I gain a little weight once I became a vegetarian. Is it common for "new" vegetarians to gain some weight? And will I lose it? I'm a teenager, if that info helps any. And I'm going Vegan soon, so will that affect anything (will I gain more or what?)

Teenagers often gain weight, as their bodies are still developing, so it maybe simply your body growing. Some people lose weight when they go veg, others gain. There is no real rule. It's all in how you eat.

As a side note, are you eating well (getting enough calcium, iron, zinc, and omega3)? It's important to look after your body, especially at your age :)

My mom makes sure I get everything, I guess.

ok then :) Might even be a good idea to go to fitday.com and make sure you're not missing anything. You should be eating anywhere between 1800-2800 calories, depending on how active you are and it'll give you a % listing of where you stand. If nothing else, it's always fun to see how well you're eating :)

I wouldn't worry about the weight gain, unless it's a huge amount in a short time (that could be a medical problem).

People can lose or gain weight just as easily on a vegetarian (or even vegan) diet as they can on an omni diet. It might help to post what you eat in a typical day (or days).

Most people assume they will lose weight on a vegetarian diet but if you're replacing meat with dairy products (like cheese), snack foods, or overly processed foods you'll gain weight.

I would imagine it's normal to gain some weight at your age but if you're worried about it just be sure you're eating a well-balanced, healthy diet and getting some exercise.

Thanks. :cool: