Any Raw Lady Lifters Out There?

[Baby Bird]

So how 'bout it? Any women out there who are strong and raw? I'm starting with strength training, considering returning to raw...at least high raw. Even now, most of my carbs and fats come from raw fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

I'd love to hear from women who are not living raw in order to "be thin" or look like fitness models. There are soooo many posts here over the past couple years about losing weight, and that is always used as a central selling point when I read raw books by women.

Anyone willing to share photos/their story? I could use some inspiration!

Thanks!

[Revvell]

I eat raw for health. I lifted when eat SAD; changed to lifting (4-5 hours daily) after switching to vegetarian; eating raw and playing with kettlebells, power rope, Indian Clubs and sandbags currently.

Vids up soon.

Revvellicious

[carolg]

I lift 6x week, love it and most days 100% raw.

I don't want to age as other AARP generation folks, over 50, and look and talk their language: drugs, drugs and weight gain cause they have aged. I don't want to judge, but not looking to join them as I can't relate to their conversations. Therefore, my friends are very health aware and part of our raw community mostly. A recent picture taken for Living Nutrition article I believe in December is not being used so here's a recent look at me about 2 weeks ago. What I looked like before is absolutely unbelievable--I look so much GREATER. The weight lifting has made a LARGE difference for me. I also do yoga several times a week. I'm nursing a tendon problem so not doing much running on treadmill.

carolg

[cara4art]

"I eat raw for health. I lifted when eat SAD; changed to lifting (4-5 hours daily) after switching to vegetarian; eating raw and playing with kettlebells, power rope, Indian Clubs and sandbags currently." - Revell

Wow - I never heard of anyone except maybe a competitive body builder lifting for 4-5 hours a day! Are you sure you didn't mean 4-5 times a week? Lots of good trainers say you should be able to get in a very excellent lifting workout in in 45 minutes, if not, you working too long, and likely not intensely enough.
That said, I'm an old lifter, for health and fitness, since my early 30's(just turned 61 yesterday), and I have found that over the past 4 months that I have been transitioning into raw that raw foods are EXCELLENT for training, because you are of course getting the most amazing nutrition to build that new body. I got into raw for health and fitness as well, and also to drop the few menopausal pounds(which ARE going down!) In the early days of my lifting, my trainer urged me to eat lots of animal protein, especially when I was going to be competitive, but even then, my intuition said no, my body just won't HANDLE all that animal protein, so I backed off from pursuing competition, and for years ate a semi-vegetarian health-conscious diet, with over the years shifting more into fresh foods. And I have been interested in raw food for more than 15 years, but it didn't really click until a little over 4 months ago, with starting in on the green smoothies and plenty of dark greens along with the fruit and other stuff. I add hemp protein and chia seeds(these I just got onto in the last 3 weeks)to my green smoothies, and I feel that these are superb drinks for bodybuilding exercise. I also do cardio at my gym, and the 5 Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation as well(these latter I do as a daily warm-up for the other stuff.)
I have found that initially, my strength was not as great, but that is returning - I think the recent addition of the chia seeds is really helping, as well as the body doing its own repair work given good materials to work with.
A great thing to keep in mind, that should be a real motivator to stick with raw, is that with every bite of what you eat, you are building a new body. What kind of body that will be is the result of the choices you make with your food. If you are eating the finest, freshest raw food, you are going to build the highest quality body ever over a period of time. It will take several years at least for everything to turn over, but of course. some differences occur much sooner than that.

[Veganforlife]

Alissa is a "lifter"...

[Revvell]

Wow - I never heard of anyone except maybe a competitive body builder lifting for 4-5 hours a day! Are you sure you didn't mean 4-5 times a week?

I mean what I said. We trained 5-7 days a week 4-5 hours a day.



Lots of good trainers say you should be able to get in a very excellent lifting workout in in 45 minutes, if not, you working too long, and likely not intensely enough.

O.k.

[lodestar]

seasiren on board is amazing!

[cara4art]

"I mean what I said. We trained 5-7 days a week 4-5 hours a day." - Revell

Wow - were you training for competition, and were you lifting for the ENTIRE 4-5 hours with no breaks? Or were other activities like cardio and flexibility work happening during your daily training? Was this bodybuilding, or powerlifting? Are you still training this intensely? Just curious!
I do remember however when I was training for the couple of very small competitions I was in, by the time I got done doing everything I had to do for training, it was about 4 hours a day for awhile.

[Revvell]

Wow - were you training for competition, and were you lifting for the ENTIRE 4-5 hours with no breaks?

My partner and I would meet in the a.m. before he went to work and again later in the evening. We'd intend to take off Sat. and/or Sun. and he'd call, ask what I was doing and we'd end up in the gym. It was at at an old-time body-building gym. Some guys had asked if I'd pair with them but I wasn't interested.




