Mike Bundrant

I understand food combining makes digestion more efficient and therefore increases energy...but I would say that caloric intake has a more direct impact on weight. Taking in more calories than you expend = gaining weight. So I would focus on eating more than you expend as the primary factor.

Just my .02...

This is great stuff...it really is. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you all for your support and thoughtful words.

I suck at pull ups, too. I haven't even tried to do them in years! When I was in the best shape of my life...which is only "average" shape...I could only do like 5. So, doing 500 is in outer space for me....maybe 500 over the rest of my life...

I also suck at dips...same as pull ups.

Welcome welcome. How old are your kids? I have 6...ages 14, 13, 11, 7, 5 and 5! 5 girls, 1 boy..the 13 y/o.

200 sit ups

200 deep knee bends (sub for push ups)

good night!

Hemet is a couple hours east of LA...and south a bit off the 10 freeway.

Thanks for the welcome, Kollision....did you typo the numbers in your post...? So you changed to Vegan overnight? Care to elaborate...? I am slowly but surely changing. Animal products are at an all-time low for me...not just because they hamper my digestion...but I am also developing more compassion for animals as I read this board and information on animal treatment from other sources. I am beginning to feel a deep sadness at how they are treated and am considering them as intelligent creatures with capacity for joy.

Have you ever ignored, criticised or mistreated in some way another person...and then somehow they became "real" to you....and you realized the impact of your behavior on this other person that has wants, needs and feelings just like you? I feel pained when this happens...especially with my children...suddenly I will realize, for example, that my son David is a 12 year old kid that just wants to play catch with me, just like I always wanted so badly to play catch with my dad..and I will feel pained for treating him like he is a burden of some sort.

Anyway - animals are becoming real to me too. I am realizing that I have contributed to the mistreatment of intelligent, vulnerable creatures. It's not that I have done this with full consciousness...that is the point...I've been ignoring this fact for a long time....

I wasn't planning on waxing philosophical...but there yo have it.

Thanks to all.

Wow...that's impressive, Robert.

Tonight (I'm on Tokyo time right now) going for 200 sit ups...but I need to rest from push ups as I have a knot in my left pec...I need to get it worked out...muscle knot from chronic shoulder issues...bummer.

I'm in...

115 sit ups...this included 30 leg lifts

100 push ups in sets of 10

Thanks...this is more than I would have done without the 100/100 club!

I just think it is important to take our commitment to this lifestyle and to kindness to animals seriously. If we vegans cannot do so, then how can we expect anybody else to do so?

When we eat meat occasionally at such and such social gathering, then we send the message that it is - on some social level and for frivolous reasons - acceptable to kill and eat animals.

okay i'm done.

Well said. Thank you.

 

I eat meat every once in a while socially - at a BBQ with friends for example.

 

I know, I know.

Hey Mike, if you are afraid of being vegan, maybe you can try doing it for just one day and see how it affects you? IE you will probably notice no effects at all, and see that there is nothing to be afraid of.

good idea. really good. I think I will just begin a day at a time. Thanks.

Mike it is great to have you on this site. Paul Bragg is certainly an amazing man and has published some great books. Have you read Miracle of Fasting?

 

Yeah, that was the first book of his that I read...I love his old-school style and amazing stories. I understand he died at the age of 94 in a body-surfing accident....

Hi Mike,

 

YOu keep saying you are hesitant about going "fully" vegan. May I ask why? What are your currently eating that is non-vegan. and why are you hesitant on refraining from eating it?

 

I eat meat every once in a while socially - at a BBQ with friends for example. I haven't committed to just bringing a veggie burger or something...I also love cottage cheese.

 

As far as the "why" goes, I am glad you asked....I'm just scared to make the committment when it comes right down to it...that is the honest truth. But I believe it is the way to go...I've been studying alot over the last couple of days about my religion - where I turn so often in times of transiton - and there is no doubt in my mind that vegan is the correct way for me - am I a coward or what??

Going vegan is like getting into a hot bath. If you just put your foot in, then it feels too warm, but once you get in, it's actually very nice. Of course you have to realise that this is a metaphor, because you can't really put your foot into veganism. Also veganism isn't 'hot' or 'cold'.

After reading your post I went and actually took a nice, hot bath. It was very nice and relaxing. In Japan where I'm at right now they have these really deep bathtubs.....I'm still a little hesistant about becoming totally vegan, though....so I'm still not sure what you mean.

