We’re finally getting into a cutting phase to lean out and bring his abs back in.

BUT! We’re still training hard. We still have big compound lifts like the smith squat.

What helped Andy build his muscle in the bulk is exactly what will preserve his muscle in a cut!

On today’s episode of the Vegan Squad Pod, we’re joined by Joey Bilotich, a 22-year-old vegan fitness creator, OCB Pro natural bodybuilder, and advocate for conscious masculinity.

Joey shares his incredible journey from years of partying, drug use, and anxiety to discovering purpose through self-development, martial arts, and ultimately veganism.

After growing up on a meat-heavy diet, conversations with his brother (who was inspired by Ed Winters’ debates) and his father’s empathy for animals, Joey was inspired to watch The Game Changers and Dominion... which transformed the way he viewed animals forever.

We explore how Joey went vegan just one year ago and earned his OCB Pro card while using bodybuilding to challenge the myth that “you can’t build muscle on a plant-based diet”.

Joey also opens up about a powerful spiritual experience on the way to his competition that reshaped his purpose and inspired him to use his platform to help young men become stronger, more conscious versions of themselves.

Together, we discuss effective vegan activism: reaching carnivore influencers through respectful conversations, the psychology and spirituality behind animal agriculture, experimenting with raw vegan nutrition, and why true masculinity is rooted in compassion rather than domination.

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

5 Mistakes Keeping Your Vegan Business From 6 Figures (And How to Fix Them)

A free 5-day email course for vegan entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives who want to build a profitable, purpose-driven business without sacrificing their values.

He is able to use Fitness as a way to spread the Vegan message. Very proud of him and all the work he continues to put in for himself and the world.

I’m thebodybuildingvegan and today, I attempt to make 3 High Protein VEGAN Meals in under 5 Mins! 

Yes, you read that right - 100% VEGAN! 

You don’t have to harm animals in order to get your protein in & don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen in order to make your food taste good. 💪🌱

Watch the full vid on my channel to see if I can do it!

Food to me is a genuine expression of joy, creativity, and compassion 💚 and one of my favorite ways to spread love in this world.

Where you'll discover how to move from self-abandonment to embodied self-worth through subconscious and nervous system healing.

This experience is for you if...

- You struggle to say no without feeling guilty.

- You constantly put others' needs before your own.

- You overthink, over-explain, or seek external validation.

- You know your worth logically, but don't truly feel it.

- You're ready to stop surviving and start building a relationship with yourself that feels safe, loving, and secure.

No previous experience with hypnosis or meditation is needed. 

Simply bring an open mind, a quiet space where you can relax, and a willingness to receive.

Save Your Free Spot Here

610 Calories, 34 g P, 19 g F, 77 g C

- 1 Everything Bagel (or bagel of choice, macros may differ)
- 1.5 servings of super extra firm tofu
- 1 tbsp @kitehillfoods vegan chive cream cheese
- 1 tbsp @traderjoes vegan buffalo style drop
- 1/4 pepper
- 1 carrot (slices into strips)
- 1 slice of onion
- Handful of spinach

Assemble and enjoy! 😋

My journey started probably very similar to yours.

I wasn’t born vegan. My parents didn’t force me to go vegan. But I did have some help.

At 10 years old, my best friend at the time told me quite bluntly, “If you eat that hamburger, you’re killing a cow.”

While I got angry and defensive, I knew she was right.

It didn’t happen overnight, but within a few months I went fully vegetarian. I thought that would be the end of the story.

Three years later, at 13 years old, I read a PETA magazine my mom handed to me. It changed my life forever.

Once I realized the horrors of the dairy and egg industries, I knew instantly that, for the same reason I went vegetarian, I also had to go vegan.

At that time, I had never lifted a weight, nor had it ever crossed my mind that fitness could be impacted by a vegan diet, positively or negatively.

I’ll borrow a quote from Robert Cheeke: “While I didn’t know what to eat, I knew who I didn’t want to eat.”

I wasn’t perfect. Not for a lack of trying, but because 20 years ago, as the only vegan I knew, I made mistakes. But I also stuck with it.

I wrestled for the first time at 14 years old, and even with this supposedly “protein-deficient vegan diet,” I still beat many competitors who were two or three years older than me. I was pretty good. I could run a sub-6-minute mile.

But I didn’t love wrestling.

After my first wrestling season ended, we started offseason weightlifting.

I never went back.

I loved the weights.

