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. 🥗🌽🥦🥬🥕🥒🫑🥑🥭🍅🍑🍓🍌🥥🫐

Just wanted to say that there's a programme on channel 5 right now about veggie and vegan food. Not sure how healthy the recipes will be though!

Was the program any good? Or will it make me hungry haha?

The tofu was a cauldron one already done in Mediterranean herbs. It was ok but if I get it again I will just get it. My usual method of fry then bake left them quite dry.
I paired it with chopped courgette, tomatoes, some spinach bites which were on offer and violife Greek style cheese. Can recommend it, tastes just like goats cheese-a rare good vegan cheese.
Doing 16:8 but scales are not being kind yet. Size ten jeans rather tight today boo hoo! Had protein pasta for lunch(beetroot and chic pea from Aldi if anyone is interested)

It was okay. I didn't watch all of it but the food definitely wasn't healthy. DD brought home some food from Waitrose (where she works) last night that was at it's sell by date so that was tonight's dinner. I had roasted Mediterranean vegetables and rice, quinoa and vegetable stir-fry. A strange combination but actually really nice. I'm currently trying to avoid eating some chocolate!

Thanks for the cheese recommendation. I wouldn’t usually choose any “fake” vegan product- prefer to eat whole foods. But helpful for when I’m catering to others or fancy trying something different.

Today I’ve eaten (too many carbs!)
Rye toast, peanut butter, apple.
Cheese and tomato sandwich, pepper sticks, half a banana, homemade banana and walnut muffin (no sugar as made for toddler).
Lentil and veg soup, with homemade potato wedges, baby corn and broccoli on the side. And a slice of lemon, poppy seed and blueberry cake at a friends house.
No exercise today as not had time. Too tired to go on my indoor bike!

Hello I’m back again.
Rather too many carbs again today…

Rye toast, peanut butter, apple.
Lentil shepherds pie, tomato/pepper/spinach salad. Bit of cake! (Luckily the last little bit).
Cheese and spinach salad, with a small bowl of vegetable soup.
Just eaten some fruit and Greek yoghurt.

That doesn't look bad to me @LuckyKitty13. Also I meant to say welcome back @LargeInCharge - it's been a long time! I weighed myself this morning and I have put on a couple of pounds. No surprise there. I went out for lunch with a friend today to Pizza Express. Had the vegan nourish bowl which was really good. I wasn't going to have a dessert but couldn't resist when I looked at the menu. I had triple salted caramel cheesecake. I looked up the calories when I got home and it was 757 calories!!! It was tiny too. I'll eat more healthily tomorrow!

Following and joining in when I weigh myself Monday. I've piled weight on. Undereating has contributed to this though.

Anyone have good veggie recipes for slow cooker. DH and I both work shifts and it's nice and easy. But we're sick of same veggie casserole

My favourite is what I call “store cupboard Dahl” - idea is that it used only cupboard or frozen ingredients so I always have the things to make it.

1 cup red lentils
1 cup water or veg stock
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin coconut milk
About 1/3 of a packet frozen spinach
Half a packet frozen butternut squash
One Pataks curry paste pot

Mix all together and put on low for 10-12 hours. Eat on its own with salad. Utterly delicious. Makes around 6-8 small portions.

Sorry! And add half a cup of frozen chopped onions

Meals today:
Porridge made with oat milk and a banana.
Brunch at a friends - granola and coconut yogurt, shakshouka with eggs, a tiny bit of vegan millionaires shortbread (a gift from a local bakery!)
Just had early dinner of leftover lentil shepherds pie.

Will have an evening of sewing to keep my mind off food, and an early bedtime.

@LuckyKitty13
Thank you! We're having that Tuesday!! Thank you (my fussy DD doesn't say thank you though!! )

Welcome @Ostagazuzulum. Here's what I ate today:
B: Cup of tea, Weetabix with skimmed milk and a small sliced banana.
L: 2 poached eggs on 2 slices of toast, an apple.
S: The last of the Tony's Chocolony candy cane dark chocolate.
D: 2 Richmond meat free sausages, mashed potato, carrots, peas and gravy, an activia yoghurt.
S: some vegan sweets.
Just about under my maintenance calories, though I guess I should really be trying to lose the weight I put on over Christmas!

Honestly could cry this morning. I knew I'd put on weight but it's way more than I'd realised. I'm 15 stone 8 pounds.

I was 8 and a half stone 4 years ago. I had surgery and it piled on but I've also been binge eating and restricting. I thought I was about 14 stone something so this morning as been awful shock.

I suppose it's motivation for consistency.

