Just because you're pumping iron doesn't mean to have to be eating it in your red meats.

Julie Therize-Conroy proves you can be superhuman, especially if you eat your greens.

The vegan powerlifter says she's been plant-based for more than three years now, and she hasn't found it's hindered her athletic prowess.

'Before I went vegan I was more into endurance sports – marathons, long distance cycling, triathlon and stuff like that.

'I did notice both before and after going plant-based that my endurance was a lot better. Cleaner fuel helps you recover a lot quicker, and it doesn't take you as long to get over the long runs or the long rides, which means you can have a heavier training schedule in general without suffering so much of a toll on your body,” says Julia.

'Power lifting is my thing at the moment. I'm a competitive power lifter, which means I'm involved in competitions locally and a little further afield.”

She trains at a gym in Greerton on a regular basis, and is gearing up for a competition where she plans on smashing a national record.

'I've got a competition coming up in a couple of weeks' time where I'm hoping to set a national record for deadlifts, which will be pretty cool.

'The record will be in my weight category, which is under-57kg open women's, and I'm hoping to set a deadlift of 120kg.”

But it's not just her – Julia's partner Geoff Emslie has gone green too, and still manages his preferred sport.

'He's in training for a 100km Tarawera ultra-marathon in February or March. He's doing a lot of kilometres at the moment and he seems to do pretty well,” says Julia.