27 Nov 2015
Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews, Vegan Recipes, Vegan-Related Books & Documentaries, Vegan-Related Current Events
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No Meat Athlete Fitness Bundle

No Meat Athlete Fitness Bundle

I want to share with you all that Matt Frazier from NoMeatAthlete messaged me a while ago asking if I’d like to join his 2nd annual NoMeatAthlete Plant-Based Fitness Bundle, and I, of course, said yes… I was honored!NoMeatAthleteBundle

The gist of it is that it’s a whole bunch of online veg-friendly fitness and food products (lots of great eCourses and eBooks) available for a big discount for just 5 days.

Click HERE to check it out, but first, here’s a quick run-down…

The list of products and contributors is HUGE! It consists of:

Matt Frazier – Wake Up (eBook + audio), 100 Minutes Faster webinar series, and a ticket to his upcoming live Online Goal-Setting Seminar
Heather Crosby – The YumUniverse 5-day Test Drive Kit 
Robert Cheeke – Shred It! eBook + MP3 audio bonus with Matt Frazier
Thomas Tadlock’s – Vegan10 Day Tummy Tightener
Chef AJ – Ultimate Weight Loss Package: 21 Day Recipe Guide + 4 MP3 audio coaching lessons
Doug Hay – Busy Runner Routine eCourse
Jeff Sanders – The 5AM Miracle eBook and The 5AM Blueprint eCourse
Ella Magers – How To Go Vegan A Beginner’s Guide eBook
Scott Shetler – Plant-Based Performance eBooks (A Compassionate Approach To Fitness and Know Your Strength)
Rich Roll – Jai Seed eCookbook and Jai Meditation program 
Sid Garza-Hillman – Approaching The Natural eBook
Karen Ranzi – Raw Vegan Recipe Fun For Families eBook
Derek Tresize – The Vegan Muscle & Fitness Guide To Bodybuilding Competitions
Whitney Lauritsen – Healthy Organic Vegan on a Budget eBook
Dreena Burton – Plant-Powered 15 eBook

All told that’s $400 worth of products for just $49… crazy! I’m so thrilled to be a part of this awesome offer and to be able to bring such valuable resources to my readers for such an affordable price.

Here are some examples of a few of the products you’ll get:

100-minutes-faster No Meat Athlete BundleYU5daykit5amMiracle

EllaHowToGoVegan  RawVeganRecipeFunforFamilies RichRollJaiDerekVeganMuscleFitnessApproachNatural  Scott02

I’m be sad if you missed out on this special Plant-Based Fitness Bundle, so remember, it is going away forever on Wednesday (Dec 2) at 10am EST. (I got the word that there will be no exceptions.) So if this sounds like something up your alley get it now right HERE!

ENJOY!!!

18 Nov 2015
Vegan Fitness, Vegan-Related Current Events
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Woman Meets Weights Online Summit – Join Me!

Woman Meets Weights Summit

Over the thirteen years I’ve been working with people in the gym, one of the most common fears of women is that they will get bulky by lifting weights.

“I just want to tone up,” and “I’m just looking to get lean,” are two of the most common reactions to lifting weights. There is a fundamental lack of understanding about what lifting weights does to a woman’s body that needs to be established.

So when IFPA Pro David Sean contacted me to be part of the Woman Meets Weights summit I happily agreed to an interview.
This online free fitness summit was created to talk about why women can dominate the weight room, use weights for fat loss, and the
best topic of all – why strong is the new skinny. There will be 21 interviews over 21 days with top fitness experts sharing how the most fit women today use strength training to develop a lean, strong, healthy body and improve their sports performance.
It is so important for the empowerment of women to be throwing weights around, so join the summit and learn how to do it right!
Ready to jump in?!
I really hope you join us! Simply click HERE to learn more and register.
Woman Meets Weights Summit
11 Nov 2015
Vegan Fitness, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews
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Delicious Super Food Shake for Super Human Health

Powerootz-Superfood-Shake

Recently, I was lucky enough to get an email from Lisa Hunt, founder of FedUp Foods, asking if I’d like to try a sample of her new Powerootz Superfood Nutritional Shake.

I’m a sucker for trying new plant-based protein and nutrition shakes even though I’m super picky about the flavor, taste, and texture of these powders. I usually end up trying them once and never again.

