Raw Vegan Bodybuilding

[tglasco4]

Okay. I am doing this experiment. I am doing a bodybuilding-style workout schedule for the next 12 weeks (well 11 weeks now, first is done). I want to see if I can add 10lbs of muscle to my frame with no supplements and of course no animal products. Just Raw fruits, veggies, nuts and grains (well the bulgar isnt raw but I am fine with that).

Someone posted this raw vegan BB site and now I can't find it :mad: . Can't someone repost some of those sites so I can see them? I'll be most appreciative.

Peace.

Todd

[Revvell]

http://www.charliesgym.info/

Revvell

[tglasco4]

Thanks Revvell........that was one of them. The other one was

www.veganbodybuilding.com

feels like an itch that got scratched....... :p

Peace.

Todd

[rawfigure]

Todd,

Great, are you going to Journal your progress or just post from time to time ?

I am doing the opposite of you, starting my summer lean out regime. My Goal is to get my bodyfat down about 5% and maintain my muscle. It was a fairly easy task in the past. I would increase my prtein to about 60% of diet reduce fat and carbs to about 20% each. Always worked well. It will be interesting to see how it goes with my green drinks and fruit in the diet, no meat protein. A challenge !!

[Revvell]

When I was lifting extensively ~ originally I was not vegetarian. Did the whole animal protein thing. I was quite bulky.

After I became veggie (not raw), I lifted and my partner was amazed at how big and cut I became ~ and, how quickly. Of course, his comment was ~ if you can do that as a vegetarian, imagine how you'd look w/ animal protein. Well, been there, done that. No one ever marveled at my bulk yet, I had plenty of offers to go pro as a partner to another as a veggie.

It will be interesting to see/read what happens w/ you two ~ and possibly myself as well as I'm thinking of going back to the gym after our move. This time, age will also be a factor. (stopped lifting about 20 years ago)

Revvell

[tglasco4]

Todd,

Great, are you going to Journal your progress or just post from time to time ?

I am doing the opposite of you, starting my summer lean out regime. My Goal is to get my bodyfat down about 5% and maintain my muscle. It was a fairly easy task in the past. I would increase my prtein to about 60% of diet reduce fat and carbs to about 20% each. Always worked well. It will be interesting to see how it goes with my green drinks and fruit in the diet, no meat protein. A challenge !!

I am going to post on the FromSadtoRaw site because I dont want to take up any more space on this site. The journal area is designed for people doing the 30 day challenge so I don't want to take away from that. But I will post my intake and workouts on the above-mentioned site.

Rawfigure, you weigh 118lbs right? Don't you have to increase muscle mass for the lean look? :confused: I have read where bodybuilders bulk up during the "off-season" then really restrict their calories and do higher amounts of cardio to get lean and cut. But on raw I would think one would just have to build the muscle mass which would reduce the bodyfat percentage....I dont know :rolleyes:

Always learning.

Peace.

Todd

[rawfigure]

I am going to post on the FromSadtoRaw site because I dont want to take up any more space on this site. The journal area is designed for people doing the 30 day challenge so I don't want to take away from that. But I will post my intake and workouts on the above-mentioned site.

Rawfigure, you weigh 118lbs right? Don't you have to increase muscle mass for the lean look? :confused: I have read where bodybuilders bulk up during the "off-season" then really restrict their calories and do higher amounts of cardio to get lean and cut. But on raw I would think one would just have to build the muscle mass which would reduce the bodyfat percentage....I dont know :rolleyes:

Always learning.

Peace.

Todd

Yes the Bodybuilding subject is very loaded with info to learn. It also can get pretty involved. So for time and t protect you from a long post I will keep this simple.

Generally in the Off season the goal is too add muscle. In the quest for muscle you need to train heavy eat more food and reduce cardio. Simple right. While doing that most BB's Figure and Fitness Competitors add weight, most Girls I know trying to keep in a ten pound weight gain range. Then come contest time you have to strip off the fat you gained to show the muscle on stage...then you diet and do cardio to get lean and lose some of the new muscle in the process. It is a game that has to be learned to play..well !

So it is not as simple as adding muscle to get lean.

On stage I am 114 range, week before the show I need to be at 118. So off season I go up to 128 (where I am now..) in the quest to put back on the muscle I may have lost dieting for shows, and maybe add a few new pds of muscle. So due to what I wrote above I have decided to retire from competition for now. It is very un balanced way of life and mentally and physically depleting. It is also difficult with my DH, he hates it when I get 16 weeks out from a show...then hates how I complain when I go back to a normal weight after the show and my bodyfat goes up and abs smooth over....ho hum....so now I just want to get to 121-124 range and stay there. It is my bodies favorite most comfy place to be, balance of muscle and lean w/o being extreme one way or another !!!!!!!

