Guest guest Posted February 24, 2002 Report Share Posted February 24, 2002 Hi, I have been a vegetarian for about 8-9months now. I really like the lifestyle change but I've had a very hard time keeping at a weight on. I gained about 60lbs during my pregnancy and my son just turned one and I've lost 85 lbs since he's been born, the 60 was unneccessary weight but I really could use atleast 15 of the extra 25 I took off. I'm 5'10 " tall and 125lbs, my son is still nursing but I'm very convinced there has to be a way to be a vegetarian (or vegan - my next goal) and not continue to lose weight, because I don't care to lose anymore. I also feel my milk supply is really depleting. Has anyone else experience this problem? I realize breastfeeding burns 300-500 calories a day but I try very hard to add extras like almond butter, whole milk yogurt, etc.Non-vegetarians tell me all the time it's because I don't eat meat but I don't want to go back to eating meat.I've even went ahead and ate shrimp a few times when I'm out to dinner but then I feel guilty about afterwards. Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games http://sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2002 Report Share Posted February 25, 2002 Lindsay, I had a similar experience, but not such a drastic amount of weight. You don't say how old your child is. I found that without changing anything I put the extra weight back on that I had lost. I think I gained it back around the time my son was 6 or 9 mo. Ds is still nursing (he turned 2 a couple weeks ago) and it obviously doesn't burn the calories it did when he was younger. Also when he started on solids I noticed I ate more because I would finish off what he didn't eat. :-) My milk supply never was bothered by my being a little 'under weight' for a while. I was more aware of taking my pre-natal vitamins during that time and I ate lots of avocadoes and the like. Stuff that is high in fat and loaded with nutrition. Are you feeling tired or ill? What makes you think you milk production might be low? Take care, Linda Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games http://sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2002 Report Share Posted February 25, 2002 Wow - you have the opposite problem of most vegetarians that I know, who actually put on weight after becoming vegetarian due to eating large quantities of pasta and bread. Actually, I too am breastfeeding and am fairly recently vegetarian and have had no problems with milk quantity. And, I actually WANT to lose weight but have not been able to. Just make sure you are drinking lots of fluids to keep your milk supply up and your baby should take care of the rest (what age is he/she? maybe he/she is in a growth slow down. Eating food yet? Supplementing with anything? - any of these could effect how much milk he/she needs an dthus effect your supply). FYI - your body will supply your baby's milk needs before your own so even if you are undernourished, it will effect you before it effects your baby. Rachael (vege mom to a healthy vege breastfeeding 11 month old) , Lindsay Shields <foxl99> wrote: > Hi, I have been a vegetarian for about 8-9months now. I really like the > lifestyle change but I've had a very hard time keeping at a weight on. I gained > about 60lbs during my pregnancy and my son just turned one and I've lost 85 lbs > since he's been born, the 60 was unneccessary weight but I really could use > atleast 15 of the extra 25 I took off. I'm 5'10 " tall and 125lbs, my son is > still nursing but I'm very convinced there has to be a way to be a vegetarian > (or vegan - my next goal) and not continue to lose weight, because I don't care > to lose anymore. I also feel my milk supply is really depleting. Has anyone > else experience this problem? I realize breastfeeding burns 300-500 calories a > day but I try very hard to add extras like almond butter, whole milk yogurt, > etc.Non-vegetarians tell me all the time it's because I don't eat meat but I > don't want to go back to eating meat.I've even went ahead and ate shrimp a few > times when I'm out to dinner but then I feel guilty about afterwards. > > > > Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games > http://sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2002 Report Share Posted February 27, 2002 What is your typical daily menu? Being vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean instant weight loss, but many new vegetarians don't know what to eat when they make the switch and that's why they lose a lot of weight (10 lbs. per month is a lot!). Also, are you exercising? If you do, you need more calories. Maybe some high calorie shakes (you can mix soy milk, protein powder, fruits) would make a difference. Also lots of whole grains and beans are good sources of nutrition and calories. Do you have any vegetarian cookbooks to help you plan meals? There are lots of good ones to choose from - try visiting www.healthy-eating.com to find some excellent ideas. Susan - Lindsay Shields <foxl99 Saturday, February 23, 2002 11:49 PM losing too much weight > Hi, I have been a vegetarian for about 8-9months now. I really like the > lifestyle change but I've had a very hard time keeping at a weight on. I gained > about 60lbs during my pregnancy and my son just turned one and I've lost 85 lbs > since he's been born, the 60 was unneccessary weight but I really could use > atleast 15 of the extra 25 I took off. I'm 5'10 " tall and 125lbs, my son is > still nursing but I'm very convinced there has to be a way to be a vegetarian > (or vegan - my next goal) and not continue to lose weight, because I don't care > to lose anymore. I also feel my milk supply is really depleting. Has anyone > else experience this problem? I realize breastfeeding burns 300-500 calories a > day but I try very hard to add extras like almond butter, whole