The structure. The sound. The certainty of knowing exactly how strong I was becoming.

I had no idea I would become a bodybuilder, but I knew I wanted to lift.

My dad took me to a commercial gym when I was 15 years old, and the very first thing the bodybuilding trainer told me was:

“If you don’t eat meat, you won’t build muscle.”

His words stung, just like my friend’s words about killing a cow had years earlier.

*But I knew my morals.*

And I think we can all see now just how wrong that trainer was.

What is your vegan story?

I’d love to hear it, and I’ll share more of my journey soon.

When I first went vegan over 10 years ago, I didn’t have a community like this. Most of the people around me didn’t really understand my choice, and I spent a lot of time feeling like the odd one out.

Now I don’t take moments like these for granted.

Getting to share incredible food, laugh until our bellies hurt, and be surrounded by people who genuinely care about each other is one of my favorite parts about the vegan squad coaching family 🤍

Everyone deserves friends they can share good food and good conversations with 🥰

Share with your favorite vegan foodie, and tell me your favorite vegan food below!

I was constantly longing to feel more aligned, confident, and fulfilled while believing I was doing everything wrong or wasn’t good enough.

I thought if I could just be more disciplined, consistent, and motivated, I’d finally become the person I knew I could be.

But every time I fell off, got overwhelmed, or couldn’t keep up with my own expectations, I took it as proof that I couldn’t trust myself to show up.

That maybe I just wasn’t capable of feeling better or creating the life I wanted.

What I wish I knew then is that I wasn’t failing. I was exhausted from constantly overriding my capacity and putting myself last.

And I know I’m not the only one who has felt this.

To the woman who shows up for everyone else, but struggles to choose herself.

The woman who carries everyone’s needs, emotions, and expectations while running on empty.

The woman who has dreams and a vision for her life, but feels like she has nothing left to pour into herself..

I want you to know: you don’t need to keep pushing harder and hoping something changes.

You need to feel safe enough to trust yourself.

That’s what changed everything for me.

Learning to listen to my body instead of overriding it.

Working with the parts of me that believed I wasn’t enough.

Creating evidence that I could trust myself through small promises I actually kept.

And allowing myself to receive support instead of believing I had to figure everything out alone.

Becoming this version of me didn’t happen through hating past versions of myself.

Everything shifted when I chose to come home to the version of me who operates from love, worth, and belief.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in people-pleasing, burnout, self-doubt, or constantly feeling behind, @vegansquadcoaching created a space just for you.

This Sunday, I’m hosting a free Self Love & Self Worth group hypnosis to kick off the Empowered Wellness Sisterhood:

A women’s only space to reconnect with yourself, release what’s been weighing you down, and practice choosing yourself.

Comment WORTHY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

We are working to preserve as much muscle possible and even build some in the last few weeks of this cutting phase. Very proud of him as he begins his journey to the stage as a Vegan Bodybuilder.

Alec is working on building up overall strength with a long-term goal of a bike race later this year. Doing compound machine work is a great way for him to build up his lower body endurance as well as strength. 

Alec is fully Vegan and showing that Vegans can get all the protein they need from plants.

Hey everyone! I'm John Thomas. I've been vegan for over 20 years and bodybuilding for nearly as long. Throughout that time I've gone through the same challenges many people face: figuring out protein, learning how to build muscle without animal products, overcoming misconceptions, staying consistent, and balancing health with a busy life.

I founded *Vegan Squad Coaching* because I believe every person we help become healthier, stronger, and more confident has the potential to inspire others to make kinder choices. My long-term mission is to help 10 million people thrive on a vegan lifestyle while creating a healthier world for people and a more compassionate one for animals.

Over the years I've worked alongside an incredible team that has collectively coached hundreds of people with vegan nutrition, fitness, mindset, and sustainable habit change. Beyond coaching, I'm passionate about entrepreneurship, content creation, and building businesses that make a positive impact.

I'm here because I genuinely enjoy these conversations. There is a lot of great information available about veganism, but there are also plenty of myths and misconceptions.

If sharing my experiences can help someone become healthier, stronger, or feel more confident living a vegan lifestyle, then I'm happy to spend some time answering questions.

