Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Thank you so much! When I took progress pics today, I was a little worried because I didn't feel like I looked any different. After looking through my new pics I feel like there was so improvement so that made me happy! It's nice to know you're not working hard for nothing. ALSO I found out that I'm going to be a mentor for Team in Training this season which I'm SO excited about! Team in Training is a group that trains for marathons, half marathons, triathlons, and other raises while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. I did it last year and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! This year I'm coming back as a mentor, which means it's basically my job to motivate and train with the new participants; send out motivational emails etc. I'm so excited! I know it puts the bikini competition a little farther away than I'd originally planned (now I'm shooting to be ready by next August, the marathon is next March) and I'm going to try and focus on staying toned during the season and try not to lose muscle definition. I think all this running will really tone my legs and help me stay slim; it'll be interesting to do this on a vegan diet! last year I wasn't vegan, and it definitely changes things a little. Also today was fun and my friends and I went out to eat and ran around denver like crazy people most of the day. I literally wasn't home all day. I'm usually someone who likes to go out but stay in and relax later on, but it was nice to really get out and stay out for a bit! Here's my food for the day.

meal 1: smoothie with vega whole foods health optimizer (120) 1 tbsp brown rice protein (60) grapes (30) mixed greens (15) celery (15) Amazingly, this tasted delicious! I was bummed about my green smoothies the other day and I think the grapes really give it some freshness! It was good!

pre-workout: 1/2 apple (45)

post-workout: 1/2 apple (45) vega protein (110)

lunch: Delicious almonds (180) with cocoa powder (20) and a smoothie with vega whole food health optimizer (120) grapes (30) celery (30) greens (15) 1/2 banana (45)

early dinner: awesome salad from downtown with tofu, avocado, grapes, pine nuts, strawberries, and 1/2 slice bread (?? no idea 500?) and two bites of my friends vegan coconut cream pie! I read the first two bites are the ones you taste the most! (50)

snacky snack: carob faux cocoa (20)

planning so many things, so excited about life! Not writing down food as a result, lol. I'll get back into it in a bit, but food has been good these past few days

meal 1: smoothie with vega whole food health optimizer (120) celery (15) mixed greens (15) banana (70) grapes (30)

meal 2: apple (70)

meal 3: butternut squash (50) and cabbage leaf wraps (15) with tempeh (180) and avocado (100) and salsa (15) and cilantro (15) and greens (10)

meal 4: 1/2 scoop whole foods heal optimizer (60)

post-workout: vega protein (110)

meal 5: almonds (180) on top of a salad with spinach (15) and jicima (30) and blueberries (15) and cilantro (5) and salsa (15) and other half of butternut squash! (50)

started posting to my blog again! Consolidating. I may still keep track of food here, but for the most part this is where I'll be writing
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/

Taking a break from food journaling (at least on here! I've got one at home...) but I feel like I'm eating such similar things every day it would get boring for people reading about my food! But THIS is what I've been up to. Should I run a marathon in LA or Paris?

http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... stion.html

New post on how to make green smoothies that don't suck!

http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... oesnt.html

The lazy person's guide to starting and maintaining an exercise routine!
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... g-and.html

post about why puppy poop makes me happy :p

http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... erson.html

posts about my FAVORITE way to detox my system

http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... youve.html

new post about my half-marathon tomorrow!
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... orrow.html

An account of my massive massive failure...
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... t-now.html

My plan for how to NOT suck at running marathons!
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... -plan.html

RAWbstacles: things to consider when thinking about becoming raw
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... -when.html

Why pooping is good for your face!
http://theyear4kindness.blogspot.com/20 ... n-why.html

Hey Amanda!

How are things going?

Hope all is great. Happy New Year!

-Robert

Hey Robert! Thanks for asking, that's really sweet of you! Things have been pretty tough since the beginning of November...I started getting really sick and having no energy and having trouble keeping down food. It got so bad I had to bail on training (at my doctors advice, I totally fought him on it!) for my marathon for my friend...it almost killed me. I'm still mentoring for the marathon group; I go to the runs every Saturday morning just to wish everyone good luck, and then drive back home in my car where I do some yoga Luckily, about a week ago, I went to a holistic healing doctor and they found out I have parasites, goodness knows what from! I'm glad to finally know what's going on; I've been doing this parasite cleanse dealie and am already starting to feel a little better. I ran for the first time in a while a few days ago, and felt pretty good! Today I picked up some weights but barely made it through what used to be easy for me. It's frustrating to see how weak I've gotten! The end of 2010 seemed to be full of fitness roadblocks, and I'm hoping 2011 will totally rock to make up for it! Apparently it takes a while to get rid of parasites, but I'm doing my best and hope to do something amazing this year. I'm getting really excited about yoga; maybe getting sick is really a blessing in disguise! My boyfriend and I went to Hawaii this Thanksgiving to take a breather and rest while I was feeling icky. I included a pic of us at a Luau! How are you?