Go Veg! Lose Weight!

[Emily Coffin]

Hi there! Welllllll, I have been a veggie for about a decade now- and let me tell you, it's only been in the past three or four years that I've really focused on eating my proteins. I'm not vegan, so I've been able to munch on cheese, drink skim milk and eat eggs- but there are plenty of other alternatives that are lower fat than those. I'd check and see if you have a health food or natural food store in your area, those can be a good place to start. I've found tons of faux soy yummies. For example, almost any kind of sliced deli meat you can imagine, seasoned soy chick'n patties, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, corn dogs, chick'n nuggetsyummy tofu and seitan and of course veggie burgers. I think there are enough veggie burgers kinds out there to float a million boats! And for holidays, there is the yummy treat of Tofurky! Your supermarket should have some of these too- though not as much. I've actually found Super Wal-Mart has tons of veggie foods, typically it's in the last frozen foods aisle next to the bread. (I've never been to a super wal-mart that isn't laid out almost exactly the same!!!)

I know that turning towards starches can be super easy. Believe me- I went on a veggie atkins diet about two years ago and noticed only then how dang much bread and pasta I was scarfing as 'filler' to my meals.

I hope this helps! And I'm sorry if I'm repeating whats been said, I didn't even look at the replies yet. :-) If you ever need any tips on whats the bestest veggie meat products, let me know- I've been told by several of my omniverous friends that the stuff I like is the tastiest veggie food they've sampled.

[StarDrifter]

Well Emily, my only concern with the vegetarian alternatives was the sodium content.

In fact, after making my first reply in this thread, I really started looking at sodium levels more closely. Now I just buy giant bags of vegetables and make lunches out of those, instead of the ready-to-heat Green Giant dishes. (Yikes! )

I've also drastically lowered my consumption of soy sauce.

I still love a lot of the vegetarian foods. I also believe there is something to be gained from looking impartially at any diet system, or even trying it. I generally try to make a joke about being "half vegetarian" nowadays, but also believe that meeting it halfway has helped lose a lot of the weight I've taken off.

[YouTehSuck]

you lose alot of weight bein a veg. i was one for 9 months then i went to taco bell . but im trying to be veg again. you feel so much better.

[Phoebe]

I have been a veg for 1.5 years, and I have to say I have not lost one pound as a result of it.

I believe you can lead a healthy lifestyle and still consume meat - I even know someone who was sick because she was a vegan and when she started eating meat, she became drastically healthier. But I know quite a few heathy vegans also.

To each his own. My DH eats meat and I'm fine with that. And he's fine with my veg-ness.

[secretsof2113]

for those of you that are vegan, what in gods name do you eat? I eat grilled cheese, cheese pizza, and whatever else our dining hall has. I'm thinking heavily about going vegan. I know the dining hall i work in makes special vegan meals for a boy that lives on my green. I may think about setting that up with the dining halls i eat in. Ive knocked milk out of my diet, why not cheese and eggs too?

[supahC]

I'm vegan and i have been for a year now after being vegetarian for 15 years. First off, Americans eat an EXTREMELY protien rich diet. I dare say too much protien. an excess of protien can interfere with the absorption of other minerals (for example societies with low protine comsumption have much lower rates of osteoporosis).

its not easy to become a vegan because there is alot you need to learn about nutrition and what foods supply you with what nutrients. the only nutrient that the human body needs that cannot be found from a (non fortified) plant diet is b12.

as for what do i eat...sauteed spinach with tomatoes and garlic for dinner last night, avocado tomato and onion salad for breakfast, lunch & dinner was rice noodles with eggplant soy chicken strips (i LOVE them) & red peppers, snack was a mochachhino with soymilk and some vegan cookies. i dunno, i dont feel deprived at all. I feel quite healthy. and i'm at my lowest weight in YEARS (3 pounds away from 'ideal')

[secretsof2113]

ive pretty much done it now. I'm psuedo-vegan, i guess you can say. I get vegan meals from the dining hall now, and I stopped eating eggs and cheese. I'm now consuming soy cheese. I stopped on fish too, since the dining halls make that easy. My home away from college on the other hand, reeks of carnivores, and my mom doesnt want to help out with me. I told her to buy me veggie burgers and I will live off those all summer. Haha. But this weekend when I was home, I had no choice of food, except for an egg salad sandwhich. It was all we had. Damn.

[supahC]

better yet, go shopping with your mom. that way you make sure what you want is in the house, and she knows what you want. I had to do that with my mom when i first went veg.

good luck!

[Lacey]

so does anyone else have any vegetarian food links for me?? I live in the boondocks and do most of my shopping online...more more more, give me more!! LOL

[miharu]

A great place for vegetarian and vegan recipes is vegweb.com (it's also a good place for those of you that can't contemplate what the heck veggie folks eat!)

[havix]

I hate stupid vegetarians. I myself...love meat, and will always eat meat...unless I form some sort of allergy...(my dad is now allergic to wheat for some reason).

But the other day, a friend of mine stated that it is against the Bible to eat meat. So my friends girlfriend, who is very ummm...religious, totally shut her down, and well, she kept on saying things.

All I am trying to say, is research and know what the hell you are talking about before you say it. Kinda reminds me of John Edwards and his "One state shouldn't have to recognize another states laws...yadda yadda", that totally was against the Declaration of Independance...so in ending my ranting...I don't mean to say I hate vegetarians...well...I just hate stupid people, forget I was talking about vegetarians, I was just relating the story...ok time to go hide in a corner...

[miharu]

I hate stupid vegetarians/vegans too, especially since I am vegan. So, no worries!


Psst... I think PeTA is a bunch of jerks too.

[abrannan]

havix said:

All I am trying to say, is research and know what the hell you are talking about before you say it. Kinda reminds me of John Edwards and his "One state shouldn't have to recognize another states laws...yadda yadda", that totally was against the Declaration of Independance..

You meant the Constitution, right? The document that lays out the concept state's rights, establishing each state as an independent entity, capable of establishing their own independent laws, without being beholden to the laws of other states? I'm sure you meant that, rather than the Declaration of Independence, which never mentions states at all, since there were no states at the time it was written, just colonies, and the fact that the Declaration isn't a document of laws, but rather a statement of intent by the colonies to break off from British rule.

That is what you meant right? Cause it would look awful foolish of you to gripe about other people not doing their research and then make a huge gaffe like that yourself. I mean, imagine the embarassment...

Enough off topic from me. Moderator, moderate thyself.

[havix]

Yeah that was my fault...I forgot my teacher gave us the "pocket Constitution" not DoI...So yeah, thats my bad. Go pulling all nighters! I should probably go sleep now.

Yeah looking back I was like "yeah it is the constitution...how stupid of me..." But still...hopefully people understood partly what I was sayin...*shrug*...yes it is time for sleep...so enough computer for me...later

I appolgize for my stupidity.

[orb]

havix said:

But the other day, a friend of mine stated that it is against the Bible to eat meat. So my friends girlfriend, who is very ummm...religious, totally shut her down, and well, she kept on saying things.

Actually, that friend is actually somewhat right. Check this out: www.straightdope.com/mailbag/madamvegan.html (you can find multiple sources, or just check the original book)

According to the bible, at least, we were original vegetarians and it wasn't until the time of the flood that people were allowed to eat animals. In other words, "in perfection" we were vegetarians. But in the "fallen" earth, we eat animals. If you read later on, you'll see that it also claims that in heaven (back to perfection) people will no longer eat meat. Obviously it doesn't say eating meat is "wrong" now, but it is very clear that that isn't the "perfect" way either.

Make of that what you will, but make sure you have the facts for yourself before blasting some "stupid vegetarian".

[havix]

No, I didn't say we WERE vegetarians. That is a big difference from NOW. She was saying that according to the bible, we are not supposed to be eating meat NOW.

[legend of croft]

i used to be a vegetarian, but i didn't lose weight until i went vegan. i was at my thinnest when i was a vegan and quickly gained the weight back when i allowed cheese and eggs back into my diet. i have thought about giving it a go again, but i do really like meat again....ah well.

[muppetdance]

i myself lost quite a bit of weight when I was a vegetarian. about 20 pounds in 2.5 months, with little or no effort on my part.

I totally believe that a vegetarian and/or vegan diet can be very healthy.....IF you know what you're doing. I had a friend who went veggie in the middle of her pregnancy and cut out all meat...but also refused to eat beans, rice or most vegetables. She lived on fruit and fake meats, and not many of the fake meats at that. She because very unhealthy and after her pregnancy continued on her veggie diet (and put her baby on it as well). eventually, she became very anemic and went a little nutso (apparently having hallucinations and the sort)

Of course, I'm not sure if it was all due to her diet, but I'm sure it didn't help.

Another thing I can stand is when a person tries to guilt you into their diet lifestyle. my (former) friend would wail and say things like "why am I the only one that loves the animals?" Keep in mind she left her poor dog locked in a small crate 15 or more hours a day (even though the woman was at home to watch the dog).

Anyway...I'm done ranting now...for all you healthy vegetarians/vegans out there..I admire you. I just Lek trout way too much to give up all meat....

[xstatic]

wtf? I just read this page and what is with all of the vegitarian/vegan hate?? WHY does it make ANY difference to you what I choose to eat? I certainly know that you wouldn't like it if someone took a crap all over your personal beliefs.

[Grant.]

I <3 chicken.