Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

When I started the Shred It! challenge, I thought it was supposed to go 13 weeks. However, I discovered that the journal I've been using for the challenge will last a few weeks after the 13 weeks. I think the reason for this is that the author planned for the users to write in it 7 days a week and I only kept track of the 5 days a week that I worked out. In any case, I'll keep going as I can't wait to see the results of the challenge.

I have been doing strength training, really focusing on my muscle, for the past 3 years or so in an effort to tighten my loose skin after weight loss. However, the Shred It! challenge marks the first time I've seen this kind of progress. It really amazes me that the results I'm getting are without animal products. I had turkey and eggs a few times a week before going completely vegan at the start of the challenge. I used to think those animal products were necessary for muscle building but it did not yield the kind of results that I'm getting now with plants only.

Today marks 3 months since I last had animal products. I actually started the "Shred It!" challenge on Sept. 3rd, but had chicken on Sept. 6th. Ever since then, I've had no animal products. The purpose of this challenge is to build muscle as a plant based eater, rather than load up my body with too much protein that other bodybuilders do.

I didn't want the health problems that other weight lifters get.. kidney or liver damage from too much protein. Robert Cheeke's book proved that all that extra protein was not needed and that muscle growth can happen with just plants.

To quote my vegan friend Robert Cheeke and the shirt I just bought from his website, "No Meat, No Problem"!

I've been following the Shred It! Challenge for about 10 or 11 weeks now. The 13 week challenge has been helping with my muscle strength but requires no meat.

I am so happy I read the "Shred It" book by Robert Cheeke! I'm getting the kind of results I've been working so hard to get for a long time now. The workout examples he gives are awesome, and he explains the importance of getting enough food, healthy plant-based foods.

A lot of bodybuilders could benefit from this book. So many people overload their systems with protein powders and extra meat just to fill up with extra protein. It took me by surprise that the human body needs about 5-10 percent protein. The fact that he built muscle on this diet was enough proof for me.

I just finished week 3 of the Shred It vegan muscle building challenge. This is based on the Shred It book by Robert Cheeke.

Robert Cheeke has been a vegan for over 20 years, and judging by the photo on the cover of his book, you can tell he is not missing the protein that so many other weightlifters think they need.