I used to do strength training. (I didn't get any bulk or anything - just toned.) Now, that kind of exercise doesn't feel "right" when I do it. I'm wondering what kind of exercises raw vegans are doing to stay fit. For anyone doing strength training, do you do anything special with your diet?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2012 06:52PM by RawPlease.

I do swimming, elliptic machine, and power walking. Whatever exercise I do, I give it all I got (fast pace). I take protein supplements of hemp seeds and Chlorella and I am doing pretty good.

What about hatha yoga?

Isometric exercises are for me the best, you can exercise anywhere, do not need to wait for the gym. [www.amazon.com]
Just like raw food, it becomes part of your life, you are your own gym.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2012 08:54PM by madinah.

I cant be of much assitance here but I will try. I would keep resistance training and what ever else you enjoy! Make sure you are getting enough carbs in the form of sprouted grains, and enough fat in whatever you enjoy the most. Soaked Nuts seem to give me the most energy.

Yes, I agree to continue with the resistance training, that's great for toning, increasing strength and to reverse bone density loss. Other than that, yoga is great for streching exercises and my favourite pilates, that's a must do for strengthening the core muscles which will allow you to perform all other exercises properly and with ease.

Cheers, jalan x

I do weight training
running (sprints and distance)
stair climbing
walking
elliptical
bike
yoga
circuit training (with light weights)

High fruit, low-moderate fat, plenty of greens, get enough calories. No powders, just real fresh foods!

swimming, skating (ice adn wheels) , biking, yoga, tai chi , qi gong, strength traing on free weights and machines , and body weight exercises, and of course sex

...Jodi, the banana eating buddhist

Weight training has also been different for me since becoming raw. The gains are not as much but it's still good for toning. Before raw I was gorging protein shakes and egg whites. Back then it seemed there was more of a "purpose" to bench press, but now it's much less hardcore and I hardly go to failure anymore but I might change that soon.

Other then that, just walking and bike riding.

Yoga, walking, cardio workouts, weight training. I agree with Jalan that resistance training is necessary to prevent bone loss and to retain muscle tone.

I just make sure I eat sufficient calories and I've had no problems.

Yoga and walking are the only ones that don't get me feeling dizzy when I'm 100% raw. Yoga is fantastic when 100%. They were made for each other. I get dizzy when I have sex, but I don't think that has anything to do with diet.

There is no perfect excersise for raw vegans. It will depend entirely on you and your bodies needs. Some raw vegans are good weightlifters, though I am awful with them. Diet is irrelevant in regards to what excersise you like doing.

If diet is irrelevant to the exercise I'm doing and I want to run an ultra-marathon, according to your logic, it doesn't make any difference if I train on a strict diet of filet-mignon or a strict diet of carbs. The results will be the same. Sorry, but you're wrong.

There is virtually no such thing as a "good" raw vegan weightlifter when relatively compared to weightlifters who eat meat. They're not in the same league.

Yoga is the perfect raw vegan exercise for ME.


WanderRA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is no perfect excersise for raw vegans. It
> will depend entirely on you and your bodies needs.
> Some raw vegans are good weightlifters, though I
> am awful with them. Diet is irrelevant in regards
> to what excersise you like doing.

Weightlifting is fantastic for men my age (mid 40s). The testosterone boost from weightlifting plus a healthy diet keeps me feeling better than I did in my 20s. Slowing muscular atrophication is nice too. I believe that the weightlifting I do now will really pay off as I start to enter "old age." All men should lift weights, not for the aesthetics, but for the testosterone and to keep those muscles strong.

THeSt0rm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I like martial arts. Specifically traditional
> martial arts perhaps with a focus on internal
> work. Not that MMA is bad but I tend to lean more
> towards progressive MMA if I had to choose MMA.
> Ultimately though you will have to take the
> progressive MMA route if you want to be effective.
> Traditional arts provide a good foundation, but we
> also live in the modern day. ALL MMA practitioners
> eventually have to go to the roots and use
> traditional practices. All martial arts stem from
> traditional/ancient practices and many of which
> are timeles. I practice kung fu now, deriving from
> many styles of Chinese martial arts. They already
> come with internal practices.
>
> Otherwise yoga is good. Walking, running (but not
> in excess really unless that is your Life lol...
> and with minimalist style shoes) Tai chi, qigong.
>
> Flexibility is very important to me. If you can
> train with weights and do it properly with a good
> amount of stretching and not going too far I think
> it's good. Body building however seems to be more
> for aesthetics than health. A fellow bodybuilder
> consuming masive amounts of protein once told me
> "nobody said bodybuilding was healthy..." Not that
> you can't also focus on aesthetics but if that's
> your only goal at the cost of health I would not
> do it.

There are so many good replies in this thread. I like seeing what everyone is doing for new ideas. I'll keep toning and try something new too.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 04:22PM by RawPlease.

I greatly enjoy lifting. I didn't start lifting (aside from my own bodyweight exercises) until 2 years ago or so. 2.5 years after going raw (now at 4.5).

True. Weightlifting to excess is bad news. You don't want to release stress hormones. I have a set of dumbbells at home. My routine, with heavy weights, takes about 15 minutes yet is highly effective.

On a "heavy" exercise day, I'll walk for 30-45 minutes in the mountains, do advanced yoga for 40 minutes, and finish with 15 minutes on the weights. This ensures that I feel like a middle-aged god.

The "mountains" of IL-IN border?

I grew up in Chicago and left in my mid-20s. I now live in Appalachia. Don't think I could handle permanent residence in the Chicagoland area again. I prefer the unaffected, simple wisdom of "hillbillies" and deer. That Chicago accent is worse than fingernails across a chalkboard. I'm so proud of myself for finally learning to not pronounce the word "pop" as "pap."



banana who Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The "mountains" of IL-IN border?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 09:19PM by HeavenHands.

Correction: pAHHHp. The flat A is pronounced like AH. But not all of us grew up in Bridgeport so it's not that pronounced! I don't know if you are familiar with the sports guy Mike North, but he is a perfect example of DAT AHHHxcent.

How is it that only I know about, or advocate 'pilates' as a good form of exercise? It's much like yoga, but specialises in the core muscle area (stomach muscles).

It was developed by a French man named Pilate', and it was primarily made to help men who were fighting in the war (not sure if it was 1st or 2nd world war).

After the war, it seems that more women than men became involved in practicing 'Pilates'. Now, the stereotype is complete, as even the name (pilates) sounds a little poofy, and most men wouldn't be caught dead doing it.

But hey, if you want a six-pack, do Pilated guys.....

All I hear from people around there is "pap." I see what you're saying though. Chicagoans always think that they don't talk like that, but they always do.

banana who Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Correction: pAHHHp. The flat A is pronounced like
> AH. But not all of us grew up in Bridgeport so
> it's not that pronounced! I don't know if you are
> familiar with the sports guy Mike North, but he is
> a perfect example of DAT AHHHxcent.

I do shownumping (horseriding), salsa dancing, and running plus a bit of gym every now and then. Also walking during some weekends, and occasional cycling.