Need some help with carbs (Vegetarians help needed!)

BornxVillain
BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! I will start off by saying that my weight loss journey has never consisted of lowering my carbs, but as a vegetarian it has become much harder to stay at my macro suggestion for carbs. I only eat whole grains, fruits, veggies and I definitely do give myself starches- as it has never stunted my weight loss.

My question to you all involves going low-fat due to a medical issue, and raising my carbs a little more. I have a MISSING gallbladder! They stole it from me when I got gallstones from my prior malnutrition (I wish I could take it all back.), but all joking aside.. are there any vegetarians out there who have 'high carb' macro's and no issue with weight gain (ofcourse while at a healthy maintaining or deficit caloric rate!) I always fear rebound when adding more berries, beans and grains into my diet. I love them so much and they make me feel so good! I suffer from a mild sort of pain that feels like a more severe form of indigestion/heartburn when consuming too much fats (even the beautiful healthy ones! Avocado, Olive oil, nuts, etc.. and I would love to rid of it completely (the pain that is!)

So my main question is.. Will I gain weight back introducing more carbs and taking some fat away? Still at a deficit caloric rate to get my last pound off, not worried at all about losing weight right now, moreso worried about gaining any back.

Oh! And for you vegetarians out there.. What's the best source of protein out there for you?

Thanks a billion!

Replies

  • BornxVillain
    BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
    :flowerforyou: Help!
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    What kind of vegetarian are you? I'm not vegetarian, but don't eat a lot of meat (beef/chicken/pork). I have lots of "chicken" (soy) and lots of eggs/egg whites and fish. And protein shakes.

    What kind of dietary restrictions are you under? :)
  • BornxVillain
    BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
    I'm sorry! I should have specified! I am a very basic vegetarian, definitely not able to go vegan yet!.. just no meat products except fish I allow into my diet but that is mostly for my treat or high protein days when strength training. :drinker: Thank you so much!

    Also, what are your favorite protein shakes? Are they homeade or store bought? I can never make a good one. :(
  • Kellyfitness128
    Kellyfitness128 Posts: 194 Member
    I'm a high carb vegan :) I haven't gained any weight- only lost weight because I'm still eating at a calorie deficit (2,000 calories a day). My macro ratios are usually about 65-80% carbs, 10-25% fat, and 10% protein. I usually eat around 300-400g of carbs per day I believe. Let me tell you, eating this way is AWESOME. I've always loved carbs but never really allowed myself to eat so much of them and so always craved sweets and such. I'm not sure what my ratios used to be but I always used to have a fear of eating too many potatoes, rice, pasta, etc. Now, I make full meals out of just potatoes, for example. I have an abundant amount of energy and no cravings! So, as long as you stay within your calorie range you won't gain any weight... you may, however, see a change in the scale at first as your body is holding onto water. Minimizing your salt intake and drinking plenty of water will help with this. Also, I recommend (if you haven't already) that you check out freelee the banana girl and the "Raw till 4" or "80/10/10" diet. They're all about high carb, low fat diets and that's what inspired me to start eating more carbs. Feel free to add me as a friend on here as well! I've been on the search for more vegetarians/vegans on these forums.
  • BornxVillain
    BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
    Wow, that is amazingly refreshing to hear! Might I say, you are absolutely gorgeous! :noway:

    Thank you so much for your suggestions, they give me so much more confidence! I definitely have seen freelee, she is a huge inspiration to me!

    One more question! How is your blood sugar when eating those carbs? Do you eat lots of fruits? (Since those bratty fruits are so high in sugars sometimes, it scares me!) I have always had a very good blood sugar and worried constantly about ruining it!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Adding carbs will not produce weight gain as long as you keep a calorie deficit.
    Nuts are good for quick protein but they have some fat.
    This for protein shakes: rice powder, hemp seeds/hemp powder . .
    Good sources of protein: beans, peas, broccoli, spinach, hemp, chia seeds, . . .
  • BornxVillain
    BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
    Mmm, I could feast on chia seeds all day!
    Thank you so much, RodaRose- I definitely have some ideas for protein shakes now. :happy:
  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    As an experiment, I did two types of diets: low carb and regular carb (I'm a vegetarian). I found out that my weight loss was NOT any different between either diet. My mom got her gallbladder out awhile ago and she has difficulties with high fat items, not carbs.

