News
The Vegan Body Builder
Most body builders eat a lot of red meat and chicken to build muscle, but Lee Ah Yen Faatoia has to do things a little differently as a vegan.
Faatoia, who has Chinese and Samoan heritage, wants the Polynesian community to be exposed to more examples of healthy eating. "I grew tired of seeing my relatives die from heart attacks, diabetes and cancer.
"Most Polynesians are always concerned that they'll lose strength and size if they become vegan. This is my way to contribute to my community, by explaining and showing them you can be big without meat."
Currently, Faatoia exercises for three hours a day, six days a week. Often getting up at 4am to squeeze in his intense work outs. He always makes sure he includes boxing and martial arts in his training as he doesn't want to be "big for nothing".
He intends to enter his first bodybuilding competition in 2019.
"I get protein from broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas, a lot of beans and lentils, quinoa. There's actually quite a lot in them," Faatoia told the Herald.
"I really love eating my vegetables, lucky for me I love my broccoli."
A key part of his philosophy Faatoia wanted to emphasis was this quote he holds dear - "It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice". He said that message underpinned the fundamentals of veganism as not using animal products was the kindest thing you could do for all creatures.
"That's the whole point of veganism, it's important to be kind and nice to everyone."
Faatoia, who has Chinese and Samoan heritage, wants the Polynesian community to be exposed to more examples of healthy eating. "I grew tired of seeing my relatives die from heart attacks, diabetes and cancer.
"Most Polynesians are always concerned that they'll lose strength and size if they become vegan. This is my way to contribute to my community, by explaining and showing them you can be big without meat."
Currently, Faatoia exercises for three hours a day, six days a week. Often getting up at 4am to squeeze in his intense work outs. He always makes sure he includes boxing and martial arts in his training as he doesn't want to be "big for nothing".
He intends to enter his first bodybuilding competition in 2019.
"I get protein from broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas, a lot of beans and lentils, quinoa. There's actually quite a lot in them," Faatoia told the Herald.
"I really love eating my vegetables, lucky for me I love my broccoli."
A key part of his philosophy Faatoia wanted to emphasis was this quote he holds dear - "It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice". He said that message underpinned the fundamentals of veganism as not using animal products was the kindest thing you could do for all creatures.
"That's the whole point of veganism, it's important to be kind and nice to everyone."