Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Breakfast: oatmeal w/banana & coffee
Lunch: Amys pot pie
Snack: banana
Dinner: small bowl of soup, some multi grain crackers/ 2 hotdogs
Dessert: bowl of cereal that isn't at all good for me w/ unsweet silk

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Today I went for a Cardio Strength class, and it started late because the trainers got the schedule mixed up, they do alternate Saturdays. Anyway while everyone else was just waiting for someone to come and teach the class I actually warmed up on my own. During class I used 6, 8, and 12 pound weights. There were shoulder presses, which I still have trouble with. Also lateral raises, lots of squats, and lunges, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, rows, pushups, and abs. I really didn't feel like running afterwards, but I made myself. I feel good that I ran 3 times this week, that's about 15k for the week. This is the first time that I have not had any mishap stopping me, there were no untied laces, and no falls to the ground. I'm comfortable enough running 3 miles now, but the 3rd time in the week is what gets me. I do a lot of other stuff though so I suppose that's why, I'll just keep at it and I'll get used to it. Heck I never thought I'd get this far, and in only four months too. Maybe one day I'll even run a marathon!

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Today I did Step. I enjoyed it, and had a great workout but my left ankle's been a bit sore, it must have been from running, or possibly Kickboxing.
After the class, I was going to just read a book until BodyPump but the group exercise director invited me to watch him and another trainer study the new release for BodyPump. Every 3 months they change it up, and all certified BP instructors have to learn the new routine. Anyway I couldn't resist!! The order of exercises always stays the same, but the reps, and pace change. It was fun to watch, and feel like I was a part of it. Heck I'll probable learn the routine before them. Right before the BP class the trainer (group exercise director) said to me that one day I'd be teaching one of the classes. He's not the type of person to beat around the bush, so this remark meant the world to me. I know the steps I need to take, and I'm on my way. It's just nice having support in this from someone in the field. Tomorrow I'm finally ordering the book I need to study. I also increased my squat weight to 40lbs, but the new squat track will probably make me use a lesser weight, it's harder. I watched them practise the warmup, squat,chest, and back tracks, and a lot of them look harder than what we're already doing. Another good thing about the new release is there's better music to workout to.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

After work I walked to the gym, about a mile I think. I did BP again. It was a good class, I always try to push myself. I was a little tired, not sore though from yesterdays classes. So on a few things I pretty much went to failure. I still have a hard time with the overhead shoulder presses at the end, it's the last exercise with the barbell. Anyway my form is finally getting a little better, I know what I need to do for good form, but my not having terrific balance gets in the way. I am working on it, and hopefully will have a breakthrough soon. I also think it may be time to increase my tricep weight, it's starting to be easier, and I can't have that! Maybe I'll add another 5 pounds to the barbell, and while I'm adding I'll also add 5 to biceps, that way bicep, and triceps have the same weight, which makes it easier in the class. Tomorrow I plan on running, and doing Muscle Toning which is always fun. The running trainer keeps on me about buying running shoes, right now I'm just using my New Balance cross trainers. My feet are starting to hurt, and get blisters, so I definitely need to buy some running shoes. I just don't know what brand to get because of my stupid wide feet with high arches.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

I keep forgetting to post what I eat, I'll try to remember.

Saturday:oatmeal,avocado wrap @ vegetarian/vegan/organic place, it was so yummy,2 vegan hotdogs, burrito

Sunday:oatmeal,banana,sandwich?,smoothie(after workout),salad

Monday:oatmeal, banana,Amys pot pie,banana,clif bar,vegan chicken soup,crackers,cereal

Tuesday:oatmeal, banana,Amy's Enchilada meal,banana, half a luna bar, 2 burritos, bowl of cereal

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

I went to the Y,and did Muscle Toning today. We did cardio intervals, used a barbell, and a leg band. I went lighter on the weights today, but boy did I sweat. Besides the cardio, which was a lot, we did squats, bicep curls, triiceps, shoulder presses,deadlifts, rows,some inner thigh stuff,and a few other things I'm too tired to remember It was a great workout, I think the trainer may have thought I was crazy for doing another weight training class. Anyway after the class I went running. Diidn't really feel like it but at least I had someone to run with. I asked the trainer if she thought I was doing too much, but she said she also works out 6 days a week, and as long as I wasn't sore, etc. Pretty much what I thought, but since people are always telling me it's too much I thought maybe I was overdoing it. even though I don't feel like I am. As long as I don't injure myself I'll keep going 6 days a week. I may discontinue Kickboxing if I don''t get as much out of the new person, and then I would probably just run on Thursdays, but run for a longer time. That way I'd have a bitmore of a break from classes. I'll know better by Thursday if this is a possibility.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

I'm being bad and skipping kickboxing today. Mostly it's because I'm emotionally drained. There's a lot going on with my brothers divorce. We actually tried to help his ex again (stupid us) but she isn't strong enough mentally to stand up to her power hungry family. Anyway I am not going to write anything else on that subject. Yesterday I did a BodyPump class, nothing special but it always feels good to be doing something. Then after that I walked for about a mile. I did get a nice compliment kind of, the group exercise director said when he sees me at the gym he knows it's going to be a good day. At least someone in my life gives me compliments lol. Anyway another reason I'm not doing kb today is because I pulled something in my leg. At first I thought it was when were using the leg band for thighs, but when I raised it in front of me I felt the muscle, and realized in Muscle Toning that we had done some leg raises, and I may have gone too high on a couple of them. I'll no doubt be mad at myself all day for skipping, but I do plan on going tonight to run, and possibly do something else too.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Sorry to hear it has been a stressful time. I hope you have a great, relaxing week and get lots of things accomplished at the gym too.

Have fun and get some good rest too.

