Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Where in TJ's is this sold? Is it just called "peanut flour?" I LOVE pb, but I don't buy it since I tend to eat too much of it. Does it taste good? Do you just mix it with water? Sorry for all of the pb questions.

Try not to get too hung up on weight. What about your measurements, are those changing?

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vegan for the win!

Don't apologize! I'm a peanut butter lover myself but have to be careful since I eat lots of nuts and avocados too. Yes it's Trader Joes Peanut Flour and different stores have it in different places. Sometimes it's on a displace but it should be near the other flours. You mix it with water until you get your desired consistency. It definitely doesn't taste like regular pb because it has no sugar in it, but you can add a little salt to taste and it's great! I'm sure you could add a little sweetener to it if you want but I prefer not too.

You know I haven't measured myself since I started. I do feel a little firmer and tigther in places. But you're right, I know I shouldn't get hung up on weight. It's difficult not too but I should definitely put my focus elsewhere.

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I usually buy natural pb so I shouldn't miss the sugar. Thanks! Will look for it next time I go to TJ's!

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vegan for the win!

Stopping by to make sure you're still training

Hope you have an awesome week of fitness!

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

Hi Robert - Thanks for checking in! I'm absolutely still training! I'm begining to think you guys might hunt me down if I don't lol

Just been a crazy two days with my kitchen being torn down so I haven't been able to be on long enough to do a full check in.

I didn't make it to the gym this morning, stayed up way to late and had a hard time pulling myself out of bed at 5am. But tonight I'm going to the gym to do some legs, chest & abs and hit it hard with the cardio. I'm doing double duty tonight because I missed the gym yesterday. And I want to make sure I'm getting 6-7 days of workouts in each week.

I'll be back tonight with a full report my friends.

Peace
Steph

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Wow the snow has been coming down in Boston today, we've got at least 20in already and as I sit here and type this, it's still coming down!

I trudged my way to the gym anyway this morning to meet Joe (the trainer I work with when I can). I'm pretty sure they opened the gym for me because I was the only one in there! I was hoping to go back tonight for cardio but they had closed since the weather wasn't letting up.

Good news though, I had been talking to Joe about my frustrations with the scale so he suggested we take my measurements again. I've lost two inches on waist and almost two on my tricep so I'm losing body fat and that makes me very happy! VERY happy!

Today was a back day, the area I feel I need the most work strength wise so I love back days.

Romanian Dead Lifes bar - 12r, 10p - 8r x3

Assisted Pullups 80p - 12r, 10r, 8r

Hammer Strength High Row 35p -12r, 10r, 10r

(super set)
Reverse Grip lat pull 60p -12r, 10r, 10r
Cable rows 50p - 12r, 10r, 10r

I felt really good after today's workout. It was definitely a motivator to know that my body comp is actually changing regardless of what the scale is saying so far. I know that with boosting up the intensity of my cardio and up to 6days a week, I'll have that in the bag too.

M1 Post WO 1/2 c dry oats, 1/4c powdered pb
M2 Brown Rice Cake
M3 Large salad with tabuleh, 1/4 hummus and two stuffed grape leaves
M4 apple and vega shake n go drink
M5 bowl of quinoa with steamed veggies and black beans

This weekend I'm driving up to Maine to spend the weekend with my family. I'm hoping to get in some kind of workout while I'm there, even if it's just a simple bodyweight workout.

Today's been a rough day. My dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a little over a year ago. We found out just a few short weeks ago that it has started to spread into his abdomen. I spoke with my mom today and he hasn't been able to eat anything since xmas besides applesauce. Since he's been diagnosed I've sent him a lot of groceries, avocados, almond milk, amazing grass protein, nuts...anything to get him some healthy nutrients but he just can't digest some of those things well anymore.

Training for this competition has been a huge stress relief for me, it's nice to have something to focus all my energies on. But I think we've now entered the beginning stages of the "end" so to speak and I can't even begin to express how scared I am. All I want to do is either be at the gym or sleep, I find it hard to focus on anything else other than those two things. I've been losing my appetite the last few days so I'm struggling to eat enough.

But anyway...I just had to vent so sorry if that got a little too...personal.

Have a great night!

Steph

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Sorry to hear about your Dad. The training seems to be going well though!

My condolences.

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vegan for the win!

Pancreatic cancer is an awful, awful disease. Know that there are people on here (and out there!) who are sending you and your family prayers and strength. When everything else seems like its falling apart, maybe you can take some solace in the control you have over your body. Don't give up!

Hey Steph, Hugs from me and everyone in Portland.

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

Thanks everyone for all the love and support! Was really nice to login this morning to such encouraging messages. Can't even explain how much I appreciate it. Sending you all big virtual hugs

I spent the weekend in Maine with my family and though I missed two days of training, I always feel a little better after seeing my dad and being able to spend some quality time. I brought him up my breville juicer and he loves it! He's been drinking a couple glasses a day and that's encouraging since he hasn't been able to eat much.

But back to training:

So far my bodyfat is down 2% and I've lost 3 pounds so far. Happy to see it declining, though I'd like to see it fall a little more steadily.

