Vegetarian Diet- Your caloric intake?

ShayRae125
ShayRae125 Posts: 2 Member
edited December 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I read a lot of varying things when it comes to calorie intake.

  1. Sometime I read it's not the number itself, it's the quality of food you're eating to make those calories. 1,500 calories of junk, and you won't lose weight like you would with 1,500 calories of good food.
  2. Sometimes I read it's the number and the number alone- 1,500 calories of straight veggies is still equal to say 1,500 of steak and eggs lmao.
  3. Sometimes I read (especially from raw vegans) that you an eat an exorbitant amount of fresh fruit and veggie goodness and still lose tons of weight (see: Lissa's Raw Food Romance)

Sorry if I sound entirely ignorant. I'm about 2 weeks into being a vegetarian and I'm still trying to find a good balance of both nutritional intake and caloric intake and because on constantly conflicting articles I dunno what's what.

Any suggestions on what worked for you?

Replies

  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    My understanding: a calorie is a calorie. The difference between 1500cals of steak/eggs and 1500 cals of veggies is the nutritional content you're getting (protein, fiber, calcium etc) it's important to have a balanced diet, no matter what you do/don't eat. Eating tons of fruit and vegetables is great, though you can still go over calories without being aware of how much you're eating. And with that ton of fruit/veggies you'll probably be lacking in other nutrients. I'm a vegan, have been for a while now. I make sure to keep track of all nutrients, as well as calorie intake. Eat things you enjoy, but be mindful of what it's worth nutritionally and stay within your calorie goal.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    ShayRae125 wrote: »
    I read a lot of varying things when it comes to calorie intake.

    1. Sometime I read it's not the number itself, it's the quality of food you're eating to make those calories. 1,500 calories of junk, and you won't lose weight like you would with 1,500 calories of good food.
    2. Sometimes I read it's the number and the number alone- 1,500 calories of straight veggies is still equal to say 1,500 of steak and eggs lmao.
    3. Sometimes I read (especially from raw vegans) that you an eat an exorbitant amount of fresh fruit and veggie goodness and still lose tons of weight (see: Lissa's Raw Food Romance)

    Sorry if I sound entirely ignorant. I'm about 2 weeks into being a vegetarian and I'm still trying to find a good balance of both nutritional intake and caloric intake and because on constantly conflicting articles I dunno what's what.

    Any suggestions on what worked for you?

    When it comes to weight loss it's all about the numbers-the only way to lose weight is to eat less calories than your burn. Food type does not matter.

    When it comes to nutrition, it's all about food type-the only way to have good nutrition is to eat nutritionally dense foods. Food type does matter.

    It's a good idea to find a balance between the two so that they sustain overall health. :)
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    I have been a vegetarian for 11 years. Super Healthy and my blood values all became perfect. Love plant-based nutrition. I do very well it took some time but it was well worth it. The beauty of my fitness pal it allows you the foods that you love very easy to count calories. I get my protein from beans, tofu, I do enjoy certified humane eggs, fruits, and vegetables and of course my weakness still is desserts. I also go organic to avoid the devastating and toxic pesticides and artificial additives. Give yourself time it will be worth it. Add me if you like.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    edited June 2016
    Vegetarians have a lower over all bmi compared to meat eaters as well as lower risks of certain disease: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671114/

    That said, you can get obese eating ice berg lettuce if you eat enough of it. But many vegetarians eat more foods that are higher volume and lower calorie than meat eaters so I think if they are paying any attention at all to their diet they tend weigh less.

    I've been vegetarian for 5 years.
  • dustedwithsugar
    dustedwithsugar Posts: 179 Member
    When I turned vegetarian I gained weight because I followed woo advice that as long as you eat plant based healthy foods you won't gain weight. You will - if you're eating in caloric surplus. It doesn't matter what you eat as long as you're in deficit. You can eat chips, chocolate, sweets and anything that is considered "unhealthy" and you will lose weight if you're in caloric deficit. BUT you'll probably feel like c.rap. What works for me is plant based diet - lots of veggies, starchy (is it the way to write it? lol) vegetables, rice, beans and legumes and bit of junk food whenever I feel like. If I eat too much junk food I don't feel well.
  • dustedwithsugar
    dustedwithsugar Posts: 179 Member
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    ShayRae125 wrote: »
    I read a lot of varying things when it comes to calorie intake.

