Featured Athlete – Richard Campbell

Name: Richard Campbell

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What is your diet/lifestyle? VEGAN!!!

What attracted you to being vegan? I was attracted to the vegan lifestyle for moral, ethical & spiritually reasons. Living a vegan lifestyle feels right for the mind body & soul.

Which sports & activities are your passionate about? I am very passionate about bodybuilding/strength training!!!

What is one of your greatest athletic moments? One of my greatest athletic moments was in the summer of 2013 I had the opportunity to meet Kai Greene.

What goal(s) do you currently have, and how do you plan on achieving it? I am planning to compete in a Natural Bodybuilding Organization Competition in 2014. I just recently starting my growing season program(no such thing as a off season, always working to improve my physique) to be able to achieve my goal to compete for the 2014 season.

What is your favorite fuel before activity? My favorite fuel before training is oatmeal with peanut butter, banana and maple syrup

What is your favorite food for recovery? My favorite recovery food is a black bean pita with Spanish, Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Green Peppers, Mushrooms, Pickles, Hot Peppers, Jalapenos, Alfalfa Sprouts and a lot of Mustard.

What/Who inspires you? Many athletes inspire me vegan and non vegan. I would have to say as a vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke and Torre Washington inspire me the most. Another bodybuilder who inspires is Dickens Lambert who is also from Canada like myself.

What is a random fact about you that people might not know? I wear size 13 shoe!!!

Describe yourself with the first 3 words that come to mind!: Humble, Real and Dedicated

What advice would you give to an athlete looking to go vegan?

Do your research on veganism/vegan diets
Get support from like-minded people
Take your time to be able to make this transition work, some people see themselves as committed vegans immediately, but work it out over a period of a few months to make the transition easier
Find variety in your diet so you don’t get bored of the same foods
Get involve in social media support groups/ holding a social
Know your limits in regards to training
Try new things, always keeps it fresh

Complete this sentence: I am a Meat Free Athlete because being a meat free athlete is a way of life a livity for me. (Livity means life. Livity means love. Livity means loving other people in the same way you love yourself. Livity means being connected to the life source, the earth, and everything that sustains it).

Thank you Richard for sharing your journey!