Mystery of the fat vegan

_VoV
_VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
edited December 26 in Food and Nutrition
Finally.

Someone has written a blog to express how someone can be a fat vegan. I am a fat vegan, so I get to say that in bold terms. Somehow, people doubt you are 'really vegan' if you are fat. But, anyone can overeat. Anyone can be tortured with emotional eating.

Here's a link to the blog that explains all this so well:

http://healthygirlskitchen.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-im-at-with-plant-based-diet-good.html
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Replies

  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member
    I'm a vegetarian and I have to admit I've always wondered how someone can be a fat vegan. lol My fat comes from cheesey pasta sauces, butter on everything, and desserts which are all made with dairy products. Every vegan I've met is rail thin.

    I know a vegetarian can get fat if they are eating pasta all day long, with no protein you have to eat a ton. But I figure a vegan is the smartest one of the bunch because she has to carefully plan out all nutrients. I would assume part of the mindset of being a vegan is cooking nutritious meals for yourself because you can't buy ready foods easily, that they wouldn't be filling up on vegan granola bars and chips. In restaurants a vegan can only order salad so I figure eating out isn't the issue. Maybe it's hard to stay full as a vegan without carefully calculating your protein intake.

    I do follow a vegan recipe blog and some of the recipes do seem so high in calories but the author is rail thin. Although she did admit she used to have an eating disorder so maybe she doesn't eat the recipes she makes?
  • twoboysnmygirl
    twoboysnmygirl Posts: 161 Member
    I can one better! I was a fat RAW VEGAN! I know people would look at me strange and not believe that I was overweight when all I ate was salad, fruit, and nuts. That's right...fat on salad. It can be done. I test logged in what I was eating on my salad's (gobs of tahini dressing and avocado's) and overindulging on spoonful after spoonful of PB and I was eating close to 3000 a day just eating 3-4 salads, nuts, and some PB!

    I'm no longer eating raw, I'm mostly vegan, but tracking my calories and losing when eating more variety of foods than I was before...because of the calorie content. It is possible to be an overweight vegan, for sure!
  • cathomer
    cathomer Posts: 88
    Fat raw vegan??????? I understand how you can be a fat vegan, very easily, but no idea if you're eating raw lol.
    There are plenty of good vegan cakes out there, plus you can still eat chips, dark chocolate, bread, vegan cream, vegan ice cream, oil, vegan cheese, pastry. I don't know how it could confuse anyone.
  • twoboysnmygirl
    twoboysnmygirl Posts: 161 Member
    Fat raw vegan??????? I understand how you can be a fat vegan, very easily, but no idea if you're eating raw lol.
    There are plenty of good vegan cakes out there, plus you can still eat chips, dark chocolate, bread, vegan cream, vegan ice cream, oil, vegan cheese, pastry. I don't know how it could confuse anyone.

    yep! I'm proof. It's still about calories, and I was eating upwards of 13 TBSP of tahini, 3 avocado's, and nuts & PB enough to get those calories up pretty high. I actually used to whine and complain that I couldn't lose even being a raw vegan and everyone else could eat what they wanted. Unique-snowflake-syndrome! :laugh: Nope, just too many calories. I'm eating 1600 now, I have vegan burgers/sausage, salad, yogurt, and even some low calorie snack food and I'm losing. I was a raw vegan for the past 5 years and actually gained weight in the last 2 years b/c of my calories.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    Some vegans are motivated by issues other than personal health--animal welfare and the environment to name a couple. So, I would never assume such vegans naturally eat well. But the kicker for me is this: I'm an ethical vegan who is trying to eat healthfully, but I can still overeat, and succumb to nighttime eating when I don't want to. Eating vegan hasn't magically eliminated this tendency to turn to food when I'm stressed, bored, etc.
  • GypsyGal97
    GypsyGal97 Posts: 2
    I'm an ethical vegan. One word
    PASTA. :laugh:
    I think eating when stressed and bored has nothing to do with being vegan (unless you're really deficient in something). For me it's just a matter of chewing everything really well and enjoying it. I used to think about food all the time and that's not good. That's my problem. I gained 5 pounds by doing that because I had (and still have to some degree) an anxieties about food. The truth is that if I wasn't a vegan I would have definitely gained more than 5.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    I'm an ethical vegan. One word
    PASTA. :laugh:
    I think eating when stressed and bored has nothing to do with being vegan (unless you're really deficient in something). For me it's just a matter of chewing everything really well and enjoying it. I used to think about food all the time and that's not good. That's my problem. I gained 5 pounds by doing that because I had (and still have to some degree) an anxieties about food. The truth is that if I wasn't a vegan I would have definitely gained more than 5.

