Glasvegan

Moved around a lot... ugh, I think I've been in and out of nearly 30 countries in the last year or two. It all birthed the vegan travel website www.plantpowerednomad.com which is now taking more of a backseat. Dog pictures will be posted for sure! And hopefully acro/aerial/pole/general getting back on track pictures.

Oh hey! How've you been? I was thinking about posting again in here the other day. Life continued dramatic - shortly after my last post I disappeared off to Spain and then wandered around Europe for a while, disrupting diet/exercise, and then I became stuck in Italy for a month where I gained quite a bit of weight and continued getting unfit. As of mid-May, I've moved to Saint Petersburg in Russia and I have a new job here. I've started aerial silks and pole fitness classes, and I love them! Especially the silks. In July I'm starting work at a uni that will get me a discount gym membership, so I can (FINALLY!) get back to lifting. Will probably do 5x5 because of time constraints. I moved into a permanent place a few weeks ago and although sanctions make eating well here quite hard, I'm finding my way and getting back into eating clean. I'm even thinking of adopting a dog to take for runs. After the two year pause/backtrack/weird segway, things are looking up

Starting this thing up again to meal log/track my exercise road to recovery as I just thought of it again and remembered how much it helped, back in the day. Brief life summary since I last logged anything: was doing really well fitness wise until a break up April 2014. Moved to Taiwan and worked pretty much 24/7. Only did Yoga. Got more flexible and lost muscle. Trained as a Yoga teacher in Thailand September 2015. Travelled through Asia as a vegan travel blogger (www.plantpowerednomad.com) until I came off a motorbike in Cambodia (end of November 2015). Lost more of my strength and fitness. Came back to Europe. My ankle and knee are still quite banged up, but they work and have stopped bleeding etc. Today I did my first full Yoga class. Back on the road to recovery. I want my muscles back. I want to lose the weight I've gained back over the past nearly 2 years (have gone from 130lbs at my lightest to currently around 150lbs, will weigh myself properly tomorrow and take pics). I'm still nomadic so finding gyms is hard, so will mainly be focusing on bodyweight exercising and lifting when I can. And Yoga. Current macro split (started Sunday) - 1,474 calories 129 carbs 57 fat 111 protein 2,300 salt 45 sugar. Worked out with IIFYM and using MyFitnessPal.

Shoulder and back day Weigh in: 133lbs Cardio 15 mins 170kcals Shoulder and back day. Shoulder press 7.5kgx12x12 9kgx7x6 7.5kgx7 Lat pulldown 33kgx10 40kgx10x8x8 33kgx10 Sumo kettlebell high pulls 16kgx12x12x12 Machine rows 30kgx10x8x8 Alternating dumbbell raises 4kgx12x12x12 Reverse butterfly 17.5kgx12 20kgx10x10x10 Assisted pull ups 25kgx8x5x4 Machine shoulder press 15kgx10x10x7 Rather tired at the end of that... eating reliably over 1500kcals a day and have the energy to show for it, I'm still not eating the amount I should be but I can never eat as much when I'm stressed so I can't beat myself up too much for it I guess.

Successful leg day. Actually felt I could have done more but didn't want to push it considering I haven't moved off the couch all week from under a giant pile of books and papers. Cardio - 10 mins/125kcals Squats 20kgx10 30kgx12 35kg10x10 Leg extensions 35kgx10x10 40kgx10x8 Leg curls 35kgx10x10x8 40kgx5 Leg press 35kgx10 45kgx10 55kgx10 55kgx10 WAY better than last week.

The articles are pulled up and I'll have a read through when I next need a study break, thanks! It looks interesting. Although at the moment the problem's not so much time as being physically incapable. I'm getting really bad anxiety problems at the moment which are giving me severe headaches, stomach cramps and fatigue - not the best to work out with! Only a few more weeks to go anyway.

