‘I’m Vegan And A Nationally Qualified Powerlifter – Here’s What I Eat In A Day’

Katya Gorbacheva is a nationally qualified powerlifter who is proving that vegan athletes can excel on a plant-based diet. She competes with the Vegan Strong PlantBuilt Team, a group of plant-based athletes who competed in Mr America last year. Gorbacheva runs her own coaching company, TotalBodyLab, where she helps plant-based athletes achieve their competitive sports and personal wellness goals.

Her daily diet consists of plant-based protein sources like tofu, seitan, and vegan meat alternatives, alongside fruits, vegetables, and grains. Despite misconceptions that vegans lack protein, Gorbacheva's diet fuels her rigorous training regime of daily hikes and walks, frequent bench presses, squats, and occasional deadlifts. Her vegan journey began for health reasons after a blood test revealed high cholesterol levels, and has since evolved to be driven by a combination of health, environmental, and ethical reasons, highlighting the benefits of a plant-based diet for athletes.