Will you lose more weight on a vegetarian diet
megbee617
Posts: 100 Member
I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
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Replies
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It's not what you eat but how much you eat.0
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No. If you are losing weight, you are eating less (calorie wise) than you were before.0
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It's all about your calorie deficit, it doesn't matter what type of diet it is. If you cut out some relatively high calorie meats and replaced them with lower calorie vegetarian options it would make sense that you're losing more weight.0
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Protein keeps me more satiated so I find the opposite. The less protein I eat, the more likely I am to overeat. Like everyone else said though, it is really about deficit. Find what you eat that keeps you feeling good, full, and still in a deficit so you can lose the weight.0
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Protein keeps me more satiated so I find the opposite. The less protein I eat, the more likely I am to overeat. Like everyone else said though, it is really about deficit. Find what you eat that keeps you feeling good, full, and still in a deficit so you can lose the weight.
OP didn't say anything about eating less protein though. There are plenty of non-meat protein sources.0 -
i know a lot of fat vegetarians, so id say no
its all about HOW MUCH you eat0 -
I wouldn't suggest vegetarianism as a weight loss method. A lot of the time people go into it thinking it will help them lose weight not realizing how much planning goes into it if you want to remain healthy and still get an adequate amount of all your essential nutrients. Sadly, Most people replace their meat consumption with carbohydrates which will not aid you in losing weight0
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It's what you replaced the meat with, if anything. If you replaced it with lots of cheese, you'd probably be gaining. Chances are you didn't replace it entirely, or replaced the volume with low cal items such as by making an effort to eat more vegetables or fruit.
I know from having done it that I can eat a really healthful diet without meat and a really poor diet without meat. (I currently eat meat and find it easier to meet my goals this way, but I respect vegetarianism as an ethical choice.)0 -
Not likely. I myself was formerly and obese vegetarian.0
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No definitely not.. It's your calorie count.0
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No.0
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To make it clear op, it's how much calories you eat. The amount of food can vary, but the amount of calories you consume is what will help you gain or lose weight.0
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Only if you are eating your vegetables boiled
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No, I don't think so. I've been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for 41 years, so I don't have data from switching. But I got fat as a veg, stayed fat that way, and most recently lost weight that way.
I've seen one tiny, kind of iffy research study suggesting that eating more whole/fiber-rich foods - as you might when you become vegetarian - could possibly maybe very, very, VERY slightly increase the calories required for digestion/utilization, but the experimental effect was quite (quite) small.
If anything, I'd be more likely to consider whether a partial shift to less-calorie-dense foods - if that's happening - could change the nature of the unavoidable calorie measurement/estimation errors that affect all of us. Being a gram or two off when weighing your broccoli is a bunch less significant than being a gram or two off in weighing your sirloin. Or even a virtually unnoticed change in your non-exercise activity during the time period might have a small effect, like if you're feeling a little more energetic as you lose weight. There are lots of reasons that your calorie requirements could seem to change a little.
P.S. (Off-topic tangent): Looked at your diary. You're doing better on protein than most of the newbie or transitioning veg folks whose diaries I've looked at - nice! I see that around half is still coming from meat most days, so I hope you'll make a strong effort to keep protein grams at least at your current level if/as you reduce meat further. Gotta stay strong!
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I would not lose weight by giving up meat because meat isn't a significant source of calories for me. I'd drop weight like crazy if I gave up olive oil. But I'd be very sad.
As has been pointed out already, it's how many calories you eat that matters for fat loss. If giving up meat causes you to eat less calories then it may help you lose more quickly.0 -
...I've seen one tiny, kind of iffy research study suggesting that eating more whole/fiber-rich foods - as you might when you become vegetarian - could possibly maybe very, very, VERY slightly increase the calories required for digestion/utilization, but the experimental effect was quite (quite) small...
If anything, a protein-rich diet would very slightly increase the calories required for digestion/utilization. Protein has a significantly higher TEF than carbs or fat. It's all insignificant in the big picture though. Bottom line is that if the OP lost more weight switching to a vegetarian diet, it means there was a reduction in caloric intake along with the dietary switch. Calories are calories.0 -
You lose weight when your calorie intake is less than your calorie burn.0
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I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
If you gave up meat or substantially reduced consumption and didn't replace those calories with something else...well, you've just cut calories...the cut just happens to be coming from meat. If you were eating a lot of fattier cuts vs leaner cuts of meat, the calorie cut from reduction would be more substantial. Lean meats don't tend to be particularly calorie dense.
