Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

I lost 1 pound! Wasn't actually expecting to lose anything, I'm very pleased with that! I actually think I lost more, but was fairly bloated when I took my weight this morning because of poor eating choices yesterday (fries!). I may take it again tomorrow morning to see.

Yesterday:
-Pear
-Banana
-Red potatoes with veggie cheese and mustard
-Apple
-French fries (GAH! Didn't bring enough food with me and was STARVING! I suppose I'm allowed a treat every once in awhile, but I still feel awful!)
-Banana and blueberry "icecream" (frozen bananas and blueberries with coconut milk, blended together into icecream texture. Carob powder and agave nectar used to make chocolate sauce)

Took a day off from working out . My body is in rough shape after the hard training I've been doing this week! Still got in a bit of exercise though.
-Skating for 1 hour
-Walked 3.5km



Today:
-Red potatoes with veggie cheese and mustard
-green tea
-2 Bananas
-Recovery pudding
-Cantaloupe
-Wild & brown rice with hemp oil, olive oil and herbs

I'm pretty sick, so really should have taken the day off. But that would have drove me crazy! So I worked out for a little over an hour focusing on weights (shoulders and back) and core.

I spent the weekend in Toronto with Mom and her boyfriend celebrating my Birthday (even if it is 2 week early!). We went to a Toronto Rock game, and I got to see Monster Jam! It was a childhood dream of mine, some dreams never die! LOL!

Ate HORRIBLY, as I was expecting I would. My body hates me and I can't blame it. It will be week before I can look at junk food again.

I couldn't have been happier with my Mom, who made me a vegan cake from scratch. It was easily the BEST tasting cake I have ever had! It was orange cake with lemon icing and my name written in almonds.

I have not touched dairy now for two weeks. So far I am loving it!

I have two very fun events planned for this year.
April 16th-WWF CNTower stair climb! Is anyone else planning on going?
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/Logi ... cntower%2f

And.....
WARRIOR DASH! It is finally coming to Ontario in July.

It has been a bit of an emotional week for me, so eating hasn't been....well, it could have been much better!

I worked out most days this week, with a day off to nurse my foot I mysteriously injured.

I am all registered for the CN Tower climb on April 16th! It seems much different now going into the gym to train for an actual measureable goal. Here is my page for the climb.
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SI ... Lang=en-CA

Things have been GREAT the past couple of days! Eating has been perfect, and workouts amazing. Gotta keep this up!

So it has been an interesting couple of weeks, including an overnight stay at a hospital because of problems with my heart. Turns out it was too much potassium and not enough sodium. Who knew?! So it's been 2 weeks so I've been allowed near a gym, and I have another week to go. I h ad to add dairy back in my diet for the time being, and have ate almost nothing except junk food the past week.

Thankfully, my body is way better to me then I deserve. The weight I gained (6 pounds!) is very quickily melting off again. I'm learning how to readjust my diet and will hopefully be back to vegan in a week or two. I am going NUTS without the gym, but I know it's for the best.

something's wrong ! hope you can get sorted out soon

_________________
5',7-1/2" ; 150-155lbs ; white male
weight gain goal: 170lbs

Scary! I'm glad you're getting that sorted and I hope you'll be eating vegan again soon.

If I never had to see a doctor or a needle again, I would be a VERY happy person!

Turns out it had nothing to do with my sodium at all, and my heart is 100% strong and healthy (WOOHOO!). The doctor is now thinking it's caused by something viral.

Had my first 'real' workout on Saturday. By real I mean things I could have done in my sleep 3 weeks ago. Basic lunges and squats on the BOSU ball, push-ups and V-sits. I found all of them challenging, which is extremely discouraging. I know I am still ill, but there is no way I could have lost that much strength and stability in such a short period of time.

I am so SICK of junk food! For some reason after adding dairy back into my diet, it made me think junk food was OK and it is all I've been eating. I have put on even more weight then before (I am a terrible emotional eater) which is even more stressful, and leads me to eating more and worse. So, time to get back on track! Vegan again as of today. I'm seeing someone to help with the food issues, which is giving me hope.

