Hi! My name is Hannah. I went vegan when I was 12 years old and never turned back. Usually I am Gluten Free but have reintroduced Gluten until July to test for celiac. Currently I live in Maine! I love going to shoegaze and hardcore shows. I aspire to be a vegan powerlifter. I also love reformer and mat Pilates, cycling and boxing. I see movement as healing to my chronic illnesses and disabilities. I recently adopted a kitten named Zoey! Looking forward to feeling inspired in this group. 💚

Hi everyone. I’m Annie I’m 27 from Brooklyn 🙂 I went vegan at 16. I have been attempting to bodybuild. It’s very hard for me to find other like minded individuals. I hope to connect with all of you guys i’m excited to join (: Edit: I thought I should share that I was also obese a few years ago & lost 70lbs. 🙂

Hi, I'm Riley (they/them), I'm from NY and I'm in my mid twenties. I joined during the summit 5/16 and I'm glad to be here, thank you Alex for the invite. I've been vegetarian since December 2012 and vegan since March 9 2020. I went vegan because a vegan was honest about dairy, and how its hypocritical to be an "intersectional feminist" while abusing the most vulnerable individuals' reproductive systems. I've worked out for a few months here and there since middle school but didn't really know what I was doing, follow a program, or focus on protein until 2023. I was consistent for 1.5 years but fell off in autumn 2025. I've gradually acquired plenty of secondhand exercise equipment (barbells, curl bar, loadable dumbbells, decline/incline bench, plates, bands, and a "powetec levergym" machine) at home so I dont need to go to the gym but often need physical therapy and have limitations. During 2021-2022 my health declined, then after a surgery, I declined and was mostly couch bound for 6 months. I got some diagnoses after months, but it didnt explain everything yet. As of now, we're pretty sure i have ME/CFS ("chronic fatigue syndrome " but its so much more than chronic fatigue, crashes lower baseline function longterm) but still have to treat other stuff to see if it goes away. By managing the conditions we're sure of and careful pacing, avoiding PEM (post exertional malaise), and lots of external support, my baseline has improved a little. My goals are: - build muscle to stabilize my joints - work up to heavier lifts safely with my health issues - relieve dysphoria - be an example of how vegans are strong and hot, lol. More specifically: - lose ~6 points of body fat - gain ~20lbs muscle, mostly in upper body for a V taper - get 600+ lbs between big 3 (which is a slow process for me due to my funky connective tissue, dizziness with squatting) For now I'm: - easing back into exercise aiming for 6+ sets total of anything at least 2x/week. Working up slowly up to 20-25 sets 3x but listening to my body to avoid crashing

Is there a good app you all use for tracking meals, calories, nutrients; etc? Last time I was doing it we used MyFitnessPal, but that’s been a while. Bonus pics of me and the wife in Columbus, OH this weekend, eating at 4th & State Diner, a super delicious vegan restaurant downtown.

Photo 1 : vegn eggs benny chickn sausage and avo - UT47 Photo 2-4: Spicy moon- dan Dan noodles, chili glass beef noodle, vegan duck wrap, dumpling, wings, tofu buns, Last pic grilled impossible burgers my cousin made and strawberry lemonade 😇