It Started as a 13-Week Challenge: 10 Years Vegan

Ten years ago, I bought a book called Shred It! and its companion workout journal, both written by my friend Robert Cheeke.

September 6 was the date I chose to become 100% vegan. The Shred It! journal was designed as a 13-week challenge, and I decided that for the entire 13 weeks, I was going to be completely vegan.

A few things happened along the way that I wasn't expecting.

First, I became an ethical vegan. After seeing videos of what animals endure, there was simply no way I could ever eat them again. What started as a 13-week commitment became something much deeper for me.

Second, I realized that I felt great. I didn't need animal products to feel satisfied, healthy, or strong.

Then something else happened: people started noticing that I was actually building muscle better as a vegan. I was feeling good, getting stronger, and seeing results. When those 13 weeks ended, there was no question about going back. I was fully vegan, and I still am today.

Robert and I met in person a few years later at VegFests and several times in New York. He had as big an influence on my life as had Dr. Joel Fuhrman, who helped introduce me to the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet with his Nutritarian diet plan.

I can't thank Robert enough for helping open my eyes—not only to the fact that I could thrive without animal products, but also to the cruelty involved in animal agriculture.

Now, looking back over the past 10 years, I couldn't be happier with that decision.

I'm thriving and feeling my best. I've maintained my weight loss, my blood work continues to be excellent, and at 10 years vegan, I have absolutely no desire to go back to the way I used to eat.

It all started as a 13-week challenge.

Ten years later, it's simply who I am.

What more could I ask for?