Mat Lock
Jacob, good to have you back on the podcast.
Jacob Hohua
Hello. Happy to be here, mate.
Mat Lock
Yeah, now awesome. For those who haven’t yet listened to your first episode I suggest you do. I’m talking here with the plant based gorilla. I love that name I have to say in for again, for anyone who’s watching on YouTube, or started following on Instagram, they will understand that name entirely. And what we didn’t get chance to where we didn’t your antics we were just chatting, I guess, in episode one. I know it’s a subject that you get asked about a lot night I do often I always try and find more interesting questions and subjects to talk around. But there’s no getting away from the fact that 113 kilos as we discovered super strong, super athletic, plant based, for sure. We’re going to want to know what goes into that on a sort of daily the average day, let’s say so that was certainly the intention of this episode to dive into. Yeah, what an average day of eating and training and recovery looks like for you.
Jacob Hohua
Awesome, man. Well, at the very moment, you know, I’m very fortunate to have a couple of sponsors on board. So I actually get all of my meals delivered to my house every week, and I get all my subs delivered as well. So super grateful for that. I’m very, very fortunate to have that moment.
Mat Lock
I can’t tell you how envious I am of that.
Jacob Hohua
It’s funny man, sometimes I am, you know, I take it for granted. Like I get my meals and I’m just kind of like chucking them in the fridge. And then I have to sit back and you know, I’ve got a full fridge of pre pack organic plant based oil free meals, and I’m going yeah, I’m pretty I’m pretty lucky right now. So yeah, and that’s that’s what my diet mainly consists of at the moment, if anyone’s wondering. The place is called garden of vegan which is based in Berlin on the Gold Coast. I actually believe James Newbery is on board with us at the moment as well. So it’s pretty cool to be you know, I’ve never met him. We’ve spoke a little bit over Instagram, but it’s pretty cool to sort of be like on the same sponsor as him I guess, which is a cool thing. Absolutely. I
Mat Lock
saw him. I saw something on him yesterday, over the weekend popped up him talking about not not sending it on every workout how working for quality of movement and, and so on, and she’s looking fit. He’s Oh my god. So fit. It’s Yeah, awesome.
Jacob Hohua
Awesome. He looks, I think he looks the best physically that he’s ever looked. He just looks like a machine
Mat Lock
is pretty big right now. I mean, he’s super undefined, but he’s big and strong, right? I mean, he’s always been big and strong, but you know what I mean, he’s looking big.
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, definitely, man. Definitely. But yeah, man, not too bad.
Mat Lock
Got a vegan that’s cool. See that oil free as well. Right so
Jacob Hohua
man there um, you know, obviously, it sounds like the Garden of Eden garden a vegan, they are literally that you know, they are organic, plant based oil free they have their whole kitchen is has been re piped with the highest quality pipes and filtered water. So everything that they even wash their food in is, has none of the chemicals in the water. So I was really lucky to be one of the was the first I guess, athlete Ambassador that they sort of reached out to which was, which was awesome. So they reached out and yeah, that’s what i what i what i get now. So they have you know, a huge huge range of meals. Going from you know, mac and cheese, which is the healthiest mac and cheese you can possibly think of you know, the source is made out of ingredients that are going to give you the energy that you need, they have paired ties, they have breakfast bowls, so I get that delivered to my house, and I try and consume between three to 5000 calories worth of those meals plus supplements and fruits and vegetables on top. So it’s funny man, I was in one of those meals, that must be a lot of those meals, I’ve got little tricks and stuff, you know, like for example, on their breakfast meals, you know, chucking a tablespoon of peanut butter and banana on top. But it is definitely when people get around me because I’ve always thought you know too much because, you know, like, beginning in the bodybuilding world and your watch, you know, like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Tatler if you don’t know who they are, they’re the biggest bodybuilders of our time. And you know, they just keel over things also, like I’m not eating too much. And then I get, you know, your average person around me and they’re just like Mind blown, like my bricky is like, three or four different plates are sitting in front of me and I just got it and I’m sort of like, yeah, I could probably have a bit more but I’ve been I’ve been not.
Mat Lock
So I’m in terms of your daily routine. Is there anything before you actually hit the breakfast? The foods part of your breakfast?
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, yeah, definitely. So um, I’m a big, I’m quite a intuitive, I guess, quote unquote spiritual in a sense, you know. So I like to get up in the morning, a big glass of water. I do love my coffee. So I have a shot of coffee. I usually go and have a cold shower. And then if I have time, I’ll do a bit of breath work and meditation just to set my intention for the day. I believe it or not, do I fast a little bit in the morning. So that’s, that’s, yeah, that’s all I’ll have until about maybe nine o’clock. 10 o’clock. So it’s not a big fast, but it’s definitely 1212 hours. At least. So yeah, man, I’ll have that little fastened in. But then once I get home, and once the food starts going in, it pretty much doesn’t stop until you know, 9:10pm at night, so yeah, man, it’s a it’s a at first, you know, it was it was pretty full on trying to get those calories in. But like I said, I’ve always been a pretty big eater. So now it’s just like I could I could grow more I actually was talking to someone. And, and for me personally, I’m like, man, I would struggle to eat anything under what I’m eating like I would I would feel stabbed, I think.
