What is the Best Way to Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms?

 

Click on Here to Discover How You Can Completely Heal Any Type of Arthritis In 21 Days or Less

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - This Cheap Supplement Relieves All Arthritis Pain

“Excruciating” is a word that is commonly used to describe the pain associated with arthritis, and if you’ve ever suffered from it, or know someone who does, you too can probably relate.

At times, the pain is like no other, resulting in many people going to great lengths to get rid of it.

At times desperation is so high, resulting in people being easily taken in by snake oil salespeople trying to palm off expensive and useless “cures”.

But a new scientific study from the Netherlands is about to put these so-called “salespeople” out of business with their findings.

Scientists have found that there is indeed a cheap and readily available supplement that can be taken to treat arthritis, and the best news is it’s easily accessible and won’t break the bank.

Omega-3 fatty acids are not only inexpensive; they’re amazing for your overall health, including the joints. It can be found in abundance in walnuts, soybean oil, and cold-water fish like tuna and salmon. But the best sources of it are flax seed and fish oils.

The recommended quantity of the flax seed oil supplement is just 3-10 grams daily. It is particularly effective to take supplements that contain both DHA and EPA, both of which are types of omega 3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. They stimulate production of certain chemicals that control inflammation in joints, blood and tissues.

Studies have found that consistently taking fish or flax seed oil works for morning stiffness and joint tenderness, especially among people suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

And here’s an interesting fact about omega-3 fatty acids for you – it’s not just us, even cats get osteoarthritis relief with fish oil supplements, according to the study.

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - But Omega-3 fat is not enough to completely reverse your arthritis. Here are the three exact steps I took to eliminate my arthritis pain completely in 21 days…

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - How Arthritis Affects Your Eyes

What, the eyes?

Isn’t arthritis limiting and painful enough so we don’t have to twist the knife by adding more?

Unfortunately, you need to know about these if you suffer arthritis. Because there are still many things you can do to prevent those serious eye conditions, especially if caught early.

So, in today’s article, we’ll tell you about 7 ways arthritis affects your eyes and what to do about it.

Most of the conditions are inflammatory ones:

1) Dry eye. According to a review of the literature in the journal Cogent Medicine in 2016, this is the most common complaint that bothers up to 50% of arthritis sufferers.

Your lacrimal glands are less active, and so are your salivary glands to cause a dry mouth as well as dry eyes. An artificial tear solution should be sufficient to provide relief.

2) Conjunctivitis. According to this same review, inflammation of your inner eyelid and the outside layer of the white part of your eye is common. This is normally caused by a virus, bacterium, or other irritant, is luckily not serious, and will pass without treatment in less than five days.

Keeping dirty hands off your eyes and avoiding known irritants are good preventive measures.

3) Keratitis. This is another inflammatory condition, in this case of your cornea. When caused by bacteria or viruses, it can pass quickly, but more serious forms can cause your cornea to perforate or to develop scar tissue that can leave you half blind.

If you struggle with pain, poor eyesight and red eyes, you may be in trouble and should seek medical attention.

4) Episcleritis and scleritis. These conditions involve inflammation of the episclera or sclera, the latter being the outside white coating of your eye. The former passes undramatically, but the latter is serious and can lead to permanent loss of vision. It is also very painful and might require surgery.

5) Retinal vasculitis. This occurs when your retinal artery becomes inflamed, and the only way you can know it is happening is when your vision deteriorates, when you see dark spots or when you struggle to distinguish colors.

An ophthalmologist will have to diagnose and treat it.

6) Ocular hypertension and glaucoma. According to a study in a recent edition of the journal Acta Ophthalmologica, up to 42% of people with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have ocular hypertension or glaucoma.

Ocular hypertension is high eye pressure because of inadequate drainage of fluid from your eyes. This causes glaucoma, which involves damage to the optic nerve. This can cause permanent vision loss. There is no cure but if caught early enough, it can be managed without serious vision loss.

7) Uveitis. A potentially serious condition, it involves the inflammation of the part of your eye that includes the iris. If you’re sensitive to light, see flashing lights, have burning eyes and blurred vision, you need to visit your ophthalmologist.

I recommend that everyone suffering arthritis gets a regular checkup with a good ophthalmologist. Even if some of the conditions above are incurable, they can often be managed, symptom free, if caught early.

On the upside, most of these conditions are inflammatory, which suggests that you can help to prevent them by keeping the levels of inflammation in your body as low as possible.

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - And the best news is that you can completely reverse your arthritis, and therefore the eye complications, in 28 days, following these 3 simple steps…

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Arthritis Drastically Improved with This Delicious Food

According to a new study, published in June 2017, in Arthritis Care & Research, one type of food can improve arthritis more than leading medications …

… without the side effects!

Even better, this food comes in lots of variety and is plainly yummy!

Researchers analyzed the information of 176 people collected by the Evaluation of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Predictors of Events in RA (ESCAPE-RA) cohort study.

The available information included a food frequency questionnaire and DAS28-CRP scores.

The DAS28-CRP score is commonly used to measure the onset of arthritis. It measures the amount of c-reactive protein in your body and joints as it is a great indication of the amount of inflammation that is present.

The DAS28-CRP scale runs from 2 to 10, with anything below 2.6 indicating a condition in remission.