You lose weight when you consume fewer calories than you expend regardless of WOE.
Also, for what it's worth I know a few overweight vegetarians...so yeah, pretty much any WOE can result in being overweight.0 -
Did you give up meat and then not replace those calories? Just being vegetarian doesn't mean you'll lose weight. Just because potato chips are vegetarian you shouldn't eat mounds of them.0
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Works for you; keep doing it.
Elephants are vegetarian.0 -
I don't know how much protein you're eating but you might be losing muscle mass, especially if you're not working out as often or as hard.
Not necessarily! But maybe check.0 -
I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Increasing veggies and fiber is a big advantage for weight loss, IMO. I feel better, feel more satisfied and make better choices generally when I eat this way. I eat meat, I try to use grass-fed organic free range wild caught etc etc when I buy meats, but even if I cant, I definitely eat meat/poultry/fish. And eggs. When I was losing 30lbs in 3 months, I excluded grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. I felt incredible!!! I try to keep that up or at least do it occasionally, but I definitely keep the veggie/fiber habit going. In my experience, eating this way balances the metabolism(hormones) so your whole body gets healthier, including excess fat loss. So YES is the answer to your question!
Also I seem to do best if I have a protein mix on hand...I find the yummiest vegan ones too expensive (and I don't like pea protein, which is cheaper), so I go with whey protein. All in all, I don't think being vegan is for me, ever.0 -
Lovee_Dove7 wrote: »I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Increasing veggies and fiber is a big advantage for weight loss, IMO. I feel better, feel more satisfied and make better choices generally when I eat this way. I eat meat, I try to use grass-fed organic free range wild caught etc etc when I buy meats, but even if I cant, I definitely eat meat/poultry/fish. And eggs. When I was losing 30lbs in 3 months, I excluded grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. I felt incredible!!! I try to keep that up or at least do it occasionally, but I definitely keep the veggie/fiber habit going. In my experience, eating this way balances the metabolism(hormones) so your whole body gets healthier, including excess fat loss. So YES is the answer to your question!
n=1 and it completely defies the laws of thermodynamics/energy balance. But hey, you do you. More power to ya if it worked for you.0 -
Lovee_Dove7 wrote: »I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Increasing veggies and fiber is a big advantage for weight loss, IMO. I feel better, feel more satisfied and make better choices generally when I eat this way. I eat meat, I try to use grass-fed organic free range wild caught etc etc when I buy meats, but even if I cant, I definitely eat meat/poultry/fish. And eggs. When I was losing 30lbs in 3 months, I excluded grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. I felt incredible!!! I try to keep that up or at least do it occasionally, but I definitely keep the veggie/fiber habit going. In my experience, eating this way balances the metabolism(hormones) so your whole body gets healthier, including excess fat loss. So YES is the answer to your question!
n=1 and it completely defies the laws of thermodynamics/energy balance. But hey, you do you. More power to ya if it worked for you.
Have a nice day!0 -
Lovee_Dove7 wrote: »I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Increasing veggies and fiber is a big advantage for weight loss, IMO. I feel better, feel more satisfied and make better choices generally when I eat this way. I eat meat, I try to use grass-fed organic free range wild caught etc etc when I buy meats, but even if I cant, I definitely eat meat/poultry/fish. And eggs. When I was losing 30lbs in 3 months, I excluded grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. I felt incredible!!! I try to keep that up or at least do it occasionally, but I definitely keep the veggie/fiber habit going. In my experience, eating this way balances the metabolism(hormones) so your whole body gets healthier, including excess fat loss. So YES is the answer to your question!