Or were other activities like cardio and flexibility work happening during your daily training?

Just what I was doing on Monday nights and teaching w/ yoga, qigong, etc.



Was this bodybuilding, or powerlifting? Are you still training this intensely?

Bodybuilding. No. As I said, I train now with kb's, Indian clubs, personal bodyweight... Just getting back into more intense, consistent training. I'll never go back to a gym. I've got my own gym at home and there's no barbells, etc. in sight.

[Baby Bird]

I guess what I'm aiming for is something like this (http://www.stumptuous.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=8343)
Has anyone made this kind of transformation on raw? I know that many have lost weight, and have done that before myself. But when I seek info on raw and vegan bodybuilding online, it's mostly men (as far as google will tell me), and the women look like standard fitness model types who, while they undoubtedly work hard to maintain their physiques, do not possess the type of physique that I aspire to. I'd like to see some stories of women out there who've done this.

I'm not keen on the fitness model look. It doesn't inspire me to work hard, because it is, quite objectively, not a realistic goal for my body or the life I want to lead.

Neither, by the way, is 4 or 5 hours of lifting weights every day. If it's a choice of that amount of training and raw vs. clean non-raw eating and 1-1.5 hours 3-4 times a week, well, *sigh, sniff* raw's gonna lose. :confused:

[lodestar]

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/member.php?u=2203

you can also search in the box top right...

[Baby Bird]

Have you looked at her site? http://www.denisenicole.com/?page=store Are these old pics, or???

This kinda breaks my heart. Obviously, she works incredibly hard to maintain her physique and compete in her chosen field, but in some of these photos, her legs look emaciated. I understand that she is most likely at competition weight/body comp, but this is not what I aspire to be.

Also, the whole kinda soft-core thing does not jibe with my sensibilities. Why can't strong women just be fit? Why do they have to put on makeup and dress up like naughty cops in lingerie? Why do they have to pose for a crotch shot or bend over? Obviously, I'm not her target audience.

Alright, it only took a day of searching, but this lady (http://www.exciplex.de/galerie/index.php?g=Sport&) is truly wow to me.

[carolg]

I hope you are not working yourself too hard by 4-5 per day or such. I know I recently had a problem: either tendon or hamstrings even working out with personal trainer so speaking from current challenge. Regardless take great care of you and remember to rest.

I'm a real gym person and at home with a nice gym it doesn't work. I need to hear and see the people so that I can join the fun there and not here alone.

Didn't know Alissa lifts.

carolg

[Revvell]

Why can't strong women just be fit?

They can and many are. Just because they are not responding here, doesn't mean they aren't out there.



Why do they have to put on makeup and dress up like naughty cops in lingerie? Why do they have to pose for a crotch shot or bend over?

They don't "have to". They choose to just as you can choose not to.

[saxmaam]

Alright, it only took a day of searching, but this lady (http://www.exciplex.de/galerie/index.php?g=Sport&) is truly wow to me.

Did you look at the photos of her food? It's art!

[Baby Bird]

Rhetorical questions, both, Mme. Revvell; but in seeking some strong female vegan/raw role models over the past few days, it has become clear to me that "female bodybuilders" have to be dressed up like this in order to be acceptable. I get that a bikini is what you want to wear in competition--you are after all displaying and being judged on the hard work you've put into attaining this somewhat exaggerated physique.

What I don't understand is the merchandise/posters/pics of these women wearing bikinis and posing with their legs spread and in postures that, to my eye, are overtly sexual and submissive.

Again, I must assume that I am not the target audience of this kind of marketing.

Oh, and yah, that crazy flexible German lady who does martial arts and is a freekin' ninja, her food not only looks AMAZING, but um, doesn't look like she's spending hours making complicated recipes and dehydrating like a maniac.

[RawSinger]

Has anyone made this kind of transformation on raw?

I haven't personally but I'm sure it's possible.

[raw_danceruk]

That body looked awesome to me..in no way extreme or anything

still feminine..awesome

I do weight train hard as well as some cardio..but for me its looking strong..not being a low weight thats important!

I would recommend checking out Vegan Bodybuilding forums, are some fab and..BIG raw vegans on there.. one guy is juice feasting at the mo and just has an amazing transformation..check it out

No reason why you can be..LEAN,GREEN..AND A..weight lifting machine!!

[maui_butterfly]

i'm like you, i want to look strong, not just skinny. but more importantly, i want to BE strong. functional fitness is where its at in my opinion. bodybuilding doesn't give you that (necessarily). so whatever BEING STRONG and EATING RAW looks like is how i want to look. and i don't prejudge what that is. if it makes me look more "fitness model-y" than "bodybuilder-y"... well, whatever. health from the inside out. no appearances for appearances sake.

as a culture we have lost sight of what a healthy person looks like. if a new paradigm for body image and female strength is what is created out of the raw fitness movement... GREAT!