Those participants that ate the most fish (twice or more) could lower their DAS28-CRP score one point.

While one point on the scale doesn’t seem like much, it is, in fact, the same as methotrexate, a drug often prescribed for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

This supports previous studies showing that omega-3 fish oil can drastically improve arthritis function. Only now we know that eating the whole fish can be just as good.

To maximize your fish intake as an arthritis treatment, consume fish that contains as much omega-3 oil as possible.

These include

1) Mackerel contains so much omega-3 that one relatively small serving can give you approximately seven grams of it.

2) Sardines contain so much that one moderately sized serving can supply you with around two grams.

3) Herring is good for almost two grams per serving.

4) Salmon contains between one and 1.5 grams per serving, depending on how it is processed, farmed and cooked.

5) Albacore tuna has approximately one gram per serving.

Opt for fresh rather than frozen or canned fish and wild rather than farmed.

For more ideas on how to eliminate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, watch this video - Rheumatoid arthritis - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - But eating fish is only a smart piece of the puzzle. Here are the exact 3 steps thousands of readers have used to cure their arthritis completely in 28 days or less …

This post is from the Arthritis Strategy Program. It was created by Shelly Manning, a former arthritis sufferer and a health consultant.

A Brief Background on the Author

Like you, Shelly Manning also suffered from arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis. This was due to her weight and desk job. Her condition eventually took a toll on her relationship with her (former) husband.

It was when she went to Hong Kong that she met Janerdquo, an old woman who owned the restaurant where she ate. Janerdquo supposedly offered her a bowl of a weird-smelling soup, which helped ease her joint pain. She ate there each day for 10 days until she was completely healed from arthritis.

Shelly Manning decided to research this natural remedy and to create a step-by-step treatment plan to others who are suffering from different types of arthritis, such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis.

That’s why she created “The Arthritis Step By Step Strategy.” According to her claims, this unique strategy will get rid of joint pain and stiffness, repair your damaged joints, and treat the underlying cause of your arthritis.

Shelly teamed up with Christian Goodman, the owner of Blue Heron Health News, a publishing company that aims to help people to take responsibility for their own health by using natural health alternatives for preventing arthritis in fingers and knees naturally.

To find out more about this program, go to Eliminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms in Just 21 Days or Less

 

What is the Best Way to Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast?

 

Discover How, Five Minutes from NOW, Your Acid Reflux Can Be Totally Gone & You’ll Feel Great Night and Day

Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast - These Acid Reflux Drugs Lead to Untreatable and Dangerous Diseases

These acid reflux drugs are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world.

But medical practitioners haven’t been revealing the whole story.

They have kept some information to themselves, or at least did not publicize it.

These drugs, according to a new study in the Journal JAMA Internal Medicine, lead to other diseases, more serious ones.

Deadly and untreatable ones.

Gastric acid suppression drugs are used to treat acid reflux because they suppress the production of stomach acids.

If stomach acid escapes from your stomach and washes back up into your esophagus and your mouth, the simplest solution for doctors is to prescribe a drug that blocks the enzymes that produce stomach acid.

The scientists wanted to explore the relationship between gastric acid suppressants and multidrug-resistant bacteria.

They looked at a number of past studies that compared the occurrence of multi-drug resistance between acid suppressants users and non-users, which included a total of 22,305 subjects.

From these, they found that people on acid suppressants were 75 percent more likely than non-users to develop multi-drug resistant gut bacteria.

The presence of one drug resistant bacterium can lead to the occurrence of drug resistant infections that involve other bacteria.

Furthermore, while bacteria that are in our digestive tracts are usually not harmful while they stay there, they can become extremely harmful when they escape through perforations in your intestines.

If they cause infections elsewhere in your body and they are multidrug-resistant, you might never be able to remove them.

Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast - But multi-drug resistant gut bacteria aren’t the only, or even the most dangerous consequences of acid reflux drugs. Fortunately, it’s easy to cure acid reflux – as soon as today – using a safe natural method. I’ll explain this here…

Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast - FDA Warning on Acid Reflux Medications

If you’re one of millions of people who suffer acid reflux and use – even if it’s only occasionally – medications to manage your heartburn, you’ll really want to pay attention to today’s short article.

Americans spend more than $10 billion on prescription drugs for heartburn. That’s on top of billions spent on over-the-counter solutions.

The most common drugs for heartburn are Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPIs. These drugs stop small pumps lining the stomach wall that secrete acid to break down food for digestion. They’re approved by FDA for chronic, long term heartburn (GERD) but doctors are giving them out for a much wider range of conditions (surprise, surprise).

Recently the FDA has been issuing a series of warnings regarding long-term risk associated with PPIs, linking them to increased risk of infection with the diarrhea-causing superbug Clostridium difficile. Taking it for as little as a year increases the risk of hip fracture and causes vitamin B-12 deficiency. The worst part may be severe withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing use.

The good news is there is a simple, cheap home remedy you can make that instantly eliminates acid reflux for most people. And following a small plan, you can be permanently heartburn free for life. Learn more about this acid reflux approach here…

To tackle IBS naturally, click here…

Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast - Asthma- Milk Irritates More Than Reflux

A reader commented on the last milk article that he developed asthma as a result of his body’s intolerance to dairy.

Understanding how this is possible means first understanding that there are different types of asthma, and thus the triggers for attacks will differ.

