Getting Strong Veg Style

[marygrace]

I have the pea protein in chocolate....it isn't great by itself, even though I got it with stevia, but I like it when I add some extra stevia. I have strawberry too

Yeah, I have the pea protein in vanilla sweetened with stevia, and I think the best way to describe the taste is tolerable. Luckily, it can be masked if you mix it with other things or cut it with other protein powders. I only use it because I don't think its healthy to rely too heavily on soy. So I keep soy, rice, and pea proteins on hand and mix them up.

[marygrace]

Workout A2 in Stage 3. This workout takes FOREVER!

One Armed DB Snatch: 3 x 6 @ 15 lbs

DB Single Leg RDL: 3 x 6 @ 20 lbs
Barbell Bent Over Row: 2 x 6 @ 60 lbs, 1 x 6 @ 55
While doing it at 60, I noticed my right shoulder was coming up a lot more than my left, and figured there is a big strength discrepancy between my left and right arm. After I saw that I paid more attention to trying to keep both shoulders at the same level, but wasn't completely successful

DB Single-Arm O/H Squat: 3 x 6 @ 8 and 15 lbs
I will probably move up on these next time
DB Incline Bench Press: 3 x 6 @ 20 lbs

Plank: 3 x 90 seconds
Reverse Wood Chop: 3 x 6 @ 35 lbs

Bodyweight Matrix
24 squats
12 lunges on each leg
12 lunge jumps on each leg
24 squat jumps

I only did this once again. I'm so wiped by the end of this workout, and I wanted to be able to do HIIT without my legs completely falling off. So I did the matrix once and then 15 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill.

I was talking to my boyfriend the other night about how great I feel doing this program. He said he has noticed a big change in me, in that I used to constantly complain about how fat/gross I looked and felt, and I have completely stopped doing that. He said I definitely have a better attitude about things, and that my body definitely looks different. I was really happy he said that, because I feel like since embarking on NROL4W I have had a real shift in the way I think about health and fitness and the way I see my body.

I no longer worry about getting "fat" and no longer look in the mirror and think of myself as "fat." At 120 lbs, I'm not fat at all, and I know that if I continue to exercise smart and eat healthy, the flab that is there will eventually be gone. I no longer feel like I have to workout every single day, and don't worry that if I miss a day of working out because I'm feeling too tired that I will gain weight. I don't worry about eating peanut butter or cooking with more than 1 or 2 teaspoons of oil.

I never realized how much I was consumed by my constantly fretting over my body and diet and exercise until I started this program. I used to look at my stomach 5 or 10 times a day to see how flat it looked, and basically used that as a determinant to how I would feel about myself for the rest of the day. That is ridiculous! I'm so happy that I've finally developed a positive self image and am doing things that are really good for my body.

Okay. With that said, here is my food for today.

Breakfast - oat bran with almond milk and 50/50 rice and soy protein, 1 tsp of coconut oil, 1 TB of peanut butter
PWO shake of almond milk and 50/50 soy and pea protein
Lunch - high protein hemp bagel with white bean spinach spread, roasted cauliflower
Snack - rice protein bar
Dinner - probably at Whole Foods, so some kind of tofu and veg probably
Snack - frozen cherry, almond butter, and some protein powder puree (sounds gross but so good)

[stingo]

Originally Posted by marygrace

I'm so happy that I've finally developed a positive self image and am doing things that are really good for my body.

Sometimes the best results from working out properly aren't physical. Glad to hear you're in a much better mental/emotional place regarding your body.

[karenmc6]

Originally Posted by marygrace

I never realized how much I was consumed by my constantly fretting over my body and diet and exercise until I started this program. I used to look at my stomach 5 or 10 times a day to see how flat it looked, and basically used that as a determinant to how I would feel about myself for the rest of the day. That is ridiculous! I'm so happy that I've finally developed a positive self image and am doing things that are really good for my body.

that's awesome, mary grace, even more so because he noticed! you're doing great with the workouts, too! karen

[missjane]

I don't know how you were able to pull off a HIIT session after that A workout! It's brutal! You know you don't have to do HIIT after the A session, right?

[rixatrix]

Originally Posted by missjane

I don't know how you were able to pull off a HIIT session after that A workout! It's brutal! You know you don't have to do HIIT after the A session, right?

Agreed - I was under the impression that workout A plus bodyweight matrix sort of WAS the HIIT...but I do my HIIT on non-lifting days anyway.

Girl, you're CRAZY motivated.

[marygrace]

Sometimes the best results from working out properly aren't physical. Glad to hear you're in a much better mental/emotional place regarding your body. _______

While I've definitely made some noticeable physical progress on this program, I definitely think the mental progress has been greater!

that's awesome, mary grace, even more so because he noticed! you're doing great with the workouts, too! karen

Thanks! Its always great when someone else actually notices a change, then you know you're really doing something right.

I don't know how you were able to pull off a HIIT session after that A workout! It's brutal! You know you don't have to do HIIT after the A session, right?
__________

It was pretty hard, but I've gotten into the habit of doing HIIT after pretty much every weight session, so I just did it. I know I don't have to, I guess it is the last shred of my former runner's mindset that I need to do some kind of cardio no matter what.

Agreed - I was under the impression that workout A plus bodyweight matrix sort of WAS the HIIT...but I do my HIIT on non-lifting days anyway.

