Any vegan or lacto-ovo success stories?

hemlock2010 · May 2012

I'm leaning toward cutting out meat (for health reasons but also because the more I know about how meat is produced in the US the yuckier it seems), but all my weight loss so far has been achieved by eating a lot more protein and a loss less carbs. I'd like to hear success stories from people who eat little or no meat.

Thanks!

alladream · May 2012

I can't say I've lost tremendous weight so far (other health issues have kept me at the same size for a while), but have been vegetarian for several decades and can mention some great sources of protein for you: quorn roasts, made of mushroom protein and egg white protein, very satisfying, and many kinds of sprouts have 35% protein and more (look them up for detail), and if you like burgers, lightlife brand tastes and feels good and satisfying. I generally make something every week that I call a 'hobo stew' out of whatever is around, like quorn roast, organic vegetables, soup or sauce or whatever, and put in quinoa or lentils, and they always come out really rich and tasty, and can be eaten alone or with whatever you want. I hope this is some help to you--

nkziv · May 2012

I lost 8 pounds when I went back to college and started being vegan last year. I was already pretty lean-- I'm 5'8" and weighed 130, and I got down to 122 pounds, which was almost too thin for me. About midway through the year I went back to being vegetarian (and ate more desserts as a result), and I went back up to 130, where I am now. This is still a healthy weight for me, but I'm going vegan again this summer to make cutting calories a little easier so I can lose maybe 5 more pounds.

You can gain or lose weight on a vegan diet, but it definitely gives you an excuse to refuse food, especially in social situations, without having to explicitly say that you are on a diet.

Veganism is also morally in line with my values since I'm an animal lover, and a lot of dairy cows and laying hens are abused badly and victims of a mass production system. So I say go vegan!! Eat more nuts and fall in love with seitan (the meatiest meat substitute out there--it's really delicious if you prepare it well.) Then you'll be good on the protein front and the weight will probably fall off!

WhitneyAnnabelle · May 2012

I've been able to go off of two medications since becoming vegan. There's just something about it that works for me.

Cocochickdeleted · May 2012

Well, I became a lacto-ovo vegetarian in November, and since then, I have lost over 30 pounds. I did restrict calories to lose weight, of course, but I found that I never had to go hungry because I could eat a lot more fruits and veggies to meet my calorie goal. So yes, it can be done. I like the way I feel eating a plant based diet. It's easy to tell how good I feel after splurging on a highly processed (albeit meat-free) Mexican dinner on Cinco de Mayo. It was definitely NOT worth it.

angelashay42 · May 2012

I'm a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) and I've lost 20 lbs. I love being a vegetarian and can't imagine going back. My doctor says I'm the healthiest she's ever seen me. Normal blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, and BMI.

hemlock2010 · May 2012

Thanks!!

VanadiumOxide · May 2012

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I've been lacto-ovo for years now and have been losing weight. There are good veg sources of protein - beans, for example, or eggs for non-vegans. Carbs are a problem for most Americans, I think, but they can be a food trap for vegetarians as well (I used to call myself a carbatarian), but I think everything in moderation is fine. You can definitely manage a healthy lifestyle that includes weight loss without eating meat. I eat egg beaters or Greek yogurt for breakfast most days and eat a meal that includes beans & legumes, tofu, or tempeh most days for lunch and dinner. Lots of fruits and veggies help too, of course, as do very complex carbohydrates such as sprouted bread.

mrf330 · May 2012

Hi,

I've been vegan for almost a year now. I've lost weight, but have only just joined this site.

I was concerned about getting enough protein when I went vegan, but find it hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be. There are a lot of vegan protein options, and I'd say the best bet is to look at a list and try different options to find ones you like and can incorporate into your eating.

Regular protein sources include whole grains, legumes, soy products (tofu, milk, tempeh, etc), nut,s and nut butters.

There are a lot of websites with information on vegan sources of protein (and other nutrients). This one has a quick list for you.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/25-vegan-sources-for-protein.html?page=3 (I have no affiliation with the site).

Good luck.

SuccessThisTime · May 2012

Hi. I would definitely encourage you to give up meat and go the plant based (or plant strong) route. A good website for health and other information is: fok.com which stands for "forks over knives", which is a documentary that was made last year. Very informative and interesting.

I went vegan a few years ago, and recently just lost 10 lbs. in the last few months. It's been kind of slow for me, but I tend to have a slower metabolism. If you stick to the good carbs--fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, etc., it shouldn't make that much of a difference in your weight loss, and the health benefits are tremendous. I've never felt better!

Best of luck and congrats for taking charge of your health in such a positive way!!

Any vegan or lacto-ovo success stories?

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