Alychef UK

[Alychef]

So, here goes...I'm joining the masses in blogging my progress! I've been doing this weight lifting thang for about 3 weeks and already have (for me) amazing results! I've doing a combination of gym and home..I've been a bit unwell and going through a whole load of asthma tests and suffering with nasty chest infections. Royal pain in the behind to be honest as I feel it's held me back from making the amount of progress I could have done by now.

 

So, went to the gym yesterday and got my current stats, they're not toooo bad:

 

weight: 44.6kg

height: 5' 2.1" (the 0.1 matters!!) or 1.58m

BMI: 17.9

Body fat % 26.3 (this is disappointing, especially as I'm considered underweight!!)

Body fat mass 11.7kg

 

I turned vegan at the end of April this year, so it's been a whole new learning curve. I do some raw/plant based stuff and some high protein/low carb cooked stuff, which is really only steamed veggies, roasted tofu and quinoa porridge. I love fruit and ALL veg. I have sprouting jars on the go all the time and do hemp protein supplement shakes when I'm on a gym day. I have calcium/mag/Vit D supps and a good multi vit. Vit B6 and a ginkobiloba, flaxseed and guarana for that extra boost.

 

Today I ate:

 

Well, it's Sunday...so I have a brunch:

 

A big bowl of quinoa porridge made with flaked quinoa

a peach and half a mango

handful of raisins

a sprinkle of coconut

about half a soya yoghurt

Some sunflower seeds

 

then a Gillian McKeith energy bar made from loads of sprouted things

 

I nicked a couple of my son's chips (naughty naughty!) at the cafe this afternoon

 

Then I had a good meal of steam soya beans, mixed sprouts (mung, alfalfa, aduki, chickpea), spinach, peppers (sweet chili ones), and a few other bits and bobs.

 

I'm just sitting down to a cup of tea with soya milk and 1 square of very good locally made dark vegan chocolate (for my sins!)

 

About an hour after dinner I did a few reps- yesterday was my gym day so it wasn't too much tonight:

 

2 x 30 plus 1 x 40 ab crunches on the roller

3 x 12 3kg fly

2 x 12 3kg plus 1 x 5kg shoulder press lifts

3 x 12 3kg plus 2 x 12 5kg screw biceps

2 x 12 3kg triceps (lifting arm backwards from elbow-what are they called?)

 

Was a bit breathless so had a go on the inhaler..seemed to do the trick

 

 

 

I've asked hubby to take some pix of my pex! So I'll post those asap.

 

So, I'll leave it there for tonight...I may not post every day. But I love this journey....I finally found something I can do, and I can do reasonably well )

 

Alychef

[Alychef]

I'm royally knackered tonight. I managed to get to the gym today, my friend offered to look after my son so I could spend an hour there. I was still sore from the stuff I'd done at home yesterday...anyway,

 

I did:

 

Brief cardio warm up - hate cardio!

3 x 12 db screw biceps

3 x 12 db shoulder press lifts

2 x 30 plus 1 x 40 ab roller crunches

few minutes doing core abs on the fit ball

3 x 12 back lifts on the fit ball

3 x 12 split lunges each leg

3 x 12 squats with cable to chest

3 x 12 dips

3 x 12 tricep back kicks

3 x 12 inner thigh (machine)

3 x 12 outer thigh (machine)

 

I found I was more hungry today...didn't have time for the quinoa this morning so had a hemp prtein shake - it was absolutely rank and thickened up and went all moussey before I drank it. Yuckkk!!

Had raw food energy bar before gym, then a soya yoghurt, some brazil nuts and dried figs after gym.

Got home and had a bowl of mixed sprouted beans and quinoa, tomatoes and mushrooms.

This evening I had the same as last night, soya beans, mixed sprouts and other salad bits and bobs.

 

Just had my ritual square of decent vegan choc witha cup of tea. Yum...evenings wouldn't be the same without!

 

Decided I wouldn't weigh myself or do body fat% for another 2 weeks. Had a chat with the fitness pro at the gym who said we could up my workout to burn some fat!! Sounds good...but I don't know if I'll be able to give the time committment.

