Vegan Texan is not an oxymoron

[Amethyst8]

Hey there! It's Rebecca's Vegan Food, Life, and Fitness Journey Journal Blog Log Personal Accountability Thingamajig!
(10 years vegetarian - 3 years vegan - self taught vegan chef of the household - animal rescuer and adopter - Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism sufferer - legal secretary - actor for fun - wannabe bodybuilder)

Here we are at month 2 of the gym membership and personal training once a week and I've lost maybe 8 pounds, if that, starting at 200 pounds with a goal of 150 or less. The picture attached is me on Halloween in my Thor costume with my co-workers all dressed as The Avengers. We can consider this my before picture since I weighed in at 200 pounds when I wore this costume. Thor is also my inspiration to make my body match the costume. And I have a serious thing for Tom Hiddleston and not just because he played Loki.



I cried last night after a particularly difficult workout. I started out with 15 minutes on the elliptical at intensity level 15 going forwards, then did 15 minutes on the elliptical at intensity level 15 going backwards. Then my trainer saw me, and even though we were not scheduled, he generously gave me an impromtu 10 minute killer core and lower body workout. I still cannot do the proper form of the free standing invisible chair without someone holding my hands so I don't fall. We started with the invisible chair until my quads were shaking, then immediately jumped on the quad machine for a hard and heavy lifting set immediately followed by the hamstring machine and then rotated between the two machines with no rest for 3 full sets, then immediately followed by stepping up and down on a platform for what seemed like forever. I was struggling just to stand up straight. He really likes to burn me out and then push me beyond what my body thinks is the limit. Finally he let me stop and I realized it had only been 10 minutes. I felt so weak and embarrassed for being burned out so easily. Then he assigned me to do lunges across the gym and back before I left for the night. I did my upper body lifting exercises and then did the lunges as instructed, but I fell twice. I left the gym and cried.

I love the way it makes me feel and do very much enjoy working out, but I guess I'm just impatient and want to see results faster than this. It's already an uphill battle having hypothyroidism that slows my metabolism and makes me fatigue fast, but I feel like I'm pushing as hard as I can. At the very least, after two months, I want to be able to hold my own body weight by myself. Tonight I have my actual session with my trainer. I will try again with the free standing invisible chair. Maybe I can hold it by myself tonight.

[mrbear666]

good luck with your journey!

[Amethyst8]

Thank you, Mr. Bear! Your avatar looks Hulktastic!

[mrbear666]

haha thanks, i was quite pleased with myself for adding the green as im useless with computers 2 of my heros come from texas (lance armstrong and alex jones) its seems like a really interesting place!

[C.O.]

Hey Rebecca, awesome pic and good start to your journal. Where is Spring, Texas? I went to Austin for the first time in November and it definitely broke all of the stereotypes I had about Texas.

-Dylan

[Amethyst8]

My grandmother passed away on Friday. Her funeral is tomorrow. Haven't worked out since Thursday because I have been driving to New Jersey for the funeral. It's a 24 hour drive from Texas and I left town as soon as I found out. I am surviving on gas station raw almonds and no cheese veggie delights from subway. I miss my skillet and am craving cooked tomatoes and tofu. It's my go-to comfort food when I'm feeling down. Also miss my grandmother. I'll get back on track with the gym when I get back home. She would want me to.

[Amethyst8]

Well I am back on the wagon after a sad week off. My 86 year old grandmother passed away on my other grandmother's 92nd birthday. Then 92 year old grandmother had a stroke after we got back into town. Fortunately it was mild and she just needs physical therapy. 92 year old grandmother has always been a BIG motivator for me to exercise and eat right. We made a bargain in the hospital. She will work hard on her physical therapy if I get my rear end back in the gym. Yes ma'am.

Went back for the first time on Sunday and had really low energy. I only did 10 minutes forward on the elliptical on level 1 and did some leg presses and arm presses at less weight than usual with more reps than usual. Last night I did much better with 15 minutes forward on the elliptical on level 15 and 15 minutes backwards on the elliptical on level 15 followed by some free weights working on the back and upper body muscles. A body builder had left their bar out with giant weights on each end. I walked up to it and raised it to my waist. The guys next to me started cheering me on. I was only going to kid around and didn't expect to actually be able to lift the thing up! So, a small victory for the chubby girl and a little gym cred.

We're BACK, baby. Because grandma said so.

[Amethyst8]

Breakfast: small bowl of Cherry Almond cereal with added nuts, seeds, and dried fruit and soy milk.

Snacks: coffee with soy milk; 1 apple; 1 red bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1 anaheim pepper (raw of course).

