Please do all posting here and let the other thread go!

Mission: The VeggieBoards Hamster Club is a group of fitness/health minded vegans and vegetarians who support each other in their endeavors in fitness, diet, and health. Anyone who chooses can post to this thread. There are no dues or fees, just a desire to share our efforts and support one another.



Go Hamsters!!!

:hamster: :sunny: :hamster: :sunny: :hamster:

Hello exsting Hamsters!

I'm new around these parts, so I hope I'm doing this right. I want to be a hamster! I currently work out 6 days a week, consisting of 4 days of abs/back, 4 days of running, 2 days of weightlifting, and 6 days of stretching. I'm also keeping track of my food intake, and try to divide up my calorie intake as follows: no more then 20% fat, at least 20% protein, and around 60% carbs, with a total calorie intake between 1200-1500.

To help in achieving these goals, I am using some great, free internet resources that I would like to share with the hamster community. (please note I am NOT a spamer. I'm just sharing resources that I personally use and find very beneficial to a community I also find beneficial :)

fitday.com is a FREE web-based diet and fitness journal. What I like best about this site is its calorie and nutrition counter, which is a fully customizable journal that tells me the nutrient content of the foods I eat. You'll be amazed at what you find (I know I was!) It also has a weight loss tracker which is also very inspiring.

Another FREE site I use is activelog.com This has a more detailed fitness journal, but overall is not as cool as fitday. However, the best part of activelog is the ability to post public "challenges" which allow other users to "sign up" to your fitness goals and you can track and motivate each other. Look for "Jons weekly running" if you want to join up with me :)

Best of luck to all fellow hamsters, and I cant wait to start nibbling away at these extra pounds! (shooting for 155!)

Welcome LGK! Many of us use fitday, but I'll have to check activelog out. :)

10 mile run for me today.

Sunday: 1 mile swim

Today is a rest day. I've been kind of run down and irritable lately and more tired than I should be, especially when I work out, so I thought that would be good.

11 miles on the bike.

:hi: I'd like to join the club!

I've known for awhile that I need to be more active, but my motivation has been lacking. Today, I had enough motivation to do about 30 minutes of calisthenics. My biggest fear is that I won't keep up being active because it's happened many times before. But, I'm going to keep on plugging along, get a routine going and eventually up the activity.

I surprised myself Today. I missed my morning workout because of a dentist appointment, and normally when I miss my morning workout I miss my workout, period.

However, today was different. In fact, I managed to do 14min of stretching, Abs/back work, my 20min weight training program, as well as running for 22min later that evening! Throughout the process, my body was telling me "stop, what are you doing?! This isnt your normal workout time!!" However, I played a little mind game with myself, chanting "mind over matter" and having philosophical thoughts like "everything was created by someone's mind, thus mind has the ultimate power over matter and body, and therefore I can continue because my mind wills it," etc.

I know what your thinking, and no, I was not suffering for dehydration or heat stroke. :D Instead, I was able to once again reinforced my thoughts about the power of mind, which I continue to slowly apply to every aspect of my life.

I say this not as "bragging" (in fact, I'm in awe of the level of fitness a majority of this group has obtained!) Rather sharing something that has helped me be consistent and not give-up during this moment of change.

Here's to week 3 of my new life. and first day as a Hamster! :hamster:

Kimberly, motivation can be a huge factor in exercising. I still have motivation problems even after running for years. Coming here and posting workouts help. I wish you luck in your new routine and welcome to the hamsters! :hi:

LGK, that is great that you got your workout in even though you missed it in the morning. That is hard to do. :yes: :up:

NDvegan, I hope your tiredness goes away soon. :hug:

4 mile run for me today. :sunny:

Welcome, LGK! Good to have you :cool:

Yay Captain!! :sunny:

ND, You've been quite the busy hamster lately, with all those long distances running/biking/swimming. Just looking at your weeks makes me tired :) Hope you feel good as new soon!

Kimberly, stick around awhile, you'll get sucked in to the routine again ;)

Yesterday was a 19 mile bike ride, today was a 5 mile run. I meant to go a couple miles farther but I soon found out I wasn't as hydrated as I thought I was...but I made it. And I think I'm getting new running shoes today so that makes me happy :D

Go Hamsters!!!

I do about a 40-60min workout every 3 days. I don't really want to do that workout anymore than that, as my muscles tend to get too big.... i have quite big leg muscles, which i want to look slimmer, but still nicely toned. What sort of thing could i do on the days in between? Something that would burn a few calories, but not necessarily build muscle? I've tried yoga, and i don't really have the patience for it, and i'm not very flexible.

This past weekend I did jack-squat on Saturday :p, then took an easy 3-hour hike on Sunday...nothing too spectacular. I was just glad we made it back before the big wonderful thunderstorm that night.

Yesterday I did 40 minutes of lower work and one hour on the Ellip.

This morning I ran for about 45 minutes in the grey mist...it was nice. I might take another run this evening since it's not six trillion degrees for once! Oh, and I'll have ab-work to do.

:nigel: Cheers, hammies!

I do about a 40-60min workout every 3 days. I don't really want to do that workout anymore than that, as my muscles tend to get too big.... i have quite big leg muscles, which i want to look slimmer, but still nicely toned. What sort of thing could i do on the days in between? Something that would burn a few calories, but not necessarily build muscle? I've tried yoga, and i don't really have the patience for it, and i'm not very flexible.