It will be slow progress in the gym, and only a couple of times a week for now, but I couldn't be more excited!

Sorry about the heart thing... But at least does not seem serious.

One thing that has helped me a ton (via Robert Cheek's book) is I have been taking blood tests every 6 months or so. I really recomend it. You see exactly where you are nutrition wise and your doctor will fill you in on what everything means. Make sure to get a COPY TO TAKE HOME and go over it with a vegan friendly nutritionists. Doctors are not savy on healthy food options, and the test will put your mind at ease.
Did you get a recent blood test during your hospital stay? Then get a copy and file it away.
Stick to healthy choices and a year from now, look at all 3 blood tests. You will be amazed.

I also own several coolers that I pack full of goodies when I am away from home. It's easy and just takes a little prep time. No big deal. I also keep several Clif Body Builder bars in my truck to avoid any junk food places. Works like a charm.

Thank you for those tips!

Another quick update: Is has been a hellish month. Whatever these health issues are seem to come and go, and it's rare I'm well enough to workout. With everything going on because of school and being sick, I got so overwhelemed that I basically went into shut down mode. Haven't touched homework, my grades have taken a nose dive etc..

The past week I have felt MUCH better. I've been working out almost every day (atleast once a day) and for the most part feeling great. It's motivated me to pull myself together again (hey...we all have our ups and downs, right?!). I've been back on track with eating, working out, and kicking butt in school once again.

ONE MONTH until the CN Tower Climb! I am unbelievably excited!

Wow, the CN Tower Climb! That sounds tough! Good luck!

_________________
vegan for the win!

Sounds like you've had quite a bit of turmoil so far this year! It's so good to see you keep coming back and not giving up (completely) on your goals and sticking it out! Always get up one more time than you fall down and everything will be just fine! You can do it! Keep on keepin' on!

Awh, I feel your pain.. I've had a lot of health problems too. I'm good at injuring myself while walking up and down the stairs. Plus that jaundice I was born with likes to come back and bite my ass. But sometimes people like us need to be forced into taking a break.

Anyway, it looks like you've lost a lot of body fat just from those two pictures! And I CAN see the tone in your triceps.

Thanks everyone for all your support! Really means alot!

I had Doctors apointment number 678 today (or so it feels like!) in which I got jabbed with another needle, and have a follow up next week. My Doctor has been fabulous, she is going to talk everything over with a specialist this week then decide who to send me to, or what action to take next, for my apointment next Thursday.

I'm hoping I can get some nutritional advice from all you experts!
Before I got sick, I ate extremly healthy. Then everything went out the window. I'm still overeating, mostly because of my choice of foods which consist of a lot of bad grains (cereals, breads, tortilla chips, etc.). I rarely eat fruits and vegetables now, when it used to be all I ate.

I'm going to go back to a smoothie every day, plus my recovery pudding for after workouts. However, I would love if I could get recipes suggestions. They would have to be fairly simple and inexpensive, not require an oven to make, and something I can make and eat for 2 or three days. I'd like to increase the amount of raw food I eat, but I think while getting back on track convince might be a big key. I fatigue easy, so I am having a tough time making myself food (half the problem I think!).

Really, any tips at all would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again everyone for all your support.

THREE WEEKS until the CN Tower climb! Oh yes, the countdown is on.
My sponsorship page:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SI ... Lang=en-CA

What about bean + vegetable soups? I like to make huge batches and then keep them in the fridge. You can really throw anything you want to in there.
Bean chili? Same thing, make a huge batch. It also freezes really well. As do things like enchiladas, lasagnas, etc.
Curries with lentils and/or chickpeas also cook up well in large batches, and you can either freeze or keep in fridge.

I like to make a bunch of food on Sunday and then I have it for the week. I'll do things like cook rice/whatever other grain I'm going to be eating, chop up veggies, prep salads and/or dressings, etc.

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vegan for the win!