Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

Dynamic bench day. We have a power rack at our gym that comes equipped with band pegs, but unfortunately the bands that I wanted to use were kind of shredded so I had to opt for something heavier than I would normally like to go. Grey bands take off about 135 lbs. at the bottom and about 70 at lockout so none of this is really all that impressive.

Bar x 15
95 x 12
135 x 10
185 x 8
Add wrist wraps
225 x 5
Add grey bands
275 x 3
These next sets are done with alternating grips from close grip, regular grip, and wide grip.
315 x 3 x 3
335 x 3 x 3
355 x 3 x 3
375 x 1 (regular grip)

Incline bench 185 x 5 x 5
DB Lat. Raise 35 x 8 x 4
Forearm work

Pulling from blocks + stacked foam pads. This is roughly 3 1/2" off the floor. Pulling off of the foam is great because it ensures that I don't bounce the weight.

135 x 10
225 x 8
315 x 3
Add belt + Tool
365 x 3
405 x 3
465 x 2

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQdG2brfrjg&feature=plcp

Speed pulls 315 x 3 x 5
Speed squats 1" below parallel with safety squat bar onto a box
145 + Black Onyx (EliteFTS' bands that add about ~180-190 at the top) x 2 x 6
DB Rows 70 x 20 x 3
Strong band standing crunches 30 x 4
Underhand, close-grip pull downs 120 x 10 x 4

I have two possible meets that are coming up. I'm thinking I want to do a Push-Pull AAPF meet this December but do bench only. I just want some more medals to hang on my walls and I'm getting antsy about competing. However, I'd also like to do another meet full power in February. The Push-Pull is just a fun thing that my training partner and friend Brian Schwab (EliteFTS.com) puts on at his gym once a year. I think it'd be a low stress way of really trying to gauge where I am with my benching. The people that I've talked to say that 475 shouldn't be any problem at all, and I think they're right after it flew up off of a one board a few weeks ago. My only concern is doing two meets so close together. I'm going to talk to Brian and other training partner Jo Jordan (also EliteFTS.com) and see what they think about it. We'll see!

Nice lifts here dude! We need to get you on the strength table!
http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=29127

I see that you sometimes lift with a suit, so please only post your non-geared lifts, if you are so inclined. It would be great to have your numbers up there.

_________________
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My strength log

Today's gym experience was odd. There was a power surge and the power cut out causing the radio to reset and the rest of my workout was done in silence until my last set when I put my headphones in and listened to Taylor Swift's "The Story of Us." Taylor Swift is a MUST for max gains.

Again with the Average (EliteFTS) bands. I hate using these because of the ridiculous amount of weight that they take off, but it's what I have at the moment.

Bar x 20
95 x 12
135 x 10
185 x 8
225 x 5
Add reverse bands/ wrist wraps
275 x 3
325 x 3 x 3
345 x 3 x 3
Add Taylor
365 x 3 x 1
Bailed on the last two sets because something didn't feel right. I regret doing this because the rest of the workout went very smoothly. Had I not done that though, I can guarantee I would have gotten hurt.

Fat Bar OH Press 135 x 5 x 5
EZ Bar press down 75 x 10 x 5
Fat Bar front raises 35 x 10 x 4

Jo agreed to help me lay out a plan for doing the Bench Only segment of the meet in December. Pretty stoked to get some advice from someone so knowledgeable about the sport.

Good to trust your hunches, always good to back off if something doesn't quite feel right.

Push/pull in December and a full meet in February sounds quite possible if you are smart with your training, in fact last year I did the Raw Champs in December and a push/pull meet in February. I was pretty burnt out by the end of that month so you do need to factor in maybe a little extra recovery, but I'm planning on doing the same again this time around. Listen to your body and don't be afraid to step aside from your training cycle for a few days or a week if you need the extra rest.

_________________
1st Place Raw Champs 2011, 2012 (3 raw records)
Training for my first 100 mile running race

WEB: http://jimsty.wix.com/strength-vs-size
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mini-Forklift/161273440616736?ref=hl
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/kiwilifter?feature=mhee

Your workouts are excellent. What are you eating?

I'm curious to know roughly how many calories you eat in an average day and what your macros look like mate

_________________
1st Place Raw Champs 2011, 2012 (3 raw records)
Training for my first 100 mile running race

WEB: http://jimsty.wix.com/strength-vs-size
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mini-Forklift/161273440616736?ref=hl
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/kiwilifter?feature=mhee

I try not to let excuses get in the way, but my lifestyle is pretty demanding as it stands. All upper level science classes, studying for the GRE, work part time, internship, training, and trying to spend enough time with the lady friend is a bit daunting. I'm glad to hear that you've had success with doing it back to back like that. Gives me a lot of hope for being able to compete back to back like that. Thanks for the insight!