[Universal]

Peace Todd,

Congrats on this experiment! I happened to roll across a bobybuilding website just last night and a similar idea creeped into my head (crazy timing!) I'm definitely going to track my body shape and develop a well designed plan before i take it to that level. I'll check out that website to see what kind of progress you're making! Should turn out great for you...

PEACE
Universal

[Denise Nicole]

rawfigure ,

It sounds like you have it all worked out! I will probably have many questions for you. :D

You said your about 128 now (off season), #1 - May I ask how tall you are?

[edie]

Rawfigure,
Read your post... I am with you, it's a crazy world of BB out there . That is why I am retired. :D Edie

[rawfigure]

Seasiren..I am 5'6 1/2 "...there are a few pictures from last year show in my Journal.

Edie, yes I was going to do a June Show, my dh started in, giving me a hard time and I started into my obsessive mindset, and decided NOT to put myself through this right now !

So now to lose those few pounds I put on thinking I would be dieting down for a show !

Leslie

[Denise Nicole]

Awesome pictures!

[tglasco4]

Right Siren. Rawfigure looks like she is about 25 years old. Raw and iron do a body good ;) .

Peace.

Todd

[rawfigure]

Gee Todd thanks for the compliment...and to think I will be 45 in a few weeks..wow..you are right 18 yrs of weight training & a lifetime of cardio of some sort, has paid off. Not to mention a good diet, albeit not raw at that time but still pretty clean.

[rawfigure]

Seasiren..I see you post on the vegen BB site. Do you plan on competing ?

[Denise Nicole]

Seasiren..I see you post on the vegen BB site. Do you plan on competing ?
Competing? no I am interested in promoting fitness and the veganism. I modeled for a time (nothing huge) and have recently decided to pursue it again to push veganism toward main stream fitness.

I'm not sure I could do what you do (very well I might add), lol.

[jaurequi]

That's wonderful if you decide to do a show, Rawfigure :) Post some pictures if you do!
If you compete raw, is that something you tell the judges? Or is it a certain ("raw")competition you would compete? Or a "regular" one?

[tglasco4]

Competing? no I am interested in promoting fitness and the veganism. I modeled for a time (nothing huge) and have recently decided to pursue it again to push veganism toward main stream fitness.

I'm not sure I could do what you do (very well I might add), lol.


I feel the exact same way. I just want to promote fitness and health. The Raw Vegan lifestyle represents a large part of the health message to me. If I can in any way help others seek out and attain health, I want to do it.

One myth about raw veganism that is already being dispelled from my recent experience is the myth of getting too skinny. At least 95% of my diet is basic raw produce.
The other 5% (if that much) is raw nuts, dried fruit and bulgar wheat. This is only my second week doing the bodybuilding workouts and my weight has already started to edge up. I also am getting stronger and recovering quicker. Last week, for example I used 55lb dumbells for 5 sets of dumbell presses. I can already feel it may be too light, although I will stay with it a few more weeks before increasing my poundages just to be safe. As we continue to be living testimonies, the lives of many people will be helped and some of those saved from early graves.

peace.

Todd

[tglasco4]

Well this is my 12th (and final) week of my "experiment". I have not taken my measurements yet (I will do that next Sunday and post before and afters). I will definitely continue with this style of "bodybuilding" indefinitely as I really love pumping iron. I have definitely gained weight and I believe its muscle. I know at this point I am at 203lbs today (I lost 7lbs last week as a result of detox). I think my weight is slowly coming back from the detox episode or whatever weight is supposed to come back. Right now that makes me 8lbs heavier than when I started (195lbs) 11 weeks ago. I have a feeling it will be more in the next few days but even 8lbs in 11 weeks is very good for anyone trying to add muscle. The Raw way is the best way!! Today I did over 100 squats, 58 of them with a pair of 95lb dumbbells. As I continue to progress, I think I will see wonderful results. The Recovery time on Raw is amazing.

[swingbolder]

Todd, have you been to thegardendiet.com?

They have a new ebook out about building muscle mass on the raw vegan diet.

[tglasco4]

Todd, have you been to thegardendiet.com?

They have a new ebook out about building muscle mass on the raw vegan diet.


I get emails from them daily. I read about the new ebook. I think Storm looks great for his age (well for any age actually), but I don't think his type of build is what I am looking to build. He is built more like a middle distance runner to me. I think his style of muscle-building leans to that look (no pun intended). I am looking to see if I can pack on more hard muscle mass with the raw diet. Over the next year I will be able to tell if I can or not, so far, though at the very infant stage, it looks like I will be able to. Thanks for the heads up though.