[menat]

Rhetorical questions, both, Mme. Revvell; but in seeking some strong female vegan/raw role models over the past few days, it has become clear to me that "female bodybuilders" have to be dressed up like this in order to be acceptable. I get that a bikini is what you want to wear in competition--you are after all displaying and being judged on the hard work you've put into attaining this somewhat exaggerated physique.

What I don't understand is the merchandise/posters/pics of these women wearing bikinis and posing with their legs spread and in postures that, to my eye, are overtly sexual and submissive.

Again, I must assume that I am not the target audience of this kind of marketing.

Oh, and yah, that crazy flexible German lady who does martial arts and is a freekin' ninja, her food not only looks AMAZING, but um, doesn't look like she's spending hours making complicated recipes and dehydrating like a maniac.

That is because you are a woman. To a man who wants to look at the overtly sexual and submissive it makes perfect sense.

Also, fitness models do not make as much money as fashion models, so they have to make up for it by being sexual. I mean, women don't buy fitness magazines, esepcially body building as men buy men body building magazines. So who is looking at a female fitness model? Men. Women tend to buy fashion magazines more., something that men don't look at so a female model in fashion magazine doesn't have to worry about catering to a male audience.

Most fitness models are also the same models used in other men's magazines, including car and motorcycle.

[dakinimind]

I just started really lifting again. I haven't done much when I've been raw, so we'll see how the gains manifest themselves. In no way could I compete, and to be honest, most of the competing female body builders use steroids to get to that level.

I've been raw a little over a month now (cooked vegan diet prior) and since I've lifted this past week, I noticed I was much stronger and had much faster recovery. I've added chia seeds to my diet...seems to help!

I'm with the rest of you: I want to be raw, healthy, fit and lean :D

[Revvell]

... and to be honest, most of the competing female body builders use steroids to get to that level.



I love it when people say "... to be honest..." as though they lie the rest of the time. Do you have proof of the above statement? How honest is that?

[dakinimind]

I love it when people say "... to be honest..." as though they lie the rest of the time. Do you have proof of the above statement? How honest is that?

Before I was in recovery, I used to sell steroids to some of the competing body builders. For about 6 years, my life revolved around steroids and the people who used them.

[Revvell]

Before I was in recovery, I used to sell steroids to some of the competing body builders. For about 6 years, my life revolved around steroids and the people who used them.

Yet there are a LOT of bodybuilders out there who are steroid free and to say "most of the competing female body builders use steroids" is a disservice to the ones who don't. The thing is, when one is involved with something, that's a large part of their world and that's how they see it. For those on the other side, we see it differently.

Kudos to you on being in recovery.

[Denise Nicole]

Have you looked at her site? http://www.denisenicole.com/?page=store Are these old pics, or???

This kinda breaks my heart. Obviously, she works incredibly hard to maintain her physique and compete in her chosen field, but in some of these photos, her legs look emaciated. I understand that she is most likely at competition weight/body comp, but this is not what I aspire to be.

Also, the whole kinda soft-core thing does not jibe with my sensibilities. Why can't strong women just be fit? Why do they have to put on makeup and dress up like naughty cops in lingerie? Why do they have to pose for a crotch shot or bend over? Obviously, I'm not her target audience.


I have many friends on this board (and others) which are very supportive of me. I saw this a while back and did not respond. But feel I need to point out. You are very quick to judge me. I would not do that to you or anyone else..... it's not in my nature, nor my place to pass judgement on a another. I hope you find peace where you don't feel you need to do that to make yourself feel better. In the meantime I will continue to be me.

[RawLoveBaby]

I've been doing Crossfit for nearly three months. Visit their website to learn more. The workouts are extremely functional. No workout is ever the same and it's fun. They do everything from Olympic weightlifting to gymnastics. You don't have to join their gym to do their workouts either. Their workouts are posted on their website so you can do them on your own. We work out HARD. I would never have worked out this hard on my own. I'm getting stronger, and starting to lean out. Raw (with lots of fruit and nuts) did not make me lose weight. The only time I lost weight on raw was during a cleanse where I was juicing, only eating sprouts, vegggies, and seeds. I couldn't keep up that diet though.

I was 80-90% raw when I started Crossfit. Now I'm 60-70% raw. My trainer is really pushing me to eat meat. They push the Zone and Paleo diets at Crossfit. I don't believe meat is the best source of protein... but I AM a bit confused lately and unmotivated to eat entirely raw. I'm scared going 100% raw and doing this intense exercise. At the same time, I want to do it, so I can see if I perform better or worse.

[blueopal]

Wow- thanks for the Crossfit link!!!!

