Training whilst on a vegan diet?

[Jim_Noir]

Peanut butter yummmmmmm

My post long run dinner is a peanut butter stir fry... costs only about 2 quid to make....

As much mushrooms as you want... I used to use tofu too but to be honest the shrooms drown the taste of it.

Stir fry these bad boys with cashew nuts

In a put boil half a cup of water, add a splash of soy sauce, some dried chillies, garlic and Ginger.. when it’s boiled put in about three big blobs of peanut butter... let it melt then stick in to the wok... then add noodles.

There are two healthy peanut butter out there. peanut butter and co, is the best and only true vegan one there is... though it's expensive and I can only get it in one Tesco store. Then there is whole earth peanut butter, not really vegan if you are on the diet for ethical reasons (It has palm oil in it hence why we don’t touch it)... but since you are not then the whole earth stuff is fine, and can get it in most supermarkets.

 

[darkstar]

Thanks both of you, I've bought myself a pot of organic peanut butter, and I'll be sure to try out that recipe Jim.

Got a big pot of vegetable curry cooking at the moment, with mushrooms, Aubergine, Courgette, Butternut squash and chickpeas. Will eat it with brown rice, swam and weights today so a big portion

 

[XmisterIS]

There is absolutely no reason why you can't keep up your strength and fitness on a vegan diet. My diet isn't strictly vegan (I do eat fish and some meat), but I eat very little meat and I can't eat much dairy at all because of allergies. (I shouldn't eat any really, but I can't resist the occasional cheese on toast!) I cycle and go weight training and I don't have a problem maintaining strength.

Anyway, I digress. If you put together a nut (e.g. cashew) and a pulse (e.g. lentil), you make a complete protein. Also, plenty of chick peas, pumpkin seeds, etc, are excellent sources of complex carbs and protein. Eat that stuff with lots of fresh veg and a variety of grains - not just brown rice - that will get very boring! - try quinoa, millet, farika, etc. Also, fresh soya beans (you can get them in the frozen food section of the supermarket) are very tasty - just put them in boiling water, return them to the boil, then serve tossed in olive oil and a little soy sauce. They've got lots of protein and are generally excellent for you! Also, you can get vegan soy protein powder from health food shops - I take it with soya milk.

 

[darkstar]

Some great advice there mate, thanks. I'm gradually become more capable of providing a decent nutrition plan for myself, which is aided by the fact I have a bit more time now exams are over and more drive to make sure it's right. Today I've swum 2 miles, had lectures, now about to head off for a quick hour jog.

Days food has been;

Porridge (with soya milk) with 2 bananas and a slice of toast with peanut butter.

An apple, handful of mixed nuts and a oat bar.

Green juice (blended greens including spinach)

2 oranges, a pita bread filled with salad, cooked mushrooms, salsa and humous.

Brown rice and cooked vegetables with soy sauce. (I have this pre cooked in bulk and just microwave it)

Going to cook a pizza tonight, with mushrooms, olives, tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, olive oil and pesto. With a side salad.

Then a few beers tonight to ruin it

 

[Ravenbait]

Do you use a juicer at all for your green juice, or just a blender? I've been wanting to do more juice but the juicers are either a total faff to clean or horrendously expensive.

Sam

 

[darkstar]

Just a blender, as a decent juicer seems to be quite expensive, and the pulp is all a bit messy and a faff.

 

[darkstar]

4 days are left and then the month is up. Up to this point, although I've struggles at times I've found it easier than I first thought I would. I think thats largely down to experimenting with different recipes and ingredients. Avocado has been a good addition to the diet, as it's high in natural fats and calories. I'm currently spending 2 hours in the pool 6 days a week, and running 5 days a week. Longest run comes in at 18 miles, and I feel good for the majority of the time. Still a long way off the Lakeland 50, but i feel like I've got more than enough time. Off road training will start soon.

I've given a lot of thought to how my diet will change after this month is completed, and I've decided I'm going to eat meat twice a week. Before i was literally eating meat everyday, which is just unnecessary and bad for digestion. I'll be eating Egg whites as it's an easy for of protein. Though the Soya milk shall be staying for the majority of my diet, but I won't object to consuming milk.

This weekend will be the toughest test, I'm heading back home and my mum will inevitably serve up the Sunday roast (the last day f the challenge!) and cakes will be readily available. I'm also running a marathon, which will make the temptations even stronger.

Thanks for all the advice throughout the thread, it's been a massive help.

 

[ttcycle]

Well done mate! Glad to hear it's had some positive impact on how you eat in the future.

BTW how did the weekend go with the roast etc?

 

[darkstar]

Thanks a lot mate, it's had a massive impact, 5 days after I finished the month meat just isn't a huge part of my diet anymore.

The weekend was difficult, going to the rugby with mates of mine, then into town after for a night out. They were all getting kebabs (hard to resist when drunk!), then the roast was OK, as there were loads of vegetables and vegetable gravy! I won't be full vegan/vegetarian but I'm certainly a lot closer!

 

[ttcycle]

Good stuff! SO I take it you made the whole month as a vegan then? It's very positive that it's enabled you to make some wiser choices about food in the long run!

 

[darkstar]

Yes, the month was completed successfully. It certainly became easier to manage as the month went on, but it was still difficult when going out for a meal (impossible in one case). And yeh I'm happy that it's had a lasting positive effect, and I encourage anyone to give it a go now!

 

[montage]

Yes, the month was completed successfully. It certainly became easier to manage as the month went on, but it was still difficult when going out for a meal (impossible in one case). And yeh I'm happy that it's had a lasting positive effect, and I encourage anyone to give it a go now!

After reading this I've changed my diet slightly. Less meat, more fish, and far more veg meals..... I've noticed a bit of a difference, but the large amounts of beer are more than likely outweighing the majority of positive effects. Not sure I can really be bothered to try going vegan though, I get bored enough of shopping for ingredients as it is and it seems a lot of effort.

Glad it all worked out for you!

 

[darkstar]

Nice one mate good to hear it's had an effect on you. The beer can, and always will be an issue, but I've never found it to be worth giving up, it's one of he good things in life. I just keep it to once or twice a week. Now I've got a half IM added to the lakeland 50 to train for, it'll be increasingly left out of the diet

I usually can't be bothered to go shopping, and ASDA is only a 2 minute walk away. It's the hundreds of annoying people I hate, wading through them is not my idea of fun. You just need to get on with it though, but it sounds like your diet is fine as it is, so there's no need to change it too much.