For the reader whose asthma trigger is dairy, this suggests that his asthma is “non-allergic.” This basically means that his inflammation is caused by irritants outside the allergy world, such as pollen, dander, and dust.

Keep in mind that an intolerance to something is much different than an allergy.

While different types of inflammation occur with both allergies and intolerances, as evidenced in the differing kinds of asthma, the physiology behind the inflammation differs.

Asthma is an inflammation and constriction of the airways, causing the sufferer to not be able to breathe easily. This can range in severity from mildly irritating to life-threatening. People who are no strangers to asthma likely are well-familiar with not only what type of asthma they have, but also what triggers their inflammation.

Ironically, it is known that Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease also causes asthma attacks. This is particularly important to people who have an intolerance to dairy who also have a history of GERD, asthma, lactose intolerance, or any other dairy-related problems.

The point here isn’t so much to teach asthma sufferers about what causes their problems. Rather, it is more of an awareness issue for the rest of us who are not as sensitive to dairy.

It seems anymore that there are warnings popping up all over packages, menus, and even outside certain buildings of the presence of certain food ingredients. I have heard a lot of people complain about these warnings, saying it seems to be going overboard.

However, this is more than the drive to try and be sensitive or politically correct.

Have you ever tried to breathe through a small straw? If you don’t have asthma or allergies, you likely have not had the displeasure of this experience.

If you have ever wondered why there is such a push to disclose the presence of these food items, I would invite you, to give this exercise a try. Take a drinking straw, place it in your mouth, and go up and down your stairs (at a safe pace as to not trip and choke on your straw) at least once. Breathe only through your straw…not your nose.

Don’t overdo it, but just try to get a sense of what this feels like.

This is similar to what people who have antihistamine reactions go through when they are having an anaphylactic or asthmatic reaction to certain triggers, of which dairy is a big one.

The difference is, they can’t take the straw out of their mouths. During an attack, frequently a rescue inhaler, or trip to the ER is all that can turn the situation around.

For people with severe food allergies, an Epi-pen is their constant companion.

Trying to imagine the feeling of GERD at its worst is a little harder to do (safely). But these attacks are easily triggered by dairy, soy, red meat, and other foods- even when eaten in moderation.

Suffice it to say that if you really wanted a sensitivity training kind of exercise here, just imagine the feeling of trying to swallow a 5-pound barbell. The heavy, anxious, painful feeling along the esophagus and near the stomach’s opening isn’t just awful to experience; it can lead to long-term damage.

So I would invite you to try and notice on the packages, menus and buildings the different safety notices that are posted and what kinds of foods are listed. This will help you be a better friend to the people in your lives who suffer from food-related problems such as asthma, GERD and allergies.

For more ideas to get rid of acid reflux in your throat fast, watch this video - How To Stop Acid Reflux | How To Treat Acid Reflux

To better plan your meals, or to learn more about Acid Reflux, have a look at my natural Acid Reflux guide today.

This post is from Scott Davis’ Acid Reflux Solution. This program helps you to cure your heartburn and acid reflux by using natural remedies to quickly heal your stomach without dangerous medicine or risky surgeries. It can also help you to remove some disorders of acid reflux such as constipation or IBS.

To find out more about the program, go to Get Rid of Acid Reflux in Your Throat Fast

What is the Best Way to Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism?

 

Click HERE to Discover How You Can Treat Hypothyroidism by Addressing Its Root Causes

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - Hypothyroidism Caused by This Work Habit

We usually associate hypothyroidism with weight gain, obesity, fatigue, depression, joint pain, muscle weakness, heart disease, and diabetes.

But working habits, that’s something new.

Yes, a recent study due to be presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting highlighted one work habit that may be the underlying cause of your hypothyroid.

Numerous previous studies have found that people who work long hours have an increased risk of diseases and health events like coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.

However, it is the first time that overworking has ever been linked to hypothyroidism.

Researchers used the information of 2,160 working adults that had previously been collected by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Information about the amount of worked hours and blood tests to examine thyroid function were used.

1.4 percent who worked between 36-42 hours a week and 3.5 percent that worked between 53-83 hours a week suffered from hypothyroidism.

This shows the more hours worked increased the risk of suffering from hypothyroidism by 2.5 times.

Furthermore, for every 10 extra hours worked every week, the chance of developing hypothyroidism increased by 46 percent.

Although women tend to suffer from hypothyroidism more in general, the studies found that overworking affects men and women suffering from hypothyroidism equally.

Hypothyroidism is one of the risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so this explains the occurrence of these diseases in people who work long hours too.

Interestingly, the socioeconomic conditions of the participants did not skew results.

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - Reducing the amount of hours you work will help, but it’s not always enough. To cure your hypothyroidism you need to tackle its underlying causes, which I explain here…

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - The Curable Cause of Hypothyroidism

The medical system considers hypothyroidism incurable.

Its solution is life sentence on hormone drugs, causing a ton of side effects.

But a new study in the Journal Frontiers in Endocrinology reveals the real underlying cause of hypothyroidism, but the good news is – this one is easily treatable.

