Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Haha, thanks man, I would love that. It's long been a dream of mine (like a retirement dream) to own a little breakfast shop that also serves beer (or is a brewery). A few years ago I went to this breakfast place in my hometown (before I was vegan), and had breakfast a few days in a row. I noticed how zen the line cook appeared as he made everything; and I was jealous.

The sour beer fest was awesome, and featured one of the barrel aged specialists from New Belgium Brewing Co.; this lady named Lauren Salazar. She was really knowledgeable about beer, and exceedingly passionate about her career. That is so refreshing to me for some reason. It's great to see someone totally lost in what they are doing, and not be jaded by shortcomings. Maybe I can be more like that if I surround myself with people who hold the same beliefs? Something to work toward.

Anyhow, came home and ate some peanuts, almonds, and a handfull of vegan chocolate chips. At the event I probably had a total of 4 beers, so roughly 800-1000 calories, plus some appetizers (crackers, mustard, grilled veggies, pickles), so in all, I'd say about an extra 1500 calories today. That makes about 2600 cals for the day, and no exercise (although I did manage about 20 pullups). That's enough for tonight... Inglorious Basterds is on the TV, and I wanna watch. One last thing... I noticed how they had a very veggie-centric offering tonight; despite also having "cold cuts" of meat available (gross, just gross). I couldn't help but think about how much more awesome it would have been if everyone there were also vegan.

Goodnight!

Saturday, November 16, 2013:

Bodyweight Day

0. Jump Rope - 1 minute
1. 3 Way Pullups (wide grip, supinated grip, close grip) - 3 x 5 each (3x15 total each round)
2. 3 Way Pushup (Divebomber, Offset, Diamond) - 3 x 10/5*/10 (3x10 total each round)
3. TRX Overhand Row - 3 x 15
4. TRX Twist - 3 x 10* (3x20 total)
5. Single Leg Press - 3 x 15*
6. TRX Hamstring Curl - 3 x 20
7. TRX Bicep Curl - 3 x 15
8. TRX Tricep Extension - 3 x 15

Hungover, so this was hard as fuck today. Also, finished up and feeling absolutely famished. I always find that I am really hungry the day after consuming something high fat (I gorged on peanuts and vegan chocolate chips after my last post - probably 1000 calories worth Just couldn't help myself. Have a bunch of annoying shit to do today, and it's already noon so I'm gonna go and get on with the day. Lunch was leftovers from last night. Have a good weekend!

Shame about the hangover dude! :/ but at least you had a good time eh!
I like that you have a body weight day, that's a really good idea.

Thanks mate. After training, some clean food, and considerable hydration, I'm right S rain. Bodyweight training is no joke! I only did this today because I didn't feel like putting up with the dickheads at my gym. Did you train today? I'll check your log. These suspension trainers I bought have totally paid off.

Also, you know you are pure when three beers brings on a hangover!

Been there man, I hate gyms.. Best to invest in some dumbbells
Yeah I trained this eve mate it's bed time for me aha. 10pm over here and I was kept up last night by some assholes letting off fireworks at 2am.. Chat soon bud!

Oh man, come the 4th of July our neighborhood gets lit up with fireworks for all hours of the night; and they last pretty much the rest of the summer, and even some random ones in the fall. I'd love to get some more dumbbells, but they are so damn expensive! Maybe one of those bowflex multi-DB's are in order?

Monday, November 18, 2013:

Bodyweight Core & HIIT Day

0. Jump Rope - 1 minute
1. SitUp Vup x 20 | Triple Situp x 12
2. HighKnees/Buttkicks - 2 x 60 seconds
3. Stability Ball Pike - 2 x 15
4. Standing Mountain Climbers/ Core Jacks - 2 x 60 seconds
5. Side Plank w/ Crunch - 2 x 15*
6. Butt Up x 20 | Hi/Lo Static Hold Plank x 60 seconds (10 seconds each position)
7. Reverse Crunch w/ Pulse Up - 2 x 15
8. Weighted Stability Ball Crunch - 2 x 25 @ 25lbs

Quick set while my wife made dinner - sorry for not posting a pic. We had veggie soup with: broccoli, kale, corn, yams, garlic, onion, red beans, black beans, carrots, and.... sriracha! haha. Really ripped through this set today. Probably should have done a third round, but dinner was ready, and I was hungry/wanted to get on with the evening. Will probably do some upper body/hiit tomorrow. Gonna head out and watch this episode of The Sopranos (that piece of shit Phil Leotardo is gonna get his head split!).

