Changing my diet. Want feedback.

I'd prefer non-negative feedback. haha

So, I have been vegan 8 years and NORMALLY that'd keep a person thinnish but I LOVE(D) my beers, a lot. haha So I am now at 5"6 160lbs, which is the highest ever for me.

I recently decided to "kick-start" my weight loss.

I am on a really low calorie diet but before I even mention the calories, please listen to what I am consuming, all healthy nutrient- packed stuff and bear in mind I walk a relative amount but am not exercising much as of now. I do plan to up that.

So, I am consuming a vegan protein shake, with 1 cup almond milk in the morning. For lunch, I have the super-food quinoa with a large helping of steamed mixed veggies and/or a serving of lentils, I have a few v8 juices and about 3 cups of miso soup throughout the day and have a super fruit shake at night + green power shot. (wheatgrass, spirulina, and like 15 other awesome green things)

I do not feel starving, though I am used to stuffing my fat face so I am a little "hungry". lol

But, adding up all my calories today I only hit about 800. I know that is pretty low but considering my low-level of fitness and how many good things I am taking in I think it's okay?

I also drink water all day and take a multi-vitamin with iron, multi for hair, nails, and skin, and separate vit C, and B12 pills.

Replies

  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I'd prefer non-negative feedback.
  • Woops, guess this may have been posted in the wrongish area.
  • haha, I didn't mean non constructive criticism. Just non- angry - attacky - pitchforky comments.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Sounds amazing to me! Great idea to eat less than a child.
  • Thanks for the sarcasm. I think you could have gotten the point across without it. Loving how snooty folks are on the site, real sense of community.
  • lisahewitt22
    lisahewitt22 Posts: 102
    All the water and multi-vitamins sounds really good. Personally I've had better luck with raising my calorie intake to over 1200 at least and then doing a little more exercise. Even though you're not feeling hungry your body probably still needs more nutrients. Also, you'll probably feel better too if you up your intake a little bit.
  • Thanks for the non sarcastic informative feedback, I was posting BECAUSE I thought this may be the case. I have also only been doing it a few days, which is in no way dangerous but kinda felt another healthy veggie-ful meal might be a good idea.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    You know it's bad so why ask for advice? Food is not the enemy. Sorry for sounding snooty. You'll end up in hospital eating like that though so please don't.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I don't want to post negative feedback, but I do want you to be successful. Here's what I see as the recipe for success: eat a healthy caloric intake for the weight you'd like to be. Over time, your body will shift and you will simply end up that weight. It's slower. There isn't really a "kick-start" portion.

    If you just focus on learning how to eat in a sustainable way, you'll avoid doing yourself any metabolic damage in the process. 800 calories may work for a few days, but what you'll do is just drop water weight - all your glycogen stores, which are your body's ready energy - and feel slightly leaner. BUT... your body will see that you're only going to give it 800 calories per day and it will find a way to sustain life on that. The solution usually involves your body burning your own lean mass because it costs a lot of calories to run it. Your body would MUCH prefer being able to run your vital organs than your muscles. So you will get lighter, yes... you will also end up with less muscle and less ability to burn calories in the future. If you return to the caloric intake you've been reaching, you will now not only gain back what you lose, but more.
  • Thanks guys, I appreciate the shifting of comments to being generally informative and helpful. I will add another meal AND a solid workout tomorrow. haha. Easy way's out never work I guess.
  • MisterDerpington
    MisterDerpington Posts: 604 Member
    How much protein do you normally get? I know that one issue some vegetarians run into is not getting enough in their diet.
  • I wasnt completely sure it was bad, I am no doctor, I had a hunch hence asking advice? Not sure what the problem is, I didn't think I was rude and admitted not being sure if it was good/bad. I have listened to the informative responses and will chane my plan accordingly. That is WHY I asked for the advice, so I could utilize it.
  • I definitely normally got WAY more than enough haha. with pastas, and breads, and all that jazz it isnt hard to meet a normal level. I do a lot of lentils and beans. (I was gong way over based on the beer, 6 of those suckers can be 1000 calories alone)
  • OH PROTEIN, sorry, read that wrong. I always get enough, I use tofu, nuts, lentils, beans, etc. Just have to make sure to pay attention to those things.
  • laurynwithawhy
    laurynwithawhy Posts: 385 Member
    I personally think you should eat more. You are getting good nutrition and eating great things, but that doesn't mean it's ENOUGH nutrition. Your diet seems super low fat, adding just a tablespoon of coconut oil to your protein shake would add over 100 calories to your daily total. Also, try to get in some peanut butter or whole nuts. They are very healthy and will help you get your calories in. Maybe just have 1 cup of miso soup and some nuts on the side? Miso is super delicious and very filling but it's basically just water with little nutritional value (unless it's packed with tofu).
  • Thanks! Some mixed buts are a great idea, huh? Yeah I have concluded that I need AT LEAST 300 more calories. I just need to not be lazy and workout, I mean just 5 minutes of jumping jacks burns 51 calories, I got no excuses.