hsorlando

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to the group. It is an amazing community of vegan bodybuilders, triathletes, exercise enthusiasts, nutritional gurus, etc.

Sunday was a great day for workouts as is every day! As usual I took my Step, and Body Pump classes. Step was quite interesting because of the instructor forgetting half the workout at the end. I think the left side was the lead for three times to the right only being the lead for one. Oh well as long as you're moving it doesn't matter if you feel one side was left out ha ha.

Body Pump must be getting easier, at least parts of it. The squat track was tough, but I managed to get deeper than I usually do, and not fall over in the process. And lifting it over my head at the end of the five minute track was better because I didn't bump my head as much as usual.

The chest track beat me though! Triceps were pretty brutal too. Biceps I actually felt were easier so maybe I am finally after years of trying, getting stronger guns. My glutes will never be tha same after the lunge track, it was all the bottom halves that we did. For those that have no idea what a bottom half is, its where at the bottom of your movement you only go half way up multiple times. At one time we thought there were 16 bottom halves, but luckily it was only 8. Anyway then we finished out with shoulders, abs, and stretching.

Shoulders were hard but I like the recent track because there aren't too many barbell shoulder presses, this is just a move that I am not good at. There were tons of lateral raises, and mac raises which is one arm in a front raise, and one arm in a lateral raise at the same time. Abs weren't too bad, but the end movement where you are in a plank position and then you walk you feet out and back, and then your arms is not a favorite, then I stretched.

Had a really good workout week, best one in a while. Here's a summary of everything I did this week.

Sunday- Step 55minutes, Body Pump 55minutes

Monday- spinning 45 minutes 9 very intense)

Tuesday- Step

Wednesday- run (3miles), weights 1 hour 2 sets 8-12 reps most sets

lunges, bench press, one arm rows, bicep curls, skullcrushers, shoulder raises (seated)

leg press 180lbs (too easy), pec flys, bicep hammer curls, tricep rope pushdown, lateral raises, roman chair leg lifts at various angles, stretching, the end!

Thursday-rest day

Friday- run 3 miles, weights 1 hour full body resistance machines 3 sets 8 reps, walk 1 mile

Saturday- Zumba 55 minutes

My trip to Illinois and the college campus went pretty well. I was able to eat a variety of foods, and their salad bar is pretty awesome.

Thanksgiving got off to somewhat of a rocky start. My family got our order in at Whole Foods for vegan stuffing, gravy, and pumpkin pie in time. But when my brother went to pick it up we found out someone had taken our pumpkin pie! Who steals someone elses pie on Thanksgiving? Thats just low! Well to make a long story short we had no pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, but the store manager gave us 2 free apple pies, and a gift card for our troubles. The missing pie had almost ruined our meal, and one employee kept lying over the phone to us about our order being complete. We also tried Field Roast for the first time, and I liked it more than Tofurkey. Other than that not much going on, just waiting to hear from the college. Oh last week I had jury duty for the first time, it was actually a very interesting process. My brothers girlfriend had to be at work at 6am this morning, and my brother had the only vehicle so here I am sitting at StarBucks after I walked with her at 530am. Finally getting back online after a week without using the internet, except for tweeting from my phone.

Had some decent workouts this week.

Sunday- Step, and Body Pump

Monday- spinning

Tuesday- Step

Wednesday- Run 3 miles?, weights-2 sets 8 reps

lunges w/ 20lb db

chest press- 15lb

one arm rows- 15lb

bicep curls 10lb

tricep skull crushers- 10lb db

leg press 180lbs

chest flys- 12lb db

back cable row- 40lb

bicep hammer curls 10lb

tricep pushdowns 30lb

lareal raises- 8 lb

roman chair- 30 leg raises

stretch

Not a lot of work out this week, well actually none. Have done a lot of walking when I was visiting the college campus on the bluffs of the Mississippi river in Illinois. Other than that, just walking at airports.