Thank you very much! My diet is a bit frazzled because of the lifestyle that I lead. I eat as much as I can when I can. I don't really have a "typical day" because everything is so frantic between here and there, but I can give you a run down of the basics:

My breakfast is the only thing that never varies:
Heaping scoop of natural peanut butter, huge serving of oatmeal, and chocolate soy milk. If you haven't tried this, you need to. It's incredibly delicious and unbelievably satisfying. The portion I serve myself is usually about 800 calories or so. I can't stress enough how good of a way this is for me to start my day.

I always have almonds and raisins with me. Always. Great source of protein and keep me super energized throughout the day. I'll snack on that at least once.

I try to eat a huge salad with spinach, carrots, sunflowers, ginger dressing, walnuts, and whatever else while I'm on campus. Costs about $3.50 and I'm feeling primed for the gym shortly afterward without my appetite being overly satiated.

Rice, beans, and corn. I love Mexican food and Tex-Mex so piling up a nice serving that equates to about 1,000+ calories is no problem whatsoever.

Peanut butter and jelly whenever I'm at work. Three of them. Very little jelly and LOTS of peanut butter on whole wheat bread. Super cheap and very satisfying

I try to avoid getting meat substitutes because they're expensive, but when they go on sale (BoGo, etc) you can catch me clearing the shelf. I'd say these make up roughly 15% of my diet.

Truthfully, I just try to eat everything that I can. I'm not vegan, just vegetarian, but for the most part I'm about 80% vegan and this is my diet. I'll have some beers with friends on the weekend while watching some football and eat some pizza, but that's really about the extent of my non-vegan habits. I'd be happy to take on any vegan junk food that anyone has to offer to take the place of these things though!

Had some of that oatmeal for dinner.

1 cup of raw oatmeal
2 tbsp of peanut butter
25 emerald cocoa almonds
3/4 cup soy milk
1 tbsp of raw carob powder

So freaking good!

Squat night: low box + black foam pad ~1/2" above parallel. Weighed in at 261 today. A pound down, 11 more to go.

Mastadon
Bar x 12
145 x 10
225 x 5
Add belt
325 x 3
Add suit, straps down
415 x 3
505 x 2
555 x 1
Put the straps up this time. First time since February.
575 x 1 - too easy, time to PR
615 x 1 - also easy, but I won't push my luck. My training partner Brian has the video. I'll post it as soon as he releases it.

Stoked to be losing and gaining at the same time.

Safety Squat Bar Good Mornings
145 x 5
165 x 5
185 x 5
205 x 5

Standing heavy band crunches 30 x 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEkBCrtEDNA&feature=g-all-u

Here's the footage.

Started the routine that Jo set up for me today. Everything is light just to build up some stamina. 8 Weeks out from OBB's Push-Pull.

Bar x 12
135 x 10
185 x 8
225 x 5
275 x 2
Add shirt + Madball
2 Board
360 x 3
370 x 3 x 2

Everything went very smoothly and easily so we should be good to move up in percentages pretty quickly. Started with ~75 - 77% of 475.

Raw, close-grip work off a 4 board
275 x 5
295 x 5 x 2

45 degree angle wide grip pull downs 135 x 10 x 4
Barbell shrugs 315 x 10, 405 x 10 x 3
Cybex hammer curls 90 x 10 x 4
Rope press downs 75 x 10 x 4

Jo gave me his old Jacked suit today. Despite its obnoxious coloring, it seemed to work pretty well. I pulled from blocks (4") again just to try to get used to pulling with the straps up. Everything was easy so I just need to get used to the form and pulling myself toward the bar the right way so that I remain in position and can take advantage of the straps without letting the bar get in front of me.

4" blocks
135 x 10
225 x 10
315 x 10
Add suit, straps up and belt
405 x 3 x 2
455 x 1
495 x 1

I wanted to keep going because of how quickly this came up, but I'm not going to burn myself out or get injured. No rush.

Romanian DL 225 x 5 x 5
Bent over cable rows 105 x 8 x 4

Dynamic bench

185 + 40 lbs. chains x 3 x 4
185 + 80 lbs. chains x 3 x 4
Drop set 185 x 15

DB Lat. raise 25 x 8 x 4
Single arm orange band press down 12 x 4
Orange band behind the head pull apart 15 x 4
Standing crunches 120
Forearm work