By Brent Hauver

My buddy and business partner, Nick, lives an unusual combination of lifestyles— he is both a bodybuilder and a vegetarian! I use the term “unusual,” because in most people’s minds the two cannot co-exist. Nick’s story began over 40 years ago when as a young teen, he came across a book entitled “The Miracles of Juice Fasting.” He was inspired by what he learned and developed a keen interest in nutrition. Much to the amusement of his friends, he began vegetable juicing and his new habit quickly earned him the nickname of “Natureboy!”

Shortly thereafter, Nick was introduced to the world of competitive bodybuilding where consuming massive amounts of meat and dairy was the staple diet. His “Natureboy” ways fell by the wayside as he competed as a professional bodybuilder for the next several years. Things were going well and even when his competitive career ended in his early 30’s, he continued to train passionately. But, as he approached his 40’s, he had a wake-up call. His body began to feel toxic. His life was consumed by constant aches and pains and he lacked motivation, strength and endurance. It was at this point that Nick decided to live the ultimate “green” lifestyle by returning to a plant-based diet. After only a short while, he noticed a significant difference. He was able to reverse his toxic, acidic condition from the years of over consumption of meat and dairy, to a more alkaline sense of wellness. His energy and vitality returned! Today he is 58, and feels younger than when he was in his 40’s.

My friend, Nick, is living proof of the miracles that can be had by this lifestyle. He firmly believes that an athlete can add years to his/her career by adopting a plant-based diet, but recognizes that most are afraid of the unknown and are unwilling to change socially accepted norms. These days Nick’s goal is to enlighten mainstream attitudes towards plant-based nutrition and in doing so he is passionate about mentoring others. Recently, he coached his friend, Pat, through an incredible weight loss transformation and transition to a plant-based diet, and created a documentary of the process (see www.thepatproject.com). In the beginning, Pat weighed over 350 lbs, had very low testosterone levels (160-170 range), very high blood pressure and chronic lower back pain. He had spent the previous two years on muscle relaxers and was addicted to prescription drugs. The final results of Pat’s transformation were astounding! He lost a total of 144 lbs and managed to raise his testosterone levels naturally to a 600-700 range. His blood pressure is normal, his lower back pain is gone, and he is off all prescription medications. Surprisingly, he even put on muscle and doubled his strength levels all while following a plant-based diet.

If you are thinking about converting to a plant-based diet, it is important to note a few things. You should start the transition slowly. Your body will go through various cleansing phases, and you may notice your strength levels decrease. That is nature’s healing process paving the way to a higher level of health and vitality. You may go through several such stages before your body is ready to respond by putting on clean, healthy muscle. Don’t get discouraged! It’s a misconception that plant-based proteins are inferior to animal protein sources. A superior plant-based protein is more potent and absorbable than the same amount of other non-living animal proteins. You will get results and your patience will pay off several times over as you enjoy a lifetime of good health.

Brent Hauver is a Holistic Health Researcher who owns and operates Sage Health and Empowerment Center in Overton, NV.