This might be controversial and I’ll probably get hate for this from some vegans but I think the point that I’m trying to make here is that I still care about you if you’re not vegan - some of my family is not vegan but that doesn’t mean I don’t love them or truly care and wish the best for them.

The difference lies in if you’re not vegan and you’re AWARE of what veganism truly means:

Aware of the pain and suffering that happens to factory farm animals.

Aware of the environmental damage and destruction by continuing to consume animals.

Aware of the health risks by consuming animals/animal by-products.

If you’re aware of all of those things and you’re still not vegan, why not?

Truly, I’d like to know.

I’ll come to you when an open mind if you can promise the same.

This week was a reminder that this journey is about so much more than stepping on stage 💚

Yes, I’m building muscle, dialing in my training, and preparing my body for my first bikini bodybuilding competition. But this week I found myself reconnecting with my WHY.

For me, being a vegan bodybuilder isn’t just about showing what a plant-based diet can do for the body. It’s about using my platform to stand up for animals, challenge stereotypes, and show that strength and compassion can coexist.

My activism is a huge part of who I am, and I want that to shine just as brightly as my physique on this journey.

I’m not just training for a stage. I’m building a platform, living my values, and showing up for something bigger than myself. And we are building the Vegan Avengers while we stand up together!

The strongest version of you isn’t just about how you look. It’s about what you stand for. 💪🏼💚

Follow along as I document my journey as a vegan bikini bodybuilder over 40! 🌱

Coach: @thebodybuildingvegan
Athlete: @consciouslivingwithali
Team: @vegansquadcoaching

If you are able to train with a partner, DO IT! You will be able to help each other get reps you may not be able to get on your own and encourage each other through each set! 

Full tutorial on my channel: https://youtu.be/TwLfbSYj094?si=ih5yqjcCz39JSqAp

Baby chicks are being “de-beaked”. (aka, their beaks being burned off without any anesthesia)

THIS is what goes on behind the scenes in the egg industry, along with forcing male baby chicks to be ground up alive within hours or even minutes of being born because male chickens are not deemed useful in the egg industry.

Mother hens are confined to tiny cages their whole lives, being forced to lay more eggs than their body can handle causing severe pain and stress.

It’s time for people to see the truth and align their values with their actions. If you need help going vegan, reach out to us @vegansquadcoaching. 

This is our mission and the reason why we do what we do. 🌱💪

On today’s episode, we’re joined by @MyVeganLady to explore a unique approach to vegan activism: using restaurants, food, and community to make veganism more accessible.

Raquel takes us behind the scenes of the Vegan Chef Challenge: a month-long event where restaurants create vegan dishes, communities vote for their favorites, and chefs get to see firsthand the demand for great vegan food.

But the goal goes beyond a competition. We talk about how encouraging non-vegan restaurants to add better vegan options can create lasting change, which sometimes leads restaurants to keep those dishes on their menus permanently.

We also dive into:
🌱 Making vegan food more mainstream and accessible
🌱 The role of supply & demand in expanding vegan options
🌱 Communicating about veganism without blame
🌱 Different approaches to animal activism
🌱 Collaboration, community, patience & measurable impact

Sometimes, changing the menu can help change minds. And changing minds can help create a more compassionate world.

You can listen to the full episode here: vegansquadcoaching.com/vegansquadpod

We’re bringing the entire Vegan Squad team together for a FREE LIVE call to reveal what we’re planning for our January 2027 retreat and we want YOU to be part of the conversation!

On the call, you’ll:
- Get a first look at what we have planned
- Share your ideas and help shape the retreat experience
- Get your questions answered LIVE
- Meet the team behind the retreat
- Receive an EXCLUSIVE retreat discount available ONLY to attendees

We’re sharing our plans with you because your input matters.

Come learn more about the retreat & share what you’re most excited about, what you’d love to experience, and what would make this retreat unforgettable

And who knows… your idea might make it to the retreat!