These researchers wanted to know more about the effect on the thyroid of subacute thyroiditis, which is a condition in which your thyroid gland becomes inflamed, which in turn can either cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

When it is acute, thyroid hormone leaks out into the bloodstream causing symptoms similar to those of hyperthyroidism, such as a faster heart rate, exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, increased perspiration, tremors, muscular weakness, and weight loss. Doctors referred to this as thyrotoxicosis.

When it is subacute, it causes pain in the neck, jaw, and ears; the thyroid becomes enlarged, and one often has a fever and aching muscles. It is usually caused by a viral infection, especially upper respiratory infections.

The researchers recruited 61 patients with thyroiditis and followed them for two years to see when the first signs of hypothyroidism developed.

As they expected, they observed a sudden increase in thyroid size at the time of the subacute thyroiditis.

But by both one and two years, the thyroids of people who had had thyroiditis were a lot smaller than those were in healthy people, indicating hypothyroidism becomes a possibility soon after the thyroiditis.

They also found that the thyroids of thyroiditis sufferers who ended up developing hypothyroidism were even smaller than those who had the thyroiditis but never the hypothyroidism.

The maximum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels within the first three months were closely linked with the development of hypothyroidism later.

The trick is to reduce the inflammation immediately after it begins.

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - Throughout the years, I have helped hundreds of people reverse their hypothyroidism by tackling the inflammation causing it. Here are the exact methods I use…

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - How Hypothyroidism Destroys Family Planning Dreams

Conceiving doesn’t come easy to all couples. There are many people out there with fertility problems that make it difficult to fall pregnant.

There are some clear explanations about a person’s fertility issues, but then there are some that remain a mystery.

Now researchers from The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in China have found that a type of hypothyroidism is messing with your ability to have children in the future.

According to researchers, subclinical hypothyroidism interferes with female fertility. They investigated whether it affected a woman’s ovarian reserve.

In general, women in their late 30s and 40s have a lower ovarian reserve than women in their 20s, partly because they have fewer egg cells, and partly because the egg cells that are still present are not good enough to be fertilized.

Researchers recruited 2,568 women who had requested infertility treatment. 2,279 of them had normal thyroid function and 289 had subclinical hypothyroidism. 1,349 were below the age of 35 and 1,219 were older.

While there is currently no direct way of testing ovarian reserves, they used the most common markers used by researchers to estimate it, including the follicle-stimulating hormone (that regulates the growth and selection of egg cells), the antral follicle count (the number of a type of follicle that indicates the number of egg cells, estimated via ultrasound), and the anti-Müllerian hormone (that regulates the maturation of ovarian follicles).

Women with subclinical hypothyroidism had substantially lower anti-Müllerian hormones and antral follicle numbers and higher follicle-stimulating hormones than their peers with a healthy thyroid function.

Those below 35 differed only in follicle-stimulating hormones compared to their healthy thyroid peers, while those above 35 had an unhealthier profile of all three factors.

In other words, the older you are, the more severe the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism are on your fertility.

Usually, subclinical hypothyroidism is difficult to detect because there are often few to no symptoms. But if you have vague and unspecific symptoms like fatigue, depression, weight gain, hair loss, cognitive fogginess, and a swelling in your neck, you may have it.

Watch this video - My Struggle w/ Hypothyroidism | Weight Loss , Symptoms , How I Live w/ it

Eliminate All Complications of Hypothyroidism - But there is good news – you can reverse BOTH your infertility and hypothyroidism in 21 days or less by getting to the root cause of the problem, which I’ll explain here…

This post is from the Hypothyroidism Solution Program created by Julissa Clay. She provides you with tips and techniques which she used while struggling with hypothyroidism. Julissa is a natural health researcher and has written many health program e-books and digital guides. She spent all her life to the service of all the people and helped them to recover from various health issues naturally. You can easily avoid the side effects of the medications by following her.

To find out more about this program, click on Eliminate All Complications of  Hypothyroidism

How to Create Your Own Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer?

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

3-Ingredient Natural Homemade Hand Sanitizer

This 3-ingredient aloe and lavender recipe uses the natural germ fighting properties in tea tree oil to create an alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

Having a hand sanitizer in your purse or car to use in a pinch comes in handy when good old-fashioned soap and water are nowhere in sight.

However, most commercial hand sanitizers use alcohol as the antibacterial agent. These products are often drying and burn if you have even the slightest scratch on your hand, which can be painful for adults, not to mention children.

To make matters worse, many commercial sanitizers contain synthetic fragrances and parabens to extend the shelf life of the product. Luckily, creating a homemade hand sanitizer that contains only pure ingredients couldn’t be easier.

This DIY version is free of harsh ingredients and combines the soothing aroma of lavender with tea tree oil to combat germs, all in a moisturizing aloe vera-based gel. Grab a small pump or squeeze bottle and let’s get started!

Start out with an aloe vera gel that is pure and contains no fillers. A great aloe vera gel dries quickly, is moisturizing, and isn’t sticky. Aloe vera gel is available online and in health food stores, with plenty of natural brands to choose from.

Pour aloe vera gel into a pump or squeeze bottle. Next, add 3-4 drops of high quality tea tree oil and 4 drops of lavender oil. Lavender oil also has antiviral and antibacterial properties of its own.

If you prefer a stronger scent, add in a few more drops of lavender. Secure the lid and give the mixture a shake. Store your sanitizer in a convenient spot, like a purse or in your glove compartment.

