Someone please give me peace of mind

[Rubyslippers8]

I’ve been on a vegan diet for about 3 weeks now.
It’s going really well no cravings so far and no cheats as of yet.
The trouble is, I feel huge! I’m not weighing myself so I don’t know if I’ve put on weight
But I feel the biggest I’ve ever felt.
I’m even starting to feel self conscious when out.

I’m eating really healthy, mainly whole foods. no junk food.
and really mindful of portion

Can someone help me shed some light on this, I feel massive bit on the other hand really happy that I’m eating what I thought was really well.

Bloating?

Also, just to add I’m doing some light exercise more walking daily for around an hour

@LabelMaker

Bloating?

It could be, I don’t just feel bloated though I actually feel I’ve gained at least a stone!

You know you are going to have to weigh yourself, although if you don't know what your start weight was just probably won't help for the last 3 weeks, just for the future weeks.
Are you eating more bread / pasta / cereal / sugar?
Are you going to the toilet?

Yeah I know I’m going to have to, was just trying to avoid it.
No, no extra starchy foods.
I am going to the toilet though, definitely less frequent

I don't need the scale to tell me if I have put a kilo or two, my clothes tell me. Are you still able to close zip or buttons on trousers and skirts?

Tell us what you are eating. To put a stone in three weeks, you must be eating a lot of nuts, snacky food, crisps of some sort, nut butter, .. instead of kale, tomatoes, lentils, quinoa, tofu, cabbage, ...

Give us an example of what you eat, how often and how much.

A healthy vegan diet should make you poo a lot, I think. It contains lots of roughage, fibre, watery veg...

It could be adjusting to the extra fibre - you would think it would have the opposite effect but it can make you a bit backed up.

I’m really confused then.
I’m avoiding all junk food and refined sugar.

This is what I’m more or less currently eating

Breakfast
Porridge with oat milk
Some blueberries and strawberries and sultanas

Lunch
Wholemeal pitta with spinach lettuce tomatoes cucumber radish sweetcorn and falafel
Some Mayo/houmous

Dinner
Bean chilli/ mushroom Bolognese/ veg curry
With brown rice/whole meal pasta

Snacks
Fruit/ nakd bar

Lots of water and about 2 cups of tea

Could it be that my portions are just too big? I thought I was being really mindful but possibly not as I can’t think of any other explanation

@Burgerqueenbee

It could be adjusting to the extra fibre - you would think it would have the opposite effect but it can make you a bit backed up.

I’m definitely going less frequently I’m hoping it’s just my body adjusting

It’s probably the amount of carbs that a typical vegan diet requires.

Oats at breakfast, bread at lunch, rice at dinner time.

Not that I think a well balanced vegan diet is unhealthy, quite the contrary, but the high amount of carbs makes me gain weight really quickly.

Small weight changes, when close to a healthy weight, I can tell purely from my clothes or jewellery. So I'm guessing OP started plump or she would know without weighing?

Of course people can gain weight on vegan diet, my cousin probably has.

I've put on weight since becoming vegan, I can't really understand it as I used to eat a lot of butter, cheese etc. I'd guess it could be portion sizes + amount of cards as I don't snack, eat junk or have a sweet tooth.

@Appliancedesparation

I've put on weight since becoming vegan, I can't really understand it as I used to eat a lot of butter, cheese etc. I'd guess it could be portion sizes + amount of cards as I don't snack, eat junk or have a sweet tooth.

I am very overweight already and before I was eating so bad although I’ve been vegetarian for years. I was eating loads of cheese, butter pastries pasta.

I’ve cut all that out except a much smaller portion of pasta. This is why it doesn’t make sense!
The only explanation I can think is I must be overloading on bread and brown rice.

I’m going to bulk on veg more and cut down on carbs.
And maybe just give it more time hopefully it’s partly bloating and my body getting used to it

Your meals are very hearty, so maybe focus, as others have said, on the VEG part of VEGan. Vegetables should be the bulk, not a side, and maybe switch to rolled oats, instead of porridge.
Soups for dinner, salads for lunch, ...