Pat Reeves is a practitioner of Nutritional and Functional medicine, full member of BANT and CNHC, qualified in nutritional medicine, advanced biochemic medicine, phytotherapy, kinesiology and other allied techniques. Pat has worked with hundreds of patients over this time, resolving all manner of health challenges - including my own genetically-fuelled osteosarcoma, stemming from original meningioma thirty years ago. All fourteen bone tumours remain inactive.
Pat has won many marathons and triathlons and switched from competitive bodybuilding to Power-lifting. She has been the British champion for almost twenty consecutive years and for the past seven years has remained World champion.
Pat authored the inspirational book A Living Miracle detailing her personal story, the ethos of living foods plus one hundred simple, raw and wholesome recipes. She produces many seminars in the UK and abroad, Internet courses on nutrition and living foods and host day teach-ins on living foods as well as writing for health magazines. She is presently compiling a book on drug-free power-lifting.
Why Vegan?
How and why did you decide to become a vegan?
To address a genetic cancer situation of mine, osteosarcoma stemming from original meningioma.
How long have you been vegan?
45 years
What has benefited you the most from being a vegan?
Control of 14 bone tumours, recovery from required power-lifting training and fantastic energy!
What does veganism mean to you?
My use of a plant-based regime initially was purely for health improvements - now obviously I acknowledge the cruelty issues and am happy I do not add to those.
Training
What sort of training do you do?
Strength work, obviously plus cardiovascular and High Intensity Interval Training
How often do you (need to) train?
Daily
Do you offer your fitness or training services to others?
Yes
What sports do you play?
Play is incorrect description for myself!
Strengths, Weaknesses & Outside Influences
What do you think is the biggest misconception about vegans and how do you address this?
Not sure how to answer that! - I see extremely poor people who follow a plant-based diet - I also have patients who are relatively wealthy - perhaps some semblance of 'hippy' still exists…
What are you strengths as a vegan athlete?
Answered above - excellent recovery
What is your biggest challenge?
Maintaining a cancer-free status
Are the non-vegans in your industry supportive or not?
Not in the 'industry' - though most nutritionists are extremely supportive of plant-based eating
Are your family and friends supportive of your vegan lifestyle?
Absolutely!
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?
Because I’m in the media a lot, most of my patients are already aware about being vegan and my successes. With many great compliments, I respond by encouraging them to follow a plant-based and living food regime.
Who or what motivates you?
Me! Challenges! Increasing my World-records!
Food & Supplements
I produce a lot of my own supplements from living foods
What do you eat for:
Breakfast - different every day, but likely miso soup, sprouted quinoa/other and fruit
Lunch - different every day, handfuls of sprouted greens, seed 'cheese', almond yoghurt
Dinner - different every day, sprouted pulses, occasional tempeh/tofu, sprouted buckwheat/amaranth, seaweeds, sprouted broccolli/sunflower/buckwheat lettuce
Snacks (healthy & not-so healthy) - raw hummus in celery, soaked/sprouted seeds with berries, always green juices using spelt wheatgrass/barleygrass
What is your favourite source of:
Protein - sprouted pulses, raw rice/hemp protein powder
Calcium - green leaves, almonds, sesame seeds, sea vegetables
Iron - asparagus, green juices, parsley, oat grouts
What foods give you the most energy?
Living foods
Do you take any supplements?
I make my own - mainly anti-oxididants, probiotics, serrapeptase, curcumin, astaxanthin
Advice
What is your top tip for:
Gaining muscle - optimal resistance training
Losing weight - supporting blood sugar via eating natural foods each three hours, and always including protein
Maintaining weight - as above, slightly higher caloric intake to suit
Improving metabolism - as under losing weight, activation of 'brown fat' via cold water intake, cold showers/baths, if applicable
Toning up - optimal exercise/eating regime specific to personal goals
How do you promote veganism in your daily life?
How would you suggest people get involved with what you do?
What is important is not so much what I 'do' personally - as what I can 'do' for others as a practitioner.
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