Believe it or not Star, you can slim down your muscles by WEIGHTLIFTING! I know this sounds weird, but if you exercise by doing isolated movements for your legs (or any other muscle for that matter) and do at least 20 reps (the more the better), you will be building endurance, and not strength, which will make your muscles more toned rather then bigger. Try doing some of these type of exercises, in combination with stretching and dieting, I'm sure you'll start seeing results in about 3-4 weeks! (I'm no expert though, so please, other chime in!)

As for the stretching & yoga, I know your not flexible NOW, but thats just because your not use to stretching yet! No one is born flexible :)

As for my hamster day thus far, I pushed through my morning run of 22min (how long does it take you guys to run 4-5 miles? Just curious because I have no clue how far I run :) and will be doing my abs work shortly, after I enjoy a nice fruit and protein smoothy. YUMMY!

Thanks for all the warm welcome to your club. We should have a club chant or tee-shirts or something! ;) :hamster:

(how long does it take you guys to run 4-5 miles? Just curious because I have no clue how far I run :)

Everyone's pace is different, but in general, for 4 miles of running...

6-minutes/mile pace = 24 minutes
6.5 min/mile = 26 min
7 min/mile = 28 min
7.5 min/mile = 30 min
8 min/mile = 32 min
8.5 min/mile = 42.5 min
9 min/mile = 36 min
9.5 min/mile = 38 min
10 min/mile = 40 min
10.5 min/mile = 42 min

Is there a track nearby that you could run on and time a mile or two to get a rough estimate of your pacing? As you get a feel for how a certain pace feels, you will likely be able to run for time and estimate distance (very roughly) from there. Hope that helped :)

Hello, I want to be a "hamster" too! I need lots of support...I want to lose 30 pounds by September 1st. I CAN DO IT! (...with lots of support)

I've been really slack and didn't hamster since last Wednesday.

Tonight I went to Body Pump class. And I upped my weights! I thought it was going to be painful, but it wasn't too bad. It's nice to see improvement.

Today was another "gym day" lasting about an hour. During that time I did full body stretching (before and after), full abs/back work, and my upper body weightlifting routine. I actually wasnt feeling good in the ol' belly, so I didnt push myself to improve today, only maintain. I didnt really want to go at all, but then I thought about my hamsters, and decided to tough it out. See, it works :)

welcome to the group Doyle! What when and how do you plan on exercising? Do you have a diet plan as well?

Good to see you back at it Shadow. Its funny what a little rest can do! I've been told by weightlifters that once you finish a long workout plan, to take a week off and rest before hitting it again. Perhaps that break was just what your body needed. :)

And thanks anna for the running distance tip. Maybe this weekend I can find a track to run and time myself. How long is one lap of a track? Is it a 1/4 mile loop? How do you guys know how far you run? Do you all run on a track? I like to run around my town, as I can pick a new "trail" everyday. What can I say, I get bored easy :D

Hi, Doyle! Welcome :)

Shadowlee, great with upping the weights. Concrete evidence of increased strength is always nice :D

LGK, high school tracks are 1/4 mile, I know that for sure. Probably the same for college tracks too I'd think. I personally dislike running on a track, but there is a nice trail and a long path nearby, with the path stretching across several towns. Every once in a while I'll run on sidewalks through the neighborhood since I live in a suburb, but I usually track the distance first with my bike's cyclometer. I usually run in the same area and though it can get dull at times, I like the mile markers on the path...the other trails around here are unmarked and I avoid running on the sidewalks because it hurts my legs more. Feel free to ask any other questions if you have any :)

10 mile run, 11 mile bike ride, and upper weights today.

I've been slacking on my hamstering as well. :-P I ran about 1/2 mile on Saturday and have only did stretches and a few situps since. oops.

Tomorrow:
90 min. jazz dance class

Gotta get back in the habit - ha. Tho, I am proud to say that I'm still quite slender/toned even with my lack of mobility lately. But still, exercise = good. :yes:

GO HAMSTERS!!

Welcome to all the new hamsters! I'm still in recovery mode after my race on the 16th, but my wife says I'm allowed to workout again starting on the 1st of August. I can't wait!

Believe it or not Star, you can slim down your muscles by WEIGHTLIFTING! I know this sounds weird, but if you exercise by doing isolated movements for your legs (or any other muscle for that matter) and do at least 20 reps (the more the better), you will be building endurance, and not strength, which will make your muscles more toned rather then bigger. Try doing some of these type of exercises, in combination with stretching and dieting, I'm sure you'll start seeing results in about 3-4 weeks! (I'm no expert though, so please, other chime in!)

As for the stretching & yoga, I know your not flexible NOW, but thats just because your not use to stretching yet! No one is born flexible :)

Thanx! I'll give it a go! :)

Still don't think i have the patience for yoga though :p

LGK, I use one of these:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=2-1/qid=1122559515/ref=sr_2_1/602-1087943-2091025?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0000CFYCH

It is a Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS. My husband gave it to me for my birthday a year and a half ago and I love this thing. You can go anywhere you want and it'll track your milage for you. It also calculates your average pace and maps out a map of where you went and tells you your elevation. Now, I usually only wear it when setting out a new course but it is a really neat gadget. There are tons of people in my running club who have one.

They have a 301 version out now too and that one includes a heart rate monitor.

About 45 minutes of biking today.

Thursday: 4 mile run, 10 mile bike ride, 3.5 miles of walking
Friday: 3.5 miles of walking, weights
Saturday: 6 mile run, an hour of walking

I am slacking! :p

Wed+ Thurs was spent taking care of kids in the mountains which included: 2 hours playing hockey, running just about everywhere.
Yesterday: 1 hour trampoline
Today: 1 hour trampoline

22.7 mile bike ride and 3 miles of walking today.