Weight loss for vegetarians

[LargeInCharge]

Hello!
I’ve been a vegetarian nearly all my life and I want to lose weight to be healthier (and to look better in my clothes) so I thought I’d create a space where fellow veggies (and vegans too) can share their weight loss journeys, food ideas, recipes and how they are feeling.

I started my journey on Tuesday so this is day 4 for me. My daily calorie limit is 1200.

Weight - 15st 4 (weighed on day 1)
Height - 5’ 9
Goal weight - 10st 7

How I gained weight - not exercising, eating crisps, cake, too many carbs and booze.
Positive changes - trying to be more active, ditched the crisps, cake and booze. Limiting my carbs as much as I can.

No pressure to reveal weight or anything that’s personal to you.

Good luck. 🥗🌽🥦🥬🥕🥒🫑🥑🥭🍅🍑🍓🍌🥥🫐

[LargeInCharge]

Total calories today - 1126.

Today didn’t seem as hard as the previous three days. I’ll still update here as my accountability.

I’m going to dust my rowing machine off and use it this weekend.

[Inchagoill]

Hi!

Mind if I join you? This is the first time I've ever seriously tried to lose weight. My self discipline is shocking, especially when it comes to crisps. I have never managed to shed the weight since my last baby (now 6 1/2!).

I'm 5'10. Current weight: 79kg or 12st 6. Ideal weight: 10st - 10.5st (my usual adult weight). I'd be happy to get to 11st in the first instance though.

I don't actually eat loads and also don't drink that much alcohol. I think my issue is a) CRISPS b) much less active in the last year - gone from a very active job to not working and my new job is work from home c) I'm bored with my meals - stuck in a rut, need some fresh ideas, after I've cooked for non-veggie dd and dh and multiple allergy dd I can't be arsed to make myself anything (enter the crisps later in the evening...).

I would love to be inspired with new meal ideas. I am doing a brisk 1.5hr walk with my friend 3 days a week and I did enjoy the Les Mills Dance videos so I may try and do them most of the other days. I need to up my core strength too so trying to do a few core exercises every day. I just need to stick to this. However, even with my active job before and less snacking, I still couldn't get past the 12st mark so I need to do something different.

@LargeInCharge how do you go about losing weight? Do you follow a particular plan like WW or SW or do you just calorie count?

Looking for inspiration!

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Hello. I'd love to join.

Weight: 13st.
Height: 5ft 3ish
Goal weight: 10st 1.

I used to regulate my weight relatively well when I lived alone but have put on 3 stone since my partner moved in.

So part of what I need to do is refuse food I'm offered, and try to work out healthy options when she orders take-aways.

I've lately been trying to cook more - usually she cooks.

Also, I eat a fair amount of crisps if left to my own devices.

My usual exercise before dp moved in was swimming - I went most days and only swam for 20 minutes or so, but felt it made a difference. Now we walk but if I walk with dp I don't walk at a pace where my heart rate is in the 'fat burn' zone.

Really not trying to be horrible about dp at all. Just I struggle with adjusting to change and also with being assertive.

I've been reading low-calorie recipe books like 2 chubby cubs, pinch of nom, fast 800 and have been finding that really useful. For eg I made tofu steaks, roast cauliflower, roast chickpeas and salad and everyone (5 of us to feed) enjoyed it.

Apparently the children will eat anything tofu related. I used to caramelise it (so, lots of sugar) but I made mapo dofu from the 2 chubby cubs book and that was actually eaten which is exciting.

I made toad in the hole from PON's quick and easy book with richmond vegetarian sausages which are so lovely.

Baba Ghanoush from Fast 800 also.

I have recently acquired a foodi 9 in 1 so I make a lot of things in that including egg fried rice with no oil.

One thing I struggle with is that I don't like brown rice. I would prefer no carbs at all. I like white rice or noodles. Could potentially look into wholewheat noodles as I could maybe manage those.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Everyone also loved the blueberry pie porridge from 2 chubby cubs. That set us up for the day - we went on a walk up a hill after that and I wasn't hungry at all.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

twochubbycubs.com/category/vegetarian/ There's so many recipes here. The book I have is 'fast and filling' and it was 99p on kindle.
I've also recently bought Zaika by romy gill and Healthy Indian Vegetarian - both on kindle for 99p when I got them.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Apologies for multiple posts.
thefast800.com/easy-frittata-feta-pea-and-mint/
I should really make more frittatas. I don't like them much but dp eats them and so do dc.

[Inchagoill]

Hi!

Your meals sound amazing and right up my street - I shall look them up! Please do share some cooking tips for tofu though - I have never enjoyed it but I don't think I'm doing it right. I have found this 7 day 1500kcals veggie meal plan which looks good so I may give it a bash.

Good luck to all of us!

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

The main thing is to dry tofu out, then get a crust on it frying with some spices.
I buy the tofooo kind (recently cheap in morrisons, forget how many o's).
I pat it dry in good kitchen paper, chop it, pat it dry again.
Fry in some spray oil until golden with eg black pepper or chilli etc. Then do stuff to it.
It does not taste good without titivation.
Soft tofu never really tastes good imo but if you chop it into tiny cubes it is very earnest in miso soup.

[LargeInCharge]

Welcome @Inchagoill and @SuperLoudPoppingAction yes please join! The more the merrier.

Crisps are my downfall too, especially Walkers. Not had any since Tuesday and I hope I can stay away from them.

I’m calorie counting and my limit is 1200.

Thanks for the recipe ideas, I like the idea of tofu steak and roast cauliflower. I’m a bit of a lazy cook to be honest and just tend to steam veg but I really should motivate myself to try new things.

Good luck and feel free to post as much as you like.

[Inchagoill]

www.eatingwell.com/article/289024/7-day-vegetarian-meal-plan-1500-calories/

oops - forgot the link

[Inchagoill]

Thanks for the tofu tips @SuperLoudPoppingAction
Thanks for the welcome @LargeInCharge

[LargeInCharge]

I’ll definitely give tofu another try.

I tried this recipe recently, it’s really filling and easy to make. I’m not a dressing fan so I used a tablespoon of olive oil with salt and pepper.
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lentil_cherry_tomato_and_02234

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

My salad today is going to be the same as yesterday I think.
Slightly weird mix based on what Olio left me with.

Chopped celery, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella, basil with A Lot of balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil and black pepper.

I'm quite glad of the warm weather because it makes me more predisposed to salads.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Another weird thing I enjoyed recently was in the Fast 800 book. It was a muffin recipe but essentially just butterbeans and eggs with some chives in (from memory). But I added a cup of SR flour and some milk. So they actually rose like an actual muffin. I want to try them again with chilli and sweetcorn.
They were properly filling and the closest I've found to something to combat the crisp craving. And again, all the children liked them.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

Can I join? I started eating less last August and have been slowly losing weight since. I'm 5'7 and started at about 13 and a half stone (I didn't weigh myself back then). I'm 10 and a half now but would love to lose another half a stone. I'm kind of very loosely calorie counting - I don't weigh anything but I think I'm eating no more than 1800 calories a day. I've stopped buying crisps and biscuits as I have no self control. Thank you for the link to recipes posted on here - they all look lovely. I really need to expand my repertoire. I was thinking about buying the Joe Wicks veggie Lean in 15 book. Has anyone got it?

[purplegirl13]

I struggle sometimes as it's just me and it is so very, very easy to go for easy carbs like pasta and bread. I am trying to cook more asian food - with a focus of tofu dishes to up my protein intake.

I am happy to eat rice and potatoes, and am doing my best to limit bread and pasta whilst calorie counting.

Soups are a great option for low calorie lunches

[LargeInCharge]

Welcome @Yourownpersonaljesus and @purplegirl13

I’ll look into Joe Wicks book, thanks for the suggestion. I also want a Fast 800 book but with just veggie recipes.

I had soup for lunch today and yesterday. I boil an egg put it in the soup for a bit of extra protein.

I hope everyone’s doing well this weekend.

[LargeInCharge]

Yesterday’s calories - 1193
I did over 6000 steps.

I don’t usually have breakfast but today I felt particularly hungry so I thought why not?
I had quorn bacon with scrambled eggs and chives, a coffee and now I’m slurping a Pepsi max cherry. Calories so far 209.

[purplegirl13]

thanks for the welcome @LargeInCharge.

5"1
SW: 10st8.8
CW: 10st4
GW: 8st7

I'm normally on the shorties thread but thought posting on here for veggie ideas would be helpful. I am making a conscious effort to increase my protein intake. Over the year, I have tried to stop eating as much quorn as would like to eat a bit more 'natural' and decrease processed foods. So getting protein from lentils, beans, yogurts, tofu etc

Have really enjoyed quite a few tofu recipes from here choosingchia.com/

B - nothing
L - cheesy scrambled eggs with avocado
D - am going to try this tonight choosingchia.com/sweet-and-sour-tofu/ with some added mushrooms & spinach, served with jasmine rice.

Weight gain was mostly due to lack of portion control (especially carbs), far too much cheese, wine and a noticeable lack of movement since last March. I am aiming for at least 3 x 10k steps a week, am calorie counting 1330 per day. 1200 felt too low and I regularly went over by 80 - 100.

Have had steady losses. Not so much this week last week as TOM.

Wishing you all a good day

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

I had my dad over today for lunch - first time I'd seen him since Christmas.

I made 2 things from the fast 800 easy cookbook - the muffins (again, added some milk and 1 cup of sr flour, and also sweetcorn and chilli - they were nice), and also a crustless quiche.
Served with salad and crispy potatoes for folk.

The fast 800 easy book has a lot of veggie stuff. The meat is nicely sectioned off and as it's on kindle I can skip those bits.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Have posted the roasted cauliflower recipe from fast800 easy and suddenly reminded myself I was going to add some to our salad :(.

I am not some kind of fast 800 promotional bot. I'm aiming for 1250ish calories a day. I just think they have some good recipes.

[purplegirl13]

@SuperLoudPoppingActionb thanks for that recipe. I roasted my first cauliflower last week - used a nando's garlic sauce to marinate the cauliflower but no surprise it had quite a high sodium level. Okay for occasional use but I do want to try other spices and herbs to coat the cauliflower instead.

It sounds like you prepared a lovely lunch.

I made this for dinner choosingchia.com/sweet-and-sour-tofu/ and I did use half the sugar stated so will up it next time. It was ok, but not as nice as choosingchia.com/orange-tofu/ which I've made a few times.

I now have sweet and sour tofu prepared for 2 more dinners - I might freeze one portion and see how it holds up. I get bored eating the same thing more than 2 days in a row.

[Neolara]

I have Joe Wick's veggie Lean in 15. I haven't cooked a single thing from it. I think the recipes don't look particularly healthy, interesting or tasty. Which was disappointing.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

@Neolara

I have Joe Wick's veggie Lean in 15. I haven't cooked a single thing from it. I think the recipes don't look particularly healthy, interesting or tasty. Which was disappointing.

That's a shame. I particularly liked the 15 part - I don't feel like spending too long preparing dinner when I get in from work. Thanks for replying to my question.

[LargeInCharge]

I ordered some tofu and various sauces for marinades and some high protein yoghurts and cottage cheese to make it easier to hit my protein goals. I ordered a cauliflower too to roast.

I found today a bit harder, maybe because I had breakfast or maybe it was just one of those hungrier days.