Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time.

Jan 13, 20 12:24

Post #1 of 112 (7137 views)

I was Pescatarian for a couple years and just went vegan a few months ago. I found my recovery is much slower now and my workouts have suffered from being tired. It feels like I've aged 10 years. I am tired at work, tired at home, I would sleep all day if I could. I put in about 12-13 hours a week training right now. At first I blamed it on the cold weather, being older, overtraining, maybe my body was fighting a cold, then maybe I was dehydrated. I've been taking Vitamin B12, B6, D3, Iron and a multi vitamin too. I switched from Whey Protein to Soy Protein too mix. Nothing helped much. Then I had a couple big stuffed Lou Malnatti's pizza slices the other night with lots cheese and I came alive and felt good immediately.

Granted, I am a VERY lazy eater. I hate to cook anything, I just microwave or I go out for meals. 70% of my at home diet are bagels, 24 grain bread, bananas, OJ, V8 juice, and cereal with soy milk. Cheese pizzas use to be my dinner 2-3 nights a week prior to going vegan. I cannot stand vegan cheese, it's disgusting, so that's not an option on a pizza for me.

I want to stay vegan. Is there a way to get my energy levels up and stay a Lazy Vegan eater?

Last edited by: Terryh: Jan 13, 20 13:56

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:31

Post #2 of 112 (7113 views)

Not sure how committed to the vegan thing you are, but I would recommend you keep a food log for a couple of days and then head to a nutritionist. It's possible there's some micro nutrient (or a combination of them) that you're not getting enough of

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [jhammond] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:34

Post #3 of 112 (7102 views)

jhammond wrote:

Not sure how committed to the vegan thing you are, but I would recommend you keep a food log for a couple of days and then head to a nutritionist. It's possible there's some micro nutrient (or a combination of them) that you're not getting enough of

To be honest, I am lazy and cheap. Neither of those I would do. That's why I am here asking you guys questions.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:35

Post #4 of 112 (7098 views)

Lots of times I see athletes at this time of year make drastic dietary changes. Rarely does it work.

Might be better to make those changes just a few days per week to start then gradually shift more and more. keep a food, training, mood/energy level log (all in the same place not 3 different logs) so you can more easily make some deductions between what you eat, how you feel, your training & recovery

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:38

Post #5 of 112 (7084 views)

Your body will adjust it, so try a little longer. Soy protein can't be good for some people because I've heard it can give you estrogen(?). Anyway, try Vega Sport protein. I've been taking it for years and it's the bomb. You have to be diligent to be a vegan. You have to buy fresh fruits and vegetables all the time, wash them and eat before they go bad. I blend veges and fruits and drink a lot. Turmeric and beets are good for recovery, so include that in your diet. You have to do a lot of research and experiment to get used to it. In the long run, you will feel great!! High blood pressure, pimples, headache, stomachache, high cholesterol all gone for me after all these years. It's totally worth it so please give it a try a little more.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [desert dude] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:39

Post #6 of 112 (7077 views)

desert dude wrote:

Lots of times I see athletes at this time of year make drastic dietary changes. Rarely does it work.

Might be better to make those changes just a few days per week to start then gradually shift more and more. keep a food, training, mood/energy level log (all in the same place not 3 different logs) so you can more easily make some deductions between what you eat, how you feel, your training & recovery

Thank you, I will do that.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [s13tx] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 12:42

Post #7 of 112 (7060 views)

s13tx wrote:

Your body will adjust it, so try a little longer. Soy protein can't be good for some people because I've heard it can give you estrogen(?). Anyway, try Vega Sport protein. I've been taking it for years and it's the bomb. You have to be diligent to be a vegan. You have to buy fresh fruits and vegetables all the time, wash them and eat before they go bad. I blend veges and fruits and drink a lot. Turmeric and beets are good for recovery, so include that in your diet. You have to do a lot of research and experiment to get used to it. In the long run, you will feel great!! High blood pressure, pimples, headache, stomachache, high cholesterol all gone for me after all these years. It's totally worth it so please give it a try a little more.

