Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age 287: Vegan Strength Training, Protein, and Healthy Aging With Karina Inkster
Mar 3, 2026
Karina Inkster, a vegan fitness coach and gerontology-informed trainer who created No BS Vegan resources and a protein calculator. She talks about strength training for healthy aging. She covers realistic vegan protein needs, protein vs calorie density, simple full-body routines, and staying consistent amid busy midlife demands.
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Karina's Early Vegan Journey And Career Pivot
- Karina went vegan at 16 after a five-year ethical shift that began at 11.
- She transitioned from gerontology grad school to fitness coaching the month she defended her thesis, doing both practical exams simultaneously.
Training Around Severe Food Allergies
- Karina lives with severe tree nut and raw fruit allergies plus food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, shaping her training and meals.
- She schedules intense cardio in the morning after safe oatmeal and strength training later to minimize reactions and always carries an EpiPen.
Why Consistency Beats Motivation
- Consistency and overwhelm are the two main barriers clients report: not knowing what exercise is effective and how to keep going when life disrupts routine.
- Karina emphasizes planning for travel, caregiving, and busy periods with individualized workarounds rather than relying on willpower.