’t realize that exercise is more than a treadmill; exercise can be dancing, exercise can be walking your dog, playing soccer, swimming, whatever! It’s not just throwing weights around in a gym unless you like to throw weights around in a gym."

Robert Cheeke also helps to promote the movie Forks Over Knives as a marketing associate.

"This is the single most important movie that everyone should see - vegan or not. Forks Over Knives can literally save lives and has already proven to have a major impact on people and how they choose to prevent or reverse diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and more."

Quotes are from a 2007 article on his website, his 2010 interview with Vegan Mainstream, his 2011 interview with Bluey's Snippets and a 2011 interview with Belsandia.