Vegans.
Alarmed_one
Posts: 46 Member
So I’m only doing this for a month, just to detox my body and empty my intestines of all this meat. Before this, I was doing extremely low carb and I lost a ton of weight doing that. My question is, how do I get more protein in my diet besides avocado? Also, how do I pack more calories in? Im almost at 600, already full and kind of don’t want to eat. I had oatmeal with almond milk for breakfast. Made a stir fry with plenty of veggies for lunch and dinner. Been snacking on black berries, blue berries and strawberries. What can I add to make my days more healthy? I’m kind of lost here lol
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Your body doesn't need to detox from anything. Your liver and kidneys handle that just fine. And meat doesn't hang around in your intestines. That being said, the main vegan protein sources are protein, seitan, tempeh, beans, peas, lentils, quinoa, and whole grains. Never really thought of avocado as a protein source so much as a fat source.24
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Just about everything has protein. No one’s dying of protein deficiency .26
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Instead of these restrictive diets that you are not sticking to how about just eat the foods you enjoy but in smaller amounts so that what you eat is less than what you burn in a day? Many people have success doing it that way. Going on diets that you will not stick to long-term however, is something very, very few have success with.2
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estherdragonbat wrote: »Your body doesn't need to detox from anything. Your liver and kidneys handle that just fine. And meat doesn't hang around in your intestines. That being said, the main vegan protein sources are protein, tofu seitan, tempeh, beans, peas, lentils, quinoa, and whole grains. Never really thought of avocado as a protein source so much as a fat source.
Sorry! Mistyped.
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It is extremely restrictive to be low carb while eating a plant based diet. Plants have carbs. Good carbs. It’s not like sitting down and eating a loaf of white bread or a package of cookies.
All plants have some protein, but, as mentioned, tofu, seitan, and tempeh have lots of protein, and are actually fairly low in carbs, and can be made in a variety of ways. After that beans and lentils, dark leafy greens, broccoli and brussel sprouts, are all good. As for more calories, lots of healthy fats. A big problem people have with going plant based or vegan is they don’t eat enough calories and skip things like healthy fats. Nuts, more avo, a little olive oil. Of course, I’m a junk food vegan, so some cookies would go a long way!
But I also concur that you don’t need to detox (you’ve got a liver and kidney just for that purpose!). I’m a big believer in going vegan, and I’m all for doing “Veganuary” (google it....it’s a great resource and lots of support), but you aren’t detoxing. You’re just eating healthier. Eating more plants can definitely make you feel better, but it’s just because you’re providing your body with more of the things it needs. Not detoxing it.8 -
Veganism isn't going to "detox" you from anything. Some vegans eat healthier than some non-vegans, but there are also non-vegans who eat healthier than some vegans. Like any way of eating, it's going to come down to the foods you choose.
If you want more protein, try foods like tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans, soy products (milk, yogurt, etc), or plant-based protein powders (hemp, soy, rice, pea).
If you want more calories, adding fat to the diet can be a good way to do that. In addition to avocado, there are nuts/seeds, plant oils, and coconut. Grains and starchy vegetables are another good way to increase the calories in your diet -- oats, rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.
Veganism is an ethical position on animal exploitation, so it isn't really possible to do it for just a month. It's either a position you hold or don't. But there are lots of people who explore plant-based eating for a limited period of time and some people do find that it leads them into veganism.12 -
Avocados aren't really a top choice for protein...it's a great source of healthy dietary fat. tofu, seitan, beans, lentils tempeh, etc are typical vegan protein choices. Good cooking oils, nuts, etc to up your fat and calories.
As has been mentioned, this doesn't detox anything and meat doesn't hang around in your intestines.2 -
Hello I just started day two I'm a vegan for a month I want to shock my body. So tell me what works for you? What foods are you eating and tips please.13
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Hello I just started day two I'm a vegan for a month I want to shock my body. So tell me what works for you? What foods are you eating and tips please.
Why does your body need shocking? Sounds kind of painful. Just plug your stats into MFP, get a calorie target, and eat what you normally eat, just in smaller portions. I personally feel fuller on higher protein and fiber; some people find fat does it for them.7 -
Hello I just started day two I'm a vegan for a month I want to shock my body. So tell me what works for you? What foods are you eating and tips please.
Veganism isn't going to "shock" your body. We eat carbohydrates, protein, and fat, just as non-vegans do. There's a huge overlap of foods that vegans and non-vegans eat, we just don't eat the stuff with animal products.9 -
You can buy nutrional yeast flakes which add a bit of protein to meals. I like them sprinkled on soup but you can mix them in with most dishes. Learn how to make a good tofu meal you love. I know its a hit or miss food. I don't struggle to get protein as vegan but I do like to make sure I have plenty to fill me up so I tend to have vegan protein shake for breakfast so I don't have to worry about what my other meals are protein-wise. The coffee and walnut one by Puriton is my favourite with half a banana, I at milk and some carob or cocoa nibs to being out the flavour.
