Brayden Green

Tell us a bit about you and your journey…

My health and fitness journey began in 2009. I trialled for my schools 1st XV Rugby team but did not make the cut. I was told I was good but I lacked size and would be bowled over up against the bigger teams. Hearing this I joined the 2nd XV Rugby team and also joined up at a gym. This really helped increase my size as well as my overall fitness. Half way through the season I was called in to the 1st XV due to injuries in the team and the year after, 2010, I made starting line up for the team. Ever since this event I never left the gym and absolutely loved the environment.

In 2011 I made the transition to a vegan lifestyle after landing my first job out of school at a meat works on the slaughter floor. This was a horrific and eye opening experience for me and knew I had to get out of there and not support this industry.

Come March 2013, I had made the trip to Melbourne Australia and happened to come across Luke Tan on Facebook and organized to meet him. Luke is the person who really helped jump-start my bodybuilding journey, giving me much guidance and support.

Making the transition to bodybuilding training, I set myself a goal to compete within a years time. Coming back to NZ I lined up the Christchurch Grand Prix to be the bodybuilding competition to aim for. Come May 17th 2014 I competed in the juniors category placing 3rd.

Coming 3rd had qualified me for nationals and that was my next goal to come back even better than last time, which I did. On October 11th I came 2nd in the juniors at Nationals, this was a huge accomplishment for me.

Through bodybuilding I really hoped to show others that we can still thrive on a harm free lifestyle, build muscle and still feel and look good and I believe I achieved that.

Through my bodybuilding I had heard all about this crossfit craze but had never really looked into it until after the bodybuilding season was over. In November 2014 I found my local crossfit box and gave it a go.

That is when my current crossfit journey all started and began progressing quite quickly with learning the movements, becoming faster, stronger and building my conditioning.

I did my first local competition come February 2015, called the WODmate and placed 1st. This was a big confidence booster for me. I then went on to try an open competition in Hawkes Bay called Judgement Day and that was an amazing experience, I didn’t place in the top 10, but to know I had only been in crossfit for 6 months and being able to compete amongst people who had been doing it for 2 years or more was very exciting for me.

Being a part of the Evolved Generation Plant Based Athlete Team, we were invited to compete along side the Plantbuilt team in Austin, Texas at the Naturally Fit Games convention, July 12th. It had many events of which we all competed in such as bodybuilding, crossfit, powerlifting and kettlebell sport.

I competed in the crossfit division and they held the Wodapalooza crossfit tournament. I happened to make it into the semi finals after 4 events at 10th tied but unfortunately did not quite make it into the finals.

My latest crossfit competition was The Wellington Cup, August 28th.

This has been my biggest experience yet as it was an invitational event, so only the best in New Zealand were there along with 4 crossfit games athletes such as Kevin Manuel and Kara Webb.

I look to continue my crossfit journey as it connects me with in showing the world what overall health and wellbeing is about.

I am now a crossfit intern at Crossfit Blenheim Ltd.

Q. What does a typical day in the life of Brayden Green look like?

A typical day for me is training crossfit twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. During the day I am currently a machinery operator at Seresin Estate Vineyard, which is an organic and biodynamic property, that also has organic gardens in orchards. With my spare time I am currently under way with getting my personal trainer qualifications.

Q. How do you maintain your determination and willpower?

For me this is easy. Whenever I am feeling beat up or lacking energy I think of the reasons I started this journey in the first place and that is for the animals. I think of all the lives that are feeling far worse than I am and still fighting to live. This gives me the strength to keep going every day and to be an advocate of a cruelty free lifestyle.

Q. How has supplementing your diet with Prana impacted your health and wellbeing?

It has impacted my life tremendously. I can certainly tell the quality of these products with how my body reacts to the organic, whole food goodness. It is such an easy way to get all the nutrients in. It is a supplement brand like no other, that looks at not just how much protein you can get but looking out for over all health and wellbeing, so the body can function at its peak!

Q. What is your favourite Prana product and/or recipe?

My favourite product is definitely the Multi Force. It is most definitely a life saver after a gruelling WOD to replenish my body with all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements it needs and bring me back to life.

My favourite recipe to make is my pre workout protein energy slice recipe:

• 1 cup almonds
• 2 cups dates
• 2 cups prunes
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup soaked goji berries
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 2 scoops Prana chocolate protein powder in a cup fill rest with cacao

Mix all ingredients one by one in food processor, add water if necessary. Decorate with shredded coconut, then Refrigerate. Enjoy 🙂