BrianC

Hi Mariko, I have a very high metabolism as well and tend to get hungry very quickly. In my opinion, whole food sources are preferable, but don't completely dismiss the idea of having another smoothie during the day as well if you need to. Cooking meals in advance is a great idea also. I use a crock-pot every couple of days which will cook up around 6-8 solid servings of potatoes, beans, lentils, rice, etc, etc. I keep all the left overs in my fridge and eat off of it for a couple days. It works great and it is fun to create some interesting recipes. Try incorporating more sweet potatoes and yams, also. Those tend to satiate me really well.

Yup. Aim for nutrient-dense foods and proper rest. Lots of greens (preferably juiced), yams, sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, almonds, walnuts, legumes, beans, whole grain wheat (if gluten isn't a problem)...good luck

Great thread, guys. I agree in that proper nutrtion from WHOLE foods (more raw the better) be in place before venturing into supplements, though they do/ can have their place. I'm a huge advocate of raw juicing and smoothies. It is a great way to easily access dense, raw nutrients that our bodies crave. I also enjoy the benefits of bee pollen, maca, cacao, hemp, chia, and flax seeds. I have noticed quicker recovery since taking them. Pea and rice proteins are also staples of mine. ZMA and DHEA might be worth looking into as well. I have been taking ZMA for a few weeks now and mainly noticed that my sleep is deeper and more fufilling, which is a common effect from what I've read. I feel sleeping more soundly is mildly increasing my growth hormone levels and thus promoting more muscle repair. As noted earlier, malodextrin may help you in constructing a post workout drink as it is easily converted to glucose. Toss in a few bananas, pea protein, and creatine, and you have yourself great building blocks for muscle. Hope this helps

I agree with the possibilty that it could very well be a vitamin D deficiency and/ or hypothyroidism/ adrenal fatigue. Try supplementing with vitamin D-3 and sea kelp if you haven't already. How is your intake of Omega 3-6-9 fats? Also, I recommend raw juices- mainly veggie juices- to jump start yourself in the morning. That has helping me greatly in improving morning fatigue. I've also read that virgin coconut oil (about 1-2 tbsp per day) has greatly helping those with fatigue/ adrenal issues as well as taking 1-2 tbsp of raw organic apple cider vinegar (yes, I know it sounds gross) mixed with a big glass of water a few times per day. I take that every day and it has helped increase my mental clarity and energy. Take care

Hi guys, I believe Optimum nutrition and NOW foods both have vegan BCAAs. I take both. Great stuff. I particularly like NOW foods products for creatine and other aminos. Oh, and also malodextrin. I'm sure there are other brands out there. I'll do some more research...

Hey all. First off, thanks for the great website, Robert, as well as all the great contributions from the members. I've been pursuing the forum for a few days and I must say it is awesome. I’m honored to be a part of it. A little background on myself- I'm 23 and a former 'typical' bodybuilder since the age of about 17. I fell out of the bbing loop around 21 because of the adverse effects I was experiencing. This was not steroid related (I never did that stuff) but rather, in retrospect, from the toxicity of the foods I was eating in huge quantities...meat of all kinds, cheese, whey protein, eggs, processed foods, etc. Needless to say, I was fatigued and my internal health was suffering. So, I took about a year off from that lifestyle, got into cycling, lost a bunch of weight, AND -most importantly- became a vegan. Flash forward a year later and here I am looking to get back into bodybuilding... as a healthy vegan. I don't have the intention to compete and be competitive but rather to do it for fun and my own personal development. So, with that aside, I look forward to getting to know you guys and hopefully make some friends who share this lifestyle. Take care, guys and gals.