Low carb (vegan/vegetarian)

[AInightingale]

Having lost weight on the Fast 800 as a vegetarian, then plateaued for a bit, then eaten rubbish for the last month, I want to try another few weeks, six maybe, on a low carb preferably vegan diet. Has anyone done this, and has it impacted their health negatively or positively? I would be eating more than 800 cals a day, ideally, but enough for weight loss. And taking a vitamin/mineral supplement too. Any suggestions for meals would be helpful too. Want to lose about a stone and improve general health. So far today had a green smoothie (kale, pear, cucumber, celery) which are although disgusting, weirdly energising.

I’ll join in; I’m vegan, did the fast 800 a few years ago and it went fine. I since had a health issue and get bad ibs flares when I tried it again but need to get it sorted.

if you make your own meals and eat well it shouldn’t be an issue, and it certainly shouldn’t be disgusting! 👌

I’ll have to start in the new year, tho!

I'm starting today. I felt terrible this morning! Feel a bit better already - lots of water too. It is absolutely Baltic where I am, so going to make the spiced tomato and bean soup from the Fast 800 book tomorrow and have a few bowls.

Well done! We’re with family so will start next week. Post your recipes so I can get inspired ! 👍🤞

Following- please post what you all have daily and portion size. I lost loads of weight being vegan but wine - also vegan whipped cream and desserts 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have to stop munching! Working from home isn’t helping.

Today I had - green smoothie in the morning - headache and not that hungry (probably with the sheer amount of junk over the last few days). Lunch was kale and a No Bull burger (all I had in the fridge at that point!), dinner was stirfry with tofu and cauli rice. Loads of water and turmeric and ginger tea. And coffee. I feel less tired than I did yesterday.

Why not stick t the fast 800 if it worked last time?

I think the biggest difficulty with vegan food is protein, you can eat lots of lentils/legumes/peas/nuts but the portion sizes have to be quite big in order to get what you need, although most people eat less protein than they need I think

I am going to stick to the low carb/high protein idea, but it needs tweaked for non meat eaters - you are going to be eating things that are protein-rich but probably slightly carbier like nuts and beans, and you are meant to eat some more calories too - ideally about 900-1000 a day. Eating healthily more important than hitting the 800. At least that was the advice last time I did it.

Ok so I’m ready, more or less; but I’ve realised that my idea of carbs doesn’t include oats or rice, or even potatoes! Is it possible to be ‘low carb’ and still include them in your diet? Because my breakfast is porridge, and I make my own oat milk. So I am thinking to keep that going and just reduce the others, such as soup or salad for lunches, and occasional potatoes or brown rice with dinner. So only ‘healthy’ carbs. Does this still work?

I think you are meant to exclude starchy carbs, so potatoes are definitely out. They aren't mentioned anywhere in the book.

Complex carbs okay in very small amounts, think you are meant to stay under 40-50g of carbs a day, at the very most. (If you are doing it meatless the carb total will naturally be higher). So I'd alternate the breakfast porridge with things like plain soya yoghurt with spices & nuts, eggs if you are vegetarian, or vegan sausages and mushrooms, things like that. Oh and I think soy milk is better than the other plant base ones as it gives you a bit more protein. I stick a tablespoon of chopped nuts on the porridge too.

Thanks for the suggestions @AInightingale, and info. I stayed away from the potatoes today! Had a huge salad and some roasted veg, and a quorn peppered steak that needed eating. Also using up fruit and stuff that need finishing.

realised I have a party tomorrow so will struggle, am just easing myself into this so my brain doesn’t notice. Do you think it will work???

I think you are meant to go a bit easy on fruit too! It's a pity as I do genuinely like it. Max is maybe one apple or pear a day, as it counts as sugar. Also strawberries and raspberries are better than citrus/tropical, but they are absolutely awful in the winter.

Parties and non-normal days are difficult too. Again alcohol's a sugar! I was travelling on Friday and fell off the wagon a bit and bought a sandwich and apple and some rice cakes for the train, but there was absolutely nothing else to eat. Oh well...

I think being realistic is key to this, trying to be too strict makes me feel too negative and dejected!

I did have a small bit of potato yesterday, with a large green salad with roasted butter beans, roasted mushroom and a Tesco sausage. I also had a tiny bit of birthday cake but no alcohol! 👍

I'm really not sure how you can be vegan and keep your carbs under 50g a day? Especially if you're including nuts and beans?

No, it's not easy to stay under 50g, the strict low-carb target has to be tweaked somewhat - MM recommends 900-1000 calories a day for veggies/vegans. Slower weight loss (which is probably better anyway). As long as you exclude refined sugars and starches as much as possible - and you wouldn't have porridge every day, for instance.

Oh well, today I managed some yoghurt and blueberries, with linseed mix; two vegan sausages with a leafy salad and a curry with lentils and a handful of brown rice. I’m not going to get hung up on counting, just try my best!

Porridge both mornings, but salad and curry for lunch and dinner; also no snacks! Tomorrow I’m having soup for breakfast, then salad and a mushroom and quinoa thingy for dinner so should be better!

Vegetable (leeks, carrot, celery, parsley) soup tomorrow x2, made with handful of barley and pea mix. Baltic here.

Sorry not been posting, although it looks like I’m not the only one!

had a delicious roasted celeriac with creamy cabbage tonight, with sweet potato wedges and green salad. Have actually managed to lose about 4lbs!
💃🏻