Try these other great scents to add to your hand sanitizer…

• Orange or citrus oil: uplifting
• Peppermint oil: refreshing
• Rosemary: relaxing

3-Ingredient Natural Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Recipe by Jennafer Ashley

This 3-ingredient aloe and lavender recipe uses the natural germ fighting properties found in tea tree oil to create an alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

Tools:

• Small pump or squeeze bottle

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 100% aloe vera gel
• 4 drops lavender oil
• 3 drops high quality tea tree oil

Instructions:

1. Pour aloe vera gel into a small pump or squeeze bottle, leaving a little bit of room at the top.

• Add drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil.

• Secure lid and shake to combine.

Watch this video - How To Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer | Dr. Ian Smith

 

Written by Jennafer Ashley

 

Author Bio:

 

Jenna is a Registered Dietetic Technician and recipe developer specializing in healthy eating. She styles and photographs recipes for her website, Fresh and Fit , as well as contributes to a variety of websites. In her free time, Jenna enjoys trying new restaurants and hiking with her German Shepherd.

 

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

 

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

 

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

 

What Simone Collins Has to Say About Crossfit Training

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

BODYBUILDER WHO ALSO LOVES CROSSFIT TRAINING

“Discovering the gym changed my life. It became my new coping mechanism, and instead of being harmful and negative, it help me heal myself physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Name: Simone Collins
Occupation: Graphic Designer for the Arnold Classic Australia and Dohertys Gym
City/State/Country: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Age: 28
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 128 lbs.
Training: CrossFit and bodybuilding
Website: www.simicollins.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/simivegan
Instagram: @simi_collins

Q: What are your personal passions outside of fitness?

I love music and art. I secretly love to sing, and although I haven’t done it for ages, I love drawing. I am also a bit of a nerd – I love Anime, playing games, watching or reading fantasy/sci-fi.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome in your life?

Beating anxiety and depression. I was in a dark place in my late teens/early 20s. I really struggled to find a way to cope with my emotions and mental state. My coping mechanisms were harmful and negative, including self-harm and eating disorders.

Discovering the gym changed my life. It became my new coping mechanism, and instead of being harmful and negative, it help me heal myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. It gave me self-confidence, motivation and a healthy relationship with food.

Q: What was the hardest part of going vegan for you?

I didn’t find it hard at all! I was vegetarian for 10 years before I went vegan, so it was really easy to substitute eggs with tofu, and whey with plant-based protein, which was really the only animal products I was eating.

“For anyone making the switch, I suggest keeping your diet as close as you can to what you are used to, and simply making substitutes to the animal products in your meals.”

Q: What are your top three tips for women who want to compete?

1. Be mentally ready – competition prep is as much a mental test as it is a physical endeavor!
2. Don’t crash diet! If you feel you have to drop your calories so low, or do tons of cardio to get lean in time, you’re probably not ready for the show. Slow down and prepare for the next one, there’s no hurry, competitions are run all the time!

• Just have fun! Competition prep is hard, but the challenge is extremely exciting and there’s no better feeling than being on stage in your best shape!

Q: What does your daily meal plan offseason look like?

My diet varies a bit, especially now that I’m not prepping for a show. I tend not to count calories or macros in this time and eat more intuitively, to give myself a break from the regiment of competition prep. Here’s an example of my meal plan:

• Breakfast: Huge bowl of oats with protein powder and berries topped with cinnamon and ginger
• Post-Workout: Plant-based protein powder and Greens
• Lunch: 200g tofu, tempeh, seitan, lentils, beans or chickpeas (protein and iron source!) 1-2 roast potatoes or a cup of rice or quinoa (carb source) and unlimited non-starchy vegetables or raw salad, topped with nutritional yeast (b12) Himalayan salt (for iodine) and a splash of sauce (usually no added sugar barbecue, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salsa or pasta sauce)
• Snack: 4 rice cakes made into sandwiches with 1 chopped banana, fruit puree spread on each one and topped with cinnamon
• Dinner: Same as lunch usually
• Snack: A few walnuts (omega 3)
• Before bed: Plant-based protein mousse (just mix in less water or nut milk!) and flaxmeal (omega 3)
• Throughout the day: A couple of cups or tea or coffee with almond milk. I tend to snack if and when I’m hungry. I try to eat natural whole foods most of the time. Sometimes I like to have a treat here and there, like some mock meat, veggie burgers, vegan pizza, fries, chocolate, lollies etc. I keep this pretty minimal though.

Q: Philosophy on supplements and which ones you take?

• B12
• Creatine, now and then
• BCAAs
• Super Greens
• L-Carnitine, during bikini competition prep

B12 is crucial for vegan bodybuilders. I manage to maintain high B12 levels simply eating nutritional yeast, however if you’re low, I would recommend a supplement or even injections. Sports aren’t always necessary, but personally I feel they assist my training.

Q: Describe your training regiment.

At the moment I am doing mostly CrossFit.

We start the class generally working strength or a particular lift, then we do a WOD (which is usually high intensity work for time or reps).

We usually have an upper-body focused day, followed by a lower body day, then a “skills day” where we work more on strength and technique.

“I love the CrossFit training style, you develop a great skill base, it keeps you very fit, and it’s heaps of fun!”

I usually do CrossFit 4-5 times a week, and a squat-only day (as I am working on increasing my squat at the moment).

