pescetarianism

KingNitty

I've been seriously considering becoming a pescetarian( vegatarian who eats seafood) has anyone else fone this successfully?

spud_chick

Depends on what you mean by 'success' Are you a vegetarian now looking to boost nutrition, or an omnivore/meat lover who wants to try this as a healthy lifestyle approach?

KingNitty

Trying to have a healthier lifestyle

Victory_or_Death

Hi,

Yes.... Many people do it like that.

....check out our group "Pescetarians" under the "Groups" tab. :drinker:

socajam

I've been seriously considering becoming a pescetarian( vegatarian who eats seafood) has anyone else fone this successfully?

I have been doing this for over 25 years. I only eat wild salmon, salt water fish, no fresh water fish, crabs, lobster etc. Giving meat and chicken was easy, sugar was really hard, but I have conquered that now.

bubblygoldfish

My mom did this, and she still is doing it. She easily lost 20 lbs without too much exercise. Fyi: She was only 30lbs overweight, 55yrs old, and 5'3..... She focused on eating healthier, and to her that was fish and she included in that eggs and chicken. No red meats. Hope it helps. I'm super proud of how she changed herself and she seems so much happier too!

KingNitty

Thanks everyone

aliciap412

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

snazzyjazzy21

I don't believe it's any 'healthier' than other diet areas but if it'll help you make healthier food choices than by all means, go right ahead.

Victory_or_Death

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

:laugh:

happyhiker83

I am pescetarian and eat fish about 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time, I eat vegetarian. I stick to fish that are sustainable and low in mercury. My cholesterol levels are excellent. If you have problems with cholesterol, then this is the way to go.

On the other hand, I don't credit my good cholesterol just to being pescetarian. I also cook most of my meals at home, eat lots of fresh veggies and fruits, limit sweets and junk food, and am very physically active. It is definitely possible to be an unhealthy pescetarian or vegetarian.

In moderation, though, red meat can be part of a healthy diet. If you don't have any ethical reasons to give up red meat, why not just cut back your intake to 1-2 servings per week and eat more fish? I think you would see the same benefits without feeling deprived.

darkguardian419

Vegetarian doesn't instantly mean healthy.

There are plenty of "junk-food vegetarians".

Many people lose weight by going this route because they are unintentionally creating a calorie deficit by restricting some of the foods they used to eat a lot of.

I'd rather just eat a little less steak, than no steak at all.

ardisia32

I've been a pescetarian for 13 years now. It's not difficult, but I don't eat fish every day, so have to watch for a balance with other protein sources (e.g. tofu, quinoa, nuts, etc). Balance is the key no matter what you choose to eat or not eat. I was a fat pescetarian for most of those 13 years (and a fat omnivore/meat eater before that). I didn't lose weight until I started to eat less (with MFP's help) and do more (with Fitbit's help).

rml_16

A pescatarian is not a vegetarian. It is a pescatarian. Vegetarians do not eat any animal flesh. Period. End of story.

As far as this being healthier, it isn't necessarily. There is nothing inherently unhealthy about eating beef, poultry and pork so long as they're part of a balanced, otherwise-healthy (overall) diet. You can be pescatarian, vegetarian or vegan and eat an unhealthy diet or a healthy diet.

If you're doing this only for health, I wouldn't bother.

escloflowneCHANGED

Vegetarian doesn't instantly mean healthy.

There are plenty of "junk-food vegetarians".

Many people lose weight by going this route because they are unintentionally creating a calorie deficit by restricting some of the foods they used to eat a lot of.

I'd rather just eat a little less steak, than no steak at all.

I must have missed the memo that said meat is bad for you!

aliciap412

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

:laugh:

yeah, I laugh about it too. it seemed like a great idea at the time.

aliciap412

I do think it is possible to be pescetarian and healthy. but as we (should) know, diet is not a one size fits all thing, so it is not for everyone. if you can get ample protein after cutting out animal protein and subsisting on fish and legumes, then by all means, try it and see how you feel. But this diet, just like every other diet in existence, is not for everyone.

jackielou867

Yes I gave up meat on new years day this year. For moral not health reasons. Just after that I started with Mfp again, and my diet has become better overall as the months have passed.. I did not substitute for meat for a while, but now use tofu a lot as I was not always hitting my daily protein requirement ( I don't eat fish every meal) also I have started weight training as well so I have a stock of protein bars for after a workout. I do not miss meat at all. But be aware, I had a blood test recently and was I little anemic despite eating a lot of iron rich foods. I had a course of iron tabs, and now take them a couple of times a week. Will get a retest shortly to see how I am going.

rml_16

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

:laugh:

yeah, I laugh about it too. it seemed like a great idea at the time.

You must have been doing it wrong. There are plenty of very healthy people who eat that diet. Adding or removing meat on its own doesn't cause health problems or weight gain unless you've replaced meat with something high in calories and haven't made up for the protein and B12, among other things.

I gave up all animal flesh five years ago and I'm perfectly healthy and it hasn't made a difference one way or the other in my weight.

Mslmesq

I am pescetarian and eat fish about 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time, I eat vegetarian. I stick to fish that are sustainable and low in mercury. My cholesterol levels are excellent. If you have problems with cholesterol, then this is the way to go.

On the other hand, I don't credit my good cholesterol just to being pescetarian. I also cook most of my meals at home, eat lots of fresh veggies and fruits, limit sweets and junk food, and am very physically active. It is definitely possible to be an unhealthy pescetarian or vegetarian.

^ this.

And this: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx

seltzermint555

I have eaten pescetarian (vegetarian but also including seafood, eggs, and some dairy) since Thanksgiving 2012.

For me it was not a drastic switch at ALL because I normally just ate chicken once or twice a week and beef once or twice a month.

I didn't lose weight from this alone. There was no change in the scale from Nov-Mar. In March I started MFP and that's when I started to lose lb.

Health-wise I see absolutely no changes. I don't feel any different. I am getting plenty of protein from other sources. Sorry this is not very exciting lol

futuresize8

I've been a pescetarian for 21 years. I don't know that it's "healthier," but for many reasons, I am happy with my choice. Clearly, a person can still be overweight as a pescetarian - me! - so I don't think it's a "magic bullet" for health. But do I suppose that lean fish as an entree is a better choice than a fatty piece of meat? Probably...

seltzermint555

Just wanted to say I agree w/ those saying this is not an automatic path to weight loss or even health. My fiance has been pescetarian for 13 years and had an unhealthy diet for about 4-5 of those years. Basically he ate salad and bagels and donuts when he was in college, and nothing else. Not a good idea.

We do have a friend who gave up beef, poultry & pork for 1 year and lost around 60 lb from that alone. However, this guy was a big meat eater before...the type of guy to regularly hit up Buffalo Wild Wings and steakhouses.

LovelyVegetarian

I've been a pescatarian for 20 years now. I just don't like meat that isn't fish. No other reasons - it's a texture thing with me (for example I can't eat very meaty fish like sword fish or mahi mahi). One of my main sources of protein is sardines. I know people think they are gross but they are low carb, high protein and low mercury (and deeelish IMHO). I limit the tofu stuff due to the estrogen and the processed nature of these meat substitutes. I eat cheese and eggs.

I am very healthy and a few lbs away from my goal. It's easy to be pescatarian and overweight as most non-meat dishes are often carb-centric (the vegetarian meal is almost always pasta or involves bread of some sort).

billsica

I was a vegetarian for 15 years. then a pescetarian for 5 years. I turned omnivorian this past year.

I didn't become one for heath reasons. I did get fat being a vegetarian, and pescetarian didn't change that. Although eating fish gives you more options at restaurants. Personally I think cutting out something like that to get healthy maybe the wrong way of looking at it. Eating good food that is in your macros might be a better way to go. I can eat a TON of pizza and Filet-O-Fish. Not that those are things to restrict, just that I have no moderation on them.

Flixie00

I've been a pescatarian for 20 years now. I just don't like meat that isn't fish. No other reasons - it's a texture thing with me (for example I can't eat very meaty fish like sword fish or mahi mahi). One of my main sources of protein is sardines. I know people think they are gross but they are low carb, high protein and low mercury (and deeelish IMHO). I limit the tofu stuff due to the estrogen and the processed nature of these meat substitutes. I eat cheese and eggs.