Mat Lock
No, it’s interesting. I am I mean, I was we talked about last time I’m plant based and right now and kind of put a bit of put a bit more strength into myself. And I’m trying to hit around 3000 calories a day at the moment. And to hit the the macros as well. I mean, not that it’s very deliberate. Right? It takes a bit of effort. And anytime I’m talking to anyone in the industry, and I sort of say what I’m trying to do, I’m an educated protein being in a plant based diet must be so hard. And I wonder whether the difference is actually just it’s a clean diet. The fact that it’s plant based isn’t the main issue, I think it’s easy to get calories, right? You can get calories on a crappy diet, whether you’re plant based or not. The calories are against getting the right calories is the trick. And what sort of advice would you give to people who are you know, they’re trying to be more conscious about what they eat? But a very calorie focused, I mean, how do you tend to approach it? Because you’ve also you’re eating very clean, right? Very clean.
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, yep. So for me, especially if you’re transitioning into a plant based diet, what worked best for me was probably not worrying too much about my macros, and it was worrying about hitting hitting my calories through a clean diet. So that was my biggest goal to begin with. Now that I’m fairway into it, I do look into my macros as well and make sure I’m hitting certain targets. But I think it’s also acknowledging your macros are going to change, you know, when you go to a plant based diet, it’s not going to be your typical, super, super high protein, moderate fat, moderate carbs, you are probably going to have more, a few more carbohydrates in your diet, your protein still going to can be, you know, a healthy amount for for you and your fats are naturally going to be a bit lower. So that’s one thing I had to wrap my head around and I try and tell athletes that transitioning so you sort of have to be prepared for that. And you have to realize that just because your protein is lower, you’re getting nutrients that you’ve never probably had that abundance of before so you know, your vitamins, your minerals, antioxidants, your amino acids are through the roof. So you’re going to get those benefits and recoveries from a different part of, of eating and your nutrition. Like either guy in the gym come to me and he was a big bodybuilder and he’s like, I’m gonna go vegan or watch Game Changers. And I was like, yep, also me didn’t want any advice. I said, Go for it, man. I’m going how you go. And he was eating like, kilos of tofu and cans of beans. And he come in and he goes, man, I feel like crap and I’m like it because your fiber intake through the roof you’re eating bad quality tofu like it’s, it’s you know that it’s not it’s one thing to say that you’re going to go on to a plant based diet, but knowing what you’re eating and trying to eat a variety of foods is the main goal that people I think specially transitioning into it need to focus on.
Mat Lock
Yeah, sure. And it’s some, I mean, even though there’s a lot of information out there, it still can be really confusing. I mean, I’ve been known for a while now, but trying to Yeah, transitioning over to much more functional training style of life and trying to put a bit of strength and size on I’m still finding my way. And I know I’ve hooked up with a nutritionist and nutrition coach, and she’s helped me tremendously but still that day to day. What do I need to eat? When how much it’s kind of a challenge. There’s no doubt about it.
Jacob Hohua
Definitely is man and like I said, For me personally, obviously I’m very lucky that I get these meals but I literally make sure I’m just hitting my targets, roughly hitting my targets and and I think getting the calories in Like we’re saying getting good quality calories in is my main goal. Because as I was saying before, I know that my macros are going to be different to your average athletes macro. So if they sent me their macros and said, Hey, bro, try this, it’s not really going to work out on a plant based diet. So, but once I sort of acknowledged that, I’m getting different sources of food like that, you know, before going plant based, there was no way I was eating as much fruit, vegetables, you know, like little things like organic cow powder and beetroot powder. And I was never even looking at that. So, for me, it’s acknowledging that I have all these extra implements in my diet, I’m gonna get benefits from them as well, instead of just focusing on my, in my opinion, my protein and my husband, my protein, and sort of now it’s like, make sure I get an adequate amount of protein, which for me, is a lot lower now. And then it’s sort of spiraling into making sure I’m getting all these other variety of food and nutrients as well.
Mat Lock
And that’s such a, that’s such a good point as well, because there’s so much focus given to protein, protein, not so much focus about it, but as you’re talking about, actually, what some people Many people consider to be restrictive diet plant based on the contrary, and smorgasbord of amazing food with amazing nutrients that we’re smashing into ourselves if we choose to eat more than most people who are eating the standard American diet, I think the terminology the sad diet. So we’re describing then the average diet let’s see.
