Can you offer advice on transitioning to vegetarian while also trying to lose a significant amount of weight?
Question Weightloss
- Thread starter Middleagedseeker
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Concentrate on vegetables and whole grains. Don't feel you have to "replace" meat with vegetarian versions (which can be highly processed and expensive if bought), rather explore going completely meat free. Try vegetables soups, stir fries with lots of veggies and brown rice, quinoa and couscous salads, veggie wraps, etc. Avoid over compensating with dairy, too - it's got fat you don't want or need. You may want to try going vegan since you are game for something new! Good luck!
Jamie in Chile
Forum Legend
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- Jan 3, 2016
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- Vegetarian
I've only been vegetarian for a short time, and so in some ways I don't feel qualified to comment, so keep that in mind. However I have recently lost some weight on a vegetarian diet in the last month or two (around 7 kilos or nearly 10% of my body weight), and am currently reading a book on nutrition which I've almost finished. It's called Becoming Vegan It even has a specific chapter on vegan diet while losing weight.
Here's my advice, taken from a combination of this book, other books and articles, common sense and personal experience.
1. Focusing on eating less food overall rather than just what you eat. Reduce snacks. E.g. I eat a small lunch at 1pm. If I get hungry say 2.30pm I eat a snack, but it should be more often fruit than junk. If I get hungry after 4pm, I just go hungry until 6pm when I have dinner. Eat until not hungry, not until stuffed full. If you are never hungry or always eat as soon as you are hungry, then you are eating too much.
2. Mostly replace meat with extra fruit and vegetables and legumes, not with extra carbs or junk food.
3. Minimize processed food, as well as being unhealthy they contain things like sugar, salt and monosodium glutamate that are addictive and make you eat more, even after you are full.
Here's my advice, taken from a combination of this book, other books and articles, common sense and personal experience.
1. Focusing on eating less food overall rather than just what you eat. Reduce snacks. E.g. I eat a small lunch at 1pm. If I get hungry say 2.30pm I eat a snack, but it should be more often fruit than junk. If I get hungry after 4pm, I just go hungry until 6pm when I have dinner. Eat until not hungry, not until stuffed full. If you are never hungry or always eat as soon as you are hungry, then you are eating too much.
2. Mostly replace meat with extra fruit and vegetables and legumes, not with extra carbs or junk food.
3. Minimize processed food, as well as being unhealthy they contain things like sugar, salt and monosodium glutamate that are addictive and make you eat more, even after you are full.
Grayveggie
Forum Practitioner
I'm actually doing real good losing weight by giving up meat! I'm eating lots more fruit and veggies, exercising, spending time outside and drinking tons of water.
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