So are you suggesting I go with the Whey Protein because Soy protein can increase estrogen and I am a man, so that's not good for me?

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:10

Post #8 of 112 (6991 views)

I'm keen on plant protein. Garden of life https://www.gardenoflife.com/...ganic-plant-protein/

Make sure you're properly hydrating (adding some electrolytes even in winter)

maybe some collagen, (although it's not vegan) a scoop of organic greens https://www.gardenoflife.com/...lkalizer-detoxifier/, some fresh fruit of your choice, and blend together for super energy/recovery.

I'm a big believer in attacking free radicals, strengthening mitochondria, etc. This is especially important for us older athletes!

Cheers,

Jake

USAT L2 TriAUS L2 UC Irvine head coach "The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art."
Leonardo da Vinci

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:11

Post #9 of 112 (6988 views)

I would tend to think you are just lacking overall nutrition period. You didn't mention what you eat out but what you do eat at home is hardly a proper diet nor does it even sound like enough calories.

I don't think a vegan lifestyle is for someone who is lazy and doesn't cook. I cook pretty much all meals at home ever since following a mostly plant based diet and while it does take more time I feel significantly better from the switch.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:14

Post #10 of 112 (6977 views)

I would love to go vegan, but I have practical problems with it. I have real trouble getting enough protein and iron in a vegan diet. As with a lot of people, my body only uptakes a fraction of the protein and iron that I ingest. In order to get sufficient protein and iron without animal protein, I have to either eat more natural foods than is physically possible or I have to use heavily processed foods and supplements. Super-processed foods and supplements present problems I would rather avoid, as much as possible. No way I'm going to depend on them on a daily basis.

Terryh, the symptoms you're describing are precisely the ones I had when I went full-commitment vegan. It made a dramatic negative difference in my energy level. Theoretically, I could have eaten enough natural foods to offset the difference, but I would have been eating enormous volumes of food to make it happen. I would have been preparing food and eating it most of the day.

Others' bodies may uptake protein and iron better than mine does. The older we get, the less good our bodies get out of a dose of protein.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [gerardm] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:20

Post #11 of 112 (6958 views)

gerardm wrote:

I would tend to think you are just lacking overall nutrition period. You didn't mention what you eat out but what you do eat at home is hardly a proper diet nor does it even sound like enough calories.

I don't think a vegan lifestyle is for someone who is lazy and doesn't cook. I cook pretty much all meals at home ever since following a mostly plant based diet and while it does take more time I feel significantly better from the switch.

agreed on all these points.

ive been vegan since june last year. i just made a cold turkey swap. i went through the vegan honeymoon period and i still feel good overall.

being vegan is not easy. its inconvenient in our society, and if youre eating processed vegan food you're still eating shit.

eat whole foods, ensure youre getting enough calories in a day (which it doesnt sound like you are), get a rough estimate of your macros, and suppliment. i use "compliment plus" which advertises to address all a vegans needs, and overall i think it does, at least for me.

also i get extra protein from two different high quality plant based protein powders, vivo and truvani. i used vega for a long time before i went vegan and found out they are really shady about their heavy metal content disclosure so i ditched them.

80/20 Endurance Ambassador

Last edited by: damon.lebeouf: Jan 13, 20 13:22

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [FlashBazbo] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:22

Post #12 of 112 (6953 views)

If convenience is an issue, try Veestro ( http://www.veestro.com ), they deliver to your doorstep and the meals are frozen and quickly microwaved or heat for 15-20 minutes. We also use Purple carrot and the meals are fresh and easy to make. For protein, Vega Sport is good to mix with some fruit and almond milk with a scoop of almond butter.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [tri3ba] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:28

Post #13 of 112 (6923 views)

Love Purple Carrot... but again not for the lazy non cooks out there.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [jhammond] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:29

Post #14 of 112 (6918 views)

jhammond wrote:

It's possible there's some micro nutrient (or a combination of them) that you're not getting enough of

That micro nutrient is called meat

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:30

Post #15 of 112 (6916 views)

Also can I respectfully ask why did you become vegan? Is it to improve as an athlete, overall health, ethical reasons?
Once you establish that, then you can tweak or not your diets and supplements. For example, I think there is no way to supplement B Vitamins if not from animal sources and so on.