Jacob Hohua
Couldn’t agree more, man, it’s Yeah, it’s something that once you actually give it a go and you realize, you know, instead of having a Polonaise which would be just, you know, meeting pastor, you’re now making volunteers with vegetables that you probably haven’t really tried before with different sources and you’re using, you know, different types of passing because you’re now you’re interested, you know, instead of being like the old traditional recipe, you’re now like, right, we’re not going to have you know, what we would usually have in it. What other options in there Oh, my god, there’s, you know, there’s wholemeal pasta, there’s all these different options and next thing you know, you’re having this really wholesome healthy meal, instead of you know, a cheap polonez
Mat Lock
exactly right now look at it in terms of supplementation, i the only supplement I guess I’m using some protein powders at the moment, but the only supplement Other than that, for general health is b 12. We generally considered to be something of if you are following a vegan or plant based diet, you do need to supplement it with the only thing you actually need to to sustain life and I have to say, I got that wrong. A couple of years ago, I I just kind of ran it. And I just got out of the habit of little oral spray once a day. As all it is so easy, even taste nice. And the habit and it was really interesting. I didn’t realize how important that is for everyone, not just plant based people on a plant based diet but um, yeah, that was interesting. I, I just suddenly hit a brick wall. I was just flat had a mood change. I just was only interested in training which is most unlikely I had no anybody you know, I will go to the gym again. I just pick up a bag and walk back out. I just didn’t want to be there. No energy and and so on. And yeah, it ended up I was horribly deficient in B 12. And that was after about three or four months of not supplementing, and suddenly a series of injections later and back into the routine and no issue quite a quick fix, but very important, very important, but other than the 12 what supplements Do you tend to take if any?
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, so what is it early I’m pretty lucky I’m also sponsored by a supplement brand as well, which is called macro monster. They’re a plant based natural supplement brand. So macro Mike Yeah, macro Mark I’ve got one of the cookies actually here. So if they see things like this
Mat Lock
from macro mind clean
Jacob Hohua
cookie Yes. It’s cool man like it’s I utilize a lot of supplements. If I’m being completely honest, it’s because they look after me if I was to not having this one so it would be like what you said it would be be 12 probably a good natural pre workout that is something that I’ve always liked to utilize and I utilize the super greens as well. And I’ll try and get something for gut health too just because for me, you can never have too good of gut health so they have a big range of that so at the moment supplement was like literally I bought a pre workout there amino acid. So I’ve got a brain brain function which you know, has all your mushrooms and they’ve got the gut health which I’ll take as well. protein and then I’ve obviously got snack so I just utilize their cookies and brownies and stuff like that to sort of help me to not eat you know, vegan Ben and Jerry’s before bed. Yeah, man, but definitely like you The supplements that I think you have to kind of look into is your V 12. Or utilize iodine a bit as well. So that’s, that’s in one of the products I take that from from, from a doctor. His name is the plant based doctor. So he created his own product, which is full of your B, 12, and iodine and things like that. And yeah, man, but it’s definitely, yeah, I think a good pre workout is my weakness, like a natural, I like to take a natural, so a good natural pre workout and then a good quality protein powder off the train. And your B 12. supplement is probably probably the things that you need the most, I think,
Mat Lock
a good quality pre workout. I’m interested what’s in it.
Jacob Hohua
So the one that I take is, if I’m correct, it’s actually doesn’t have like proper caffeine in it. So it’s got your Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it’s got all your all your citrulline, your glutamine are everything that you sort of need to help get through your session. And as God, what’s the what’s the stuff? What’s the stuff in the called grana? So I’ve got, you know, natural, I think it has goji in it, like it’s got things that are just going to give you that natural energy. Because I’m having coffee as well. You don’t really need a super strong crazy pre workout. And I find whenever I take them, I feel like crap afterwards. Anyway. So yeah, I definitely like to utilize a good natural pre workout, just looking at the ingredients and making sure it’s not just full of stimulants, you know, when you pick up a pre workout, and there’s there’s 700 milligrams of caffeine, you’re probably looking in the wrong place.
Mat Lock
I agree. And that’s and that synthetic caffeine as well. It’s not natural.
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, that’s right. Yeah. 100% 100%.
Mat Lock
So anything synthetic? I mean, why? If we can avoid that, man, it’s a good thing.
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. So definitely, about Yeah, like, looking for your, your supplements can easily take you off track, I believe. So if you’re, you know, if you’re looking for a plant based supplement, and it’s just full of, you know, synthetic ingredients, and it’s just, it’s just made to taste good. And to sell, then, you know, you really got to question that supplement that you’re taking. So I’m very fortunate that I’ve been around plant based supplements that are, you know, usually a natural Anyway, you know, but sometimes you can get dragged into the one, you know, sales games and stuff like that, where it’s like, it looks really good. And they promote that it’s healthy. But once you actually look at the ingredients, you can sort of get a bit cringe at it. So yeah, man, it’s definitely you got to look into your supplements, because like I said, I think if you’re on this really healthy, wholesome diet, and then you’re supplementing with the wrong supplements, and not good quality supplements, you can really sort of take you off the path that you’re trying to stay on. Absolutely.
