素食主義使一流運動員傲視群雄
德國慕尼黑 翁維萊•拉肯第師姊（原文為德文）
由德國素食聯盟〔Vegetarier-Bund Deutschlands e.V.（VEBU）〕
所發行的《自然素食》（natürlich vegetarisch）雜誌是德國首屈一指的素食雜誌，
在2006年元月出刊的報導中，特別專
訪了兩位被視為德國素食明星的人物；一位是28歲的世界健美先生兼醫生亞歷山大達格
（Alexander Dargat），另一位是21歲的羽量級拳擊手艾琳娜華倫契克（Elena Walendzik）。
這兩位運動員連一點點肉都不吃，因而成為素食界的巨星，的確是實至名歸。
2005年世界健美先生冠軍也是素食者
2005年12月，亞歷山大達格贏得了世界健美先生冠軍的頭銜。
當時德國的頭條新聞寫著：「德國素食運動員贏得2005年世界健美先生冠軍！」
這篇報導還進一步指出，來自法蘭克福的達格打敗了其他11位參賽者，榮獲健美先生比賽的總冠軍。
在最近一次專訪中，達格被問到如何以素食戰勝健身訓練的嚴峻考驗時表示，
他於西元2000年了解到吃肉是以各種方式殘害動物與大自然後，
便在「一夕之間」改成吃素，至今已經5年多了。
他說：「當時我忍不住哭了，我們實在沒有必要食用肉製品，這樣會造成許多傷害，
同時也是一種罪惡。在了解這個道理後，除了吃素，我別無選擇。」
達格也注意到自己在吃素之後，身體變得更健康，從此幾乎沒有再生過病。
此外，達格對於健身也抱持著非常積極專注的態度。當他被問到健身最重要的關鍵為何時，
他說：「最重要的是耐心和毅力。健身要花時間；你無法勉強肌肉發展…對於你所做的事，
需要投注時間、恆心、專注及愛心。」而運動家這種實際的態度，也適用於生命中許多方面，
包括修行在內。
靠「豆腐威力」打天下的拳擊手
《自然素食》雜誌專訪的第二位茹素的體壇冠軍得主，是來自德國漢諾威市（Hanover）
的艾琳娜華倫契克。身為牙醫系的學生，華倫契克在2005年贏得了德國羽量級拳擊冠軍。
她從10歲便開始吃素，吃素的時間就和她練習拳擊一樣長。華倫契克在受訪時談到，
自幼生長於農場中，使她在很小的時候，就已深諳乳牛分泌不出足夠牛奶時的下場。
從那時起，她便無法再吃肉。
然而，這個改變顯然並沒有影響到她在拳擊場上的衝勁或表現。
德國媒體對於華倫契克在運動場上的成就和她是素食者的身分，
同樣讚譽有加。曾有報紙以「漢諾威拳擊皇后的豆腐威力」，
作為新聞的標題。
德國、英國和美國在一百多年前才開始形成素食社群，這說來似乎不足為奇。
當然，素食在當時的印度早已是司空見慣，但對西方國家而言卻是激進的變革。
德國的第一個素食協會於1868年由愛德華巴爾茨（Eduard Baltzer）所成立，
他曾代表協會成員發言表示：「就道德的立場而言，是不容許屠殺動物的。
動物們有生存的權利，並且需要人類的保護。」
從那時起，素食主義便持續普及大眾，尤其在最近這幾十年更為興盛。
亞歷山大達格和艾琳娜華倫契克是今日人類意識進化的典範。
這兩位振奮人心的運動員，也是慈悲愛心的絕佳表率，並印證了素食不但營養豐富又有益健康。
他們的行動與言論，為我們的動物朋友以及那些尊重所有生命神聖價值的人道出心聲。
毫無疑問地，這兩位運動明星也堪稱為「真正的英雄」。♥
詳細內容請參閱下列網站：
(德文)
(英文)
(英、德文)
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紐時摘譯：健美先生 吃全素雕塑肌肉
Interview with Jimi Sitko: Vegan Bodybuilder
Created Thursday， 20 December 2012
Jimi Sitko has competed in both tested and non-drug tested bodybuilding competitions in which he placed in the top 3 each and every one. His last show in his hometown of Huntsville， AL he won 1st place in the Open Middleweight Division. Since then， Jimi has continued personal training for the YMCA and has showed in interest in other physical activities such as Calisthenic training and training for the popular US show American Ninja Warrior. Jimi exercises almost everyday and doesnt deviate from eating healthy any day of the week.
Jimi_Sitko_mrhuntsville71
Why Vegan?
How and why did you decide to become a vegan?
I chose to go vegan after seeing what happened to my body after I quit eating dairy and bread. After reading Skinny Bitch， I started reading more and more books on the processing of all foods and got quite disgusted at how things were made. I joined the Vegan Body Building and Fitness forum and got even further educated on issues involving food， diet， and health. It wasn’t an overnight process but has been an exceptionally awesome process at that.
How long have you been vegan?
I started the going vegan process back in 2007 and had a goal to become 100% vegan by the age of 30 and can now say I am (I turned 30 in August).
What has benefited you the most from being a vegan?
The main benefits from being vegan are my health and physique. I haven’t gotten sick at all while being vegan and my body looks like a well-defined bodybuilder’s
body all year round usually (check FB for proof). I’ve also transitioned into not eating out and I cook all my own food. I know what’s going into my food， how long it will take to cook， and enjoy the foods I like and don’t have to choose from something I don’t.
What does veganism mean to you?
Veganism is a main part of my life. I’m constantly teaching people from day to day what it’s like to eat like I do and be an athlete and succeed in the fitness world. It means respecting not only animals but all things living too.
Training
What sort of training do you do?
