Is eating less meat a good way to lose weight?

I got fat while vegetarian, stayed fat while vegetarian, then lost weight while vegetarian. So, based on my n=1 research, avoiding meat is completely irrelevant to weight loss.

(Seriously: Even though I've been vegetarian for 41 years and don't plan to change at this late date, I think it might be easier to get adequate protein at a reasonable calorie level while eating meat/fish . . . and IMO, eating enough protein is helpful during weight loss. For many of us, protein is satiating. And there's decent research evidence that eating enough protein helps preserve lean body mass while in calorie deficit, which should help one's metabolism in the longer run.)

mkakids wrote: »

It wont help you lose weight unless eating less meat lowers your daily calorie intake enough to put you in a deficit.

You do need meat in your diet. But sticking to lean meats helps cut out unnecessary fat in your diet. Don't eat too much red meats because they can be bad for your health and heart. We just discussed this in my nutrition class last month.

diannethegeek wrote: »

gothicangeldreamer623 wrote: »

mkakids wrote: »

It wont help you lose weight unless eating less meat lowers your daily calorie intake enough to put you in a deficit.

You do need meat in your diet. But sticking to lean meats helps cut out unnecessary fat in your diet. Don't eat too much red meats because they can be bad for your health and heart. We just discussed this in my nutrition class last month.

Millions of people around the world live healthy lives with a vegetarian, vegan, or other plant-based diet. I really don't think you can say that meat is required in a diet.

Without modern vitamin supplements you definitely need animal product in your diet, but that could be dairy. No vegan diet would supply vitamin B12 without the wonders of science.

With proper vitamin supplements there's no reason you couldn't eat an all-plant diet.

I have reduced my meat intake simply because I can't eat a 1200 calorie rib eye and lose weight. That will be rough even at maintenance. I typically go fish or chicken breast to get more bang for my caloric buck, and have smaller steaks now and again.

Eliminations in diets need to be sustainable. If you like meat, eat meat...within your goals.

I think people mistake losing weight related to veganism or being vegetarian because there aren't very delicious alternative out in the market yet lol

For example since I've turned vegetarian - I have not eaten out properly and that's like 5 months -whatever I tried was mediocre at best and my homecooked food tastes far better. So eating at home means better logging and tracking intake.

Once McDonalds and other big fast food joints starts rolling out full fledged vegan menus - then we will have obese vegans as well who thought changing from one type of diet to another was the answer instead of doing a deficit and eating whatever.

It honestly has very little to do with what you eat and has everything to do with how many calories you eat. Get yourself into a calorie deficit. Get a food scale and measure and weigh everything.