I have been a vegetarian for 2 years but hate to cook so I don't eat great. I need to lose 80 lbs. Can anyone recommend a veg. weight loss program/lifestyle (other than McDougall - too restrictive for me) that has worked for you?

Thanks for your help.

Barb

Well I have been a vegetarian for 13 years and have managed to be overweight for all of it! Just this past year I have lost a lot of weight and that happened because I started being accountable to myself for what I *actually* ate. Not how much I thought I ate because the two were obviously not even close to the same amount of calories! It's amazing how easy it was to forget about the bag of doritos I ate or the chocolate bar or whatever. Exercise alone didn't do it for me cuz I was consistantly exercising even when I was overeating. I started my weight loss efforts by getting a food journal and writing down every single thing that passed my lips. It's easy because it's not restrictive, I didn't omit anything or say something was off limits like the mcdougall plan where you can't have sugar. I would of died without sugar or fat for the past year!! I stayed between 1400-1900 calories per day, that's how I lost over (I won't say how far over, it scares me :sealed: )50lbs since the start of the year. It's not always easy to be accountable every single day, once every 2 or 3 months I would have a "i don't give a sh1t" day and go buck wild and eat whatever the hell I wanted. As time passed though those OMG I WANNA EAT EVERYTHING IN SIGHT!!! feelings get less strong and you realize that eating everything you want to isn't really as fun as you think it is and that being a healthy weight is much more important than that chocolate donut in the corner begging you to eat it. :)

eta: I haven't discovered my inner chef yet so half the time I was living on canned soups or toast and whatever on top and yves fake meat products. So you can do this without cooking all the damn time!

I don't think "diets" are a good idea in general because you have to find a way to eat that you can stick with forever, not stick with for awhile and then give up on. For me, weight loss only came when I focused on health rather than losing weight. I started eating primarily whole foods (no refined flour or sugar) and started eating more frequent, smaller meals. I'm also vegan.

Anyway, from the sound of it, the way I eat might be too restrictive for you, but you can still cut down on refined foods (and dairy if you eat it) and watch your portions. Without cooking, this is hard to do, unless you want to spend a lot of money on healthful prepared foods at health food stores. Is there a reason you dislike cooking? Maybe if you learned more about it you would enjoy it. For me it's fun. I would either eat terribly or spend all of my money at Wild Oats if I didn't cook.

DO NOT GO HUNGRY. Always eat when you feel hungry, but don't eat a whole lot at once. Start to get to know the difference between hunger and eating for other reasons. Listen to your body.

Also, if you don't already, start to exercise. Do something you enjoy and don't overdo it. Try doing some sort of sustained physical activity every other day at first, even if it's just walking. Exercise is just as (some people say more) important as what you eat.

If you make changes, make them small at first so you don't feel deprived or like you're overdoing it. When you get used to one change, then try another.

Oh, and don't weigh yourself, at least not too often. Breaking free of the scale was my first step in getting healthy.

Two things came to mind...one is a book called Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Bernard. The other is Arbonne's weight loss program called Figure8. You can view more about that program on my website (in my signature).

Thank you both for your great input. I can't really explain what it is about hating to cook but I have always been like that. It is so time consuming just looking up recipes and after working full time, the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time standing in the kitchen. I pay my son to go grocery shopping because I hate that also. I know I definite have to work on this in order to lose weight. I'm a pretty lazy person by nature and it's hard to get motivated, especially to exercise.

Thanks again.

Barb

Agreed with eggplant. I tend to want a "gimmick" diet, but the truth is, the thing that worked best for me was just paying attention to what I ate and getting *plenty* of exercise.

Weight Watchers caters to vegetarians and is great in that it teaches you how to eat properly - it teaches you about proper portion sizes, what foods are healthy & which aren't. And it does, of course, emphasise on exercising as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Hi OregonAmy:

A friend of mine use to go to WW and asked the counselor about a vegetarian program and they don't actually have a booklet per se; I would have to tailor it to vegetarian myself.

Thanks for the input.

Barb

Hi OregonAmy:

A friend of mine use to go to WW and asked the counselor about a vegetarian program and they don't actually have a booklet per se; I would have to tailor it to vegetarian myself.

Thanks for the input.

Barb

You're kidding! In Maine (of all places) they handed me a vegetarian booklet upon joining when I joked about needing to come there because Atkins didn't leave me with very many options. Maybe this meeting wasn't aware of one existing but she should definitely tell them to look into obtaining some booklets for their meeting.

barb- If you can even go for a walk every night, that is enough exercise. Try taking a class, like yoga or pilates, that is mellow and helps you relax, or finding a workout buddy to help keep you motivated.

I should talk, when was the last time I worked out?!

I lost a lot of weight last year and I *hate* to cook and find any program too restrictive.

I just basically halved (or quartered) my portions, cut out junk food and alcohol and walked more. I probably didn't do it very healthily, I ate things like vegan miso soup for dinner, or a small salad, a small serving of microwave pasta, easy stuff like that. I also got out my wok and would chop up a lot of veggies, add some noodles and whatever sauces/flavour you like (I use Thai curry bases) and viola! instant low cal meal that you can put in fridge and eat over a couple days.

Worked for me, and after I lost the amount of weight I was happy with, I found it easy to just eat a little more and not overdo it.

That would never work for me--I couldn't feel happy on a bowl of miso soup for dinner. I think the reason diets don't work for most people is that they don't feel full and then overeat on crappy food later.

A SMALL salad for dinner? Why would you restrict yourself to only a small portion of salad?

Anyway, I recommend Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live diet. You'll probably think it's too restrictive, but it's really a great program that's based on your overall health and nutrition, not just weight loss. You can eat as much as you want of many foods so you never have to feel hungry. I'd recommend giving it a try even if it seems restrictive at first. It's easily tailorable to those who dislike cooking.

Honestly, healthy eating IS restrictive. There is no healthy diet where we just get to eat a lot of the junky foods we like and be fine. To be healthy most of us have to learn to shift into a different way of eating, whether we like the way it tastes initially or not.

(She says, while her boyfriend goes to get the soy ice cream out of the freezer. Hey, I'm in my last term of college--this is my last chance to be a legitimately ridiculous eater. Ramen, anybody?)

I like to think of cooking as a healing process. I'm into healing--it's why i teach yoga. I used to hate grocery shopping and cooking, until i began taking ayurveda and thai herb classes. There, i learned that there are three uses for herbs: 1. topical use, 2. ingestion through drinks (teas and the like), and 3. combining into foods. Each use has it's own healing properties to deal with different problems. When i started to learn about putting it into foods, i learned that foods themselves can be deeply healing.

i then started to look at food as elements of healing, not just 'oh god, if i chop another freakin onion...!' When i took this perspective, things became so exciting for me--foods, herbs, and then serving balanced meals to heal myself, my husband, and our friends! it's pretty cool!

for me, i eat a lot of food raw. It's so easy to eat right if you have a big bowl of fruit there. I chop veggies (it's a zen thing) and make HUGE salads for myself and my husband, that i can pull out of the fridge whenever (right now, i have a salad in my fridge that is literally 7 heads of lettuce, 5 tomatoes, 4 cucumbers, 2 red onions, 4 red/yellow/green bell peppers; then i have sprouted chick peas and lentils, avocados, and nuts and seeds that i can add to the salad after i pull out my portion). I only cook once a day (in the evenings), and i do the "tried and true"--i love to make soups because it's about 10-15 minutes of chopping, then put it all in a pot and let it go! Serve it with a salad or some steamed veggies, and you're good to go.

i think the best thing is to get a food diary, though. YOu'll really see what you're eating and whether or not it's helping you. Be sure to chart your exercise in there as well.

