New Vegan Training for Triathlon - Nutrition Questions

[Beccer]

Hello all,

My name is Becca and I am new to this sight as well as the vegan diet. I have been a vegetarian for a year and a half now, and just became vegan 6 weeks ago. So far it has been a fairly easy transition since I gave up meat as they say 'cold turkey' I also did the same with dairy/eggs and so forth.

I just joined a triathlon team and will be training for The Nations Triathlon in September. I have heard that a vegan athelete has to REALLY watch their diet. I really want to be able to maintain the vegan diet while I am training. I am trying to figure out which supplements are needed, what protein bars are out their for vegans, and also fitness drinks that aren't loaded with corn syrup and artificial flavors.

Also some examples of a daily diet from other vegan athletes...

Any suggestion and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Becca

[xrodolfox]

I've just started doing Tris, but I've been a competitive swimmer for years. I've been vegan since 1994.

I've never had to watch my diet except to make sure I eat enough water and calories.

I think that the idea that it is difficult to be a distance athlete as a vegan is generally a myth. At least it was for me (and most people I know). It may be difficult for you, but I doubt it.

Just eat enough. I tend to eat bananas and nut butters after training. I have food sitting around all the time. I eat lots of what I have the taste for

It's worked for me, and I've had pretty good results. Not professional level results, but certainly better than than most of my peers my age and training.

[Beccer]

I am happy to hear that their is nothing special I have to do!

I pretty much just follow my cravings when I eat. Which are pretty healthy since I have been eating really healthy for 2 years now and been Veggie for a year and a half

I keep food around at all times as well. I keep either rice milk or soy/rice milk at work and I always have at least three kinds of nuts on hand in my snack drawer.

So I guess I will just continue doing what I am doing and see what happens.

Thank you for your post, it is very encouraging.

[emm7]

I pretty much just follow my cravings when I eat.

well done!
YES do please continue to do this!

[emm7]

I run between 14 and 23 miles a week, this is my food today if you're curious!


Breakfast, 1/2 cup oats soaked in soya milk overnight with pumpkin seeds, toasted flaked almonds, and dessicated coconut, I put brown sugar and cinnamon in it too, plus half a carton of strawberries.
what would breakfast be without genuine Italian style COFFEE. At the moment I am hooked on this way of making coffee: basically 1/2 a mug espresso from the moka pot mixed with 1/2 a mug boiling water.

Food at work:
1 hazelnut cereal bar
2 large slices pumpernickel bread with 4 slices "cheatin turkey" fake lunch meat
1 handful mixed nuts
small (40g) bar of Belgian dark chocolate
protein shake made with 1 scoop soya protein powder and 1 kid size carton of strawberry soya milk and some water to thin it down with
1 white pitta bread spread with hummus and filled with salad
the other half of the carton of strawberries

didn't drink coffee at work just a few peppermint teas.

Home from work:

1 cup Cadbury's hot chocolate drink made with hot water and a dash of soya milk.

Spicy rice, I invented this recipe on the spur of the moment, it is 1/2 cup white basmati rice 1/4 cup lentils 1 cup creamed tomatoes 1 cup water, and veg (mushrooms, carrots, courgettes) and 2 dessert spoons of packet fajita spice mix, you fry the veg in a bit of oil first then add everything else and boil it until it's cooked and the rice has soaked all the liquid in. (I use a pressure cooker coz it only takes 10 minutes at high pressure in there). Quick and easy to cook this when absolutely knackered.
2 Rakusens chocolate digestives.
large mug of camomile tea

[Beccer]

Thanks for the input emm.

I am absolutely addicted to my oatmeal with blueberries and walnuts in the morning. However this morning was very disappointing for me because I was really craving a PB & J sandwich, but I didn't have any bread.... I didn't even have any tortilla's! and being from Texas that is a rare moment Lets just say I will be making a bread run before I go home tonight!

When I read how much you eat in a day it sounded like a lot. Then I thought about what I have eaten today, then it didn't sound like so much, lol.

I swear since I started training I am always hungry! All I do it think about the next meal... lol

Oh well, I will find the bottom of the hollow leg one day

[emm7]

you need plenty of food to fuel the training yes!
just continue to eat whenever you're hungry and stop when you're full as you do already!