If I do 4 days of CrossFit, I also do an arms/shoulders/chest day in the gym. I also stretch and practice basic gymnastics holds.

Q: If you have to pick only three exercises, what would they be and why?

• Deadlift
• Squat
• Bench

Can’t go wrong with the “Big 3” in powerlifting! They require the use of multiple muscle groups and I believe you could keep very fit and strong, and even build a decent physique, just doing these 3 lifts.

Q: What tips can you share about fitness?

That anything you want to achieve in health and fitness, you can achieve on a 100 percent vegan lifestyle!

Q: What are the three biggest trends you see in fitness right now?

Fasted cardio: Seems to work for some, personally it makes me feel gross. I hate it so I never do it!

Fitness Model Competitions: It feels like every other girl in the gym is getting ready for her first “Fitness Model” competition, which is great, however I hope they are all doing it for the right reasons, and are mentally prepared as well as physically. I often notice these girls have not been training very long. I even met one that had never been to a show, and didn’t even know what federation she had signed up for!

Sometimes I think these girls are pushed into competing by their coaches, or want to do a competition just because it’s the in thing to do.

Nutella: I don’t understand why everyone is so obsessed with it, it drives me nuts!

Q: What advice do you have for someone who wants to try a plant-based diet?

“I think the hardest part from a bodybuilding perspective, is trusting that you can still get the same results without animal products.”

But there are plenty of athletes who prove that it’s completely possible, not only to maintain muscle, but to gain muscle or to get lean and shredded for a competition without meat or dairy.

To get more ideas about crossfit training, watch this video - How to combine CROSSFIT and BODYBUILDING

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Vegan Bodybuilding and Crossfit Training

 

What Robert Cheeke Has to Say About Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness

 

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Build Muscle & Lose Fat By Eating Plants

FOUNDER OF VEGAN BODYBUILDING AND FITNESS SEES BRIGHT FUTURE

“A few years ago, I changed my viewpoint on a number of popular and controversial topics, including protein consumption, supplement use, and my overall views about the sport of bodybuilding.”

Robert Cheeke is responsible for creating one of the first plant-based fitness websites in history, and has over 20 years’ experience as a vegan athlete. It’s pioneers like him that have made it possible for bodybuilders, athletes, and gym rats like me to wake up to a healthier path of fitness.

Robert and I agree almost entirely on the topic of bodybuilding nutrition.

We both believe that a supplement-free, whole-food, plant-based diet is optimal.

The only difference between in our philosophies is that he advocates a low-protein diet across the board.

“Whereas, I think some individuals may need more protein based on genetics, fitness goals, etc.”

That said, I try to stay open and remain willing to learn more.

Hell, I used to think that eating exuberant amounts of meat was the only path to packing on muscle and now I own a website called VegetarianBodybuilding.com.

It’s nice knowing that a guy like Robert is traveling the globe, spreading the good word about our lifestyle, and bringing us together.

Our tribe is much stronger because of him without question. I also share and respect his belief in consistency and creating positive habits.

You will certainly have an opportunity to learn a lot from him in this interview!

Q: What does your morning ritual look like (first 30-60 minutes)?

When I wake up, I cuddle with my little Chihuahua, Benny, for a few minutes before using the bathroom and brushing my teeth. I then check my email, Facebook, and Twitter from my phone as I wake myself up. Once I’m up, I take Benny out for a walk and then make my way to the kitchen for some fruit.

I usually grab a handful of bananas and a bottle of yerba mate or glass of water, and fire up my laptop and start working for the day. My girlfriend, Karen, makes a bowl of oatmeal with fruit and walnuts and checks for book and clothing orders that came in during the night to prepare packages to be shipped out.

I sign books if necessary and then settle into social media work, promoting my Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness brand from my laptop in my home office. That covers my first hour upon waking.

Q: What key rituals/practices do you try to maintain at all costs, even while you travel?

One of the rituals I am very proud of is my daily commitment to completing more than 100 push-ups and crunches per day. I have not missed a day performing at least 100 of each since August 16, 2013. I average about 145 push-ups and 285 crunches completed per day.

“Regardless of where I am, what time zone or country, I do these exercises every single day. I believe in consistency and creating positive habits, and this is my longest-running current daily practice.”

Q: Who were/are your mentors in life? Tell us about them and why.

When I look back at my mentors over the years, the people who stand out are my high school psychology of success teacher, Eric Dazey; my high school soccer coach, Jon Bullock; America’s Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine; my older sister, Tanya; and most recently, Dr. T. Colin Campbell.

Mr. Dazey helped me create formulas for success, and his leadership transformed my academic performance during an important time in my life, when I was a freshman in high school struggling to adjust academically.

I just bumped into Mr. Dazey in my hometown in July 2015, and it was one of the highlights of my summer.

“Coach Bullock taught me to demand excellence and work hard to achieve meaningful goals. He challenged me to become a leader on my team and in my community.”

I just saw him in a TEDx video a couple of weeks ago, giving a motivational speech about creating a compassionate world. I’m proud to call him a friend and mentor.

“Prefontaine showed me what the human body is capable of when you give everything you have to your sport and follow your passion fully.”

Steve “Pre” Prefontaine was the athlete I looked up to above all others. He died before I was born, but his legacy impacted me more than anyone else and shaped the way I would approach my own athletic performance for the rest of my life – with reckless abandon and disciplined hard work.

