Meet the world record holder weightlifter who happens to be vegan...

[WillParkinson]

Meet Patrik Baboumian, a German bodybuilder who is smashing soy-based stereotypes.
"I'm probably the most unthinkable vegan on the planet for several reasons," says Baboumian, who's built like Popeye and has broken several powerlifting world records.

His passion for bodybuilding stems from a childhood spent in Iran during the 1980s with the backdrop of war with neighboring Iraq.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/06/health/vegan-strongman-patrik-baboumian-germany-diet/index.html

[handmade34]

1. hurrah!

yes, vegans come in all shapes and sizes... I'm not quite that strong or big but I can do a hard day's work and feel good doing it

[IronLionZion]

2. Whoa! that dude is badass

It was paleo hippies who told me to stop eat soy before I grow breasts and turn into a female.

[Fast Walker 52]

3. Go Veg!

It's better for the planet!

Veganism is hard, so if you can't do that, at least do vegetarian!

[byronius]

4. It's an advantage for many athletes.

Joints heal faster, etc. Clean protein is a performance-enhancing drug.

[Citrus]

5. Nah...

Love this guy! Maybe people will start to listen.

Btw, veganism isn't hard at all. I agree that at least going vegetarian is a good thing, and not something to be denigrated. But being vegan is the easiest thing I've ever done.

Big caveat: Please remember that veganism refers to a complete lifestyle, not just diet. "Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose." People who are diet-only "vegans" have co-opted the word because it's trendy. They are actually strict vegetarians, not vegans.