veggieprincess

thanks for the hug Robert. still a rough week, but I'm plowing through. good to see a fellow Stepmill lover, pazios! How long do you go for and how many days? Harley... I'll trade you some of my cardio discipline for your diet discipline any day of the week! I'm going to be hitting it really hard with training and diet these next couple of weeks. When I say "hit is hard", that does not mean "lift heavy". In fact, since my primary goal is burning bodyfat right now, I'll only be lifting heavy on areas that are already very lean and need muscle like shoulders and triceps. "Hit it hard" to me means making sure that my diet is 100% to the letter. Everything is measured. It means I put more thought into what protein, carbs and fat are the best choices for my body (usually the most unappealing and boring ones). Means that my water intake needs to be a minimum of a gallon. It means no skipping any supplements or EVER going more than 3 hours without food. It means getting in a minimum of an hour cardio and really FOCUSING when I'm in the gym. Today I had a really different outlook while at the gym and I hope I can keep this mindset for the next couple of weeks. I had a couple of clients cancel this morning and I was GREATFUL because it meant that I could get in a good long workout when the gym was not crowded. Then I thought...wouldn't it be great if we always looked at it like that??? As having the actual time to workout as a gift. I went into the gym with so much more positive of an attitude... being truly greatful to have a large block of time to get my workout in. And tonight if I can find another block of time and I can find the energy to bring... I will consider that a gift as well. Circuits: One Leg Seated Calf Raise - 25 lbs ea leg Leg Ext 4 x 12 @ 50 lbs 4 sets walking lunge holding 5 lb weight plate above head Hyper Extensions isolating glutes only by relaxing upper back as I raise 1 hr 15 minute stepmill (all different sorts of stepping, especially focused on squeezing glutes and elongated my steps) that's it for now... hopefully I'll get in a small circuit of upper body tonight and 30 more minutes of cardio if time permits.

a) shouldn't this be in the random things thread?? b) dried apricots are absolutely loaded with Vitamin A. You could be low on it and your body is trying to take in all it can

what you said is correct, but I need to do cardio activity.It makes me feel too good for me to give it up. I was looking for a compromise, if there is one I wasn't suggesting you shouldn't do cardio. I was suggesting you try your trainers advice of doing LOW intensity cardio for awhile at the 60 - 70% THR as he suggested instead of running.

Wow... I actually agree with every single word you said here 150% Love the "sauce"....don't think its good for me.... think it's a vice...think it hurts my health and workouts more than helps me by far. Couldn't agree more.

Francesca... just a final word. you said that your Trainer in your gym suggested low intensity cardio ONLY. you said that you had only done running (high intensity cardio) in the past.... My suggestion is that you try his/her method for awhile and see if you get some better results. This thread is inundated with people giving examples of how people have built muscle in spite of running.... Yes, yes, yes... you can build muscle if you run.... but one of the most effective ways to PRESERVE THE MUSCLE YOU HAVE is to keep the intensity low. There is a saying, "do what you've always done... get what you've always got". All I know is at one time I was jogging 2 hours a day, and the minute my trainer demanded I stop running is when I got the sculpted, chiseled, cut look I was shooting for. So yes... you can build muscle and still run... but you may want to try out his suggestion, stop running for awhile and see if you can add those 6 pounds of muscle you are trying to acheive FASTER.

yes, I have tried that type of diet. My additional suggestion would be to vary the protein powders for your proteins. Add in Hemp (subtract the fat from that meal when using Hemp). There are others such as Artichoke Protein and Buckwheat Protein, but they may have some Soy Protein in their mix and you said your allergic, but maybe you'd do okay if its in a blend?? I dunno how allergic you are. Also, are you adding a carb refeed? Try a carb refeed every 20th meal as well

I joined the vegan meet-up in O.C.but have never attended. They always seem to meet on Saturday and I'm not there. Best Vegan restaurants in OC are Native Foods, Veggie Grill and 118 Degrees.... you should check those out one day if you haven't already ********************** Just a 50 minute fast walk with my clients and some abs Wanted to get more cardio and weights in, but it was a really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really stressful day...... Tomorrow will be better, hopefully

cardio is fine, and necessary to burn the fat. But RUNNING is often too high intensity of an activity to build or keep alot of lean muscle mass, in my opinion and that of my trainers.

A toasted everything bagel with French Onion Tofutti cream cheese, thinly sliced tomato and paper thin sliced red onion topped with salt and pepper. (I just heavily salivated writing that) Although my diet won't allow for this, I make it for my daughter.... and some days, I think you can catch an actual tear coming from my eye, as I enviously watch her eat it.

Why thank you.... I hear ya... I also have experimented the past couple months with different training and different diets and gained lots of fat as a result of it..... but I"m back to the old tried and true! As far as the diet being less fun... girl, I remember your food logs, and you made the plan way funner and more lenient than I could have ever gotten away with and you still lose fat on it, which is actually very unfair!!! (i.e. veggie burgers and cliff builder bars everyday if I recall.... I wish I could get away with that... although Seitan burritos have become my best friend but only once a day for me! Then lots and lots of Gemma! I'm going through a phase where I can't even look at Hemp protein though. Everyday I open my cupboard and see two new containers sitting there and go... "maybe next meal"... "maybe the next meal"... They've been unopened for a month and a half. ha, ha.