    1. Sometime I read it's not the number itself, it's the quality of food you're eating to make those calories. 1,500 calories of junk, and you won't lose weight like you would with 1,500 calories of good food.
    2. Sometimes I read it's the number and the number alone- 1,500 calories of straight veggies is still equal to say 1,500 of steak and eggs lmao.
    3. Sometimes I read (especially from raw vegans) that you an eat an exorbitant amount of fresh fruit and veggie goodness and still lose tons of weight (see: Lissa's Raw Food Romance)

    Sorry if I sound entirely ignorant. I'm about 2 weeks into being a vegetarian and I'm still trying to find a good balance of both nutritional intake and caloric intake and because on constantly conflicting articles I dunno what's what.

    Any suggestions on what worked for you?

    I'm not familiar with option 3 but I can say with a decent amount of confidence that people who bring up options 1 and 2 are not actually advocating that you do either exclusively. Most people strike a balance between a calorie deficit for weight loss, a variety of nutrient dense foods for nutritional benefits, and some treats thrown in for happiness and long term sustainability.

    IMO any extreme approach that isn't medically necessary is not going to be sustainable which is why eating as I mentioned above works well for me.

    Just curious OP if you are choosing to become vegetarian because you think it will help you lose weight?
  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:
  • ShayRae125
    ShayRae125 Posts: 2 Member
    Hey all. :) Thanks for your replies. To answer a few of you- no, I haven't moved to vegetarian for the sake of hoping to lose weight. I went from 190 lbs to 135 lbs originally eating a regular, healthy diet including meat but I've decided to make the switch due to ethical feels. I just want to do it the right way! My first week was rough because I didn't have a proper balance of nutrition and had a hard time making it to a good amount of calories and felt like I was hit by a truck lmao. So I thought I would ask. ^_^
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    ShayRae125 wrote: »
    I read a lot of varying things when it comes to calorie intake.

    1. Sometime I read it's not the number itself, it's the quality of food you're eating to make those calories. 1,500 calories of junk, and you won't lose weight like you would with 1,500 calories of good food.
    2. Sometimes I read it's the number and the number alone- 1,500 calories of straight veggies is still equal to say 1,500 of steak and eggs lmao.
    3. Sometimes I read (especially from raw vegans) that you an eat an exorbitant amount of fresh fruit and veggie goodness and still lose tons of weight (see: Lissa's Raw Food Romance)

    Sorry if I sound entirely ignorant. I'm about 2 weeks into being a vegetarian and I'm still trying to find a good balance of both nutritional intake and caloric intake and because on constantly conflicting articles I dunno what's what.

    Any suggestions on what worked for you?

    Only the calories are true. You don't get extra goodie points because the food you eat is perceived as "healthy" and you won't lose weight because "reasons" just because it's fruits and vegetables.

    As a lifelong vegetarian (my mom was vegan when i was born so i was actually vegan for the first 5 years of my life) and then added in some products containing dairy and eggs let me tell you first hand (as someone who has NEVER eaten meat or fish) that this premise is absolute B.S.

    I have been my heighest weight as a vegetarian, and my lowest weight. The only change? Calories.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Calories aren't the same when it comes to weight and nutrition. Your health overall would be very different if you got the same amount of calories from a balanced diet than a diet full of junk food even though the calories are the same.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    Botulism is more commonly associated with bacterial growth in improperly canned goods, whether home or manufactured. I've got lots of experience with this as my grandma still cans everything. Botulism is very easily recognized in clear jars... just saying. :D
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited June 2016
    Calories aren't the same when it comes to weight and nutrition. Your health overall would be very different if you got the same amount of calories from a balanced diet than a diet full of junk food even though the calories are the same.

    I think it's pretty safe to say everyone knows that getting adequate vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is necessary for good health.

    but this doesn't change the fact that (with or without the micronutrition) even junk food eating the same calories is going to result in the same weight results.

