Vegan dieters support thread?

[Fatkins]

Hello!

Is anyone out there trying to lose weight while also being / trying to be vegan / plant based?

I am and would love some company! I have very recently gone vegan, but am wary of gaining weight. I actually really need to lose some, so I'm attempting both things at once.

I am doing Weight Watchers, but any approach, (but obviously vegan food), would be very welcome to join me.

[LooseAtTheSeams]

Too right, Crazzzy - I wish I'd known about nutritional yeast a long time ago! I haven't converted the rest of the family but on the other hand they don't notice if I add it to a sauce anyway!

[ContessaLovesTheSunshine]

I am dropping back onto the thread to announce that I have had a week off whilst on holiday and have eaten All The Things. I tried to get in a long walk each day to partially offset the damage, but I'd have had to walk to bloody Timbuktu to undo it altogether. In the words of Romesh Ranganathan, I have been eating as if I'm preparing for hibernation. Back on the diet wagon tomorrow!!

[Crazzzycat]

Well, at least it sounds like you had fun Contessa! Hopefully the damage will turn out smaller than expected.

I’m away for a few days myself at the moment and I’m finding it impossible to stick to 1400 kcal a day. I won’t be able to weigh until tomorrow, but keeping my fingers crossed that walking for 6 hours a day will have offset some of that excess.

How is everyone else doing? It’s been so quiet here the last few days!

[LooseAtTheSeams]

No scales on holiday, so no real idea but have got slightly obsessed with the Cronometer and my calcium levels. Have just eaten cereal with soy milk, plus an alpro yoghurt and slice of whole meal toast and marmite plus handful of nuts. Ironically, given what you're usually warned about on a vegan diet everything else seems to be absolutely fine!
Lots of walking planned for today.

[LooseAtTheSeams]

That's used a lot of pre-exercise calories so will need to do a lot of walking! On the other hand the rest of the day is mainly salad with a bit of couscous and a baked potato later. No snacks.

[ContessaLovesTheSunshine]

You're walking for 6 hours each day Crazzzy?! I imagine that will have more of an impact than my 30 minutes or so oh well. Fingers crossed it's not so bad at the weigh in...

[Crazzzycat]

Ha ha, yes I’ve become a bit obsessed with hiking this year. Some of it was at a fairly leisurely pace though, so I’m sure I didn’t burn as many calories as I would have liked.

I had a good day today until I headed to a service station for my evening meal. Bad idea! I had a vegan Leon Love Burger and some of their vegan Jack Wings. Both were delicious, and possibly worth the calories. But then I also had one of their vegan cakes...I think it was the shock of having so many vegan options to choose from that made me buy so much 😁

[Crazzzycat]

77.3 on the scales this morning. That’s the highest it’s been for weeks. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it’s only a temporary blip, but after the past week or so, I guess it could be an actual gain 🤔

I’m planning to be good until I go on my holiday at the end of next week.

[Crazzzycat]

How’s everyone doing today?

I lost the first 0.3 kg of the weekend “weight gain” overnight, so think it may have been a temporary blip.

I’m finding it hard to stick to my plan though. I feel like I’m eating nothing but beans all day to hit my nutrition targets 😂

Anyway, must keep pushing ahead. The plan for today is a spicy bean wrap with salad for lunch and a smokey bean stew with bulgur for dinner. Snacks will be alpro yoghurt with seeds, a nectarine and a chocolate coated Brazil nut to hit both my selenium and self imposed chocolate target 😉

[LooseAtTheSeams]

Not doing too bad on holiday if you don't count yesterday's pizza and today's vegan orange drizzle cake!

[ContessaLovesTheSunshine]

Oh thank goodness you're here, bossbodybabe! We've been hopelessly lost without you!

[Crazzzycat]

Said with not the slightest hint of sarcasm Contessa 😂😂😂

Still, it’s good to know that eating a vegan diet is not all about eating salad. Really helpful to know that.

[ContessaLovesTheSunshine]

Weighed in this morning and am 2.4 kg heavier than 2 weeks ago my period is due today so a bit of it is probably bloat, but still. Plus there's a party this weekend, and the weekend after, and then I'm on holiday....

Basically I am just thinking that if I make it to the end of August without putting on a stone I will be doing well!!

[twolobsters]

I went vegan in July, was previously veggie for 15+ years so it's been a really easy transition. I thought it would be something I tried for the month but I can never see me going back.

It's made me cook more, eat healthier and generally cut back loads. I've started going to the gym also and so far have lost 10lbs which I'm buzzing about.

I really think this could be my time to finally lose the weight I've struggled with for the past decade.

Excited to spot a thread of others in the same boat.

[twolobsters]

Oh one more thing. I've been really strict with myself and only weigh once a month. I got obsessive about the scale any other time I've dieted / tried to lose weight. I fluctuate wildly so weighing daily or even weekly was really disheartening and I'd use it as an excuse to eat badly. "Oh well I've gained anyway, what's the point" or "well I have lost a pound so it won't hurt".