Peace..

Todd

[veganman]

Hi Todd -

great thread. I am also into bodybuilding. Not competing, just for me.

Today is my first day 100% raw, so I am going to see how it goes.

You mentioned interested in veganbodybuilding.com. That is a great site, but Robert is not a raw lifter.

You mention that your diet is 95% is produce. Can you tell me more about what types of foods you eat? One of my standbys for breakfast and dinner was cooked grains. I am trying soaked or sprouted grains and they are just too difficult to eat enough of (not tasting too good). I do eat lentil sprouts, fruit, some nuts (increasing that to compensate for the decrease in grain) and carrots, celery, kale, broccoli, collards, beets, etc. I tend to lose weight quickly if I am not careful.

Any suggestion/thoughts would be great.

[swingbolder]

He is built more like a middle distance runner to me. I think his style of muscle-building leans to that look (no pun intended). I am looking to see if I can pack on more hard muscle mass with the raw diet.

I hear ya. . . along the same lines, I have my first appt. with a personal trainer at the YMCA who is going to orient me to the weight room and help me figure out a routine. I'm a novice. Can anyone suggest what I should eat beforehand. I am a "yoga head" type who is used to not eating anything for at least 3 hours before I work out, but I understand that with weight training I may need some protein (nut milk or greens) maybe an hour or so before hand. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, would such a meal differ first thing in the morning as opposed to a workout later on in the day?

Many thanks, for all and any opinions.

[squidly]

I lift weights (though not seriously) and have done so on and off for 13 years. While raw (still battling with all raw) I eat bananas alot when lifting weights as well as green smoothies. I find any fruit good recovery for me and Dr graham seems to send this message too. I am sure Alissa could provide some advice on this question though.

[tglasco4]

Well I have finished my 12 week bodybuilding "experiment". What a learning experience it has been. I learned that a raw vegan can truly gain muscle (and fat) on a raw diet. Here are some before and after measurements:

Chest: before- 43" / After-45"

Biceps: Before 16"/ After 17"

Waist: Before 34"/ After 35" (I don't like this one) :mad:

Thigh: Before 24.5"/ After 26"

Weight: Before 195lbs/ After 205lbs

So over the 12 weeks I gained about 10lbs. My waist is an inch bigger I believe its because I have been consuming alot more whole nuts (which I will now cut back on) during the process. I will continue to pump iron (I really love it) and I believe my body will continue to develop over the coming months and years. I am changing my routine alittle for the next 10-12 weeks. I am going to what is called a 4 day split routine and doing my running twice per week (cardio). My wife will be taking photos on Sunday and hopefully I can post them sometime next week. My intake today was:

Breakfast:
2 large bananas, 32oz of OJ

Snack: 1 cup of dried mango with 1oz of almonds

Lunch:
Large salad with shredded carrots and cashew cheese dressing and about 2 cups of white bulgar wheat.

Later: 32oz of water with a slice of lemon.

Exercise:

3 sets of dumbbell shoulder shrugs
2 sets of dumbbell upright rows
3 sets of forearm curls
330 ab crunches

3 mile run.

Peace.

[sport]

Did you check your %fat before and after and what was the difference.

[tglasco4]

Did you check your %fat before and after and what was the difference.

No, I actually never did check my body fat %. I really don't know where to get that done (except maybe at a local gym).

Peace.

Todd

[Denise Nicole]

You mentioned interested in veganbodybuilding.com. That is a great site, but Robert is not a raw lifter.

It is a great site! Robert is not a raw lifter, but there are several Raw lifters who frequent the board. Check out Robbie (high Raw) and Bigwii (Raw) as well as several others.

[veganman]

My intake today was:

Breakfast:
2 large bananas, 32oz of OJ

Snack: 1 cup of dried mango with 1oz of almonds

Lunch:
Large salad with shredded carrots and cashew cheese dressing and about 2 cups of white bulgar wheat.

Later: 32oz of water with a slice of lemon.



Hi Todd -

I just ran this through Nutridiary and it came up with 1500 calories, 33g (8%)protein, 22g fat (12%). That seems a bit low on the nutrients. Are you trying to lose weight?

[tglasco4]

Hi Todd -

I just ran this through Nutridiary and it came up with 1500 calories, 33g (8%)protein, 22g fat (12%). That seems a bit low on the nutrients. Are you trying to lose weight?

Actually on Fitday, the bulgar wheat is 500 calories per cup. Also, I use about 1/3 cup of the cashew dressing (which fitday only has as a almond paste so that is what ai use). I have gained weight following this diet although, I admit this day's menu was a little lighter than my normal fare. I plugged the menu into nutridiary and it came out with 2781.

Todd