Don't beat yourself up about it @Ostagazuzulum. You are doing something about it and that's what matters. Sounds like you've had a hard time - be kind to yourself.

Not a good day here… ate an entire meal I didn’t need!!

Rye toast with marmite and an apple.
Greek yogurt and another apple mid morning.
Lunch was at a friends - a vegetable tart and salad. Then raspberries and Greek yoghurt.
Dinner was lentil shepherds pie.

Then an extra meal of feta and spinach filo pie!! My husband made it and gave me some whilst he was on the phone and I just mindlessly ate it 😭

Welcome @Ostagazuzulum I felt like that in April. Size 16-18 and always been a 10-12. I have managed to make some progress on 5:2 though with lowe carb and a few keto principles. Still got a way to go but look more like myself. Stick with a method that works for you and you'll soon be on your way.

Thank you both. I've set slow cooker this morning going for the Dahl recipe above. Just added chickpeas for bit of extra protein.

It's just frustrating but I keep telling myself that it's consistency and a work in progress. Doesn't help when the work trousers are so tight Im concerned about standing up

What did people think of the Dahl recipe? Hope you liked it!
Meals today for me have been better:
Rye toast with marmite and an apple.
Lentil and vegetable soup with no bread.
Thai masaman curry, steamed spring greens, baby corn and broccoli.

Lentil and vegetable soup with no bread.
This is what I struggle with. Some things I just want carbs with because it feels like it's missing something without.

I've had a few chaotic days. Accidentally bought real Pepsi out so skipped lunch to make up for it. Bad tea because we had pastry Morrisons sausage wreath that needed using up.
Randomly did a fast today because got to lunch and felt ok. Just made a satay low carb with cauliflower rice.

Just had the Dahl recipe. It was lovely!!! Perfect after a long shift. Even my 11 year old ate it with no issues stating "it wasn't the worst" which in her language means she liked it but was too proud to admit it:
That's a regular meal for us now I think! Thank you!

Fab! So pleased you liked it.

I would normally have something with the soup, but we didn’t have anything in and it was a packed lunch for work. Once I’m at work and there’s nothing else, I’m just stuck with it. I did take 2 satsumas but didn’t have time to eat them. Also my soups are really filling - thick with lentils, and I always have a decent portion so they really do fill me up. If I was to have anything on the side, I’d try to eat things like roasted chickpeas, or sweet potato wedges, or a heavy rye bread (as toast), rather than sugary white carbs. Sometimes bread happens but then I class it as my main meal - so something like soup and a cheese sandwich.

I’d suggest soup might not be the best idea for you if it doesn’t feel complete, as that psychology state may cause you to feel you are restricted? A large salad with grains, or left over dinner from the night before might be better? So it feels like a complete meal?

I often have left over roast veg - e.g chunky butternut squash, carrot, red onion, mushrooms, then I heat up and sprinkle over feta and chopped nuts - that’s delicious!

Meals today:
Porridge with an apple,
Lunch was lentil wedges that I make (cooked red lentils, grated veg, an egg, small amount cheese, tablespoon of flour, any herbs or spices or chilli you fancy - mix together and put into a cake tin for 30 mins then cut into wedges and eat either hot or when cool). With a nakd bar and 2 satsumas, raw pepper and carrot sticks.
Just eaten leftover curry sauce with rice and steamed veg (spring greens and broccoli tonight)

I've had a terrible few days. Lots of healthy food but then I spoil it by eating loads of chocolate. I made a nice curry tonight using this:www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/the-spice-tailor-tikka-masala/771610-140568-140569
I added lentils, broccoli, cauliflower and red pepper. Had it with these: www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/plantlife-no-chicken-samosa/763774-712733-712734 and a chapati.
Had these: www.quorn.co.uk/products/quorn-sweet-chilli-mini-fillets in a wrap with light mayo for lunch. They weren't bad.

The curry sounds lovely.

Todays meals:
Porridge.
2 wedges of my lentil bake, raw pepper sticks, apple, nakd bar.
Mushroom, sweetcorn and cheese omelette, with kale, carrots and broccoli on the side. Greek yogurt and kiwi.

Think I might have lost some weight?! But haven’t weighed myself

Conscious I’m talking to myself here! But worth it as a good accountability diary…
Meals today:
Porridge with a banana.
Shakshuka with 2 eggs and 2 slices rye toast - was an enormous meal and I didn’t eat all of it.
2 wedges of lentil bake with raw carrot sticks. Just debating whether or not to have some yogurt and fruit.

Hope you’re all doing well.