Most of us didn't go vegan and instantly become nutrition wizards. Whether you went full “lentils and brown rice” or lived off potato chips and Oreos (no judgment), there are some common pitfalls that almost every new vegan stumbles into. In this episode, Sawyer and Giacomo break down the top 10 mistakes we’ve made ourselves—and that we see all the time in our clients. You’ll learn what to look out for, how to correct course, and how to stay fueled and thriving on a plant-based diet—without falling into the “I guess I just need meat” trap.

✨ Helpful Links and Resources:

🌱 Coaching Application

Take your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching:

http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training

📖 Free High-Protein Vegan Cookbook:

https://mailchi.mp/veganproteins/xytg8h94zp

💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership:

Try it free for one month:

https://www.veganproteins.com/muscles-by-brussels-membership-free-trial/

✅ Membership Includes:

• Bi-weekly live coaching calls
• Monthly home or gym workouts
• 200+ high-protein vegan recipes
• Exclusive app features
• Habit challenges with cash prizes
• A supportive vegan athlete community

🔗 Follow Us Online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganproteins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeganProteins
• Website: https://www.veganproteins.com/
• Apparel: Muscles by Brussels Tank Tops

SCIENCE:

MASS (Monthly Application In Strength Sport): MASS is one of our secret weapons and it continues to be an invaluable resource for us to keep up to date with the latest research. Don’t get swept up in fads or bogus info. Sign up and stay up to date with easy-to-consume journals and support the evidence-based fitness community.

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After a bit of a break, Ben and Alice are back on the mic to catch up and get real about a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: privilege in vegan bodybuilding.

From post-competition recovery and rediscovering the joy of training, to promoting bodybuilding shows and launching businesses, there's a lot going on behind the scenes—and it's not lost on either of them that even having the option to bodybuild is a form of privilege.

In this episode, they unpack:

• Why feeling “normal” again after prep takes longer than we think
  
  
• What it’s like starting a new bodybuilding show from scratch (shoutout to OCB Hammer Forged!)
  
  
• The real cost of being a vegan athlete—and how that cost isn’t just financial
  
  
• Myths vs. truths about vegan diets being “too expensive” or “too complicated”
  
  
• How access, time, resources, and even gym culture shape who gets to participate in this sport
  
  

This isn’t a guilt trip—it’s a gratitude trip. A reality check. And a nudge to appreciate the fact that if you can train, fuel, and compete... that’s a gift.

✨ Helpful Links and Resources:

🌱 Coaching Application

Take your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching:

http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training

📖 Free High-Protein Vegan Cookbook:

https://mailchi.mp/veganproteins/xytg8h94zp

💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership:

Try it free for one month:

https://www.veganproteins.com/muscles-by-brussels-membership-free-trial/

✅ Membership Includes:

• Bi-weekly live coaching calls
• Monthly home or gym workouts
• 200+ high-protein vegan recipes
• Exclusive app features
• Habit challenges with cash prizes
• A supportive vegan athlete community

🔗 Follow Us Online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganproteins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeganProteins
• Website: https://www.veganproteins.com/
• Apparel: Muscles by Brussels Tank Tops

SCIENCE:

MASS (Monthly Application In Strength Sport): MASS is one of our secret weapons and it continues to be an invaluable resource for us to keep up to date with the latest research. Don’t get swept up in fads or bogus info. Sign up and stay up to date with easy-to-consume journals and support the evidence-based fitness community.

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Are you all in or all out when it comes to your fitness and nutrition? In this episode, Giacomo and Coach Ben unpack the sneaky ways black-and-white thinking shows up in routines, training plans, and even your meal prep. We’re talking perfectionism, fear of change, identity attachment, and why you might be too loyal to your oatmeal and tofu scramble.

We explore how being a creature of habit can be a superpower—but also a trap when it stops you from evolving. Giacomo shares how sticking to “his foods” became more about mental bandwidth than macros, and Ben explains why flexibility inside structure is the real key to progress.

If you’ve ever felt like missing one workout or going off-plan means you've "ruined everything," this one’s for you.

✨ Helpful Links and Resources:

🌱 Coaching Application

Take your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching:

http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training

📖 Free High-Protein Vegan Cookbook:

https://mailchi.mp/veganproteins/xytg8h94zp

💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership:

Try it free for one month:

https://www.veganproteins.com/muscles-by-brussels-membership-free-trial/

✅ Membership Includes:

• Bi-weekly live coaching calls
• Monthly home or gym workouts
• 200+ high-protein vegan recipes
• Exclusive app features
• Habit challenges with cash prizes
• A supportive vegan athlete community

🔗 Follow Us Online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganproteins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeganProteins
• Website: https://www.veganproteins.com/
• Apparel: Muscles by Brussels Tank Tops

SCIENCE:

MASS (Monthly Application In Strength Sport): MASS is one of our secret weapons and it continues to be an invaluable resource for us to keep up to date with the latest research. Don’t get swept up in fads or bogus info. Sign up and stay up to date with easy-to-consume journals and support the evidence-based fitness community.

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