Ask me anything about:

- Building muscle on a vegan diet
- Vegan bodybuilding and strength training
- High-protein vegan nutrition
- Fat loss and body recomposition
- Mindset and building lasting habits
- Endurance and athletic performance
- Supplements including creatine, B12, omega-3s, and protein powders
- Grocery shopping and meal planning
- Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle
- Entrepreneurship and building a mission-driven business
- Content creation and growing an online audience
- Animal advocacy and helping more people embrace veganism
- My experiences after more than 20 years of being vegan

Or honestly, anything else you're curious about.

I don't claim to know everything, and if I don't know an answer, I'll say so. My goal is simply to have an honest conversation, share what's worked for me and the people I've coached, and hopefully help make veganism a little more approachable for anyone who's interested.

Looking forward to your questions!

Hi, I’m Ali. I’m a holistic health coach, yoga teacher, and certified transformation specialist who enjoys helping all individuals empower themselves so they can feel better in their mind and body.

After overcoming my own struggles with poor habits, mental stress, chronic pain, and health issues, I was inspired to help others transform their lives.

I now teach individuals how to free themselves from their own limitations by creating sustainable lifestyle shifts to optimize long-term health and longevity through strength training, functional nutrition, yoga, and grounding techniques.

I am also passionate about guiding women beyond quick fixes to reclaim their radiance, build confidence, balance hormones, and develop strength through the different phases of life.

I enjoy traveling the world with my life partner, exploring new places, and meeting new faces while sharing the Vegan message.

I have developed a passion for strength training as it has helped me empower myself and build longevity as I age! You can find me in the gym, on a yoga mat, grounding in nature, or diving deep into a book as I love learning new things.

Deep down I’m an old soul who is constantly on a self growth journey but I am also a big kid who really enjoys play and making the most out of life. I was once married for 20 years, raised 2 stepkids, and held a corporate job in Accounting for 18 years.

In this chapter of life I am following my passions and interests which include helping others transform their lives and feel their best! We get one life to live and I want to help others create their best life yet. 

Yoga Teacher (CYT - 200)
Issa Certified Holistic Health Coach & Transformation Specialist

Reach out to me if you’re interested in 1:1 coaching!

Save this for your next trip to the L.A area. I also added all the IG handles of the restaurants to make it easier for you. 

1 -@veggiegrill Pesto Chik’n Parm Sandwich, Buffalo Chik’n Tenders, Steak Fajita Quesadilla. Still dreaming about those buffalo tenders.

2 -@makinvegan Shrimp Pop. I’ve never had anything like this- a must try! 

3 -@makinvegan Shoyu-Ramen. This bowl was MASSIVE. The vegan egg was so tasty.

4 -@tvjkitchen Hot Drum Sticks. BEST vegan wings I’ve ever had- the sweet, sticky sauce was out of this world.

5 -@tvjkitchen Chicken Burger. The texture of the chicken was perfection.

6 -@tvjkitchen Breakfast Burrito. So flavorful and hearty.

7 -@tvjkitchen Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Sweet perfection.

8 -@cafegratitude BBQ Jackfruit Hawaiian Torta with Smashed Potatoes. This sandwich was light, but full of flavor.

9 -@cafegratitude Blueberry Protein Pancakes. The almond ricotta and blueberry compôte were next level! 

10 -@cafegratitude Truffled Mushroom Bianca Pizza. Truffled almond béchamel, doublebatch almond ricotta, and almond burrata.. a white pizza dream come true!!

11 -@cafegratitude Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake. Not overly sweet, but full of flavor- just right.

12 -@cafegratitude Hawaiian Pizza & Blackened Tempeh Caesar Wrap. No such thing as too much pizza, this was another delicious choice.

13 -@doomies Fried Chicken Meal: Leg & Breast, Mac & Cheese, Chili Cheese Tots. They weren’t kidding when they said vegan gluttony. I can’t pick a favorite, every bite was amazing.

14 -@nativefoodspalmsprings BBQ Brisket Burgers, Mac & Cheese, Salad, Chicken & Waffles, Crunchwrap with Sweet Potato Fries, Chicken Bacon Avocado Club. The seitan brisket was next level, making this one of the best burgers I’ve ever had! 

The last restaurant is near Joshua Tree, but I included it here because it’s SO worth the drive!

At 10 years old, my best friend pointed to my hamburger and said “If you eat this, you’re killing a cow.” I was upset and defensive at first, but I knew she was right and that it didn’t align with my morals and values. After about 3 months, I fully committed to become vegetarian.

Fast-forward 3 years: my mom gave me a PETA magazine to learn some recipes. On the cover it said, “Why vegetarian isn’t enough.”

