Guest guest Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi guys- I joined about a week ago and have been resding digests and perusing the recipes in the files. I am 45 years old and overweight. I really do want to try and rid myself of this weight for good, as well as for health reasons. I have a 17 year old daughter. ok....here's the confession. I am not a vegetarian, although I am not oppossed to it. I try not to judge others and I hope you all will do the same for me. My plan for weight loss was lean chicken, fish, and veggies.......and exercise. Also, recently my daughter has given up eating meat about 95% of the time. Maybe more. I want to be sure that she is eating healthily and getting enough protein. We both eat beans and soy products. I read alot so I do know a little about the products out there and we have used these things for months. My purpose here is to learn more, and who knows, maybe eventually give up meat all together.....which leads me to my main question for today. I realize whole grains are healthy and part of a balanced diet. However, if I don't eat meat and instead add in whole grains on a daily basis, will I be able to lose weight? I know that all of our bodies are different, but I'm afraid that if I add in whole grains to replace the meat it will make weight loss hard. I also know it's protein that replaces meat, not grains, but I hope someone understands what I am trying to say. It seems I'm having a hard time writing what I am thinking. : ) Except for meat, I cook fairly healthily, lots of beans, whole grains, and veggies. For example, right now I have chili in the crockpot made with kale,white beans, zuccini and scallions, spices........and chicken breast. If anyone understands my rather ill posed question, I look forward to hearing your comments. I also look forward to staying around and learning if that is ok with you guys. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi, Lex, I'm already veg, trying to go vegan and struggle with weight. Partly because of portion size and food choices. Like I said in an earlier post, replacing meat junk food, with non meat junk food doesn't do any good. I think sticking with grains (oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice) and staying away from excessive bread (unless it's really good bread) could be helpful. Watching portion size in foods (meat substitutes included) except leafy greens, broccoli, true veggies,...It's what I'm goign to try! : ) Good luck to you and your daughter! melissa p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Hi Lex, I was a vegetarian for about six months and started losing weight during that time, albeit slowly. I wasn't trying, either...it just happened. :>) Now I've been a vegan for close to a month and continue to lose weight. I've lost two whole sizes, actually! WOO HOO! I'm 47, so I know what you're sayin'. Stick with us, kid, you'll learn lots, I'm sure. I know I learn lots all the time. :>) But the meat and dairy products will cause you to gain weight (and worse!). Go to this site and read here: www.NotMilk.com . There are a lot of articles there that really detail exactly what meat and dairy do to the human body. For example, dairy is linked to all kinds of cancers, and there are cancer-causing elements in fastfood wrappers for hamburgers, etc. Not to mention what exactly is IN meat itself. Well. You go there and read for yourself. You get your protein from whole grains (brown rice, popcorn without trans fats--like Paul Newman's, oatmeal--not instant, and so on), vegies, legumes. It's easy. Really, it is. As long as you eat a variety of vegies, no problem. Losing weight is *exactly* the opposite of what you fear on a veg diet: a piece of (vegan) cake! LOL. All my clothes are hangin' off me, darlin', literally! And also, I'm a diabetic and have to inject insulin. Insulin is somethin' that typically makes you gain weight. But guess who's losin' the weight now? you betcha. Also, I started losing the weight before I started walkin' in the park, but now my body is getting shaped better due to the walkin'. I have a 19 year old daughter in college in another state who is wanting to go vegan but she lives with rigid minded people (my parents), so she just does what she can and reads the things I email her. I'm buying her all the cookbooks and other books I buy for me and my dh so that when she does get out on her own, she'll have a goodly collection to set out with. :>) Bron who forgot to say, " welcome " ! but who means it most sincerely On 1/5/06, it's me <aldf3618 wrote: > > > Hi guys- > I joined about a week ago and have been resding digests and perusing the > recipes in the files. I am 45 years old and overweight. I really do want > to > try and rid myself of this weight for good, as well as for health reasons. > I have a 17 year old daughter. ok....here's the confession. I am not a > vegetarian, although I am not oppossed to it. I try not to judge others > and > I hope you all will do the same for me. > My plan for weight loss was lean chicken, fish, and veggies.......and > exercise. Also, recently my daughter has given up eating meat about 95% of > the time. Maybe more. I want to be sure that she is eating healthily and > getting enough protein. We both eat beans and soy products. I read alot so > I do know a little about the products out there and we have used these > things for months. My purpose here is to learn more, and who knows, maybe > eventually give up meat all together.....which leads me to my main > question > for today. > I realize whole grains are healthy and part of a balanced diet. However, > if > I don't eat meat and instead add in whole grains on a daily basis, will I > be able to lose weight? I know that all of our bodies are different, but > I'm afraid that if I add in whole grains to replace the meat it will make > weight loss hard. I also know it's protein that replaces meat, not grains, > but I hope someone understands what I am trying to say. It seems I'm > having > a hard time writing what I am thinking. : ) > Except for meat, I cook fairly healthily, lots of beans, whole grains, and > veggies. For example, right now I have chili in the crockpot made with > kale,white beans, zuccini and scallions, spices........and chicken breast. > If anyone understands my rather ill posed question, I look forward to > hearing your comments. I also look forward to staying around and learning > if that is ok with you guys. > Lex > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Welcome into the group, Lex. I think the best thing going for you right now is that your daughter is on the same page as you. Each of you can support each other in your new quest to eat healthy. Really the best way to lose weight is to reduce calories (fat) and exercise. You need to burn more than you ingest. Cutting out beef and pork is a good first step. Some people can just jump in with both feet and others need to do it gradually. One thing you can do is when you make something, such as chili, ask yourself if you really need the meat in there. Beans are very high in protein and can be satisfying by themselves. Most Americans consume way to much protein as it is and if your body can't process it for protein it'll break it down into sugar. Since you already eat soy products, try replacing your meat choices with the soy fake meat products, such as Boca crumbles, tvp (textured vegetable protein), etc. In regards to the whole grains, yes, stop buying white, processed carbs. But, you need to read lables, as many " whole grain " breads still have High Fructose Corn Syrup as an ingredient. Stay away from products with that ingredient, it's added sugar that no one needs. Admittedly I still eat white rice, but I only eat whole grain pasta and bread. Just take the steps you are comfortable with and give yourself time. It may take time for your body to adjust to a new diet. Don't beat yourself up just because you don't drop 10 pounds in 10 days. Be kind to yourself, you've taken a wonderful first step by joining this group. You can have a different meal every day of the week for weeks on end with the recipes we have here! Hopefully your daughter will also join or read along with you and have ideas on cooking meals together. Best of success to you and welcome! Denise , " it's me " <aldf3618@e...> wrote: > > > Hi guys- > I joined about a week ago and have been resding digests and perusing the > recipes in the files. I am 45 years old and overweight. I really do want to > try and rid myself of this weight for good, as well as for health reasons. > I have a 17 year old daughter. ok....here's the confession. I am not a > vegetarian, although I am not oppossed to it. I try not to judge others and > I hope you all will do the same for me. > My plan for weight loss was lean chicken, fish, and veggies.......and > exercise. Also, recently my daughter has given up eating meat about 95% of > the time. Maybe more. I want to be sure that she is eating healthily and > getting enough protein. We both eat beans and soy products. I read alot so > I do know a little about the products out there and we have used these > things for months. My purpose here is to learn more, and who knows, maybe > eventually give up meat all together.....which leads me to my main question > for today. > I realize whole grains are healthy and part of a balanced diet. However, if > I don't eat meat and instead add in whole grains on a daily basis, will I > be able to lose weight? I know that all of our bodies are different, but > I'm afraid that if I add in whole grains to replace the meat it will make > weight loss hard. I also know it's protein that replaces meat, not grains, > but I hope someone understands what I am trying to say. It seems I'm having > a hard time writing what I am thinking. : ) > Except for meat, I cook fairly healthily, lots of beans, whole grains, and > veggies. For example, right now I have chili in the crockpot made with > kale,white beans, zuccini and scallions, spices........and chicken breast. > If anyone understands my rather ill posed question, I look forward to > hearing your comments. I also look forward to staying around and learning > if that is ok with you guys. > Lex > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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