Girl, you're CRAZY motivated.

Haha, I think you're pretty motivated to go to the gym for 15-20 minutes just to do HIIT. I like to just get it all done at once and then not think about the gym for a day or two.

[rixatrix]

Originally Posted by marygrace

Haha, I think you're pretty motivated to go to the gym for 15-20 minutes just to do HIIT. I like to just get it all done at once and then not think about the gym for a day or two.

Oh, fair enough. I do mine at home on an exercise bike. And if I didn't, the gym is only a quarter-mile away.

[marygrace]

I was watching the Biggest Loser tonight, a show I'm hooked on despite thinking the whole thing is more than a little ridiculous, and I was surprised when the male contestants could barely do pushups. They were barely bending their elbows at all, it was really pathetic! I told my boyfriend that I could do better pushups than those guys, then got on the floor and did a couple. I can't quite touch my nose to the ground yet, but I'm getting there, and am definitely doing better than those guys who work out 6 hours a day with a personal trainer.

That show is so weird. Anyway, I'm going to start posting my food more regularly, as an accountability thing for myself, and also because this log is supposed to be me gaining muscle on a vegan diet.

Breakfast - oat bran with almond milk, 50/50 soy and rice protein, 1 tsp coconut oil
Lunch - split pea soup, brussels sprouts with shallots and walnuts, roasted eggplant
Snack - clif builder bar, 1 T peanut butter
Dinner - chickpea cutlet, stewed vegetables my grandma made me over the weekend (peas, artichokes, spinach, okra, tomatoes) in a ton of oil. I never cook with that much oil but she made it for me and it tastes really good, soo..
Snack - frozen banana with 2 T peanut butter

[GinaKina]

I tried one of your "ice cream" concoctions today...I used the cherries, but with strawberry powder and PB (all I had). Yum!

Oh, and I watched Biggest Loser too...it is weird. I'm not really that into it this season though, I missed the beginning, so I'm not as interested.

[Kirjava]

Marygrace, I'm glad to hear you've been doing so well and that the mental benefits of this are paying off so much. Awesome.
Always reading about all this oatbran is making me want to try some!
Oh, and never refuse a grandmother's cooking...sounds delicious.

[marygrace]

I tried one of your "ice cream" concoctions today...I used the cherries, but with strawberry powder and PB (all I had). Yum!

Oh, and I watched Biggest Loser too...it is weird. I'm not really that into it this season though, I missed the beginning, so I'm not as interested.
__________________

I'm glad you liked it, and strawberry powder sounds like an interesting combination. I'm not sure why I watch Biggest Loser but I am kind of addicted to it. Usually I just kind of yell at the TV, remarking about all of the stupid things they do on that show.

Marygrace, I'm glad to hear you've been doing so well and that the mental benefits of this are paying off so much. Awesome.
Always reading about all this oatbran is making me want to try some!
Oh, and never refuse a grandmother's cooking...sounds delicious.
__________________

Definitely give oat bran a try! It pretty much has the same taste as oatmeal but has less calories per serving and more protein and fiber.

[climban]

Hey MaryGrace,

You 're doing so well! Congratulations on the better body-image too! It 's worth very much to be a bit happy with yourself. You 're training hard, you 're eating well. You take good care of your body so you should feel proud about yourself!!!

Have a nice evening!

[marygrace]

This morning I did workout B2 in Stage 3. While this workout isn't easy by any means, its crazy how much easier it is than workout A. Also, the weather needs to get nice now because I am going stir-crazy. I want to spend time outside!

BB RDL w/Bent Over Row: 2 x 6 @ 55 lbs, 1 x 6 @ 65 lbs

Partial Single Leg Squat: 3 x 6 @ 10 lbs
Wide Grip Lat Pulldown: 3 x 6 @ 60 lbs

Back Extension: 1 x 6 @ 10 lbs, 2 x 6 @ 15 lbs
YTWL: 3 x 6 @ 8 lbs
I still hate theseee.

Incline crunch: 3 x 6 w/ 10 lb medicine ball
Prone Jackknife: 3 x 6
Lateral Flexion 3: 3 x 6

Prone Cobra: 2 x 6 @ 90 seconds each
I was bored out of my mind, couldn't bring myself to do another one.

I was running short on time because the workouts in this stage take forever, so I'm saving the HIIT for tomorrow.

Food for today...
Breakfast - oat bran with almond milk, 50/50 rice soy protein, 1 tsp coconut oil
Lunch - high protein hemp bagel with white bean spinach spread, roasted cauliflower and eggplant
Snack - rice protein bar
Dinner - chickpea cutlet, brussels sprouts with shallots and walnuts
Snack - frozen banana with peanut butter

I've decided I'm going to make some pasta for Easter dinner. Not sure what kind yet but I haven't had pasta since before the New Year and being veg it used to be a big staple of mine. I'm excited!

[missjane]

Not sure if it's really "allowed", but I am doing all of the core work as a true superset (no rest) and only resting between each superset. That's saving me some time in workout B.

[kfisherx]

I am totally with you on the weather thing. Do you work out in a gym right now or at home?

When the weather gets nice, I bet we see a whole bunch of cardio stuff going on around here. All of the closet "cardio queens" will rise and show their true crowns.

[ledove]

Originally Posted by missja