I seem to always return to my favorite shake I make myself with whole foods. I make it with unsweetened flax milk, frozen banana, almond or peanut butter, flax meal, amla powder (a super food) and sometimes a couple dates and/or vanilla extract. I love the flavor, taste, and texture. Wow, my mouth waters just thinking about it!Drinking vegan protein shake

I couldn’t imagine having this same feeling about ANY protein powder…. until the day the sample of Powerootz Superfood Nutritional Shake came in the mail. I blended it with the same flax milk and frozen banana and poured it in my glass. When I took that first sip I couldn’t have been more delighted and surprised! It actually tasted as delicious and satisfying as my favorite recipe, and it didn’t scream, “I’m a powder!” PLUS it has a ton of superfoods that the shake I make doesn’t contain (AND it contains the amla powder I use).

I was thrilled to learn more about the ingredients of the Powerootz shake. It’s made with a bunch of powerful raw superfoods. In her blog post that gives a thorough account of the superfoods her shake contains, Lisa says, “I went on a hunt for the most powerful and possibly superhumanizing superfoods on the planet and you might be shocked by what I found! I researched the top 15 most powerful superfoods and I think there might be something more than coincidence going on here… Could plants actually make you perform beyond your current capacities? Were herbs, roots, and plants designed specifically to heal, empower, and restore us?”

Powerootz superfoods

In addition to the 1500 mg of raw superfood blend, it also contains detoxifying minerals, has 23 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, and only 3 grams of sugar and 4 grams of fat.

Powerootz Nutritional Label

It comes in the flavors Peanut Butter Bliss and Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness, both of which are fantastic. I get the Peanut Butter Bliss knowing I can always add some raw cacao powder if I’m in the mood for chocolate.

Check out Lisa’s website, awesome blog, and of course order some Powerootz shakes for yourself! All Sexy Fit Vegan fans get 20% off your order… just use code “ELLA” at checkout and you will be hooked up 🙂Powerootz-10-percent-off-Coupon

Let me know what you think!

 

02 Nov 2015
Sexy Fit Vegan of the Month
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Brendan Brazier – Sexy Fit Vegan Celebrity of the Month

Brendan-Brazier

This month we honor the former professional Ironman triathlete, two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion, creator of nutritional products brand VEGA, and bestselling author of Thrive, Brendan Brazier.

brendan-brazier-by-ocean

I met Brendan many years ago through our mutual friend, pro ultra-marathoner Chad Weller… so a big thank you to Chad! Since then, I have had the pleasure getting to know Brendan, who is not only an incredible athlete, but also a talented author, businessman, and all around stand-up guy. On my recent visit to Los Angeles, Brendan kicked my ass on the Santa Monica stairs, but then I got to show off a bit when we took a kickboxing class the next day.

Brendan Brazier kickboxing with Ella at AmenzoneBrendan has an interesting story and great food-philosophies…

When and why did you become vegan? 

I was about 16, running middle distance events in high school, and trying to improve my performance. I didn’t start off vegan—I began experimenting. I tried different ways of eating, and consuming all plant-based, nutrient-dense foods made sense. I found eating a vegan diet comprised of whole foods made a big difference in that it helped me reduce inflammation it took less time for digestion, I had faster recovery times, less cramps, and less injuries. 

What inspired you to write Thrive?
The first version, only about 100 pages, was self-published in 2004. People were looking for new ways of eating and asking questions, so it was basically made up of answers to frequently asked questions delivered in a concise book form. It covered where I got my protein and iron and what meals I ate on a regular basis, along with what I ate before and after a workout, especially to speed recovery. I didn’t expect it to do well, but it did. I expanded it into The Thrive Diet in Canada and Thrive in the U.S because the word “diet” has different connotations in different countries. “Diet” implies restrictions in U.S. culture.

How did the Vega product line come to be?
I had originally planed to keep racing, and I would do a two-week tour of health food stores in Canada at the end of each season. I did that for one year, and then Vega took off. We expanded based on demand, never thinking it would grow to this point.

I had to make a decision whether I would go on pursuing triathlon or focus on growing Vega. Charles, my partner, had funded the whole project, putting everything into it even though he had a family. I wanted it to work for both of us, and I thought it would be selfish to not see it through. So I made the decision to jump fully in Vega and work on growing the business with him.

What does a healthy vegan diet plan consist of? Do you recommend eating  raw?
Eating completely raw isn’t necessary, but when some foods get cooked and denatured, they are not as useful to your body. Raw is good, but simple, unprocessed, basic whole foods are most important. Items like quinoa or sprouted bread aren’t raw, but they are basic and simple, clean nutrition. Eat mindfully with a purpose, before and after workouts. Eat for what you want to achieve.

How do you suggest people make the shift to a new diet?
It’s not all or nothing. People can dabble, and that’s fine. Over time your palate will change, and you will crave basic, simple foods. People’s taste buds are over-stimulated because they eat many refined foods. But you can recalibrate it so that you will notice many different flavors when you eat something as simple as a potato.

Brendan Brazier Products

THANK YOU BRENDAN for being such an inspiration to us all!

Learn more about Brendan Brazier, Thrive books and products, events and more on his website BrendanBrazier.com

21 Oct 2015
Vegan Fitness, Vegan-Related Current Events
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Join Our 6-Week Burpee Challenge!

Burpee-Challenge-2015

The holidays will be here before we know it… time to aim high to get in the best shape of our lives before the feasting begins!

Last year’s burpee challenge was awesome! It was motivating and inspiring to take on the burpee challenge with people in my own gym, and people all over the world (thanks to Instagram/social media)! Here’s a glimpse of one of our burpee sessions (we did tuck jump burpees this day):

This year, we are changing it up, making it a 6-week journey leading up to the holidays and the release of my Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan book. We’ll focus on fitness for these six weeks with this burpee challenge, and then, with the help of the effective meal plan formula and delicious recipes in the book, we can focus on diet for the start of the new year!

So here’s the deal… Starting November 2nd, we will be performing 300 burpees per week for six weeks (ending December 13th). The “fun” addition is that each week we will be doing a different burpee variation. And yes, they get more challenging each week of course ;). You can split the 300 burpees up however you want. Doing 100 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is one option for example. Or 50 burpees a day Monday through Saturday would work. You can of course do 300 one day and get them over with for the week… I’ve never done more than 200 in one day, and that was quite a training session so I can only imagine how challenging it would be to do 300!

I won’t overwhelm you with all six burpee variations now… let’s just start with week 1, which consists of the standard, “Crossfit” style burpee. You simply put your hands on the floor by your feet, jump back into a plank as you lower all the way to the ground. Your chest and hips both must touch the floor. You then push back up as you pop up your hips, feet landing near your hands. Come up to standing as you jump with your arms over head. That’s one repetition. 299 more and you have met the quota for the week!

Burpees are painfully awesome because they work your entire body and challenge your cardiovascular system all at once. Plus, after doing a large set I promise you’ll feel proud and accomplished!

This year let’s all share our burpee sessions:

  • on Facebook by joining the group HERE, and
  • on Instagram (@sexyfitvegan) using the hashtag #6WkBurpeeChallenge. I will be randomly choosing photos and videos to feature and be giving away some freebies as well! 

So… are you in?! Make the commitment! You won’t regret it. 

You can also go ahead and pre-order Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan so you’ll have it at your door when you wrap up this challenge!

6-week-burpee-challenge

 

19 Oct 2015
Vegan Recipes
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Protein Fettuccine with Peas and Lemon Caper Sauce

vegan-protein-pasta-dish-with-peas

This easy vegan recipe is incredibly satisfying, high in vegan protein, easy and quick to make, AND packed with nutrients!

I used Expore Asian’s Mung Bean and Edamame Fettuccine, which is not only high in protein, but also high in fiber and low in carbohydrates. Any pasta can be used however, if you don’t have this particular pasta. I discovered Banza Chickpea Pasta the other week and it’s amazing, tasting more like “regular” pasta than the Mung Bean and Edamame one. There are quite a few whole grain, even sprouted whole grain varieties of pasta on the market that are healthier then traditional white pasta and will work with this recipe. I’m all for you using my recipe as a starting point, and playing around with it based on the ingredients you have available and your taste!Mung Bean Fettuchini

Protein Fettuccine with Peas and Lemon Caper Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1/2 a package Mung Bean & Edamame Fettuccine
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
  • 2 handfuls of baby spinach
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 3 Tbsp chopped basil
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp capers
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
  2. Add the fettuccine and frozen peas and bring back to boil, cooking for 5-7 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
  3. Drain and rinse.
  4. Put the pot back on the stove, turning the temperature to medium.
  5. Add the olive oil and garlic and saute for about 2 minutes.
  6. Add the spinach and lemon juice, and continue to saute.
  7. When the spinach begins to wilt, add the basil, parsley, and capers, and saute for another minute.
  8. Add the pasta and peas back into the pot and mix with the sauce until hot.
  9. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.
  10. Enjoy!

If you try any modifications let us know how it turns out!

