Customer Spotlight: Bill
Bill Salamone is a frequent customer at our Hatboro Bistro. Carolann, our VP of Operations, finally got to sit down with Bill to hear about his journey towards vegansim.
All his life, Bill has been an athlete and fitness lover. In high school, he ran cross country and before his meets, he carbo-loaded with pepperoni pizza, pasta, and burgers. Come race day, he felt achy, lethargic, and burnt out.
After graduating from high school, he became a personal trainer and noticed that there’s a strong link between nutrition and performance. Therefore, Bill became a vegetarian for a year before deciding to fully commit to veganism. Since Bill grew up helping his uncle tend a farm, he developed respect and love for the animals and would get sad when it was time for the animals to go. Bill thought, “Why would I eat animals if I wouldn't want to kill them?” Bill has been vegan for nine years and hasn’t looked back since!
Bill noticed that when he incorporated plant-based whole foods into his diet his athletic prowess would improve. Even fifteen years out of high school, Bill is able to run at the same pace and even have energy left over! Bill is mindful to get in plant-based protein, but he also believes that there’s a misconception that humans need to consume more protein than they actually do. In fact, eating too much protein is taxing on your kidneys. When you’re recovering from exercise and need to replenish, instead of always reaching for protein, reach for vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. If you’re trying to build muscle, you’re going to want to focus on strength training and consuming more calories in general.
Bill said, “Family, friends, and clients question my lifestyle choices. My advice to new vegetarians and vegans alike is to stay level headed. Do loads of research and listen to your body.”
Bill’s passion for fitness and nutrition led him to open his own business— Monkey Fitness, LLC. Bill has seen first hand that a vegan diet has allowed his clients to overcome disease, get their lives on track, and maintain a healthy body fat percentage. If you’re interested in training with Bill, you can reach him at 215-534-3022 for a consultation.
When Bill frequents our Hatboro Bistro, his go-to order used to be the cajun tofu burger on garlic bread, but now his go-to is the sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich (but sub the sausage for a crab cake patty and throw it on Dave’s killer bread with double tartar sauce).
