[Laura_I]

I've read many posts where people say they became veg*n to lose weight. Then later I read posts saying these people no longer want to be veg*n because they didn't lose weight so they're going back to being omnis. Ok, I'm 5'4" and 110lbs (no that's not underweight) and the comment I get a lot is, "oh, you're thin because you're a vegetarian".

Ok people, there was a long time when I was a vegetarian and was overweight. Because cake, pizza, cheese nips and candy are all vegetarian. In fact, most new vegetarians are more of what I call a "pizza/pasta-etarian" So, how did I lose the weight? I had to count calories and exercise just like everyone else. Being a vegetarian was no magic ticket. Do you know how many calories the eggplant parmesan has at Macaroni Grill? 1230 calories. The 'sausage and pasta classico' has 860 calories. Or lets say you go to Burger King, a large order of fries doesn't have all that less calories then the chicken sandwhich.

Obviously being a veg*n is better for your health then eating meat, but you have to make smart choices, you can't just stick with the 'veg' food that you used to eat when you were an omni, because most of that wasn't very healthy to begin with. Buy a low cal veg*n cookbook and learn some new foods.

 

[GhostUser]

No i didnt...want an issue..never thought about that possibility..but i did lose weight...but also eat a healthier diet and was/am exercising more.

 

[Jessica Alana]

My weightloss/gain has always been related to what/how much I was eating, how much exercise I was getting, and/or what medication I was taking.

 

[Misty]

I didn't go veg*n for weight loss, but I have been rewarded with it, my husband and I both. I do kinda agree with what you are saying about the "pizza/pasta-etarian" , but I guess that depends if you know how to cook and how to "wing it" We eat a lot of beans and lentils and such, so that lack of meat fat not being replaced has probably helped. Make sense \t

 

[froggythefrog]

I became vegetarian for weight loss. I did not lose weight, but here I am, an adamant vegan.

 

[s0ad]

No. I started a diet then became a vegetarian, now a vegan. Doing the diet I did (Weight Watchers) made me realize that I could control food, and it didn't have to control me.

It was an ugly process getting unaddicted to fast food, meat, and soda. I actually always wanted to be a vegetarian, but never had the power to until I started my "diet" which became a lifestyle change, as I like to call it.

 

[Identity_thief]

No. Although if I had of lost some weight..mighta been nice.

='( but I didn't. I've always had a healthy diet though.

 

[thatoneguy]

I became vegetarian for health reasons, which includes weight loss. I haven't lost any weight on the diet. I lost 10 pounds after I started exercising.

 

[Ayrlin]

I gained weight and I am not a carbatarian

 

[GhostUser]

I gained a bunch of weight when I went veg. About 50 lbs..although not all of that is attributable to going veg. I have liver disease which really throws my metabolism a curveball.

 

[sandebs]

I became a vegetarian becuase it is the most healthy choice but this choice does help me maintain my weight loss.

I didn't lose weight becoming vegetarian though I have lost considerable weight half the size I was just this time last year. Like you I watch my calories and exercise quite a bit biking, running, hiking ... etc...

Bob

 

[cookingVeg]

I did not become a vegetarian to lose weight and, unsurprisingly, my weight has not changed since I became vegetarian.

 

[Jill]

I did not go vegetarian to lose weight however I lost a bit when I did. I lost even more when I went vegan for a while, and it was really surprising. I fell off the vegan wagon though and I attribute that weight loss to the intake of more veggies/fruits and jogging. I was eating more fruits and veggies because there really wasn't a whole lot of other stuff I could eat. Of course though, no one should expect to go veg*n and eat lots of veg*n junk food and lose weight.

 

[SeaSiren]

I went strict veg for my health and later vegan for the animals. Since I was focusing on my health I did lose weight, now I hold steady without difficulty.

 

[Michielyn]

I gained weight when I first made the switch. It was hard to be part of a omni household and often found myself eating the fatty sides as opposed to making my own main dishes. So no, not why I went but I hear people say that all the time.

 

[jazz121]

I've gained a little weight since becoming veggie. I put this down to way too many carbs, too many nuts and too much houmous.

I do want to lose about 7 lbs but can't seem to be bothered!

 

[jonjan]

i went veg and vegan for the animals.

and yearsss later started exploring and valuing the environmental benefits, then health benefits, and am currently discovering the spirit-ual benefits.

i can easily gain weight if i want to, and can easily lose it too... just with a bit of modifying my calories and exercise

i'm currently 6'2" about 125lbs, lean, healthy as heck, and happy

Jon

 

[Dirty Martini]

yes.

I lost 65 pounds, but that was due to portion control, healthier choices, and exercise.

I've kept it off for 5 years (well, I've gained 7 pounds in the past year but am starting to work it off again).

 

[Quincy]

I've been a vegetarian for a little over a year now (vegan for about 7 months) and am about 5'8, 135 pounds.

A full year before I went vegetarian, I was 181lbs and had fallen down below 150lbs before even going vegetarian.

It's like people didn't start commenting about my "thinness" (more like lack of fatness) as much as they do now, since I've become veg*n.

My stepdad is a real meat freak and was giving me a hard time about, "oh you if you wanna stay so thin then it's a good diet for you."

I always get,

"so that's how you lost so much weight?"

"now I get why you're so skinny."

"you ought to eat some meat and get some meat back on your bones."

I may be a lot lighter than I was, but I'm slim and HEALTHY...

But to get back on topic, honestly, I initally became a vegetarian largely for health reasons...not exactly weight loss, but to keep it off and try to become healthier with my diet. My diet was AWFUL as a child and the sad thing is, more people bother me about my weight/health now than they EVER did when I was fat, eating fast food all of the time and just eating SO much junk in general.

*sigh*