milk yogurt, > etc.Non-vegetarians tell me all the time it's because I don't eat meat but I > don't want to go back to eating meat.I've even went ahead and ate shrimp a few > times when I'm out to dinner but then I feel guilty about afterwards. > > > > Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games > http://sports. > > > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2002 Report Share Posted February 28, 2002 Susan, yes I do have a few veg cookbooks and use the atleast twice a week, we love to try new recipes!I don't exercise AT ALL, A typical day for me is breakfast=banana nut muffin,vanilla yogurt,orange juice. snack=ranch soynuts or piece of fresh fruit, water lunch=veg. soup or a sandwich made with veg.meats and cheeses.water water,water,water snack=popcorn,or a whole wheat tortilla with cheese,or some rice and vegetables and or course...water dinner=spicy beans (pinto and adzuki)with tomatoes, dried apricots, and cornbread.water or decaf iced tea then sometimes I have some soy dream before bed or a cookie. That's a pretty typical day, sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on how busy I am.does this seem normal?I do carry my son in a sling almost everyday.thanks for your input!Linda Evans (another member of this group)had ask me a few questions regarding my hair, nails, etc.My hair is dry and brittle and I lose a lot!(we clean the shower drains daily with the cover)My skin around my nails cracks and bleeds often and my nails peel.My gums bleed everytime I brush.I'm very tired all the time but I just assume because I'm a full time mom, babysit for a 2 year old 20 hrs a week and go to school for 7 credit, which seems like a lot to me, but I'm sure other women do much more (and I just don't know how!)Anyway, thanks again. Lindsay Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! http://greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2002 Report Share Posted March 4, 2002 You might want to get your thyroid blood levels checked. I was diagnosed with a hyper thyroid (Graves' disease) after my son was born, which I found out later is fairly common. Many of the symptoms you list (weight loss, hair loss, fatigue) I had also. Good luck. ..My hair is dry and > >brittle > >and I lose a lot!(we clean the shower drains daily > with the cover)My skin > >around my nails cracks and bleeds often and my > nails peel.My gums bleed > >everytime I brush.I'm very tired all the time but I > just assume because I'm > >a > >full time mom, babysit for a 2 year old 20 hrs a > week and go to school for > >7 > >credit, which seems like a lot to me, but I'm sure > other women do much more > >(and I just don't know how!)Anyway, thanks again. > >Lindsay > > Sports - sign up for Fantasy Baseball http://sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2002 Report Share Posted March 5, 2002 It sounds like you may have some sort of vitamin deficiency or maybe an illness???? Perhaps you should pay a visit to the doc or try taking vitamin supplements and see if that helps? Maybe someone else can give you a better suggestion but it does sound like you are lacking something. Rachael > My hair is dry and brittle > and I lose a lot!(we clean the shower drains daily with the cover) My skin > around my nails cracks and bleeds often and my nails peel.My gums bleed > everytime I brush.I'm very tired all the time but I just assume because I'm a > full time mom, babysit for a 2 year old 20 hrs a week and go to school for 7 > credit, which seems like a lot to me, but I'm sure other women do much more > (and I just don't know how!)Anyway, thanks again. > Lindsay > > > > Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion! > http://greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2002 Report Share Posted March 7, 2002 Lindsay, I would be concerned about your brittle hair, etc. Also, I know it can be tough going from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet and not substituting tofu or meat analogs for the meat you used to eat. I would highly suggest eating a lot of fresh fruits and veggies (avocados are great for nutrition and 'good fat'), flax seeds or flax seed oil, whole foods (brown rice instead of white, whole wheat pasta, etc.). Variety is very important...sometimes it is hard not to get into a 'food rut' where you eat the same vegetables or fruits. It doesn't hurt to get a blood test (you can get this done on your own or through your doctor) just to see if you are low on any nutrients. As a side note (this I'm sure doesn't have anything to do with you Lindsay)...my mom lost a lot of weight very quickly and she ended up getting gallstones. I found out after reading 'Every Woman's Health' that a lot of women end up getting gallstones after pregnancy or anytime they lose a lot of weight quickly. If someone goes on a drasticly different diet this is one of the reasons to tell your doctor because they can give you a medication to go on to prevent gallstones. They can also disolve the gallstones (most of the time) without surgery. Unfortunately, for my mom (her primary doctor is also a surgeon) her doctor just did surgery and didn't offer the alternative. Take care, Linda Try FREE Mail - the world's greatest free email! / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2002 Report Share Posted March 7, 2002 thanks for everyone's reply's in regards to my weight loss. I did pay a visit to the doc and they tested my thyroid and I should have the results today. That was the best guess because my eating habits seemed pretty appropriate to them. My midwife did say she had the same problem in nursing her childre but was able to put on a few pounds after she quit breastfeeding.thanks again! Lindsay Try FREE Mail - the world's greatest free email! / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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