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The only reason a body would need to be detoxed is due to issues like lead or radiation poisoning, which are medical emergencies that require medical professionals.
If your body needs to be shocked, it is also a medical emergency that require medical professionals.
Furthermore, we are not cars and do not need to be jump-started.
Just start developing healthy habits today.18 -
Hello I just started day two I'm a vegan for a month I want to shock my body. So tell me what works for you? What foods are you eating and tips please.
What are you hoping to accomplish by going vegan for a month? The body does not need to be "shocked" unless we are discussing a need for things like defibrillators or pacemakers. If you have specific health or fitness related goals that you would like advice about, I would recommend starting a new thread and telling us exactly what your goals are.2 -
kshama2001 wrote: »The only reason a body would need to be detoxed is due to issues like lead or radiation poisoning, which are medical emergencies that require medical professionals.
If your body needs to be shocked, it is also a medical emergency that require medical professionals.
Furthermore, we are not cars and do not need to be jump-started.
Just start developing healthy habits today.
Ps - I've taken a few people to a "detox" facility for drug or alcohol abuse. Again, requires medical intervention.4 -
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My body was plenty shocked when I went cold turkey on sugars, junk foods, dairy, red meats and breads. (At doc’s recommendation, to weed out potential joint pain triggers). The holistic diet plan she gave me was common sense. It said that your intestine regenerates all the cells in it’s lining every seven or ten days, so it just struck me that, simply making a point to eat better was a more sensible plan than any trendy cleanse. I enjoyed it so much I’ve just stuck to it. Maybe giving it all up at once made the sugar withdrawal thing easier, btw. That probably shocked my system more than anything.9
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So as others have covered, detoxing, shocking, etc., not necessary, not even really things that apply to food changes.
That said, if you are interested in eating less meat/animal products or are motivated to try a vegan challenge for a mix of reasons, there's nothing wrong with it. But it can be a challenging way to eat, especially if you don't have that ethical motivation (in which case I'd call it plant-based), so changing so dramatically can be really hard.
Plant-based sources of protein are beans and lentils and peas, soy products (like tofu and tempeh), and then to a lesser degree whole grains and non starchy veg. Potatoes have some, not a lot. Nuts and seeds have some but are more of a fat source. Fruit has very little, and avocado doesn't have much either.
You would want to mix a variety of sources to get enough (especially if you choose not to use a supplement like a protein powder), and focus on adding some to all meals.
Looking at your day, some thoughts:
Oatmeal with almond milk -- soy milk has more protein or maybe pea milk, and I'd add some seeds and berries or nut butter too. (That will help with calories.) Oats vary in how much protein they have, try to find a higher protein option or think about doing mixed grains (you can add something like quinoa if you like it, although it's a bit overrated in how much protein it has). Oats is a good venue for a protein powder too.
Stir fry with plenty of veggies for lunch and dinner -- could get boring, which could affect your desire to eat enough. I'd say vary the veg a lot, and eat a lot of them, they will contribute some protein. Making one of these a stir fry with tofu and the other into a bean or lentil based dish with veg (and maybe some other kind of grain, I'm assuming you are eating rice with the stir fry) could help.
You can add seeds to the stirfry too, or some kind of nut, and if you cook with oil don't forget to log that.
Been snacking on black berries, blue berries and strawberries. If you want more cals, higher cal fruits or nuts and seeds or avocado. If you want more protein, nuts and seeds and non starchy veg (if you aren't getting too full). Edamame too. Hummus or roasted chickpeas.
Supplementing Omega-3 (or just DHA/EPA) and B12 is a good idea, and IMO D (but I should supplement D and always forget).
I actually don't think people should just jump into 100% plant-based, though, without some experience with vegetarianism or just being strongly motivated by ethics and doing some reading. But I do get wanting to try different ways of eating.4 -
ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
I've made omelettes by blending tofu, no eggs required.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
I've made omelettes by blending tofu, no eggs required.
Speaking of which, they used to serve tofu scramble at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. My ex actually liked it.
http://www.nasoya.com/healthy-tofu-recipes/tofu-scramble/0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
I've made omelettes by blending tofu, no eggs required.
Speaking of which, they used to serve tofu scramble at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. My ex actually liked it.
http://www.nasoya.com/healthy-tofu-recipes/tofu-scramble/
I love tofu scramble!0 -
Shocking your body is not necessary. However, with that in mind, a vegan lifestyle is not a bad thing. Some go vegan for the planet, cruelty free, and love of all animals. There are many great websites to help you choose your path. For me, I can say I’m not the slimmest girl in the world, but I do it for the animals. Learning where your food comes from is important.
