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]

There’s a couple of recipes from the book online and they look so tempting. I particularly like the look of the leek and lentil gratin with feta.

[OneSwallow]

I’ve got some roasting Ron cookbooks but assumed the recipes would be loaded with calories as so much oil and butter! Has anyone lost weight using them?

[LuckyKitty13]

The leek and lentil gratin is excellent! We make that all the time!

I can also recommend the Quick Roasting Tin - but it’s not all veggie

[LargeInCharge]

I might give it a try @LuckyKitty13 even though I’m notoriously lazy when it comes to recipe cooking. Steamed veg with protein is my usual go to.

I haven’t heard of that book @OneSwallow but maybe you could tweak the recipe to make it lower calorie?

Here’s the leek and lentil gratin link for those of us who’d like to try it.
thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/leek-and-lentil-gratin/

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

DD made the all-in-one sticky rice with broccoli, squash, chilli and ginger from the book for dinner tonight. She substituted the broccoli for cauliflower though as we had some to use up. It was lovely - I would highly recommend it. I went over my calories today as when DD was in Waitrose earlier she bought some no duck spring rolls to go with our dinner. How could I say no?!

[LargeInCharge]

Sounds so nice @Yourownpersonaljesus you’ll have to rate each recipe and give us your top five.

I’m going to plug in some numbers for 2022 (purposely avoiding 2021…especially November when I was 173.2lbs).

26/1/22 - 182.8
3/2/22 - 180.6
Started intermittent fasting
5/2/22 - 179.8
16/2/22 - 178.6
17/2/22 - 178
18/2/22 - 177.4

I did feel intermittent fasting wasn’t working at first as it took almost 2 weeks to lose a pound but I really feel it’s working for me now.
In January I could feel fat on my hips when I put my hands on my hips which is now gone and my stomach is definitely less bloated/less fatter.
It could be water weight but I’m definitely sticking to it.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

Those numbers are certainly going down @LargeInCharge ,and you've not got far to go until you're back to where you were before. I'm really not sure whether to carry on with IF or not. I'm finding the mornings really hard and DD says I'm really grumpy . But I do need to get back to where I was before and I'm definitely eating less so maybe I should stick with it. Today I've eaten:

B - a small bowl of branflakes
L - a quorn ham and cucumber seeded bagel thin, 3 mini Linda McCaartney sausage rolls, an apple and a raspberry kefir yoghurt.
S - 2 and a half popdots (mini doughnuts)
D - better naked kiev, brown rice and edamame bean stir-fry and courgettes, a satsuma and some dark chocolate.
I haven't seen that book @OneSwallow but I think the recipes in the Green Roasting Tin book are quite varied in the amount of calories they contain. The one DD made had about 600 cals per person (she put the ingredients into MFP). I think in general the vegan recipes would be lower in calories than those containing cheese. I do love cheese though!

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

I started eating at 11am and stopped at 7pm today btw.

[LargeInCharge]

There’s also 5:2 @Yourownpersonaljesus which is 2 days a week of 500 calories or you could lessen the gap with intermittent fasting.
If you’re finding it intolerable though stick to calorie counting as that does work for you too.

I was going to take a day off this weekend but as 7pm came around last night I ended up thinking why not as I was full anyway.
The Zero app keeps me going too, I like the achievement badges and the timer.
There are also some great before and after pics on a website I don’t think I’m supposed to mention on mn (think of the colour crimson + the pennywise movie).

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

I think I'll try to carry on with IF for a bit longer. The real challenge will be when I go back to work on Monday. I don't want to be grouchy with the kids at school . Today's food:
B - porridge with banana, dates and linseeds.
L - Higgidy no-pork pies with cherry tomatoes and an apple.
S - 4 light rich tea biscuits.
D - butternut squash and black bean tacos.
S - some lower fat crisps and some candy kittens.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

So I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 2lb - yay! The intermittent fasting was worth it. So far today I've eaten:
B: weetabix with a chopped banana.
L - a toasted bagel with 2 poached eggs, an apple and a satsuma.
After walking the dog I'll have a cup of tea and some chocolate. I'm not sure what's for dinner yet but it will be something quite plain as my mum is coming and has stomach issues atm. I'm going to look in my freezer later and do a meal plan for the week. I used to do this all the time but have not bothered lately. Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

[LargeInCharge]

Well done @Yourownpersonaljesus that’s great. Have a good dinner with your mum.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

Thank you @LargeInCharge.

[LuckyKitty13]

I feel like I’ve given up!

