The Diaz diet: winner, winner vegan dinner

March 11, 2016 Ashley 0 Comments

Up until last weekend’s fight, I thought that Conor McGregor guy had it in the bag.

Maybe that was because Nate had an injury going into it. Or because there’s a lotta hype surrounding the confident Conor (who was, refreshingly, a très graceful loser post-fight – comporting himself with eloquent humility). Or ’cause I’m shizzy at keeping up on pre-game gossip and much like Mc-Gee himself, I didn’t see it coming.

Or… maybe it’s got a little to do with the victor’s victual routine.

The one that includes zero animal products.

Oh, wait… you didn’t know?

That’s right. Nate Diaz and his brother are both vegan.

While his bro’s been at it since around 15 or 16, Nate himself started around age 18 with a mostly raw, plant based diet. I’ll be honest. I myself crave the cooked vegan stuff. But seeing as he’s a badazz and a half with incredible endurance, I couldn’t help but turn on my listening ears and note taking brain to see how I might up my own game. What’s that sort’ve diet like? And how’s it help out a fighter in the ring? Nate can thank his training to his green, clean eating plan. Contrary to the myth that vegans are weak because (another myth) they’re collectively lacking vital nutrients, his creature free feasts help him feel more energized when he’s essentially setting up camp in a gym prior to a fight. As his brother so eloquently puts it, “It definitely helps me not feel like shit, you know, and I got to train all week long.”

Another bonus? The lack of calorie restriction on your intake – sans sacrificing your liveliness levels. In fact, in one interview, he named one of the upsides to raw nomming being the fact that you can eat as much as you want and still cut weight. (Which sounds great even for someone whose only fighting experience is the daily one waged against waistline expansion.) And, if the fact that a pro fighter thrives on this diet isn’t enough, rest assured that punchology isn’t Nate’s only area of exercise expertise. He’s also an avid triathaloner, just like his sibling. These dudes’ve got fuel for “dias”. And it’s not coming from cows. Which officially K.O.’s the perpetual sarcastic inquiries about protein sources and iron levels.

I suppose I find the Diaz bro’s eating habits so fascinating and inspiring for a few reasons.

Obviously, as a vegan, it’s gonna appeal to me. I won’t pretend it’s not fun to identify with someone who shares your interest and reinforces your belief system. So, sure. I admit it. That’s delightful. However, I like it for another – larger – reason, too. Because it also helps dispel some popular non-logic and unfortunate misconceptions amongst omnivores. Like the idea that vegans are somehow weaker for not eating meat, drinking milk-stuff, or sucking down eggs like Belle’s Disney villain stalker. That they’re “deficient” for that.

Now, don’t get me wrong. You can certainly lose out on nutrients if you’re not eating a well rounded diet. But you know what? A.) Well rounded-ness doesn’t have to include animal products and B.) Many a masticater of meat or what it secreted while still alive can be (and typically are) missing out on a few crucial nutrients themselves. As a vegan (but not a staunch, “you hafta do what I do” soapbox reporter), I will say three things, in conclusion, though. The first? That – whatever we eat – we all hafta take a good look at and focus on our respective health levels. (Instead’ve asking someone else with a diet different than yours how they get their vitamins B and D and S, T, F, U). The second? That when I share stuff about being vegan – it’s ’cause I wanna literally share it with you. Not force it on anyone. It’s that good, that I’m like, “I can’t just keep this best kept secret to myself”. Not when I personally have thrice times thrice the amount’ve exuberance on a plant based diet than I ever had as an omnivore, while losing and keeping off so much weight. And the third thing? That it’s awesome to officially have a public figure and fighting icon demonstrate that in the flesh to the rest of the world. Someone to show it’s not just for skinny, sickly looking chicks toting yoga mats around town. Someone to show it’s champion chow. In fact, in the end, I may make some tweaks too – and start increasing my own “raw” game.

But either way…

It’s good to have someone in our corner.