Paving a new path in fitness and bodybuilding…
I’ve been trained to focus on a high protein, low carb diet for bodybuilding and weight loss/fitness training. I’m not saying it was wrong. I lost a ton of weight, added a ton of muscle and loved my overall physique. But, I’ve been reading…..
I hated the carb crashing and moodiness around 5pm because I was starving for energy.
Soooo, now, we’re going to try something new.
I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. But, you can follow me on my journey. I’m going to keep up to date via video, podcasts and regular posts. And for the record…I hate being on film or photos unless I am completely lean and makeup and hair done just so. Fault the years I spent as student model for my mother’s photography classes. I try to avoid the camera. Professional shots are WELL planned.
I’m going to place myself in front of it. Mostly, just to see if what I think can be done, can, in fact, be done.
What are we doing?
Ohhh, so glad you asked. We’re going VEGAN! And, we’re going to be bodybuilding and doing martial arts.
Yes, I’m crazy. But, I’m also determined. I needed a new goal, and this is it. It feels right. I love bodybuilding and martial arts. This from the person who never competed in sports growing up or had any inclination to do anything other than roller skate and ride her bike. I was not an athlete.
I am now.
After the Lean Down
My new mantra….I am a bodybuilder. Not as dedicated as others I know, but I’ve dipped my toes in and kinda like it. *winks* Actually, I love the goal setting and putting the work in.
I am a marital artist. Again, not as dedicated as many I know, but I do love it and think everyone should learn the basics. And, I love the goal setting and putting the work in.
Do we sense a theme here? I might have lost my way for awhile. I’m back now.
But, there are challenges.
My Challenges.
I ‘ve gained weight. OMG, my mother is in heaven over that. I’ve always been a lightweight, ignored foods, etc. But something switched in my body over the last few years (we’ll blame AGE) and now, I’m going to have to work my tail off, literally, to get and stay in good shape. I’m “about” 15lbs too heavy, but considering I was way too light when Bodybuilding the first time….this time, I have a better platform to work with. If I lean down the right way? Oh hell….my overall muscle tone will just shine.
I’m turning 37 in a few weeks. OMG, I’m inching into my late 30′s. ACK. Insert meltdown here. Yeah, ah no. Sorry. Age is a number. Did you know the human body is actually designed to live HUNDREDS of years? We just are so bad about taking care of it, it fails on us. Bad humans. LOL.
Seriously, why now? Well, I need to do something. I’m not happy with myself. So, it’s a good time to focus and make those changes. Time to get the energy levels up!
I’ve been doing a lot of reading. Always a sure sign I’m about to make a change.
Here’s the change.
Cameron Shaye
I’ve slowly been working more raw food meals and vegetarian meals into my overall day. Now, we’re going mainstream…it still may be a slower process than others have done, but my goal is vegan. Not just vegetarian, but pure vegan (good bye my beloved cheeses….sighs). And a bodybuilder/martial artist to boot. I’ve seen some great articles recently. Cameron Shayne the creator of Budokon is Vegan. You go check out his site….look at him, and tell me you can’t be healthy and ripped as a Vegan. Go on….see picture….really….do it.
I’ll be chronicling my progress, or lack there of, here. If you’re not interested, just click through. I promise, I’ll still be adding in all the holistic information as well. I just notice on the days I eat more raw foods/vegan meals, I feel far more energetic. I’d like to see how that impacts my training and cardio. Plus…I’d like to skip the whole cancer/disease route. I love my vitamins, but think my foods could do a lot better.
And we could all do with less processed foods.
Tomorrow, mapping out a meal plan.
Namaste all.
Farming In Your Truck?
If you think you can’t create a garden anywhere, then these are the guys to prove you wrong!
Our household is going to attempt creating a vegetable garden, and planting a few fruit trees this year. We have the land. We should be using. Although, watching that video, there are creative ways around not even having the land! I first read about Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney in Natural Home Magazine. Our household has been slowly trying to make manageable changes – adding in solar tubes for lighting, capturing rain water, overall working to be more Green.
So, check out these motivational videos and put on your creative thinking cap…what can you grow that your family would love to eat? Where can you grow it?
Animal Empath for February 2010
As promised, we’re handing out another Monthly Award here! Today, in conjunction with Ingrid King and The Conscious Cat, we have created an Animal Empath Award. The Animal Empath Award is given to individuals who have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place for animals. It will be awarded once a month by Mind, Body, Spirit and The Conscious Cat. If you know one of these special human beings deserving of this award, please send a nomination e-mail to Stacia Kelly or Ingrid King for consideration.
Cindy Ingram – Animal Empath Award
February 2010
Animal Empath February 2010
Cindy Ingram is the founder of Casey’s House, a private rescue group in Bluemont, VA, that specializes in older and hard to adopt cats. Cindy has a special place in my heart because she rescued my precious little Buckley, the subject of Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, from a farm in southwestern Virginia, where she and about twenty other cats were kept in marginal living conditions.
Casey’s House is named after Cindy’s beloved tabby cat, who came to live with her when she was fifteen years old. At first Cindy refused her entrance to her house, as she already had two cats and two dogs at the time. Casey, however, was not a cat to take no for an answer. Casey’s “home” at the time was a colony of some fifty cats, and she was probably getting tired of either not getting to her food on time, or eating off of filthy dishes. Every evening, Casey would be waiting on Cindy’s porch, obviously hungry, so Cindy would feed her. Slowly, but surely, Casey became a part of Cindy’s family. Eventually, four of her feline colony friends came to join Casey. Says Cindy: “Casey taught me to reach beyond my self-imposed limits, and her house is the dream that now has become a reality”.
In addition to providing a safe haven for older cats, Casey’s House also promotes Trap-Neuter-Return. Through this program, feral cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped. Cats that are friendly to humans and kittens are adopted into loving homes. Healthy feral cats are returned to their outdoor homes. Casey’s House spayed and neutered more than 200 cats in 2009, making a significant contribution to controlling the overpopulation problem.
Cindy created a wonderful environment for the cats. There are very few cages, most of the cats live in a large open room, filled with carpeted ramps, cat climbing towers, and lots of soft pillows and blankets for them to sleep on. New rescues and those with potential health conditions are kept in separate areas until they’ve been checked out by a veterinarian. What was really amazing to me was how peaceful the energy in that large room felt. All the cats seemed to get along, there was no hissing, posturing, or fighting. Cindy said in all the years she’s done this work, she’s only had one incident with two cats fighting. Casey’s House truly is a safe haven for cats in need.
Like all non-profit organizations, especially those helping animals, Casey’s House is struggling in these tough economic times. If you have a favorite shelter or rescue group that you support, please consider making a donation to them – they need your help now more than ever. And if you don’t already support a shelter, perhaps you’ll consider making a donation to Casey’s House in Buckley’s memory. Cindy and the cats at Casey’s House will thank you.
