The Vegan Superhero AcademyReviews of thevegangym.com

My review is in two parts (1) My coach and (2) The overall VSA experience. My coach: Coach Sarah Bright was the bright spotlight (all puns intended) of my multi-year VSA experience. I felt truly seen, heard, connected with and cared for. She genuinely engaged with me with respect to not only my fitness goals but also how working out (duration, type, intensity) might need to vary as real life commitments and struggles show up for me from time to time. Coach Sarah has a deep understanding of fitness and exercise design. I say that as someone who has been strength training since age 15, and almost every time under trainer supervision. What set Sarah apart from other trainers I’ve partnered with before are, in my view, two things: (1) Her ability to be creative and co-imagine themes for our 12-week workouts that specifically focused on the affirmations I needed for those periods of time (2) Her resilience, kindness and patience when other health conditions impaired my ability to show up in the gym the way I’d like to! She worked with me to challenge my inner critic and stood besides me as a firm ally. I’d work with Coach Sarah again in a heartbeat. I am grateful for the friendship I have developed with her and have VSA to thank for sending her my way! A few words on VSA: This is an organization to watch for in the space of not only vegan fitness but the world of health, wellness, longevity and women’s midlife health - in general. The program offers resources and community that is rigorously evidence-based and supported through dialogue in online communities. VSA’s strength (as I experienced it) is in their fitness coaching and online resources. I was already Whole Food Plant-Based at the time of joining the program so my needs for nutrition education were not very high. Having said this, I did request to meet with the dietitian and was not connected to them despite follow-ups with another coach who was my point of contact then (not Coach Sarah). There may be value in structuring VSA’s program offerings in a more modular fashion to help members participate in a way that meets their goals and helps manage their overall time commitment to the program. Any individual, at any given point, may already be participating in multiple health-focused communities. Adopting a modular system may help preserve the overall membership “value / RoI” of this program that’s currently priced comparable to / higher than concierge service levels for the United States (including some prescriber-led programs). My very best to Leif, Anders and Daphne.

The Vegan Superhero Academy has been one of the most meaningful investments I have ever made, not just in my health, but in my family. I have been a coach for 12 years, so I am not new to fitness, discipline, or helping people make changes in their lives. I have always been in pretty good shape, and from the outside, most people probably would not have thought I needed a program like this. But being in shape and feeling truly healthy, energized, and present are not the same thing. As a husband and father of two young kids, I started to realize that I was giving so much of myself to work, responsibilities, and everyone else that my own health was slowly becoming less intentional. I was getting through my days, but I did not always feel like I was fully showing up the way I wanted to at home. That was the part that hit me the hardest. My kids are at an age where they want me on the floor, running around, playing, wrestling, laughing, and being fully there with them. And I do not want to be the dad who is physically present but mentally drained. I do not want to look back and realize I gave my best energy to everything except the people who matter most. Even with my coaching background, I knew I needed support. I was hesitant to commit at first because I wondered if I really needed it. I have helped other people for years, so there was definitely a part of me that thought I should be able to figure it out on my own. But the truth is, coaching others and being coached yourself are two very different things. What stood out to me about the Vegan Superhero Academy was how complete the support system is. The program has medical doctors, registered dietitians, and an incredible team of coaches, and you can feel that level of care right away. This is not a generic meal plan or cookie cutter fitness program. It is personal, thoughtful, and built around real life. From the beginning, my coach helped me look at my health in a deeper way. Not just workouts or food, but energy, recovery, consistency, stress, family life, and long term sustainability. I finally felt like I had a plan that matched the man I am trying to become, not just the body I am trying to maintain. The biggest change has been how I feel day to day. I have more energy, more patience, more clarity, and more capacity to be present. I feel strong and grounded in a way that goes beyond the gym. The best part is what that has meant for my family. I am showing up better for my wife. I am more engaged with my kids. I can play, run around, and be silly with them without feeling like I am constantly running on fumes. That means everything to me. This program reminded me that taking care of myself is not selfish. It is one of the most important ways I can take care of the people I love. Joining the Vegan Superhero Academy has been one of the best decisions I have made as a husband, a father, and a coach. I only wish I had done it sooner. I cannot recommend this program enough.

I joined VSA and started working with coach Nicole Mitsigeorgis in January and I'm so glad I did! I thrive with a structured plan and accountability and that is exactly what you get with VSA, from a tailor made nutrition plan to your workouts. Nicole has been so wonderfully supportive and flexible when I need to change my workout schedule or our weekly call schedule and so helpful in adding new meals to my nutrition plan. I feel so much better in the four months I've been working with Nicole, I've lost weight and inches, my clothes fit better, I have more energy, and I'm happier! I've prioritized my workouts and am making smarter decisions around my meals. I'm so glad I took the leap and am excited to continue onto the next phase, Momentum!