    About the blood sugar thing, you can't really "ruin" your blood sugar by eating sugar (I mean in normal amounts) unless you are diabetic from what I understand. I have insulin and blood sugar issues and fruit is just fine for me.

    Edit: And by me saying my mom has trouble with high fat items, I mean super greasy things. It's not that she gains weight either it's just that she gets a little...gastric distress.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    One more question! How is your blood sugar when eating those carbs? Do you eat lots of fruits? (Since those bratty fruits are so high in sugars sometimes, it scares me!) I have always had a very good blood sugar and worried constantly about ruining it!

    Not a vegetarian, but thought I might interject a little here...

    If you are not a diabetic & don't have issues with blood sugar dysfunction, you will not ruin it by eating fruit. In fact, you can't 'eat' your way to diabetes. There has to be a level of insulin resistance or other dysfunction for there to even be an issue. Add to that, high familial prevalence and then you may have something to watch for.

    But all that aside, enjoy your fruit without guilt :flowerforyou:

    edited for clarity
  • Kellyfitness128
    Kellyfitness128 Posts: 194 Member
    Wow, that is amazingly refreshing to hear! Might I say, you are absolutely gorgeous! :noway:

    Thank you so much for your suggestions, they give me so much more confidence! I definitely have seen freelee, she is a huge inspiration to me!

    One more question! How is your blood sugar when eating those carbs? Do you eat lots of fruits? (Since those bratty fruits are so high in sugars sometimes, it scares me!) I have always had a very good blood sugar and worried constantly about ruining it!

    Aw, thank you!!
    I've never actually had my blood sugar checked... but I feel fine? Haha. I know that if you're diet is kept low fat, insulin easily transports sugar from the blood to the cells and so blood sugar levels shouldn't be a problem. But when your diet is high in fat as well as sugar, the sugar gets trapped in the bloodstream and thus creates sustained, elevated blood sugar. So, high carb low fat is the way to go. I eat tons of fruit.... sometimes just fruit for meals (like a smoothie in the morning with 4-5 bananas, strawberries, spinach, and/or whatever other fruit I have on hand!). Fruit has amazing benefits for the body and it's all natural sugar so you can never eat too much :)
  • BornxVillain
    BornxVillain Posts: 79 Member
    You guys are all so incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the insulin resistance as well as the low fat keeping everything steady.
    It gives me so much hope to starting to feel better, and I can't thank you guys enough for all the reassurance and help!
    I couldn't be any more excited to confidently start eating fruits again.. I've been so scared of them for so long!

    4-5 bananas, OMG that sounds like a dreeeeam. I am so excited! I am opting to go completely vegan myself, I am hoping this is my first step.

    Thank you all again so much! It takes so much stress and worry from my shoulders, you all have been so incredibly helpful!
  • godswill206
    godswill206 Posts: 48
    Beets and sweet potato/yams are my friends!
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Um what.
    Fruits are healthy. Eat them.
    If you're vegetarian I assume you read about protein but beans are a great source also no fat so..
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    Wow, that is amazingly refreshing to hear! Might I say, you are absolutely gorgeous! :noway:

    Thank you so much for your suggestions, they give me so much more confidence! I definitely have seen freelee, she is a huge inspiration to me!

    One more question! How is your blood sugar when eating those carbs? Do you eat lots of fruits? (Since those bratty fruits are so high in sugars sometimes, it scares me!) I have always had a very good blood sugar and worried constantly about ruining it!

    Aw, thank you!!
    I've never actually had my blood sugar checked... but I feel fine? Haha. I know that if you're diet is kept low fat, insulin easily transports sugar from the blood to the cells and so blood sugar levels shouldn't be a problem. But when your diet is high in fat as well as sugar, the sugar gets trapped in the bloodstream and thus creates sustained, elevated blood sugar. So, high carb low fat is the way to go. I eat tons of fruit.... sometimes just fruit for meals (like a smoothie in the morning with 4-5 bananas, strawberries, spinach, and/or whatever other fruit I have on hand!). Fruit has amazing benefits for the body and it's all natural sugar so you can never eat too much :)


    giggle.gif

    That's not how blood sugar works.

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