Denise - you have great legs i envy - and all your hard work in yourself i look up to for inspiration - esp doing it for yourself.

;) :)

[firefaery]

Hey! My husband and I own a CrossFit (we are crossfitcentralct... http://www.crossfitcentralct.blogspot.com/) and have been doing it for years! So glad you are loving it. I linked to it a year or two ago on this board. I'm thrilled there is an interest!

We have been in the business for many years (dh longer than I....he's almost 20 years into this) and CrossFit finally put a name on what he (and many others) did. It's a great system!!!

[firefaery]

Oh, and dh and I have both been raw...my endurance really increased being raw and dh totally noticed. That's why he decided to do it. It *can* be done. We are all individuals, and I'm not saying that just because I can you can, but know it can be done. ;)

[cara4art]

"I've been raw a little over a month now (cooked vegan diet prior) and since I've lifted this past week, I noticed I was much stronger and had much faster recovery. I've added chia seeds to my diet...seems to help!" - dakinimind

After an initial period of feeling tired at the gym when I first started transitioning, actually, my strength and endurance has finally increased after months of stalling. That increase came shortly after adding chia seeds to my smoothies which already had the hemp protein in them. Let me tell you, those green smoothies do it - they are truly magical elixirs! To me, they are THE ultimate workout-compatible drink/meal. I've read Brendan Frazier's stuff too, and he's a real inspiration and validation for this way of life. If raw does it for him and he's putting great demands on his body, it can do wonders too for the rest of us people who are active or beginning to get active. Just be sure to eat enough good food, and include denser stuff as well, and keep pumping the greens as these are hugely important.

[Green_Woman]

Denise - damn girl. :D

Now... while I do understand the sensibilities being injured by your "soft-core posing" because I was once on the outside-looking-in... nowadays I, too am a model, and I, too, am comfortable with what I do, how I do it and WHY I do it. :)

But Lord Almighty, those are some POWERFUL lean limbs you've got going on there, girl.

*retreats in jealous Green Woman silence*

;)

[Defiance]

[QUOTE=Baby Bird;431980]
Also, the whole kinda soft-core thing does not jibe with my sensibilities. Why can't strong women just be fit? Why do they have to put on makeup and dress up like naughty cops in lingerie? Why do they have to pose for a crotch shot or bend over? Obviously, I'm not her target audience.
QUOTE]


Hi Baby Bird,

I understand where you are coming from. There is such a huge market out there of ladies over 30 trying to get in shape, and they don't want to see photos like the ones that most of the fitness models post on their sites. They do it to appeal to a male audience, which may be because men are willing to pay their membership fees to gawk at naked pictures. It always comes down to money and they have to make a living, so I don't judge them at all. But mature women are looking for role models, real women to look to and aspire to excellent health and a beautiful physique, so there is a very large underserved market out there. We need more healthy raw ladies to step up and provide RAWking role models to the mature women out there!

I am raw vegan, and trying to gain muscle by lifting heavy. I am a figure competitor, so my type of physique may not be what you are looking for. I tend to be too skinny, especially in my legs, so I really have to work hard for every ounce of muscle. I am 119 lbs, but I leg press 475 lbs, usually for 6-8 reps, for example. I do kettlebells, deadlifts, plyometrics, etc., all to try to get bigger legs.

I have also found that most women are really afraid of the myth that they will bulk up and get too muscular if they lift heavy. If only that were possible for most of us! It is true for some, but they are by far the exception and not the rule.

Another is that most women have been conditioned to believe that they can't do certain things that they feel are 'men-only' exercises. Like pullups. Guys and ladies are both shocked when they see me doing pullups. Guys say they have never seen a woman do pullups. The ladies always say "I could never do that" to which I say---that's because you believe you can't! Sure, you have to work up to it, like anything else. But most women really have a fear of heavy weightlifting exercises, until they try them and see the great results! ;)

Good luck to you! Go raw, and go for it! You can do anything you set your mind to. RAWk on!

[rawbabymama]

I've been lurking around on this thread a while. It is really nice to see raw women (or really any women) who don't just want to be thin like actresses and models. I'm really excited about lowering my body fat percentage more with being 100% raw - I have dropped about 5-6% since June thanks to weight training, and I know this will happen faster w/an all raw diet.

I recently canceled my subscription to Women's Health magazine because the models, most of them, were just slender and had little visible muscles. I don't find this inspiring. I am content to lower my body fat percentage & build muscle; this means I will be at least 200lb when I am at my final body fat percentage goal (17%-20%; I've seen pictures of quite a few women at that level and I was very happy with how they looked).

Thanks for posting this thread :).

[Cerellia]

I have started with muscle built-up workouts but I'm also doing cardio. Of course, I want to be slim but I also want to have a shapely body with a decent amout of muscles.