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?

Tofu is nice in a stir fry or Thai red or green curry! The firm tofu packed in water is best for a curry/on kebab skewers with veggies etc. The silken tofu in cardboard (dried food aisle, cheaper!) is good in stir fry, or it can be scrambled in a pan, very very similar to eggs!

I have gone back to being veggie to lose weight, and it works. (You do have to still eat healthy food) but it def makes me stop and hint about what I am eating and meal plan etc so I enjoy that healthy food.

Think

Tofu is my favourite food. I don't really like the kind you buy in supermarkets because it's too sloppy and hard to prepare, although it can be good for making sauces with. I really love the kinds that our Asian supermarket sells. They sell friend tofu which is amazing in a katsu curry or any kind of curry or stew. They also sell five spice tofu, which has a yummy flavour and can be sliced and put into stir fry etc.

I think Asian supermarkets in general are great for getting lots of lovely vegetarian ingredients.

Have a look into eating a paleo-vegan (pegan) style diet... lots of healthy vegetables, fruits, nuts, avocados etc and cutting out the junky refined flours, sugars and processed foods. You could add in a little wild caught fish/venison/local lamb etc if you wish, but make over 50% of the plate a big pile of steamed veg or salad.

drhyman.com/blog/2014/11/07/pegan-paleo-vegan/

I've been pescatarian for two years, I've not lost weight. I rarely eat fish, so seem to eat more nuts and cheese (I craved them, didn't eat much of them before, I must have needed protein). Plus I still eat a lot of biscuits and crap. Now I've got used to the no meat I intend to cut out sugar from tomorrow.

Vicky thanks for the diet idea. Sadly, don't think there will be much locally sourced deer or fish round my way...

But do think paleo/clean eating makes sense as its natural unprocessed food

I have been vegetarian my whole life, my husband is mostly and my kids 10O% too. We eat very healthy. I have known some vegetarians who eat awful only eat pasta and veggie hotdogs. If you eat loads of veggies, healthy fats, grains etc you will feel great and be doing a great thing for animals! Good luck

I was vegetarian between the ages of 15 and 17 and it actually made me fat. I ate nothing but pasta, potatoes and cheese for two years and went from a size 12 to a 20

If you eat healthily then you'll lose weight but being vegetarian doesn't automatically mean being healthy.

Not me no. The only thing that helps me lose weight is dropping the carbs.