Building Muscle, Compassionately: Steve’s Vegan Bodybuilding Journey

Steve Hess The Militant Vegan 7

At The Militant Vegan, strength is about more than just building muscle; it’s about standing firm in values that prioritize compassion. Steve Hess, the visionary behind the brand, combines his dedication to veganism with a commitment to powerful, ethical fitness. We sat down with Steve to discuss his journey, the challenges and triumphs along the way, and how The Militant Vegan is transforming what it means to be strong.

Can you share what first inspired you to adopt a vegan lifestyle, especially as an athlete?

I didn’t like the conditions of factory farming and animal welfare. Consuming an animal I had no connection with—and wouldn’t be comfortable slaughtering myself—just didn’t sit well with me. I started to feel a certain amount of guilt with animal products, so I decided to cut them all out.

From an athletic standpoint, if you can get the same amount of nutrients from a food source that requires less energy from your body to break down and extract, then it is more efficient in terms of energy consumption. Digestion is an energy-intensive process, it takes longer and more energy in terms of calories to break down animal products. Animal products also slow down transit time in terms of elimination, which can make weight cutting more difficult.

A vegan diet also dramatically reduces your carbon footprint. Livestock production is the largest producer of greenhouse gas or CO2 emission over all automobile fossil fuel burning.

How has veganism changed your approach to fitness and muscle-building goals?

I was very active before becoming vegan and was always learning about nutrition and where food comes from, which eventually led me to adopt a vegan lifestyle. At this point, being vegan hasn’t changed my approach to fitness and muscle building all that much. I already had a solid understanding of macros, nutrition, and protein before making the switch. Now, being vegan just means adjusting to plant-based sources for protein, rather than relying on animal products.

What misconceptions do you often encounter about vegan bodybuilding?

  1. That you can’t build muscle on or be strong as a vegan.
  2. That you just eat beans or lettuce.
  3. You can’t get enough protein on a vegan diet.
What do you think sets The Militant Vegan apart from other brands in the plant-based fitness space?

The brand represents more than just a premium, clean, and minimal-ingredient plant-based protein powder in earth-friendly, compostable packaging. It embodies a lifestyle and speaks to the conscious consumer who seeks quality with compassion. The formula was developed by a vegan athlete who competed in pro MMA, using it as a supplement.

How does compassion, both toward animals and the environment, influence your fitness philosophy?

I’ve been vegan for about 15 years now, and it’s almost like a religion to me at this point. Understanding the conditions of factory farms—and, as I mentioned earlier, not being comfortable with slaughtering animals myself—means I don’t feel comfortable eating them. I try to live my life by improving areas in my life where I can have less of an impact on the environment. I bring that same mindset to my fitness. For me, it’s about constantly bettering yourself—both body and mind—through discipline, training, and mindset.

Your health is tied to the environment, and if your environment is polluted, then your health is compromised. That’s one reason I don’t use plastic. I try to find areas where I can improve who I am and my shortcomings as a person. I believe the pursuit of this mental journey is similar to my fitness journey in the sense that you are always striving to get better, and there is no attainment of perfection; it is the pursuit that forges you.

What are some of your go-to vegan protein sources that help you stay strong?
What advice would you give to others considering a vegan lifestyle for muscle building?

I would recommend anyone, regardless of diet, to have a basic understanding of how macros work and the types of calories and macro ratios that align with their muscle-building goals. Do you want to put on as much muscle as possible without concern for fat gain, or do you want to build muscle while maintaining leanness? How active are you, how much do you weigh, and how old are you? These are all variables to consider when building muscle, whether on a vegan diet or any other. Take time to set up a basic meal plan with your protein sources laid out, give yourself room for mistakes, and remember to stay consistent.

Steve’s journey reminds us that true strength lies not only in physical power but in staying true to one’s values. At The Militant Vegan, compassion fuels every decision, from the ingredients in our products to the dedication we have toward ethical fitness. As Steve continues to push the boundaries of what vegan athletes can achieve, he inspires us all to lead with purpose and integrity. Whether you’re just starting your own vegan journey or looking for ways to deepen your commitment, know that every choice you make brings you one step closer to a kinder, stronger world.