I mix it up every day & every week. Some days I want to lift heavy weights while others I might want to let my muscles relax and just run up to 10 miles or bike upwards of 30 miles.
How often do you (need to) train?
To be in the best shape and look that I like to go for I need to workout twice a day for close to 2 hours each time. I get a lot done too so there’s not a whole lot
of resting time in between.
Do you offer your fitness or training services to others?
I am a NETA certified personal trainer and its what I currently have been doing for the past 6 years professionally.
What sports do you play?
I don’t play sports per se but do consider myself an athlete. For example， last year I decided to run a half-marathon in November. I hadn’t run anything past a 5km
(3.1 miles) that year really. I didn’t run the week of the marathon and still finished it in a 9:40/mile pace. I have competed in Bodybuilding both natural divisions
and non-drug tested division (NPC) as a drug-free athlete and have gotten 1st place. I also bike when I get bored with weights or running.
Strengths， Weaknesses & Outside Influences
A strength of mine would be helping people. I love to teach people about health， fitness， and exercise and what it means to succeed in all areas. My main weakness is
not really a weakness to me but is seen as one in the business world and that’s giving advice and helping people for free. I do it all the time without compensation
and sometimes that not as productive financially. It's how I am and what I love to do so that won’t change， whether I'm broke or rich.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about vegans and how do you address this?
A big misconception I get is that vegans don’t eat enough food. I hear it all the time that I must not eat because I’m so lean (and defined.) That clearly isn’t true. I just have a great willpower not to eat bad foods. I see how many people here in the South are obese and sickened. I don’t want to be and won’t be like that ever.
What are you strengths as a vegan athlete?
I don’t have to train for anything particular to be successful. I do exercises that I enjoy and then push myself in competitions to see how well I do against people who specifically train for it. Usually I come out ahead of a lot of people. In addition， I stay lean year round so at anytime I can go run a long distance or compete in a bodybuilding competition without preparing ahead of time for it.
What is your biggest challenge?
I don’t like to chew my food. I know-I know… bad Jimi. I usually take a bite， chew 2-5 times and then swallow. Its crazy， but it all goes back to being raised without food so I tend to scarf it down.
Are the non-vegans in your industry supportive or not?
People who see what I’ve achieved on a plant-based diet and are usually wowed and if not before， are then supportive. I hear a lot of people say you cannot gain muscle or do this or that but I have proved most wrong and have set the bar pretty high within my community.
Are your family and friends supportive of your vegan lifestyle?
They respect the fact that I do it， but are in no way interested in doing it themselves. Their loss right?
What is the most common question/comment that people ask/say when they find out that you are a vegan and how do you respond?
How do you build so much muscle not eating meat? I respond by telling them "the same way someone who does eat meat gains muscle. I eat the foods I like and make sure they’re lean and they have some protein.”
Who or what motivates you?
My biggest motivator has been the friends I’ve met through the vegan bodybuilding site. Robert Cheeke I idolize for everything he does， what he believes in， and how hard he works to reach his goals.
Food & Supplements
What do you eat for:
Breakfast - Sometimes I eat just a Larabar and a banana and other times I eat oatmeal (in vanilla coconut milk， nut/seed/fruit mixture， and cinnamon) or tofu
scramble.
Lunch - 1-2 cups of brown rice and 1-3 avocados.
Dinner - It changes as my mood does. Mostly it involves tofu (cooked numerous ways)， veggies (leafy and cruciferous)， brown rice/quinoa， and avocados (yes I love me
some avocados)
Snacks (healthy & not-so healthy) - You will almost always catch me with a palm or two of bananas at one time. I’m always getting comments that I’m either part
monkey or I’m going to turn into a monkey once I eat all 6-12 bananas. I also like to eat apples and Tortilla chips (don’t hate).
What is your favourite source of:
Protein - Tofu and brown rice.
Calcium - Spinach
Iron - Spinach
What foods give you the most energy?
I have the most energy when I have some leafy greens like green leaf lettuce and brown rice.
Do you take any supplements?
Currently I take a pre-workout drink called Vega Sport and a brown rice protein by Nutribiotic.
Advice
What is your top tip for:
Gaining muscle - My #1 tip for gaining muscle is to squeeze on the contractions and to eat different type of plant-based proteins.
Losing weight - Smaller portions， cleaner foods， and a little bit of cardio. I can get my body fat to levels under 5% just by eating more produce (vs. packaged) and
smaller portions.
Maintaining weight - Just do what you normally do. Most people aren’t always constantly gaining or losing every single day.
Toning up - Stick to a regular 4- 5 days a week workout regime and decrease breads， oils， and sugars.
How do you promote veganism in your daily life?
When people ask me questions regarding my physique or just plain awesomeness in the gym I always first and foremost tell them I’m vegan and I’m still looking for
ways to expand my kombucha drink line Jimbucha.
How would you suggest people get involved with what you do?
Anyone interested in veganism， fitness， personal training， or whatever do research. Read the facts and opinions for yourself and make your own opinion on what you’
ve read. Most everything is trial and error. If you’ve tried something before and stuck to it and it didn’t work， well then do something else that may work. Be
creative and inquisitive with everything you do in life.
I have a website with a blog， photos of past competitions， and updates of what's going on. My wife， Tonya keeps a fitness and vegan dietary journal which is very
popular and sometimes gets as much as 1，000 views a day.
Stay tuned for upcoming interviews with other Vegan Athletes， Fitness Fanatics and Exercise Enthusiasts by Subscribing via RSS.
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Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness
Vegan Bodybuilder Jimi Sitko has his own site up now. Please go check it out!
Promoting healthy living through clean eating， exercise， and fun!
Sculpturing Muscle the Vegan Way
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