Vegetarian Bodybuilders, something might not seem true to the western world.
Bodybuilding is slowly becoming more popular as a career option but there are several misconceptions related to the profession due to the limited amount of knowledge about the profession among the general public. People think that bodybuilders spend 8 to 10 hours inside the gym but this is not true. Any healthy bodybuilder spends slightly more time than the general public. The difference is the intensity, weight and diet. Speaking of diet, there is another very common misconception related to bodybuilding that is – bodybuilders need to consume non-veg food in order to build muscles.
Now, is this argument true? Absolutely not! Yes, non-vegetarian food like chicken and fish contain high amounts of protein, carbs and vitamins but that doesn’t mean you can’t build muscles without consuming non-vegetarian food. The key is consuming high amounts of protein, it doesn’t matter whether you get protein and other necessary nutrients from vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food.
There are many bodybuilders and athletes across the world who have got a desirable physique without eating non-vegetarian food. There are several bodybuilders and athletes in India who have risen to the highest level by sticking to a strictly vegetarian diet. Bodybuilding is all about commitment, discipline and dedication. It hardly matters if you consume vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food.
I’ve compiled a list of top vegetarian bodybuilders in India.
Varinder Singh Ghuman
Varinder Singh Ghuman is one of the most popular names in the Indian bodybuilding industry. He is a leading inspiration for vegetarian bodybuilders. Ghuman started off with cricket but got attracted towards bodybuilding. He got so much into the field that decided to pick it as a profession and represented himself and the country at the international level. He won Mr. India’s title in 2009. Also, Ghuman is the first to get to the top line of Arnold Classic Europe, an international championship of bodybuilding.
The fact that Ghuman the brand got the ambassadorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature gyms and food supplements, speaks volumes about his success as a bodybuilder at the international level. Colostrum, the first milk produced by a mammal, post-pregnancy, is one of the key sources behind Ghuman’s energy and enormous size. He doesn’t even eat eggs.
KV Iyer
KY Iyer is credited for starting the trend of bodybuilding and inspiring the youth in the country. A gymnast, bodybuilder and book author, Iyer started developing his own system of bodybuilding in his teenage years. He brought bodybuilding, modern yoga and hatha yoga together. The first gymnasium of Iyer came up in the Sultan’s palace in Bangalore in 1922. By 1930, Iyer became the most important face of bodybuilding and gymnasium in the country. He also served as the physician to Maharajah of Mysore. He featured in several magazines such as ‘The Superman’.
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Sangram Singh Choughule
The celebrity wrestler is a living example of how big vegetarian bodybuilders can grow without touching non-vegetarian food even once. Sangram’s story is very inspirational as he suffered from arthritis during his childhood and was bound to a wheelchair. With his sheer courage and hard work, Sangram not only defeated the ailment but also went on to become one of the country’s biggest bodybuilders.
He is an epitome of determination. He was named the World’s Best Professional Wrestler by the World Wrestling Professionals, South Africa. PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) signed the wrestler as their brand ambassador. Sangram relies on Ashwagandha for his stamina.
Sushil Kumar
Two-time gold medallist wrestler and bodybuilder is another prime example of how successful vegetarian bodybuilders can be. Kumar’s success debunks the theory that only non-vegetarian food can help you build muscles. The freestyle wrestler is the only Indian to win back to back individual Olympic medals in the 66 kg weight division. Kumar thinks vegetarian food is great because you get a simpler palate with restricted choices.
He starts his day with cornflakes, milk, buttered toast and juice. Lunch and dinner usually consist of 2 chapatis, seasonal vegetables and a bowl of yoghurt. However, he does take some supplements for extra protein.
Hira Lal Dhillan
A resident of Punjab, Hira Lal is a professional bodybuilder who went on to become Mr Universe in 2011. He won the title at the 65th World Bodybuilding Championship, Mumbai. He was the first athlete to win a gold for the country after 23 years. Unlike all other bodybuilders on the list, Dhillan started off as a non-vegetarian but switched to a vegetarian diet due to spiritual reasons. He gained 10kg weight after turning vegetarian with the help of soybeans, lentils, curd, lassi and other protein-rich fruits. He won Jr. Mr. India title in 2000 and was Mr. Punjab champion a record 8 times.
Karuppanan Venkatesan
Karuppanan Venkatesan is a professional bodybuilder from Tamil Nadu whose ultimate goal was always to grab the Mr. Olympia title. Venkatesan follows a strict vegetarian diet. He grabbed silver in the Mr. Natural Olympia bodybuilding championship in Las Vegas in November 2015. The former Mr. India is also a professional trainer who trains a few selected candidates. He avoids milk and gets his power from 23 different types of nuts. He was attracted towards bodybuilding at the age of 10 after he was the great Arnold Schwarzenegger on TV.
