Hello! I recently started on a vegetarian diet the day after Thanksgiving 2014. I need some help though because my sister and I live together and we both are overweight badly. We both were experiencing some issues with being lethargic, run down, tired and unable to concentrate. I did some research and found information that it might be a protein deficiency. I added small portions of meat back into one meal a day and we both now feel better.
My issue is I do not want the meat in my diet. For me it causes serious medical issues with both my stomach & bowels which we won't get into and I feel better eating veggie than having any meat. For my sister, she had her gall bladder removed and she needs to eat less fat so the veggie diet is perfect.
About Us:
I'm 5'7" & 253 lbs. I've read that my protein intake should be about 93grams. Is that right? It was really difficult to make that many grams of protein in a day. My sister is shorter and weighs a lot more (around 375).
Here is what I would cook on a typical day. Our schedules are pretty weird and screwed up so we only end up eating actually about twice a day. I make everything from scratch, I've even found recipes to create my own "meat" from Tofu which is awesome!
Breakfast:
2 Eggs, 1 veggie sausage, 2 pieces of toast (whole wheat or white depending upon what we have), homemade hash browns. Sometimes a fruit cup, sometimes a yogurt.
Lunch:
Veggie chicken sandwich, cottage cheese, maybe a salad with cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, celery, alphapha sprouts, croutons, homemade ranch dressing, salad topper (its a mix you buy with various things in it), & mushrooms. Possibly a fruit cup, sometimes not.
Dinner:
Stir Fry "chicken" (actually tofu), with broccoli, green bell peppers, onions, & white rice. A piece of garlic bread (french bread with butter and garlic powder). A side of beans (white, northern or pinto lately).
Ok now as I said we usually only have 2 meals a day, possibly we should get on a schedule? We are both on disability and stay at home so we do not have to get up at a certain time unless there is an appointment.
What am I missing? What should I add? Since we both are so overweight right now I believe our protein intake is supposed to be more than someone who is not overweight. So I need a happy medium where we can still be on the veggie diet and not pass the hell out in the process lol.
A few other factors:
1. We are both Hypoglycemic (LOW blood sugar, as a matter of fact if I do not eat I would pass right out)
2. We have tried the protein shakes. Not especially thrilled with them as they kinda leave an aftertaste. I put it in ice cream with bananas, strawberries & milk and made shakes. (Its the only way my sister would even attempt to try it lol).
Any help would be great. I want to stay a vegetarian, I do not want to
HAVE to eat meat every once in a while its screws up my stomach.
