thinking of going vegan

Being vegan doesn't guarantee weight loss. You can get plenty of calories out of nuts etc, so just eating a vegan diet doesn't mean you will lose weight.

I was much fatter as a vegan than an omnivore. Weight loss depends on calorie deficit not eating style.

Being vegan is a lifestyle and ethical choice, don't think going vegan will = weight loss only eating at a deficit will.

Making your diet more plant based may help as a tool but I think I would miss my eggs cheese and charcuterie and fish too much.

Maybe try vegetarianism first and add more dishes to your week.

tawnyamorgan1983 wrote: »

How much weight should you loose a week going vegan. I have thought about veganism but don't know to much about it. I've heard both good and bad.

If you are considering it for the sole purpose of losing weight, you may want to rethink that. To lose weight you have to be in a calorie deficit regardless of being vegan or not. It is not a magical diet plan that makes you automatically lose weight you can still be vegan and be obese.

I sort of assumed you weren't doing it for ethical reasons but rather the false notion that it is healthier based on your post. If that isn't the case. I'm sorry.

TavistockToad wrote: »

Oishii wrote: »

Being vegan doesn't guarantee weight loss. You can get plenty of calories out of nuts etc, so just eating a vegan diet doesn't mean you will lose weight.

This.

Yep!

Unless going vegan helps you maintain a greater deficit because of the type of foods you like/dislike, you won't lose anymore weight. There are plenty of higher calorie vegan foods, it certainly doesn't guarantee anything.

IMO the weight loss per week/month as a goal, should be the same as with any dietary lifestyle. Losing too fast is not healthy, it results in more muscle loss, less energy and less likely to stick to it. A slow weight loss with enough food to properly fuel your body (whether vegan/veggie/meat eater) is going to be more sustainable in the long run.

Ultimately, do what's right for you. If you want to try it out, try it out. Do it because it makes you feel good, not because you heard it's a good weight loss aid, or is healthier or whatever.

While I am not Vegan (for example, I just purchased a vehicle with leather seats), I do prefer to eat a plant-based diet. You definitely can lose weight taking animal products out of your diet as long as you make sure you have a calorie deficit. There are many plant-based diets recommended by various doctors (Pritikin, Fuhrman, McDougall, Esselstyn). My caution would be that some of them (like many others who promote various diets) will state that calories do not matter as long as you adhere to their easy principles, and in my experience that is bad advice. You need to be knowledgeable about the nutritional value of the foods you consume so that you can make wise choices. And plan to take a B12 supplement (it is not needed right away as you have a store of B12 built up and your body is very efficient at using it, but you will not be likely to be taking in sufficient quantities of B12 eating a plant-based diet, and it is unwise and unnecessary to wait until you are experiencing symptoms to start supplementing).

As others have stated, there is nothing magical about eating a plant-based diet that will mean that you can suddenly eat a surplus of calories and lose weight. However, eliminating animal products can be helpful and healthful for some people. Because of the choices I make, I am able to eat a lot of food I enjoy. My husband eats low carb, and it is sometimes comical to see the differences in our meals (he has experienced a rather extreme reduction in appetite, so he doesn't mind). The only animal products I really miss are seafood (which I will indulge in when dining out - perhaps 4-5 times per year), cheese (nooch and plant-based cheeses have been satisfying alternatives, though), and yogurt (I haven't found a plant-based alternative that has the right tang, but sadly, dairy does seem to worsen my allergies, as my symptoms have decreased suddenly and dramatically without it).

One comical side effect of my plant-based diet has manifested in our dogs. Meat used to be cooked daily in our house, and the dogs only reacted by begging for food. Now, my husband usually grills his meat, so meat is only cooked inside if he is making a crock-pot stew or something. Maybe once a month or so. Our alpha dog (a 10 year old JRT) now becomes distressed when meat is being cooked inside, and of course the rest of his "pack" gets agitated so there is lots of pacing, circling, whining, barking, shivering, and hiding as a result. We've no idea what is going on in his head, but it sure seems like he is worried that he might be the next one getting cooked, as he sticks to me like glue.

tawnyamorgan1983 wrote: »

How much weight should you loose a week going vegan. I have thought about veganism but don't know to much about it. I've heard both good and bad.

what??

Going vegan should be an ETHICAL decision and goes far beyond not eating meat/meat products. Going vegan also means avoiding any products, companies, or otherwise which exploit and use animals. Going vegan is something that takes SERIOUS consideration and careful planning. It's a completely different lifelong change.

If you are just wanting to eat plant-based, that's fine. But just like "going vegan" or even vegetarian, you must carefully plan your diet to account for all of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fats one needs in their diet. A vegan diet is not a nutritionally complete diet without the use of some supplements and careful nutritional planning so you must keep this in mind and plan accordingly.

Lastly, it's important to note that one loses weight by eating less calories then they are burning. In other words, eating vegan or plant based, is NOT a garauntee to lose weight. There are plenty of fat vegans. It all comes down to the total number of calories you are eating. You aren't going to magically lose weight just because you're eating fruits and vegetables. It doesn't work that way.

So you want to cut out meat and animal products for ethical reasons? Go for it. But don't expect to lose weight from it.

I'm so glad to see so many sensible responses about veganism and weight loss. I can only add that I have been vegan just over 5 years, for ethical reasons, and have gone through periods of obesity, overweight and ideal weight in that time. People think all vegans can eat is carrots and leaves which is silly, you can still enjoy pretty much any 'normal' dish these days with a few modifications, which doesn't necessarily make them healthier or less calorific, and there is a plethora of vegan junk food available at most supermarkets. By all means try a plant based eating plan, you may experience some health benefits depending on your body and what you eat, but don't rely on that for weight loss... Calories in versus calories out, that really is it I'm afraid!!

Tawnya. I am doing the slowly decreasing meat out of my diet too! Good luck!!!