Interview with Mauro Reis: Vegan Exercise Enthusiast

Because I can't morally justify what nowadays is an unnecessary and detrimental practice. We don't need to use or kill animals anymore.

I was a vegetarian for over 17 years, but for many years had been slowly learning about what is really involved in animal agriculture. After awhile I couldn't ignore it any longer.

Over 3 and a half years.

I've lost some extra weight I'd been carrying around and had other health improvements like lowered cholesterol and better skin condition. Plus, now I eat a lot better - as a vegetarian my diet was not really that great.

It's an ethical framework, one of trying not to cause unnecessary harm.

Weight training mostly.

I try to train at least 3 times a week.

No.

Are board games a sport?! I used to practice Aikido, but because my work is too physically demanding, I had to stop some years ago.

That we only eat salad. I try to talk about the food we eat and depending on the person, even go to a vegan restaurant with them.

Being able to maintain a regular exercise schedule. Being self-employed and life tend to get in the way sometimes.

Most of the people I deal with are indifferent, but at least are not hostile to veganism. When I started, they told me I wouldn't be able to handle my work because I didn't eat meat, but after all these years they realized that was not true at all.

My sisters - who are the people in my family I'm most close to - are. I have a number of friends that, while not vegans, see veganism as a good thing. I'm also part of a vegan supper club so I do have a lot of supportive friends. The friends that were hostile to veganism, well, are not friends anymore.

"How do you get your protein?" I usually respond "The same way you do. Pretty much everything I eat has protein in it".

Compassion for the animals.

Breakfast - bread, almond, flax or coconut milk and fruit. In the mornings when I work out, I eat steel-cut oats before and then add tofu scramble, seitan and protein shakes to my breakfast afterwards.

Lunch - it's a variety of different foods, there's really no fixed menu. Sometimes it's sandwiches, sometimes it's leftovers from the night before.

Dinner - I have a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) share so we eat a LOT of vegetables, especially during the growing season. I try to make sure I have some balance between carbohydrates, protein and fat, but again, there's no fixed menu.

Snacks (healthy & not-so healthy) - lots of fruit, edamame, cherry tomatoes, primal strips, granola bars, I also keep a bag of whole wheat pretzels for emergencies in my truck. If my wife bakes a cake or pie, I'll eat that too.

Protein, Calcium, Iron - I don't worry about that too much, I just eat a variety of whole/fresh foods. So far it has worked out ok.

B-12 vitamins.

Gaining muscle, Losing weight, Maintaining weight, Improving metabolism, Toning up - I'm still learning all that stuff, so for now I don't have any tips. Maybe in a couple of years!

I work with animals, and at some point or another everybody learns I'm vegan. So I let my general ethics and the way I work with the animals speak for themselves.

I mention I exercise and that I have benefited from it. They can also see by looking at me and seeing that I'm healthy and I look good – i.e. not overweight or too skinny.