Vegetarian/Vegan ?'s - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

picksie · 06-03-2005, 09:51 AM

So I have been thinking A LOT about my diet, lifestyle, health, etc and have decided it's time to make some real overhauls where the food I put into my mouth is concerned. I have a lot of digestive/health issues and I have to attribute that mostly to what I eat, or maybe don't. Anyway, I have been doing some research on becoming vegetarian and maybe eventually vegan.

I guess I am curious how hard the transition is? I like a good steak and chicken breast and am a huge seafood/fish fan... I don't think I want to do this for the animal welfare reasons as much as the fact that the overall lifestyle seems to be a much healthier one than the average "american" diet.

Also, is weight loss synonymous with a veg diet? I haven't been the same since my two kids and maybe cutting out all that crap may help??? So far, it seems nothing else is working in that department, low carb, low cal, etc.

So I'm looking forward to hearing thoughts on this....

tdot · 06-03-2005, 10:13 AM

Becoming a vegetarian or vegan doesn't necissarily mean that you'll lose weight or be healthier. Learning to eat properly in general is probably what you need to do. I was a vegetarian for 7 years (13-20). I was a teenager and didn't know how to do it properly. I would just not eat meat. I ate some fish and chicken, but generally I just removed the meat from whatever I ate. I realize now that this was a silly/immature thing to do. I was a teenager and had no clue what I was doing.

My recommendation to you would be to try to limit your saturated/trans fat intake - you can do this by cutting down on the red meat you eat, and replacing it with better protein sources such as fatty fish to get omega-3 fatty acids, beans, lentils, tofu etc. That way you don't need to be fully vegan, but you are incoporating the foods that are the most beneficial for you from the vegan diet.

Basically what I do is only eat red meat once or twice a week. I try to limit my intake of processed meats and foods. I eat a lot of salmon, boneless skinless chicken breast, beans, lentils, chick peas, tofu and that way I get the best of both worlds. I get to have a nice steak once a week without feeling guilty about it, but I'm getting lots of good protein sources.

Does that make sense? This may not be the approach you want to take, but I have found it to work for me. Yes, I'm only 24 and haven't had kids, but I have Addison's disease and take steroids everyday and will for the rest of my life. I'm at a good weight and pleased with it.

Good luck!

mellowfish · 06-03-2005, 04:42 PM

If the diet you consume now is "crappy"- too much animal protein, dairy, fats, refined sugars/flours, and overcooked/canned veggies, and you make a fully educated transition to a vegetarian diet that is balanced with enough calories, you will almost certainly lose weight as a result of eating a clean healthy diet--this holds even more true with a proper vegan diet.

DO NOT think that vegetarian/vegan"ism" is an instant panacea for weight loss- although incorporating it into being a lifelong habit offers amazing benefits to your long-run health and will help your body maintain your "natural" weight.

When I first became a vegetarian I did it for my health, having studied nutrition for years it still took me about 18 months to make a full transition away from meat and other "unhealthy" (

) eating habits I had. I'm now vegan for many other reasons as well.

I do not eat ANY processed foods. I eat a lot of fruit, especially early on in the day, and most of my raw veggies I juice or pulverize in the Vita-mix, this makes undigestible fibers much easier on the digestive tract, not to mention my jaws. I consume a lot of whole grains- cereal grains can be cooked just like rice. Also beans, nuts/seeds, legumes, and soybean products. I love to cook, and I enjoy knowing my body is healthy because of the nutritious foods I put into it. If I season, I use only herbs and spices, sea salt, if ever used. The only oil I heat is extra-virgin olive, I eat this every day along flax oil and an avocado.

Making the switch is not easy, especially if you are cooking for other poeple. If you are able to try it for a week, then do so to see how you feel, it certainly won't hurt you

. Starting out it makes it easier if you plan in advance what you are going to eat for a whole day. Ther is a lot of good info on the WWW also. Regards.

Losec20mg · 06-03-2005, 05:46 PM

tdot you'r only 24

..wow you screamed at me along time ago..LOL I thought you were like 62..LOL..ok i said enough..vegetarian or vegan would be a long shot for me.. i eat just about any type of meat put there..mostly organic

..

chow

Datura · 06-03-2005, 07:23 PM

Depending on how fond of meat you are, you may want to quit cold turkey or slowly ween yourself off certain meats.

From personal experience, being vegetarian didn't result in any weight loss.