Becoming A Vegetarian Because Of My Weight

[kelseyhale]

Well I'm At The Moment 201 Pounds (went to the doctors and they checked my weight) And I'm Worried About That Weight At The Moment I'm Scare I'll Have A Heart Attack B4 I Turn 20 2 Weeks Ago I Decide To Get A Vegetarian Starter Kit Courtesy Of Peta (Which I Got Today) And Decided To Go Veggie My Mom Is Gonna Help Me Out Since She Is A Fan Of Veggie Burgers XD And I'm Also Gonna Take Yoga At A Local Yoga Center Just Down The Street From My House
So I'm Ready To Take The Plunge!

Hugs & Kisses,
Kelsey

[rabid_child]

Welcome Kelsey.

I hate to break it to you but a well planned vegetarian diet contains all the same calories and nutrients as an omni diet and should not, in and of itself, cause weight loss. Sure the reduction/elimination of saturated fat and cholesterol are great, and quite good for you, but weight loss is calories in v. calories out so a reduction in calories is necessary on any diet. Vegetarianism is a lifestyle change, not a weight loss diet.

Just the same, I think it's a great choice for many reasons, and so is exercise! Good luck on your new healthy lifestyle.

[vigilant20]

Welcome kelseyhale. I turned vegetarian for my health and hopes of weightloss too. It does help me to make much healthier choices and I find myself planning my diet better. But I didn't lose any weight for the whole first year. It wasn't until I started counting calories and really trying to lose. Still I hope this is the step that brings you closer to a healthier and lighter you :)

[Dirty Martini]

Hey I went vegetarian for health reasons, really focused on my diet, and lost 60 pounds. Rabid is right, a vegetarian diet won't inherently cause weight loss, but it does help you pay more attention to what you're eating and improving your diet. For instance, pepsi and french fries and grilled cheese sandwiches are all vegetarian - not healthy though!

Definitely eat a TON of fruits, vegetables, and protein (beans & seitan are the best IMO) and you'll be off to a fantastic start.

Good luck!

[ashlend]

I have to agree that vegetarianism does not, in and of itself, cause weight loss. I've lost weight since going veg, but it didn't happen until I took up running, reduced portion sizes, and cleaned up my diet.

Good luck anyway -- going veg is great. It's just best to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. :)

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Yeah, I have to agree. Going vegetarian may or may not help you with weight loss. I did lose when I went vegan, but it's still possible to easily get more than enough calories.

[ripvanfish]

Seriously, vegetarianism isn't a weight loss plan. Cutting out meat won't make you make the right dietary decisions. Tons of people go veg and gain weight, because they start living off of nutritionally void pastas and such. I don't want to discourage you--just don't think you're going to magically gain weight because you aren't eating animals. And stay away from mock meats, they tend to be very high in calories.

[Zoe74]

I actually gained weight when I went veg, lol. I always was underweight on an omni diet, it's strange. I think it's because I worry too much about getting enough iron so I end up eating and snacking more. But I guess that goes to show that going vegetarian does not equal weight loss.

[Clarita Osita]

Hi, Kelsey! As has been said, vegetarianism won't inherently cause weight loss. If your vegetarian diet is way healthier than your previous diet, it certainly might. I would suggest reading a book like "Becoming Vegetarian" (it might be at your library) to get a good grasp of nutrition, and I would look into some calorie counting once you adjust to the diet change. You can see how many calories you need per day to maintain your weight versus lose weight by typing in "calories per day" in a search. Exercise is also very important. But be aware that cutting extra calories per day doesn't mean it's even better - if you burn more than 500 calories a day more than you take in, you may risk making yourself sick. Your best bet is to find out how many calories a day you need and burn 500 more than that, probably through exercise (or you can not exercise but eat 500 less than you need to maintain your weight).

If you burn approximately 500 calories more per day than you eat, you will lose about 1lb a week. That might not sound like a lot, but it's a healthy and steady number. It's possible to go a bit faster than that, but please don't go overboard and make yourself sick (like I accidentally did... I was eating 1000 cals a day and burning 2500! I didn't realize I was doing it). Women generally shouldn't dip below 1200 calories a day if not exercising.

I certainly wish you luck! Going vegetarian is a great step towards a healthier lifestyle. All of us here are more than happy to help you. You can get food ideas here, and there's another board on the forum dealing with weight loss. If you want some motivation or accountability, there's a monthly weight loss thread, which I just joined for the first time. Basically you give your goals for the month, and then update us on your progress every now and then.

[Abyssinian]

Most people have already mentioned that cutting out meat will not lead to weight loss. You'll have to do more in order to see results.

[Koehnae]

I first became veggie for the very same reason. I was 220 pounds when I started. As others have mentioned, it isn't necessarily what made the difference... but it helped me become much more aware of what went in my mouth. Use that to your advantage. Plan out menus, count calories, and stick to the exercise. It will work if you work at it. My hard work got me down to 125. You can do it too!

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Most people have already mentioned that cutting out meat will not lead to weight loss. You'll have to do more in order to see results.

Not necessarily true - as most everyone has said, a switch to a vegetarian diet MAY NOT lead to weight loss, but for some people, it has worked.

It all depends on how you ate before and the choices you make now, as well as factors like your level of exercise and your metabolism. Don't be so quick to totally dismiss it though, for some people, eliminating meat from their diet is a great solution.