My older sister, Tanya, introduced me to the vegan lifestyle back in 1995 and has been a continual role model for me ever since. It was her leadership that changed my life forever and influenced the paths I would take and dreams I would pursue.

Lately, Dr. T. Colin Campbell has been one of my greatest role models, impacting the way I look at food, health, and the intellectual honesty that is part of a public discussion I now have about the whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.

I am honored to be an annual featured speaker on the Holistic Holiday at Sea Vegan-friendly Cruise with Dr. Campbell and other leaders.

Q: What is something you believe in that other people usually think is crazy/different (besides vegan-related topics)?

One thing that is a little different about me is that I still write handwritten thank you cards on a regular basis.

When I offer online contests, giveaways, and incentive prizes, I include a handwritten thank you card with each package I ship out. I sent out more than 500 personal thank you cards in 2014.

I leave handwritten thank you notes for the cleaning staff in motels and hotels, along with a cash tip, and I even include thank you cards when I pay bills via check in the mail. I feel like handwritten notes are a lost art these days, but it is something I enjoy doing.

“Based on the feedback I’ve received over the years, the thank you cards are greatly appreciated by the recipients, and it brings a smile to their face and joy to their day. That’s ultimately why I do it.”

Q: What have you changed your mind about in the past 10 years?

A few years ago, I changed my viewpoint on a number of popular and controversial topics, including protein consumption, supplement use, and my overall views about the sport of bodybuilding.

For many years, I was an advocate and promoter of a high-protein diet. I believed it was necessary for muscle growth and synonymous with the sport of bodybuilding.

In 2012, I took Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certification Course through Cornell University, and based on what I learned, I adopted a relatively low-protein diet. As a result of that course, I also decided to give up use of all supplements aside from vitamin B12.

My views of the mainstream sport of bodybuilding had been waning for years, and the obsession with animal-based supplements among the mainstream bodybuilding community was another turnoff.

As a result, I became a lesser fan of the sport of bodybuilding than I had been for years.

“I appreciate the art of weight training and building one’s physique and all the hard work that goes into it, but supporting mainstream competitive bodybuilding is becoming more challenging for me since I disagree with the animal-based diet and supplements that are so prevalent in the sport.”

I am now into my fourth year on a low-protein, supplement-free, whole-food, plant-based diet, focusing on promoting vegan bodybuilding within a mainstream bodybuilding culture.

“I’m in my 20th year as a vegan athlete, and I am as strong now as I ever was when I was using supplements and consuming copious amounts of protein.”

Today, I follow a 70/15/15 approach, consuming approximately 70 percent of my calories from whole-food carbohydrates and 15 percent of each proteins and fats. I prefer to promote the general fitness lifestyle over competitive bodybuilding, as fitness appeals to far more individuals.

I have also become an expert on fat loss and muscle growth with a high-carbohydrate, low-protein, whole-food, plant-based diet from my years of experience following this approach and writing about it extensively in my latest book, “Shred It!”

Q: What would your friends/colleagues say you’re really good at?

My friends and colleagues would probably say that I am good at leading by example:

• I created www.veganbodybuilding.com back in 2003
• Produced a vegan athlete documentary in 2005
• Wrote a bestselling book about vegan bodybuilding in 2010
• Released another bestselling book about the whole-food, plant-based athlete lifestyle in 2014
• I run the largest vegan athlete social media pages on the Internet

As a result of those efforts, I believe many friends would say I lead by example from putting in the work to create projects I believe in.

Q: What would your naysayers say you’re bad at?

I believe naysayers would say I’m bad at building muscle as a vegan by comparing me to mainstream steroid-using bodybuilders. They might also say that I am bad at running my website and that I’m not very good at responding to emails.

I have 700 unread emails in my main email account, and I run an out-of-date-looking website, so I would agree with the criticism, and I actively work hard to improve in many areas that I currently struggle to thrive in.

Q: What would you tell your 18-year-old self?

If I could go back in time, I would tell my 18-year-old self to spend more time in school. Though I have become successful in many areas, both personally and professionally, I never went to a traditional college or university, and I don’t have a degree in anything.

I relied on hard work to get where I am today, but I think I would have enjoyed college, learning and becoming smarter, as well as developing life-long friendships during those post-high school years in my late teens and early twenties.

Q: What are your three favorite books?

My three favorite books are:

1. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
2. “The Thank You Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk
3. “Made to Stick” by Dan and Chip Heath

Q: What was the hardest part of writing your book? Tell us about the events that led to the decision to write it.

The hardest part about writing “Shred It!” was creating a 300-page book following my 300-page “Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness” book released in 2010.

Coming up with new material covering a similar topic is always a challenge.

Fortunately for me, I have had a dramatic change in my views about protein consumption, supplement use, training, and other related topics, so I was able to write about a lot of completely fresh and innovative ideas.

Following my completion of Dr. Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certification Course, I was determined to write a plant-based fitness book. One that contained the fundamental principles of eating real, healthy whole plant foods combined with enjoyable exercise.

Perhaps the aspect that I am most proud involving my latest book is the endorsements I received from many of my biggest role models, including Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., and the producer of “Forks Over Knives,” Brian Wendel.

