Getting Strong Veg Style

[marygrace]

Today was workout B1 in Stage 2, and probably one of the hardest so far of this program, I think. Still, I enjoyed it and felt great when I left the gym.

Wide-grip deadlift from box: 2 x 10 @ 65 lbs
These were definitely more difficult than regular deadlifts.

Bulgarian split-squat: 1 x 10 @ 15, 1 x 10 @ 20
Underhand grip lat pulldown: 2 x 10 @ 55
I found these slightly easier than the regular lat pulldowns. I will probably go up 5 lbs next time.

Reverse lunge from box w/ forward reach: 1 x 10 @ 10, 1 x 10 @ 15
Was testing the waters with the weights here, and will probably keep it at 15 next time.
Dumbbell prone Cuban snatch: 1 x 10 @ 8, 1 x 10 @ 5
I dropped down because I couldn't lift my arms all the way up with the 8's. Clearly, this is a weak spot for me!

Swiss ball crunch: 2 x 10 with long arms, holding an 8 lb weight
Reverse crunch: 2 x 10
Next time I'll do them on the incline, though if you really pull with your abs you can feel these on the floor.
Lateral flexion: 2 x 10, side flexion 2

Prone cobra: 2 @ 60 sec
HARD =D

Finished up with 15 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill.

Eats for today were alright. For whatever reason, I had a LOT of soy, but my pea protein arrived at my parents' house today, and I'm going to drive home to pick it up tomorrow. Looking really forward to trying it.
8:30 a - oat bran with almond milk and rice protein powder
12p - PWO shake of almond milk and soy protein
2p - chickpea, edamame, and seaweed salad with miso dressing, steamed broccoli and cauliflower
4p - clif builder bar
630p - lemon tempeh, roasted eggplant, sauteed kale
9p - 1/2 88% cacao chocolate bar, shake of almond milk and soy protein

[LWilson212]

Great workout! The dead off a box and bulgarian split squats are always killers for me.

[marygrace]

Great workout! The dead off a box and bulgarian split squats are always killers for me.

Thanks =D Yeah, the BSSs are really difficult. I wanted to do them with a 25 lb plate but couldn't quite manage it, so I was holding two 10's together instead, which was a little awkward, grip-wise!

[Kirjava]

Ahhh I have such stage 2 jealousy! Can't wait to start it on Wedneday!

[dillytl]

Nice workout!!!

Underhand grip lat pulldown: 2 x 10 @ 55
I found these slightly easier than the regular lat pulldowns. I will probably go up 5 lbs next time.

I agree with ya on this one!! I'm able to pull more weight underhand too!

[GinaKina]

Hi MaryGrace I had posted a nutrition question today in the main NROL4W forum, and was directed to your journal since I am a vegetarian (not vegan though, kudos to you for that).

Looks like the program is going well for you!!

[marygrace]

Hi MaryGrace I had posted a nutrition question today in the main NROL4W forum, and was directed to your journal since I am a vegetarian (not vegan though, kudos to you for that).

Looks like the program is going well for you!!

Hi Gina, thanks for stopping by! I hope you found the answer to your question within my log. If not, PM me and we can talk!

[marygrace]

Today was workout A2 in Stage 2. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with these new exercises.

Front squat/push-press: 2 x 10 @ 30
Feel like I'm getting the hang of these, but the weight is still kind of light to be squatting with even when my arms are getting tired out.

Step-up: 1 x 10 @ 15, 1 x 10 @ 20
DB one-point row: 1 x 10 @ 15, 1 x 10 @ 20
I have a hard time keeping my balance when on my right leg with these! I injured my hip running a few years back, and I guess that leg is still a little weaker!

Static lunge, rear foot elevated: 2 x 10 @ 20
Push up: 2 x 20 @ bw

Plank: 2 X 60 sec
Last time these hurt my lower back, but I read a post in the NROL4W forum where someone posted information on making sure to keep the right form. I did that this time, and while the plank was still really hard, my back didn't hurt.
Cable horizontal wood chop: 2 x 10 @ 30 lbs
Once I got the technique right for these I could really feel a burning in my glutes.

Finished up with 15 minutes of HIIT with intervals at 8.5. I'm getting faster!

Eats for today have been good. I got my pea protein powder from TrueProtein.com (called Gemma powder over there) and I like it enough to keep using it. I plan to only use the soy for my PWO shakes now, three times a week, which is a balance I feel comfortable with.
8:30a - oat bran with almond milk and pea protein
11:45a - PWO shake of almond milk and soy protein
12:45p - spinach salad with olives, shredded carrots, and kidney beans, 1 slice whole wheat bread w PB
4:30p - clif builder bar and handful mixed nuts
8p - will have a greek salad (no feta) with hummus
10p - will have some unsweetened applesauce mixed with 1 T of rice protein powder

[LisaS]

can you say more about the gemma - texture, grittiness, how it mixes?

[marygrace]

can you say more about the gemma - texture, grittiness, how it mixes?

I got the gemma flavored with vanilla and sweetened with stevia. It has a really smooth texture, no grittiness at all. I've never tried whey, but it mixes a lot smoother than soy (my soy is often kind of lumpy, this isn't lumpy at all). To me though, there is the slightest "pea" flavor to it. I don't know how to explain it, but there is the slightest hint of more flavor there than just vanilla. Its good enough, though, especially since it has 25 g of protein per serving.