VSA is a great program. My coach, Kiana, was very knowledgeable and motivating. She helped me embed a strength training program I can do regularly. She also gave me a lot of tips and guidance to expand my vegan meal options. I learned so much from VSA and highly recommend it.

Skeptics gather around. (Because that was me!) I had my doubts because I had tried everything. I had seen The Vegan Superhero Academy online and I thought it seemed great, but could it really be? YES. Jeffrey called me and talked me through everything. texted with me, and met with me multiple times to answer ALL my questions (and there were many.) Once I got started I met my coach, Amber. This review isn’t even long enough to list the amazing things about Amber. Supportive, friendly, understanding, helpful, accommodating, inspiring, non judgmental, relatable, the list goes on. She feels like a friend. (Who I curse at a lot, because she pushes me and knows what I’m capable of, even when I doubt.) Now of course it’s not all about the number on the scale, but for those interested in that, I’m down 22 pounds since I started in January. Suddenly I can squat with no knee pain (thank you vegan diet!) and I amaze myself with the exercises I am capable of completing. (I couldn’t even do a knee push up at the start and now I do 12 without a break!) I am finally at the point where I don’t overthink the clothes on my body before going out the door (another goal because that was exhausting) and I’ve just signed on for another year because I just can’t quit this group! The online courses are amazing and the supportive community is unmatched. Amber made me feel like an athlete. She supports my goals, even when I felt like they were too big to be realistic, she never blinked or wavered. And it’s all up from here. If you’re thinking about taking the leap, you will not regret it.

After years of trying various weight loss and exercise programs, I was stuck in a frustrating cycle. I would lose weight and tone up, but as soon as the program ended, the weight would come back—plus more. I knew I needed something different, which led me to The Vegan Gym. I was already a fan of Leif Arneson’s meal prep videos on YouTube and followed Dr. Greger’s work, but it still took me a month to gather the courage to inquire. After some tough but necessary conversations with my husband regarding the cost and his support, I took the leap. I was initially terrified, but the resources provided—from the recommended food lists to the endless recipes—made the transition seamless. My coach, Nicole Mitsigeorgis, has been a total game-changer. We meet weekly, and she checks in with me every single day. Her positivity and support are the reason I haven’t missed a single workout, even with my incredibly hectic schedule. What makes this different is that it isn’t a "diet." I’m learning the building blocks for better eating habits and long-term choices. I also had the pleasure of meeting Anna, the dietician, who provided fantastic strategies for getting protein as a vegan on the go. I am feeling my body transform; I feel stronger and healthier than I have in a very long time. This is an amazing program, and the entire team—especially Nicole—is incredible. If you are on the fence, take the leap. It is worth it!

What sets the Vegan Gym apart from other programs is the quality of their coaches, the resources they provide, and the community they build with their clients. I worked with Coach Tiana Braden, and she was excellent! My main goal in joining this program was to learn how to fuel a heavy lifting program with plant- based protein. Tiana offered several good options that have made a big difference, and she made a point of checking in with me on a regular basis to make sure they were working. And while a nutritionist provided a two-week eating program in the beginning of my journey, Tiana taught me how to modify it and use other recipes so that I was soon able to generate my own weekly eating plans. What was especially helpful was that she worked with me so that I didn’t have to abandon my eating program during a two-week vacation I took in France. She told me what protein sources I could take with me to make sure I still reached my protein goals in a country whose traditional foods rely heavily on meat and dairy. Above all, Tiana is so supportive, always checking in on me and always having words of encouragement. I looked forward to our monthly calls and highly recommend weekly calls for those who can afford that program. What I will miss most about this program is having Tiana in my corner helping me navigate my next steps. I was also impressed by the number of resources this program has from specialized programs like Menopause mastery to the number of helpful videos made by Leif Arnesen. I found the one on protein powders especially useful. Each week there are also video calls with my team, the Titans, and the coaches on our team made these calls both informative and an opportunity for community building. Tiana’s program on eating disorders was especially helpful. I couldn’t make the Tuesday call, and I was sorry to miss Coach Arman’s program on squats! Finally, the community aspect of this program was so helpful. The consistency posts kept me on target, but much of the incentive was provided by all of us commenting on each other’s posts. My team was uniquely encouraging. While I have never met them, I feel a bond with many of them that I will sorely miss. I am so glad I decided to join the Vegan Gym. It’s been a truly rewarding experience.

I highly recommend the VSA program! I worked with Coach James for 2 years. As a 61 year old woman, I have lost weight and gained muscle but most importantly, I have learned to live a healthy lifestyle. I no longer feel like I am dieting, although I continue to lose weight. I also have learned to incorporate strength training, cardio, and mobility work into my life consistently. My sleep has improved and I have a very positive attitude about taking care of my mind and body. I really appreciate my experience with VSA!