I was all set to do an extra class today, because I won't be able to get to the gym over the weekend. I am hoping to check out the gyms on the college campus when I'm there. At least the athletic department seems pretty good. There are a lot of weight rooms, pools, basketball court, soccer baseball, and other fields, a rock climbing wall, etc. Oh and there are also quite a few running trails. Should be an absolutely beautiful place to run along the bluffs of the Mississippi river. The only thing missing is an ice hockey rink! Maybe I will get a run in this weekend.

Still pretty busy these days. I will be in Illinois next Monday and Tuesday to check out a private liberal arts college. If I end up there I will probably have to start supporting veganessentials.com a lot because I don't think there are a lot of choices for a vegan in that area. On weekends I could possibly go to St. Louis which is about 35 miles South and check the city out for vegan food. Anyway that is one reason I am checking out the campus next week.

Then I get back, and have jury duty the next morning. So I don't know how much exercise i will get next week, which means I have to be good when it comes to food.

I have been super busy! But i am still getting in quite a few good workouts every week. So I am not slacking.

This week I have done 2 Step classes, and 2 Body Pump classes, and run once. I also walk every day!

Last week I pretty much did the same except also took a Zumba class, but I don't remember running at all.

Well he's obviously not spending enough time on VBBF!

Tuesday- Step class only due to my sore back. About halfway through class thought my back was a lot better, and today it isn't dore so I guess i worked it out in Step.

Wednesday- very short run because of stomach cramps- I really didn't feel like running, but it felt great once I hit the pavement.

Welcome!

Yeah, we keep each other on track with eating good nutritious food. But then again I also have someone to go to the vegan bakery with.

I had to get a veggie sub this past week while in st. Pete. it was quite filling shared it with my mom, but it would have been better if there was a more nutritious bread option.

This just happened to me the other day with a shirt that I love. It fits great everywhere but is extremely tight in the arm.

Welcome aboard!

Almost forgot to tell everyone my close encounters with a fire breathing dragon at Hogwarts School of Magic.

Got to Universal about 1pm, big crowds, no idea why, except that the next Harry Potter movie is out later this month. Anyway went on a mini roller coaster and got to see Hagrids house, which was cool. Then waited in line for I'd say an hour to go on the castle ride, which is basically an indoor roller coaster, but it doesn't go upside down. So we go past the talking pictures, Dumbledore, Harry and co, and get seated. Way to go, or not. half a minute into ride we stop!

And wait! And then we go again for 2 seconds and stop again!

Then the lights come on, and I hear machines shutting down, and a faint recording maybe of a womans voice explaining there is a technical difficulty. Meanwhile I am not a major fan of roller coasters, so I am not too thrilled to be sitting slightly forward in my seat looking down 40-50 feet to the floor. Oh and the only thing that is working is the fire breathing dragon puffing steams of smoke at us. One of the people I came with says my socks are getting wet! lol. I can laugh now but at the time I was just thinking of getting back to solid ground. I can't even imagine what I would have been like if this had happened on the Mummy Coaster, which is a lost faster, steeper, and more dangerous.

Tuesday 10/26 Step, and Body Pump- special guest Robert Cheeke!

Step is not Roberts forte!!!!!!

Body Pump proved harder than thought for one vegan bodybuilder, lol

I thought the class was easy, but I've taken it a lot and wasn't trying to lift too much weight!

Wednesday- 10/27- Grey Hound travel= not fun! walked to hotel carrying my heavy carryon about a mile I think felt like 5. Walked to bus stops to get to St. Ppete Times Forum which ironically is not in St. Pete its in Tampa!

Thursday- all dressed up for orchestra, but had to walk to theater because trolley sytem didn't run that early. Walking in heels for any distance wreaks havoc on my feet.

After concert got trolley to hotel- then changed shoes, and with new blisters and hurting feet walked some more with my mom to explore the area. FYI St. Pete is not very clean, and stinks!!!!!!

