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When it comes to a commitment to get healthier or lose weight with a vegan diet and exercise, having the support of an exercise buddy, team, or group can increase your accountability and motivation. And that – research shows - builds success.
While the diet and fitness ‘industry’ make seem rife with carnism, (they are), and you may feel like you are swimming upstream with your commitment to eat plant-based while building health in body and mind, there are resources for you, too. A lot of them. Here’s a starter list to get you going.
Vegan Food & Fitness
The Plant-Based Fitness Expert Website & Blog: Yours truly is solidly grounded in bringing you the most informed and best of the best when it comes to how to build your health and craft a strong, fit body. You don’t need extreme workouts or magic protein powders to get there. And you don’t need to go hungry or exercise like a maniac, either. A simple, whole foods, plant-based diet with a sound, challenging yet balanced workout program is all you need. If this appeals to you, then this is the place to get the skinny, ask questions, and stay informed. Come by and tell me what you want to see even more of.
Vegan Super Fitness Group on facebook: This is a great group for those who like to train hard – thus the term ‘super fitness’. It’s not in the ‘rules’, yet from my observations there are a lot of raw fooders in this thriving group and maybe that’s right up your alley.
The Plant-Based Fitness Expert on Facebook: updates, quick Q & A, and connections regarding all things healthy vegan diet, moving your body, and mindset about it all.
Vegan on $4 a day: with Ellen Jaffe Jones, ‘the Veg Coach’ and advocate of vegan diet fitness has been featured before right here on Vegan Mainstream.
Vegan BodyBuilding & Fitness: A little more hardcore, yet maybe that’s your thing. If you are an iron-pumper, check it out.
Healthy Vegan Diet
The Plant-Based Dietitican on Facebook: stay connected with the latest updates from author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
McDougall Health & Medical Center: Rich in resources, archived newsletters, and deeply supported forums including “Ask dietitian Jeff Novick, RD”, and yours truly in the Plant-Based Fitness Expert Category. McDougall is not labelled ‘vegan’ per se as ‘vegan’ doesn’t imply healthy (we’ve talked about that before here:How To Eat Vegan, Be Healthy And Stay Trim: Fitness Expert Lani Muelrath) though McDougall is all about a healthy whole foods, low fat plant-based diet. Vegans are right at home here.
Engine 2 Diet: The ‘Daily Beet Blog’ is a place you can count on for food plans, recipes, special guest spots, inspiration, and healthy tips.
Fat Free Vegan: Susan Voisin’s “sinlessly delicious’ blog is also a thriving community with the best darn food photos on the web – and she takes them herself of her own amazing preparations. The emphasis is on low fat healthy vegan cooking and Susan is available to answer your questions right on the conversational blog.
Healthy Girl’s Kitchen: Wendy’s site is “the culinary and life adventures of a formerly fat girl just trying to stay healthy in the body and in the mind.” Wendy’s popular site is, as Fat Free Vegan, a great place for idea exchange and cheery support.
This is a starter list. Have you a community-oriented resource for vegan health and fitness to share? Please tell about it in comments below.
Lani Muelrath, M.A. is Vegan Mainstream’s Health & Fitness Expert. Watch for regular articles from Lani on how to be a strong, healthy, fit vegan. Articles, videos, and more from Lani at www.lanimuelrath.com.
Lani is also “The Plant-Based Fitness Expert” of www.lanimuelrath.com and creator of Fit Quickies™., The Body Transformation Formula, and Boot Camp Mind. She has a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and over 30 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and trainer. She has received awards for her instruction, created and starred in her own CBS TV Show, and her expertise in the area of health and fitness is called upon by examiner.com, Dr. John McDougall’s Health and Medical Center, Dr. Neal Barnard’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart program, the CHIP Program, and Engine 2 Diet.com. She is Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition Certification through Cornell University.
