[Beergoggles]

Been weightlifting off and on for four years now. I'm a recovering opiate addict, and I'm currently just trying to keep my mind straight. I thought it was strange that my addiction had no effect on my lifting until I read about Nubaine (an opioid) that bodybuilders sometimes use.

Now to the positives I am 5'10" 150lbs and 6% bodyfat. I'm looking good, but I just want to gain some size and strength.

A big difference between me and other lifters is my diet. I'm vegan. My diet is comprised of brown rice, beans, fruits, vegetables, and tofu. It's just the diet my body functions best on seeing as I have a milk allergy, and I hate meat. I watched a Markus Ruhl youtube vid on what he eats, and it included everything I eat except for the chicken.

If anyone has detailed questions about my diet feel free to ask. We're a rare breed, and the good ones are far and few between. I don't seem to like the people on the vegan lifting forums too much. They give props for 13" biceps or thick guys with no definition The good ones are usually modest and don't wear a PETA shirt to the gym.

I got a story to share. I saw the BIGGEST GUY EVER at my gym. Asked him how much he benched and he said 500lbs. He joked around about how guys don't believe that he's vegetarian. He thought it was cool when I told him I was vegan. I've never told anybody at my gym that or had a reason to.

So far this forum has been great, and I like how everybody treats each other.

[gringo220]

Glad to hear you want to move your life in the right direction. I know of a guy who has done this, Todd Crandell he is part of racing for recovery. Look it up and see what you think of it. He was a drug addict for like 13 years and now does triathalons and things like that.

Racing for Recovery - Home

I'm glad to see there's at least one vegan out there that doesn't go around preaching about how others shouldn't eat meat. Most of them do that like you said. But stick around here and I'm sure you'll learn a few things you didn't know before.

[mikeh40+]

Thats a real inspiring story bro, good to hear you kicked the opiates, i had a alcohol problem, went through treatment 2 years ago, so i have an idea what you went through to get straight.. thats awesome and takes allot of courage to make a change like that.. Do not know any vegan`s myself so it will be interesting to view your progress and post a thread if you could on your diet, would like to see what you do for a diet, find it interesting how someone does not eat meat.. nothing wrong with it in my book, just not allot of people in my area are vegan`s.. take care
mike

[Powerlifter002]

What’s up bro, just because ur a vegan you can still gain weight, keep eating the food you do. One way to add size is by eating more portions than you do, increase your calorie intake. Then to add strength, start doing lower reps, for example stay around 6 reps, do not go above, you can go lower. My favorite strength increase exercise is the 6 sets of 2 reps on bench press, perfect for increasing your strength and then for everything else stick around 6 reps with heavy weight. Between increasing your calories and lowering your reps and increasing your weight, you will for sure see a difference in size in no time

Quote-
Everyday you go to the gym it should be a war, a war you can not loose