bcmusic

I guess that's what confuses me the MOST... "low carb, no carb, eat carbs".... I don't know what is true (see my first post). All I want is more curves in my shoulders, puffy chest, good bis tris and legs... and definition (abs, the cuts in the arms, etc). Just like Ryan Reynolds in that Blade Trinity workout (and, similarly - his Green Lantern workout)... I'm trying.... total calories so far today - about 1200... bowl of cereal, plus vegan chicken nuggets, broccoli, pita chips, two glasses of soy milk an hour after workout... (I worked out for about 90 minutes total - including 25 minutes on the elliptical)

Hi Justin, thank you for researching further. I would love to try a whole food-based diet but I don't have time to prepare the food and I'm not really into the raw food diet, usually. I like the organic vegan frozen stuff (Gardein, etc). It helps me ween myself off of chicken and things (because I've gone most of my life NOT being vegan, and even going back to eating chicken regularly, over the last few years). The frozen stuff helps me make the transition easier. How many calories should I be consuming daily if I want to gain lean muscle mass? Should I be doing more cardio? I'm about to do legs and bis today... plus some cardio, before work. All I had for breakfast today was a bowl of cereal with soy milk... plan on having a banana after workout, then more veggies and some lean protein (Gardein chicken scallopini) before work at 4. I do take a multi, plus a B-12 daily, and sometimes a B-Complex... and I do rice from time to time, but I try to avoid the carbs in brown rice.... it's so hard to do low-carb, but I guess with my goal, I need more carbs, more protein... but I'm afraid it's all going to go to my belly (which it seems like it ALWAYS does, even when I go low-carb).... Thanks!

Thanks so much for the tips.... a couple questions- 1. Could I get the Ryan Reynolds body, with my body type (as seen in the photos)? It seems like I'm nearly the same build as he at least was... 2. The Clif bars.. not opposed to protein bars at all, and I usually do eat them but lately I've been trying to keep the saturated fat LOW... or none. I noticed the protein bars (no matter which one) always have a good amount of saturated fats in them, including the Clif builder bars. Something to try and avoid? Thanks!

Thanks Dylan... I'll be sure to search around. I know it's a long, long road... but dammit, I need it.