Whatever you were eating caused you to feel satisfied, resulting in a calorie deficit. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
Your metabolism doesn't need balancing. Veggies and fiber do not burn excess fat. Quit playing into the idea that there are ANY tips, tricks or magical foods and diets. They don't exist.0 -
Lovee_Dove7 wrote: »I've recently cut back my meat consumption by about 50%. I've found that over the past 2-3 months I've still been consistently losing weight even if I'm not working out as hard or as often and even if I eat slightly over my calorie allotment. I'm wondering if it's mostly due to taking a good portion of meat out of my diet (I'm talking ovo-vegetarian, so I'm still eating eggs and dairy, though its mostly yogurt and cheese). Basically I'll only eat real meat at dinnertime, and even then it's maybe a 6oz portion.
Just wondering if anyone else has adopted a vegetarian or reduced-meat diet and found they lost more weight than if they ate more meat-based foods?
Increasing veggies and fiber is a big advantage for weight loss, IMO. I feel better, feel more satisfied and make better choices generally when I eat this way. I eat meat, I try to use grass-fed organic free range wild caught etc etc when I buy meats, but even if I cant, I definitely eat meat/poultry/fish. And eggs. When I was losing 30lbs in 3 months, I excluded grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. I felt incredible!!! I try to keep that up or at least do it occasionally, but I definitely keep the veggie/fiber habit going. In my experience, eating this way balances the metabolism(hormones) so your whole body gets healthier, including excess fat loss. So YES is the answer to your question!
Whatever you were eating caused you to feel satisfied, resulting in a calorie deficit. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
Your metabolism doesn't need balancing. Veggies and fiber do not burn excess fat. Quit playing into the idea that there are ANY tips, tricks or magical foods and diets. They don't exist.
There was nothing magical, I measured everything. Lab tests, body measurements, daily glucose readings, bodyfat %, etc. This was the first diet effort where I could fully follow my own program (compliance), AND get the improvements in all the mentioned measurements.....I needed more than the scale number to go down, I needed my metabolism (blood sugar, sex hormones, etc) to be normal. Macros and types of foods matter. They are there for you to use/manipulate for your own body's needs.
Hope you are having a great day!0 -
It probably depends on what you like to eat. I tried to remove meat from my life - as I'm not a lover of meat. However, I didn't replace that protein with any low fat protein. I ate nuts and cheese (I'm not a milk drinker). I found without some animal based protein I felt hungrier than before - and I did eat more calories to feel satiated. All in all, it wasn't a good experiment for me - however, that doesn't mean it won't work for you. Do what works for you... it might be a while until you find the perfect combination of calories and activity, but you will find it.0
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It probably depends on what you like to eat. I tried to remove meat from my life - as I'm not a lover of meat. However, I didn't replace that protein with any low fat protein. I ate nuts and cheese (I'm not a milk drinker). I found without some animal based protein I felt hungrier than before - and I did eat more calories to feel satiated. All in all, it wasn't a good experiment for me - however, that doesn't mean it won't work for you. Do what works for you... it might be a while until you find the perfect combination of calories and activity, but you will find it.
I tried cutting out animal-based protein during the low-fat craze of the '80s. I lasted about three weeks and had cravings so bad that I was dreaming about eating meat. Never satiated, always hangry, constantly miserable. I finally snapped, went to the nearest fast food joint, ordered three double cheeseburgers and stuffed them down my pie hole like I hadn't eaten in months. I'll never repeat that experiment mistake again. I eat a balanced diet, plenty of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, etc. along with meat, but I'll never cut meat out of my diet again. Ever.0 -
...I've seen one tiny, kind of iffy research study suggesting that eating more whole/fiber-rich foods - as you might when you become vegetarian - could possibly maybe very, very, VERY slightly increase the calories required for digestion/utilization, but the experimental effect was quite (quite) small...
If anything, a protein-rich diet would very slightly increase the calories required for digestion/utilization. Protein has a significantly higher TEF than carbs or fat. It's all insignificant in the big picture though. Bottom line is that if the OP lost more weight switching to a vegetarian diet, it means there was a reduction in caloric intake along with the dietary switch. Calories are calories.
Totally agree. I was trying to say that the best evidence I've seen for veg eating burning more calories was not very good evidence at all. It was this tiny thing: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897733/ (And I went on to say that other tiny effects on CICO - such as a modest CO increase - were more probable than anything like that, insignificant as those are, too. One way or another, the reasons are CICO-related, clearly.)
+1 to the point about higher TEF for protein, of course - but I didn't assume vegetarian = protein-poor.0
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