It took nearly two years to write “Shred It!” when factoring in my initial drafts, hiring and working with an award-winning professional editor for six months, doing the photo shoots and book layout, and recruiting 28 world-renowned experts to peer review and endorse the book.

I am very proud that “Shred It!” is one of the bestselling vegan books of 2015 and has inspired thousands of people to achieve their health and fitness goals.

Q: What are the three biggest changes in fitness you’ve observed over the past decade?

Over the past decade, the biggest changes I’ve seen in the fitness industry are the trends that include CrossFit, the use of kettlebells, and the growing popularity of calisthenics and Parkour, or bodyweight training.

Programs such as P90X and other DVD training programs seem to be at an all-time high, as well. In general, I view these changes to be a good thing, because there are now more options available to the mainstream public, which appeal to mass audiences.

This, in turn, gets more people to become active, and should result in improved levels of health for this and the next generation if the fitness lifestyle is supported by healthy eating practices.

I believe changes and trends in fitness come and go, but as long as people are active and enjoying themselves doing physical activities, I think we’re on the right path.

Q: How did you become the founder/president of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness?

When I became vegan, I was a 15-year old, 120-pound sophomore in high school in 1995.

I was a five-sport athlete, finding most of my success in endurance sports such as cross-country, soccer, and track and field.

As a skinny teenage athlete, I wanted to be bigger and stronger.

It wasn’t until 1999 that I decided to start lifting weights. I wasn’t even familiar with the sport of bodybuilding, but I knew I wanted to build muscle.

The following year, I discovered there was an actual competitive sport of bodybuilding and embraced it, adding 30 pounds in one year, peaking at 185 pounds in 2001.

In 2002, at age 22, I founded Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, a brand designed to share my vegan bodybuilding lifestyle with others.

My website, www.veganbodybuilding.com, went online in early 2003. By that year, I weighed 195 pounds and had been featured in FLEX Magazine three times.

The vegan bodybuilding lifestyle was put on the map in a major way when I started competing and winning bodybuilding competitions in the mid-2000s.

I shared those experiences in newspapers, on TV, on the radio, in books, and all over the Internet.

“My vision behind creating Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness was to lead by example to show that you can successfully build muscle on a vegan diet and achieve fitness goals without having to compromise ethics to excel in athletics. Ultimately, I wanted my actions to inspire others to lead to a more compassionate world.”

I went from weighing 120 pounds when I became vegan to weighing 195 pounds eight years later, and felt like I had a compelling story to share.

That story is still relevant today, as I am a keynote speaker sharing my transformation from skinny farm kid to champion vegan bodybuilder to audiences around the world.

Q: Next big plans for the site and you personally?

One of the exciting things that is part of my role in the vegan fitness industry is that I really never know what is next. I work hard to create opportunities by writing books, setting up speaking tours, and completing other projects, but there is also a lot of spontaneity and unique opportunities that arise on a regular basis.

For example, I take off to Australia for a three-week tour in October 2015, and I’m still piecing things together. I also plan to take a trip to Thailand in the New Year and possibly relocate to Venice Beach for a couple of months in early 2016, but these are just possibilities in the broad scope of life to be determined as time goes on.

Professionally, I plan to write more books in the near future, and I will continue to tour and speak to audiences around the world. Personally, I plan to do a lot of traveling to exotic places to explore the planet while sharing the compassionate vegan lifestyle with people all over the globe.

As for Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, we’ll be improving our website, growing our social media communities, releasing some companion books to “Shred It!,” producing more vegan fitness clothing, and writing more content for many publications.

Q: What does the future of plant-based fitness look like in the next five to 10 years?

The future for plant-based fitness is a bright one.

I was a plant-based athlete before the Internet came of age, and a whole lot has changed over the past couple of decades. The awareness of the vegan lifestyle is at an all-time high and growing rapidly, as is the acceptance of vegans in the athletic industry.

“There are more successful vegan athletes from all walks of life than we have ever seen, and this will only continue to perpetuate throughout all sports for years to come.”

I predict that there will be big stars in all major men’s and women’s sports who publicly adopt and promote a plant-based lifestyle within the next decade. This will truly be exciting to watch.

My latest book, “Shred It!,” can be found on www.veganbodybuilding.com.

Wishing you all the very best. Follow your passion and make it happen!

To get more ideas about vegan bodybuilding and fitness, watch this video - FULL GUIDE TO VEGAN BODYBUILDING

Author Bio:

 

Chris Willitts (creator of V3), is the founder and owner of Vegetarian Bodybuilding.

 

V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System is a mixture of science and author’s advice, providing users with optimal diet and exercise. This system is designed for vegans and vegetarians only.

 

A lot of research has been put in this program. Furthermore, a lot of professional bodybuilders and athletes tried and tested the program, praising its progressiveness and efficiency.

 

The program is about taking control of your own body and health according to your potential and needs. And worry not; you’ll get plenty of proteins with this system. It will boost you with energy, and you’ll feel just a strong as any carnivore would (perhaps even stronger, depending on how much you invest in your exercise). It avoids vitamins deficiency and provides you with a lot of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

 

Instead of saying things like “I think a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders,” the V3 Vegetarian Bodybuilding System claims “I know a plant-based diet is good for athletes and bodybuilders, and I have results to prove it.”

 

To find out more, visit the website at V3 Bodybuilding – Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness