Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Thanks for complimenting my journal! I try to keep it detailed because it is the only place I have it written down (posted).
And the fans I adore! I love the support of being a big strong girl.

I can't wait to be a big strong girl like you

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I do because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't.

I don't make excuses... I make results

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

First day of cutting/dieting was also a rest day. Even though, we still had to do cardio. So I went over to my partner's house and we walked around the little lake near her house (1 mile around the lake - one of those man-made lakes from it being a quarry, and they built a subdivision after they took most of the stones out - so it was a road that went around it). We took a nice brisk pace and was able to go around 3 times under an hour, and the sun came out, but it was only in the low 30 degrees with a little wind.

I found out that I can do really well dieting during the day. But at night, I was like the hunger monster! I finally broke down and had a small bowl of popcorn and chewed down some romaine leaves. I still was under 2000 calories:macros were 180 protein/200 carbs/45 fat.
I made chili for dinner, and I think that upped my carbs. Also I needed to get in another protein shake to get the protein grams to 200+. Will have to work on it today.

I will now be combining Delts with Legs today. After a couple of weeks of doing many reps, I am going to go heavy this time around for all the bodyparts. But I also will be supersetting the exercises (one delt exercise with one leg exercise - the theory is that while the top part is getting a workout, the bottom part can rest, and then vice versa/switch it around).

I have a budding photographer coming to visit me in two weeks. I asked him if he could possibly take some photos of me (these will be my Beast/Before photos). I shall see what he says and if yes, I shall be tempted to post.

Gaia I am guilty of night hunger. That is one of the main reasons I go to the gym after work. By the time I get home and down my protein shake I am ready to crawl into bed. I still hear the fridge calling me but I am just to pooped to get up and answer it. You are doing awesome!!!

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I do because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't.

I don't make excuses... I make results

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

I was really afraid of night hunger while cutting but i have managed to avoid it so far, i dont know how. i also used to have a lot of trouble sleeping up until this month but now i can always fall asleep by midnight without any aid.

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Darth Vader from Sandlot once said, "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." Then he later died.
https://www.facebook.com/BigMeeeeech

I am going to take your advice and head to the gym when I need to be separated from my kitchen! I am meaning to start tackling the stairmaster anyways!

The second day was way worse than the first night of cutting! I ended up eating a PB&J and unfortunately someone opened up the vegan chocolate chip bag, so I took about 1 TBsp full of them (and I licked the melted parts from my palm). - I was craving chocolate? I know what that means, and sure enough I checked my calendar and it is the beginning of next week that I start my .
I also know that I need extra calories during this time, so I rearranged my diet already. I added an extra 1/2 cup of oats with a protein powder shake meal. I am so proud of myself as I was able to be a good dieting girl last night.

Also, even though I have gone gluten-free for years upon years, and added sprouted wheat toast and pasta back into my diet for bulking - and had minor bloating problems - I am having craving withdrawls! I guess with all things with me, it will take a good 2 weeks for my body to adjust to the new diet.

Delts and Legs today. Two super bodyparts that I love to workout the most (in other words I like to go hard and heavy with them) in one workout. So, you can imagine that we were so out of steam at the end of our workout - and literally had to force ourselves to do the last back to back exercise set. In other words, we did the two exercises together, she would do one set of the first exercise, while I did the first set of the second exercise, and then I would go do a set of hers, and she would come do a set of my exercise. And back and forth we would go. We would get an extra break when one of us asked for spot/assistance on the heavy set to push us past our comfort level. I don't know why, but just having her hands on my elbow for a shoulder press makes me press even more when mentally I am all done - and she says that she doesn't even offer any assistance half the time - except on the last rep where I am shaking so much and trying really hard but she knows I won't be able to do it on my own, then she adds just enough to make me keep pushing without relying completely on her to finish the rep. Took us 3 months to be able to spot/assist each other like that!

Shoulder Press/Smith Press . . . . . . . . Leg Press
warmup: 30/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . warmup: 6(45plates)/25
50/15, 75/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 P/15, 16 P/15
90/10, 90/8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 P/15, 18 P/15

DB Side Laterals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leg Extension
warmup 17.5/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . warmup: 150/25
22.5/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280/12~3 (~short ROM rep)
30/8~2, 35/8 (2 more reps over PB) . . . 330/9~1,330/8~2

Rear Delts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leg Curl
warmup: 50/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . warmup: 70/25 - very easy
75/15, 90/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130/15
105/10, 120/~8 good effort . . . . . . . . . 175/10, 190/8

Front Raise on MaxRack Barbell. . . . . . Calf Raise - first seated, then I felt it only in my hamstrings, then went to leg press calf raise
warmup: 10/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . warmup: 80/35 -seated
20/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110/15, 150/15 (hamstrings hurt, not the calves) - seated
30/12, 40/8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300/30, 300/40, 325/25 (calves are burning by now. so I didn't want to go to the 6/8 rep range) - leg press

DB Shoulder Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sumo Squat (on the Smith Press with the safety on!)
warmup: 25/15+10 (breath break) . . . . 90/25
27.5/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180/20 (getting really tired here. body not responding. could be time for another injury?)
35/12, 40/6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180/25 (not going to put on more weight. mentally not in the set. scared of injury. . again).