Friday-More walking at beach, then a bit in Downtown St. Pete before going to Grey Hound

Saturday- I don't think I did anything today!

Sunday Step and Body Pump felt great until I was doing a move in Step that hurt my back, the right side lower down this time near lats. last time it was on left side more in the rhomboid area. Got through Body Pump, but was definitely feeling it in the back by the end.

Monday- Went to Universal- lots of walking which I thought might stretch out my back. Big mistake going to universal today- see other blog.

Went to St. pete Florida last week.at Walking was pretty much the extent of my exercise and constantly too. Not much in the way of vegan food either, but my mom and I managed. We ate a lot of carbs that were vegan, like veggie subs with vegetables, and oil and vinegar, tomato pies, etc. We had a few luna bars that we ate in the morning, and the inn that we stayed at had fruit at their complimentary breakfast. The last day we found out the inn had a microwave so we bought vegan pot pies at a health food store near the Gulf coast. the beach was nice, more walking!

Awesome hockey game Wednesday night! Lightning defeated the penguins!!!! 5-3. Got some pics from my fifth row seats but they don't do the Lightning team justice. Martin St. Louis just flew down the ice every time he skated. Stamkos, Lecavalier, and the goalie Ellis were great as usual, actually there wasn't a player on the Lightning that didn't play their best. The Tampa Bay Lightning are also all very good looking guys, and I'm sure half their audience was female.

Thursday I went to see the Florida Orchestra, and the guest conductor. The Conductor was very entertaining, and worked hard. The theme was the Sorcerers Apprentice, and some of the music got quite spooky. I knew the guy conducting through my church, I met him at a church event where he conducted our hymn sing. Anyway he isn't old, he's in good shape, and nice, so why wouldn't I want to go see a cute young guy conduct an orchestra! Lol. Back to the music there was music from Psycho, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Harry Potter, some witch story, and lots of other creepy music. It was in a word spooktacular!

DOMS=My glutes hurt!!! Lunges are my enemy!

Obviously we were a bit hungry after the leg workout so we stopped at Garden cafe, and asian vegetarian/ vegan restaurant.

Robert ordered a ton of food as he should! I got won ton soup, and sweet and sour chicken w/ brown rice, all vegan of course.

I brought half of it home!

Was on my feet all day at Veg Fest! So my feet were aching by 6pm, so what does Robert decide to train, legs! Well I was not sure I would be ablet to compete with him on the leg press but I think I held my own! These are an estimated guess at the reps.

warmed up with stationary lunges, alternate lunges, lunging backwards

set 1- 90 lbs 20 reps

2- 180 lbs 15 reps

3- 270 8 reps

4-360 6 reps

5- 450 lbs 1 1/2 reps

took a break while RC continued on up to 630 lbs or so for quite a few more sets,then I joined him again at- did some lunges, squat

450 lbs for 3 reps

360 lbs 6 reps

270- 8 reps

180 12

90 15 reps

then I did more lunges, squats, leg extension, prone leg curls, etc.

I won't be able to walk tomorrow!

then

Veg Fest was today and it was awesome! Got to park at 8, helped Robert unload car, and set up. Then I helped a bit at some other areas. I walked around quite a bit, but I didn;t buy any cupcakes. My mom and I shared lunch from the Etho's tent, and Drunken Monkey. I had half a fake meatbalol sub, half a bowl of vegan mac and cheese, half a steaz, and one dessert berry tart thing.

Later on I walked around and ended up buying a vegan pumpkin icecream. It was good but not too much. I helped at the Veganbodybuilding booth, and let Robert take bathroom breaks. At six we headed to the gym to train legs! Read my other blog for the rest.

I don't have any idea where Veg Fest is in Boston, but the cheapest hotel I found was The Milner on S. Charles street. It was a boutique hotel, and was simple but nice. They had a free breakfast but not much for vegans as expected.