    I agree. Being vegan and being an emotional eater are two different issues. And I agree---pasta can definitely not be your friend as a vegan who wants to lose weight.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Going overboard as a calorie surplus will do that regardless of which manner of eating you follow. And considering that many plant-based foods are nutrient dense with a lot of calories, it can be pretty easy to gain weight quickly if you do not monitor and assess yourself on a regular basis.
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member
    I can one better! I was a fat RAW VEGAN! I know people would look at me strange and not believe that I was overweight when all I ate was salad, fruit, and nuts. That's right...fat on salad. It can be done. I test logged in what I was eating on my salad's (gobs of tahini dressing and avocado's) and overindulging on spoonful after spoonful of PB and I was eating close to 3000 a day just eating 3-4 salads, nuts, and some PB!

    I'm no longer eating raw, I'm mostly vegan, but tracking my calories and losing when eating more variety of foods than I was before...because of the calorie content. It is possible to be an overweight vegan, for sure!

    Oh wow, well I believe you! lol
  • DeterminedRealist
    DeterminedRealist Posts: 21 Member
    Two unrelated friends of mine had been vegetarian all of their adult lives, one was plump and the other was of normal body weight. The only difference that I could see between them was portion control. Alas the thinner gal passed away from colon cancer. I puzzled over this for quite some time until I realized it was that she was not eating more veggies than anything else, she was eating cheese and pasta, and other highly processed foods including sugar. Only recently have I learned that these choices can be hazardous to one's health. Three of her siblings also passed away from cancer at young ages. How painful for her parents (also my friends).

    The key to healthy vegetarian/vegan-ism seems to be the plant based WHOLE foods, unprocessed is best. Portion control is also very important. Just because it is a fruit (natural sugar) or a vegetable is not a license to over-fuel your body. These marvelously resilient bodies weren't designed to handle all that we throw inside them.

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that. Whole grains, 100% whole grains (only about 1/2 cup a DAY), and fresh whole veggies (read this as GREEN, purple, yellow and red) non-starchy veggies at that make up the bulk of my food pyramid. No processed sugar or flour period is my ultimate. Counting my calories and nutrients will be part of my life for EVER. Yes, I am passionate about the details.

    The rules are the same if you call yourself vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivore; watch your portions and food values hydrate properly and MOVE your body daily!
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I don't have an opinion on this other than this sounds like a good title for a documentary.

    That and you can get fat by overeating calories regardless of your nutritional philosophies.
  • saracakessaracakes
    saracakessaracakes Posts: 4
    I'm vegan and can understand how it would be possible to gain weight even on such a healthy diet as this.

    Crisps are my vice! Also, avocados are high in calories and I didn't know this before logging on Myfitnesspal.

    Saying that though, it is still pretty rare to see a fat vegan - you'd have to try hard to eat lots of junk! ;)
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    Umm....please don't call yourself a vegan.
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member
    Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman Vegetarian Diet

    http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-famous/anne-hathaway’s-catwoman-diet
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    Umm....please don't call yourself a vegan.

    I say: Vive la Vegan-ish!!

    We live in an imperfect world, and we are all human. Being 'vegan at heart' even if you aren't hardcore vegan still makes a huge difference in so many ways. We need to back away from any illusions of perfectionism.

    Here's a GREAT read on the subject:

    http://www.carpevegan.com/?p=1923
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    Umm....please don't call yourself a vegan.
    Tell that to every vegan who uses agave syrup then since it contains more concentrated fructose than HFCS.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I could totally be a fat vegan, if I could eat peanuts. Peanut butter is the most fattening food on the planet. As it is, I would be a miserable vegan, because I just love cheese too much. I try to source it as ethically as I can, though, and only buy eggs from people I know.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    Umm....please don't call yourself a vegan.
    Tell that to every vegan who uses agave syrup then since it contains more concentrated fructose than HFCS.

    What does agave syrup have to do with killing animals?
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member

    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    Umm....please don't call yourself a vegan.
    Tell that to every vegan who uses agave syrup then since it contains more concentrated fructose than HFCS.

    What does agave syrup have to do with killing animals?


    Thanks for asking that. I was thinking the same thing. What is your understanding of veganism, geekyjock76?
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    What does agave syrup have to do with killing animals?
    Nothing. Its just some of my vegan friends state they only wish to eat foods that naturally occur in nature yet they splurge on agave or other products that have concentrated fructose :smile:
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    I could totally be a fat vegan, if I could eat peanuts. Peanut butter is the most fattening food on the planet. As it is, I would be a miserable vegan, because I just love cheese too much. I try to source it as ethically as I can, though, and only buy eggs from people I know.

