has anybody lost weight by cutting out meat?

Yes, I have lost by cutting out meat. I was eating according to macrobiotic principals, which recommends little to no meat, for a while. Eating according to their rules, I lost weight while I felt like I was overeating. No calorie counting or starving. In fact, I wasn't even eating that way to lose weight. It was a health thing. At that time I was the most fit I'd been in my adult life, except perhaps for now. But I was also exercising regularly, as that is part of the plan.

Honestly, the only problem I had was personal. I just don't have the personal dicipline to stick to any restrictive diet long term.

Are you doing it for weight loss reasons or general health reasons?

Cutting out meat (or anything, for that matter) isn't necessary to lose weight. Weight loss is about calorie deficit and has nothing to do with the "quality" of those calories.

Overall health is a completely different subject.

There's a difference between cutting out meat to lose weight and cutting out meat because of perceived health benefits. You won't lose weight just because you cut out meat. That's calories in/calories out and your body really doesn't care if you eat meat or lentils.

I cut out red meat in July of last year. Mostly, it was to give myself a challenge and something to focus on besides "losing weight". It gave me a small victory each day in order keep myself charged up. I agree with the earlier poster, that it comes down to calories. I think 100 calories of chicken and 100 calories of steak, are 100 calories.

I will warn you, it's challenging and costly.

I went vegetarian six years ago and did lose a little weight because of it. (I was maybe 10-15lbs overweight.) Still vegetarian: I have gained back a lot of the weight from a sedentary lifestyle, but my body's overall size has remained smaller. My two cents are: don't go vegetarian/vegan unless you are passionate about the lifestyle. There are better ways to lose weight than to cut out meat.

I lost weight before I cut out meat. Since I cut out meat in December 2012 I have stayed the same. For me personally it hasn't made any difference.

I was vegetarian for 2 years for "health" reasons but ended up discovering I had a gluten allergy so I ended up going back to a meat and veggie diet (I call it paleo!)...so I've actually lost weight and gained incredible health benefits from eating lots of meat (bacon! comes to bind) rather than being vegetarian.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/AggieCass09/view/shocking-the-numbers-dont-lie-vegetarian-to-paleo-comparison-423960

And I try my best to buy all natural, organic, humanly raised meats---its more pricey but you can pay the farmer now or the physicians later. IMO

I stopped eating meat four years ago for no reason other than the animal/ethics issue. Before going veg, I ate a lot of processed meat products, fast food and put bacon on pretty much anything that would sit still on a plate. After going vegetarian I still ate like crap – processed junk food, oreo's, potato chips, kraft dinner, etc. – that is to say, in no way adopting healthier eating habits or monitoring calories. I lost 30 pounds in the first year of being vegetarian. Whether that was because I wasn't eating meat or because I wasn't eating processed meats/fast foods there is simply no way to know. Kind of an ambiguous answer but that's my personal experience with vegetarianism/weight loss.

This is similar to me. However, I did not do it for ethical reasons, because...my dad is a butcher. So, I did it to be healthier. Found i was HUNGRY a lot. I was a veg for 6 years. I lost weight the first year, but found i was just replacing what calories i got with meat with garbage food. Any my cholestoral went up ect and I got to my HEAVIEST. So I eat meat again.

Please don't cut out a meal -- this really slows down your metabolism. It's okay to reduce meal sizes -- Metabolically speaking it is very important to give your body something every two hours to increase its rate. But if you eat a large meal, its okay to extend that time somewhat.

Really? Where did you get this fact?

I've been a pescetarian for 10 years now and have had mixed results.

At first I found it as a way to eat less at home with family without the guilt of "oh you need to finish your plate!" but then found myself binging on fast food (taco bell i order anything on the menu with beans instead of meat or grilled cheese and fries at in n out), pizza, mac n cheese, tuna melts, you know, stuff that is delicious and cheesy carb goodness, but little nutritional value.

After I put on about 7 pounds I freaked out and started exercising like crazy but didn't change my diet - and thus didn't lose any weight. Then another 10 before i actually started exercising and changing my diet. Then fell off that wagon and gained another 5.

Then I started researching food nutrition and got a membership at the gym across the street. This time I got it right. I lost 17 pounds (and gained a few back while traveling for work) but now try to incorporate fish at least once or twice a week, eggs almost every day, lots of spinach-based salads and quinoa salads. I roast a lot of veggies and eat baked potatoes, or quinoa, or soups on the sides of my meals. I still eat around maintenance on the weekends (under 2,100 calories) and 1,500 week days.

I make lunches on sunday or monday nights for the rest of the week and pack egg salad, tuna salad, spinach salads, hard boiled eggs, veggie sandwiches, homemade veggie soups, fruit, peanut butter, celery and carrots, light dressing, homemade kale chips.

Unfortunately, I'm also taking supplements for B vitamins and iron cos I feel better when I take my B's and I never hit my iron goal on MFP.

TL;DR: need to be extra careful not to carb load and need to find iron sources.

Please don't cut out a meal -- this really slows down your metabolism. It's okay to reduce meal sizes -- Metabolically speaking it is very important to give your body something every two hours to increase its rate. But if you eat a large meal, its okay to extend that time somewhat.

No.

Meal timing and meal frequency makes no difference whatsoever for weight loss. That myth has been debunked for years.

And she was asking about cutting MEAT. Not meals.

hi there i eat meat but like you going to leave it out my friend only eats fish and has lost a lot of weight x

Hi all, I hardly post here but im looking for some advice. Im considering of cutting out all kinds of meat (except fish), as I think all the meat sold in the supermarket is full of chemicals, unless you buy organic stuff which is 5 times the price. Has anyone tried this and has it had any advantages/disadvantages?
thanks

what will you eat in it's place that's chemical free?

calories in, calories out