Finally better enough to go back to the gym. 4 days of not eating left me very weak. Thursday - legs Cardio 15mins 180kcals Squats 20kgx8 30kgx10x10x10 Leg extensions 35kgx10x8x7 Leg curls 25kgx10x10x10 Leg press 35kgx10x10 Friday - back and shoulders. Didn't get to the gym till late and was so so tired. Cardio 15mins 180kcals Dumbbell shoulder press 7.5kgx10 9kgx8x5x5x5 Lat pulldown 33kgx10 40kgx10x6x5 33kgx10 Alternating lat raises 5kgx12x6 4kg x12 Machine rows 30kgx10x10x8 Rear delt fly 17.5x12x12x12 Exams, dissertation and essay approaching mean I haven't high hopes for between now and Christmas. I might cut down to 4 days a week... realistically I haven't managed more than that in a while anyway. I'm still seeing progress, but it's very slow.

Saturday the 9th Cardio 120 kcals 10 mins Db chest press 10kgx12 12.5kgx6x8 10kgx5 Incline chest press 10kgx7x10x8 Chest press machine 25kgx10x7 22.5kgx6 Fly machine 25kgx12x12 30kgx7x7 Monday the 11th Cardio 20 mins 260 kcals New machine level 20 4 mins 50 calories owwww Squats 20kgx10 30kgx10x8x8 Leg extensions 35kgx10x10x10 Leg curls 25kgx10x10x10 Leg press machine 35kgx10x10x10 Tuesday the 12th Cardio 10 mins 130kcals Shoulder press 9kgx10x7x5x6 Lat pulldown 33kgx10 40kgx10x8x7 33kgx10 sumo kettlebell high pulls 16kgx12x12x12 Machine rows 30kgx10x8x8 Alternating dumbbell raises 5kgx12x8x6 Rear delt machine 20kgx10 17.5kgx12x12x12 Incline dumbbell rows 10kgx10x10x8 Pullups 25kgx8x5x5 Ab machine 35kgx12 30kgx16 Wednesday the 13th Chest press 10kgx12x15x15 Incline chest press 10kgx10x10x8 Machine cp 25kgx7 22.5kgx5 20kgx6 Fly 30kgx9x8x8 Thursday - rest day Friday, Saturday... really ill with a mystery virus which very rarely happens. I doubt I'll be up to the gym tomorrow either which means only 3 days managed this week and last week. Not happy. Housebound. Bored.

Weight 136lbs, body fat 19% Shoulder and back day Cardio 8 mins 100kcals Shoulder press 7.5kgx10 9kg x6x8x4 7.5kgx5 Lat pulldown 33kgx12 40kgx8x7x6 Incline dumbbell rear delt fly 3kgx12x12x12x Incline dumbbell rows 8kgx9x8x8 (go heavier, can't increase reps as I slip down the bench...) Alternating dumbbell raises 4kgx12x12x12 Machine rows 25kgx12 30kgx8 27.5kgx8x8 Machine shoulder press 15kgx10x9x6 Assisted pull ups 25kgx8x5x4

I managed an awesome week last week - but then my phone went and deleted the workouts before I got a chance to write them up. From what I can remember: Monday: cardio 30 mins Tuesday: Back and Biceps Wednesday: rest Thursday: Chest Friday: Back and Shoulders... then before I did arms all hell broke loose with deadlines and I resurficed from an exhausted post-deadline/winter blues flump today. I've been completely knackered and lacking in energy and motivation to get off the couch, let alone get to the gym. November in Glasgow is tough. So, today: Cardio 10 mins, Squats 20kgx12 32.5kgx10x7x7 Leg Curls 25kgx11 20kgx11x7x7 Leg Extensions 25kgx8 35kgx8x8 Leg Press 45kgx10 35kgx10 Abs routine 15 mins Gave up, my body was still knackered but I'm feeling so much better and back in the swing of things. And my body's getting used to eating a lot, my stomach's finally calmed down and started accepting that more food's becoming a regular thing. My cupboards not so much... they seem to be becoming bare a lot faster.

