Has anyone lost weight from becoming vegetarian/vegan?

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24

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  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,554 Member
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    I have been vegetarian in the past, though not now.
    In my opinion you can eat well or badly, you can lose or put on weight whether you are eating meat or not.
    So, if you don't want to eat meat, don't - but it doesn't automatically mean that you will be healthier or lose weight, you have to work at it either way.

    On the negative side:
    I think a lot of the veggie meat substitutes are over processed and not a great choice, so if you are planning to swap a piece of steak for a processed veggie sausage, forget about being healthy.
    And eating out is tricky - in my experience you will be eating a lot of vegetarian lasagna (laden with cheese and calories) or plain salads.

    On the positive side:
    There are so many great meals that don't involve meat - look at Indian recipes for example, some of them are high in cals but you can tweak them to makethem healthier.
    Veggies and beans and lentils are cheap and very good for you.
  • kaylagaston1390
    kaylagaston1390 Posts: 21 Member
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    I realize this is an old post, but it still comes up on search so I will still add my experience for any others looking for more answers. I have been a new vegetarian now for about a month. I did NOT do it to lose weight, I did it for the sake of not supporting the way animals are treated in the horrific way they are in the factory farming industry. I also had digestive issues, and since giving up eating meat I have been a regular go-er without any issues at all. So, that being said I am no longer bloated or retaining water like I was before. Also, I've done the tracking calories while eating meat and yes I lost weight but it came off so fast I knew I was losing mostly water. It came back on instantly when I got a bit off track. But what I've noticed after giving up eating meat, I've had a curb in my appetite. I actually no longer want any processed food. Mind you, I don't eat completely clean but it's really hard to stomach anything not fresh. Also, weight is coming off but differently then just the caloric restriction. I can actually see my body composition changing. I am not looking skinny fat as much as with calorie counting, and the weight is coming off on the scale SLOWER, about 1.5 lbs a week compared to the 3 lbs a week while eating meat on a calorie counting diet. But what this means for me is I'm actually losing fat this time instead of water. Mind you, I also make sure I get my protein through shakes so I have maintained my muscle mass. I don't really bother counting calories anymore, because like I said my appetite has changed drastically and I'm no longer eating the greased up calorie bombs. I actually just have to keep an estimate of how much I'm eating per day to make sure I'm getting enough.
  • emilyrice1
    emilyrice1 Posts: 4
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    as a vegetarian I find myself eating TONS of dairy and carbs (because what else is there to eat really? especially at restaurants!) I am a vegetarian because I don't like meat, not because it's better for dieting (I am actually jealous when people talk about their meals of lean proteins like chicken or fish)
  • sakuya3834
    sakuya3834 Posts: 116 Member
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    I am vegan. When I first became vegan I lost 20 lbs, but then as I learned more and more about what was vegan, that didn't last. There are tons of vegan junk foods (and "accidentally" vegan junk foods!). I also know someone who is over 300 lbs and has been vegan for many years. It definitely does not mean you will automatically lose weight. You have to make the right food choices.
  • brittaney0625
    brittaney0625 Posts: 268 Member
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    http://saymythings.weebly.com/my-weight-loss-story.html


    A friend of mine did.
  • caracrawford1
    caracrawford1 Posts: 657 Member
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    Considering it.....just curious. I really want to be as healthy as I can be, although I know that everyone has a different opinion on what is 'healthy' though.
    I nearly spit up my coffee laughing. The answer is NO. Yes, vegetarianism can be healthy. I've been vegetarian for 16 years ( I'm 36). But you can still eat all these things and be vegetarian:
    Stuffed crust cheese pizza
    Donuts
    Ice cream
    Fried dough
    Lasagne
    Twinkies
    Chocolate bars...
    Become vegetarian because you want to for certain principles, not for weight loss.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
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    Considering it.....just curious. I really want to be as healthy as I can be, although I know that everyone has a different opinion on what is 'healthy' though.
    I nearly spit up my coffee laughing. The answer is NO. Yes, vegetarianism can be healthy. I've been vegetarian for 16 years ( I'm 36). But you can still eat all these things and be vegetarian:
    Stuffed crust cheese pizza
    Donuts
    Ice cream
    Fried dough
    Lasagne
    Twinkies
    Chocolate bars...
    Become vegetarian because you want to for certain principles, not for weight loss.

    See bolded for emphasis. There are fat vegetarians. In fact there are 2 of them in my profile picture.

    Becoming vegetarian/vegan =/= weight loss.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
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    I actually gained a bit of weight after becoming vegan.
    Peanut butter is killing me haha

    You should become vegetarian/vegan for moral reasons, animal rights, environmentalism, etc, NOT for vanity :)
  • Janette3x4
    Janette3x4 Posts: 135
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    When I first went completely plant based, I lost 12 punds. Then I discovered the "accidentally vegan" list on the net put out by Peta, and also started eating vegan quick meals, "meats" and soy products.
    So the weight came back on.
    I am a vegetarian now, and eat limited eggs and yogurts.
    It truly is CICO.
    But Vegan/Plant Based can be really helathy!
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
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    Both of my grandmothers were vegetarians for about 40-50 years. They were both slim too. Weighed probably no more than 130 pounds. But they ate a healthier vegetarian diet...whole foods, nuts, tofu/soybeans, almond milk.

