Thinking about going vegetarian

Same answer. I've been chubby and thin as a vegetarian (15 years). Try upping your veggies and doing more ethically sourced meat, if ethics and weight loss are your goals. I just hate the taste of meat

There can be a psychological avdvantage to vegetarianism if you eat a lot of high volume to calorie ratio foods. Everyone is different. Of course, it will not in and of itself lower caloric intake and lead to fat loss. It can't hurt to try and to see if it helps you, and fits your temperement, in consuming fewer calories.

What about incorporating a semi-vegetarian lifestyle ie: having days where you eat only according to vegetarian 'ideals'. We often have meatless days and after a stint of going complete vegetarian we did return to eating meat on occasion but the experience did give us insight and opened up a whole new world of foods for us, so it was a win win all round.

I've just become vegetarian Jan 1st, it hasn't done anything in the weight loss department for me.
you have to have time to cook more (which I barely do) so I think that also will play a factor.

I was overweight when I was vegetarian and a meat eater.

As others have said, cutting out meat doesn't automatically mean you'll lose weight. It's just as easy to eat more calories than you need when you aren't eating meat as when you are. In fact, sometimes eating out is harder because I used to find there was often only one vegetarian item on a menu (usually veggie lasagne, a veggie stack or a goats cheese tart) whereas if you eat meat/chicken/fish you have more choices and can pick something like grilled fish and veggies or salad if you are looking for less cals in that meal.

I think you need to decide where you stand on an ethical point of view. If you truly don't want to be consuming animal products then make that decision and stick to it. Log your meals, count your calories and you can lose weight.
If you are a bit ambivalent, then you can always just cut down on how much meat/chicken/fish you eat. Cook veggie meals at home, eat meat when you go out, for example.

Your reasoning to be vegetarian has to be pretty solid to stick to it. It will not, in itself, help you lose weight or be healthier unless you choose to eat healthy vegetarian meals at the same time. I love chickens too, thats why I don't eat them.

cwolfman13 wrote: »

One of my really good friends is a vegetarian...she's about 150 Lbs overweight...she basically lives off of processed veggie burgers, potato chips, french fries, cookies, and coca cola.

I'm an omnivore and eat a diet substantially of whole foods...I eat about 6 servings of veg daily and a couple servings of fruit...lots of whole grains and legumes and whole food starches...lean sourced protein (lots of chicken and fish) and healthy fats from things like avocados, nuts, and good cooking oils.

Who has the healthier diet? Hint, I'm pretty lean and fit and healthy...my vegetarian friend needs to lose a lot of weight.

Any diet can be unhealthy if you want it to be.

EmilyHughes801 wrote: »

Okay, so I've been thinking maybe I should try going vegetarian. Mostly because I hate the way animals are treated leading up to their deaths basically. Also, I want to see if it'll help me lose weight faster and lead to a healthier body. Problem is I really love chicken like a lot. I also hate most fish. I can sometimes go days without eating meat and not miss it, but if my family or friends are going out to eat I have to have meat. I've tried giving up beef before, but sometimes I actually forget when I'm eating it. I've also never been a big pork fan and have never had lamb. Anyways I'm rambling now, but to the vegetarians out there...is it worth it? I mean it'll be hard for me at first, but did you guys see results pretty quickly?

Fish isn't vegetarian, so hating fish won't be a problem.

You can find ethically-raised chicken if the way the animals are treated before death is your issue. If it's killing animals for food, period, which I respect (although I am not a vegetarian), then you will have to decide what matters more -- the ethical feelings or the desire to eat chicken.

Maybe try it for a period of time and see how it goes? I usually give up meat for Lent (fish too, even though you can eat that on Friday under normal "meatless" rules in my religion), and find it pretty easy to do, although I like meat and find it helpful enough from a nutritional perspective that I haven't yet felt compelled to give it up completely (how the animal is treated is more of an issue for me than killing it for food). (No weight loss results, FTR.)

