It's been a week since I have started my cleanse. No gluten, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and of course, no dairy or animal products. Very clean eating. Eating vegan is second nature to me. I can do this and never feel deprived. Taking it a step further and eliminating things like gluten and sugar, I knew was going to be a challenge... but completely "doable". No caffeine??? Hmmm... Now we have a problem!! ;)
You're looking at a girl who indulges in caffeine as if it were going out of style, I'm THAT bad. But the cleanse had to be done and everything that was a vice, or a stinky habit to me, needed to be kicked to the curb. So even though eliminating caffeine "frightened" me, it was one addiction that had to be broken.
The first day of the cleanse wasn't bad at all, it was the third and fourth day of the cleanse where I started to get what they call "caffeine headaches." I wasn't very tired, just carried a constant throb in my head that was putting me on edge.
I met Robert Cheeke on Tuesday night and he shared with me packets of Vega Sport... the pre workout drink mix. He gave me a handful of these. I started drinking them on Thursday and have had one Vega Sport drink every morning since and have not struggled with a single headache!!! Not even a budge! I have just what packet offers: mental clarity, more energy, better sleep...
I haven't needed a caffeinated drink in days now and it feels so wonderful!!
My skin even looks clearer today!! :)
On top of eating so clean for the cleanse that I am doing, I am also eating very high Raw (some days 100% Raw). I've noticed yesterday and today that my tummy is flatter and my jeans fit more comfortably. Heck, and it's only been a week!! ha ha ha... 30 days of this will have me looking and feeling like a million bucks!! ;))
I'm keeping my protein sources to SunWarrior protein products and Manitoba Harvest Hemp protein powders and seeds. I drink a Vega Whole Food Optimizer daily as well for a meal and always add more protein (hemp). This way I can use the VWFO as my breakfast or mid morning snack and not lack on my protein intake. The protein helps keep me feeling "full" too. All I can say is, so far so good. I truly thought that the caffeine eliminating was going to be the hardest part of the cleanse, but in this first week I have managed pretty well by replacing it with the Vega Sport. I'm hooked!! I've traded one vice for another ;)
Labels: hemp protein, manitoba harvest, robert cheeke, sunwarrior protein, vega, vegan
Last night I had the opportunity to meetup with Robert Cheeke at GREEN in Tempe, Az. I spent 4 1/2 hours just listening to him. He is so motivational, his message is so powerful and what he's doing for so many is incredible. Robert is a self-published author, famous for his Vegan Bodybuilding. His book, Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness has changed my way of thinking as far as training for a Figure Show and doing it 100% Vegan. I was constantly told that a "vegan can't do it!" Robert's book is proof that if CAN be done!! Not only is he a healthy and strong vegan, but he is a BODYBUILDER!! Come on!! Who dares to say Vegan's can't do it! ;) With the help of his book and his influence, I have no doubt that I can compete as a Vegan... and now, my wonderful husband is Mass Building 100% Vegan because of the facts and testimony Robert has in his book :)
HOORAYY!!
So last night was just great. Robert is everything I had imagined him to be, Kind, Smart, Honest... and just NICE! He was a real pleasure to be around. You can't help but sit there quiet and just listen to him. He is driven and his passion is contagious. It's remarkable.
Later in the evening, Kristen Suzanne of Kristen's Raw and her very smart husband came for the visit and the four of us just talked, laughed and shared ideas with one another. It was one of my favorite evenings with friends who are a great inspiration to me.
In all my training and my husband's Vegan Mass Building journey, I have to give Robert a BIG Thank You!
"Thank you Robert! Not only am I benefiting from your teachings, but my husband who is not a Vegan... is on his own will, wanting to mass build all Vegan... and I have YOU to thank for that!!"
Labels: GREEN, Kristen Suzanne, Kristens Raw, robert cheeke, vegan, vegan bodybuilding
On Saturday, Nick "Raw Nature Boy" called me and we discussed some nutrition tips. He is always full of great information. I wrote down a few pages of notes and wanted to share some key notes. All this I will be incorporating into my new training diet.
I didn't get to talk to Nick (Raw Nature Boy) and Lucy (SunGoddess) this past Monday like I had planned. I'm using my notes from our conversation from the previous week to train. On Saturday, I fasted till dinner and then had a Sunwarrior protein shake. On Sunday, I had only Sunwarrior protein shakes and for dinner I had a Vega Whole Food Optimizer smoothie... LARGE size ;) It was super delish!
