Plant-based health and the environment
We had been following John for quite some time when we bumped into him at VegFest London last October. We loved his profile on Instagram, which is aptly named because John is quickly gaining notoriety in the world of plant-based health and fitness. Already an inspiration to many, John is driven and focused on helping others who want to commit to a healthy plant-based lifestyle. He believes in looking and feeling great whilst helping to protect the environment.
John's values reflect our own, and we were interested to get his take on adopting a plant-based diet, what inspired him to go vegan and how important sustainability is to him.
What did you have for breakfast today?
Which one? Haha. I'm currently in a bulking phase of my diet as I'm trying to add more muscle, so I'm having two breakfasts. I always start the day with a big bowl of oats, with added chia seed, hemp and flax seed, and walnuts, to make sure I get my omegas along with lots of other healthy ingredients and plant-based milk. I then work out and have my 2nd breakfast afterwards, which is generally a smoothie with watermelon, blueberries, bananas, dates and Vivo Life protein powder.
When did you decide to become vegan and why?
I’ve been vegan for nearly two years after being vegetarian for about 18 months. What made me make the switch to vegan was watching a video I came across on Facebook called ‘Dairy is Scary’. Before seeing this, I was unaware of the awful process behind dairy farming and my wife and I made the switch there and then.
Why are health and fitness so important to you?
Health and fitness are the pillars which hold everything else together in my life. The healthier and fitter I am, the better I feel. The better I feel, the more productive I am. The more productive I am, the better I sleep. The better I sleep, the more I can feel positive and have positive relationships. Health and fitness are not just about muscles and six-packs.
"A 1 hour workout is 4% of your day."
What advice would you give to somebody considering veganism?
Just go for it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, from feeling healthier to having a clean, ethical conscience. Also, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to switch immediately. If it means cutting out meat and dairy a day at a time or making small steps to eventually being vegan then that’s fine, everybody can do it in their own way.
What do you base your buying decisions on?
First, I always check the product is vegan-friendly. I then ask myself if I need the product. Will it benefit my life? I try as much as possible to live a minimalist lifestyle and I heard a good guide to making purchases which I try to stick to, it also helps save money and makes you know you definitely want the item. If an item is £50 then wait 5 days and see if you still want the item, if it’s £60 wait 6 days and so on. It’s a really good guide to stop wastage and impulse buying.
How important do you think sustainability is, and how does it influence how you live your life?
Sustainability is very important to me. We live in a crazy, fast-paced world where production comes first, and the environment comes second. I'm always keen to buy from sustainable companies who care about the environment. This includes everything from clothing to food. I took part in plastic free July in 2018 which really taught me about the impact of plastic and how it isn't sustainable, having a month where you are as plastic free as possible is something I’d really recommend as a learning tool.
What would be your desert island dinner/ favourite meal?
This is a tough one as I'm a big foody. I'm going to have to go with a smoothie bowl, though, as I'm addicted to them, even in winter.
“Eat nutritious. Life heavy. Cuddle often. Work hard. Enjoy Life.”
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Again, this is tough to answer. So many people have impacted my life: my wife, friends, and even influencers, but I'm going to say my parents, as they have been in my life the longest. They taught me from a young age about core values such as hard work and respect, which I follow every day of my life.
What do you listen to when you’re working out?
If I'm weight training, then it’s some kind of rock or Indie music; I'm a big fan of old music, so it could be something like that. If I'm doing cardio, I like to listen to a podcast, like those by Nimai Delgado, Joe Rogan, or Rich Roll.
How do you retain your wonderful positive attitude?
I'm a big believer in positivity and the law of attraction. I surround myself with positive people and cut all negative people from my life a long time ago. I always try to be positive whenever I'm sharing something online, as that can influence other people. Just remember that what you see online is just a glimpse of someone’s life, and everyone has their periods of feeling down, myself included.
Plant-based health can be tough to get your head around, but influencers like John make the shift easy with tips, recipes and training videos to make sure people reach their fitness goals whilst maintaining optimum health. Through the power of social media and his own determination, John is proving that one person really can make a difference.
John likes to carry the Watson & Wolfe Slim Card Holder in black as his everyday accessory.
Update - Sept 2024: We understand that the sites and social media profiles for Plant Based Health & Fitness are no longer available, so links have been removed from this page.
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