A bunch of our members mentioned in the New York Times

[robert]

An article about Vegan Bodybuilding, and members of this community featured in The New York Times.

It is online now and will be in tomorrow's newspaper:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/sport ... ref=sports

[all zen]

.

[Baby Hercules]

Is this the root of the sudden surge in membership? Wish they'd gotten your pic up, Robert. Most of the piece was good. However, I look forward to the day when articles about vegan- and raw vegan-fueled sports are completely scientific and laudatory rather than curiosity pieces littered with outdated misinformation and thinly veiled prejudice. I believe things are improving, though: whenever I mention this forum around Portland, people are interested.

Baby Herc

[sosso]

I thought it was mostly good. The comments about vegans having to eat huge amounts of foods was kinda dumb. It's not like omni bodybuilders don't eat huge amounts of food. It's just a matter of choosing foods that are going to give you the most bang for your buck, so to speak.

[robert]

Thanks all.

The 12 Days of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness is what brought all the new traffic to the forum. We were interviewed by the New York Times about a month ago and I knew the article was coming. In the meantime I figured I'd start and online fitness program and bring new members to the site.

Now, I expect a whole new group to join and it should be pretty exciting.

There are always going to be ups and downs in an article like this since they spoke with so many dozens of people on both sides of the vegan spectrum over the past 3-4 weeks.

It if makes me think about their food choices and look at food and animals differently, I'm pleased and happy with it at the end of the day.

Go pick up a copy tomorrow. Will be cool to see it in print!

-Robert

[HorseSense]

I love the quote by Williams!

“I’m no longer an athlete,” he said. “I’m a warrior now. There’s a big difference. The athletes are just out to get paid. Warriors stand for something.”

[sosso]

That line made me cringe to be honest.

[Baby Hercules]

It if makes [them] think about their food choices and look at food and animals differently, I'm pleased and happy with it at the end of the day.

Indeed. Thanks for being positive. You rock.

Baby Herc

[Richard]

Well for something like this to happen at all is a step, and it has a link to this site, so if people are genuinely interested, they can find out more. You have to remember that veganism is seen by the vast majority as extreme, pointless, or even dangerous. The article did have some negative BS in it, but I like it that it followed it up and did say "but others say..." It would be nice if they didn't have to stick in some jabs, but I don't think the mainstream is ready to take that kind supportive stand. You can't argue with Jimi or any of the others mentioned in the article, the pictures speak for themselves. That's actually the thing I was most surprised by - that there are not more photos.

EDIT: The comments section at the end of the article is perhaps the most depressing aspect

[HorseSense]

EDIT: The comments section at the end of the article is perhaps the most depressing aspect

I find a healthy way to look at the "comments" section of most things now is to see them as nothing more than entertainment. Anything beyond that and its just going to upset an intelligent person.

[Fallen_Horse]

I find a healthy way to look at the "comments" section of most things now is to see them as nothing more than entertainment. Anything beyond that and its just going to upset an intelligent person.

So true!

[Richard]

I just looked at the first few and gave up, I got better things to do

[robert]

That line made me cringe to be honest.

Me too. Disrespectful, and not an honest or accurate statement about 99.9999% of people who pursue and participate in sports. Bummer.

As far as comments, I haven't looked at any. Anyone who has a YouTube channel knows that for the most part, it doesn't do any good to read comments

Though, a friend pointed out how crazy the statement, “The amount of rice and beans you need to eat would fill up a Mexican restaurant,” made by one of the 'experts' should be challenged in a follow-up.

Don't know if that would be effective or not, to write in a challenge, but something to consider I guess.

Very happy for Jimi! Spoke with him for 30 minutes last night. He's doing great stuff. Not on the forum as he finishes up school and graduates soon, but I'm sure we'll hear from him on the forum later on this year.

Thanks to everyone who has read the article and shared it. Hope some good things come from it. If not, we'll keep improving and do better next time.

[Richard]

Definitely think it's increasing traffic. Got a sudden increase in e-mails from people asking questions about veganism, and a couple more people wanting to be featured. I can imagine an avalanche tomorrow...

[robert]

Thanks for taking the brunt of the work, Richard! I appreciate it!