    One of the friends I've known for about 16 years is a vegetarian, but she weighs about 190 pounds at 5'4", so no for her being vegetarian hasn't resulted in significant weight loss. She is active. She exercises regularly at the gym, but she's always had a problem with her weight. I don't think she became a vegetarian for weight loss. I think it was more an animal rights issue for her. It's possible though to be a vegetarian and not see any substantial loss in weight.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
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    I was a thin Vegetarian, then thin Vegan then a Fat (333 pounds) Vegan now a reduced Vegan

    So yes I've lost weight being a Vegan I also though have put on a lot of weight while being a Vegan. There is no miracle weightloss diet it's just eating less moving more whatever your preferred diet and food choices
  • daychasingnight
    daychasingnight Posts: 11 Member
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    I made the switch from vegetarian to vegan at the same timeish as I decided to become healthy; although it wasn't the trigger, it was simply for the ethical side.

    Don't become a vegan unless you are fully commited to it, otherwise I promise you, it won't last. It's not easy (I'm sure it gets easier with time). When I tell people I'm a vegan, they seem to not believe me because I'm fat :laugh: It's crazy that there's a stigma behind vegans being skinny, there's so much bad food out there that's surprisingly vegan!

    I find it easier though, as all of my favourite junk food isn't vegan, and I find it easier to stay away from them knowing that. I'm loading up on veggies/fruit mostly at the moment and have to push myself to reach about 1,200-1,300 calories a day.

    I'm sure you could have just as much success losing weight eating or not eating meat. It's all about how dedicated and motivated you are at the end of the day. :smile:
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
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    It's not a diet for weightloss. Most people that are veg are for moral reasons or they just don't like meat
  • elsinora
    elsinora Posts: 398 Member
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    Some of the unhealthiest people I've known are vegetarian. But then some of the healthiest too. Being a veggie won't automatically make you healthier, you still have to monitor and make the right choices. Being vegan does though help you lose weight - but only because it's so restrictive that you're forced out of eating most things. Plus it is more laborious making different meals daily for yourself on it. Also imagine going out and having to find a vegan option on the menu? It would probably be very limited if it's not a specialised restaurant.

    Again it doesn't make you "more healthy" at all.

    I train 6 times a week and eat a wide range of everything and love my protein through, poultry, fish, seafood etc

    If your choice to be a veggie isn't for moral purposes then really think whether you really want go down that path.
  • greengoddess0123
    greengoddess0123 Posts: 417 Member
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    I sure didn't lose weight in my 12 years of being vegetarian. I averaged about 200 pounds during that time. I wasn't even eating "junk" food. Lots of organic fruits and veggies, beans and nuts, and of course, all the baked goods I could stuff in my big face hole.

    You can go vegetarian and have an amazingly healthy diet, but the only way you will lose weight doing that is to make sure you're eating less than you burn off.

    :smile:
  • elsinora
    elsinora Posts: 398 Member
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    I sure didn't lose weight in my 12 years of being vegetarian. I averaged about 200 pounds during that time. I wasn't even eating "junk" food. Lots of organic fruits and veggies, beans and nuts, and of course, all the baked goods I could stuff in my big face hole.

    You can go vegetarian and have an amazingly healthy diet, but the only way you will lose weight doing that is to make sure you're eating less than you burn off.

    :smile:

    This!
  • littlekitty3
    littlekitty3 Posts: 265 Member
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    Vegetarian/vegan doesn't always mean healthier.
    Reasons you may gain weight:
    - too much processed food. (Frozen TV dinners and refined pasta for example)
    - Still eating junk food.
    - too much fat

    Reasons you have lost weight:
    - Less sodium
    - overall eating less calories due to less calorie dense food
    - eating more "clean"/"paleo"/whatever the heck people want to call it....just more real food

    My personal experience in a short nutshell from being vegetarian for 11 years, going bak to meat for 1 year, and now vegan:
    I lost weight at first and then gained weight (I was on meds that made you gain an extra 10-20 lbs anyways, but I ate like crap). I continued to lose weight again in college and knocked a lot of time off my running times (competed D1 track/XC, kind of a big deal when that happens). I was eating way less processed food and more whole foods and way more fruit and low in fat and protein (or what the diet industry/Americans think is low protein). I moved back home and started eating like crap again because that was all I could afford, and yes I gained weight. I went back to eating chicken and beef here and there and within a year I started having digestion all issues like crazy, horrible PMS issues, allergies got real bad, facial breakouts to the point where my face got puffy, and I slowly started gaining weight, just to name a few. All these symptoms were actually what people considered normal everyday life. How the hell is this normal? So I went vegan. I eat a ton of fruit and veg now. I also eat twice the amount of food (calorie wise) that I used to eat and I feel fantastic. The weight is slowly coming off (I lost two inches in my butt....I mean for me that's something because I wear way too many jeans).
    So what I am getting at is whole foods is going to be way better than processed garden burgers and premade seitan (you can actually make this yourself).
  • rbiss
    rbiss Posts: 422 Member
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    Well yes/no. I went veg back in 2006 and got into triathlon. I was eating healthy and working out and I lost about 60 lbs. Then I stopped doing triathlons and became junk food veg (I call it a carbatarian). This caused me to gain back the 60 plus another 30ish. It's very very easy for it to go in the other direction. Now, I do not eat animals for ethical reasons and I will never go back, but being a healthy veg is hard if you don't plan properly. A lot of fast food is unhealthy and carb/sugar based. It's a great lifestyle and I would recommend it but if your primary goal is to loose weight it might not be the best strategy.
  • chloeealicee
    chloeealicee Posts: 204 Member
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    I was vegetarian for 2 years due to my moral beliefs but my health was poor. I felt drained all the time, i just had absolutely no energy from start to finish. My body just wasn't made for life without meat. I only ever eaten chicken/turkey breast and fish anyway so i think that's a hell of a lot healthier than how i was before.
    I would say to be serious about becoming vegan or veggie you'll need stronger a motive than just weight loss because you can eat all the great meats in the world and still lose more weight than on a vegan diet imo.

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