How can a vegan gain muscle?

NowIFeelYa

I haven't had any meat,eggs or cheese in over a month, I bought some whey protein and creatine recently are they going to help? Once I get muscles do I need to start eating more calories? I went from 15lb dumbbells to 25 in a month but that was before I stopped eating meat. I just started lifting again (seriously) tonight. I bench pressed the other day for the first time and managed 75lbs but only for five times. Is it hard to gain muscle while losing weight? I want to be lean for the Summer.

erickirb

whey is a milk product, therefore not part of a vegan diet.

That said, essentially to gain any noticable amount of muscle you will need a caloric surplus (eating above maintenance calories) and would want adequate protein doesnt matter the source.

And heavy lifting with very little to no cardio.

louise294

Look at Doug Graham's Youtube channel FoodnSport

Dr Doug Graham advocates a raw vegan diet for muscle gain

louise294

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rh4JF3DwGY&list=PLC61997ABAC0ACF11

MeanderingMammal

I haven't had any meat,eggs or cheese in over a month, I bought some whey protein and creatine recently are they going to help? Once I get muscles do I need to start eating more calories? I went from 15lb dumbbells to 25 in a month but that was before I stopped eating meat. I just started lifting again (seriously) tonight. I bench pressed the other day for the first time and managed 75lbs but only for five times. Is it hard to gain muscle while losing weight? I want to be lean for the Summer.

Your objectives sound a bit confused, so this is based on what I think you're asking. I'd note that you perhaps ned to do some more research on a vegan diet, it's perfectly possible to improve your fitness and gain lean mass on a vegan diet, but you need to be clear about what you want from it. You also need to be clear on what's vegan and what's not. Soy based protein supplements are vegan suitable, whey based products aren't.

To retain lean muscle whilst losing weight you need to do resistance training as well as eat sufficient protein.

To gain lean muscle you need to be doing more resistance training whilst eating at your maintenance level or above it. So it all depends where in that cyce you currently are, as to what the best approach is going to be.
l
As far as your protein intake as a vegan, it's challenging. It's difficult enough from a vegetarian perspective. You're predominantly looking at pulses, tofu, quinoa, nuts, edamame, mushrooms, spinach, brocolli, hemp seeds or milk, soy milk, almond milk. Lots of volume of all of those though.

Shropshire1959

lrmall01

Here is a short read that is pretty informative, IMHO.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/vegetarianism/

NowIFeelYa

thanks everyone I guess I will just be a vegetarian and still take the whey and not vegan. It's not bad not eating meat, most of people I know that are big meat eaters think I'm crazy for not eating it but I get more energy from vegetables and fruits and such.

ottermotorcycle

- Yes, it is hard to gain muscle while losing weight. Actually, it's an incredibly slow process that takes place over the course of months known as body recomposition. You can make improvements in your strength and I do encourage you to keep lifting as it will help to preserve your muscle, but at a significant deficit (more than .5lb/week) you're not going to see much, if any, actual muscle gain.
- Whey is a milk product. If you do want to go vegan, there are hemp and soy protein powders on the market that you can mix with your rice/soy/almond milk.
- A quick search will help you find your vegan protein sources. Stick to them and meet your protein goals. I know you get your energy in the carbs from fruits and vegetables, but you need protein and fat too. Certain vegetables are higher in protein, certain dairy alternatives are higher in protein, certain nuts and beans are higher in protein. You've got to make your choices around that.

If you're not serious about a vegan diet, I wouldn't bother. If it's something you feel strongly about, you'll find a way to make it work.

chocolate_moose

If you want to gain muscle you have to build muscle by lifting weights. As for food, you also want to make sure you're eating enough protein. Whey protein is made from dairy, you want a vegan protein. Consider talking to a personal trainer for weight training and a dietitian for healthy vegan/vegetarian food options.

QuietBloom

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

TheGymGypsy

thanks everyone I guess I will just be a vegetarian and still take the whey and not vegan. It's not bad not eating meat, most of people I know that are big meat eaters think I'm crazy for not eating it but I get more energy from vegetables and fruits and such.

There are some really awesome vegan protein powders on the market that are just as good. Check out Vega, Garden of Life, and Plant Fusion.

TheGymGypsy

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

Gorillas in captivity are fed about 15-20 pounds of fruits and vegetables every day, no meat.

runner475

whey is a milk product, therefore not part of a vegan diet.

