1. You’re not eating focused vegan proteins. . Now I know vegans get a bad rap for being protein deficient, but most vegans are still using lentils, beans, peanut butter, as their main protein sources, which to be clear, are NOT main sources of protein. Tofu, tempeh, seitan, TVP, are all main sources of plant-proteins that you can swap to make sure you’re getting enough protein without overdoing it on your carbs and fats. 2. You’re not training hard enough (this is huge!) Most of y’all are not training until failure. That’s just the truth. It’s hard to train until failure. Failure is hard - but it’s where we grow the most. 3. You’re not tracking your macros (or at least your calories) What doesn’t get measured, doesn’t get managed. You can’t expect to grow or lose weight when you don’t know exactly how much you’re eating. Nutrition plays a huge role in losing weight or building muscle, so you *have to track* if you’re serious about reaching your fitness goals.

What's everyone's thoughts on coffee/caffeine? I love my morning coffee but I'm not sure if it's serving me...

Sometimes as a vegan this world feels really dark and really heavy and really lonely. And I'm not going to lie, I feel like I was working myself into an early grave because a part of me didn't want to be around all this suffering anymore. How can people I love, even my family, contribute to this pain and suffering? Seeing what we do to the animals and the people every single day, it's heavy. It's heavy on my heart. And I found through this Vegan Squad family that I think I can do this. I think I can be here. You guys have encouraged me. You've all coached me. It’s been a team effort. It took all of you, not any one of you. It took all of you to get me to this point where I can actually love myself and want to be here. So I want to give you guys a shout out and just say thank you all for making my life worth living. Thank you for making this the best thing I've ever been a part of in my life. And I would not want to do it without all of you. So thank you for encouraging me to love myself and try to make this world a better place while we're still here. I’m grateful for all of you. What’s one thing you are grateful for this week?

I read and watched all the videos on the AMAZING coaches here, and althought they all seem ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, I'm wondering who you believe would be the best match for a 55 yo man as far as working out/fitness goes. They all seem great for mental discipline and motivation, but I"m wondering if any have specific training for someone in my age/body category. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Hello, I want to thank everyone involved in setting up this community and inviting me to join. I was so excited when I found the link to the community a few minutes a go. T H A N K Y O U! I also want to say hello and welcome to anyone new here who happens upon this post. 👋 Big wave hello to you. And I wanted to introduce myself with a favorite recipe: KIWI JAM This is flavorful so a little bit goes a long way. INGREDIENTS: - 2 kiwis, peeled - 1 TBSP lime juice - 1 tsp finely grated lime zest - 1–2 tsp sweetener of choice (optional but recommended; taste to adjust sweetness to preference) - 2 TBSP water - ¼–½ tsp agar powder (¼ tsp = soft, spreadable whereas 1/2 tsp - firmer, more marmalade-like) INSTRUCTIONS: - Peel Kiwi. Coarsely chop. Add sweetener of choice. - Let this mixture rest for 10 minutes to draw out the kiwi juice.  - Add lime and zest. - Simmer gently 5 minutes. - Activate the agar by mixing it with 2 TBSP water. - Bring to a full boil for 20–30 seconds to activate the agar. - Use an immersion blender to blend (or a masher to mash) to desired texture. - Seal in an air-tight jar and after cooling store in fridge. Serving ideas: spread on toast, crackers, muffins, tortilla, or use in a cup of soy milk as a flavor or in a shake/smoothie.