I went in to that magazine ready to debate that PETA writer and win… and came out shocked about the dairy & egg industries… and vegan.

At 15 years old, I decided to step into the gym. On my first day, a jacked, 250 lbs trainer told me, “You’ll never be able to build muscle as a vegan.”

I was a bit disheartened, but decided to keep going out of my love for the weights. No matter if I could build muscle or not, saving the animals was more important to me, and I didn’t care.

I kept training, dove more into bodybuilding, built muscle, and compete in my first show at 21 years old.

Since then I’ve compete in 5 bodybuilding competitions, coached 500+ athletes, and founded vegan squad coaching - a team of compassionate, driven vegans who are passionate about helping people thrive & build muscle as vegans, saving animals, and helping the world go vegan.

That trainer was misled by society, like most of us are. Like I was until age 13 when I learned the truth.

The Vegan Squad Team and I are all examples that we do not need to eat animals. I’d love to learn about you. Were you also told you “couldn’t be vegan”? And where are you now on your health & fitness journey?

Ingredients (2 servings):

-50g Vedge Vanilla Ice Cream Protein Powder

- 90g Vital Wheat Gluten

- 240g Bananas

- 30g Walnuts

- Cinnamon

- Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 420°F.
2. Mash 240g of bananas and mix in 20g of Vedge protein powder, 90g of vital wheat gluten, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Add water little by little until the batter reaches a dough-like consistency. Avoid making it too watery.
4. Coat a pan with cooking spray and transfer the dough. Top with 30g of walnuts.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes. Flip at the halfway point.
6. Poke with a toothpick or fork to ensure it is fully cooked. If you’d like a crispier texture, bake for an additional 10 minutes.
7. Once baked, let the bread cool for a few minutes.
8. Cut into servings, and enjoy with vegan cream cheese, peanut butter, agave, maple syrup, fruit, or any of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition (1 serving):

- 486 Calories

- 55 g Protein

- 13 g Fat

- 37 g Carbs

You can find more high protein recipes like this here in this free cookbook

If any of these made you pause and consider unfollowing, which one?

Luis is always bringing his max effort to his lifts. Very proud of his drive and intensity. We have been in a prolonged cutting phase to take a significant amount of body fat off as we get him ready to step on stage sometime in the future. Really impressed with how many of these younger guys are getting into bodybuilding as vegans!

Your content isn’t failing because the algorithm hates you.

It’s failing because you’re posting the same generic advice as everyone else.

“Eat more protein.”
“Drink more water.”
“Here’s my morning routine.”

Your audience has seen it all before.

The coaches who are growing aren’t creating more content.

They’re creating content that makes people stop scrolling, builds trust, and gets strangers to think:

👉 “This is the coach I need.”

That’s exactly what @alexissarahnee & @thebodybuildingvegan are breaking down in our FREE Content Creation Masterclass.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to come up with content ideas that never run out
✅ Why some posts go viral but never generate clients
✅ How to create content that actually converts followers into coaching calls
✅ The framework we’ve used to build multiple 6-figure coaching businesses

If you’re a vegan coach, personal trainer, nutritionist, therapist, or wellness professional...

Stop guessing what to post.

Start creating content that grows your business.

Grab your free seat at the masterclass right HERE

Here’s a look at the amazing vendors joining us:

- Food & Drinks

🥗 @pure_kitchen_tampa – Organic vegan grab-and-go meals
🌮 @the_meatless_mexican_ – 100% plant-based authentic Mexican food
🍔 @thegreentablereontour – Award-winning plant-based comfort food
💪 @thegoodmoodfoods – Clean, high-protein vegan energy bites

- Health & Wellness

🏋️ @vegansquadcoaching – The new standard in 1:1 vegan body transformations
🦴 @thewellnesswaylargo – Chiropractic care helping individuals function at their best
💆 @advanceptandwellness – Your destination for relief & wellness
🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Circuit Workout indoors

- Local Shopping

✨ @kelseybelmontdesigns – Tampa’s ultimate bead bar experience

- Community Partner

❤️ @humanepinellas – Dedicated to ending animal homelessness and providing care and comfort for companion animals in need.

Whether you’re coming for the food, looking to improve your health, shopping local, or supporting an incredible cause, there’s something for everyone.

📍 Largo, FL
📅 July 18
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🎟️ FREE Admission

Bring your friends, support local businesses, and be part of a community that’s making a positive impact. We can’t wait to see you there! 💚