Not eating badly, but just extra toast or yogurt in the evenings etc, and portions likely too big.

Not going to track for 4 weeks, then weigh and just see what happens.

[LargeInCharge]

I know how you feel @LuckyKitty13 in November I weighed 173.2 and started giving up from then on, through December and on January 26th I weighed 182.8. Almost a stone!

Take a break if it’s getting too much and with healthy eating you may still lose. Don’t undo good work though like I did.

I’m 176lbs today and doing intermittent fasting.

Here’s a link to a really interesting podcast that might inspire you.

There are time stamps in the description if you want to listen to bits and pieces of it.

Feel free to vent if you need to. We are here for you.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

I was exactly the same in January and half of February @LuckyKitty13. Maybe take @LargeInCharge's advice and take a break. Don't give up completely though - you can do this. How much more do you want to lose or are you just maintaining now? I went back to work today and didn't have the best day. I did manage to wait until 10.30 before I ate anything so I'm please about that. I'm just waiting for DD to get home so we can have dinner. We've got another recipe from The Green Roasting Tin book -all in one sweet potato Thai curry. It certainly smells good!

[LuckyKitty13]

Thanks all! So lovely to hear your kind words.
I’ve got more to lose as I’m at the very top of the normal BMI range. Currently 69kg on the scales and would like to be 65kg- I would be happy to maintain there.

There’s so much going on at home- financial issues, renovations schedules, car issues, my husband is unwell, my daughter starting school! Everything! So eating well is falling out of the priority list.

Today was fine - omelette breakfast, soup and an apple for lunch, left over pasta with broccoli and artichokes (a Quick Roasting Tin recipe), followed by Greek yoghurt and strawberries. I don’t eat badly, or really that much?! But my activity level is lower than it has ever been, so that’s probably a factor

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

That sounds tough @LuckyKitty13. I wouldn't worry about your weight at the moment then. Just get back on it when your life is less hectic. The Thai sweet potato curry was really good last night. I think the next recipe we are trying is the roasted tomato and bay orzo with black pepper. Loving the book. I find that my meal plan has the same meals on every week so it's good to be trying some new dishes. I'm still doing the intermittent fasting but found it really hard this morning. Broke my fast at 10.30 with a piece of banana and walnut cake baked by my lovely teaching assistant.

[LargeInCharge]

I agree with @Yourownpersonaljesus you have enough going on right now. I hope your husband gets well asap and things settle into place.

It’s good you’re trying different recipes @Yourownpersonaljesus and they sound lovely.

Dh asked if I wanted a coffee this evening and I said “No thanks, I’m fasting” and then realised how odd that sounded coming out of my mouth.

[Goldilocks99]

Don't forget you can have black coffee and herbal teas large. I'd no way be able to fast without copious amounts of tea.

I've been sick the last few days, reckon my immunity is shot from covid so been going between not being able to eat anything and eating stodge.

Lucky your meals sound wonderful so I'd give yourself a break especially if you have a lot going on at the moment. I would have said you don't eat badly at all based on your posts. Sometimes I am amazed at how much I eat in comparison even when I am dieting.

Personal I might try the one pit curry when I am well again. Did you find the lemongrass stick just chucked it their flavoured it enough? I tried to make a paste last time and it backfired haha.

[Goldilocks99]

Chucked in there

[LargeInCharge]

Sadly I’ve been unable to find a 0 calorie coffee. I could look into beans or ground coffee but for now I’ll stick to water. @Goldilocks99

I hope you feel better soon.

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

Sorry to hear that you've not been feeling great @Goldilocks99. Hope you're feeling better soon. I broke the lemongrass in half before adding it and could definitely taste it. That and the lime gave it a lovely fresh taste.
I have had a shockingly bad day today regarding my eating. There was cake in the staff room and doughnuts in our meeting after school and I somehow managed to consume 2 slices of cake and 2 doughnuts! No idea how that happened . I don't even like doughnuts that much! Tomorrow is a new day - as I tell the children!!!

[LargeInCharge]

Cake and doughnuts are so tempting I’m not surprised you had to partake. Thankfully I’m not usually around them or I’d eat some too.

Tomorrow is my temptation day usually because dh and I get the weekend together it’s usually relaxing, Netflix watching and food so we’ll see if I can get through the weekend.

[LargeInCharge]

I got through temptation Friday! Dh brought home a cheesecake and I asked him how he was going to eat all that himself. Some of it is still in the fridge but I won’t be having any.
I really feel positive about what I’m doing and I don’t want to mess it up again like I did during December/most of January.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.