I haven't been eating 100% Raw, due to lack of food supply in the house.. ha ha ha... This girl has got to get to the store for some fresh GREENS and colorful produce! My body is craving it!! So here is my food journal for the past two days:
Monday
Pre-Workout:
1/2 Apple with 1T Raw Almond Butter
Post Workout:
1/2 Apple with 2T Raw Almond Butter and 2T Hemp Seeds
Meal #1
Raw Almond Butter on 2 Slices Ezekiel Bread
Snack
1 Cup Strawberries
Meal #2
Bowl of organic Tempeh and an organic Wheat Tortilla
Snack
1/2 Cup Raw Almonds
2T Goji berries
Meal #3
2T Goji Berries with a Vanilla Sunwarrior Protein Shake
I don't know what my deal was today, but from the very beginning of my day all I wanted was Raw Almond Butter!!! Seriously!! My body was craving it!! So you know what, I gave it what it wanted and I felt great all day! No worries!! ;)
I burnt 320 cals doing cardio this morning.
Total Calories in: 1,909
Minus Cals Burnt at gym: -320
Goal Intake: 2,000
Difference: 1,589
Plus I burnt cals all through out the day with just daily activities. So even with all the FAT I consumed ;) he he... my cals were where I wanted them to be ad I feel good! I wonder if Nick would approve? Lol ;)
Tuesday
No Workout
Meal #1
1/2 Vegan Sprouted Bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheeze
Snack
1/2 Cup Raw Almonds and 2T Goji Berries
Meal #2
1/2 Vegan Sprouted Bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheeze
Snack
1/2 Cup Raw Almonds and 2T Goji Berries
Meal #3
2 Scoops Chocolate Sunwarrior Protein Shake with added Ormus Supergreens
Calorie intake: 1,330
Goal intake: 1,500
Difference: 170
Today
Pre-workout
1 Scoop Sunwarrior Protein Shake
Post Workout
2 Scoops Sunwarrior Protein Shake with added Ormus Supergreens
Meal #1
2 Slices Ezekiel Toast with Tofutti Cream Cheeze
Snack
Guava Goddess Kombucha Drink
Meal #2
Sunwarrior Protein shake
Meal #4
Brown Rice, Black Beans, Corn, Chopped Onion, tomato and spinach
I don't know how many calories are in Meal #4...
Goal Intake: 1250
Total calories without calculating Meal #4: 560
I'm guessing the bowl is around 500... or more? hhmmm... if the bowl was 500-550 calories, then my approximate total would be 1,060-1,110
Today's intake looks low, but I felt great all day. I'm loving the idea of adding the Sunwarrior protein drinks as snacks. They fill me up and give me comfort that I am getting some quality nutrients. I love it!! :)
My goal is to GROCERY SHOP!!! Ha ha ha... I need some RAW FOOD!!!!! ;) Also, I'm going over to a friends house on Friday to hang out and let the kids swim, so my plan for Friday is to bring some wonderful watermelon for everyone... and myself! Friday will be a Detox day of consuming nothing but watermelon :) I look forward to it, as I LOVE watermelon!!
Labels: raw, rawnatureboy, vegan
This morning is going to be very exciting!! At 10 am I will be talking to Nick "Raw Nature Boy" and Lucy "RawSungoddess" to go over my diet and workout plan in prep for my Figure Show. I'm always looking forward to speaking with Nick because he is so well educated in health and fitness. I can't go wrong with him on my side :)
I know that in my heart I want to do my training 100% Vegan and as High Raw as possible. If I can train the way I need to train and remain on a 100% Raw Diet, then let's do it! I've been prepping myself this past week with lots of Raw Foods. I've also fasted this weekend. I'm feeling pretty "clean" and ready to take on this new adventure.
I don't know what my training is going to be like yet, so this morning I went to the gym and did 15 minutes of high intensity interval training and then did 12 minutes of fast running on the treadmill. No weights.
I'm feeling tired as of now and just may go lay down for 30 minutes ;)
Today's Food intake will be shared later tonight, along with notes from the 3-way.
Cheers!
November 6, 2010 is my official show date! I printed out my enrollment form and have it up on my vision board! I also have Raw Foods printed all over my vision board and the word "VEGAN" written on it :) It's all there for me to see every single day! I am so excited!!