To me, this isn't about loosing weight or maintaining it--it's about healing. Healing may not mean weight loss, but it also might. I wasn't restrictive--i never am--i just eat what i like and what tastes good. I make home made ice cream and sorbet--so i know what's in it. i buy sprouted whole grain breads, from brands i trust, for my grains (ezekiel bread is good). that sort of thing. I do eat cakes--but only occassionally. Usually, i'm more than satisfied with the foods tht are right here around me!

So, that's me. I hope it helps you a bit.

I'm reading Dr. Dean Ornish's Eat More, Weigh Less (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060959576/qid=1100179655/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-9229692-7660146?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) and I like what he has to say a lot. Basically, you can eat as much of the right kinds of foods that you want and still lose or maintain your weight. These foods include whole grains, fruits and veggies, legumes...it's really a vegetarian diet! :nana:

If you look through the weight watchers materials, you can clearly see that vegetarian foods are very easy to fit into the plan. They didn't have a veg*n book at the office I used to attend. But you can calculate the points values of everything you already eat. Cut back on the high point foods and then use the lists to add in some lower point veg*n foods. All non-starchy vegetables are *free* on the WW plan, and fruits are very low point.

I had one..I'll try and look it up for ya.

I have been a vegetarian for 2 years but hate to cook so I don't eat great. I need to lose 80 lbs. Can anyone recommend a veg. weight loss program/lifestyle (other than McDougall - too restrictive for me) that has worked for you?

Thanks for your help.

Barb


Well, Weight Watchers has a Veggie plan. Not sure if anyone else said this because I didn't read the whole thread.

Never go hungry; that's when you make mistakes!

Again, Never go hungry!...

I pack my lunch and snacks (carrot and celery sticks) to work, everyday...

I eat a standard size serving of fruits & veggies before each main meal (even breakfast!)...It fills me up so I don't have much room left for the good stuff...

Some low fat dairy is necessary and beneficial...milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs.

I eat whenever hungry...sometimes 5 or 6 times, daily. Seeds and nuts are good snacks but go easy on them...

Cut the sugar! Use a substitute (Splenda), if necessary, but go easy with it...

Cut the salt, too! Processed food (can/box/bag) and stuff at many fast food places have tons of sodium...Why? Most preservatives are sodium based; shelf life is too short without it...Whether you have high blood pressure or not, cut the salt and you'll be better off for it.

Note: By cutting salt and sugar, you will quickly lose the craving for the "W.L.Ks" (Weight Loss Killers)...chips, chocolate, ice cream, cookies, donuts...In my opinion, the first rule of any diet should be CUT THE SUGAR, CUT THE SALT!

Drink lots of water...I sip hot water all day at work...Your skin, hair and teeth will noticeably improve in less than a couple weeks...Many weight loss programs only address food and exercise. Water (and sleep quality) is just as critical to any weight loss program, in my mind. Besides, water naturally supresses appetite...

Diet Soda? NOT!! Don't drink calories; EAT THEM!

Mayonaise and Cremora are not food groups...more "W.L.Ks"

Exercise...30-40 minutes minimum...I'm a walker...I vary my workouts to make
them interesting...Hills are great...I practice swinging a golf club on some nights while walking...I even race my wife, occasionally, while carrying our 30 lb Welsh Corgi! It's hilarious and great fun but easier on the neighbors if you do this late at night!

My "Weight Loss" program has transformed into a comprehensive "Health Plan", now...I reached my target weight, last month, but I'm still losing weight so, it will be interesting to see where I end up at. Now, I'm focusing on blood pressure and blood sugar counts (my father has diabetes) because these will become a greater concern as I get older.

As I said to my wife the other day..."What's the point in planning for our retirement without addressing our health?"

One without the other is really pointless, don't you think?

It's about HABITS. I lost 45ish pounds last year by inventing "The Ethkins Diet" ... essentially the OPPOSITE of the Atkins...

It's not about "Rules" but it is about general parameters.

PARAMETER ONE:
Eat when, and only when, you are physically hungry. Don't suffer and don't "graze"... find middle-ground and monitor it.

