About Me

Hey! I’m Sam Turner, founder of The Vegan Fitness Academy.
I’ve been vegan for three years, and honestly, it was the best decision I ever made.

I was born on the beautiful island of Anglesey in North Wales. Growing up, sports were a big part of my life. I was fortunate enough at fifteen to play football for Wrexham, athletics on a national level, and for Rugbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 1404 on a regional level.

I began weightlifting at fourteen, and was lucky enough to be coached by a Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Olympic Weightlifting, as well as coaches who are now involved in GB Olympic athletes. Their professionalism and the scrutinising detail they placed on potential had a massive influence on me and played a part in making me the coach I am today.

I first wanted to become a Strength and Conditioning coach, studying Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage at Cardiff Metropolitan University. But just before I started classes, I sustained what I believed at the time to be a small wrist injury. After persistent pain for months, I discovered it was a full scaphoid fracture – essentially, I shattered my right wrist. This injury required surgery, months in a cast, and years of rehabilitation. 

This was one of the lowest points in my life. I felt completely lost. I’d lost over 20kg of muscle after my injury, but the physical decline was just the surface. After being told I wouldn’t be able to have a career as a Strength and Conditioning coach because of the damage to my wrist, my mental health began spiralling. My motivation vanished, my identity felt shattered, and I was battling a heavy fog of depression. All of this meant I ended up dropping out of university, and for a long time, I couldn’t see a way forward. I wasn’t just struggling with recovery, I was struggling to want to recover.

It took years of therapy, time, and a lot of difficult inner work to start putting the pieces back together. Rebuilding wasn’t linear. But slowly, I began reconnecting with movement. I rediscovered fitness as a way to feel alive again. And the most unexpected but powerful shift came when I was introduced to veganism by my now-wife, Niamh. It gave me something bigger to care about, a lifestyle rooted in compassion, where I can make a tangible difference, and a reason to live with more intention. That shift didn’t just change how I ate; it changed how I saw myself and the kind of life I wanted to build.

I’ll be honest: I’m from a farming background, and I have absolutely been that guy who made the tired, old “but what about bacon?” jokes. But, as I began to educate myself by reading books, watching documentaries, doing my own research, and having real conversations, I could not ignore the truth about animal agriculture, climate change and the ethics of our food system. It wasn’t an overnight shift, but it was life-altering. Becoming a vegan helped me become myself again.

From 2024, I’m now a qualified Personal Trainer Level 3 and currently working towards my Level 4’s in Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, Lower Back Pain Management, and Obesity & Weight Management.

What I went through isn’t unique – the feeling of losing yourself, of starting over, of wondering if change is even possible. That’s why I do this. Because I know what it’s like to feel stuck in your body, disconnected from your purpose, and unsure where to begin.

The Vegan Fitness Academy was born from that turning point in my life – not just to help people get stronger or leaner, but to help them rebuild in a way that actually lasts. I coach from experience, from evidence, and from a place of real empathy. Whether you’re new to training, new to veganism, or just ready for a fresh start – you don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s build something you never thought possible.

Whether you’ve been vegan for years, you’re just getting started, or you’re somewhere in between, you’re welcome here. This is your space, where your goals, your health, and your lifestyle finally get to work together without compromise.

At The Vegan Fitness Academy, I’m here to help you become the strongest, healthiest, and most confident version of yourself – without being told that animal products are “essential,” and without being judged for where you’re at, how much you know, or what your journey has looked like so far.

You’ll learn how to train with intention and fuel your body with powerful, plant-based meals that are as enjoyable as they are effective. I’ll teach you how to cook and track in a way that’s structured but flexible, science-backed but sustainable – so you can build real results without feeling boxed in or burnt out.

This isn’t a generic program. It’s coaching grounded in evidence, empathy, and lived experience. I’ve been the person who doubted whether change was possible. I’ve felt disconnected from my body, unsure of my place in the fitness world, and tired of being told I had to fit a certain mould to succeed.

That’s exactly why I built this – to give people like you a place to train hard, eat well, and thrive on your own terms.

If you’re ready to stop starting over, to feel proud of your progress, and to finally have a coach who gets it – I’m here.

Let’s build something powerful. For the animals. For the planet. And for you.

Hey! I’m Sam Turner, founder of The Vegan Fitness Academy.
I’ve been vegan for three years, and honestly, it was the best decision I ever made.

I was born on the beautiful island of Anglesey in North Wales. Growing up, sports were a big part of my life. I was fortunate enough at fifteen to play football for Wrexham, athletics on a national level, and for Rugbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 1404 on a regional level.

I began weightlifting at fourteen, and was lucky enough to be coached by a Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Olympic Weightlifting, as well as coaches who are now involved in GB Olympic athletes. Their professionalism and the scrutinising detail they placed on potential had a massive influence on me and played a part in making me the coach I am today.

I first wanted to become a Strength and Conditioning coach, studying Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage at Cardiff Metropolitan University. But just before I started classes, I sustained what I believed at the time to be a small wrist injury. After persistent pain for months, I discovered it was a full scaphoid fracture – essentially, I shattered my right wrist. This injury required surgery, months in a cast, and years of rehabilitation. 

This was one of the lowest points in my life. I felt completely lost. I’d lost over 20kg of muscle after my injury, but the physical decline was just the surface. After being told I wouldn’t be able to have a career as a Strength and Conditioning coach because of the damage to my wrist, my mental health began spiralling. My motivation vanished, my identity felt shattered, and I was battling a heavy fog of depression. All of this meant I ended up dropping out of university, and for a long time, I couldn’t see a way forward. I wasn’t just struggling with recovery, I was struggling to want to recover.

It took years of therapy, time, and a lot of difficult inner work to start putting the pieces back together. Rebuilding wasn’t linear. But slowly, I began reconnecting with movement. I rediscovered fitness as a way to feel alive again. And the most unexpected but powerful shift came when I was introduced to veganism by my now-wife, Niamh. It gave me something bigger to care about, a lifestyle rooted in compassion, where I can make a tangible difference, and a reason to live with more intention. That shift didn’t just change how I ate; it changed how I saw myself and the kind of life I wanted to build.

I’ll be honest: I’m from a farming background, and I have absolutely been that guy who made the tired, old “but what about bacon?” jokes. But, as I began to educate myself by reading books, watching documentaries, doing my own research, and having real conversations, I could not ignore the truth about animal agriculture, climate change and the ethics of our food system. It wasn’t an overnight shift, but it was life-altering. Becoming a vegan helped me become myself again.

From 2024, I’m now a qualified Personal Trainer Level 3 and currently working towards my Level 4’s in Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, Lower Back Pain Management, and Obesity & Weight Management.

What I went through isn’t unique – the feeling of losing yourself, of starting over, of wondering if change is even possible. That’s why I do this. Because I know what it’s like to feel stuck in your body, disconnected from your purpose, and unsure where to begin.

The Vegan Fitness Academy was born from that turning point in my life – not just to help people get stronger or leaner, but to help them rebuild in a way that actually lasts. I coach from experience, from evidence, and from a place of real empathy. Whether you’re new to training, new to veganism, or just ready for a fresh start – you don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s build something you never thought possible.