Vegan and Still Overweight...

I've been a vegetarian for 11 years, and I cook vegan at home, so I don't eat much dairy or eggs really. It's still easy to overeat and not eat the right things as a vegetarian or vegan. For me, the issue has always been a combination of overeating and not enough activity.

Vegan, Vegtarian etc. does not automatically = thin or healthy. Same as thin does not always = healthy.
People need to focus on health rather a size or shape.

I was a strict vegetarian for almost 10 years (not anymore, I switched to organic), but I think I was eating healthier before I became a vegetarian. I stopped eating my normal meat/veggies, but cooked all sort of wonderful vegetarian creations myself (with a lot of cheese.. ahum) and I have a bad case of sweet tooth. In that case it doesn't really matter if you're vegan/vegetarian or not.

I've been vegan for over 10 years. I lost weight at the start, but then years of poor eating habits and too much drinking packed on an extra 30 points (I'm getting there though!)

MFP was exactly what I needed as it showed me exactly where I was overeating: too much junk food (chips, candy, and cookies) and way too much oil. I was eating 450 calories a day just in olive oil!

My food diary is public and is 99% correct as I'm super anal. Have a peek if you're interest and good luck!

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My go-to food now: low-cal fruit like strawberries and cherries, and broccoli with garlic and 1-2 tablespoons of soy sauce (NO OIL)

I was a vegetarian for 15+ years. I got really fat. If I was a vegan, I'd have become just as fat. I just ate a ton of food. Not even sweets, just daily binge sessions.

Calories in -> Calories out.

Vegetarian =/= skinny

On another note:

My sister is a veggiesaurus and she eats a lot of prepackaged food, which is fine but anything packaged usually has extra calories due to salt and sugar added!

WHAT? Salt has no calories

I know a lot of overweight vegans. Remember, potato chips are vegan. Vegan sweets are higher in calories than non-vegan, too. You still have to cut calories.

I agree with the above. I have been vegan for the last four years and vegetarian prior and still managed to gain weight. I have finally succeeded on losing my weight using the 5:2 plan. It really helped me get the portion control and healthy choices under control again. But whatever plan that does that for you is a good one to try. As far as potato chips, it was my real problem with regarding to bad food choices and as of yesterday when I spent most of the day trying to the ignore the bowl at work, it apparently is. Friend me if you would like. I love having friends with vegan diaries to get ideas from.

It's because you're not a level 5 vegan, where you don't eat anything with a shadow.

Hey there,
I'm a 35 yr old Vegan and think I am one of the only folks I know who switched to a vegan diet without losing 30+ lbs. I basically have maintained my weight for the past 4-5 years even with cutting out all meat, dairy and eggs. I try to avoid processed vegan foods and eat a lot of steamed kale/other leafy greens and whole grains.
Any other fluffy vegans out there? I could use some support or success stories I've been on MFP for just about a week now and am definitely looking forward to beginning my journey to an improved me!
Thanks!

I"m going to reiterate what other people have all ready said: I don't care what everybody tells you about weight, you don't lose without having a calorie deficit. There isn't a magic trick to this. If you eat 3,000 calories of veggies, you'll still be overweight. If you're eating between 1,200 to 1,500 calories of veggies, you'll see weight-loss happening. It's not magic.