Lunch: large bowl of homemade black bean stew with carrots (tops included), celery, cremini mushrooms, and cayenne.

Dinner: undecided... hmmm... something with tofu and swiss chard maybe.

[Amethyst8]

FITNESS GOALS:
-I am stuck on 25-30 lbs to burn out on the tricep machine. I want to double that by April.
-Currently I can only do a half push-up. Not on my knees, but in the full plank position, just half-way down and up. I want to do 10 full push-ups easily by April. My shoulders and pectorals are too weak right now and my core could use some all around strengthening. I must be able to lift my own body weight.
-I'm starting to see better definition in my legs. I want to have a nicely defined calf curve by April.
-By end of 2013, I want to be able to do pull-ups.
Goodbye, chubby girl. Hello, vegan rock hard bodied goddess.

FOOD:
Breakfast: small bowl of cherry almond cereal with added nuts, seeds, and dried fruit and soy milk.
Snacks: coffee with soy milk; 1 apple; half cup of mango, leftover soup from dinner last night - red swiss chard, tofu, tomatoes, anaheim peppers, red miso for salt.
Lunch: large bowl of homemade black bean stew with carrots (tops included), celery, cremini mushrooms, and cayenne with toast on the side.
Pre-workout snack: banana
Post-workout dinner: raw cucumber, tomato and red bellpepper. Some sort of processed vegan junk food like Gardein beefless tips that I will split with my husband.

[Amethyst8]

FOOD:
Breakfast: coffee with soy milk; 1 apple; half cup of mango; half cup of pineapple. (COFFEE ADDICTION IS BACK since grandma's funeral - she also loved her coffee so it is like keeping her love alive.)
Snacks: leftover soup (again) - red swiss chard, tofu, tomatoes, anaheim peppers, red miso for salt; raw cucumber, tomato and red bellpepper.
Lunch: large bowl of homemade black bean stew (again) with carrots (tops included), celery, cremini mushrooms, and cayenne. (no toast today)
Pre-workout snack: banana
Post-workout dinner: I'm thinking vegan chicken quesadillas with vegan cheese stuffed and roasted anaheim peppers on the side.

See, by cooking veggie soups and stews in large quantities at the beginning of the week, I can just buy those few ingredients and then divide the portions for my lunches to take to work. It saves money even if it is a little boring to repeat the same stuff over and over again. Preparing in advance also saves time during the week when I'm exhausted. Each week is different though! I promise I'm not this boring!

[Amethyst8]

Music is so very important for my workouts. I have to feel the beat and keep up with the song in my movements. Like a dance with weights or on the elliptical, as the case may be. Right now, I'm really into this Pitbull phase.

[mrbear666]

your meals look nice and clean! plenty of veggies too!

[Amethyst8]

Thanks! When the local farm opens their market for the year in March, things get really crazy in my kitchen. They know me there as the "box lady" because I bring boxes instead of little grocery bags like the rest of their customers. I mean serious veggie business. And they always make fun of how many tomatoes I buy a week. They just can't believe I eat that many veggies! I admit, I may have a tomato addiction.

[mrbear666]

hahaha i have almost the exact story but with bananas!

[Amethyst8]

FITNESS:
Had a nice workout at the gym last night. I also weighed myself. 196.4. Not any significant change, but I can tell by my performance that I am improving. I burned out on 30 lbs on the tricep machine and did some various shoulders and pec machines with increased weights as well. Also worked on my upper and lower back with the 10 lb free weights and also did what I call vampire raises... inclined crunches. I also did the high chair with no seat (I don't know what that is called) - worked my shoulders and core by lifting my knees while dangling on the high chair - 20 seconds is my new record for holding the position. Trainer was there and talking about certain challenges he wanted to do during our official session, but he is really proud of my progress. I am ready to burn it out again tonight with him.

FOOD:
It's Friday and I was feeling SUPER lazy this morning.
Breakfast: coffee with soy milk; Amy's frozen meal - Tofu Scramble - Fat 19g, Protein 22g, Calories 320, Sugars 4g, Iron 30% daily value.
Snacks: 1 apple; half cup of pineapple.
Lunch: Candle Cafe frozen meal - Ginger Miso Stir-Fry - Fat 6g, Protein 9g, Calories 200, Sugars 9g, Iron 8% daily value.
Pre-workout snack: banana
Dinner: Whatever I feel like! Gawsh!!!

MUSIC:
I jammed to the Far East Movement album Free Wired last night. Tonight's music will be my trainer yelling in my ear.