So my theory of working top and bottom at the same time would let the one bodypart rest while doing the other end bodypart worked. But when doing heavy weights, your whole body gets fatigued, and that affects any bodypart you are working. This was a grueling workout for both of us. We had a hard time focusing on the last exercise pair. I had my protein shake right afterwards, and it was like I could feel it replenishing whatever I needed. That was a cool feeling.

Next day was suppose to be Back and Tricep day, but I vetoed it. We did cardio instead (went 4 times around her 1 mile lake road - with some jogging and something in soccer we called Indian runs: you begin by all moving in a straight line, then the last person passes whoever is in front of them, and then when they are in front, the last person then begins to pass all those that are in front, and on and on you go. With only the two of us, we sprinted the first couple of times, and then it would take us forever to pass the other person (and talking while passing doesn't help

Now it is the next day and I am ready for Back and Triceps. I also got my partner a pair of Versa Gripps, so I hope we can zoom thru the back workout easily - instead of waiting for her to wrap herself in with those long straps, that never seem to be tight enough.

Girl I wish I had you as a partner! I really need to focus on finding a workout partner. But I can't seem to find anyone who wants to pair up with me....

_________________
I do because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't.

I don't make excuses... I make results

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

Whoa Gaia! You women are hella strong! How long have you been lifting like this? Btw, I'm with you. Leg & shoulder day is one of my favorite workouts when I'm off the bike.

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Radical simply means "grasping things at the root." - Angela Davis

Tonight at the end of our workout, my partner made the comment that I was trying to kill her today. . . slowly.....LOL!!!! I only ask that she stay up with me (at least most of the time) - and not in weight, just doing the reps and sets.

So be careful what you wish for! Someone could be just around the corner!

I have been doing this for a long time. I use to do comps in 1999, 2000, and 2001 - and though I stopped doing comps, I stayed in the gym and lifted (it is my zen). It was only finding this partner who moved to my town last year, and we met in the autumn at my gym, and her philosophy of bigger is the best resonated with me (she also was a comp girl during those years) and we both said 'why not? lets see if we can do another show!' and away we have gone.

Yeah I know my partner could around the.next corner.

_________________
I do because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't.

I don't make excuses... I make results

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

My best years were a good lifting partner. I train alone now, or sometimes with one of my son's cute lil 23 yr old friend ( I will not touch, I will not touch, I will not do)...but nothing compares to the "right" training partner. Kudos to finding that pairing and gosh that is a hella hella lot of weight woman! Sweet! How is the "cutting" going?

Back and Triceps was yesterday. It was a good workout for a Saturday (talking to people made it harder - not just people in the gym, but the cell phones were turned on in case someone needed us for something - which they did!). My partner liked the Versa Gripps, but being new they needed to be broken in and learning how to use them, so that added some time on to our workout. Still we got some new PB in this workout. So far I am loving the one day on/ one day off with cardio routine. Gives the body time to adjust to the decrease in carb calories, and repair from the usual heavy workout. We still have one more day on with Chest and Biceps. So I will do this one more time and see if it is good for my body (the weights stay up, and the weight starts to drop).


HammerStrength Back Row/Pulldown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overhead Cable Tricep Extension (fulcrum at waist level)
Warmup: 50/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warmup: 50/25, 80/25
90/15, 100/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90/18, 110/12
140/8~2, 140/8(a new PB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120/8 (so hard, it took a breath to execute each extension - a new PB!)

Still-Legged Deadlift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tricep Rope Pressdown
Warmup: 50/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Warmup: 90/25
90/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110/13~2
140/8 (old PB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130/8 (shaking alot on the last reps, using the breath to beat the rope down - old PB)

Machine Back Row (Upper Grip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assisted Dips
Warmup: 90/25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85/25 (from 180, that is 95 that I am actually doing)
150/15, 180/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55/15, 40/12 (getting to the 6-8 rep range)
240/8~2, 255/6+2 (a new PB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25/8 (not going to do the bodyweight today - too tired)

Lat Pulldowns using neutral grip widebar . . . . . . . . . . . . . DB Kickbacks (both DBs at the same time -alot harder to do says my partner)
Warmup: 90/25 (easy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Warmup: 12.5/15, breath break, 10, to get the 25 reps in
120/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15/15
135/10+2 (so fatigued. can't do the PB of 165/8) . . . . . . . . . . 20/8 (PB is 20/12)

Had a protein shake - was really shaky at this point. Knew I was going fast, and still had Upright Rows to go. Had a nice long break (5 minutes) on the phone talking, and then I finished up the session with upright rows.

Upright Rows
Warmup: Bar/25, 10/20
20/15
30/10
and called it quits right there.

It is now Rest day. I am trying to decide what to do for cardio. The sun is coming out, but it still is so cold. Maybe I should just brave the elements and go trail jogging ? - the paved part is cleared of snow and ice from the rain we had three days ago. Or go to a yoga class? or do something else? I am alittle excited at the possiblities!

Yoga!

_________________
I do because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't.

I don't make excuses... I make results

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you