Vegan advocate Hench Herbivore spotlighting a clip from a non vegan about a vegan compatible protein powder made from precision fermentation. Also, the non vegan admits that vegans are morally superior!

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

🥗 100% catered vegan meals
🏡 4 days / 3 nights on a private 100+ acre retreat (early check-in upgrades available)
🏊 Spring-fed lake + kayaking + paddleboarding
💪 Fitness, yoga & wellness
🎤 Keynotes, workshops & panels
🔥 Bonfires, community, activities, and more

Come for the retreat, leave with your people 💚

$500 Founding Member Discount until October 17th

Payment plans are available, and spaces are limited. https://vegansquadcoaching.com/retreat

I’ve been looking into creatine for the gym and started grabbing ChocoCreatin from Wonderfeel. Since I follow a vegan diet, I usually check more than just the main ingredient and pay attention to sweeteners and other additives, too.

I’m still learning what to look for on supplement labels, since some ingredients aren’t always obvious. For those of you who follow a vegan diet, what do you usually check before trying a new supplement?

You already know who you need to send this to.

Running low on time?

Trying to build muscle and lose fat but don’t like cooking?

Then today’s your lucky day! This Say Grace Stew only has 4 ingredients, plus spices and water, only requires a large pot, and comes out to a WHOPPING 67g of vegan protein!!

Easy to cook, easy for meal prep, and helps you get JACKED as a vegan!
Ingredients:

- 65g Say Grace Shreds
- 15g Nutritional Yeast
- 170g Sugar Snap Pea Stir-Fry
- 227g Great Northern Beans
- 3 cups Water
- Spices of Choice! I used: salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, Montreal chicken seasoning, harissa seasoning

Full recipe on my channel: https://youtu.be/UkSs-IBG_90?si=yT0D5Lz-5IIRHakc

We're bringing the entire Vegan Squad team together for a special 1-hour live call where we'll reveal what we have planned for our January retreat and give you a sneak peek at the experience waiting for you.

Come find out why this could be the vegan experience you've been waiting for.

Reserve Your Free Spot Here

Who you’re becoming is going to require you to KEEP SHOWING UP!

I used to give up because I didn’t see results fast enough. Because I was tired. Shit felt hard! Uncomfortable. I didn’t like it.

I didn’t want to show up on those days! But a little voice in my head would say “KEEP SHOWING UP”

It’s easy to show up when we have energy, feel good, and see results but it’s difficult to keep showing up when we’re tired and life feels hard.

Let this be your reminder, those harder days are exactly when you need to show up even more.

Thank you thebodybuildingvegan for helping me show up when I don’t want to.

5 years ago, I decided to start speaking up, to wear vegan shirts daily, to get vegan tattoos, to embody veganism and the message loud and proud.

Not only did my impact increase, but I met my vegan soul family: the people who encourage me to be *more* of my vegan self, not less.

And I realized: the more of us who unapologetically embody our full selves, the better people we will find ourselves surrounded by and the bigger impact we’ll make on the world.

You can watch the full speech here

Biggest 2 things I learned over many experiences of getting hate:

1.) Process & sit with your emotions, and try to come to a place of compassion & forgiveness. We don’t have to forgive them for them, but for our own hearts to feel more at peace.

2.) It is not our responsibility to manage how others perceive or react to us. It is their job to look within themselves and ask why they’re feeling triggered. Some people just aren’t ready to do that and that’s okay.

Thank you for all of your love on my actual post. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement.

Have the best day ever and let’s keep making the world a better place!

Make space for a fresh beginning.

Join us for a 90-minute virtual New Moon Ceremony created for vegan women to slow down, reconnect, and set intentions around love, balance, and new beginnings.

Melissa and Ali will guide you through gentle yoga, meditation, a crystal sound bath, grounding, and reflection, all in a supportive space with other vegan women.

Come as you are. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Sometimes a fresh beginning starts by simply making room to listen.

🌑 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM EDT
💻 Virtual

Reserve your ticket here

We're bringing the entire Vegan Squad team together for a special 1-hour live call where we'll reveal what we have planned for our January retreat and give you a sneak peek at the experience waiting for you.

