If you are a bloke and you are vegan you have probably been the butt of jokes since the day you 'came out'. The 'typical vegan male' has been traditionally pictured as a rather intense beardy weirdy type, weak, pale, unhealthy and resembling Malcom, one of the Modern Parents out of Viz. Probably suspect too, and definitely not packing a punch in the testosterone fuelled alpha male zone.

Robbie Hazeley challenges that stereotype in the most emphatic way imaginable - he is vegan, a competitive bodybuilder, and right now he is in the form - and shape - of his life. Recent public appearances at both the 2005 Bristol Vegan Fayre, and Christmas without Cruelty have confirmed that Robbie is at the top of his game right now when it comes to sheer size and definition.

"I went vegan in 1989" says Robbie, "and that was on health grounds. I started bodybuilding back in 1971 and was experiencing a number of health problems, especially with my knees. Going vegan made a lot of sense on paper and in practise was instrumental in improving my all round health, stamina, freedom from injuries and ability to train more intensely. It was the turning point for me in so many ways."

Bodybuilding is as much about diet and rest as it is working out. "I actually only train three times a week for a maximum 45 minutes at a time. The sessions are intensive, and I will focus on one set of muscle group at a time. For instance, one session will focus on exercises that work the back muscles, then the next time its arms and shoulders, then also chest, and of course legs. After each session it's important to rest for up to 48 hours to allow the muscles to repair, strengthen and grow."

Diet is also fundamental to success, and it is here that Robbie excels over men half his age who are on a meat based diet. Going vegan is actually a far more energising diet as far less energy is used by the body to digest and metabolise the food that is eaten. Meat can take up to five days to pass through the system, fruit takes half an hour. In fact melons are so friendly to the human digestive system that they actually pass straight through the stomach into the small intestine, as no pre digestion is required. Quite simply you get a lot more metabolizable nutrients from fruit and veg than you do from meat and dairy, for a lot less effort.

It's also important to get the right foods at the right time. "Basically, the golden rule is carbohydrates before training, and protein after" says Robbie. "The carbs give instant energy to assist the session, and the proteins afterwards help repair the muscles, thereby making growth happen. Complex carbohydrates like apples and celery before are ideal, as they metabolize over a couple of hours, releasing a steady stream of energy over the training period."

The big question on every bodybuilder's mind is protein. Proteins (amino acids) are absolutely essential for muscle growth, and without enough protein then large muscle growth is virtually impossible. Robbie has lost count of the times he has been asked "where do you get your protein from?" "The truth is, like any bodybuilder, I am always looking for more protein sources, simple as that." Says Robbie. "There are proteins everywhere, in pulses, beans and green leafy vegetables especially. Most people on a vegan diet access enough protein just by eating a varied and balanced diet, but if you are bodybuilding you need more - sometimes up to 400 Gms a day, depending on body weight. Now that is a challenge, but fortunately there are options. My favourite source of vegan protein is soya isolate powder with aminogen powder - and I am also very fond of hemp protein powder, as it actually tastes really nice too. Hemp contains all the essential amino acids for a complete protein, and the powder has had the fat extracted making it about 50% protein content. Now that is not as much as the soya isolate (over 90% protein), but it tastes a lot better, that's for sure. The important thing is to keep a real good balanced diet in the background too. Things like a tablespoon of hemp oil a day can have a massive effect on energy and recovery levels, especially after regular use."

Robbie's achievements in 2005 were nothing short of amazing for a man knocking on fifty in what has traditionally been a young mans game. second in Mr Wales, fourth in the British Championships, third in Mr England and sixth in W.PF World.

And a stunning achievement late on in 2005 when Robbie tore up the form book to finish second in the big one - Mr Britain. "Right now, I am in the shape of my life, and that is my best achievement of 2005. If I can remain injury free (Robbie has overcome operations on his knee back in 2004 to return to full time training) 2006 promises even more success. I start on April 9th at the Mr South Coast competition, move on to the International Pendle Valley show on 15th April, then Exeter for the Mr West on April 23rd, on the 6th May it's the open Mr Celtic show in Newport, and then it's on to the Majors later in the season."

Read another Vegan Bodybuilding article here.