BrendaC

Does anyone know a good coach/personal trainer in the Hollywood, CA area who has experience coaching female figure competitors to victory? It would be nice if they were vegan, but I've got the diet part covered (getting tons of yummy vegan protein daily). I just need someone to make sure that I'm lifting properly (splitting it up right) and someone who can teach me new exercises (you know those cool little tricks some really great trainers know) to keep it fresh and hit everything from every angle. And someone who knows the ins and outs of figure competition to guide me as I find my way for my first time. Thanks : )

Just wanted to address the comment that the vegan diet does not provide foods that make the liver produce bile. (And the added comment that this is "just another thing the vegan diet does not provide for"). I KNOW I'm not the only vegan on here who's sick if hearing stuff like that from people who obviously haven't done their homework. There is nothing the vegan diet does not provide for---nothing! B12, protein, calcium, and yes, bile producing foods are abundant! FYI, any foods that are a little bitter, like dandelion greens and arugula, for instance, cause extra bile release. Dandelion root tea and milk thistle tea are also good vegan choices to boost bile production and support liver function. But all foods cause a certain amount of bile release. It is simply the way food is digested---all food, not just cholesterol-ridden stuff.

As a woman trying to put on muscle, I am also frequently frustrated. Whenever I plateau, it's just a matter of doing different excercises in the gym (or elsewhere, like I recently added sprints to build fast twitch muscle fibers in my thighs and it is really working like you can't believe), and adding more weight, of course. I also need to constantly remind myself that the reason we admire successful bodybuilders so much is because it really does take an enormous amount of time and consistency and dedication to create a really amazing physique. Just keep on working harder and smarter and you (we) will get there!

Hi Veg Mama! I lived in Honolulu for 2 years and became teacher certified in Ashtanga Yoga at "Yoga-Hawaii". Just wondering if that's where you practice? I remember that I was into weight training at the 24 hr fitness in Hawaii-Kai and then started the Ashtanga stuff and quit the weight training for a while (because I was building more muscle from the Ashtanga, quite frankly). Has that been your experience too? I have not been doing the Ashtanga lately because I herniated a disc in my back about a year ago (avoiding the kurmasana and similar asanas like the plague) and I'm just getting back into weight training (although I use Hatha to get going in the mornings). Are you getting back into weights (is that why you joined this site?) I must say, I admire you're keeping fit while raising a baby and getting your PhD. Must be the trade winds...

I'm curious as to why you think you will have a hard time lifting weights(?) I herniated a disc in my back about a year ago and I started lifting very low weight, high reps, just walking around the gym trying machines. There are pictures on the machines to tell you how they work and you can watch other people (and there are always trainers and gym employees willing to help you figure stuff out). That's how you start. Then, you do more and advance, whenever you're good and ready. Sounds like you've proven to yourself that you can control your body mass with your food choices, weights will add to your accomplishments and help you tighten up that (now smaller) body! Good luck!

Hi Everybody! I'm a long-time vegan who loves to be athletic (running, tennis, swimming, weight training---not necessarily in that order). I am so glad to see that there are others who are representing the vegan community with their athleticism! I am always looking for training and vegan nutrition tips for improving my regimen. I hope to learn a lot from the other members of this forum (especially Robert, of whom I am a big fan). Thanks for putting this forum together and moderating it, even though I know you're very busy!