 

I have a simple goal for now; get some decent biceps!lose about 3 % body fat..I'm not too sure how long that will take.

 

This blog must seem really boring compared to some of the others lifting huge weights and eating masses more than me to bulk up...ah well, I'll get my little body on it's way to 'muscle-dom'!!!

[Alychef]

Hmmmmm, well I took advice from various people who seem to be looking in from time to time on some of my other posts...I have made a conscious effort to increase protein, lower carbs and fat.

I have also done half an hour on my exercise bike..which I loathe, but I did get into eventually and managed to really inrease the effort levels to a 7. This is a real achievement for me!!

 

I'm still not sure if I have the food thing right...I don't have time to weigh anything out and I do so much cooking from scratch it would be difficult to work out the calories.

Anyway, here goes for my food diary for today:

 

Bowl of melon and mango

soya protein shake - the hemp is just too hard to choke down!

 

Snack-couple of brazil nuts

 

Lunch - mixed sprouts with various salad things plus sunflower seeds and lowfat french dressing

 

snack - couple of brazil nuts

 

Dinner, a homemade red lentil dhal/curry with tomatoes, watercress, spinah, rocket and engevita flakes - yum!

 

Had lots of rooibos tea with soya milk.

 

The problem today is; I'm really full and feeling like I've eaten twice the amount I have. Reading back on what I ate, I'm pretty sure it's not overeating by a long shot. It's high in protein and fruit and veg....but nothing bad.

 

Very tired now, got to be up at 0630 for the monster child and work!

 

Back in the gym after work tomorrow too...

[Marcina]

I mix hemp in a green smoothie with fruits. I add kale, frozen berries, avocado, fresh juice and blend. It's very yummy and you can't notice the kale or hemp protein.

[Alychef]

Sounds amazing, but assoon as I mix the hemp powder with juice, as is recommended on the tub..it turns very very quickly to this thick mousse like stuff-all frothy and very acidic almost rancid tasting. I did try addig berries, and a little honey. I usually have barley grass in my shakes too.

So you know which product I'm on about, it's hemp isolate from Yaoh. I tried the nutrivita one too, that's very grainy and not as much protein as the isolate.

How do you rate soya protein powder? I find it much more palatable.

I mix hemp in a green smoothie with fruits. I add kale, frozen berries, avocado, fresh juice and blend. It's very yummy and you can't notice the kale or hemp protein.

[Alychef]

Managed to get to the gym tonight...I wasn't really upto it. Ended up taking a couple of cold n flu capsules...aching and sore throat oh great!!! I only just got over a chest infection again. I think it's because I'm tired. It didn't stop me going to gym tho, I did my usual work out, just switched around a little.

 

Food has been ok today...except, I found sweets in the bottom of my work bag..and ate them!!! I did feel rather unwell and guilty.

 

I still haven't had too many calories...but it's the processed sugar I feel bad about. Oh well, no more where they came from. We live and learn!

[Marcina]

I don't use isolates. Hemp is such a superfood that I wouldn't want to rob myself of the other benefits of it. Omega 3s for example. I use raw hemp powder and it gives me so much energy.

As for soy isolate I've never tried it. Again, I'm not a fan of isolates and I have a sensitive digestive system, so the more unprocessed my food is, the better I feel.

[Alychef]

I don't use isolates. Hemp is such a superfood that I wouldn't want to rob myself of the other benefits of it. Omega 3s for example. I use raw hemp powder and it gives me so much energy.

As for soy isolate I've never tried it. Again, I'm not a fan of isolates and I have a sensitive digestive system, so the more unprocessed my food is, the better I feel.

 

 

Just out of interest which hemp powder do you use? I tried nutirivita and it was like drinking sand!

The hemp isolate I have is raw also, just not entirely sure I can stomach it.

I do obviously want the best for my body...I have plenty of omegas in my diet and take a vegan omega supplement too.

