Rob Bigwood will pump. you. up.
Rob Bigwood (on your right) is one of the top professional arm wrestlers in the United States. Currently ranked 8th in his division in the U.S., he’s won 40 state tournaments all around the country, and, in 2006, he won the left-handed world championship.
He’s also a vegan. [Cue this.]
The most phenomenal thing about watching him at work is that he wears a PETA shirt as he graciously fucks up his meat-eating opponents. (See the video at the end of this post.) Seriously, he’s an incredibly nice guy, which is probably why he agreed to do this interview. Read on for Rob’s tips on how to get fitter, in the American and the British sense of the word.
What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to a beginner who wants to start lifting weights?
The single most important piece of advice I can offer is to not worry about how much weight you are lifting. Focus on performing the exercise right. The gains will come much more quickly that way.
What’s your favorite supplement while training? Why?
The only supplements I take are vegan protein shakes. Otherwise, my diet consists of organic fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables, tofu and seitan.
What’s your pre-workout meal?
I eat some fruit, usually apples, with organic peanut butter and some almonds. Also some orange juice for simple sugars.
Post-workout meal?
Vega and Sun Warrior protein shakes are a must! I mix them with flax seeds and almond milk.
How do you avoid injury?
For others who are not arm wrestlers, I would say this is the other side of my earlier advice to focus on form and not the amount of weight. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, not to what the guy next to you is lifting.
For me as an arm wrestler, it’s hard to avoid. This sport pretty much entails injuries! I’ve had elbow surgery where they had to completely move my Ulnar nerve, cut out 6 bone spurs and a large junk of my tricep. My right arm hasn’t been as strong ever since.
I’ll remember to stick to your right if we ever get into a fight.
[laughs] Nooo! I shouldn’t have told you.
If you could only do one exercise during your workout, what would it be and why?
I love training my back. I could do pullups all day, not to mention it’s great training for arm wrestling!
What foods should men who want to slim down avoid? What about men who want to bulk up?
For slimming down, avoid eating too many carbohydrates. This includes beer! And avoid eating “empty” calories. For bulking up, eat more calories and proteins – plant-based ones, of course, like soy and spirulina.
If you went vegan after you started weight training, what (if any) differences did you notice regarding performance, physique, and overall health?
I lost excess weight and my endurance went through the roof. I did lose a bit of strength in the beginning but quickly got it back after a few months. Meanwhile, my bloodwork reports after doctors’ visits started coming back crazy-positive. Just crazy good!