PARAMETER TWO:
Go for things that are pre-portioned. Fruits and vegatables come in nice convenient UNITS. I have a hard time with things like "ice cream" or "popcorn" because SOME is fine, but it's not in nice discreet portions before i get to it, so it must be watched.

PARAMETER THREE:
Get yourself into habits. For example:
BREAKFAST HABIT: I got into the habit of 1 citrus (usually grapefruit) and one non-citrus fruit for breakfast every morning before work/class/whatever.
LUNCH HABIT: pack it the night before when you're thinking clearly. Things like veggie sandwiches, salads, baked root veggies... nice pre-portioned low-cal high-nutrition EASY stuff, no real cooking required.
DINNER HABIT: at that point... you've only had about 400 calories all day and if you're even slightly reasonable about dinner you've got a LOT of leeway.

PARAMETER FOUR:
It's not about exercise. It's about doing ACTIVITIES you love. I discovered Raquetball (which I gave up because I suck), and Biking (which clung and now I'm a bike nut).
IF YOU DO IT LONG ENOUGH, EVEN IF YOU HATE JUST ABOUT ALL SPORTS, YOU START GETTING ADDICTED TO THE ADRENALINE... LITERALLY ADDICTED AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS.

HOPE THIS HELPS!
MUCH LOVE!
The Ethan.

Interesting first post. :dizzy:


Some low fat dairy is necessary and beneficial...milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs.

Low fat dairy is not essential to weight loss or good health.


Cut the sugar! Use a substitute (Splenda), if necessary, but go easy with it...

Sugar can be a problem, sure, but artificial sweeteners are scarier, imo.


Note: By cutting salt and sugar, you will quickly lose the craving for the "W.L.Ks" (Weight Loss Killers)...chips, chocolate, ice cream, cookies, donuts...In my opinion, the first rule of any diet should be CUT THE SUGAR, CUT THE SALT!

wrt salt...the cravings don't always go away, but good advice nonetheless, I suppose. I've gone for weeks with no added salt, and I still would've sold my own grandma for a bag of pretzels.


Diet Soda? NOT!! Don't drink calories; EAT THEM!

If it's diet soda there are (virtually) no calories.

I can't help but wonder if you are about to sell us something. :shifty:

Here are some things that have worked well for me:

1. Make your home a junk-free zone. If you have to go through the effort to put on shoes and drive to a store or restaurant to get it, you're less likely to eat it
2. When you're trying to lose weight, keep restaurant eating to a minimum. Really, you should only eat in a restaurant when you're traveling or in an emergency. I'm not saying you can never eat out again just for fun, but wait until you've reached a healthy weight. The restaurants aren't going anywhere.
3. Don't eat out for lunch. If you work or go to school, pack a lunch.
4. Eat real food. If it comes premade in a box, bag or can, read the ingredients. If there's anything in the list that doesn't sound like food to you, put it back
5. Load up on fruits and veggies (keep starchy veggies to once a day)
6. Whole grains and beans are your friends
7. Tofu is an awesome protein source but watch your portion sizes (one block is enough for 4 people)
8. A little soymilk in your oatmeal is fine but don't use it as a beverage. Don't drink your calories
9. Don't drink regular soda, ever
10. EXERCISE!!! If you're just starting out, walking is fine. If that gets easy, do something harder. If you're not challenging yourself, you're wasting your time (well, you're not really wasting time, all exercise is good, but it won't burn enough calories to effect your weight.)

DINNER HABIT: at that point... you've only had about 400 calories all day and if you're even slightly reasonable about dinner you've got a LOT of leeway.

The Ethan.

that is not enough food from breakfast to dinner. I would be exhausted, cranky, and just not fun if i ate that little up until dinnertime.

and codemonkey, i agree with you on not drinking your calories, however, i think that can be applied more to sodas and juices. soymilk has protein, calcium, and B12 and can be incorporated into a healthy diet because it is healthy. I know that too much protein can result in calcium losses, but if you are struggling to keep calcium in your diet, two cups of soymilk a day can be great for that.