[Alychef]

Back in the loop! This damn chest infection has been really getting me down. I would n't mind but generally I'm far more healthy than any of the meat eaters I know..I take all my supplements and still I get sick. I was meant to get to the gym on Friday but wasn't well enough...then went away Saturday overnight. I took my trusty exercise band...the stretchy kind that simulates resistance like when lifting weights etc. I did some of that in the hotel room and the ususual 100 crunches split down in to 2 x 30 and 1 x 40.

 

Food was hard work as we were short of time on Saturday. I was looking for a vegan/veggie take out outlet in Manchester, only to find it had closed down! So ended up with carbs - baeked potato with baked beans and a side salad. Better than nothing I guess. No veggie spread on the potato, and some vinaigrette on the salad which I manage to leave most of behind cos it was nearly swimming in it!

 

Sunday was another carby day...we went to our usual organic cafe in Manchester, homemade soup - and bread! I only ate a small amount of bread..then a bean wrap, carbs again!

 

I was still feeling under the weather lastnight so only managed my crunches yesterday. I have my gym stuff with me to go after work today. I don't seem to be coughing this morning..so I'll see how I go.

 

I'm also back to normal with my meals, I've packed my lunch - sproute mung beans and alfalfa with salad leave, sunflower seeds and tomatoes, a reduced fat dressing and some fruit. I'll have my protein drink this morning for breakfast, with the old barley grass powder. Tonight, not sure. I think maybe some marinated tofu.

 

OK, checking out for now.

[Alychef]

Finally back to health.......I think! Yesterday I managed to a full gym workout. I got back to eating really well after my weekend of carbs, unintentional of course. I felt great this morning when I got up...the muscles have definitely been worked.

I managed to up the weights on the inner and outer thigh machines to 45kg. I don't want to up i too much or my legs might expand rather than define!!

 

The usual workout then, 3 x 12 of everything! Then I got home and 3 x 12 screw biceps with 5kg plus some tricep back kicks also with 5kg. I also did some shoulder press lifts with the 5kgs...that was extremely tough!

 

I'm getting some real shape in upper body now; abs, shoulders, bi and triceps...shoulders are looking pretty good too.

 

It's time to getsome photos.

 

Food was good, wasn't too hungry last night though.

Went like this:

 

Soy and barley grass srink in the morning

 

Tofu and sald with mixed seeds for lunch, low fat dressing and some fruit.

 

A sprouted seed protein/energy bar before the gym

 

Same as lunch for dinner plus plenty of steamed broccoli.

 

I need to try and get some variation!!

[Alychef]

Good to be back!

A combination of my computer not working, and my asthma..I've been away from my blog. I'm finally 'back in the room' so to speak and raring to go!

I have been working out quite a bit, and upping the weights little by little. I'm now doing a full 1 hour of mostly strength training, I only do a 5 minute cardio warm up.

I've added in some machine/cable work as I find this gives me more of a stable and isolated training session. I realise that I will develop better balance with free weights, but I'm only 5'2" and I get a bit worried when I'm waving 8kg around over my head!!

 

I went on the fat perventage scales the other day, which was a bit of a silly experience. Despite my increase in muscle and especially width across my lats...weight remaining stable...the machine tried telling that my fat percentage had increased and I'd gained a whole KG of fat! I went to speak to the fitness instructors who told me I shouldn't really bother with the machines as their results and measurements can be so erratic . In actual fact when I did the whole measurement of fat percentage with a tape measure around my neck, middle, wrist, fore arm and hips I came up with an approx calc of around 17% body fat. Dunno if I did it right!

 

Food, well that's been a bit allover the place, but today I had a brunch of flaked quinoa prridge, soy yoghurt, seeds and strawberries.

 

I had some fruit this afternoon and then a good salad with al kids of stuff in it and some roasted marniated tofu. Yummy!

 

Hopefully I'll be able to carry this blogging on again now.

[Alychef]

So, here I am again...back in the forum. Been away from here for a while, but that's not to say I haven't been working out. I've been exactly that..and more than before. I've also been studying for my master's degree...which I've really had enough of now and I'd much ratyher be in the gym in my spare time.