Hi Mike!

 

I am SO SORRY about your father and his suffering. I HATE seeing sufering. period. May you find comfort in the happier memories and in the thought that he isnt suffering anymore.

 

 

Your reasons for wanting to go vegan are right on....I commend you for having the insight to realize all that you have realized, and we are here to help you achieve both your vegan and your fitness goals.

 

Welcome!

P.S. Lots of people from here live close to you I think!

 

BUt not me

Witnessing someone else's suffering first hand is such a powerful experience. In this case - and I don't mean to sound twisted here - I will always be grateful that I witnessed his suffering (given that he was going to suffer no matter what) because it taught me more than any words could ever have.

At this point I am making a real connection betwen my daily choices and the status of my long term health.

I'm still a little hesistant about going totally Vegan....I think I just need to keep easing into it.

Welcome. As it turns out, I live in Redlands, CA. Not so far from you at all. Coincidentally, I'm an aspiring writer working on an BA in English. I'd love to check out a copy of your paper.

 

Regards,

 

Jason

Hey Jason, thanks for the welcome....send me an email with your mailing address and I will have a copy of Healthy Times sent to you. My email is [email protected].

-Mike

Robert - Stand up in Portland, huh? It takes guts to get up there at all. I used to live in Forest Grove...about 25 miles west of Portland....great place - beautiful.

I'm actually in Tokyo right now...I work teaching psychology over here for 6 weeks every year...we're 16 hours ahead of you so it is 5 p.m. here now.

Anyway - thanks for the reply and I look forward to hearing more feedback.

Mike

yea they just slide about in my mouth. So if I grind them up into powder, should I do that just before eating them, or can I grind them, and store them like that? That way I can do the grinding in bulk and it's easier. But if that destroys their nutrish (nutritional) value, then I will do it each time I eat them instead

From what I understand they lost their nutrish slowly but surely after being ground...I grind a week's supply at a time and store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Ideally I would grind daily but I'll risk it to save the hassle.

My .02....thanks.

Hello all - what a great site this is...I didn't expect to find something this cool when I did a search on vegan body building...

My name is Mike Bundrant. I live in Hemet, CA (southern). For work I publish a community newspaper called Healthy Times...a local health and wellness journal....I'm trying to promote an integrated approach to wellness and bring local health practitioners and businesses together...its a fun little business.

Anyway - I started to get serious about my health when my father passed away due to complications from his diabetes....his last 6 months were awful. I've never personally witnessed someone suffer so much....he lost his toes, then his foot, then both legs...then he withered away and died from the infection that started in the ulcers on his feet. I witnessed the whole thing first hand.

My dad was someone who could always "pull a rabbit out of a hat" so to speak and make things work out...but not in the end....when his disease decided to take him...that was it. Its no joke. Tragic thing is that I believe it was all preventable if he had lived a healthy lifestyle - he knew this as well. Funny how knowing something intellectually is rarely enough.

At the time of his death in November I was 260 pounds (I'm 6' tall). Now I'm at 230....feels great and I have a ways to go. I've studied health starting with books by Paul Bragg - for 15 years...I've just been a little short on applying what I know. But now things are different.

I've been married to my wife, Sylvia for 16 years - we have 6 kids (we're LDS) and we're just living life to the extreme - lots to do....tons going on!

My goal is to become leaner and more energetic...and feel more mentally clear. About being a Vegan - I am not one...yet...but leaning heavily in that direction. I feel like I need to be...because I believe it pleases God and it would be really good for me too....I think it would help with the burnout I experience and give me a greater zest for life...and as far as animals go....I think I have a responsibility not to eat them if I don't have to....if there were no crops available and I had to go hunt in the forest for food, I would....but there is an abundance of plant life available!

More specifically on the goal - I want to get my body fat percentage down from the current 23% to around .....say 10%...? I'm not sure about this one. What should it be? Basically I want to be lean but I won't be competing as a body builder...I am more interested in optimal health, energy and longevity...so what % should I shoot for? I know it is lower than where I'm at...I'm guessing between 10 and 15%.

I exercise 5 times per week. Cardio (intense) for 40 minutes every day and resistnace training (light) 3 days per week.

That's where I'm at...sorry if this post is a bit long. I'd appreciate any feedback on my goals or other comments anyone may have.

I appreciate the photos of everyone on the site...

Mike