Guest guest Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on him. Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming vegetarians. I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out anything I can to help them! Thanks, Tonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 Tonia, My thoughts are that they might want to look at their consumption of simple carbs. Are they eating lots of bread, pasta, chips, crackers. Also non whole grain items, anything with white flour. Lots of dairy sometimes adds weight, or items with processed sugar. Helpful to check how much fresh veggies, and fruit and whole grains in their diets. Hope this is helpful, Laura in MD vegton writes: Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming vegetarians. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 I don't have any real good reasons for why (not a nutritionist/etc) but I do know that being vegan it is pretty easy to eat a lot more carbs to make up for things (breads, rice, higher carb vegies like corn/peas/potatoes). I'm not sure why either, we were vegetarians since before my son was born, and I don't recall losing weight when we switched. About 2 years ago I was on a diet, and lost quite a bit of weight. We went vegan, and I kind of stopped doing my diet thing, and for a while I kept it off, and was happy, but it seems that all that I lost has slowly slowly crept back, so I have no idea why. It's not like I'm eating all that differently (from the diet I was on I learned I didn't eat enough, so maybe I fall back into that when I'm not actively tracking it...) We went vegan about a year ago, and A friend of mine was laughing (not at me, but at the situation) because she didn't see how it was possible for me to gain weight back on a vegan diet. We never really eat a lot of junky foods, never have had soda in the house, I tend to prefer fruit for snacks (always have). II also found than when I was not eating enough calories, which as crazy as it sounds -was making me hold on to, and put on weight. I still have that problem. I also know I tend to prefer higher carb stuff (maybe my body know it needs more calories, and those are what it thinks it needs?). NO idea, but I need to work on this as well. Wish I had something more to tell you, maybe someone else here can help us both out LOL. Missie On 9/16/07, vegton <vegton wrote: > > I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year > when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister > and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest > children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian > about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on > him. > > Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's > their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be > eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just > all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming > vegetarians. > > I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out > anything I can to help them! > > Thanks, > Tonia > > > -- http://mszzzi.zoomshare.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/mszzzi/ ~~~~~(m-.-)m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 Gaining weight is just calories in > calories out so they must be less active or consuming more total calories or both. Animal protein and plant protein both have 4 calories per gram so if they have replaced the same amount of animal protein with the same amount plant protein they wouldn't be gaining weight. Could they be watching more tv or playing more electronic games or having shorter recess at school etc? Maybe more sodas or other sweet treats? Sometimes new ovo-lacto veggies worry about not enough protein once they stop eating meat and go overboard with dairy, eating way more cheese and other dairy products to make up for it. D >vegton <vegton >Sep 16, 2007 5:33 PM > > gaining weight > >I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year >when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister >and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest >children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian >about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on >him. > >Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's >their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be >eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just >all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming >vegetarians. > >I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out >anything I can to help them! > >Thanks, >Tonia > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 When I started vegetarianism (10 years ago) I ate much more bread and pasta than I needed to. I put on about 15 pounds. Then I lost 30 pounds and learned about how to balance what I was eating better. