[rhonlynn]

I was vegetarian for 9 months last year, and I'm not repeating the whole thing...got on a diet that required animal products, and then started eating meat again.

Started doing yoga, felt a shift in my diet, and now I'm vegetarian, nearly vegan. Last year, I put on weight, and I think it's from too many starches or carbs, and little exercise. I do hot yoga 4 times a week now, burning 700 cals, so that's taken care of. The thing is, how can you avoid eating too much rice, pasta, bread, couscous...all those things?

I actually think I've figured it out, visualize the plate, and make 1/4th of it with the starch,and the rest with the vegetables. (which I didn't do tonight, with the pasta and broccolli, but I should've.) How do you guys do it? Most people who are vegan are so thin, so I know I have a ways to go, and that's not my purpose for doing this, but I did gain weight last year while vegetarian. I'll be vegan by the time i'm finished with this. I just don't have all my ingredients yet.

 

[Limes]

Unfortunately, I can't help you much. I did all of my weight loss before going veg, and now it never even crosses my mind. I often have a big bowl of pasta and tomato sauce and nothing else. I also often over eat (I love food!), and potato chips are a huge weakness of mine. I think you're doing the best thing by portioning. You're already avoiding a lot of unnecessary fat and calories by cutting out animal products. Stick with the exercise, btw I am also a hot yoga fanatic it is SO awesome, and portion. It will be a slow process but as long as you feel better in the meantime I think that is what counts the most.

I do want to ask though, are you maybe taking in a lot of calories in your drinks? A lot of people drink sodas and lattes and forget to count those calories. Stick to tea(without milk/sugar), water, black coffee, etc.

 

[rhonlynn]

No, I drink water, or unsweetened iced or hot tea.I don't touch soda. I don't like it. I don't drink coffee either, and I don't like those things you buy at Starbucks. But I think watching portions, continuing with the yoga, which i love, but I'm not that good at yet. Each day I do better. i'm real picky about what I drink and eat. This time, I'm not going all Bocca either, I'm making my own from the book Vegan with a Vengeance. on yoga days, I don't eat 2 hours before yoga, and I be sure to eat absolutely no dairy, and nothing like that.I've only been doing yoga regularly for 3 weeks. But I love it so much,I'm going to keep doing it.

I know i"m doing the right thing, and I know it will be slow, as the all the past fats and things are freed up from my body, as I go along.

 

[Josh James xVx]

I'd strongly recommend ordering a free copy of this helpful guide which is extremely useful and practical for anyone considering a more plant based diet. All the info is online if you don't want a hard copy.

Erik Marcus' Ultimate Vegan Guide is helpful as well. It has tips that apply to both vegetarians and vegans.

 

[Indian Summer]

Consider replacing your regular rice and pasta with less refined varieties such as brown rice and wholemeal pasta which contain more fiber and complex carbohydrates. These are healthier foods in general, but may also help with weight loss. More fiber makes you feel fuller, so you would tend to eat less. The energy from complex carbs are absorbed at a slower rate by the body, so the theory is that this energy is therefore more likely to be burned right away and less likely to be stored as fat.

 

[rhonlynn]

The kindle edition of Ultimate Vegan is only .99. i have the pamplet, and i will reread it. I'll start eating more brown rice and whole wheat pasta, and drink more water. I was hungry all day yesterday and made a few poor choices (tofutti cuties isn't so bad, but could be if I ate more than one. I will choose fruit next time), so I can forsee that.

 

[kasandra]

Hi There Rhonlynn

I agree with Indian Summer, if you going to eat bread try the whole wheat options or gluten free options like 100% rye bread. I find that brown rice is just amazing, it keeps you full and helps with digestive system.

I also found that chick peas and kidney beans in any veggie base meal really just helps keep you full.

Would also suggest straight after hot yoga to drink some ice tea or some 100% fruit juice as it helps your body recover.
Bikram yoga is intense and a work out and you must make sure you eat sufficient for recovery after the work out. I always keep ice tea and banana in my bag for straight after class. You also get rehydrate which is esp to replace the electrolates and salts in your body to restore the balance as you sweat it all out during hot yoga.

I was also told that you can have a light soya shake / protein shake with juice 2 hours before a class.

Great that you educate yourself, we dont want to harm our body in the process.

Most of my daily food comes from rye rolls, hummus, avo and dates, banana's. Also brown rice, roasted vegetables, roasted patato and green beans.

I was very lucky that when I went vegetarian it just agreed with my body.

I guess its expirementing intill you find the right ratio for keeping your energy up and your ideal body weight.

 

[rhonlynn]

I have hot yoga tonight, so I'll cap it with tea and a banana. It's only 20 minutes from my house, so I'll get it when I get home. Anything is better than Gatorade. I don't like Gatorade. Vegetarian or vegan feels the right thing to do. My cholesterol will go down, my body will be healthy, my mind more clear. My body will be toned up. Everything will fit together.

 

[kasandra]

awesome, keep up the positive approach.

yes, trust me the ice tea and banana makes a huge difference afterwards.

keep posting your progress.