[chryssiie718]

I actually did lose weight after becoming vegan. I wasn't even trying and lost about 20 lbs. Now, after a year it is not just dropping off and I am having to work at it as I need to lose at least 20 more. Good luck! :)

[jenni-anti-fur]

Most people have already mentioned that cutting out meat will not lead to weight loss. You'll have to do more in order to see results.

very true...some people gain weight too:bobo:

[Chi_GreenTea]

When i was Vegan i lost 30 pounds got down to 144 now i'm 175 well last week i was 170 and its back to 175 it probably water weight and female joys!!! (period week)

[vyapti]

I gained weight when I went vegetarian. If you add a lot of cheese to your diet, it's counter productive, weight-wise. I didn't start losing weight until I cut out cheese and started exercising regularly. Being vegetarian, as others have said, does make you more aware of what you are putting into your body and that's definately a good thing.

As far as lifestyles go, you have the lifestyle of a 200 lb person. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you will have to adopt a different lifestyle, probably one with different food choices, routine exercise and better awareness of your body. A vegetarian lifestyle can contribute to this. And there loads of good reasons, beyond diet, to make the switch. I hope it works for you.

[codemonkey]

I've certainly found it easier to lose weight on a vegetarian diet than an omni diet. Just make sure you load up on veggies and fruits. For your protein, try to focus more on beans (including soy foods like tofu) and whole grains than veggie burgers. Also, I'm not telling you have to be vegan to successfully lose weight on a vegetarian diet but don't replace all the meat you used to eat with cheese. An ounce of cheese literally has about 3 times the calories as an ounce of meat. Instead of losing, you'll gain. And that would be bad.

[Porffor]

I first became veggie for the very same reason. I was 220 pounds when I started. As others have mentioned, it isn't necessarily what made the difference... but it helped me become much more aware of what went in my mouth. Use that to your advantage. Plan out menus, count calories, and stick to the exercise. It will work if you work at it. My hard work got me down to 125. You can do it too!

My goodness congratulations!! That is so inspiring. :bobo:

just shows it CAN be done, but in the same way that an omni would have to do it.. without any animals dying though of course.

[MZCsmpsns]

I have to agree w/those who have said becoming vegetarian is not a weight loss solution. To lose weight you have to change your lifestyle. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise and make sure you get enough calories. Also factor in your body type. Some people can still eat healthy & exercise, but remain at a weight that they may personally find to be above what they want it to be. Health is what's important-regardless of weight, and while I commend you for becoming vegetarian, don't consider it a weight loss diet.

[Koehnae]

My goodness congratulations!! That is so inspiring. :bobo:

just shows it CAN be done, but in the same way that an omni would have to do it.. without any animals dying though of course.

Thank you! :D

[lirpa1]

hey

good luck to you! everyone keeps saying that you wont lose weight, but you might!! my friend used to be a bigger girl, and by bigger i guess abt 170-185 lbs. she made the switch and lost abt 50 lbs or so in her first yr and is now a stable weight at abt 120-130.

she went vegan at first and became really sick b/c she wasnt watching her diet as much and she was not gettin no where near the correct amnt of nutrients one should have. she went to the doc and he suggested that she keep eating eggs and milk (she does in moderation) and she kept a close eye on her diet and didnt eat junk foods and the weight fell off

I made the switcj for health reasons as well, but mine is to be healtheir and hopefully avoid cancer in the future. I do see how ppl could lose weight on the diet tho b/c i find that I am not as hungry as I used to be and I do not snack as much as when i ate meat. I just make sure I eat bigger meals when I do eat and that I eat a variety of foods.

If you set a goal, and a plan and follow it I am sure u will do well. and helping the animals will be a confidence booster as well, making you feel better and more likely to keep on with what you are doing.

Good luck

[revelsunrise]

Yay...I think it's awesome that you are pursuing a vegetarian lifestyle and that your mom is so supportive. I also think it's wonderful that you are showing concern for you health and well-being. So kudos to you!!!!

I personally didn't lose any weight when I went vegetarian. I lost quite a bit when I tried to be vegan for a while, but that was because I became very unhealthy as I did not put the proper time and effort into planning my meals.

But either way, best of luck and welcome to VB!!

[stupidhumanzz]

When I went vegetarian I know I gained weight fast just because I would load up on way too many carbs and dairy to make up for the lack of protein and calories. Definitely over did it, I think I gained like 15 pounds in the beginning months. Then I slowed it down a bit, started exercising and I'm still trying to lose the weight.

The stereotype of the frail, uber-skinny, vegetarian doesn't always hold fast. They're plenty of high-fat, high-caloric vegetarian foods out there.

But at least vegetarianism forces you to really examine what you eat and that self-awareness helps you stay away from junk food.

[TigerLover]

Hi Kelsey,

Good luck with your lifestyle change. No matter what, this is healthier for you, and you're doing your body good changing from meat-eating to vegetarian eating. However, it is a lifestyle change and not a diet. I lost a total of 14 lbs over a 10-month period. I've been veggie since November. However, i haven't been doing any exercising of course, and i love to eat a few things that I should not.

But, don't be dissuaded against making this lifestyle change, as it is good for you inside and out, good for the environment, and I took the little PETA survey for their Carbon Calculator, and here's the results for me (i have been veggie for 10 months, but used 1 yr, so it won't be so accurate for those who are only been on a veggie path for less than a year, like 6 months since they only have it in years):

"You have already saved 280 animals by choosing a vegetarian diet! By sticking with it, you will save over 11760 more animals from dying and 138600 lbs. of CO2e from polluting the Earth during your lifetime." :nana:

Here's a link for others to try it:
http://www.peta.org/feat_Carbon_Calculator_Widget.asp?c=weekly_enews

So, see? There are a buffet of reasons to eat a vegetarian diet.