Ever wonder if you could change your diet as an athlete? Especially going plant-based? Before deciding if it’s right for you, it’s best to hear from actual athletes who are vegetarians to gauge if this is right for you. In this episode of the Live Your Personal Best podcast, I speak with Jenny Kotlyar, a vegetarian athlete and backpacker. Listen to this episode and learn about the struggles that you might encounter as a vegetarian athlete and how you could overcome these challenges.  Episode Timeline [2:24] Jenny talks about her hiking journey and how she started. [6:54] Jenny shares how she became a vegetarian backpacker. [10:07] Jenny reveals if she struggled to look for alternative protein sources when she became vegetarian. [13:10] Jenny tells Emily how essential planning is when it comes to backpacking. [14:04] Jenny reveals what’s the hardest thing about being a vegetarian while being a backpacker.  [15:49] Jenny explains why she added back some animal proteins like fish back in her diet. [19:10] Jenny describes her relationship with food and eating. [25:56] Jenny leaves her last pieces of advice. Key Takeaways When starting your vegetarian journey, it could help if you count your protein macros. When you’re planning to hike, it’s also essential to factor in your protein intake to prepare better.  Carbohydrates give you a quick release of energy. Fats, on the other hand, provide you with sustained energy while protein helps you recover. As a vegetarian backpacker, you might struggle in finding the protein that suits your palate. Quotes “Your body’s freaking amazing. Stop hating on yourself.” - Jenny [21:48] “Give yourself permission to love yourself and to do you and to be important in your own life.” - Jenny [25:59] Connect with Jenny: limitlesshiker.com or instagram.com/limitlesshiker  Join our facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/personalbesties Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices