Would I do better if I stopped being vegetarian??
20carrots
Posts: 279 Member
I know it's probably an excuse but I feel like all the magazines show chicken wraps, rice w/fish etc as great, filling meals and I'm basically a carb-atarian. Would I do better if I started eating meat again? Or is this totally an excuse??
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Replies
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Honest answer? Probably. It's possible to eat healthy with any diet, but it's also possible to eat unhealthily with any diet.
Why did you become vegetarian? Did you assume that vegetarian automatically means healthy? If that's the case, than you'd probably be better off adding meat back into your diet, and balancing what you eat.
Arbitrarily cutting out one food source doesn't help anything out. If you have a specific reason to cut out meat, it's one thing, but if you just do it because you think it will automatically make you healthy, well it won't.0 -
From my experience (I was a vegetarian for 20 years): YES!!! It is tough to lose weight without meat in my opinion. I was class 2 obese even during my vegetarian years and did eat healthy. Just too much and especially too many carbs. It is way easier to eat a full meal with a good level of calories when you eat and reduced the carbs.
I also had a lot of issues (mostly with my stomach) that disappeared within only a few months after eating meat again.
And meat is sooooo good!!! I can't believe I was a vegetarian and for that long. I love meat now!0 -
I know it's probably an excuse but I feel like all the magazines show chicken wraps, rice w/fish etc as great, filling meals and I'm basically a carb-atarian. Would I do better if I started eating meat again? Or is this totally an excuse??
There are many filling meals that are vegetarian. I've found that substituting veggie products for meat products has really opened up a lot of variety in my diet. I can have a veggie BLT, veggie sloppy joe, veggie chicken stir fry, veggie beef tips...it just takes a little creativity in the kitchen. However, I'm a vegetarian for ethical reasons. I'll never go back to eating meat. If you choose to remain a vegetarian, you can find many meat-alternatives to use in those filling meal recipes in magazines.
Whatever you choose, make sure it's right for you.0 -
Honest answer? Probably. It's possible to eat healthy with any diet, but it's also possible to eat unhealthily with any diet.
Why did you become vegetarian? Did you assume that vegetarian automatically means healthy? If that's the case, than you'd probably be better off adding meat back into your diet, and balancing what you eat.
Arbitrarily cutting out one food source doesn't help anything out. If you have a specific reason to cut out meat, it's one thing, but if you just do it because you think it will automatically make you healthy, well it won't.
All of this. Any diet can be unhealthy, whether it be lactose free, meat free, dairy free, etc.
When I found out I was gluten intolerant, I thought "I'm not eating wheat and gluten products anymore, I'm gonna lose a ton of weight!" Not the case. I discovered gluten free bread and pasta products and pretty much ate just as crappy, just sans gluten.
If you are a vegetarian for moral reasons and really do not want to incorporate meat back into your diet, examine ways to make your meat-free diet healthier. Otherwise, meat isn't the enemy 0 -
I actually considered becoming a vegetarian because I thought it would of been healthier. Meat's are really high in protein, even just adding a bit of meat to an already medium to high protein meal will do wonders.
Just 20 minutes ago I had 3 eggs scrambled with 100g of chicken breast. Only as a snack to keep me going till dinner which I will only be having a stir fry and salmon fillet which really the veggies aren't that filling on it's own. The salmon is just another protein source and it tastes great
From that snack or small meal for some people gave me 49g of protein alone. It was quick and easy to make and it tasted really good.
EDIT: I know some people will disagree, but I also use Quorn products. It's still quite high in protein and it's meat free. I enjoy the best of both worlds.0 -
You would do better if you ate more protein and less carbs and sugar.
If you are vegetarian, that means much more beans, especially moth beans, tofu and milk.0 -
That depends on why you're a carb-etarian. I know a lot of vegetarians that eat a lot of noodles, pasta, rice and such. But you don't have to. When I was veggie I ate a lot of beans, tofu, stir fry without rice, chilis, etc. You can have plenty of vegetarian dishes without depending on massive amounts of carbs. They should just be a side dish like in any other meal, IMO. If you want a tofu stir fry and you don't want the rice to be center stage, add more veggies. Same with noodle dishes. If you like wraps, then make them. But use more vegetables and beans and don't eat extra wraps. Just fill them up with more filling beans.
HTH0 -
I thought being a vegetarian had something to do with your beliefs regarding the food industry. Wouldn't you betray everything you believe in if your stopped being a vegetarian?
As for great vegetarian recipes, try to look at Chinese and Indian recipes. They have been vegetarians for much longer than people in the West and their recipes usually are amazing.0 -
I don't eat meat or poultry, but I do eat fish, and manage to eat moderate levels of carbs. I have had no problems losing weight. Depends why you gave up eating meat in the 1st place I suppose.0
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I'm not sure anyone but you can answer that question. I usually lose more weight the less meat I eat, especially non-fish meat. But I am quite happy eating vegetables and brown rice just about every day. And I love tofu, beans, almonds and peanut butter so protein is not a problem.
Eating meat or not eating meat - neither of these is a magic bullet to weight loss or health. A chicken wrap has no advantage over a wrap made with tofu, hummus or other non-meat protein.
The things that usually ruin a diet have nothing to do with meat. They are usually (but not always) sugar or processed carbs.0 -
I'm assuming you became vegetarian for the heck of it and not because you are concerned about the welfare of farm animals...I don't think you would be posing the question if it were the latter. Anyways, yeah you would probably have an easier time getting your protein in with fewer calories when you are able to eat chicken, shrimp, etc.0
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I thought being a vegetarian had something to do with your beliefs regarding the food industry. Wouldn't you betray everything you believe in if your stopped being a vegetarian?
People can become vegetarian for more reasons than just that. We went vegetarian to save money and boost eating healthier.
@OP We added meat back into our diet on weekends only and still try to do vegetarian through the week, I lost some weight when we went vegetarian .. I just wasn't eating as many calories as normal and taking out a whole food group (we took out meat, dairy, and oils) will let you lose weight for a little while, but I am still losing weight even while eating meat. I think it really falls down to what fits your lifestyle. If you aren't happy or are really curious .. give it a try for a month and see how you feel.0 -
A higher protein diet when you're trying to lose weight is a big plus, no doubt about that.0
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I think yes, it opens up a whole new arena of variety for you. If you are getting bored with what you're eating, especially if it's not keeping you full, you're much more likely to overeat. I have heard from a few (precisely 2, I dont know many) former veggies. they say starting to incorporate meat back into your diet can be rough on your GI tract. from what i understand, don't just jump right to a steak. Start out with an ounce or two of fish (smoked salmon, shrimp, scallops, clams, squid are easy to obtain and cook in small amounts) in a day, slowly working your way up to more and more complex poultry and then finally red meat. or feel free to continue to exclude red meat. it's supposed to be the least healthy option (though we just had lovely steak last night for dinner).
Just make sure that whatever you do, watch your total calorie intake. as far as weight gain/loss is concerned it's in vs. out, so make sure you don't end up putting on weight or stopping your loss by adding animal protein.0 -
I am vegetarian and does not eat rice, pasta, bread, and basically nothing that contains flour due to intestinal problems, and I lose weight easily. I fill up on beans, lentils, quinoa, that sort of thing.
Of course you need to be creative to fulfill all your dietary needs, like protein, iron, vitamins and stuff, but once you've gotten over not being able to eat what you used to, there is no problem.
That being said, you should do what you think will work best for you. If you drool whenever you see a chicken wing, you should probably go back to being a meat-eater
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You're confusing vegetarian with vegan.I thought being a vegetarian had something to do with your beliefs regarding the food industry. Wouldn't you betray everything you believe in if your stopped being a vegetarian?
As for great vegetarian recipes, try to look at Chinese and Indian recipes. They have been vegetarians for much longer than people in the West and their recipes usually are amazing.0 -
For awhile I used to be a Pescatarian, where the only kind of meat I ate was seafood. So if you try that it may help, since seafood is generally good for you.0
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Well I can tell you I would do better! Don't know how anybody lives without all that yummy protien in their lives. haha Not sure about the diet thing, but I do know when I am trying to veggie my way through the day I am hungry all day...good luck!0
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Why did you become vegetarian? Did you assume that vegetarian automatically means healthy? If that's the case, than you'd probably be better off adding meat back into your diet, and balancing what you eat.
That's that big question!!! I'm a vegetarian. It will be 2 years in July. I didn't make the change for weight loss, or even health reasons, but I can tell you that I am just now learning to make healthy vegetarian meal choices. It was not easy. It still is not easy sometimes, but it is a lifestyle that I am now dedicated to, so it is worth it for me.
Feel free to add me as a friend and take a look at my food diary. Please note, that I am NOT a perfectly healthy eater. I am on a journey just like many others, but I do try to make good choices. Some days I succeed. Others... not so much.0 -
I got fat being a vegetarian. seriously no joke, I was a thin person who decided to become a vegetarian after a decade of it I was officially a fat person so I gave it up and started to eat meat again, stabalized (aka stopped gaining) have yoyo dieted for years since all of which I might have been able to avoid if I had just known that my body doesn't respond well to carbs.0
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:huh: Thanks everyone. I know it is a personal decision and I shouldn't look at eating meat as a magic bullet, but I feel like I'll need to replace all the carbs and sugar I eat with something. The "irony" I guess is I did go veg a LONG time ago for ethical reasons...I guess I'm obviously struggling with whether that is still as important to me.
I "flirt" with eating meat all the time and can never go through with it. I just wonder if I'd feel more full if I ate more protein and less carbs. DH seems to be filled up much more easily on meat.
:huh:0 -
You would do better if you ate more protein. Most vegetarians don't get enough protein because they think "oh, I can just eat a lot of pasta". That's how my sister was. You just have to get smart about your choices, just like a carnivore would. I didn't get enough protein before I started counting calories.
You just have to figure out what good proteins you want to incorporate. Legumes, beans (black, chickpea/garbanzo, pinto, kidney), whole grains (whole wheat, oats, barley, quinoa), greek yogurt, whole milk, etc.0 -
Hi!
I am vegan and am doing great. I have never been obese or anything. I have been veg for 9 years now.
Any diet could be unhealthy... I could be a vegan and eat Oreos and chips all day.
There are plenty of veg foods which would decrease your carb load and increase protein: tofu, seitan, tempeh, TVP. I am not sure how you eat but if you are a vegetarian, you should be consuming lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low fat dairy, and sensible fats.
This should give you results. I don't believe that meat is necessary to losing weight.0 -
I've found that substituting veggie products for meat products has really opened up a lot of variety in my diet. I can have a veggie BLT, veggie sloppy joe, veggie chicken stir fry, veggie beef tips...it just takes a little creativity in the kitchen.I know it's probably an excuse but I feel like all the magazines show chicken wraps, rice w/fish etc as great, filling meals and I'm basically a carb-atarian. Would I do better if I started eating meat again? Or is this totally an excuse??
YES! I love love love love love veggie sloppe joes
Mmmm! 0 -
I thought being a vegetarian had something to do with your beliefs regarding the food industry. Wouldn't you betray everything you believe in if your stopped being a vegetarian?
As for great vegetarian recipes, try to look at Chinese and Indian recipes. They have been vegetarians for much longer than people in the West and their recipes usually are amazing.
Bingo0 -
I know for a fact you can do just fine being vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for about 8 years and was my heaviest because I ate too much cheese and other high fat foods and didn't know anything about portion sizes. I lost the most weight when I went vegan because I portioned out my meals ahead of time and got plenty of protein from nuts, certain grains, tofu, and beans. You can do it. Talk to a nutritionist if you have the money or search around on the internet for healthy vegetarian meals.0
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I will be brutally honest - stop looking for silver bullets. Being a vegetarian or not being a vegetarian won't change a thing if you're not sticking to proper nutritional intake. I lost weight while I was a vegetarian, I lost weight while I was an omnivore. You need to make sure you're getting enough protein, fiber, water, and not too many calories. This is no matter what the food sources are.
If you're a vegetarian who eats nothing but pasta, that will shoot you in the foot incredibly fast. Try seitan, tempeh, tofu, beans, nuts, seeds, egg and milk (if you're lacto/ovo) to get your protein levels up. Make sure you get fats to help keep you feeling satiated. Just don't go over on calories.0 -
I was a vegetarian for 10 years but I started eating fish a couple years ago. Upping the protein does make me feel "fuller". If you eat eggs, I would suggest trying to incorporate them every day. I do 1 whole egg and two egg whites (to keep the fat down). Try getting more vegetarian protein for a week or two and see if you feel better.
As for the moral dilemma, only you can answer that for yourself.:huh: Thanks everyone. I know it is a personal decision and I shouldn't look at eating meat as a magic bullet, but I feel like I'll need to replace all the carbs and sugar I eat with something. The "irony" I guess is I did go veg a LONG time ago for ethical reasons...I guess I'm obviously struggling with whether that is still as important to me.
I "flirt" with eating meat all the time and can never go through with it. I just wonder if I'd feel more full if I ate more protein and less carbs. DH seems to be filled up much more easily on meat.
:huh:0 -
I hate to say it, but yes, eat meat. I was a vegetarian and I struggled to lose weight for a very long time without any success. Seven years ago, prior to being vegetarian, I lost 70 pounds on South Beach Diet (which includes plenty of animal protein, vegetables, whole grains and moderate fruit). I made the decision to return to this way of eating in October, and will do so until I am a healthy weight. It was a choice between my life and ethical eating. I chose to save my own life. I must admit that I was filled with guilt and gagged on the meat the first week. But, after adding meat to my diet and eliminating simple carbohydrates the weight began falling off. I have lost 35 pounds so far, and am half way to my goal weight.
I plan to return to vegetarianism as soon as I reach my goal. It is the right thing to do, and the healthiest (I should also mention that the weight I am in the process of losing now was gained during pregnancy, several years before becoming vegetarian, and is in no way the result of eating a vegetarian diet). In the mean time, I only buy meat that is rated "4" at Whole Foods. I buy bison/buffalo instead of beef because I am hoping that they are raised and slaughtered a bit more ethically than cows (I have nothing but my own assumption to back this up). I also recommend "Vital Farms" eggs - they claim to have "happy hens" that you can even view on a webcam. You can research ethical dairy farms online, but Organic Valley has a good rating and is easy to find. Trying my best not to buy from factory farms has eased my decision (somewhat).
Right now your health comes first. Choose you! Once you have lost the weight you will serve as a great example of a healthy vegetarian lifestyle. Maybe the example you set will win others over to vegetarianism. Just make sure you find your way back!
Best Wishes!!
Kim
P.S If you or anyone else reading this would be inclined, please feel free to add me as a friend0 -
Yes! Remember, Humans are not herbervous. We are meant to eat meat. I bet you will feel better if you got your protein from lean meats and not beans.0
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