“Have-It-All Protein” & Calf Workout

I was watching a popular TV show about health today and the “experts” were advising people to eat more protein so that they don’t lose muscle mass while dieting, and to somehow also eat more fiber and colorful vegetables.  It was as if they couldn’t imagine the protein coming from sources that also provide the antioxidants of vegetables and the health benefits of fiber.  Sure, they mentioned (very briefly) that protein can be found in legumes, but did not go into that, at all.  They also referred to a mound of brown rice simply as “carbs” and “grains” and acted as if it is unfortunate that you have to eat this stuff, but reluctantly admitted that you should eat a little, which seemed so ignorant to me.  There are so many wonderful grains that are high in protein as well as important nutrients like magnesium, iron, lysine, potassium, phosphorus and numerous vitamins, including several important B vitamins.  What a shame that all of these “experts” are so ignorant about wonderful, fabulous vegan protein.  It isn’t necessary for anyone to fill their bodies with cholesterol and saturated fat in order to get protein. We really can “have it all” nutritionally, if we just get our protein from plant sources.

For instance, here’s what I ate yesterday:

• Breakfast (53 g protein): smoothie with bananas, 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 scoop Spirutein (14 g protein) and 1 tsp L-glutamine
• Snack: peanuts (15 g protein)
• Lunch (50 g protein): 2 cups Kamut spiral pasta (40 g protein), 2 cups cooked spinach (10 g protein)
• Snack: nori seaweed snack pack (2 g protein)
• Dinner (51 g protein): 3 slices toasted Julian’s Bakery  ”Tofu bread”, made with Amaranth, Kamut and Millet (30 g protein) with 2 Tbsp peanut butter (7 g protein), and large glass of soy milk (14 g protein)
• Pre-Workout (53 g protein): smoothie with bananas, 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 scoop Spirutein (14 g protein) and 1 tsp L-glutamine
• After Workout (36 g protein): smoothie with bananas, frozen blueberries, 2 oz wheat grass (2 g protein), 2 cups soy milk (14 g protein), 1 scoop Vega Sport Performance Protein (20 g protein), and 1 tsp L-glutamine
• Total 258 g protein for the day!!!

And, here’s my fabulous calf workout from last night (S means toes straight, O means toes pointed out and I mean toes pointed in, combinations mean a set of each):

• 5 minutes of cardio on elliptical machine, level 15, on toes
• Calf Press Roc It Machine: 15 reps/138 lbs S, 10 reps/274 lbs S, 15 reps/274 lbs OI, 12 reps/342 lbs SOI, 10 reps/444 lbs, 8 reps/478 lbs S, 5 reps/478 lbs OI, 10 reps/274 lbs SOI
• Regular Calf Press Machine: 10 reps/145 SOI, 10 eps/100 lbs SOI, 12 eps/100 SI, 12 reps/85 lbs O
• Seated Calf Raise (with plates): 15 reps/100 lbs SI, 15 reps/90 lbs OSI, 15 reps/80 lbs SOI, 8 reps/45 lbs O X 5
• 5 minutes of cardio on elliptical machine, level 15, on toes

Note: When I went to the gym, I was having some pretty bad “lady time” cramps, but after this workout I felt amazing and was able to sleep like a baby last night (instead of being up all night with cramps).  Just goes to show you that women really benefit from working out during this time of the month!  Big time!  Even if you don’t feel like dragging yourself off the couch and to the gym, do it anyways.  If you keep the workout to a region of the body sufficiently far away from the abdomen and you don’t overdo it, you’ll feel so much better afterwards that you’ll be glad you did it!