How a Plant-Based Athlete Eats | John Rush

Initial Resistance

John Rush initially resisted the idea of adopting a vegan diet, viewing it as a drastic departure from his meat-heavy regimen. Despite his skepticism, he decided to try veganism as a last resort to lose weight for his football career. He recalls, "I was very anti-vegan for some reason, just because it went so against everything I knew, which was eating six chicken breasts a day" 1. The transition was challenging, especially since he was one of the few vegans in the CFL, but he was determined to make it work 2.

   

Performance Benefits

Switching to a plant-based diet brought unexpected performance benefits for John. He noticed significant improvements in recovery and overall well-being, which convinced him to continue with veganism. "I was recovering so much better from workouts, from games," he shared, highlighting the positive impact on his athletic performance 3. His experience sparked curiosity among teammates, who were intrigued by his ability to maintain high performance on a vegan diet 4.

   

Dietary Adjustments

John made several dietary adjustments to support his vegan lifestyle, including experimenting with supplements and cooking techniques. He incorporated vegan creatine, vitamin D, and B12 into his routine, though he later realized fortified foods might suffice for B12 5. Tofu became a staple in his diet, and he discovered that marinating and freezing it enhanced its flavor and texture. "Freezing the tofu, like, in the package, don't like, dude, just put, take the package straight from the grocery store, put it into the freezer for 24 hours, and then thaw it out is a game changer," he advised 6.