Interview with Drew McCall Burke: Vegan Fitness Trainer

I went Vegan when I read a book called Skinny Bitch 7 years ago by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnoiun. By page #2, I was Vegan. 

How long have you been vegan?

8 years.

What has benefited you the most from being a vegan?

By going vegan, I improved my health, opened my compassionate heart, and focused on a mission and passion that has given me the most satisfaction in my life.

What does veganism mean to you?

Veganism is an end to the suffering and abolition of all creatures, human and animal, to not exploiting or harming any animal for the gain of human pleasure or appetite.
 
Training
What sort of training do you do?

I run 10K just about every other day, practice yoga 4-6 days a week and train with my clients everyday - a large variety of fun plyometric, acrobatic and strength training exercises.

I like to play everyday I can. The world is my gym.

Do you offer your fitness or training services to others?

I have been a professional fitness trainer for 20 years. From kickboxing to kettleballs, pilates , yoga  and athletic conditioning. I know train how to the complete person with nutrition, health and physical fitness.

I play whatever sport I can. Really enjoy all sports. I love to run, cycle and rollerblade.

 

Strengths, Weaknesses & Outside Influences
What do you think is the biggest misconception about vegans and how do you address this?

Many people think that Vegans are extreme, weak and hippies. A misconception would be assuming vegans are not healthy. Through my website and Facebook page, we give every example of healthy living and transformations and testimonials of the wealth of health in a Sexy Raw Vegan (SRV) diet.

 

I can run fast longer and more than ever before. Recovery time is much quicker and I feel energy longer when I eat well.

 

Running faster for longer and more than ever before. I am really enjoying the athleticism of running and cycling.

We are in the midst of enormous change in the athletic diet, so many are open to a raw vegan lifestyle because the results have been very impressive.

Are your family and friends supportive of your vegan lifestyle?

Some in my family are supportive and some not so much but all are very interested and all have questions.

What is the most common question/comment that people ask/say when they find out that you are a vegan and how do you respond?

What do you do to get enough protein? I tell them I don’t I eat amino acids everyday.

Who or what motivates you?

People I train and coach motivate me, my SRV Crew and our future motivates me. My family and the potential to be part of the movement towards a Vegan Planet.

 

Food & Supplements
What do you eat for:
Breakfast - Juices, smoothies, banana oatmeal, fruit, coconut water
Lunch - fruit, stackers, wraps, smoothies, soups 
Dinner - raw pastas stews, SRV creations
Snacks (healthy & not-so healthy) - SRV decadent desserts are healthy and low fat

What is your favorite source of:
Protein - Amino acids are in almost everything I eat
Calcium - Is in all the greens I eat
Iron - Greens and some seeds

What foods give you the most energy?

What gives me the most energy are the Carbs from the what I ate the day before.

 

No

 

Gaining muscle - Train hard and smart, eat a lot of raw food, hydrate well and sleep a lot
Losing weight - Train hard and smart, eat a lot of raw food, hydrate well, and sleep a lot
Maintaining weight - Train hard and smart, eat a lot of raw food, hydrate well, and sleep a lot
Improving metabolism - Train hard and smart, eat a lot of raw food, hydrate well and sleep a lot
Toning up - Train hard and smart, eat a lot of raw food, hydrate well and sleep a lot
 
How do you promote veganism in your daily life?

Through social networking, what I wear and what I promote.

How would you suggest people get involved with what you do?

Facebook and the Internet are fabulous places to meet people and get aligned with vegan and raw vegan meet ups near your town.