No, I’m not drinking Monkey Milk now (although I wouldn’t put it past me, so long as I didn’t have to milk the monkeys myself. That sounds messy.) It’s about time for an experiment update!
Milk Experiment
After being vegan, I was finally persuaded back to the land of the dairy (but still not meat) consuming by some fascinating research into the benefits of milk as a post-workout drink. I decided to add milk back into my diet, specifically by drinking it right after my lifting workouts. The study promised double the muscle mass as my previously loved Soy milk.
The Numbers:
Weight Lost: None (but then that wasn’t the point)
Fat Lost: 1% (now THAT was the point!)
Fun factor: 8 – yay for chocolate milk! Even better that I can have it guilt-free as a post-workout refuel:)
Conclusions:
Drinking milk certainly didn’t hurt me. I actually really like milk and it is cheaper than soy so I’m sticking with the milk. Plus, I did lose one percent bodyfat. I know that doesn’t sound like much but for me, it was actually noticeable. Several people at my gym commented on it.
The Monkey Bar Gym Workout
Last Monday I started a new experiment – replacing ALL of my traditional weight workouts, with “functional training” ala the Monkey Bar Gym.
The Numbers:
Weight Lost: Two pound gain (but – boys close your eyes – it is that time of the month. So shut up and pass the chocolate).
Fat loss: None
Muscle gain: This is purely speculative but I really think it’s made a difference, at least in the shape of my muscles! Gym Buddy Allison feels that way too. It’s only been a week but she says she sees more definition in her arms.
Conclusions:
To quote Gym Buddy Allison as she “jumped for joy” across our gym this morning, “This (gasp, pant) is (gasp, gasp) SOOOO (gasp) FUNNNNN!” It really is. It’s just fun. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun outside of Turbokick in, well, ever. I usually hate lifting weights. Well, maybe hate is too strong a word but I really don’t look forward to my strength days. Until now. Every day I feel silly and crazy and… loud. But I also laugh harder than I have in months, and I am unbelievably sore in places that I don’t think I’ve ever been sore before.
I’m totally sticking with this for at least the duration of the 30-day experiment. I anticipate some great results for you! The laughing alone is a great ab workout so even if you don’t want to try this one yourself, at least get a good seat to watch us do it;)
Charlotte,
Don’t forget about lifting weights, too. Maybe when you’re done with this experiment you can try functional training plus lifting and see how that works.
If you’re vegan (or mostly vegan) and not lifting that does not bode well for your strength. In fact, I think you might be setting yourself up to be weak as a kitten with that combination!
–Andrew
Andrew – the MBG routine IS weight lifting. Just using different motions and different kinds of weights than I’m used to (like kettlebells and D-balls instead of barbells & dumbbells). It focuses more on using muscle groups together instead of isolating individual muscles. It actually sounds a lot like the stuff you post about on your site:)
I’m also not vegan anymore – just vegetarian. So hopefully I won’t be as a weak a kitten!! But I’m tracking my lean muscle mass as well as BF% and weight so I’ll let you know in 3 weeks the final numbers:) Thanks for your concern though!
Charlotte,
Sorry, I mean like 1-5 reps of squat, press, deadlift, that sort of stuff. Big lifts for high intensity/low volume. MBG is more conditioning work.
BTW, I like the picture you put up much better than the last one!
um..today in Sunflower Market I saw Goat’s Milk Yogurt for sale. What’s up with that?!