Could you lose weight by just becoming a vegetarian?

[Destinysdaughter]

I eat meat but am becoming more drawn to becoming vegetarian for both moral and health reasons but would also like to lose a stone in weight The only time I've really been successful on a diet is doing Atkins years ago when I lost 2 stone very easily but couldn't sustain it long term.it's also v meat heavy.

So wondered if anyone had successfully lost weight just by being vegetarian or is it too high in carbs?

[Evergreen777]

If you swap bacon and sausages for beans and tofu then you certainly can. If you swap lean chicken for cheese then not so likely

[Destinysdaughter]

What about beans and cheese...? Lol

[llangennith]

I have two friends who've been vegetarians for years. We're all in our 60s. They're as fat as I am. Size 22. So I'm not sure just not eating meat (and fish?) will be enough for you to lose any weight.

[NameChanger22]

I've been a vegetarian for over 30 years. In that time I've been a size 6 and a size 14 and every size in between. If I eat and eat all day long for years I become a size 14, but that's as fat as I can get. When I was a size 6 I exercised a huge amount and really restricted calories. I think size depends on how much cake and cheese on toast you eat. I know quite a few vegetarians and they're all overweight some very overweight; 2 out of the 3 vegans I know are overweight.

[traviata]

crisps, most chocolate, toast, some cheese, pasta, beer, wine- all vegetarian. (although some cheese is made with rennet and some wine is made with isinglass which is from fish).

I guess the only thing is that it might encourage you to be more thoughtful about what you are eating, and to lose weight that way.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Judging by the amount of vegetarian members of my Slimming World group I'd say no!

As a PP mentioned though, it really depends what you swap your meat for.

[Destinysdaughter]

Oh dear these are not good advertisements for being vegetarian!

[Lovelybangers]

Hmm...

Since turning vegetarian 6 months ago i have gone back up to my heavy weight - despite keeping up my usual exercise regime.

However I do like cheese, pastry, wine amd nuts. all high calorie items.

I suppose if an omnivore who ate a lot of take aways, burgers and ready meals turned veggie then the diet overhaul in itself might lead to weight loss?

In the end it's all down to calories in and energy out.

[Lovelybangers]

But- I do feel happier for not eating meat and fish. A clear conscience if you like.

Since the start of Jan I have resumed logging my food on My Fitness Pal to keep a record of what I actually do eat in a day.

Fingers crossed it might shake things up.

[Love51]

I was hoping this. I was skinny when I was veggie. I also biked everywhere, walked places at adult pace not toddler pace, and went out dancing at night instead of eating biscuits on the sofa.
It wasn't just not eating meat, was it?
I mainly ate pasta and vegetables. If I did it now it would be pastry and cheese.

[Destinysdaughter]

Yes it was not eat ing carbs that helped me to lose weight before ( which did ironically include more vegetables than I'd ever eaten before), just drawn to being a vegetarian as I don't want to eat animals any more. Unless I know they are responsibly sourced

[TwentyCups]

I've been vegetarian nearly my whole life. I've been every BMI between 17-26 (I've overcome a restrictive eating disorder). I'm now vegan and feel better than ever before.
I think being vegetarian has put a 'lid' of sorts on my weight gain in the past. Although there are many many bad things you can eat as a vegetarian, eating out, and certainly take aways can be harder to indulge in, and this can keep you in check. After all, there's far more choice from a typical kebab house and Chinese as a meat eater. I've often found I never wanted a greasy takeaway post pub - it was only ever going to be chips which never felt too worth the walk, wait or expense!!

I think being vegan is a healthier diet naturally - but only if you can cook and don't rely on pre packaged stuff. You'll need to rely heavily on lentils, beans, vegetables. It's an incredibly cheap way to eat, provided you cook from scratch.

Obviously, my eating issues in the past mean no way of eating is ever 'easy' but from an ethical standpoint I feel at ease by eating in the way which causes less harm. I feel no guilt over what I eat - which helps internal guilt.

Please PM me if you want to - I'm more than happy to share tips and recipes.

[Lorelei76]

I was very slim as vegetarian
It's taken me a while to make the link
I think I felt better on it so never ate junk or ate between meals
Now on veganuary but went off meat around mid December
Lost inch off waist since just before Xmas, now can see thighs slimming down
If I don't stick with being vegan I reckon I'll be vegetarian for life now
I think it's got to suit you though
I went right off meat and fish, some people would really miss it.

[Lorelei76]

Btw even on a vegan diet I haven't eaten any beans
Not a fan.

[Destinysdaughter]

I was veggie for a few months last year, mainly for financial reasons and I actually put on weight as I was eating a lot more carbs than normal, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes etc, I put weight on round my middle so high carb doesn't suit me.Guess we're all different.

[traviata]

I have been vegetarian (ok pescatarian sometimes) for 10 years and I still have a big flabby tum, a double chin and fat hips etc etc because i am greedy and because I indulge myself. It's very easy to find veggie treats, and to eat too much. Meat is not the issue.

I don't actually get takeaways but if I did - easy. Pizza? Margarita please. Maccie D? Fries and a bean burger. Indian? Loads of curries. Thai/ Chinese? Everything with tofu. Unlike a pp I would have got off the sofa just to waddle out for a bag of chips, so even the kebab house isn't safe.

[TwentyCups]

Beans were something I refused to eat for nearly 22 years! I eat them now because being vegan was important to me, and I couldn't find a simpler, cheaper alternative. I still can't stomach baked beans or kidney beans though! I managed the first few weeks without but was getting bored of my meals so decided to give them a try. If you want to try eating them - I found mashing them up first (as a filling for wraps etc) was a good way to get used to the flavour!

[Bluntness100]

Any vegitarians I know have all put on weight, lots of cheese, and lots of carbs, protein fills you up and it seems to fall down there when they cut it out,

Be veggie for ethical reasons. But it you think cutting out meat will make you slim, the odds are overwhelmingly you are mistaken, you will probably gain weight,

[Destinysdaughter]

Ooh I love beans! Especially black beans, fantastic in chilli. Yum

[Polkadotties]

I would balloon. I would eat too many carbs. I have PCOS and the only way I can maintain or loose weight is to lower my carbs right down

[Lorelei76]

Destiny what were your sources of protein? Also how are your portion sizes?

Im wondering how you'd find veggie on slimming world or something.

[Destinysdaughter]

Lots of beans also cheese. But main difference was the amount of carbs I was eating, think I can look at a bowl of pasta and put on weight! But steak, bacon, butter, cream etc with green veg and the weight just drops off me...

[Lorelei76]

I can't comment on beans but you'd need to eat a lot of cheese cals to get protein I think?
As a veggie I mostly had protein from eggs, tofu, yogurt, seeds, things like Linda McCartney veggie foods.
I weight train so I also have a protein powder shake about three times a week.

If you are wanting to do it for animals It might be worth reviewing what you ate. But just looking at the word steak gives me indigestion so I realise I'm not having a hard time there.
.

[Destinysdaughter]

I don't really know what to do with tofu! Don't have anything against it but don't know how to use it in cooking tbh

[Mummamayhem]

Yes but because you eat less in theory. Well I was veggie all my life till pregnant with me 1st child 5years ago. I'm easily 2 stone over my normal weight. There are more fried options with meat, more choice on menus, more fat on meat and where as I'd previously be happy with chips and mushy peas..I now want battered cod.