Feeling the energy benefits of double calories, had a really good weights session today and (even though it's now 3am, and I'm never up at 3am) I also got my dissertation pretty much finished. Logging then straight to bed. Legs - Squat rack: 20kgx10 30kgx10x10x10 much more stable, I'll go up in weight next week. Leg extensions: 25kgx15x12x12 Leg Press: 35kgx12 45x12 55kgx12 65kgx12 Leg Curls: 25kgx12x12x12 And because I failed so dismally the other day, I went back and chest pressed so... Dumbbell chest press (weights individual arms, so double total): 10kgx12, 12.5kgx10x10x7 (whoop!) Got a little over-excited about mashed potatoes so I'm a little too high on carbs and low on protein, but I still sort of got my macros, and I hit my calorie count. Goal: Kcals 2,200 Carbs 303 Fat 49 Protein 138 Total: Kcals 2,195 Carbs 336 Fat 50 Protein 101 Now to bed before I crash out on my keyboard.

Hahaha, definitely white eyes, red's too vampire. In my opinion anyway

Stayed home to write my dissertation today rather than going to the gym. Very rough first draft done. Managed to hit my macros goal that I worked out last night. I'm absolutely stuffed, but hopefully it will be worth it. I have a horrible feeling that not eating enough is the reason why my cold's not been getting better very fast. I feel like I've been eating all day, and realising again how little I've always eaten. Goal Total Kcals 2,200 2,134 Carbs 303 332 Fat 49 41 Protein 138 125 Hopefully I'll have better energy for the gym tomorrow and be able to do a good leg day, and still have the energy to give the flat a full clean in post 1st draft celebration... woo? Back to work now. Dissertation calls.

Chest Dumbbell Chest Press: 10kgx12x12x12 Fly machine: 25kgx12 27.5kgx11x8 Machine chest press: 20kgx9x10x8 Cardio: 15 mins, 180kcals. Guilty confession I'm kicking myself for, because I'm usually more careful. I've been feeling that my energy has slowed for lifts, especially in the evenings, and after a fairly abysmal workout tonight have thought a bit about my diet and realised how many meals I've been skipping because of uni and dissertation etc. I've been working on about 1000-1200 calories a day, most at the evening meal, which is really poor. I've used IIFYM to workout what I should be running on, and a lot of advice on the Facebook VBB group, so will actually track my diet here for a while for accountability. Spot the female with a previous eating disorder... sigh. I thought I was long past all that.

I never do shrugs either, so I really have no idea - as far as I'm aware I do nothing to target them directly, but they've definitely got better... it's lower back I struggle to work. I paired back and shoulder day up together just so I'd get shoulders done, even though doing them together is bad, apparently. Takes ages too, but at least it makes an enjoyable workout.

My tattoo's vegan ink, done by a vegan. I heard something horrible about non-vegan inks being made from roasted animal bones but hope that's just exaggeration. If you ask some studios just use vegan ink, others will get them in for you, and some refuse altogether. All transfer paper used has lanolin in it though, so unless the tattoo's done freehand, it can never be properly vegan

Thanks the body part I'm proudest of, and funnily enough my favourite to work out, I see results with my back so fast

Ok... progress photos. I can see quite a big difference when I compare to the last photos (third page). There's still a long way to go, but I'm beginning to be really happy. I'm mainly just relieved I can see progress! Back photos are a pain to take myself... and the cat got in one of the shots.