 

I've got to the point now where I don't how much of the weight on the scales is me and how much is the muscle I've developed over the last few months. There really is a marked difference and I wish I'd taken some 'before' pix to compare with.

 

I'm lifting more now too...I can do 2 x 7kg screw biceps and 2 x 5kg over the head chest press. I can lift a fair bit on some of the cable machines like 35kg on lat pull downs. I'm doing all kinds of crunches an ab workouts, usually in sets of 25 x 4. I do knee to chest and head to chest simultaneously...for extra pain!

 

Just came back from holiday in the South of France, took my resistance strap with me so I could train there too. Was still doing lunges, crunches and push ups. I got a real shock when I went to a kids playground, I went on the monkey bars as I wanted to see if I could pull myself up. Well, I couldn't quite do that, but I did manage it from the 'up' position rather than extended. So I held the bar above my head, clambered up with my feet so my arms were folded in and biceps clenched..then lowered myself slightly and managed to lift myself up 3 times!!! Man it hurt the next day!

 

Still same ole diet...quinoa, tofu, hemp protein and barley grass. Loadsa greens and few carbs and fat...high protein. I like it that way, I'm at my healthiest.

 

My behind and thighs are still needing work, but Rome wasn't built in a day!

 

It's high time I got some photos on here too

 

I just subscribed to VegNews...looking forward to getting all that thru the post.

 

I want to come over to the US and meet everyone there!!! Not many girls into body building around here. They all just think I'm at the gym to lose weight!!! I only weigh 44kgs!!!!

 

Plus, I only know 1 or 2 vegans, loadsa vegetarians. I did well on hols for food. Found a store selling tofu and soya yogz etc!!

 

Ok, so photo next. I'll see what I can do.

[Alychef]

As promised...some pics!

 

I thought I'd been doing this bodybuilding lark for about 5 or 6 months....but no, I'm mistaken. It's more like 3 months. Not long at all. I've made much more progress than I thought!

Anyway, today, I just signed up for Melissa's online personal training program. So watch this space! 12 weeks of planning, training and eating well. We'll see what the results are. I must admit it's really tricky doing self portrait pix.

[LocalBrada]

Yeah I have the hardest time with self pics too, they come out way way too blurry. Yours though is looking great...keep at it

[Alychef]

Aha....yes, they're not too bad. It took many, many goes though!

 

So is it only the photo quality that's any good? Or are the muscles any good!!??

[LocalBrada]

Bicep shorthead looks great, delt and lat striation is impressive. Also waist look very sexy That pic has me curious as to what your tat is. Did I mention your complexion and skin health is great...gotta be all those fresh veggies and fruits

 

You gotta get me a top view of your delt, though (and that tat).

[Alychef]

OMG!! It must be becuase I'm from Wales or something...what on earth is a DELT and even more so, a TAT??

 

Help me out here???

 

Plus, which bit of my bicep is the SHORTHEAD??

 

And you can see my lats?

 

Yes, my middle is prob the fav bit of my bod and that's after having a baby too!! I went flat within weeks. Now flat is not enoyugh. Me want ripped!!

[LocalBrada]

Sorry was using a bunch of shorthand.

Tat = Tattoo

Delt / Lat = Deltoid / Lateral (They are both muscle groups of the shoulders.)

 

For Lat, I actually meant trap (upper trapezius), which is part of your upper back/neck. Which I can just make out.

 

As for the "shorthead" of the bicep it's the inner top part of the arm. The stuff most men like to show off, even though IMO (in my opinion) the tricep is KING!

[LocalBrada]

Pics are probably best, than my explainations:

 

Deltoid (Anterior)

http://www.exrx.net/Graphics/DeltoidAnteriorFront.gif

Deltoid (Lateral)

http://www.exrx.net/Graphics/DeltoidLateralBack.gif

Trapezius (Upper Fibers)

http://www.exrx.net/Graphics/TrapUpperHalf.gif

2. Bicep Shorthead

http://www.exrx.net/Graphics/BicepsInside.gif

Tricep

http://www.exrx.net/Graphics/TricepsOutside.gif

[Alychef]

Wow!incredibly helpful graphics. Now I understand fully. The tat is a Mauri gheko..on the rib cage! And no it didn't hurt too bad.