Hey guys, my name is Chris... I am READY to get back in shape after several years of laziness. I joined this forum ages ago when I was a vegetarian. I turned vegan two days ago, and plan on staying vegan forever. I need help, getting in shape.... shopping list, and routines. I really need someone to guide me through all the steps. When I have tried workout plans in the past, I lost interest as I was not seeing any progress at all. Since turning vegan, I figured you guys could help me more than anyone. I can't afford a personal trainer nor a membership to the gym, and I have very moderate exercise equipment in a house I rent with friends. Background info on me: I'm 36, I weigh 155 pounds basically all the time. I'm 5'10". I live in the Philly suburbs (Ambler). Equipment: I have a dumbbell bench (flat/incline/90 degrees), lots of dumbbells, including ones I can put variable weight on... I also have a Tony Little Gazelle (I like it, low-impact cardio, like cross-country skiing motion)... and I have an Iron Gym that I hang in the door and can do reverse-grip pull-ups (I can't really do any regular-grip pull-ups). My diet basically consists of this: breakfast - a granola bar or oatmeal, plus a glass of soymilk lunch - steam-in-bag veggies (half the bag), plus a vegan protein source (Gardein, usually- chicken scallopini or the orange mandarin chicken is my favorite), plus dry roasted edamame, and either water, or soymilk post-lunch - some more edamame, maybe a peanut-butter sandwich on whole wheat, more water at work (dinner, as I work 3-9 usually, I'm a music teacher) - I bring a container of the other half of the steam-in-bag veggies, plus another Gardein protein source. I usually am more hungry than that, so I'll add a Silk soy yogurt after I eat, or another vegan granola or chocolate bar (I try to buy low-sugar stuff). at night (around 11pm, as I go to sleep around 1)... I'll try to eat more veggies or a piece of fruit, but usually it's a granola or sweet bar of some sort, plus soy milk. I'll snack on granola bars, nuts, sunflower seeds (hulled), edamame (dry roasted) or bananas between meals. I usually like to work out around 11am as I get up around 9... and what I've been doing for the past week is: day 1 - 15-20 minutes of dumbbell stuff (military press, upright row, incline bench press), dips from my dumbbell bench, then about 15 minutes on the Gazelle machine. I can't really do much more since I'm so out of shape. Sometimes after work, I'll hit up the machine again and go for like 25-30 minutes depending on how tired I am. day 2 - 15-20 minutes targeting the back and bis (curls, pull-ups on my Iron Gym)... 15-30 min on the Gazelle if I can handle it... day 3 - just cardio (45 min on Gazelle if I can, and jumping jacks/shadowboxing/dancing around to music) day 4 - I don't know what else to do.... don't have a barbell so I can't do squats, but I do body-weight squats even though I know they don't do much. day 5 - more chest and tris, shoulders too if I can take it... day 6 - cardio day 7 - day off... "cheat" food day (something a little less healthy, as I read this is good to do, as it shocks your body). My goals: As everyone, I want to look good naked! I want to be more defined and built so I can finally get a damn attractive, busty girlfriend (it's been years... sadly, and yes, I'm a fan of the girls with curves). I'm pale, but I seriously want those shoulder curves, the back shape, the definition, the pecs... you name it. Like Ryan Reynolds (the actor), or anyone else who looks damn good, but is relatively small-framed like me. I want this potbelly GONE... so, so gone. I can't believe I'm actually posting photos of my fat potbelly, but it needs to be done because I am fully going to get rid of this in several months. It's embarrassing as hell, but... again, it will keep me going. Ultimately, I get so confused about what to do... and how to reach my goals. I read so much on google that it becomes a huge mindf--k, and it makes me lose motivation. Everyone says different things. Eat this, don't eat that. Do this exercise, don't do that exercise. So I keep my routine simple because it's all I know how to do. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you all so much. -Chris

hey guys. been a long time since i posted. i've slacked royally. no more! i'm back in the game. ok... here's my problem. i'm a twig, with a nice potbelly. nice meaning ing. i eat muffins and too much bread. my question is... i want to gain lean muscle mass... and... how do i balance the calorie intake with what is burned off? for example, i need 3500 calories per day, at least, to gain muscle/mass. my metabolism is lightning-quick, just not in my gut. i weigh 155, and i'm 5'10. so, if i'm taking in 3500 calories, 6-7 smaller meals (i know that's best)... and a couple meals are shakes (muscle milk, which also provides me 30g protein per shake)... how much do i need to burn off, so i can get rid of my gut, and which exercises are best, and for how long? simple question, complex answers, i know... THANKS!!! -chris

hey guys. this is chris. i posted over a year ago with goals and questions and i've been slacking INSANELY. no more. ok... so... here are my main 3 questions... and things i can't do (like, join a gym-- money's not there) 1. i am skinny. i am 5'9 or 5'10 (i don't even know), 155lbs, and i have a huge gut from eating muffins and bread and just... too many bad carbs. i look like hell when i lean over and study my gut/love handles. how to get rid of this with a vegan diet? btw, i haven't done any cardio in months... what's the BEST thing i can do... jog? treadmill? 2. how can i truly gain lean muscle mass? someone like me needs to take in like 4000 calories a day, and 155g protein. the protein is not a problem. i take supplements and also, Muscle Milk mixed with soy milk. ok... so how do i avoid a lot of carbs? how can i BURN off the same amount? am i supposed to? i'd kill myself! that's all for now... ANY and ALL help is appreciated. i'm at work so i have to keep this post short. thanks!!! -chris philly area