Great job DV! A big WAY TO GO for those of us who work out on Sundays!!! We all deserve a pat on the back for that! I have resolved to cut out all wine until I'm 5 lbs out from my goal... life just isn't as fun anymore... Oh, how I miss my wine. Drink a glass for me!

aaaw... thanks Jimi! I'm just tryin to put one foot in front of the other and get the fat off, just like everyone here Robert... sure! if we have time and if we're not too tired. Money is really tight for me right now so I'm really trying to budget myself very carefully for the trip. I found a hotel but its 25 minutes from Golden Gate Park, but they said I could take the subway (or whatever they call that in San Fran). It's only $60 and it got decent reviews so I might jump on it... we'll see. I have 2 or 3 clients that owe me money so keep your fingers crossed. I'll go no matter what... its just a matter if I go totally economy style or upgrade slightly Incline Press 4 x 12 @ 17.5#, 17.5#, 20# 20# 1 Arm DB Row 4 x 12 @ 25# Crunches on Ball 4 sets 90 seconds Close Grip Pulldown 4 x 12 @75# Lat Raists 4 x 12# (at an unbelievably low weight... I've been having shoulder pain and its crazy how weak my shoulder has gotten because of it. I gotta build 'em back up) 4 sets Reverse Crunches @ 90 seconds 1 hour Stepmill with several 1 minute intervals at high intensity skipping a step. Goin to have a picnic with my daughter. Improvement: I realized one of the things I"ve been doing is not finishing my Xtend during my workouts and I feel it has really compromised my progress. I'm back to drinking the full 4 scoops everytime I workout no matter what and I think I'll see results quicker. Also water increase has improved. I was slacking on water and yesterday I drank a gallon and will again today. Feeling on track!

Re: is running incompatible with trying to gain muscles?? In my opinion...yes.

Happy Birthday! Have a great one!

bump for response to similar thread...

a thread was already done on this pretty recently... viewtopic.php?f=19&t=13365&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=weak+in+knees

Wow, I read this whole thread, and it's a sign that this board has changed significantly in the acceptance department... FOR THE BETTER IN MY OPINION!!! Seems that we have a much more tolerant tone overall when it comes to this issue than we did a year ago, and I really think that's the direction we should be heading as Vegans if we want more people to come aboard and so we can do an even better job of helping the animals and planet. Me likey!

Have you tried taking Probiotics? I experienced digestive problems for the first time ever last month and the probiotics seem to help me

I really believe that you should always have 1 full day of rest, no weights, no cardio. Muscles do there actually growing for us during the rest phase.

Chest Press 4 x 12 40#, 40#, 40#, 50# Bent Over Barbell Row 50#, 50#, 50#, 50# (I coulda lifted heaviers. Was in a hurry and didn't want to go get the 60# barbell) Crunches 4 sets @ 90 seconds each 20 minute Stepmill, higher intensity, skipping a step at 1 minute interval. Will do more later.

now that my daughter is back in school, it is much easier to find time to train. Getting in a long cardio is something I'm still not crazy about, but I've found an awesome way around it, like yesterday. Several of my clients are struggling to get their cardio sessions in, so I tell them we're going to move through training quickly so I have "them" walk 20 minutes and "support them" in reaching their cardio goals... when I'm kinda doin it for me too! hee, hee... win, win situation. I managed a 1 hour walk at a very very fast pace between 3 clients and then was able to breeze through an intense 30 minutes on the Stepmill later without feeling guilty that I didn't do a whole hour. I'm going to do this as much as possible. Today I'm going to hit weights hard. So far this week, I'm behind and have to catch up. Day before yesterday it did DB Skull Crushers 4 x 12 @15 lbs DB Bicep Curl 4 x 12 @ 12 lbs DB Upright Row - 4 x12 @ 15 lbs Gotta catch up... I may do upper body abs this morning and legs this evening but we'll see. I have extra time today... Eating has been on track. Lost about 4 lbs and I feel great!

a week is not enough time to form a habit. For some reason some (and I'm not saying you... but some people), seem to have it some where in there mind that it should be easy to get back into fitness. It is DAMN hard and not fun and very challenging... until it becomes a habit, and then its not so hard to force yourself anymore. I realize you might have something going on medically that they haven't figured out yet, but make a decision to take control over what you CAN have control over.... You have the control to decide to put on your shoes and go for a walk every day or five days a week. You can also make better food choices. Sure there are lots of things you can't eat, but make the best decisions of the things you CAN stomach and keep down. Start with light exercises to get into a strength routine such as knee pushups, crunches and some forward lunges. Do a set of 10 to 15 for 3 sets to start building some strength. You don't need weights for that. Resolve to walk 20 minutes 5 days a week and do a circuit similar to the one I mentioned 3 days a week. Then build up from there. I also agreed with the person that said "getting mad" works for him. That actually works for me to. When I get in a funk with cheating on my diet and lack of exercise, I just keep repeating that these things do not get to control me, I get to control them, and I am better than that. It works for me to get mad, so find what motivates you. But continuing to do nothing, binge and stay in a place of feeling bad about yourself and your situation doesen't serve you well. "Act as if" and put one foot in front of the other and let it be hard until it gets a little easier...

Yes, how are you settling in to your new state? How are your kids adjusting to a new school?

hmmm.... although you make some good points VeganEssentials, I do believe that people change. Perhaps she has made some mistakes but then gets back on the Vegan wagon again? I think people always deserve a 2nd, 3rd or 4th chance... I like her "Girl On The Loose" show and how committed she is (or at least seems to be) to her animal rights causes. Even if she is the occasional hypocrate, I still think she turns alot of young girls onto the lifestyle by publicly promoting Veganism, PETA and animal rights, and that maybe she's trying to walk the walk, but occasionally falls short...

very excited about this!!!