To get a little caught up on what I've been up to, here's what yesterday looked like:

Tuesday 1/18 Chest & Abs

BB Flat Press 5p - 12r, 5p - 10r, 5p - 10r

(Super Set)
DB Flys on Ball 12p - 12r x3
Leg Raises 12r x3
SB Jacknife 12r x3

(Super Set)
SB Plank :30s x3
Push Ups 10r x3

Cable Flys 25p - 10r x3

Interval Cardio 2% Incline 25 minutes/ 10 min cool down on stairs

M1 Vega Protein Shake/ 1/2c dry oats/ 2tbsp PB2/ 1tbsp agave/ yerba mate tea
M2 1 BR Cake/ 2tbsp PB2
M3 1/2c quinoa/ 1/2c shelled edamame/ 1 Veggie Collard Wrap/ 1/2tbsp white bean hummus/ 1 block TJ Terrayaki Tofu
M4 (Pre WO) BR Cake/ 1tbsp real PB/ Vega Protein Shake
M5 (Post WO) Vega Protein Shake/ 2c romain lettuce/ 1/4c cherry tom/ 1/4c sh edamame/ 2tbsp white bean hummus

1448.5 Calories 160.15 Carbs 37.62 Fats 131 Protein (64oz H20 - low for the day)

I decided to take out fruit for a little bit and see if that has any positive effect on my weight loss. I feel like my carb intake is high and I'm really trying to reduce the amount of sugar I consume. Since my body likes to hold onto weight pretty easily, every move counts.

I decided to keep my oats at a 1/2 cup each morning because cutting it back had me hungrier earlier in the morning.

Being without my kitchen really sucks, my routine has fallen a little off track so I don't have a lot of food prepared in advance. I kind of grab and go right now but I'm hoping to find some kind of routine soon. I'm probably looking at another 3 weeks of no kitchen. boo!

Got up nice and early this morning and got in my workout. I have to say I much prefer working out first thing in the morning. I like the crowd a lot better and it's less busy. The evening crowd is a lot more rowdier and I feel like the big pumped up dudes watch over me way to much when I'm doing my thing. So that's a nice little motivator for me to get my butt out of bed when I'm feeling like hitting snooze one to many times.

I'll be back on tonight with today's eats and my morning workout.

"Keep Calm and get your Workout On"

XO
Steph

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Dropping by to say hi.

Hope all is awesome!

-RC

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

Hey all! Have no fear I'm still here! ha-ha

I'm still tracking every move, bite and chug of water in the journal I carry with me everywhere but I haven't logged onto the forums in a few days. But I'll be back with my daily recaps starting now! In a couple days i'll be exactly 6 months out from my competition, so even though I've been training for the last month, I'm taking things a little bit more seriously. It's kind of like the last month has been a warm up and now it's game time!

In other exciting news, I've dropped a jean size so I figured I must be doing something right!

Yesterday was a leg day and it was rough, I'm not going to lie. I did legs on Friday too and was already sore going into the workout yesterday. Lots of squats, lunges and single leg dead-lifts; I've been walking funny all day! My poor hamstrings...definitely throwing in some yoga this week.

I'm heading to the gym now (since I slept in this morning...boo) so I'll do a proper recap later.

As far as my meals go, it's still a learning process for me. My meals have been the same for days now and not having a kitchen is becoming a little difficult.

I'm switched out my usual breakfast of oats for a nice warm bowl of breakfast quinoa.
A. I can cook them in my slow cooker overnight and B. It's more of a complete protein and I think I'll benefit nutritionally, especially with some Vega Sport Protein in vanilla thrown in there...so delicious.

Now that it's game time here are my goals I'm focusing on:

1. Consistent morning workouts, no snooze button at 5:00am(I really dislike the evening gym crowd at my gym. Will only go at night if I need to get in additional cardio).
2. Better meal planning, even without the kitchen.
3. Drink a gallon of water every day.
4. Take vitamins consistently
5. No more treats (lately the last few days, I've allowed more treats than I should. Need to refocus)

Time to sweat!

XO,
Steph

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Just wanted to check in and see how it's going =) Did you guys get anymore snow, we got a bunch here in Baltimore and I hate it!

I found a large reusable water bottle that I carried with me everywhere and that helped me to drink more water. I usually only have problems drinking water and with my diet if I'm home-which seems like the opposite of what is expected.

Happy Training!!

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"His arm looks like a leg"

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We've had SO much snow!! We got a little over a foot the last storm we had. Since I walk to the gym I can say I'm pretty much over it lol.

I'm the same way about being home, for some reason i kind of forget, but during the week when I'm at work I have no problems getting in my water!

I've been a little lax with my workouts this week and I've missed a couple, but today marked exactly 6 months out! And I got my vegan nutrition plan all ironed out so I'm feeling really really excited and pumped!!

I feel like I actually have a clue now with what, when and how much I should be eating so that's really going to help me lose body fat while building up some sexy lean muscle.

Today was a rest day and I took it so nothing to report on the gym front. Unfortunately as much as I prefer the gym in the am, I found out on Friday that I have to get to work about an hour earlier so that means moving my workouts to the evening. Ugh.

I just can't do 4:30am wakeup calls. I will if I have to when it comes times to kick things up a notch but for now I'll be hitting the gym after work.

Hope everyones training is going well!!

xo
Steph

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