No Meat Athlete will not only power your strength and endurance, it will give you an extra edge in every aspect of your life.
Neal Barnard, M.D., author of Power Foods for the Brain
As a runner who began competing in the days of the traditional steak training meal, I welcome this books enlightening confirmation of my own experience: Athletes who pass on the meat can perform at the highest level and still enjoy their meals to the max.
Ed Ayres, founder, Running Times magazine, and author of The Longest Race: A Lifelong Runner, an Iconic Ultramarathon, and the Case for Human Endurance
Matt Frazier is a rising star in the world of vegan athletes. Covering the mechanics of diet and training as well as the transformative nature of a whole-foods, plant-based diet, he demonstrates that a body running on plants is probably the one ahead of you at the finish line!
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of The Vegan Table and The Joy of Vegan Baking
Anyone can become a no meat athlete, and Matt Frazier provides the roadmap to wellness and performance no matter where the journey takes you.
Scott Jurek, world-renowned ultramarathon champion and author of Eat and Run
In this fantastic book, Matt clearly lays out a simple but powerful plan for changing your eating habits. In small steps, you can create a healthier, stronger, more compassionate diet that will fuel the best version of you.
Leo Babauta, simplicity blogger at zenhabits.net
Matt Frazier takes all the guesswork out of maximizing your health the plant-based way with his bulletproof primer No Meat Athlete. Whether you are an elite marathoner or a weekend warrior, this clear, concise, and no-nonsense book is your one-stop roadmap to creating and maintaining a sustainable plant-based lifestyle. All hail the running carrot!
Rich Roll, plant-based ultra-distance athlete and author of Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the Worlds Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
an inspiring and empowering book for people interested in being healthy, happy, and active. I highly recommend this accessible, life-changing book.
Gene Baur, founder, Farm Sanctuary
If youve been waiting for the inspiration to turn your life around (by changing what you eat), here it is. It might not make the industrial food complex happy, but youll be glad you did.
Seth Godin, author of The Icarus Deception
Well-organized, very accessible, and a joy to read. This book gives you the real how and why of healthy living with real-life applications, actual training plans, and easy recipesFrazier nailed it with this book.
Sid Garza-Hillman, author of Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto
an excellent resource for the new or experienced athlete. If you are looking for an outstanding guide to improving your health and fitness, No Meat Athlete is the book for you.
Robert Cheeke, author of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness: The Complete Guide to Building Your Body on a Plant-Based Diet
Considering No Meat Athlete is about eating a plant-based diet and running distances most people dont even like to drive, Matt Frazier presents the tools and information he shares in a way that is downright approachable, leaving his readers energized with a sense of possibility.
Brendan Brazier, ultramarathon runner and author of Thrive
Inspiring, encouraging, and packed with practical information, this is a book that will help anyone at any fitness level learn to eat and train for optimal plant-powered health.
Virginia Messina, M.P.H., R.D., author of Vegan for Life and Vegan for Her
This book is a fantastic, no-fuss, no-judgment approach to plant-based eating and fitness. Whether youre curious, brand-new to this, or just keeping the blade sharpget educated, get fed, get fitread this book.
Osher Gnsberg, TV host, Australian Idol
filled with practical advice, solid nutrition information, running tips, training plans, and recipes to fuel athletes of all abilities a comprehensive guide to what you need to be healthy and fit while eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet.
Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., co-author of Simply Vegan and The Dietitians Guide to Vegetarian Diets
If you were not feeling inspired or empowered before reading this book, you certainly will after. No Meat Athlete is the plant-based fuel that will keep you running strong!
Terry Walters, author of Clean Food and Clean Start
Foreword by BRENDAN BRAZIER, Ironman, Ultramarathon Champion, and author of the bestselling book Thrive
RUN ON PLANTS AND DISCOVER YOUR FITTEST, FASTEST, HAPPIEST SELF
MATT FRAZIER
Ultramarathoner and founder of NoMeatAthlete.com
with Matthew Ruscigno, M.P.H., R.D.
2013 Fair Winds Press
Text 2013 Matt Frazier
2013 Matthew Ruscigno, M.P.H., R.D.
First published in the USA in 2013 by
Fair Winds Press, a member of
Quayside Publishing Group
100 Cummings Center
Suite 406-L
Beverly, MA 01915-6101
www.fairwindspress.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5
Digital edition published in 2013
eISBN: 978-1-61058-909-3
Digital edition: 978-1-61058-909-3
Softcover edition: 978-1-59233-578-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Frazier, Matt.
No meat athlete : run on plants and discover your fittest, fastest, happiest self / Matt Frazier with Matthew Ruscigno.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59233-578-7 (paperback)
1. Runners (Sports)--Nutrition. 2. Athletes--Nutrition. 3. Physical fitness--Nutritional aspects. 4. Vegan cooking. 5. Veganism--Health aspects. 6. Running. I. Ruscigno, Matthew. II. Title.
TX361.R86F72 2013
641.5636--dc23
2013024585
Cover design: Quayside Publishing Group
Cover photos: top left by Takao Suzuki; bottom left by Bren Dendy
Book design: Mighty Media
Book layout: Sporto
The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health program.
To Erin:
Your unwavering support through every change of course (just when things were starting to feel comfortable!) means the world to me.
Ten percent of author royalties from this book are donated to animal sanctuaries, including Farm Sanctuary, www.farmsanctuary.org. Thank you for your support in helping to end the mistreatment of animals.
CONTENTS
How I qualified for the Boston Marathon six months after becoming a vegetarian, how adopting a plant-based diet might just make you a better athlete, and how to use this book
Whats wrong with our modern attitude toward food and what we can do to fix it
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