Thanks good to be back, rather than storing endless notes as draft texts on my phone. And back to the motivation

Wednesday - legs Elliptical 15mins 200kcals Squats 20x12 30x10x10x10 Leg extensions 15kgx15 17.5x15 20kgx15 22.5x15 25kgx15 35kgx10 Leg press 30kgx11 25kgx20x15 Abs 30kgx20 35kgx15x14 Legs completely gave out and decided it was better not to continue. Thursday - back and shoulders Cardio 130kcal 11mins Machine shoulder press 15kgx12x10x9 Lat pulldown 26kgx12 33kgx12 x12 40kgx6 Lat raise 4kgx15x12x10 Machine rows 25kgx12 30kgx12x8 The kettlebell one 12kgx12 16kgx8x8 Rear delt reverse fly 20kgx8 15kgx12x12 Front raise 4kgx12x12x10 Bent over dumbbell rows 10kgx12x10x10 Dumbbell shoulder press 7.5kg x9x8x6 Assisted Pull ups 35kgx10 25kgx5x5 Ab machine 30kgx15 35kgx8

Annnd I'm back. I felt weird about posting on here for quite a while after my ex let slip he'd been using this journal to keep tabs on me after I cut contact when we broke up. So, updates: still training, been back in the gym for 5 weeks, managing 4-5 training sessions almost every week despite a massive workload and at the moment a horrible cold, which has cut it down to 4 weight trainings and very little cardio. Also I've redone my split and jigged my workout about a little, the one at the moment's working very well and I'm seeing pretty fast improvements in the amount I can lift... now if only I can get rid of my cold. So... I've been keeping track of all my workouts but I'll just write up the most recent ones. I've recently gone up quite a bit in the amount of weight I can lift, although it's still nowhere near decent in my opinion. Squatted in the squat rack for the first time (so addictive...) and managed 30kg, then have been knocked out of the gym for the past 3 days due to this cold still not shifting. Had no strength gains over the summer, and hitchhiked round Central Europe for the three weeks before getting back to the UK (perfectly possible as a vegan it turns out, I never went hungry) so lost any muscle I had gained. Also keeping track of my diet now, as my (very omni) boyfriend's pretty much moved in and after 4 weeks on the same high protein vegan diet as me has announced he's really enjoying the diet and is feeling great success! On with the plan... all of these days also include 5-20mins of cardio, but I for some reason haven't been keeping track. Tuesday 15th Leg day (I finally have a regular leg day) Leg Press: 20kgx20 35kgx20 40kgx20 45kgx20 50kgx20 55kgx20 60kgx20 65kgx12 Leg extensions: 15kgx15 17.5kgx15 20kgx15 22.5kgx15 25kgx15 30kgx12 20kgx15 Squat rack: 20kgx10 30kgx10x7 Leg Curls: 20kgx15 15kgx15 20kgx12 20kgx14 (not sure what was going on there) Wednesday 16th Back and Shoulders Dumbbell Shoulder Press: 5kgx15 7.5kgx9x9x7 Bent Over Dumbbell Rows: 10kgx15x15x10 Side Lateral Raises: 4kgx15x9x6 Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown: 26kgx15 33kgx12 40kgx5 Dumbbell straight arm raise overhead: 3kgx15x9x9 Rear delt machine rows: 25kgx10x10x10 Assisted pull ups: 35kgx10x8x7 Ab machine: 25kgx18x13 Thursday 17th Chest Dumbbell Chest Press: 5kgx12 7.5kgx15 10kgx12x12 5kgx4 Fly machine: 25kgx15 27.5kgx10x9 25kgx7 Machine chest press: 20kgx9x10x8 Incline chest press: 5kgx10 7.5kgx12 7.5kgx10 Friday 18th Arms Hammer curls: (same time) 7kgx15 8kgx10 (Alternating) x20 Tricep pushdowns 6kgx12x9x5... 6kgx15 9.5kgx15 x15 13kgx5 6kgx15 Bicep dumbbell: (simultaneous) 8kgx10 8kgx6 7kgx11 Dumbbell lying Tricep overhead press: 5kgx11x5 then failure Conc curls: 6kgx15 7.5kgx8x8 Tricep press: 30kgx15 35kgx12x12 40kgx8 Bicep machine: 15kgx15 20kgx5 17.5kgx10 Dumbbell kickbacks: 7.5kgx15x10x10 Ab machine: 25kgx20 35kgx12x10 Saturday 19th Rest day Sunday 20th Ill Monday 21st Ill Tuesday 22nd Ill Going to attempt to get in a leg day today, if my cold lets me. My workload for final year is so heavy at the moment that I do reading on the machines... convenient but I feel like a loony. I'll try and get progress photos up at some point towards the end of next week.

