Armed and Dangerous Vegan Protein

By Brenda Carey On March 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Aunt Flo is visiting (you’re thinking, uh oh, here comes another story about not taking any crap from guys at the gym—but no, I am getting along with everyone, so don’t get your spandex in a wad). I am just sayin’—that until she leaves I will be working nothing but arms and calves. The reason for this is that working areas closer to my uterus seems to bring on cramps and working areas far away from the uterus seems to stop cramps. During this time of the month, I’m a simple gal—I will avoid almost anything that will cause cramps and I will do almost anything that will stop them. (For more on avoiding cramps and for some yoga that helps, visit my yoga website: www.thelifeofbliss.com. I will be posting tips and a new video this week—something’s got me thinking about it this week… ).

Anyways, back away from my uterus and focus on my arms— I am feeling really cool these days at the gym as I’m curling and shoulder pressing 25 lb dumbells. I’ve never been this strong in my life. I notice guys at the gym looking at me as I move these big weights around like they’re thinking “whoa, she’s strong for a girl”. It’s very cool. But at the same time, my arms don’t look that big, especially when I’m not flexing. Women who are worried about getting big “guy like” arms from lifting weights are either way more genetically gifted to put on muscle than most (unlikely), or they are just plain silly for having that concern (most probable). I don’t expect that you will be able to see the muscles on my arms when I’m not

flexing until I am using the 30 lbs dumbells at least. Bummer for me, good news for those of you who don’t want to look muscularly fabulous (silly, silly girls). Good news for all of us, lifting weights like this makes your arms firm and toned right away. Here’s my workout from last night:

Shoulder press Roc It Machine: 10 reps/62 lbs, 10 reps/69 lbs, 4 reps/69 lbs (drop set to) 6 reps/62 lbs
Lateral Shoulder Raise: 8 reps/50 lbs X 3, 8 reps/40 lbs x 2
Dumbell Shoulder Press: 4 reps/25 lbs, 6 reps/22.5 lbs X 2
Full Range of Motion Arm Curls: 6 reps/25 lbs (drop set to) 6 reps/22.5 lbs X 2, 8 reps/22.5 lbs

And, here is what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast (46 g protein): smoothie with bananas, frozen cherries, frozen blueberries, 2 oz wheat grass (2 g protein), 1 packet frozen acai with added protein (7 g protein), 1.5 cups soy milk (10 g protein), 1 scoop Vega Sport Performance Protein (20 g protein), 1/2 scoop Vega Complete Whole Food Optimizer (7 g protein)
Snack (35 g protein): 2 slices of toasted tofu bread (24 g protein) with 2 Tbsps of peanut butter (7 g protein) with large cup of nettle Tea with 1/2 cup soy milk (4 g protein)
Lunch (39 g protein): 2 cups quinoa (24 g protein) with red peppers and lemon pepper tempeh (15 g protein)
Snack: large cup of nettle tea with 1/2 cup soy milk (4 g protein)
Snack: Builder’s Bar (20 g protein)
Dinner (46 g protein): tofu scramble (12 g protein) with 2 cups cooked spinach(10 g protein), daiaya mozzarella cheese, oregano, basil and lemon pepper with 2 slices of tofu toast (24 g protein) topped with cherry jam
Before Bed (36 g protein): smoothie with bananas, frozen cherries, 2 oz wheat grass (2 g protein), 2 cups soy milk (14 g protein), and 1 scoop of Vega Sport Performance Protein (20 g protein)
Total: 226 grams of protein for the day!!!