test Food, Hot news, Wellness / 06.03.2017

Vegan Bodybuilding: Deni Kirkova's Speech at Vegfest [caption id="attachment_1249" align="alignnone" width="625"] Deni speaking at Vegfest (Picture: Deni Kirkova)[/caption] Speaking up about my biggest passions at Vegfest London 2016 was one of the most important moments of my life so far. I spoke about Vegan Fitness and the speech was titled How to Craft Your Dream Body and Achieve Optimum Health on a Vegan Diet. This is something I am an expert in. People were spilling out of the room to hear what I had to say, which was a true honour and meant so much. In fact, it means more to me than most things in this life to promote veganism, and plant-based health and fitness. What greatly frustrates me is the notion that we need to torture and kill animals in order for our brains, muscles, and other parts of our physiology to work their best. [caption id="attachment_1250" align="alignnone" width="619"] Deni two days after winning her MGU trophy (Picture:: Deni Kirkova / Bikini Girls Diary)[/caption] We seem to think we're 'supposed' to mess around with other creatures, use and abuse them, ignore their free will and inflict unknown pain and suffering upon them because we may benefit from ingesting parts of their bodies or excretions. Of course, no-one is going to stand up and admit they believe in animal abuse. People work hard, mentally, to create emotional dissonance around this. It is unthinkable. And so we distance ourselves from the true and blatant fact. Drink milk? I'd say you contribute to child murder, the breaking of a new mother's heart and abuse of the miracle of bearing children. Rearing cattle for dairy is the most unfeminist practice I can imagine. There are simply no two ways about it. And I'm not sitting her hating on all non-vegans pointing the finger. I just see it as a fact - and I was one of...

test Homepage, Hot news, Wellness / 26.07.2016

Deni Kirkova wins first place at Miss Galaxy Universe 2016 Having a body that's toned and lean enough to win a fitness competition like Miss Galaxy Universe is a dream many possess. So, how difficult is it? [caption id="attachment_448" align="alignnone" width="4000"] Deni Kirkova on stage at Miss Galaxy Universe (by Lowell M. / Galaxy Universe Organisation)[/caption] My best friend Vicky and I gave ourselves just 20 weeks to get into the shape of our lives before entering a prestigious fitness competition - the Miss Galaxy Universe European Championships 2016. As well as five training sessions a week, we led a vegan diet, eating tofu, pulses, quinoa and oats and banning all meat and animal products. I'd been an ethical vegan for a year so this didn't bother me at all. I lost 20lbs, going from 10st to 8st 9lbs and taking four inches off my waist - and came away with first place in the Beach Body category at the O2 in London. [caption id="attachment_456" align="alignnone" width="4000"] Deni Kirkova wins on stage at Miss Galaxy Universe (by Lowell M. / Galaxy Universe Organisation)[/caption] I was by no standard overweight. But going from a regular-sized woman who works out when she wants and eats what she likes, to the discipline needed to become a ripped bikini competitor seemed daunting at first. I wasn't focused on winning, but just on working really hard to get results - so the fact that I did win was a huge shock; you could see it on my face! Once I was on board, I had to commit 100 per cent to competing in Miss Galaxy and having Vicky on board with me helped keep me focused. [caption id="attachment_464" align="alignnone" width="470"] Deni before and after (by Deni Kirkova)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_465" align="alignnone" width="470"] Deni before and after back (by Deni Kirkova)[/caption] I was especially glad to be taking on...