Wednesday 14th: cycled 22kms and did 2 hours of acroyoga Thursday 15th: tried to go to the gym in the evening, did back and biceps but I made the mistake of going at 6pm when the gym was full, couldn't get near a bench. In the end gave up after just machine rows, lat pulldowns and reverse fly. And I've lost the stats for them. Left, went home, made a spinach and sweet potato dal with flatbread. It's an old favourite. Friday: cycled 12kms. Really didn't feel like doing anything. Had a bit of a mood plummet since my birthday. Dragged myself out to acroyoga in the park, but didn't do much. Saturday: cycled um... 30kms total, but then part of that was a 12km cycle to and from the wonderful vegan pizza place here. I went semi healthy and ordered the hemp pizza with hemp seeds all over it. Strange concept but it was excellent Sunday: Wussed out of the 22km bike ride to acro because of the rain. Took the ubahn. 3 hours of acroyoga and acrobatics. I think my body's getting used to it though, because I'm fine today and always wonder if I did enough. Total cycled for week of the 12th: 96kms. I thought I hadn't done as much this week, but it seems I've still managed a fair bit. Mood hasn't been great since my birthday. The end of the summer's now coming so fast and I don't feel I've done anywhere near enough, but I'll be straight into final year of uni when I get back to Glasgow. Sort of ready to go back. I miss the cat, and my friends, and my gym there. Monday the 19th: Because I'm getting to the gym so irregularly at the moment (and leaving Berlin in 9 days and again won't have a gym for 2 1/2 weeks) I've decided to swap my routine up into 3 full body days a week of machine lifting, partly because I feel I'm getting uneven, partly to avoid the weight benches and the staring as I know I'll be back to Glasgow soon enough. I'm looking to start up parkour there as a replacement for acroyoga, to keep building endurance strength and flexibility. Machine rows: 20kgx10 25kgx12x10x8 Chest press machine: 20kg x12x12x12 Fly machine: 20kg x12x9x7 Rear delt machine: 15kg x12x10x8 Lat pulldown machine: 20kgx12 25kgx12x10 Tricep machine: 35kgx12 40kgx12 45kgx10 Abduction machine out: 35kgx12x12x12 Abduction machine in: 25kgx12 30kgx12 35kgx12 Leg Press: 55kg x12x12x12 Sleepy, but bouncing up to having energy again and starting to feel quicker. 9 days left. Yikes.

Thanks think I'm just back to normal after it... I never normally eat cake and sweet things :/

Wow, this is a really thorough journal you've started, how long does it take you to work out all the food stats? I'll be very interested to follow along with your progress, I love all the pictures and detail, and those quinoa stuffed cabbage rolls look great. Good luck!

Where did I get to... Monday: cycled 16kms. Was going to go to the gym in the evening but stuck in a cafe on the wrong part of the city till late waiting for the rain to go off so I could cycle home. Tuesday: My birthday... obvious side affects being I cooked a lot of cookies, and a friend made a cake... and I had a few drinks for the first time in a month. Exercise wise, I did fitness blender's 1000 calorie HIIT workout as I didn't particularly feel like the gym and wanted a total body workout to get my abs and legs. And cycled 16kms. Now there's a lot of cake sitting around me in tubs. At least it's vegan so sort of healthy? Ahem. Off to the gym to try and wake up, didn't go to sleep till 4. A new age, a new start...