- So physical, I was stuck in terms of my lifting.
I could barely squat two plates.
I think I could deadlift two plates and change maybe,
but I didn't even dare try for one rep max.
My running was okay,
I wasn't really super fast
or I couldn't run for super long distances either.
So I guess my endurance was not in top shape
and my strength was okay, but I knew I could do more.
So I stalled.
When I went vegan,
I feel like I've built the most of my muscle.
So I was how old, 24.
Yeah, and by then I was lifting somewhat,
but I didn't really stick to any program.
I was constantly trying to diet
and just look skinnier and look smaller.
So I've had eating disorders from college.
I didn't really have a good relationship with my body.
And when the focus was moved
from like what is happening to me,
to having the products that are also good
for the environment and for the animals,
I feel like that was really healthy for the mental.
And in terms of strength,
well, I've been doing all the lifts,
and I've have competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting
since I went vegan, so there is that.
I actually have a squat record for my weight category
at our gym right now, which I don't know,
maybe people will beat soon, but I'm competing soon,
so hopefully I can beat that again.
Let's see, what is it?
320, 320 pounds, and I was weighing 150
at the time of competing, 150 pounds, so 68 kilograms.
And that was USAP,
so United States Powerlifting Association.
And my body was terrible,
and then I went to the doctor
because I actually went to my OBGYN and asked like,
hey, is there anything potentially
bad in terms of vitamins, nutrients?
What should I get?
Is there anything bad that can happen to me
if I go fully plant-based?
And she obviously just told me to take B12,
which I already was,
and other vitamins, a general multivitamin,
and omega 3, 6, 9, and nothing bad happened.
But the interesting part is I asked
how soon can I retest to see how much my new diet
improved my blood?
And after eight weeks, the bad cholesterol dropped
three times and my good cholesterol went up,
and it kind of stayed in the green zone ever since.
So I feel like if anybody is ever doubting
what a plant-based diet could do to them,
why don't you run an eight week experiment
and prove it to yourself?
If it doesn't work, then I guess it doesn't work.
And I highly doubt it doesn't,
but then if it does work, how can you deny the benefits?
Hi, my name is Katya Gorbacheva and I am a vegan,
now powerlifter, used to be bodybuilder,
I'm originally from Russia.
My coach right now is Alexei Bakhirev,
who is a number one IPF in masters.
He just got that in August of 2021.
I went vegan about five years ago,
a little over five years,
when I got my blood tested at work.
So I was lifting very heavy,
my dad is really into lifting, and I was enjoying it,
running, trying to lean out,
trying to get as shredded as possible,
and as strong as possible.
Everybody's dream when they're young
and right out of college.
They had free blood testing at work,
and I was at borderline risk for heart disease.
My bad cholesterol was really high,
my good cholesterol was really low,
triglycerides were really terrible.
So I just started Googling for some solutions
and found a vegan documentary.
I think it was "Cowspiracy" and the Forks Over Knives,
watched those, was really inspired,
was really upset that nobody has told me that before.
So I was really ready to just cut out all of the bad things.
So I guess my world before revolved around,
this is a good thing to eat, this is a bad thing to eat,
what they teach girls at a young age, I guess,
don't eat bread, eat this.
So before I tried to eat paleo
and cut out grains, breads, carbs, even milk.
So I already wasn't eating dairy, so I was like, all right,
now, I guess I need to add back the grains
because what else am I going to eat?
So I added tofu that I did not know how to cook,
it was really awful.
I added the beans, my stomach was not ready
for that much fiber,
that was a nightmare for like about a month.
But I was relentless and it didn't give up.
I learned how to cook those things.
And slowly over time,
got more comfortable with more plant-based things.
And still, I guess, ate some things that I used to
that were not vegan before.
But over time I ate less and less animal products.
Then start cutting out animal products
from the things around me, such as you know,
I wasn't buying leather for a long time,
but I was even trying to not buy like consigned leather.
The products for skin and for the house are cruelty-free
instead of a wool,
opt for other things in terms of sweaters and clothing.
So started painting attention to things like that.
And probably only in 2019,
when I competed in bodybuilding for the first time
and was invited to speak at the Durham VegFest,
Raleigh Veg Fest, Wake Forest Veg Fest,
and Charlotte VegFest, I met a bunch of activists
who were like, wait, you're not doing this for the animals?
You know, you selfish prick.
I mean, they didn't say that, but that's how I felt.
I felt like I was really late on the ethical game
because that's the number one reason
that people should be vegan or plant-based right for that,
and for the environment.
So outside of my own health, the environment,
I guess was number two for me, always,
because I'm an engineer by education.
Having taken a bunch of environmental sciences courses
at Duke, I was really adamant on saving energy,
reducing waste, recycling,
but the best thing you can do for the environment
is just to reduce animal consumption.
So that clicked.
And then with this third element
of the ethical vegan clicked,
I feel like now I've got the full picture
and that's probably something
that keeps me mostly plant-based until this day.