Andrew Blakehall

Name: Andrew Blakehall
Year of Birth: 08/03/1976
Height: 6'0
Weight: 185
Birthplace: Tucson, Az
Current Residence: Portland OR
Sports: Marathon running, Soccer,

Tell us a little about yourself, what you do for a living, what hobbies / interests / passions you have.
I'm interested in fitness, weight training, health, literature, music, traveling, world cultures, business, art, veganism, and anything to do with animals.

Why did you become vegan?
I became vegan about 13 years ago, I've been vegetarian most of my life.

When and why did you become interested in fitness?
I think I've always been interested in fitness to an extent. When I was young I played soccer. In college there was a brief period where I realized that I was getting winded easily, so I decided to start exercising. I began to see that when I'm in good shape, everything in my life flows better. In my late 20s I stopped exercising for about four years. In that time I began to question everything around me, and I noticed something fascinating: For the most part, the people who got up early to exercise tended to be happy, while the ones who stayed up late smoking, drinking, and eating junk food tended to have challenges with depression, colds, and general apathy. Obviously there are exceptions to this rule on both sides, and I'm not making judgements. I just found that to be a happier person I needed to make an overhaul of the way I was living. So I left the bar scene, and traded it in for the 'morning' scene. It was as important as the switch to veganism.

How would you describe your nutrition program?

It varies by the season and what my goals are. When I'm eating well I eat a lot of oat meal in the morning, and stir fries in the early evening.

How would you describe your training program?
I like to run first in the morning. 2-6 miles is my standard. Then, late in the day, I do 1 hour of weight training, generally with free weights. On off days I'll do abs.

What are some common misconceptions about veganism?
There are so many misconceptions it's hard to know where to start.

What advice do you have for people who are just starting out with veganism or training?
Write down Why you want to do, then figure out why you must do it. Hire a personal trainer! 3 sessions is well worth the money.

Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?
The best way to encourage someone to get fit or to become vegan is to be an ambassador. Don't preach, don't judge, just be radiant and people will eventually catch on.