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Check out my Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness Book on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Bodybuildin ... 497&sr=1-1

Thanks Robert. I feel better tonight, because I did get to the gym it truly is my "happy place". Anyway after work I walked to the YMCA,and then ran around the block 6 times. I may have actually run 7 times because I lost count, so I either did 3 or 3.5 miles. Then I got an invitation to Garden Cafe (vegetarian chinese place) so I had to say yes, since they were treating lol. Then I went back to the Y, and did Latin Cardio. I am definitely not the best in the class, but it is fun. I'm taking tomorrow off, and I'll get back to the gym on Saturday. I'm also doing sprints,or faster runs for part of my 3 mile run, hopefully this will help me get faster, at least it's a start.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Breakfast: toasted oats (organic cereal) w/ unsweet soymilk & banana
Snack:1/2 luna bar/ water
Lunch: 1 taco w/beans & 1bean burrito And I was bad and had a diet soda
Dinner:leftovers from Garden Cafe & ice tea

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

I got to the Y at about 9:15 am, and then set up for class, today was Cardio Strength. We used stability balls, medium 8lbs, and heavy 10lb weights. The warmup was stretching and running several times around the perimiter of the room. Shoulders were first, started with heavy weights, 2 different kinds of lateral raises, and shoulder press, then onto heavy weights I think. Then more running around the room, and I think chest, biceps were next, did squats too, and there were several more cardio intervals. I must be getting more fit, because I'm startong to pass people when we run, and do walking lunges, etc. The only thing I was disappointed in were my overhead shoulder presses, and overhead tricep extentions. For the most part I had excellent form, and felt good about the weights I used. I could have easily used 12 pound weights for biceps though! We also did pushups using the stability ball, I almost fell off, lol. After the class I ran for 3 miles, took about 35 minutes I think. I get very red in the face when I run, and I think one of the trainers was concerned when she saw me at the water fountain, but I told her I had done a class, and just finished running. I wonder if the redness of my face will ever diminish when I'm running. I don't want anyone to think I'm going to pass out. After I was done at the gym I got picked up to go watch my niece get her first haircut. She watched her Daddy get his done first, but when it was her turn she didn't want to sit down. Thankfully she ended up sitting on my Moms lap, and was very good about the lady coming at her face with sharp scissors lol. My niece is very happy to not have her hair in her face now. We celebrated by taking them to a doughnut place, and I am so glad I am a vegan, and couldn't get anything!

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Breakfast 8:30: berry almond luna bar 1/2 cup of coffee
Snack10:30:banana
Snack12:30pm ate at Dandelion Tea: bagel w/vegan cream cheese, organic coffee
I saw a fellow kicboxer there and he said the new instructor is very tough, so now I have to try it out
Lunch 4:30pm salad & ice tea

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Did a Step,and Body Pump class today. Inbetween classes I had a chance to get some help with my form for squats,and overhead presses. I know how to do squats in good form but was having a bit of a struggle doing it with the barbell. I've fixed that now, and am still fixing my overhead press which may take longer. I love where I workout because it's not all about the money, if you have a concern, or question someone is always willing to help. It's not like many other big name gyms that I've had memberships at. Both clases were fun, and I actually got a bit of an extra workout in. Like last Sunday, practice was being done for the new release of BP, and Iwas invited to join. The squat track is a lot harder, but if I keep at it, and keep upping my weights I should be fine by February 2nd when they do the release. The Step class had a lot of hard choreography, and I messed up more than once, but I was sweating by the end of class.

I'm upset though about getting my personal trainer certification. I've ordered the book I need to study, but it hasn't come yet. That's not what I'm upset about though. The thing is (I'm just ranting) that I'm a very giving person. My whole life I've given everything I had to help my family,and did it because I wanted to help. Anyway now I'm working this part time job, and trying my best to hang in there until I can get my certification. I'm actually concentrating on myself for once. The job gives me the time I need to get to the gym, and if I want to be a personal trainer I have to be able to get in great shape, so I don't want to get another job that would make it harder to exercise, even if it paid more. So unfortunately I have to rely on other people for help in paying for extras, like the pt coarse. And I haven't paid for it yet, and the coarse is only 4 weeks away. People in my family keep telling me I can do it, but I really don't want to cram my study time into just 3 or 4 weeks before the program. I would seriously consider moving, but I am actually the only family member that loves the Orlando Florida area.. And since I'm getting to know everyone at the YMCA I truly believe that once certified I'll get a job there. Well now that everyone knows my situation, which is actually a bit embarassing I'm going to end this post.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

My book came yesterday, but I didn't get it until late, so I haven't had an opportunity to delve into it yet. It's a textbook, so I can't just read it through, so I figure I'll start by studying the anatomy, and kinesiology section. I was never very good at this subject so I guess it's time to learn. I'm a bit nervous though because the book is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. If I don't do the training seminar in February I can always do it on the West Coast in September, that's where and when they have their next discounted training sessions. I really didn't want to have to wait until September though. Tonight I'm going to do Muscle Toning, and run for 3 miles.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Well the Muscle Toning class was awesome, I could barely move my arms afterwards. I didn't run tonight, but I feel good, and pumped up from the workout, so I'll run tomorrow. I wouldn't have thought the workout was that special, but I guess I just pushed myself. I used a barbell, stability ball, and a mat. We started with a quick warmup, then squats with a 35lb bb, biceps with 25lbs, triicep extentions with 20lbs, rows 20lbs, chest 25lbs. We used the stability ball for some leg raises, and some outer thigh, and ab work. Some moves with the ball were similar to pilates stuff.
Not much else to the workout. Tomorrow I'll probably walk to the gym, then run for 3 miles, and do a BodyPump class. And if I have some spare time I'll study some anatomy stuff.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.