I got 5th. If you're interested, here's the video:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/w6qRKoahiN4[/youtube] <--I don't know how that works, so
http://youtu.be/w6qRKoahiN4
I haven't cared about placing in a long time. I just put it up in case people were wondering. The reason I stopped caring is because I don't have the same fire I did ten years ago. Back then, I would've pushed myself to and beyond injury (and I have a shelf full of trophies and a body full of injuries to prove it). Now, I see these things as glorified training days where I hang out with friends and lift heavy shit.
Of course, people are telling me that I'm not placing in every competition anymore because, you guessed it, I'm vegan. I even got this from somebody when I asked why he kept saying that:
In order to build muscle optimally and for the body to build any tissues to the best of it's abilities you need to have an abundant amount of protein in your diet that includes a full amino acid profile. Every tissue in your body is made up of proteins, which break down into amino acids. Every animal has different ratio's of amino acids in their muscle and tissues, but all animals (humans included) have the same set of amino acids that make up their tissues. Plants also contain amino acids, and some of them are the same as animals, but you can only get the complete set of amino acids that you need from another animal. Animals that are herbivores have a different type of digestive tract that allows them to break down cellulose (plant protein) into the amino acids that they need. However the human digestive tract can only digest a very small amount of cellulose, and the vast majority of it is expelled as waste as insoluble fiber. This is why carnivores eat a much lower volume of food than herbivores, because the food they are eating has already been processed by another animal into a more efficient energy and nutrient source.
Okay; I need to say a few things about this:
1) I agree with almost all of it. He's right.
2) Isn't it possible to eat a broad plant-based diet to get all the aminos?
3) Most importantly, seriously? Like, really? Another animal is living its life, and because it's able to more efficiently digest plant foods than me, I'm supposed to support its death so that I can excel in a recreational sport?
the food they are eating has already been processed by another animal into a more efficient energy and nutrient source.
That makes me sick. It's not for survival or something justifiable; it's to lift heavy things faster than other people. That is so pathetic that it makes me want to puke.
My performance HAS partially dropped off because I went vegan, but you know what? I'm perfectly fine with that. Nobody gets dehorned, castrated, debeaked, etc. and/or dies to make sure I win plastic trophies put together in sweat shops.
I wonder if any of you have been through anything like this.
Also, last night I had to handle sausage to put it away. It was cooked. I used to LOVE sausage. I realized that it was just the spices (plants) and such that made it good. I touched meat for the first time in months last night and I wanted to vomit. That certainly is new!
