What does it take to be a bodybuilder? Hard work in the gym, dedication, a proper mindset, and plenty of protein! But what if you are Vegan? Is it possible to compete with all of the meat-eaters? Well, Wes Patterson not only competed with them but beat out most of them in one of the biggest bodybuilding competitions in the world!
Joey Thurman:
Bodybuilding and being a vegan, Wes, that doesn't really go hand in hand, does it?
Wes Patterson:
I know. A lot of people, they don't believe it, so I had to bring it to light.
Joey Thurman:
Why go vegan? It seems a little bit counterintuitive to wanting to put on as much muscle tissue as possible.
Wes Patterson:
Well, I did it for health reasons. I was suffering from some digestive issues. When I get to the gym, I felt so strong. I felt so good, my skin, everything. I just never felt this feeling before.
Wes Patterson:
In March, I competed in the Arnold, one of the biggest bodybuilding shows in the world, placed top three. Me, being a believer in myself and my abilities, I'm like, "Okay, I'm going to go in as a vegan and I'm going to compete against these guys at the top level that I can, and I'm going to bring home some hardware," and I did that.
Joey Thurman:
Did you bite it when you got it?
Wes Patterson:
Oh yeah, I had to.
Joey Thurman:
What most excites you about the plant-based industry now?
Wes Patterson:
It's growing. It's growing. I feel like it was so small and just secret. Now I feel like we're coming out. We're coming out strong. We believe into the vegan community. We're supporting each other. It's a big community, and now grocery stores, restaurants are catering more to vegans.