Brandon "Vegan Badass" Bohn

Name: Brandon “Vegan Badass” Bohn
Year of Birth: 06/25/1985
Height: 5'10”
Weight: 195
Birthplace: Hinsdale, IL
Current Residence: Downers Grove, IL
Sports: Disc Golf, Bodybuilding, Yoga
Disc Golf: PDGA Master, Longest Drive (on flat ground) - 660ft, Longest Hole-in-One - 525ft

Tell us a little about yourself, what you do for a living, what hobbies / interests / passions you have
You only live once, so live life to the max - That's my motto. I am a professional disc golfer, this year being my first year in the PDGA tour, recently gaining Master status. I went to The Avery Coonley School, Benet Academy and Valparaiso University. I am a musician who plays multiple intstruments and am into everything from Heavy Metal to Jazz Fusion, Funk and classic rock. I am a substance abuse counselor and advocate for Veganism. I frequently volunteer for Mercy For Animals, Action For Animals, Wedrose Acres Animal Sanctuary and Unitarian Universalist Church of Hinsdale. I have only been vegan for a year, but have been trying to be the change I wish to see in the world since I made the overnight switch from omnivore to vegan.

Why did you become vegan?
After my blinders had been removed from bearing witness to the atrocities our animal brothers and sisters are subject to every second of every day (as shown by MFA's Farm to Fridge) , blindly and unconsciously consuming was no longer an option. I could no longer contribute to the suffering and injustice in the world, and felt compelled to take immediate action to start reversing the status quo. Veganism was the philosophy I implemented and activism the tool by which I was able to make this ideology my reality.

When and why did you become interested in fitness?
Before adopting a plant based diet, I weighed 255lbs, my blood work was quite poor, including cautiously high cholesterol and hypertension, and I couldn't escape the shackles of chronic fatigue. After going vegan, my chronic fatigue disappeared, my LDL cholesterol level dropped 100 points (going from very high to optimal) and was motivated to improve my health in every way I could. I wanted every cell in my body to reflect how my mind and my soul had become. I joined my town's gym, started lifting and running, and never looked back. Here I am, 60lbs slimmer, perfect bloodwork, perfect blood pressure, benching over 300lbs with more energy than I know what to do with!

How would you describe your nutrition program?
I start my day off with green tea, with lemon and ginger added to get my metabolism warmed up. I eat a little fruit after my morning routine to springboard me into the day. I generally eat seitan kale salad with a little olive oil and apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger and nutritional yeast every day for lunch and some variety of vegetables, mostly fibrous, usually in a stir fry with tofu. My snacks throughout the day consist of some almonds or walnuts. I also supplement protein shakes every day and after workouts. I have tended to lower my carbohydrate intake a lot the past few months to increase weight loss. However, depending on how much energy I feel like I've needed or muscle recovery my body craved, I have adjusted the intake accordingly. As I have become more in shape lately, I have found myself reintroducing more whole grains, like quinoa and brown rice, and more beans.

How would you describe your training program?
I work out every day, alternating muscle groups so that I give each group of muscles generally 48-72 hours of recovery time. I disc golf when I am not working or working out. I practice confidence putting, so that I can put within 15 feet with my eyes closed, and hit at least 95% of putts within 30 feet. Sometimes I will go out to a field and make my own “driving range” where I will throw all of my drivers over and over to get my muscle memory brought to the foreground before competitions. Of course I like to just go to courses (yes, disc golf courses are free, with a few exceptions for amazingly kept pro courses out of state) and throw a few rounds with some other friends of mine, a few of which who are also pros.

What kind of supplements do you use if any, and why?
I drink ( Vega) protein shakes after my workouts to assist in muscle recovery. I definitely am getting an adequate amount of protein to keep up with my muscle's demand for growth, but drinking protein shakes definitely hastens recovery time.

How do people react when they find out you are vegan?
If they aren't 100% sure of what Veganism is, they'll generally ask “Oh, do you eat fish?” or something silly, but upon conquering that hurdle, I find that people generally turn back

and look at themselves almost immediately upon receipt of this information, saying “Oh, I could never do that, I love my meat” or they will go into some reason why they think Veganism is wrong. One reaction I no longer get after getting into shape is “Where do you get your protein,” because looking at my chest or arms, it's apparent that I'm getting it from plants that I put in my mouth and become my muscles!

What are some common misconceptions about veganism?
“Oh, you're vegan? That means you can't eat meat, dairy, eggs or honey, huh?” Of course I can! But I choose not to, because what I can't eat is the buffet of lies that commercialism, consumerism and the general speciesist attitude of this modern zeitgeist. Yes, there is protein in everything. No, vegan food is delicious and I have not encountered such creative and exotic food as I have since going vegan. No, I don't wear the skin or fur of any animal, nor do I want to use, exploit or harm any animal as I would not want that treatment. It's a matter of extending compassion towards not just other humans, but all non-human animals on earth. Do no harm and be the change we wish to see - It's just good karma, people.

Have you had success in promoting veganism / vegetarianism to others? If so, how did you go about it?
I have 12 personal vegan conversions (including one former hunter). I leaflet events and give literature to local businesses whenever I can, and always make people aware of my lifestyle choice, because you never know when your life or your story may change the life of another person, help to write their story and like dominos, continue to affect change throughout time.

What do you think the most important aspect of training is?
NEVER GIVING UP!!! “Obsessed” is juat a word that the lazy use to describe the dedicated. Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. Even if you cannot receive immediate gratification from your efforts, I assure you - change is occurring. NEVER GIVE UP!!!

What do you like best about being vegan?
Living the most healthy and intended lifestyle for our species and the world, and doing so without causing harm to other species and the world.

What do you like best about being fit?
The contrast of being fully alive compared to waiting to be dead.

What advice do you have for people who are just starting out with training?
Whoever said “Practice makes perfect” wasn't grasping the big picture. Practicing the wrong technique will allow you to do the wrong technique perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Technique is huge, but it also isn't everything. Allow it to be your guide, and allow yourself to adapt technique to YOUR style. When you develop your style, adhere to it with every electron of consciousness in your being. Be an individual, but master it and let nobody tell you what you can and cannot do.

What advice do you have for people who are thinking of becoming vegan?
Just try it. Even if your ethics aren't in line or you feel the reasons you have for becoming vegan aren't in line with what you perceive of Veganism in general, it is one of the greatest things you can do. Just try it out and you will see the difference it is causing within you and within the world. Then, perhaps you will see the reasons you had were in you all along, because they were in reason itself.

What motivates you in life?
Love...

What do you think of veganbodybuilding.com? Has it helped or inspired you?
It's unique, but so comprehensive. I am inspired by the other like minded individuals, feeling a little less alone in our small but growing community and helped by the strive to join the ranks of the exceptional individuals so that I may too one day inspire others to do the same.

Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. Species the most popular separatist movement in all of history, and in my opinion is at the root of all segregation and isolation experienced and felt in life. If we cannot view the value and equality of all living creatures, how can we view it between other people. The world is one living organism. We must unite with each other with one mind - if we divide, we will be conquered. We are at a pivotal point in history, where we have a chance to change the world. We must be the change we wish to see. We must be love so we can be free.

Check out these vids of Brandon in action: