Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

by Rich Roll

I’m hardly alone in my advocacy of this so-called “alternative lifestyle.” In fact, plant-based nutrition has recently exploded into the mainstream. Avid plant-based athlete converts include tennis legend Serena Williams; NBA standout Kyrie Irving; world-record setting strongman Patrik Baboumian; World Freerunning Champion Timothy Shieff; and martial arts fighters such as Mac Danzig, Jake Shields, and Nate Diaz, who made global headlines when he bested Conor McGregor. Even the NFL is coming around due to the example of former defensive lineman David Carter (aka “the 300 Pound Vegan”), former Colts and Ravens wide receiver Griff Whalen, and offensive tackle Trent Williams of the Washington Redskins. Then there’s Tom Brady, the most celebrated athlete in the league, who adheres to a mostly vegan regimen. And it’s not just professional athletes who’ve caught the fever. Passionate plant-based advocates include politicians like Senator Cory Booker and former Vice President Al Gore; entrepreneurs like Whole Foods founder John Mackey, Twitter founder Biz Stone, and real estate magnate Mort Zuckerman. There’s even a cabal of high rolling venture capitalists dubbed the “vegan mafia” who understand that the future of food is plants and are investing accordingly. Let’s not even count the celebrities—there’s just too many to mention. The list is huge and growing daily.