Hey gang.... Thanks again for the warm welcome. Ok.... since I posted last, I've been trying to gain a lot by eating a lot, as suggested by everyone. I've been eating relatively healthy... sandwiches with veggie lunchmeat (the IVES stuff).. i'm not a strict vegan.. so if something has egg in the ingredients i'm not going to freak out... but for the most part i try to buy fully vegan stuff.. sometimes the selection is very slim though, where i buy groceries. so yeah... veggie lunchmeat sandwiches (on italian bread)... vegan cheese on some of the sandwiches (most of the time it's just the fake turkey or fake bologna....) tortilla chips with each sandwich usually... veggie burgers, etc. and i drink a lot of water and sweetened iced tea (not in the can-- the lipton just add water stuff... i love that stuff). right now i'm pulling in about 2600 calories a day. my goal is 3500 but it's hard to do that. i have been working out steadily... but when i sit on my bench and do my preacher curls, i look down and there's my gut, seemingly bigger than ever. haha. i know it's hard to get rid of stomach fat but i definitely need to get rid of it. am i going about things the right way? gaining a lot of mass by eating all day? i do 2 sets of 20 sit-ups after my lifting session, which is 4 times a week with a day of rest after 2 days of lifting... and then two days rest after the second 2 days of lifting. any advice is always appreciated.... i'm new to the vegan bodybuilding thing... i just hate my damn gut. everything else is looking pretty good though, my pecs and stuff are getting there... arms definitely, too. it's hard to work my legs on the bench i have, but i do what i can (can't do squats... everything's set up where i'd hurt myself if i pull the bar off the bench to do squats.) i do other stuff though, like calf raises and lunges and stuff like that. thanks guys and girls!

thanks to everyone and their advice.... i realize i can't lose the fat til i gain the mass.... i guess more importantly i want the mass than lose my gut... but, after i get my mass, will i be able to get a six-pack? i hope so. tired.... i'll reply more later on. but thanks again for the warm welcome and the advice!

good talkin to you too topher.... definitely need some more advice from ya whenever you get some free time.

Hi all. I've been vegetarian for five years and became vegan on my 29th birthday about a month ago. I am 5'10, 140lbs and would like to.... 1. Gain mass! 2. Lose my gut (too many donuts/chip-eating over the years--- in the photos below, it doesn't look like I have one... but I do, especially if I lean over or if I'm sitting). 3. Lose the excess body fat I want to basically look like Edward Norton when he was in American History X. I have the same body type as him in Fight Club (less ripped really) but I want that American History X body. I try to take in 3000 calories a day or more but it's hard. Usually I can only get in about 1700 on average. And like 75 grams of protein when I want to get 200. And weight gainer shakes don't work because there is too much sugar in them (goes right to my belly). I work nights, so I work out at like 10am usually... can't afford a gym membership so I do it oldschool in my apartment's basement (have a bench that can incline, and a bar, a couple dumbbells and a lot of weight plates)... I work from 3-1am (long shifts but off on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). I would like some good, solid advice on helping me gain mass and good abs. I have always been skinny, but somewhat toned. I want to be big though, not like huge but definitely solid and noticable especially with a shirt off. There's a quote in the film American Beauty that states "I wanna look good naked!" when Kevin Spacey's character is asking his gay neighbors what he needs to do to look better. That's basically what I want-- I want to look good naked! So yeah... any help would greatly be appreciated. You guys and girls seem really nice on the boards (I've been reading through posts for a few hours)... and I contacted one of the members-- Topher (V VII Hero).. he told me some good vegan nutrition stuff... but I don't know.. I need solid, solid advice... a good routine. Right now, I comfortably bench press about 70 pounds, 3 sets of 10.... and then incline, 3 sets of 8... with a little strain... yeah I know, it's low... but that's why I need to build up. So hopefully this will give you all an idea of my strength (or lack thereof). I have an extremely high metabolism... I have basically weighed 130-140 for the last 10 years. And that's with working out and trying to gain mass... though sometimes I've been sporadic with it (the whole lack of motivation thing) but I need to stay motivated. I want to be ripped and looking great by winter 2005... just a personal goal... so, thank you for any help you guys and girls can provide! Attached below are photos of me today, before working out... just my regular body.