Mat Lock
And they also shouldn’t be a barrier. I mean, they said, Actually, the only supplement you need on a plant based diet is p 12. That is Yep, everything else is no choice and they shouldn’t be a barrier they shouldn’t get bogged down with are going to take all these things I’m just saying with any diet. supplement is a massive industry, right? And they got loads of money to pour into marketing to make us believe that we need it, that it will work for us. And I guess trial and error I reckon is the way to go. See how you feel. As we talked about last time, the the turning point view was when you tried going cloud based and just felt amazing. You had the fireworks going off inside your nuts. There you go. I felt amazing. So I carried on it’s the most logical thing in the world, isn’t it?
Jacob Hohua
Exactly right man. And I am I like to pass some supplements a lot just to remind myself that I don’t need them. So a lot of people don’t realize that, you know, you can pass anything you can pass from social media, you can pass from supplements. So I like to do that just to remind myself that, hey, these are good, you know, attribute to my diet and training, but they’re not this company that I need. I don’t have to take these. Now I’m gonna you know, if I ran out, or if I lost, responsible, something, I’m not gonna burn and crash it. Something that I utilize, and I’m very fortunate to utilize, and they do give me a bit of an edge. But it’s not something that it’s going to, you know, be the be all and end all of my of my health and training.
Mat Lock
Except for the 12.
Jacob Hohua
Of course 100 will be 12 Yeah, like you said, you will feel a difference. If you’re not something I think I personally believe everyone needs to supplement with B 12. Because you’re just the day and age that we live in. We’re not getting adequate amounts of safety, right. Definitely. So nice. Exactly, exactly. So now you’re 100% right being 12 was the exception but I’m talking more like you know, your pre workout today. Yeah, there’s something that we’re, we’re people like you and I are fortunate to take but if your budget, don’t make that your priority, definitely get your food in your head, get your B 12 supplement in and just and you’ll be you’ll be just one
Mat Lock
very good conscious of time ate the that supplement, the pre workout supplement you’re talking about. That micro mic as well.
Jacob Hohua
That is macro Mach two. So yeah, they, they literally everything I take us through them. Like I said, I’m big on natural supplements, so their products are 100% natural and
Mat Lock
we’ve given them a chance and we’ll put them in the show notes and same garden a vegan for sure they nationally delivered nationally servicing James Newbery. That’s Yeah, I
Jacob Hohua
believe so. Yeah, they I think so that I mean, I know that was, was a struggle at first to deliver, you know, Australia wide, but I think they’re at the level now where they do deliver Australia. I can’t, I can’t speak highly enough of their meals, even when I tell people look, just like, honestly try and get a couple of their meals to have during the week, just to give your body that, that, you know, organic oil free plant based sort of nutrients and have a break from, you know, evidence of their own animal based product or a plant based diet. Diet, animal based diet, plant based diet, say that five times fast. Yeah, they implement those meals is going to slowly just give you that little bit of a benefit, I think.
Mat Lock
So all I need to do is gain 20 kilos of muscle and call myself the plant based ape, and have a chat with those guys.
Jacob Hohua
Yeah, literally, man, it was. Yeah, I was really lucky when they reached out because I was sort of wasn’t really doing anything at the time. You know, when they when I reached out, I remember I was Mind blown. I was like, hey, come in for a chat. And I thought I’ll probably just going to give me a meal and try and try and sell them to me and make me buy them. And they said, you know, we’d really love to feel you and like to feel you and give you your food and see how you feel. And yeah, man, I haven’t looked back since I’ve been on board with him. So I think from a very, very lucky,
Mat Lock
I think you’ve been very humble, there’s nothing like your man that you’ve you’ve earned the right to be in that position, and you’ve earned every single meal that they give you they fuel you with. So for sure, well, there’s a takeaway, if anyone’s to reach out to you, and get in touch with what’s the best way for them to do that.
Jacob Hohua
Definitely my Instagram would be the would be the best way. So it’s literally just my name, Jacob war. So jumping over on onto my Instagram and shoot me a message would be the best way to connect. But if you want to jump on my Facebook or my YouTube, there’s a few more sort of videos and stuff up there as well. If you want to check me out before Yes, shoot me a message.
Mat Lock
She’ll say what Jake would appreciate your time. I know everyone who’s listened to this does as well. Thank you so much. And I look forward to chatting to you again. Awesome. Thank you.
