help gaining weight as vegetarian
monkeybusiness2104
Posts: 47 Member
I became half raw half vegetarian 6 weeks ago and even though I have made sure to ear the same amount of calories daily as I was bfore which is over 2,000. I am losing weight. About 4 lbs. Nothing else changed except no meat and a lot of raw fruit and veggies. How can I gain weight back plus more when i seem to be losing weight because my body was not used to eating this way? I can't put anymore food in me I am stuffed after each meal and snack. Doing protien shakes protien raw bites, amazing grass protien bars. Fruit platters. Veggie platters. Pasta. bread. Cheese, egg , nuts and oils. Avocados. I don't know how to gain weight now. It seems to be doing the opposite.
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So the key here is that your macronutrient breakdown is probably a bit different than what it used to be. Before you went vegetarian, you were most likely consuming more protein, more fat, and fewer carbohydrates. Naturally, changing up your diet that much is going to cause some changes in your body. There's a possibility that your body is better able to burn up carbs than it is fats, which means that you're losing weight because not as much energy is being stored. Another possibility is that you're having some slight wasting of the muscle due to a lower intake of protein. You could also be experiencing less water retention due to the changes in your diet. There's really no way to know for sure unless you'd had a body composition test before you switched over and then had a new one done now. Honestly, four pounds isn't a lot of weight, and the number on the scale isn't necessarily so important because your weight fluctuates depending on what's in your stomach and your bladder and what-have-you. If you continue to keep losing weight, maybe check with your doctor and see if there's not something more serious going on, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.
If you don't care about anything I just said, really all you have to do is incorporate more high-calorie foods and take out some of your more low-calorie foods. If all else fails, just up your calorie intake. That's your simplest option.
Good luck!0 -
are you weighing everything you eat? if you are losing you most likely have a caloric deficit going on. even a slight one. but then again,if your carbs are lower than they were then you could have lost water weight/glycogen stores.for some changing how they eat make a difference. but for most people the change is either a caloric deficit(losing weight) or a caloric surplus(gaining weight). did you increase the amount you exercise too? that could also cause a deficit too,especially if you arent eating your exercise calories back.to gain weight you have to eat more calories than your body burns. you have to be in a surplus.0
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Thank you will try thatSo the key here is that your macronutrient breakdown is probably a bit different than what it used to be. Before you went vegetarian, you were most likely consuming more protein, more fat, and fewer carbohydrates. Naturally, changing up your diet that much is going to cause some changes in your body. There's a possibility that your body is better able to burn up carbs than it is fats, which means that you're losing weight because not as much energy is being stored. Another possibility is that you're having some slight wasting of the muscle due to a lower intake of protein. You could also be experiencing less water retention due to the changes in your diet. There's really no way to know for sure unless you'd had a body composition test before you switched over and then had a new one done now. Honestly, four pounds isn't a lot of weight, and the number on the scale isn't necessarily so important because your weight fluctuates depending on what's in your stomach and your bladder and what-have-you. If you continue to keep losing weight, maybe check with your doctor and see if there's not something more serious going on, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.
If you don't care about anything I just said, really all you have to do is incorporate more high-calorie foods and take out some of your more low-calorie foods. If all else fails, just up your calorie intake. That's your simplest option.
Good luck!
Makes a lot of sense!0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »are you weighing everything you eat? if you are losing you most likely have a caloric deficit going on. even a slight one. but then again,if your carbs are lower than they were then you could have lost water weight/glycogen stores.for some changing how they eat make a difference. but for most people the change is either a caloric deficit(losing weight) or a caloric surplus(gaining weight). did you increase the amount you exercise too? that could also cause a deficit too,especially if you arent eating your exercise calories back.to gain weight you have to eat more calories than your body burns. you have to be in a surplus.
Hi yes I am. Less exercise now. More fruits and sweet potatoes and rice and beans. Nuts seeds nut butters mostly. Fruit is making up most my meals with added stuff. I am eating the amount of calories plus more that this app told me I need to gain. So I should be gaining. But still not yet. I gained about 10 lbs from using this app in 4 months before I went to this diet. Now because I'm not eating meat constantly I seem to be losing. Oh well.0 -
do you drink milk? if so that can add some calories
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Peanut butter, lots and lots of peanut butter0
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »do you drink milk? if so that can add some caloriesCharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »do you drink milk? if so that can add some calories
Actually I'm allergic. I drink coconut milk and almond milk.0 -
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monkeybusiness2104 wrote: »
hmm cook your foods in olive oil(like your veggies) that will add some calories. if eating more calories and still losing weight see a dr it could be a thyroid or other health condition.there are 2 kinds of thyroid issues,one,you gain weight(hypo) and the other you lose (hyper)0 -
Thanks0
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How can you be half vegetarian?0
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The only thing here that really makes sense is the option regarding water retention. 6 weeks on a new diet wouldn't be enough time to cause 4 pounds of muscle loss, and the macro breakdown doesn't matter nearly as much in terms of weight loss as the total number of calories. (If she's still eating the same number of calories, no matter the macro breakdown, she should maintain the same approximate weight, with allowances for normal weight fluctuation).So the key here is that your macronutrient breakdown is probably a bit different than what it used to be. Before you went vegetarian, you were most likely consuming more protein, more fat, and fewer carbohydrates. Naturally, changing up your diet that much is going to cause some changes in your body. There's a possibility that your body is better able to burn up carbs than it is fats, which means that you're losing weight because not as much energy is being stored. Another possibility is that you're having some slight wasting of the muscle due to a lower intake of protein. You could also be experiencing less water retention due to the changes in your diet. There's really no way to know for sure unless you'd had a body composition test before you switched over and then had a new one done now. Honestly, four pounds isn't a lot of weight, and the number on the scale isn't necessarily so important because your weight fluctuates depending on what's in your stomach and your bladder and what-have-you. If you continue to keep losing weight, maybe check with your doctor and see if there's not something more serious going on, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.