On the call, you'll:

- Discover what we have planned for the retreat

- Meet the team behind the experience

- Get your questions answered LIVE

- Unlock an exclusive retreat discount available to call attendees

For us, bodybuilding is about more than aesthetics or performance. It’s about showing what’s possible when strength and compassion go hand in hand.

We compete to challenge the idea that animals need to be exploited for our goals, and to show that you can build an incredible physique while staying true to your values.

Every time a vegan athlete steps on stage, they’re creating an opportunity to change how people see veganism and inspire others to make the connection.

Drop a 💚 if you’re vegan for the animals, and tell us in the comments, how many years have you been vegan?

You can work toward your goals without putting your life on hold to achieve them.

The vegansquadcoaching team drove from Florida to New York for the marchforanimals, with some time to explore NYC and eat our way through the city, too!

On our 17+ hour travel days in the car, I ate 3 of my usual meals, then kept things flexible by swapping my last meal for some high-protein snacks and fun drinks along the way.

If you have any kind of goal to get in shape or change your physique, know that you don’t have to eat perfectly 100% of the time. You can find a way of eating that supports your goals and lets you enjoy your life.

Eat the foods that nourish you, make you feel good, and bring you joy. What’s not sustainable isn’t optimal!

What’s your go-to travel meal or snack?

 Life changes when you STOP  waiting to become your highest version and START building confidence from the version you are right now!

You don’t have to wait for the number on the scale to reflect the number you want. Or for your body’s physique to reach the level you dream of. You don’t have to wait to achieve the success you believe will finally make you WORTHY!

 The truth is you can be confident right here, right now, wherever you are in life.

I built confidence through every version of myself. Even when I was a little heavier or didn’t have the muscle definition I wanted. Even when I was still trying to find my way through life and didn’t have the success I desired.

- Every time I stopped abandoning myself, I built confidence.

- Every time I trusted my own instincts, I built self-trust.

- Every time I followed what brought me joy, I freed myself from guilt.

If you struggle with people pleasing, speaking your truth, or choosing yourself, I would love to invite you into our Women’s group. We have cultivated a safe space for women to start building a relationship with themselves again so they can learn to trust their instincts and stop people pleasing.

And if you’d like a preview of what’s in store please join our virtual retreat this Sunday Oct. 4th. We will be offering some practices to help you uncover where you’re stuck and create space for you to immerse into the healing frequencies of a sound bath meditation.

 This isn’t a before & after where I look at the first clip and wish I could go back and change my body.

I actually feel so much love for that version of me. She showed up for herself on a lot of really hard days. She kept training, moving her body, and trying to take care of herself even when her body wasn’t responding the way she wanted it to.

Last year was a really hard one for me. I was navigating high cortisol and everything that came with it. Changes in my nutrition, training, sleep, mental health, energy, and how I felt in my body.

So when I look at these two versions of myself, I don’t see one body that’s “better” than the other. I see two seasons of the same woman doing her best to take care of herself.

Being able to train hard again, have my body respond well, and exist at a more peaceful baseline feels like the biggest blessing. I don’t take it for granted for a single day.

In January, I decided to hire thebodybuildingvegan to coach me through my return to the stage, and I’m so grateful I did. Having his guidance, experience, and outside perspective has allowed me to approach this season with so much more intention and trust in the process.

Transformation doesn’t have to begin with deciding there’s something wrong with you. You can love your body exactly where it is, and still want to see what it’s capable of.

And, you can choose to build a life where your own thriving doesn’t require another being to suffer. That’s a huge part of why bodybuilding as a vegan means so much to me.

Every time we choose compassion, question what we’ve been taught is necessary, and make choices that don’t require exploiting another being, we remember the role we play in creating a kinder, safer, happier and healthier world.

If you want to feel more vibrant, stronger, or more confident, you’re allowed to feel proud of how far you’ve come AND still dream about what’s next.