Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog
Shred It! Challenge Week 9 Update ... No Meat, No Problem!
It's been officially two months since I had any kind of animal products. The last time I had poultry was at the beginning of September. One thing's for sure, I haven't been missing it!
I love the energy the plant based foods provide. The common misconception among many who go to the gym is that you need a ton of protein to build muscle. This is just not the case, as many athletes have now proven.
I've been getting all my protein from foods like broccoli, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, etc. I also incorporated chlorella powder, an algae that helps repair and build muscle. I started adding it to my smoothies last week.
I'm really happy with how my arms are developing. My chest is taking longer, which is why I know I won't be satisfied at the end of the 13 week challenge. That's OK though, I plan to keep working hard!
I never thought I could go that long without animal products. I used to think, how can I give up eggs as they have B-12, along with other nutrients. Well I now take a B-12 supplement and I haven't been missing eating eggs.
If my energy was low or maybe I wasn't developing muscle, I would probably rethink my diet, but I am getting results better than when I ate poultry. I know it's tough to tell from photos, but I know how my arms feel.
I plan to have my body fat checked soon. That will really tell me how much muscle has grown since I started the challenge.
About the author
Richard Hubbard was once over 350 pounds. After a doctor's physical and finding out he was pre-hypertensive, he decided to make changes and avoid medication. Over the course of a year, Rich lost the first 120 pounds of his incredible 150 pound weight loss. He ate healthy foods based on Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat To Live". He was mostly plant based, but switched to completely plant based in September of 2016. He also became a vegan in the process as his compassion for animals increased. He credits bodybuilder Robert Cheeke for influencing his decision of going vegan. Rich aspires to be a vegan bodybuilder and is planning his first half marathon this year.