OP: are you 100% sure that your raw day calorie totals are accurate and at the same level as you were eating before?
If you're sure you haven't decreased your calories, it's just normal fluctuations (with possibly less water retention, especially if cutting out meat also reduced your sodium intake). Is there a possibility that you're getting more fiber now and things are moving more quickly through your system?
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The only thing here that really makes sense is the option regarding water retention. 6 weeks on a new diet wouldn't be enough time to cause 4 pounds of muscle loss, and the macro breakdown doesn't matter nearly as much in terms of weight loss as the total number of calories. (If she's still eating the same number of calories, no matter the macro breakdown, she should maintain the same approximate weight, with allowances for normal weight fluctuation).So the key here is that your macronutrient breakdown is probably a bit different than what it used to be. Before you went vegetarian, you were most likely consuming more protein, more fat, and fewer carbohydrates. Naturally, changing up your diet that much is going to cause some changes in your body. There's a possibility that your body is better able to burn up carbs than it is fats, which means that you're losing weight because not as much energy is being stored. Another possibility is that you're having some slight wasting of the muscle due to a lower intake of protein. You could also be experiencing less water retention due to the changes in your diet. There's really no way to know for sure unless you'd had a body composition test before you switched over and then had a new one done now. Honestly, four pounds isn't a lot of weight, and the number on the scale isn't necessarily so important because your weight fluctuates depending on what's in your stomach and your bladder and what-have-you. If you continue to keep losing weight, maybe check with your doctor and see if there's not something more serious going on, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.
OP: are you 100% sure that your raw day calorie totals are accurate and at the same level as you were eating before?
If you're sure you haven't decreased your calories, it's just normal fluctuations (with possibly less water retention, especially if cutting out meat also reduced your sodium intake). Is there a possibility that you're getting more fiber now and things are moving more quickly through your system?
Possibly? I am trying to eat more carbs now but I seem to burn it off super quick. Aside from the meat and more carbs nothing else has changed0 -
Have you considered going back to the method that supported your goal of weight gain and curtailing raw until you have achieved your goal?
Maybe more beans, tofu, tempe, legumes, nuts, etc.. (sorry if that isnt raw, i dont know much about the raw diet).0 -
Different foods have different absorption rates for net calories so that might explain a bit of the difference and the rest could be poor logging and water loss. I would just up your calories a bit each week till you find your new level of maintenance.0
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When I became I vegetarian, I too lost weight. I attributed it to more fiber causing food to move through me at what seems like Mach speed. Not sure if there's any truth to less calories being absorbed but when things start moving totally out of your digestive tract in about 12-16 hours, there's definitely less time for your body to absorb nutrients. Disclaimer: I have no data to back up that claim.
You might also be eating less than you realize. Foods high in fiber and water are filling and not calorie dense. Try adding some denser caloric sources like walnuts, or nut butters (the prepackaged Justin's nut butters are great pick me up snacks and 200 calories in 2 tablespoons).0 -
When I became I vegetarian, I too lost weight. I attributed it to more fiber causing food to move through me at what seems like Mach speed. Not sure if there's any truth to less calories being absorbed but when things start moving totally out of your digestive tract in about 12-16 hours, there's definitely less time for your body to absorb nutrients. Disclaimer: I have no data to back up that claim.
You might also be eating less than you realize. Foods high in fiber and water are filling and not calorie dense. Try adding some denser caloric sources like walnuts, or nut butters (the prepackaged Justin's nut butters are great pick me up snacks and 200 calories in 2 tablespoons).
Sounds about right. I'm eating tons of nut butters and I use those mini packs too they are good. Trail mix. Oils. all that. But can't gain the weight back.
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Have you considered going back to the method that supported your goal of weight gain and curtailing raw until you have achieved your goal?
Maybe more beans, tofu, tempe, legumes, nuts, etc.. (sorry if that isnt raw, i dont know much about the raw diet).
I'm currently only doing half raw so like breakfast and snacks are raw. But lunch and dinner are regular meals. And I'm still eating over 2,000 cal a day.0 -
Ok will try that!Wheelhouse15 wrote: »Different foods have different absorption rates for net calories so that might explain a bit of the difference and the rest could be poor logging and water loss. I would just up your calories a bit each week till you find your new level of maintenance.
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Eat anything that isn't meat! It's not hard to gain weight on a vegetarian diet, I follow one! Just hit 3000-3500 calories a day and you'll be gaining before you know it.0
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monkeybusiness2104 wrote: »When I became I vegetarian, I too lost weight. I attributed it to more fiber causing food to move through me at what seems like Mach speed. Not sure if there's any truth to less calories being absorbed but when things start moving totally out of your digestive tract in about 12-16 hours, there's definitely less time for your body to absorb nutrients. Disclaimer: I have no data to back up that claim.
You might also be eating less than you realize. Foods high in fiber and water are filling and not calorie dense. Try adding some denser caloric sources like walnuts, or nut butters (the prepackaged Justin's nut butters are great pick me up snacks and 200 calories in 2 tablespoons).
Sounds about right. I'm eating tons of nut butters and I use those mini packs too they are good. Trail mix. Oils. all that. But can't gain the weight back.
Then you simply are eating less calories. You have to eat more or you'll keep losing. Simple enough
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