Last edited by: justlooking: Jan 13, 20 13:32

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [FlashBazbo] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:33

Post #16 of 112 (6900 views)

FlashBazbo wrote:

I would love to go vegan, but I have practical problems with it. I have real trouble getting enough protein and iron in a vegan diet. As with a lot of people, my body only uptakes a fraction of the protein and iron that I ingest. In order to get sufficient protein and iron without animal protein, I have to either eat more natural foods than is physically possible or I have to use heavily processed foods and supplements. Super-processed foods and supplements present problems I would rather avoid, as much as possible. No way I'm going to depend on them on a daily basis.

Terryh, the symptoms you're describing are precisely the ones I had when I went full-commitment vegan. It made a dramatic negative difference in my energy level. Theoretically, I could have eaten enough natural foods to offset the difference, but I would have been eating enormous volumes of food to make it happen. I would have been preparing food and eating it most of the day.

Others' bodies may uptake protein and iron better than mine does. The older we get, the less good our bodies get out of a dose of protein.

I may be same. I use to eat mainly Pizza, Bagels, Bread, Orange Juice and cereal along with a whey protein mix. Plus, once a week I'd go out for a fish dinner. I did fine for years, now I just cut out the dairy and fish and I crash.

All these people must have a lot of time on their hands to track all this and cook and blend fruits all day. I work for a living and train, cannot do that.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Scottxs] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:37

Post #17 of 112 (6890 views)

Scottxs wrote:

jhammond wrote:

It's possible there's some micro nutrient (or a combination of them) that you're not getting enough of

That micro nutrient is called meat

so you're gonna be THAT GUY in this conversation?

80/20 Endurance Ambassador

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [damon.lebeouf] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:38

Post #18 of 112 (6887 views)

damon.lebeouf wrote:

gerardm wrote:

I would tend to think you are just lacking overall nutrition period. You didn't mention what you eat out but what you do eat at home is hardly a proper diet nor does it even sound like enough calories.

I don't think a vegan lifestyle is for someone who is lazy and doesn't cook. I cook pretty much all meals at home ever since following a mostly plant based diet and while it does take more time I feel significantly better from the switch.

agreed on all these points.

ive been vegan since june last year. i just made a cold turkey swap. i went through the vegan honeymoon period and i still feel good overall.

being vegan is not easy. its inconvenient in our society, and if youre eating processed vegan food you're still eating shit.

eat whole foods, ensure youre getting enough calories in a day (which it doesnt sound like you are), get a rough estimate of your macros, and suppliment. i use "compliment plus" which advertises to address all a vegans needs, and overall i think it does, at least for me.

also i get extra protein from two different high quality plant based protein powders, vivo and truvani. i used vega for a long time before i went vegan and found out they are really shady about their heavy metal content disclosure so i ditched them.

I am too damn lazy to blend drinks, because of the clean up. I don't cook, because I don't like to clean pans, I was perfectly fine with my crappy diet and sustaining a lot of energy and training my nuts off, not a problem. How can dairy and no fish crash me?

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [justlooking] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:38

Post #19 of 112 (6887 views)

One can be vegan on just rice, potatoes, pasta and bread - (that would be me). I read somewhere that juicing your vegetables is better than eating them. Something to do with the absorption as opposed to eating the veggies and the body having to deal with too much fiber therefore so some nutrients being eliminated before they are absorbed.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [justlooking] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:41

Post #20 of 112 (6877 views)

justlooking wrote:

Also can I respectfully ask why did you become vegan? Is it to improve as an athlete, overall health, ethical reasons?
Once you establish that, then you can tweak or not your diets and supplements. For example, I think there is no way to supplement B Vitamins if not from animal sources and so on.