    I personally find that most people acheive life-long success by eating the foods they enjoy (while meeting nutrient needs) without restriction of foods seen as "unhealthy" or "high calorie". It's a very fine line between "eating healthy and balanced" and starting to develop orthorexia.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,629 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    I believe Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacterium - grows in the absence of oxygen. Hence, it's a risk in under-heated non-acidic canned foods. I'm assuming canned foods automatically count as cooked, to a raw vegan, but I'm too lazy to check that assumption.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    I believe Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacterium - grows in the absence of oxygen. Hence, it's a risk in under-heated non-acidic canned foods. I'm assuming canned foods automatically count as cooked, to a raw vegan, but I'm too lazy to check that assumption.

    People who are being strict about raw veganism draw the line at heating above 104 to 120 degrees F. I've never canned so I don't know if the canning process would heat foods more than that.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    Botulism is more commonly associated with bacterial growth in improperly canned goods, whether home or manufactured. I've got lots of experience with this as my grandma still cans everything. Botulism is very easily recognized in clear jars... just saying. :D

    My sister is going to start canning this summer. I should probably figure out how to recognize it as I suspect I will be gifted with some of her garden's bounty. *runs to Google*
  • jayele72
    jayele72 Posts: 51 Member
    I lost about 45 pounds with calories in/calories out. About a month ago I switched to a raw(ish) vegetarian(ish) diet mostly doing a BIG smoothie for breakfast and lunch then eat healthy (organic, etc) meats or the like for dinner.

    Since I've started with this I've been eating 1800 to 2000 calories/day (my goal has always been 1500) and have lost another 10 pounds while eating WAY more calories than before.

    A few things factor in here however. When I changed my diet, I started to feel naturally more energized so I've been more active and find myself craving things like coffee and processed foods way less.

    In the end for me, a calorie is not a calorie.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jayele72 wrote: »
    I lost about 45 pounds with calories in/calories out. About a month ago I switched to a raw(ish) vegetarian(ish) diet mostly doing a BIG smoothie for breakfast and lunch then eat healthy (organic, etc) meats or the like for dinner.

    Since I've started with this I've been eating 1800 to 2000 calories/day (my goal has always been 1500) and have lost another 10 pounds while eating WAY more calories than before.

    A few things factor in here however. When I changed my diet, I started to feel naturally more energized so I've been more active and find myself craving things like coffee and processed foods way less.

    In the end for me, a calorie is not a calorie.

    If switching your diet gives you more energy and you're burning more calories as a result, it just reinforces that a calorie is a calorie for the purposes of weight loss.

    Obviously your diet can influence your energy level -- nobody has denied that. But "a calorie is a calorie" includes the principle that if you burn more through activity, you can eat more and still lose weight.
  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    It was meant as a joke, lighten up. I'm aware of the severe effects of botulism. And obviously I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I actually roll on the floor laughing while someone was suffering from it, or anything else.

    I did however believe it was from raw green beans, though you're right in the canning aspect. I should've looked it up, rather than believe what I had heard.

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,629 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    I believe Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacterium - grows in the absence of oxygen. Hence, it's a risk in under-heated non-acidic canned foods. I'm assuming canned foods automatically count as cooked, to a raw vegan, but I'm too lazy to check that assumption.

    People who are being strict about raw veganism draw the line at heating above 104 to 120 degrees F. I've never canned so I don't know if the canning process would heat foods more than that.

    Low-acid foods are pressure-cooker-canned (in home canning), and acidic ones in a boiling water bath . . . so yes, above 120F.

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    It was meant as a joke, lighten up. I'm aware of the severe effects of botulism. And obviously I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I actually roll on the floor laughing while someone was suffering from it, or anything else.

    I did however believe it was from raw green beans, though you're right in the canning aspect. I should've looked it up, rather than believe what I had heard.

    Well I'm grateful this was incorrect info, as i love munching on raw green beans!

  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    It was meant as a joke, lighten up. I'm aware of the severe effects of botulism. And obviously I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I actually roll on the floor laughing while someone was suffering from it, or anything else.

    I did however believe it was from raw green beans, though you're right in the canning aspect. I should've looked it up, rather than believe what I had heard.

    Well I'm grateful this was incorrect info, as i love munching on raw green beans!

    Lol no kidding! :tongue:
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    It was meant as a joke, lighten up. I'm aware of the severe effects of botulism. And obviously I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I actually roll on the floor laughing while someone was suffering from it, or anything else.

    I did however believe it was from raw green beans, though you're right in the canning aspect. I should've looked it up, rather than believe what I had heard.