I am very healthy and a few lbs away from my goal. It's easy to be pescatarian and overweight as most non-meat dishes are often carb-centric (the vegetarian meal is almost always pasta or involves bread of some sort).

Snap! another 20 year pescatarian here. Made the choice partly due to the fact that I used to go fishing and was not a big fan of meat. I lift weights, so am always trying to eat high protein levels, and I get most of it from fish and dairy.

aliciap412

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

:laugh:

yeah, I laugh about it too. it seemed like a great idea at the time.

You must have been doing it wrong. There are plenty of very healthy people who eat that diet. Adding or removing meat on its own doesn't cause health problems or weight gain unless you've replaced meat with something high in calories and haven't made up for the protein and B12, among other things.

I gave up all animal flesh five years ago and I'm perfectly healthy and it hasn't made a difference one way or the other in my weight.

I did it correctly. I worked with a nutritionist and my doctor. my balance was 60% fruits and veggies and about 40% protein sources - like nuts, beans, fish. I was lifting 2 days a week and doing cardio 3 days a week. I burned more than I consumed and always had a calorie deficit.

I am sure that you and many other pescetarians are very healthy. Diet is not a one size fits all thing. Anyone who tells you otherwise is fooling you.

The OP wanted honest answers from people who had tried and tested this diet and I am one of them. I'm sorry if my opinion offends those who are successful with this diet.

geebusuk

I do fine health wise on a similar diet.

It's just that I don't eat any sea kittens at all! (http://features.peta.org/PETASeaKittens/) instead I only land-fish.

:P

(I'll often annoy people that claim that they are but eat fish by pointing out I'm vegetarain too because I don't eat fish - infact, generally only eat about 5 animals (most of the time just three), which is a tiny proportion of the number out there!)

Only real health benefit may be it's harder to eat lots of fat, so you can make it easier to eat less calories?
It's not what I'd focus on if I wanted to be healthier - generally to me it seems the best bet is to get plenty of exercise as a start, so your body works better generally.

rml_16

it's harder to eat lots of fat

Nuts, peanut butter, avocados, cheese ...

I'm way over my fat "limit" by lunchtime every day and I eat no animals at all. I don't really worry about fat in general, but since I follow the old Weight Watchers system, I need to know fat grams to figure the points. I'm always in the red.

Fat, though, does not make you fat,

thisismeraw

Trying to have a healthier lifestyle

It's not always a healthier lifestyle. You can be a very unhealthy meat eat, pescetarian, vegan or vegetarian... you can also be very healthy with any diet.

Mslmesq

I tried this for about 2 years. I gained about 60 lbs and developed a few major health problems. I've since lost the weight and reversed/lessened those health problems by adding meat back into my diet.

:laugh:

yeah, I laugh about it too. it seemed like a great idea at the time.

You must have been doing it wrong. There are plenty of very healthy people who eat that diet. Adding or removing meat on its own doesn't cause health problems or weight gain unless you've replaced meat with something high in calories and haven't made up for the protein and B12, among other things.

I gave up all animal flesh five years ago and I'm perfectly healthy and it hasn't made a difference one way or the other in my weight.

I did it correctly. I worked with a nutritionist and my doctor. my balance was 60% fruits and veggies and about 40% protein sources - like nuts, beans, fish. I was lifting 2 days a week and doing cardio 3 days a week. I burned more than I consumed and always had a calorie deficit.

I am sure that you and many other pescetarians are very healthy. Diet is not a one size fits all thing. Anyone who tells you otherwise is fooling you.

The OP wanted honest answers from people who had tried and tested this diet and I am one of them. I'm sorry if my opinion offends those who are successful with this diet.

But you didn't respond to the vitamin b12 issue. Were you taking supps? Cause that is a huge issue many people don't know about. I am almost pescatarian and after a few months started feeling really tired and drained and not well. I insisted on a blood test and was very low in b12 and d vitamins. I later found out how common it is for this to happen when you are not eating enough meat. (b12 issue). Wish someone would have told me. I can at least happily say the problem was quickly corrected withb12 supps and sun exposure.