Chalisa

Welcome Moxie-Janis!! How awesome!! In my intro I said I wanted to look like a figure competitor. I am a new vegan also (8days). I am a personal trainer too and had bought into the animal protein, carb phobic thing. Has your energy level or performance changed since making the switch? I noticed within one week that my running has gotten faster for my 3 mile loop. I knocked 1 min. 30 sec. off my usual time without even trying. Going vegan is the only change I made. It is kind of weird. Anyway, any helpful hints to looking like a figure competitor would be greatly appreciated. Good luck with all of your competitions!! Chalisa:) P.S. You inspired me to throw my Splenda in the trash. I have to psyche myself up to cutting down on coffee, though.

We have a local sprint triathlon that is popular, in May. I think you are right, I need to sign up, pay and just do it. This was the race I wussed out on several years ago. The cycle scares me. I have heard about a lot of bike accidents from people around here. I only have a mountain bike, so......the bike will be really slow I'm sure. I know it's all in my head too! I think it is worth a try. I won't commit yet, but I will psyche myself up for it. You would think living in New Mexico I would know Spanish, but, sadly I don't. The weather is pretty nice right now. The balloon fiesta just ended, so the traffic is lighter now. Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

Have you tried running by itself with no other activites on that day? Start with 800m and then try to increase it ever so slightly? I'm sure you already know this. Unless you just hate it and can't stand to do it. I bet you could do it. When you weight train do you do sport specific exercises? That might be a way to increase your muscle strength for running. Step ups, lunges, mountain climbers are good. I'm sure your hip flexors are already strong from cycling. Sorry, I am blabbing on..... finbarrio--I think 1 month is a good goal. I already feel more mellow. Does this sound weird? It might just be an internal shift, I don't know. Anyway, I am going with it. I will keep you posted.

How awesome this is!! Hi All!! Veganpotter--I know what you mean about the running. The farthest I've run is 10 miles and I thought I was going to die. The only reason I finished is because I had to get back to my car. You get kind of numb after about 4.5mi. or so. I don't know when that runner's high kicks in. Is that only for elite runners or what? I think I am innately lazy and don't want to admit it. It is all in the motivation, I guess. A sprint would probably be perfect. Maybe an olympic distance at the most. Keep on truckin!!!

Very cool. I am very strong, but even when you have a lot of muscle, it is just more weight to carry. I have heard people say that they prepared for the swim and the run and it was the bike that killed them. Do you compete?

I have always had a triathlon in the back of my mind. The figure competetor comment was strictly superficial. My body type is more geared for anaerobic activities vs. endurance--I like to lift heavy weights. But, I would love to see if I can change that. My husband has a totally ectomorph, endurance frame and I am in awe of him. I haven't been very consistent with triathlon training. I have a family, so I don't like to prioritize training over them. I love to hang out with them. (my excuse to not try, right?Ha,Ha) I have co-workers who compete in triathlons and it sounds fun and torturingly painful at the same time. Maybe I will get inspired to try endurance sports instead! :0)

Hello everyone. Thanks for your patience and help with my introduction. I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 16 years. I dabbled with being vegan some time ago and lasted 6 months. I was training for a sprint triathlon at the time (which I never competed in). I am hoping it will stick this time. I am a personal trainer and have been trying to lose a certain amount of weight for 2 years. Despite my weight lifting and cardio, the weight has not budged. I was eating a lot of animal protein (egg whites, whey powder, etc.). Using cow's breast milk started grossing me out, so I decided to give it another try. I also read Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat To Live". Have any of you read it? Anyway, I joined this site to hopefully get some great encouragement and information/advice. I would love to look like a figure competetor after all is said and done (doubtbul), but the ethical and spiritual reasons for becoming vegan are much better. Anyway, I am happy to be here! This is so cool. Thanks, Chalisa P.S. My deepest apologies to Paul--I accidentally posted my intro on his thread at first--I didn't know how to do this. Sorry about that

Hi Paul, It is great to meet you. Thanks, Chalisa

Chalisa (newby)