This looks like the best site I've discovered this year. Finally a place where I probably won't get trashed for being a vegetarian.

I first went vegan back in the late 70's while living in the Haight. That's what happens when you hang around those hip areas too long. I've been on and off the wagon somewhat, and admit to eating some clam and salmon this year (sorry), but other than that nothing, no flesh food since 1987. I did start eating cheese and it pretty much ruined me. I'm on my way back to Veganism and a good support group like this will do it.

In addition, last year I acquired a soloflex, dumbells and plates so I could work on getting more fit than what just running with my coonhound would do for me, since I'm getting older and starting to feel like I need to work against the inevitable tide.

Also, I have done quite a bit of yoga work over the years, even achieving some remarkable altered state phenomena experiences. I've been off my feed here for a bit but am working my way back in. I aspire to be able to go full lotus for unlimited sessions once again. My legs stiffened up after a bad knee injury back in 2000 that took several years to overcome. I'm back up to running around six miles nonstop and no problems so far.

Still a lot of room for improvements and rehabilitation of a shoulder or bicep tendonitus situation. The search for better diet and training technique and lead me to this door. Really happy to find this forum. It will be interesting and rewarding for sure.

wow, I didn't know there were still soloflexes floating around!

welcome! how did you manage to injure yourself?

Welcome! Nice to meet you

Hi scenthound, hope you will enjoy it here. Just ask away for advice on diet, rehabilitation etc.
So you like yoga, right? I also want to do some again.

see ya around!

As vegetarian, you might get trashed by vegans for not going the full length Just joking...

Welcome to the board!

Could you add your location to your profile so people can see where you are from, cheers! Just a country will do...

OK, I've added, reluctantly, my location which currently is Columbus, "Cowtown", Ohio. Damn, I hate to admit to being back here after twelve years in Portland, five in SF, and another five in NYC. But I'm stuck here. Oh well, at least there are fewer distractions.

As for getting thrashed for not being full-on vegan - hit me with your best - I need it. It will be a challenge here, particularly around lunchtime. This sprawling overgrown town has just about the worse eating opportunities downtown, and that's where I am each day.

So here's how I managed to twist up my left shoulder:

Remember that movie "Clockwork Orange"? I've got the video and admit to being slightly obsessed with it. In fact, that's what inspired me to pick up the dumbells. Midway through the flick, our hero Alex, the humble narrator, after being paroled, runs amuck, that is into his old "droogies", now cops who work him over. So he crawls through a storm to the house of the writer he and his gang worked over and is taken in.

Here's an example of questionable training. The camera pans from the writer over to this muscle boy who has replaced the poor fellows wife. He is sitting on an incline bench heaving these huge handweights from the floor up to press position and back. Following his example I took this up and did many reps, day upon day. My arms and shoulders did grow and look fine.

Unfortunately the stress of swinging that weight set me up. Other exercises overdone have added to it, not to mention bench pressing too much weight to failure way too soon. The pain doesn't bother me, I'm just pissed about having to slack off a bit. Either a rotator or bicepital rip.

Soloflex!

I had forgotten about the Soloflex, which was often info-mersialed on Portland TV back in the eighties. I had ordered a Totalgym, and developed second thoughts as FedEx failed to deliver the thing, so let them take it back - began shopping, looking at Crossbows, Bowflexs etc., thinking Bowflex was the new improved Soloflex almost ordered one.

Then did a websearch one day and there it was. The original Soloflex. All I can say is this is exactly what I needed. Small enough footprint to occupy a corner of my front room where it would be used often. The advantage is being able to use either rubber resistence or iron. Bench presses and squats with no spotter needed. I crave autonomy and my doggie will not let me go to the gym. Soloflex minimalism is worthy of an aesthete.

The best part is I got the complete machine, with attachments, for under $1000. It was the 25th anniversary sale. It has gone back up, and now costs over $2000! No way I could have done that. Find a used one instead. Sure am glad I managed to end up with Soloflex instead of that Totalgym. Got to quit watching TV.

I'll do it if you will.

Chiropractor might be able to help with the shoulder, if it's some tendinous discontinuity.

Ha! Loved that movie, A Clockwork Orange.

Soloflex -- just be careful not to "tip the machine"! But seriously, I used to want that one. I used to want the Bowflex, too. Those ads are compelling, aren't they? Instead, I got rid of my television and go to the gym. Working out's my idea of a party, nowadays.

I spent some time in Ohio... how's shopping/dining in Columbus for vegans or future vegans?

So our scenthound loves a little bit of good old-fashioned [ultra-violence?] Soloflex, right? How about playing some good old Ludwig Von when working out ? Or does that cause unpleasant reactions?


Actually I did some Daoyin yoga just yesterday. The burden is on you now .
But I didn't do much, I confess. We live in a tiny apartment here in HK. No space for things like yoga. Or just some simple exercises then.
Just checked with a local martial arts teacher (Bagua Zhang and Tai Ji) if I could take classes, but he was asking way too much (65 USD per hour). The guy is probably the best in HK, has a lot of foreign students. But I'm poor (but happy!!).

Your shoulder: be careful with that. Inflamed shoulders are notoriously hard to heal, and can cause a lot of damage to the joint (the biceps tendon runs through the shoulder joint). You might want to see a therapist if it is serious, or to prevent complications. But maybe you did already?

So let me know when you finished your yoga exercises. And play some Ludwig Von, but don't inflict pain at the same time.

Hey Scenthound, I am in your neck of the woods, up north in Cleveland. Actually in Parma (think Drew Carey), about 10 miles from downtown.

Tyler

welcome, scenthound. Looks like you've been active since you've joined the board Nice to have you here.

Hey tylerm, up you way a lot last summer - illegal swimming a bunch of times at the Rocky River fishing pier - trying to get my coondog to swim! I was actually born in Akron.

Thanks Rochelle for another welcome to Vegan Fitness. I never dreamed there would be such a forum. Checking in here will give me one more reason to show up for work.

You can do it,...you can go all the way. One thing I did as I went from Veg. to Vegan was to remember that for every glass of milk, a veal calf will suffer, and every egg layed, an innocent chicken in a factory farm will suffer as well.
I have done hundreds of speaches in Florida and in a few other states, and I have been told that its hard to see cows and chickens as suffering since they don't die to give milk and eggs, but what they are always reminded of is that any factory farming is a cruel business. As long as money and animals are intertwined,....animals will always suffer.
I was Veg. for 12 years, and Vegan the last 6, I grew up on a farm milking a cow by hand, and picking up eggs in a basket!! Imagine my surprise when I went on a visit to a commercial dairy, and then an egg laying facility,....I was floored, and that was the day I went Vegan.
You hang in there, and don't let those animal abusers intimidate you,...you are the one with truth and compassion on your side.