Ivan Zovko

Ivan is a handsome young man who is very interested in health and fitness and helping other people to achieve good health. Ivan’s a Personal Trainer who knows how to maintain strong bones and big muscles and it’s not by eating animals or drinking their milk! Ivan’s been a vegan for five years and look at his muscles! Last year Ivan was one of the organizers of Vegan Fitness Week (Nov 1 –7) a jam packed week full of exciting activities from rock-climbing, armwrestling, bicycling, hotdog eating contests and more! This year’s Vegan Fitness Week is in Germany. To find out more you can ring Ivan on 0431 936 341.


Q What made you become a vegan and when?

Ivan: I became a vegan in August 2004 after being a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 2 years. I came to realise consuming milk and eggs was not consistent with the reasons I stopped eating meat, mainly the horrific suffering animals go through in these industries. Becoming a vegan was the only option that made sense. I believe it is wrong to violently impose your will on anyone. Veganism was therefore the logical decision.


Q What’s your favorite food/meal?

Ivan: I'm a big fan of stuffed capsicums filled with quinoa and TVP (textured vegetable protein) and then baked in a tomato sauce.


Q What do YOU cook the best? do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?

Ivan: I'm a fairly lazy cook so I like to make quick meals that don't really involve lots of preparation. One of my favorites, that I like to call, "muscle gruel," is soy yoghurt mixed with about 30 gms of pea protein, a handful of mixed nuts, a tablespoon of shredded coconut, 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, a few frozen strawberries and some soy/rice milk to give it a cake batter like consistency. This is a great for a snack or a healthy dessert.


Q Are many of your family and friends vegans?

Ivan: My sister is a vegan and most of my friends are also vegans.


Q What makes you happy?

Ivan: Working with like-minded people on things that are important to me.


Q What do you do to relax and unwind?

Ivan: I like to read books and articles relating to health and fitness as it relates to my job as a personal trainer, see my friends, listen to music, train and eat.


Q What do you do to keep fit? ok perfect question for you!

Ivan: I compete for my local athletics club in shotput and discus. I also train strongman and arm wrestling for fun. I’m a member of Melbourne Vegan Strength and we train regularly. This year I’m also helping to organize Vegan Fitness Week (Nov 1-7)


Q Do you have a favorite book/movie/blog that has inspired you that you’d like to share with readers?

Ivan: A highly recommended book is: Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik. This is a great book on the subject of strength training. I refer to it regularly for extra motivation.

Podcast: Colleen Patrick-Goodreau's "Compassionate Cooks" This podcast is one of the best vegan/food related podcasts out there. Everyone should listen to it.


Q Do you have a favorite restaurant?

Ivan: Yes, Tart'n'round in Thornbury located at 839 High Street. They have a great range of vegan foods and sweets


Q What's been the best part of being a vegan?

Ivan: Being able to meet so many caring and compassionate vegans in Melbourne and around the world.


Q Have you found any difficulties being vegan?

Ivan: Not really. Maybe dealing with an uninformed person's views on veganism.

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