That said, essentially to gain any noticable amount of muscle you will need a caloric surplus (eating above maintenance calories) and would want adequate protein doesnt matter the source.

And heavy lifting with very little to no cardio.

OP wants to be leaner, lose weight and gain muscle.

Your suggestion looks like is for bulking.

MapleFlavouredMaiden

Look at Doug Graham's Youtube channel FoodnSport

Dr Doug Graham advocates a raw vegan diet for muscle gain

Cause everyone knows that blindly following a youtube guru is the answer to alllll your problems. smh

You need to be in a surplus. You might see gains as a beginner but being "vegan" will make that much harder for you.

sgadacz1

I personally like to use Shakeology Vegan Chocolate. Great source of protein as well as a meal/snack replacement. FULL of nutrition. Read about it for yourself.

MapleFlavouredMaiden

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

Gorillas in captivity are fed about 15-20 pounds of fruits and vegetables every day, no meat.

Sure..... and they succumb to disease and are unhealthy. Funny you use this as evidence because it's been shown that when they return to their wild diet, they do much better health wise.

TheGymGypsy

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

Gorillas in captivity are fed about 15-20 pounds of fruits and vegetables every day, no meat.

Sure..... and they succumb to disease and are unhealthy. Funny you use this as evidence because it's been shown that when they return to their wild diet, they do much better health wise.

I'm just saying they don't NEED meat, I'm not suggesting it's evidence for anything, it's just a fact. And I'd like to see YOUR proof that gorillas on a plant based diet are sickly and diseased. This is soooo off topic btw.

Unknown

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jofjltncb6

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

Gorillas in captivity are fed about 15-20 pounds of fruits and vegetables every day, no meat.

Horses don't eat meat, but I don't understand how that's relevant.



And the answer to the question posed in the topic title is:

Slowly.

skullshank

I personally like to use Shakeology Vegan Chocolate. Great source of protein as well as a meal/snack replacement. FULL of nutrition. Read about it for yourself.

did you PM the OP your pitch yet?
i havent actually seen one before.....mind pasting it here?

DaddieCat

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/

The Forums on this site will be helpful. Robert Cheeke's book is also good. Having been vegan for a very long time, I have no problems gaining muscle mass on my diet. But it does involve eating to macros and at a surplus. Find a good lifting program, eat to surplus, and hit your macros and you'll accomplish muscle gain slowly. Be patient and good luck.

jonnythan

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

Gorillas in captivity are fed about 15-20 pounds of fruits and vegetables every day, no meat.

Pump a human vegan full of test and tren and whatever else and he'll pack on muscle mass too.

News flash: people aren't gorillas.

mantium999

To the OP. It appears you are trying to dive head first into a diet/lifestyle that you are unfamiliar with. Many successful people are vegans or vegetarians or meat eaters or combination of various intakes. I would suggest you take some time educating yourself on various options.

BigVeggieDream

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

No they don't. They eat mostly foliage with the occasional fruit.

Lofteren

Cute. But gorillas DO eat meat.

No they don't. They eat mostly foliage with the occasional fruit.

'

They also contain different digestive flora which enable them to break down cellulose which is, of course, a protein! Humans do not and cannot support this digestive flora.

OP, you do realize whey protein comes from dairy products right? If you want to gain any appreciable amount of muscle you are going to AT LEAST have to add dairy to your diet. There really isn't any way around it.

Think about it this way. If you are going to build a log cabin what do you need?

Logs....

Lofteren

thanks everyone I guess I will just be a vegetarian and still take the whey and not vegan. It's not bad not eating meat, most of people I know that are big meat eaters think I'm crazy for not eating it but I get more energy from vegetables and fruits and such.

There are some really awesome vegan protein powders on the market that are just as good. Check out Vega, Garden of Life, and Plant Fusion.

You should also check out their "really awesome" hormonal side effects that mimic menopause in women and cause gynecymastia and reduced libido in men.

chrisdavey

Is OP a gorilla?

Laughter_Girl

Bump

I'm not a vegan, and neither is the OP (Seems we're both vegetarians.), but some of the information may be helpful. I especially enjoyed the debate about whether or not gorillas are vegetarians. :laugh:

jonnythan

Cellulose is a carb BTW. Indigestible polysaccharide.

George_Baileys_Ghost