Vegan to Lose Weight? (Whole Foods, breakfast, dinner, avocado)

[Cliffie]

So many people go all meat and no carbs to lose weight. That would make me GAIN insanely. I'm wondering who else here is vegan (in part?) to lose weight.

[Lovely95]

I did it last year and I lost a lot of weight. I had to gradually turn myself vegan, so I would do it for awhile and then keep adding up until I was fully vegan. Just eat healthily, take vitamins, and substitute the nutrients you would otherwise get from meat proteins. It takes a lot of self control if you are not used to it, so it's not for everyone. I discovered so many cool recipes and vegan alternatives to foods like cheese. I'm not a fan of the overly processed, who-knows-what-it-actually-is vegan cheese that you find in the stores and restaurants.

[boxus]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

So many people go all meat and no carbs to lose weight. That would make me GAIN insanely. I'm wondering who else here is vegan (in part?) to lose weight.

No it will not, have you done it?

[eureka1]

I've been vegan-curious since I heard that Bill Clinton has been a vegan for two years. Going to look into it but I don't know how I'll live without cheese.

[Mikala43]

When my sister went vegan she gained weight, too much bread and potatoes.

[Cattknap]

It is true - you can eat a vegan diet and gain weight because vegetable fat, sugar and many breads and starches are not animal based but they are caloric and will cause weight gain if they are over-eaten. That being said, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, tofu, nuts, seeds and avocados, and as little processed foods as possible, will lead to weight loss when coupled with common sense and exercise. No, you can't eat half a loaf of bread slathered with peanut butter and jelly and expect to lose weight...moderation, exercise, whole-foods - these things will lead most to weight loss.

[mlhm5]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

So many people go all meat and no carbs to lose weight. That would make me GAIN insanely. I'm wondering who else here is vegan (in part?) to lose weight.

I am a vegan and have been for years. All meat and no carbs is pretty disastrous to your cholesterol levels and is way too much fat intake.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by boxus

No it will not, have you done it?

Yes -- I usually collapse into my food cravings and fall off the wagon eventually, but as long as I stcik to it I lose weight nicely.

[MJ7]

keto works better, look it up its basically the opposite of vegan

[Cattknap]

I was vegan for over a year - now I eat 90% vegan - adding plain Greek yogurt, feta cheese and salmon to my diet a couple times a week....but very few animal products in total. I lost 80 lbs and have kept it off. I never hit a plateau or gained weight during the last 20 months - I just kept losing and eventually started having to eat more calories because I got down to 127 lbs. (I'm 5'9) and was continuing to lose even though I eat lots of food.

I don't eat sugar other than what is naturally in whole foods. I rarely eat bread, I rarely eat packaged foods (I did have some gluten free crackers at a party recently), I don't add oil, margarine or butter to my cooking but I do use lots of fresh and dried herbs and seasoning. Most of my diet consists of organic fruits and vegetables (mostly raw), nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu, beans, oatmeal, buckwheat, avocado (for fat and protein), brown rice once in a great while. I eat a baked sweet potato every couple of months. I eat good sized portions for breakfast and lunch and have a green smoothie and a hand full of pistachios for dinner. I exercise almost daily and I am very physically active. I'm 63 and I weigh myself once a week - I have usually slipped from my desired 129 to 125 or 126 - so I get to eat some extra fat that week.

I know there are some that think that you shouldn't eliminated any foods from your diet in order to lose weight - but I totally disagree. If certain foods have proved historically to be a cause of weight gain for you and they can be eliminated or severely curtailed from your diet without adverse health consequences - then you will probably be able to lose and keep it off.