Labels: competition, figure show, npc, raw, raw food, vegan, vegan transformation
Yesterday morning I received the greatest opportunity to have a 3-way call with Lucy "Raw Sungoddess" and Nick "Raw Nature Boy" Co-Founder of Sunwarrrior Raw Vegan Proteins and Supplements. What I expected to be a quick 20-30 minute conversation turned into an hour and a half phenomenal chat with tons of teachings and an exciting added journey to my Vegan Figure Show Transformation!! I can't even explain the happiness and gratitude I have for what is to come. It's truly what I have been dreaming about sense committing to the plan of competing in a Figure Show.
Labels: figure show, natureboy, rawsungoddess, sunwarrior protein, vegan
I have not heard one complaint from Ryan since starting his Vegan Mass Building Diet. He has been enjoying eating all the prepared food I make him :) Last night after his workout, he shouted from down stairs "Hey babe! Would you mind making me a Sunwarrior Drink?" WOW!!! How cool is that!! Ryan went from drinking heavy whey drinks for weight gaining that had more than 600 calories per serving to requesting Raw Vegan Sunwarrior Drinks... I'm a happy Wifey :)
We have been 100% successful in keeping Ryan's meals Vegan. It has been a lot of fun preparing his meals and making them so that he gets enough protein and of course, that his calorie intake is above 4,000 calories (as of now). He tells me that is likes the meals and he never feels "deprived". Last night we went to the Diamond Backs Baseball Game with the girls and before we left the house Ryan ate a bowl of brown rice with tempeh, edamames, peas and corn with Vega EFA Oil drizzled over it. He also had a Sunwarrior Protein drink and then we were off to the game. At the game he wasn't hungry and didn't feel the need to snack. When we got in the truck I had a 2 cups of fresh strawberries for him 1 cup of almonds and a Sunwarrior Protein Drink. If you take the time to prepare your food ahead of time, then there is no room for failing on your diet. Stick with it and be consistent.
Today has been so much easier for Ryan. I picked meals that weren't "as big" as yesterday's choices to kinda ease Ryan into this new routine. He is feeling much better and is able to keep up with the meals and not feel over stuffed. So here is what is on the menu for Ryan's second day of Vegan Mass Building...
Today went so good! Ryan is a natural at vegan eating! Ha ha ha... Our intentions were to do 8 small meals today (following the plan in Robert Cheeke's book) but so far have only consumed 5 meals. If Ryan can do it, then he'll complete 6... but I think that will be pushing him! Ha ha ha... Just wait till you see what he ate today, you're going to die! It's so funny to see it on paper, beacause it is REDICULOUS! Lol ;)
"Don't be afraid to eat big. If you want to get big you have to eat big." -Robert Cheeke Vegan Bodybuilding and FitnessSo here it is, Ryan's first day of Vegan Mass Building
Labels: vegan, vegan bodybuilding, vegan mass building
For the past year, all Ryan has talked about is wanting to "gain weight." He's not a "small" guy, just very lean and toned. He wants to gain weight and add muscle to his frame. He has tried weight gainer protein drinks that have about 600 calories per serving (and tons of crappy whey!), he has made an effort to consume lots of protein in the form of white meat. He works out and still manages to either gain a pound or two or lose a pound or two. He gets so frustrated and it's sad. It's like me wanting to lose weight and no matter how well I ate and how hard I trained, there was no weight loss and it was wearing me down. It's the same for him in his want to gain weight and add mass.
This morning I woke up at 4:40am to be at the gym by 5:15am. It felt so good waking up this morning after dreaming all night about the dreams and goals I had made to myself before bed last night. I have a burning desire to compete and own a Figure Competitor body which is 100% Vegan and all Natural.
This excites me enormously! I can't even put words around my excitement! :)
So this morning's plan was to go to the gym and do fat burning cardio for at least 60 minutes. Six weeks ago I did a VO2 Test which told be at what heart rate my body burns fat and what heart rate my body burns glucose. If I keep my heart rate between 124BPM and 156BPM then I am in my fat burning zone... anything over 160BPM I am then burning carbohydrates/glucose. My goal is to stay in the fat burning zone.
I got on the treadmill, watched my heart rate monitor until I was in a safe fat burning zone and then opened up my newest learning material, Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness by Robert Cheeke. Before I knew it, I had been on the treadmill for 90 minutes! Ha ha ha... times goes by so fast when you're focused on something besides the time. It felt wonderful!
So here it is, my day one to the rest of my future transformation is completed. Yay Me! ;)