 

Not sure how I'm gona get pix of my back...might have to ask someone else to do it for me.

 

Skin has vastly improved since becoming vegan and having lots of barley grass powder and vit sups.

 

There just doesn't seem to be the interest over here for a vegan lifestyle. I mean, there is some...and lots of raw foodists, which I tried for a while, but to be honest I missed my soups and tofu.

 

I just signed up to the online personal trainer program advertised atthis forum. Not heard anything yet.

 

Do you work out and work too?

[LocalBrada]

Yeah I work out and have a thread up with "some progress" sorta hiding some stuff until I get my diet fine tuned. I'm still trying to get the carbs and fats right for my goals. Here is my thread so you have an idea of what I look like http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13922

 

As for work, I saved a lot of cash awhile back and can afford to work a cruise 2 day a week job at a nationally-owned locally operated bodybuilding/vitamin store. So I getting in a week long cardio/workout routine is easy breezy.

[Alychef]

Wow, you've madesome incredible changes!!

 

I work 4 days a week and have a 2 yr old son...so makes getting to the gym a bit tricky. Plus I get tired a lot.

I want to retrain really...and go back into food/nutrition and vegan consultancy. Not much call for it though, that's the problem!

 

I'd like to have a cafe/bistro serving only vegetarian and vegan food. As well as vegan products such as jackets, belts and shoes. Maybe even some vegan specfic candy (we call it sweets).

 

I just bought myself a 'fake leather' vegan jacket. It's really cool, bomber jacket style.Really looks like leathr and it's really warm too! Just what I need in this weather.

 

Anyway, I'm turning in now, the toddler monster will be waking me up at stupid o'clock tomorrow!

 

I'll try and get a pic of my tat!

[Alychef]

Well, went to the gym tonight...after a very long day at work, so I'm knackered!

 

Did nearly all my ususal workout, but did some different new stuff too.

 

Workout:

 

Cardio warm up 5 mins level 4 on bike

3 x 10 x (2x5kg) over head shoulder press

3 x 8 x 7kg screw bicep each arm

3 x 15 x split lunch each leg with 2 x 4kg

2 x 25 crunches - head to chest and knee to chest simultaneous

Cable squats with 35kg 3 x 12 rep

back lifts on fitball - 1 x 25 rep

frame - bar lifts, 10, with aid of foot rest..shortened bicep to slow release (make sense?)

 

Not too much as got talking to the fitness guy in the gym.

Pretty good news really, he has just started a business with a frined, the friend does massage and he does the personal fitness training.

They're after someone to join them from time to time giving talks on vegan and vegetarian nutrition. I'd better get my skates on with some study to finish my nutrition consultant diploma, so I get on and do the Vegan and Vegetarian Nutrition Consultant Diploma (level 3)

This is really where I want to be....not in the charity work I'm doing now, it's draining me of my passion dayby day.

 

The trainer from the gym also asked if I would be prepared to write a testimony with a couple of pix! He said I would be a fine advertisement for a vegan female body builder, and felt it would encourage more women to get into it. Cool or what, I felt really honoured.....and buzzing!!

 

Food today:

 

40gm hemp & soya protein shake with barley grass and strawberries

half a sprouted raw food bar

roasted tofu, spinach and seed salad with pepper, celery, watercress, cucumber and tomato

other half of sprouted raw food bar

spicy lentil soup with mushroomsand soya beans

 

Lots of nice tea with soy milk. I so need to get into water!!!

[Alychef]

Damned internet, was half way writing my blog for today, which was amazing...only to lose connection half way thru. I'll do it tomorrow, bed now. Work ealry tomorrow.

Goodnight!!!

[LocalBrada]

Can't wait to read your post, but sleep/recovery is a higher priority.