Archive for the ‘Vegan diet’ category

On the bike – Triathlon training on a Vegan sugar free diet!

September 13th, 2009

My first long cycle today. 30 miles in 2 legs – riding time 2 1/2 hours, I’ve got some work to do before the triathlon!

I still feel like I’m going through a detox after cutting out sugar and wheat a couple of weeks ago, following Brendan Braziers advice. In his book he asures me that once I’m through this fatigue, headaches, diarrhea and nausea, my energy levels will escalate. I can’t wait!

Today felt hard and I was really drained afterwards and even felt a little faint. I had a sauna session this evening to help the muscle recovery by eliminating the toxin build up.

Sugar Debt in Sport

September 10th, 2009

Since a week before I started training I’ve stopped eating sugar, (drinking alcohol and caffiene) .

Today is the first day I’ve experienced sugar cravings (which I haven’t given in to!)

The last couple of days have been really busy and I’ve felt more tired than usual, feeling the need for a boost!

Yesterday was a rest from exercise and tonight I didn’t feel like going to the gym and also thought I wouldn’t have time. However, I decided I could squeeze a 15 minute road run in. 15 min soon turned into 30 and I felt so much better for it.

As for the sugar cravings; sugar gives us a false high which then results in an energy debt which has to be repayed.

Following a sugar high we experience a low as the body repays its debt, this low makes us feel tired and we crave even more sugar and stimulants, if we satisfy this craving we build an even bigger debt, becoming trapped in an downward spiral, towards low energy levels and fatigue. The only way to break this cycle is to stop the stimulants such as caffeine and sugar (or detox). When detoxing you may feel more tired to begin with, once over this period, energy levels rise rapidly.

So the next time you eat something sweet to give you a boost, remember the debt you will have to pay!

Triathlon Training – Eating Raw

September 8th, 2009

Today, I was feeling great after yesterdays rest and some good food.

Tonights gym session consisted of a 15min spin, 15min interval run, 8min row (stopped early as it’s aggravating my huge blister!), 15 cross trainer and some core strengthening exercises and leg stretches.

Todays Vegan diet consisted of: rye bread and tomato for breakfast.

Lunch; green salad with walnuts, spelt pasta, olive oil and hommus, I snacked on soaked almonds, brazil nuts and dried figs.

Tonights dinner was a selection of raw fruit and vegetables; tomatos, avocado, suger snap peas, peppers and cucumber with olive oil and Hommus.

Brendan Braizer – Vegan Iron man, talks about the importance of a higly raw diet as cooking destroys the important enzymes in food responsible for energy production. Cooked food also puts extra stress on the body during digestion.

I’ve also managed over 4 litres of water today; some included a pH ion green supplement, baking soda and elecrolytes.

I’m really starting to feel the benefits of being wheat and sugar free, I’m waking much easier in the morning and not feeling the need for an afternoon nap.

Triathlon Training Rest Day

September 7th, 2009

Today is a day off from training, I’m sure as my fitness increases and the Triathlon gets nearer there won’t be many of these. I have no aches from yesterdays gym session and feel really good.

As for nutrition today, breakfast consisted of toasted Rye bread with tomato, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Snacks; Banana, apple and dry figs

Lunch; green salad with spelt pasta and hommus

Dinner: Aubergine and Okra red Thai curry and rice.

Supplements: pH Ion greens and I add baking soda to all my water which I have drank about 3 litres.

Sunday 6th Sept was my 2nd gym session with my new program. It felt much easier the 2nd time.

The session consisted of a 15 cross trainer, 15 min interval session on the spinning bike, 15 min interval session on the treadmill and weights for arm and core strengthening.

It was Sunday lunch with the In-laws, always more challenging when following a diet plan. Luckily there was plenty of vegetables so I ate those and stayed well clear of the roast beef. Dinner consisted of a small salad and rye bread, breakfast was rye bread and avocado.

As usual I drank several litres of water with baking soda to alkalise my body.

Training for a triathlon on a vegan diet

September 6th, 2009

Hello,

Welcome to the first entry into my Triathlon training diary.

This began a couple of weeks ago on holiday, me and my boyfriend Jon were writing our goals and both realised we had the same goal of competing in a Triathlon. Both recovering from injury, me an Achilles tendon tear and Jon a slipped disc, we felt it would be a good goal to motivate us at returning to fitness.

I have been mainly vegan for a couple of years and am keen to disprove the myths about the need for animal protein and dairy in sport.

My belief (and I have read and seen plenty of evidence to support it) is that the human body is vegan by design and a vegan diet is far superior to an animal product diet. Producing amazing results in energy levels, weight, clear skin, bright eyes and recovery time.

Before turning vegan I had a high meat and diary diet, being a farmers daughter. I decided to try a 28 day detox just out of curiosity, the detox was meat, diary, sugar, caffiene, wheat, fish and processed food free. I was astounded by the results and didn’t want to go back.