 

16 Oct 2015
Uncategorized, Vegan Fitness
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Choose the Right Vegan Running Shoe

Vegan-Running-Shoes

If running is a part of your exercise routine and you care about animals and supporting cruelty companies, this blog post on vegan running shoes is for you!

Let’s talk about picking the right running shoe for your individual needs first. Here are 5 things that need to be taken into consideration when choosing the best shoe for you.

1. Pronation

Pronation has to do with how your foot rolls in or out, or stays straight. The following illustrations from BuzzFeed do a great job showing you what this looks like. There are different types of shoes that work best for each type.

Normal Pronation for a vegan runner

Overpronation for Vegan Runners

Underpronation for Vegan Runners

Images Credit: Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed

2. Foot Strike

Foot strike refers to what part of your foot hits the ground first when running. There is the forefront strike, midfoot strike, and heel strike. There seems to be some inconsistencies among experts when it comes to which is the “best.” A midfoot strike may cause the least impact on your joints, but it seems to also depend on your own body mechanics and the shoe you choose. Changing your shoe to one with a lower heel can be helpful if you tend to heel strike and are having joint pain.

3. Cushion

How much cushion do you want between your foot and the ground? This infographic from RoadRunnerSports illustrates the different levels of cushion. The best one for you will depend on what feels most comfortable and works best with your body mechanics.

Cushion Level for vegan runners

 

 

4. How many miles you run per week

The more miles you run, the more durable your shoe needs to be. 

5. Shoe Size

Generally speaking, your running shoe should be at least 1/2 a size larger then your “normal” shoe size. This is because your feet swell and spread during your run. For some people, including myself, a full size larger end up being the most comfortable when running more than a couple miles. 

I recommend finding a specialized running store where the staff will help you figure out the best running shoe for your needs. Find a store that has a treadmill so your gate can be examined to determine the answers to all the questions I mentioned. 

Now for making sure you buy a cruelty free/vegan running shoe. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! A ton of companies use synthetic materials instead of leather, and some quality companies are completely vegan-friendly. PETA created a great infographic to help us be informed about running shoe companies vegan status: 

 

vegan-running-shoe-guideI hope this helps you on your quest to find the right vegan running shoe. Any runners out there that have other tips please share!

 

14 Oct 2015
Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Fashion, Vegan Product Reviews
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Vegan-Friendly Tattoos

Vegan Tattoo

I have been itching for a new tattoo lately, but I want to do it right and make sure it’s vegan-friendly (and share my research with you of course)!

I would say I have two and an eighth tattoos now.  Yes, an eighth lol… I had 3 that I got done between the ages of 17 and 20. The first was a tribal design on my lower back which would in later years be labeled a “tramp stamp” (I have come to embrace my tramp stamp over the years)! The second some Chinese characters on my ankle meaning “peace, light, and secure.” And last a female symbol with tribal art right below my bikini line. Well, I don’t know if the guy was nervous or what but he royally screwed that one up and I ended up getting 6 laser sessions to remove it. It’s almost gone, but I can still see the remnants so I consider it still an eighth there. I will finish the removal process eventually! 

In the mean time, 10+ years have gone by (if I want to totally date myself), and I’ve been craving a new tattoo, one that truly represents who I am and what I stand for. I’m playing around with tons of ideas and as soon as I decide on the right one I will be ready to get it done. That’s why I want to go ahead and get the research done to make sure I end up with a truly vegan tattoo. Especially since the tattoo itself will have the word “VEGAN” in the design and I want it to spark vegan-related conversations with anyone and everyone I come across.

So here’s what I found out…

Finding a vegan tattoo shop would be the best case scenario… There’s one in Portland for example, called Scapegoat Tattoo Company. Then you have nothing to worry about! But since vegan tattoo shops are fairly few and far between, it’s important to at least find a shop where the owners and artists are understanding and helpful dealing with your request to have a fully vegan tattoo experience. In Miami, Gauntlet Tattoo for example, is one shop that uses vegan ink (they even advertise it on their website).

Some tattoo inks are made with animal products like bone char, glycerin from animal fat, gelatin from hooves, or shellac from beetles. So it’s important to ask if the tattoo shops/artists if they use vegan inks or if they can order some for you. 

Some vegan brands of ink include:

  • Eternal
  • StarBrite
  • SkinCandy
  • Stable Color
  • Electric Ink USA
  • Dermaglo
  • Intenze
  • Fusion Tattoo Ink

It will be smart to take along your own razor, since the ones they have in-house may have a gel strip made from glycerin. Green soap, which is often used, is not vegan, so using a soap like Dr. Bronner’s is safe. Also, petroleum jelly is a vegan alternative to some A&D Ointment which can sometimes contain cod liver oil or lanolin.