    I get that you meant it as a joke, I just didn't understand what is supposed to be funny about it. You're free to make jokes, you can't insist that others find them amusing. I don't think a demand that someone "lighten up" is appropriate here. How about you joke about what you'd like, including botulism, and I'll respond how I like?
  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    alyssagb1 wrote: »
    Oh and about raw vegans- most of they say is bollocks. Especially what banana girl is saying. Idea of eating 3000-4000 calories for average woman and losing weight is ridiculous, doesn't matter if they're mostly coming from raw fruits and veggies. If you do research online you'll find many, many people who gained a lot of weight that way. Do your research here, follow calories assigned to you by mfp and weight will start dropping off in no time ;)

    I still wonder if raw vegans eat *raw* green beans rofl - botulism and all :lol:

    I'm not sure why the thought of anyone suffering from botulism, which can cause paralysis and even death, makes you ROFL, but I believe that botulism is associated with home-canned green beans, not raw ones. I could be wrong though.

    It was meant as a joke, lighten up. I'm aware of the severe effects of botulism. And obviously I wouldn't wish that on anyone, nor would I actually roll on the floor laughing while someone was suffering from it, or anything else.

    I did however believe it was from raw green beans, though you're right in the canning aspect. I should've looked it up, rather than believe what I had heard.

    I get that you meant it as a joke, I just didn't understand what is supposed to be funny about it. You're free to make jokes, you can't insist that others find them amusing. I don't think a demand that someone "lighten up" is appropriate here. How about you joke about what you'd like, including botulism, and I'll respond how I like?

    Touché on the last sentence. Though I didn't insist anyone find them funny nor did I "demand" you lighten up. The latter was a suggestion. Anyhow, thank you for your reply. I really didn't mean to upset you or anyone else for that matter.
  • Docbanana2002
    Docbanana2002 Posts: 357 Member
    I've been a vegetarian for 3 years, mostly vegan for 2, and eat mostly whole foods with some allowed treats (mostly dessert....) here and there. I lost about 100 pounds counting calories on MFP and have kept it off for a year eating this way. Went from couch potato to half marathon and now training for triathlon. My blood pressure dropped, blood sugar is (healthfully) low, and my cholesterol around 160 when it once was in the 200s. No nutritional deficiencies or other issues like that. I went vegetarian/mostly vegan for ethical reasons, but it has also been a good choice for my health and I feel like I have been more successful eating this way than in the past (I'm mid 40s and have been obese since my teens with multiple failed dieting attempts, until now).

    That being said, dropping animal products isn't a magical thing that allows me to defy physics and have perfect health. I also have to eat a nutritious and balanced diet and get good sleep and practice good stress management and train hard (and wisely) to maintain my energy levels and health. I also have to watch my caloric intake strictly... when I eat too much food, even vegan food, I will gain weight again. For me "too much food" is anything over my TDEE as predicted by Fitbit. I have a couple of years of food intake and activity data and it is amazingly accurate for me. So... I take that to mean that my metabolism is probably pretty typical for a woman of my age/weight/height and I am conforming quite nicely to Fitbit's calculations. No magic vegan pill. Although.... after my dramatic weight loss one might predict that my metabolism would slow to a crawl (I'm thinking of the research coming out on the Biggest Loser people), so maybe veganism is allowing me to defy physics by merely being "normal" in my metabolism and I just don't know it... Though I doubt it. :) Probably I just started with a slightly above average metabolism, lost the weight slowly, while being incredibly active, and was spared some of the more dramatic effects of adaptive thermogenesis.

    I think that where being a vegan has helped me (and is probably why vegans have lower BMI on average) is that it takes a lot of really calorie dense options off the table and encourages me in the direction of lower calorie foods like fruits/veggies. A well planned vegan diet can be very nutritious and filling and so I don't walk around feeling hungry all the time and I actually eat as much or more (volume-wise, not calorie-wise) than I did when I was obese. I have also done Atkins (the meaty version, not eco-atkins) in the past and had some temporary success, mainly for similar reasons... it steered me toward foods that were very filling so I naturally stayed within caloric limits without having to starve. I just didn't want to do low carb in the long run because I prefer a more "carby" diet due to taste preferences and I had ethical reasons to give up meat/dairy/eggs instead.







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