Sorry about the "low fat diary", IamJen...I realize it's not appropriate for this forum...

As far as the "selling" comment, I've made no pitches (not yet, at least)...

As far as the diet soda, all I can say is "What do think they use to make them sweet (hint: it ain't sugar)"?

Not everyone may agree with my views on weight loss but you can't refute this:

Calories Burned > Calories Consumed = Weight Loss

They say that if you burn 500 calories/day more than you eat, you'll lose a pound a week. For myself, this is quite accurate, actually...

I'm 5'10" / 178 (I was 200, 4 months ago), so I burn about 1200 calories/day, no work, no exercise...when I work and do exercises, I'm easily up to 2000/day...

So, my goal is to consume about 1500 calories/day...

What I try to do is consume < 800 calories before dinner.

Unless you're Bear Grylls (Man vs Wild), the best way to do this (without having to count calories) is eat fruits, vegetables, and low-fat protein, all day (OK? I didn't use the nasty "D" word).

Any fruit, any vegetable, whenever you want it. Never go hungry...

Plus, drink lots of water...

It's great knowing, when I leave work, now, I've got about 700 calories left in reserve for dinner, and later, plus, I've already satisfied all my nutritional needs for the entire day...

For dinner, by including one more serving of veggies and fruit, I can eat just about anything my wife makes , no problem! Actually, I can make an utter pig of myself!

If I play a round of golf (walking and pulling clubs is about 1500 calories) on the weekend, I can have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory or Macaroni Grill and just go beserk! Plus, go to Starbucks, afterwards, to boot! My wife actually encourages me to play; I meet her at the restaurant of her choice directly after my round...How #$&@X% B R I L L I A N T is that!!!

Weight Loss, with the proper knowledge and information, is actually very easy...Calories Burned > Calories Consumed...

But, mentally, it's quite hard...Tangible results take time and tests one's patience. (I quit smoking about 10 years ago; both, very similar challenges.)

I found that getting a good digital scale is helpful; Tanita makes inexpensive, highly accurate ones. You can see fractional changes, daily...Very powerful stuff when you "see" the weight falling...

Carrying a Pedometer is great help...A great "scoreboard"...You feel crappy when you fall below the distance quotas you've set for yourself...Omron, about $22...

www.calorie-count.com provides a fantastic guide on calories eaten and calories burned...Now, good or bad, I know what it is to eat a Six Dollar Burger...And, whenever I walk, I think about carrying something in my arms (hand weights, a dog!, grocery bags, etc.)...You'd be surprised how many calories you burn when you clean your bathroom and kitchen. I actually wear shades, and my portable CD player when I'm cleaning the house on Saturdays!

But most of all, cutting back on salt and sugar...As far as addictions go, I put them on the same level as nicotine in cigarettes...For me, once I cut back on the sugar and salt, the pounds came off fast...

Now, to be honest, I go to the Cheesecake Factory, Macaroni Grill, and Starbucks because my wife loves it, so...Now that I know what they're serving (the fats, cholesterol, and calories-1000-1500!), I've really lost my desire to eat at those places.

I wish everyone who is trying to lose weight, good luck. I realize how hard it is...Just walk into any Walmart on a weekend...Do you honestly think all those people like being overweight? Of course not!

I just hope my personal observations help someone accomplish their weight loss goals. That's the only thing I'm selling!

Fruits and Veggies, right on!

I have been a vegetarian for 2 years but hate to cook so I don't eat great. I need to lose 80 lbs. Can anyone recommend a veg. weight loss program/lifestyle (other than McDougall - too restrictive for me) that has worked for you?

Thanks for your help.

Barb

What do you currently eat? And what are you currently doing for your weight loss?

I've been using ediets vegetarian plan. It works really well with my fast paced life. I am very busy. It helps me keep my nutrition on track, gives me a shopping list, recipes (that are fast and easy) and I can make it for my whole family. Also options for frozen meals if you have to and eating out option. It is working for me!