As others have mentioned vegetarianism doesn't necessarily lead to weight loss. If you do try it dont just switch to pastas and rice dishes as I did at first, veggies will be your new best friend. Also, keep in mind this doesnt have to be an all or nothing kind of thing. If you can eat vegetarian most of the time, but feel the need to eat chicken or whatever while dining out with friends then do just that. I've had the occasional meat meal since transitioning and have to remind myself that it doesn't make me a failure. I have still cut out 99% of my meat consumption and that isn't something to be ashamed of. Try you best and forget the rest!

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I got fat as a vegetarian, stayed fat as a vegetarian, then lost weight as a vegetarian . . . so I'm pretty sure it's entirely irrelevant to weight loss.

It's also pretty annoying socially. Christmas dinner? You're the oddball. Dinner party? You're the bump in the road. Everyone in the group wants to go to the steakhouse or seafood restaurant? You're having long, earnest conversations with the wait-staff. None of this is in any way insurmountable, but if you're not committed to it for some Very Important Reason, I think it wouldn't be worth it. Consider simply minimizing meat, instead.

I've been vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for 42 years, since 1974. My late husband was a hunter, BTW,

I haven't found it annoying socially. Maybe this is regional, but I've never been to a restaurant that does not have at least one vegetarian option, including steakhouses or seafood restaurants. I eat in steakhouses and seafood restaurants often for work, and there is almost always at least one non-salad vegetarian entree. Of course, the vegetarian options are often after thoughts and often aren't the most amazing food, but they're there. Several times, I've had the waitstaff ask if I'm a vegetarian and give me additional options not on the menu or let me know that certain items could easily be modified. I've never had to have any sort of long or earnest conversation with the waitstaff.

As far as holiday dinners and dinner parties, all of the ones I've attended have had many non-meat sides and at the very minimum just a salad.

If you are concerned about the treatment of animals choose free range chicken.

queenliz99 wrote: »

Vegetarians can be overweight too! It's all about your calorie intake in whatever macros you see fit.

This. I was a fat vegetarian. I even ate 'clean'. I did it for ethical reasons, but my body didn't respond well to it even though I was supplementing and making sure to eat enough protien and fats.

Cutting foods out doesn't necessarily lead to weight loss.

pomegranatecloud wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I got fat as a vegetarian, stayed fat as a vegetarian, then lost weight as a vegetarian . . . so I'm pretty sure it's entirely irrelevant to weight loss.

It's also pretty annoying socially. Christmas dinner? You're the oddball. Dinner party? You're the bump in the road. Everyone in the group wants to go to the steakhouse or seafood restaurant? You're having long, earnest conversations with the wait-staff. None of this is in any way insurmountable, but if you're not committed to it for some Very Important Reason, I think it wouldn't be worth it. Consider simply minimizing meat, instead.

I've been vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for 42 years, since 1974. My late husband was a hunter, BTW,

I haven't found it annoying socially. Maybe this is regional, but I've never been to a restaurant that does not have at least one vegetarian option, including steakhouses or seafood restaurants. I eat in steakhouses and seafood restaurants often for work, and there is almost always at least one non-salad vegetarian entree. Of course, the vegetarian options are often after thoughts and often aren't the most amazing food, but they're there. Several times, I've had the waitstaff ask if I'm a vegetarian and give me additional options not on the menu or let me know that certain items could easily be modified. I've never had to have any sort of long or earnest conversation with the waitstaff.

OK, so I exaggerated a little. Like I said, it can work - I've done this for 42 years, almost twice as long as you've been alive, and I don't break down and eat meat at holidays or at restaurants or anything like that. But people with only a modest level of commitment to it really should think through the social implications. It's a consideration, but not an actual barrier.

As far as holiday dinners and dinner parties, all of the ones I've attended have had many non-meat sides and at the very minimum just a salad.

Of course. One informs potential at-home dinner hosts, offers to bring veggie main-dish sides, etc., and this takes a degree of confidence and assertiveness. If one doesn't pre-announce, some hosts will feel embarrassed, scramble for solutions, and other forms of awkwardness. I routinely socialize with non-veg folks, including holidays with very non-veg family. Some prospective vegetarians don't consider the social dimension. IMO, they should.