    Cheese is the thing that makes me veganish, and not hardcore vegan. I'm awaiting a new book from Amazon.com called 'Artisan Vegan Cheese.' Some require months of aging, but I'm definitely trying them.
  • amanda_ataraxia
    amanda_ataraxia Posts: 400 Member
    I have also been a fat vegan for 8 years!
    Totally possible. I loved carbs and sweets. Simple as that.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    I am a newly vegan and making some adjustments by adding egg whites and possibly fish. If that makes me no longer vegan, so be it. I can live with that.

    good call.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    What does agave syrup have to do with killing animals?
    Nothing. Its just some of my vegan friends state they only wish to eat foods that naturally occur in nature yet they splurge on agave or other products that have concentrated fructose :smile:

    Okay. I got it now. But, their sweetening choice isn't so much about being vegan, is it? I know some vegans avoid granulated refined sugar because they don't know if it's beet or cane sugar. Cane sugar *can* be processed through bone char, which is objectionable to some vegans. Beet sugar is fine, but the source of sugar--beet or cane--is rarely stated on labels.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Okay. I got it now. But, their sweetening choice isn't so much about being vegan, is it? I know some vegans avoid granulated refined sugar because they don't know if it's beet or cane sugar. Cane sugar *can* be processed through bone char, which is objectionable to some vegans. Beet sugar is fine, but the source of sugar--beet or cane--is rarely stated on labels.
    I guess that's part of my point is that my definition for dietary preferences is more flexible than most. You'll have hardcore groups everywhere who are "purists" and will state a person isn't an actual X (insert dietary preference) if they partake in certain foods. Some of my vegan friends have eggs now and then and still consider themselves vegan - I don't think its a simple black and white definition. If one is vegan 98% of the time, I'd still think of them as vegan.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    Okay. I got it now. But, their sweetening choice isn't so much about being vegan, is it? I know some vegans avoid granulated refined sugar because they don't know if it's beet or cane sugar. Cane sugar *can* be processed through bone char, which is objectionable to some vegans. Beet sugar is fine, but the source of sugar--beet or cane--is rarely stated on labels.
    I guess that's part of my point is that my definition for dietary preferences is more flexible than most. You'll have hardcore groups everywhere who are "purists" and will state a person isn't an actual X (insert dietary preference) if they partake in certain foods. Some of my vegan friends have eggs now and then and still consider themselves vegan - I don't think its a simple black and white definition. If one is vegan 98% of the time, I'd still think of them as vegan.

    That's my definition too. I think you can still be a 'insert political party', even if your personal ideas don't totally line up with the party line. Intent, and mostly living with respect to the ideal, counts for something. Ninety-eight percent vegan is pretty darn vegan!
  • Anna800
    Anna800 Posts: 639 Member

    I say: Vive la Vegan-ish!!

    We live in an imperfect world, and we are all human. Being 'vegan at heart' even if you aren't hardcore vegan still makes a huge difference in so many ways. We need to back away from any illusions of perfectionism.

    Here's a GREAT read on the subject:

    http://www.carpevegan.com/?p=1923

    An imperfect vegan or "veganish diet" is a vegetarian. It is a clear black and white definition - no animal products of any kind. If you want to eggs fine, but then you're a vegetarian. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Likewise you're either a virgin or you're not. But when you start eating meat, that's so far away from being a vegan, it confuses meat eaters whom you tell that you are a vegan. She's just someone that eats some meatless meals.
    Tell that to every vegan who uses agave syrup then since it contains more concentrated fructose than HFCS.

    There's different kinds of agave syrup, you should really educate yourself before you jump on the bandwagon of one sensentional research study.
  • AwesomelyAmber
    AwesomelyAmber Posts: 1,617 Member
    I'm a lover of all things food... BUT I really appreciate this post! I honestly would not have known some of these differences, nor would I have understood how a vegan could be overweight. Thank you! :flowerforyou:
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    There's different kinds of agave syrup, you should really educate yourself before you jump on the bandwagon of one sensentional research study.
    There are indeed but I haven't come across any brands that do not contain concentrated fructose when I check in to them. Do you know of any?
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    I think a lot of people forget that a) a lot of unhealthy foods are veg friendly. I believe oreos are vegan, but that doesn't mean it's okay to eat a whole pack. Also, there are so many processed meat substitutes that are less healthy than say, whole foods that we should be eating.
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