Vegetarian weight loss?

By Diane Porter September 23, 2008 - 9:05am

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I have been a vegetarian for 7 years. Coincidentally, my weight has been slowly rising for about that length of time. Part of the weight gain has to do with menopausal changes, but I know the biggest part is due to my diet.
Truth be told, while I am committed to being a vegetarian, I think it was easier to maintain my weight when I wasn't. I never ate much red meat, but chicken, turkey and fish are good, lean sources of protein that are filling and easy to prepare. Too often I find myself eating carbohydrate-filled meals and snacks without enough attention to the proper mix of protein, fats and carbs, simply because carbs are so much more available. Bread, pasta, cereal, chips, pizza, packaged foods, the list goes on and on. And I have always detested eggs, which makes it even a little more difficult.

I'd love to hear from someone with insight on how they make their vegetarian diet work, easily, and perhaps even lost or are losing weight in the process!

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Diane Porter

Great post, susan, and congratulations on 18 years!!!

I went and read your previous post. Those are great ideas and I really appreciate the cookbook recommendations and the website links. It's also good to hear that you control your weight through theose old two faithful standbys: exercise and portion control. I think I'm going to have to get in touch with my old exercise habit and see if I can get some pounds off the old-fashioned way!

September 26, 2008 - 10:19am

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Diane Porter

You have just given me a brand new breakfast!! That orange soy milk shake snack sounds incredible!!!

My favorite veggie meals generally have to do with salads, grilled vegetables, stir fry and numerous other things that require chopping, lol. I tell people that when I win the lottery, I'm going to hire a personal vegetable chopper!

I'm afraid that I fall back on convenience foods way too often. And that's why the bad carbs seem so prevalent in my life. They are filling and comforting and easy, and I think i need to work to find more easy dishes I can make from whole foods that satisfy the same need. I love black beans, I will try your burrito idea as well.

Thank you!! Off to make an orange soy shake now!

September 24, 2008 - 8:13am

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Alison Beaver

Diane,
I am not vegetarian, but some of the higher-protein meals that I eat would be suitable for a vegetarian lifestyle and fill me up!

My favorite, filling and low(er) calorie meals:
- Bean burritos with mashed black beans, whole wheat tortillas, grilled veggies (the frozen section even has them conveniently sliced and pre-packaged together) with cheese and salsa
- Stir fry tofu (in place of chicken) in my favorite Chinese and Thai foods
- Orange Soy Milk Shake snack: blend 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 soy milk, 1 TBSP sugar and 1 cup ice cubes until frothy. Yummy and filling!!
- Chef Salad with lettuce, chick peas, cheese, sunflower seeds or other nuts, dried fruit and dressing

What are your favorite veggie meals?

September 23, 2008 - 2:53pm