And of course, We’ll want the tattoo-care products to be vegan as well.

Some vegan after-care products are:

  • Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Tattoo Balm
  • Black Cat Vitamin Infusion Serum
  • Ohana Organics Tattoo Butter
  • Dr. Bronner’s Body/Tattoo Balm
  • Jojoba oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Shea butter

When it comes to the safety of the ingredients in tattoo ink, we can’t rely on the FDA to help us out. They do not regulate tattoo ink. Beyond the ink, the other ingredient that carries the pigment into the skin is known as the carrier. Non-toxic versions of the carrier include purified water, glycerin (vegetable-based), and ethanol. White and black (iron) are the most toxic colors of conventional tattoo ink, and red pigments cause the most allergic reactions due to the iron oxide (rust), cinnabar, or cadmium red content. Bright and neon pigments often require plastics or chemicals so are best to avoid.

Some non toxic (and Vegan) ink ingredients include:

  • Black – carbon and logwood
  • White – titanium dioxide
  • Yellow – turmeric
  • Green – monoazo, a carbon-based pigment
  • Blue – sodium and aluminum (is that really safe?), many that contain copper are safe.
  • Red – Naphthol which can still cause a reaction
  • Purple – dioxazine and carbazole

Here is some vegan tattoo inspiration I got from Veganmarks.tumblr.com

Vegan Tattoo Vegan Tatto Animal Liberation Vegan Tattoo Black Vegan Tattoo Freedom Vegan Tattoos Hand and Wrist

I hope this helps… Please let me know if you have more suggestions and share your experiences!

Featured Image Photo Credit: Being Vegetarian on Tumblr

12 Oct 2015
Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Recipes
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Cumin Chickpea Celery Salad

Cumin-Chickpea-Celery-Salad

This healthy, easy vegan recipe has become one of my lunch staples because it’s so clean and quick to make.

In fact, I’m eating it right now as I write this! I also like having it for lunch because I leave out onion and garlic and as much as I LOVE these ingredients, I don’t love having their remnants stick with me the rest of the day.

Cumin Chickpea Celery SaladCumin Chickpea Celery Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 3/4 cup chopped parsley (I like the curly but the Italian parsley works as well)
  • 1 15 oz can of chickpeas (salt free), drained
  • 1/2-1 Haas avocado, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon coriander
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chopped celery, parsley, chickpeas, and avocado. Toss. Eat!

It doesn’t get much easier than that. If you like a little spice you can also add a bit of cayenne pepper. Unlike most salads, this one tastes fine the next day if you have leftovers, just make sure to put it in a sealed container so the avocado doesn’t turn dark and ruin the aesthetics of this delicious vegan dish. Hope you enjoy this addition to your vegan diet plan as much as me!

09 Oct 2015
Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Fashion
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Website for the “Ethically Handsome” Man – The Discerning Brute

Discerning-Brute-vegan-men

The Discerning Brute is a website for the ethically handsome man and definitely worth checking out!

When it comes to veganism, sometimes it feels like we’re talking about secret women’s business; after all, 79% of US vegans are women (vegetarians are a more even split at 59% women, 41% men). But a popular website is shaking up the image of what it means to be manly: TheDiscerningBrute.com, for “the ethically handsome man.” I wanted to write this post to introduce you to the website and the inspirational man behind it. 

While it’s not an out-and-out vegan or vegetarian website, the Discerning Brute was founded in 2008 with a focus on “fashion, food and etiquette for the ethically handsome man,” and regularly highlights visionaries and creates discourses with creative influencers who want to “redesign the world, redefine success, and look good doing it.”

The site was founded by Joshua Katcher, an adjunct professor of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design. He is also the founder of the Brave GentleMan clothing label, which utilizes what Katcher calls “future suede,” “future leather,” and “future wool,” sustainable and ethically made fabrics which are superior to animal fibers. There has been a growing popularity in the fashion industry the last few years for the use of these high quality, cruelty free materials. 

Katcher says, “In order for fashion to be truly good, the handsomeness of an object must be matched by the handsomeness of how it was made. There is poetic grace and heightened pleasure in fashions of conscientious construction.”

We couldn’t agree more. Here’s to the ethically handsome man!

Joshua Katcher_Discerning Brute