[climban]

Great job on the workouts and the food Marygrace!

I 'm glad you like your pea protein. It must be quite hard to get in al your protein in an "eatable" way if you are vegan. I can imagine eating vegetarian (my sister eats veggie), but vegan seems really hard to me. It 's always interesting to read about your creativity regarding food!

[marygrace]

I 'm glad you like your pea protein. It must be quite hard to get in al your protein in an "eatable" way if you are vegan. I can imagine eating vegetarian (my sister eats veggie), but vegan seems really hard to me. It 's always interesting to read about your creativity regarding food!

As much as I hate to admit it because I'm proud of my veganism, it really is hard to get as much protein as this program demands through "eatable" means. It seems like the vegan foods with the most protein are often processed, soy-based convenience foods, which I try not to eat too often. While I might feel like a bean, tofu, or tempeh -based meal with 10 or 15 grams of protein in it is high in protein, that's not enough to get through the day. And nuts have a lot of fat. I've come to enjoy putting protein powder in my oats or smoothies though, and look forward to eating protein bars (homemade or storebought) because they are kind of sweet. Whatever I'm doing, I feel like its working, and that's all that matters!

[MightyAl]

Originally Posted by marygrace

I got the gemma flavored with vanilla and sweetened with stevia. It has a really smooth texture, no grittiness at all. I've never tried whey, but it mixes a lot smoother than soy (my soy is often kind of lumpy, this isn't lumpy at all). To me though, there is the slightest "pea" flavor to it. I don't know how to explain it, but there is the slightest hint of more flavor there than just vanilla. Its good enough, though, especially since it has 25 g of protein per serving.

Hi marygrace,

So glad you liked the pea protein. I agree, the vanilla has the slightest hint of some other flavor but can't really describe it. It actually doesn't taste like vanilla to me. You ordered through Trueprotein, right? Did you request a sample of any other flavor when? I just placed another order for my chocolate and vanilla.

Do you use hemp protein powder? I requested a sample of chocolate hemp when I placed my first order with Trueprotein and found it quite patable. Since I had not specified the type of sweetener, though, they sweetened it with splenda which I try to stay away from, but that's probably what made it taste so good. I may order a sample with Stevia next and see what that's like.

Your workouts look really good by the way.

Alexandra

[MightyAl]

Originally Posted by marygrace

. Whatever I'm doing, I feel like its working, and that's all that matters!

That' right, that's all that matters! Only tweak when it stops working.

[marygrace]

Originally Posted by MightyAl

Hi marygrace,

So glad you liked the pea protein. I agree, the vanilla has the slightest hint of some other flavor but can't really describe it. It actually doesn't taste like vanilla to me. You ordered through Trueprotein, right? Did you request a sample of any other flavor when? I just placed another order for my chocolate and vanilla.

Do you use hemp protein powder? I requested a sample of chocolate hemp when I placed my first order with Trueprotein and found it quite patable. Since I had not specified the type of sweetener, though, they sweetened it with splenda which I try to stay away from, but that's probably what made it taste so good. I may order a sample with Stevia next and see what that's like.

Your workouts look really good by the way.

Alexandra

I ordered through TrueProtein. I wasn't sure how I could request a sample so just ordered a small amount of the vanilla. I agree, it doesn't really taste vanilla-y, but my vanilla soy protein doesn't taste like vanilla either. I'm curious to see if the chocolate has that same "extra" taste, let me know when you try it.

I haven't tried hemp because it seems like it has more calories and a lot less protein per serving. I've heard good things about it, but haven't bought any simply because I'm trying to get as much protein as possible.

[marygrace]

I was starving today. Not sure why really because it wasn't a lifting day. It was really cold out so I didn't move around much at all except for riding my bike to classes. I just feel like posting my food today.

8:30a - oat bran with almond milk and 50/50 mix of rice protein and pea protein powder
12p - split pea soup, almond and flaxseed bread (made with ground almond meal, no flour)
4p - clif builder bar, 1 T PB
7p - baked tofu with marinara, roasted eggplant and cauliflower, sauteed white beans
9p - banana with PB, unsweetened applesauce with 1 T rice protein

I love how I don't feel bad about eating extra food whenever I'm extra hungry now. I know its good food that is doing good things for my body =D

[MightyAl]

Originally Posted by marygrace

I ordered through TrueProtein. I wasn't sure how I could request a sample so just ordered a small amount of the vanilla. I agree, it doesn't really taste vanilla-y, but my vanilla soy protein doesn't taste like vanilla either. I'm curious to see if the chocolate has that same "extra" taste, let me know when you try it.

I haven't tried hemp because it seems like it has more calories and a lot less protein per serving. I've heard good things about it, but haven't bought any simply because I'm trying to get as much protein as possible.

The chocolate also has a slightly indistinguishable something else is in it kind of flavor. It doesn't really taste chocolate-y. I think the Trueprotein premium flavors taste more like the real thing but they sweeten those with splenda and I don't like using splenda so I'll stick with the regular.

Hemp is fantastic - not a lot of protein per serving but definitely a lot of fiber!