I became Vegan for overall health. I've tried tweaking my diet and supplements, it doesn't help much. A cheese pizza all to myself help ALOT for some reason.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:43

Post #21 of 112 (6873 views)

Terryh wrote:

damon.lebeouf wrote:

gerardm wrote:

I would tend to think you are just lacking overall nutrition period. You didn't mention what you eat out but what you do eat at home is hardly a proper diet nor does it even sound like enough calories.

I don't think a vegan lifestyle is for someone who is lazy and doesn't cook. I cook pretty much all meals at home ever since following a mostly plant based diet and while it does take more time I feel significantly better from the switch.

agreed on all these points.

ive been vegan since june last year. i just made a cold turkey swap. i went through the vegan honeymoon period and i still feel good overall.

being vegan is not easy. its inconvenient in our society, and if youre eating processed vegan food you're still eating shit.

eat whole foods, ensure youre getting enough calories in a day (which it doesnt sound like you are), get a rough estimate of your macros, and suppliment. i use "compliment plus" which advertises to address all a vegans needs, and overall i think it does, at least for me.

also i get extra protein from two different high quality plant based protein powders, vivo and truvani. i used vega for a long time before i went vegan and found out they are really shady about their heavy metal content disclosure so i ditched them.

I am too damn lazy to blend drinks, because of the clean up. I don't cook, because I don't like to clean pans, I was perfectly fine with my crappy diet and sustaining a lot of energy and training my nuts off, not a problem. How can dairy and no fish crash me?

if its that big of a deal then go eat some meat and dairy.

i personally work offshore 14 days at a time (12 hour shifts with occasional overtime) and live off beans, rice, salads, fruit, the occasional soda when i need extra sugar and i want to treat myself, plant protein powder, and i use infinit as my training calorie source. its a very basic and very easy diet.

if i can do it and thrive in my work environment i think pretty much anyone can.

80/20 Endurance Ambassador

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [justlooking] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:44

Post #22 of 112 (6868 views)

justlooking wrote:

One can be vegan on just rice, potatoes, pasta and bread - (that would be me). I read somewhere that juicing your vegetables is better than eating them. Something to do with the absorption as opposed to eating the veggies and the body having to deal with too much fiber therefore so some nutrients being eliminated before they are absorbed.

Juicing is fun and nice but the clean up is horrible. I cannot image cleaning a juicer daily or even once a week, I'd rather eat nails.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [damon.lebeouf] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:50

Post #23 of 112 (6851 views)

damon.lebeouf wrote:

Terryh wrote:

damon.lebeouf wrote:

gerardm wrote:

if its that big of a deal then go eat some meat and dairy.
.

That's the thing, I switched to be more healthy and live longer. So adding meat and dairy is a step in the wrong direction for me. I want to know how I can be a "LAZY VEGAN EATER" and still training and do triathlons like a boss?

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Terryh] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 13:50

Post #24 of 112 (6849 views)

Just looking at your diet, you're not consuming near enough protein/ BCAAs for a normal individual, let alone an active one.

Try adding protein rich foods such as quinoa, hemp seeds, peanut butter, tofu, nutritional yeast, beans, etc...

If you're going to be "lazy" with your diet, I would not recommend staying vegan.

Re: Seasoned triathlete gone vegan, now I tired all the time. [Yosa125] [ In reply to ]

Jan 13, 20 14:00

Post #25 of 112 (6817 views)

Yosa125 wrote:

Just looking at your diet, you're not consuming near enough protein/ BCAAs for a normal individual, let alone an active one.

Try adding protein rich foods such as quinoa, hemp seeds, peanut butter, tofu, nutritional yeast, beans, etc...

If you're going to be "lazy" with your diet, I would not recommend staying vegan.

I get enough Protein, I have 2 soy protein shakes a day with 40gram each. My nutrition readout said I was fine on protein too, just a little low on Vitamin D and Iron, which I supplemented months ago. It helped a little, but not enough.

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