Tuesday, November 19, 2013:

Another Core Day + Lower Body

Worked with the trainer today, and did a couple rounds of the following circuit:

1. Dumbbell Swings - 2 x 15 @ 30lbs*
2. Oblique V-Up - 2 x 20*
3. Burpees - 2 x 25
4. Oblique Mountain Climber - 2 x 25* (basically Mountain Climber with knees outside of shoulders)
5. Goblet Squat - 2 x 15 @ 60lbs
6. Straight Leg Deadlift - 2 x 15 @ 70lbs
7. Decline Medicine Ball Situp & Toss + Side Taps - 2 x 20 @ 10lbs
8. Bosu Hyperextension Crunch (alternating legs) - 2 x 15* (these are brutal)
9. Laying Bicycle Crunch - 2 x 40*
10. Table Tops - 2 x 25

Nice circuit tonight. The oblique v-ups were killer, as well as the bosu ball work; I know I'm going to feel these tomorrow. Still having some weird shoulder/tricep numbness (not pain, really), especially noticeable when doing the table tops, and the DB swings. Wish that would just go away. Anyhow, came home and made a HUGE salad. Plus I brought in our palm trees from the cold weather. Can you believe we bought these from Ikea 4 years ago, for $20 each, and they grew from 2 feet to now over 6!!!

Thursday, November 21, 2013:

Upper Body + HIIT Day (Giant Sets)

1. Incline Bench on Machine - 3 x 10 @ 150/145/145lbs
2. Bent Over Row - 3 x 10 @ 135lbs
3. Stablility Ball Pass Back Situps - 3 x 20

4. Power Pushup - 3 x 20 (basically a child's pose, to pushup, done on dumbbells)
5. TRX Rows - 3 x 20
6. Spider Jumps 3 x 60 seconds

7. DB Chest Pullovers on Stability Ball - 2 x 15 @ 55lbs
8. TRX Iron Cross - 2 x 15
9. Farmer's Walk - 2 x 60 seconds @ 90lbs

Worked with the trainer tonight, which was fun as always. REALLY looking forward to the weekend. Literally cannot stand to be around work, or anyone else, for the meantime. Just kind of negative tonight... A lot of inconsiderate douchebags at the gym, just totally fucking ignorant. Anyhow, I need to get my shit together for tomorrow. Here's what I ate for dinner:

You eat so many salads bro! Aha putting me to shame...

That's some interesting training too! Lots of volume and diversity! How are you finding it all? Making some good gains?

Haha yeah man, someone on here told me to eat more greens, so I took it to heart! I love working with my trainer man, he's really opened the door to so many different exercises. It's basically the best part about spending the dough on a trainer - also since he knows nothing about vegan nutrition I'm pretty sure I could go at least 4 months of training 4-5 times per week and never repeat an exercise, which is awesome! I just have to remember them all, which is next to impossible - hence the log

As far as results go, I am seeing better progress now with doing strength + HIIT stuff, than in the past where I mainly focused on strength alone. I've also learned to overcome my distaste for certain HIIT exercises (like box jumps), which I used to avoid altogether. Though I doubt I'll ever be able to come to terms with some of the plyo jumps... They are just so brutally demanding!

Do you have Trader Joe's over there? These quick-prep packets of bulgur/quinoa/barley are the shit!

That does sound cool man! (Just realised we're having two separate conversations haha) but I could never work with a trainer I don't think I always train at random times.

Nah we don't have a trader joes, think that's just in the u.s we have a branch of stores called Holland & Barrett which is bodybuilding supplements and vegan/vegetarian foods, loads of packaged soya stuff and even vegan pastries

Trader Joes is a great place, but Holland & Barrett sounds awesome as well; especially the pastries. Again, fat kid inside me. Hope you're having a good weekend bro. Going to make this taco casserole tonight, which should be tasty!

Saturday, November 23, 2013:

Saturday 12's Pump Day

1. DB Bench - 3 x 12 @ 140lbs
2. Single Arm Row - 3 x 12 @ 55lbs (should go up in weight on these)
3. DB Chest Pullover - 3 x 12 @ 55lbs (guess this is my favorite exercise)

4. Squat - 3 x 12 @ 245lbs
5. 24" Box Jumps - 3 x 12
6. Wide Leg Deadlift - 3 x 12 @ 90lbs

7. 3 Way Assisted Pullup (wide grip, neutral grip, supinated grip) - 3 x 12 @ 30lbs assist
8. Decline Bench - 3 x 10 @ 155lbs/145lbs/145lbs
9. Assisted Dips - 3 x 12 @ 30lbs assist

Felt really great putting up those DBs on the bench. Kind of wore myself out for the decline bench, so I could only must sets of 10. Must have been killing the box jumps though because all the dickheads in that place were watching me hop up there My nemesis was there today too, which always bugs me. Had to interact with him for a moment as he left all of his weights up on the decline bench before moving on to something else. Asked him if he was done there, and he took off a plate for me, then said I should "probably be on the machines if I'm not going to lift more." I was thinking the same thing (in opposite land), and wanted to badly to mention the fact that his legs have nearly the same circumference as my arms, and "how do you stand upright?" Anyhow, not going to let that affect the rest of my kickass day! Thinking about making some taco casserole tonight, or perhaps this Diablo Beefless Chili Mac. . . hmmm so many choices!