This is working really well for me so far.

[prettyretro]

Hi all!

Saying a nervous hello to join...I really want to try a more plant based diet and also have about 2 stone to lose. If I'm being honest I'm feeling a bit down in general so I'm trying to be a bit more proactive and I'm thinking I need to start with what I eat and fuel myself with healthy "clean" eating then that's my first step in looking after myself.

Could anyone point me in the right direction of a good food list if that makes any sense? I know the general plant based approach but I'm a bit of a weirdo and like a list to keep me on track!

Will be doing an Aldi/ Lidl shop Sunday so if anyone has any good recommendations please let me know.

Thank you!

[Crazzzycat]

Welcome to the thread twolobsters and prettyretro!

I don’t know of any lists of foods pretty, but sharing this in case it’s helpful:

www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrition-overview

I recommend you get some nutritional yeast, which you can buy from Holland & Barrett’s and some larger supermarkets. It’s fantastic for getting your B-vitamins.

I used to think I was ok on the B-vitamin front, as my diet was what many people would probably consider to be fairly healthy. But after using the nutritional yeast for a week or so, I found that the sensitive itchy skin I’ve been living with since I was a teenager disappeared. Turns out that was more much likely to be a long term vitamin B12 deficiency 😬

I’m now religiously tracking everything I eat on the Cronometer app, so that I can keep an eye on nutrients. If you use it, don’t be too disheartened if you find you’re not hitting all the targets. It took me a few weeks to work out what I should be eating more off. I’m still not hitting all the targets, but am doing a lot better than I used to!

[prettyretro]

Thank you @Crazzzycat

That's exactly why I was looking for a list so I could make sure I'm getting enough vitamins and enough from food groups etc. I know it sounds pathetic but I just like to know lol

[DamnItsSevenAM]

Hello everyone and welcome to prettyretro and twolobsters.

I've been quiet because I had a bit of a blip and really overate due to tiredness and stress. I felt quite down on myself but after a few days back on track I am about the same weight as I was before the mess up.

I'm also tracking on Cronometer and am obsessed with my protein intake. I just can't seem to get enough on a regular basis, despite taking protein powder and eating tons of beans. I often feel too full to eat any more so I guess the theory that protein sates your appetite works for me. Calcium and iron are still a problem too but I am working on it.

prettyretro I would say tofu is a great staple with a high calcium level, and I would also get nutritional yeast and flaxseed. I also take various multi vitamins which I alternate through the week hoping it will all balance out! I think this list is useful although I don't often manage everything on there: nutritionfacts.org/app/uploads/2018/03/metric.png
There's more info about the different categories here: veganuary.com/starter-kit/dr-gregers-daily-dozen-checklist/

Crazzzy that is brilliant about the Nutritional yeast... what do you use it in? I had some on a stew today and often add it to soups but I wouldn't know how to use it with 'drier' types of foods.

twolobsters I do weigh every day and when things are going well it gives me a boost. You're right about it being demoralising when there's a blip, though, so I can totally see why you weigh monthly. I think I'd be scared I'd end up putting weight on without realising?

[prettyretro]

Thanks for those links @DamnItsSevenAM they're really useful! Is that an app you use for tracking your different food group intakes?

I hope you're feeling better now! 😊

[prettyretro]

Ps @DamnItsSevenAM should have also mentioned I've never had tofu....is it readily available in UK supermarkets? Stupid question I know but does it have a taste/texture?! Sorry...I'm embarrassing myself with my little knowledge on the journey I want to go on 🙈

[Crazzzycat]

Sorry to hear you were struggling for a few days Damn. I can’t say I’ve been particularly good this week either. Not sure why. I guess I’m just not very motivated at the moment 🙈

I add the nutritional yeast to whatever I’m having for lunch, which is usually spicy bean wraps. But I’ve added it to things like salads too and rice dishes. It kind of goes with most things, I think.

prettyretro you can get tofu in most supermarkets. It doesn’t have much flavour itself, but it’s good for soaking up other flavours. The texture kind of depends on the brand you buy and whether you press it or not. I wrap mine in a few sheets of kitchen towel and put it under the heaviest book I’ve got for 15 minutes or so. I’m not sure if that’s what you’re supposed to do, but it works! 😂

Up until a couple of weeks ago I thought I didn’t like tofu. But this recipe totally changed my opinion:
www.connoisseurusveg.com/teriyaki-tofu/

[Crazzzycat]

Damn what’s the protein target you’re aiming for? I’m ignoring the target in the app, as it seems ridiculously high to me 😬

[furrytoebean]

I ignore the protein goal too, it’s really high!

According to the app I’m eating lots of carbs but they are mostly fresh fruit and veg so I’m not bothered about it.
I’ve lost another kg which I’m happy about.