Is Successful Vegetarian Bodybuilding Possible?

Bodybuilding is a sport in which competitors show their perfectly built muscled bodies.

Bodybuilders rely on intense exercise to build muscle. During exercise the muscle fibers get slight tears which shows up as body pain the next day. Bodybuilders take plenty of rest after a small burst of intense training. During this period, the tears in the muscles get repaired. A excellent diet ensures that that the repaired muscle cells are longer and thicker thus increasing the strength and size of the muscles.

Natural bodybuilding is bodybuilding without the help of illegal stimulants, steroids or other performance enhancing drugs

Vegetarian bodybuilding is going a step further. Athletes and sportsmen all over the world are increasingly taking to vegetarianism. Carl Lewis, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Edwin Moses are prime examples of successful vegetarian sportsmen.

There are different types of vegetarian diets. Lacto vegetarian, the vegetarian and vegan diets are some of them. Vegetarianism is really a lifestyle focusing on a healthier today and a disease less tomorrow.

Nutritious diet, plotted exercise and adequate rest are the three requirements for success in bodybuilding.

Nutrition is the base for success in bodybuilding. Unfortunately, supplements have become more vital than nutrition these days. This is mainly due to the large publicity that health supplements get. All supplements are not really effective and they are sometimes addictive. Abuse of supplements and stimulants to burn stout and help workout result in terrible health later on.

It is the right mental attitude along with right nutrition and right training that really matters in bodybuilding.

A vegetarian bodybuilding diet should contain Vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the right proportion. One common myth about vegetarianism is that vegetarians do not get enough proteins. This is not right. Soy, nuts, seeds, lentils, legumes and beans are rich sources of proteins and they also provide vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants which are not found in meat. So a vegetarian diet is really healthier.

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Aerobic exercises like cardio burn off stout and anaerobic exercises like lifting weights build muscle. Scientifically plotted exercise is a must for bodybuilding and it should never be in excess. An injury due to over training must be avoided so that all the work done till then doesn’t go waste. Hence proper technique is a cardinal rule to be followed while training.

Adequate rest is the most vital part in bodybuilding. This is the time when the muscles repair themselves and the cells grow. If you do not get enough rest the muscles fibres do not get rebuilt and continuous exercise may tear the muscles causing injury.

Is Healthy Eating Possible on a Budget?

I have heard many times over the years when discussing with people about changing their eating habits, that it is impossible to be healthy on a tight budget. This is a misconception. Convenience foods are generally not healthy and more expensive for what they are. Here are 20 tips that might help you save money, get you eating healthier to reduce inflammation and stiffness.

1) There are always fruit and vegetables that are cheap, especially when they are in season. Supermarkets now have offers on fresh fruit and vegetables – buy one get one free etc.

2) Try local markets they often have cheaply grown local produce that is in season.

3) ‘Pick your own’ can be a very excellent way to get cheap local produce for the freezer.

4) If you are unable to grow your own fresh produce for one reason or another, and you know of someone who does grow their own, offer to buy their surplus (there is always surplus) or trade with them – for instance some sprouts you have grown (see below).

5) Whenever you see anything on offer – prepare it and freeze it.

6) Bought frozen vegetables and fruit can often be cheaper and there is no wastage.

7) Sprouting is a really wonderful way of getting highly nutritious fresh food for pennies. Sprouts can be grown all year round in your kitchen (huge or small), take up nearly no space, no expensive equipment, and next to no time needed. It’s as simple as ABC. Sprouts really are incredible as they can be used in soups, salads, stews, and stir-fries, they are extremely versatile. It is possible to sprout all seeds, whole grains, beans and lentils (simple to digest when eaten this way).

8) Buying fresh herbs is expensive so start a herb garden, they take up very small space and are decorative. Herbs look excellent and will save you a fortune, medicinally and culinary wise. If you don’t have a garden you can grow herbs in window boxes or in pots indoors and/or outdoors. Herbs are very useful as part of any health program. Use them fresh, frozen or dried herbs in cooking or for making teas.

9) Forget the hype avoid any thing with lots of fancy packaging that ends up in the bin, that is only wasted money.

10) Eating more beans and lentils with grains like rice (to get your protein) and cutting down on meat can help the budget, is healthier and increase your life expectancy. Bean and lentils are cheap, extremely versatile and excellent for you.

11) Getting together with 3 to 4 friends, to share the cost of buying things in bulk, this is a very excellent way of cutting costs. The difference in the cost of buying some brown rice for instance in small packets compared to buying a 25lb bag/sack, the saving per person is considerable.

12) Generally homemade food is cheaper and better than pre-pared processed foods. The Internet is full of free recipes and the local library is bursting with cook books from healthy ethnic to vegetarian to raw foods.

13) Saving a small on gas or electricity and time – make two three or four times the amount you need. For instance if you cook some chicken in the oven for dinner, add some extra chicken to eat cold the next day with a salad that includes your home grown herbs and sprouts. Also place another dish or two in the oven at the same time, on another day can just be heated up quickly.

14) Look in the supermarkets for the reduced section, there are always foods that have nearly reached their sell-by-date, you can pick up some incredible bargains, leave the unhealthy ones, just pick up the healthy ones.

15) Breakfast cereals in general are very expensive especially when you reckon of the cost per pound. Eat porridge, or make your own muesli, much more filling and better excellent for you.

16) Can’t afford to go out to eat, find some like-minded friends that also like healthier food and take it in turns once in a while to eat in each others home. It is fun and you get to go out occasionally.

17) Supplement on a budget Spiralina is a broad spectrum supplement full of a wide variety of nutrients. Buy in powder form it’s cheaper than buying capsules or tablets.

18) Go out during the autumn months and pick blackberries they are free and freeze them. Berries are bursting with plant compounds and anti-oxidants.

19) Wild crafted dandelions – it is very vital you know for sure they have not been sprayed with weed killer. Dig up the whole plant use the fresh leaves in salads or dry the root and the leaves an brilliant tonic for the liver and kidneys.

20) Wild crafted nettles are extremely excellent as a general health tonic, makes really excellent tea. Pick the nettles wearing gloves, then tie them into loose bunches and place the leaves down into a large paper bag this protects the leaves from flies and dust. Then hang these bunches up by their stems. Any leaves that fall off will end up in the bag. It is vital to hang any drying herbs in an area that is dry with air movement, maybe a garage, utility room, laundry room or airing cupboard.