But let’s not forget that the tasty Oreo is also vegan...but hey...moderation😉
Good luck!0 -
Why do so many people believe that going vegan is good for the body? It's a personal ethical choice and while I respect those who do it, doing it in the Hopes of detoxing your body and losing weight is a recipe for failure. For example I have a coworker who went vegan a couple of months ago and because she cant eat things like eggs and meat, she constantly substitutes with foods like French fries, avo on toast, and other foods that are very high in calories and not necessarily healthy. Needless to say she has gained weight since becoming vegan because weight loss is about calories and nothing more. Go vegan if you want but just be mindful that it's not a miracle detox.7
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@ApeDog39 congrats on choosing to be a fellow veggie! I'm not big on labeling because people tend to get their panties all bunched up. I eat a whole food plant based diet. No meat, no dairy and no processed vegan crap. Message me or send a friend request if you'd like to chat more. I'd be happy to help you. It is super easy to fall into the unhealthy vegetarian/vegan trap with all the products that are out there. I'll have some sometimes, but it is not a staple in my meals (I love MSF vegan chicken patties and can eat the whole box 🤷♀️ so I don't buy them often). Best of luck on your journey!0
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frenchiesgiirl wrote: »@ApeDog39 congrats on choosing to be a fellow veggie! I'm not big on labeling because people tend to get their panties all bunched up. I eat a whole food plant based diet. No meat, no dairy and no processed vegan crap. Message me or send a friend request if you'd like to chat more. I'd be happy to help you. It is super easy to fall into the unhealthy vegetarian/vegan trap with all the products that are out there. I'll have some sometimes, but it is not a staple in my meals (I love MSF vegan chicken patties and can eat the whole box 🤷♀️ so I don't buy them often). Best of luck on your journey!
Honestly, I'm not such a fan of looking at what people choose to eat and call it "crap." That's the kind of labeling I prefer to avoid, "vegan" I can totally live with.3 -
Okay first, vegan isn’t something you do for a detox, I think you mean your going plant based for a month. Second you don’t need to detox there’s no such thing, do you mean you just want to start eating healthier? Also avocado is more of a fat source, things with protein are tofu, Seitan, tempeh, nuts, edamame, lentils, chickpea, beans, hemp and chai, quinoa, oats, rice, all kinds of veggies etc. I wouldn’t worry about trying to eat a bunch of protein, your most likely eating enough. It’s a common myth that vegans are protein deficient... In most cases vegans eat more protein then a non vegan because we are more aware of what we’re eating and healthier. It’s super easy to rack up calories as a vegan. Add things like chai and hemp to your breakfasts, tofu to your veggie bowls, peanut butter etc. To be honest I’ve been vegan for 7 years and before that I found it easier to eat low calorie but the food wasn’t as nutritious.3
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Veganvibesss wrote: »In most cases vegans eat more protein then a non vegan because we are more aware of what we’re eating and healthier.
I think it's totally possible to get plenty of protein on a vegan or plant-based diet, but I think the above about protein is extremely unlikely.
As for "more aware of what we're eating and healthier," varies depending on the vegan (and the non vegan).3 -
Veganvibesss wrote: »Okay first, vegan isn’t something you do for a detox, I think you mean your going plant based for a month. Second you don’t need to detox there’s no such thing, do you mean you just want to start eating healthier? Also avocado is more of a fat source, things with protein are tofu, Seitan, tempeh, nuts, edamame, lentils, chickpea, beans, hemp and chai, quinoa, oats, rice, all kinds of veggies etc. I wouldn’t worry about trying to eat a bunch of protein, your most likely eating enough. It’s a common myth that vegans are protein deficient... In most cases vegans eat more protein then a non vegan because we are more aware of what we’re eating and healthier. It’s super easy to rack up calories as a vegan. Add things like chai and hemp to your breakfasts, tofu to your veggie bowls, peanut butter etc. To be honest I’ve been vegan for 7 years and before that I found it easier to eat low calorie but the food wasn’t as nutritious.
I think you mean "chia," "chai" is tea.
Do you have a source for the claim that vegans eat more protein that non-vegans do? I certainly think it's possible for us to get enough protein, but I'm not aware of any research showing that we get *more*, as a population, than non-vegans do.4 -
Veganvibesss wrote: »...In most cases vegans eat more protein then a non vegan because we are more aware of what we’re eating and healthier...
@Veganvibesss I would also like to see a source for this. My vegan friends have to work at getting sufficient protein. It's certainly doable, but more work than for people who are eating slabs of meat.0 -
I learnt that from “science vs” on their podcast on vegans. They were looking at statistics in different regions and vegans vs non vegans and found that they ate more protein and said it was probably because most vegans are health conscious and plan and know a lot about what they’re eating and they’re nutritional needs!2
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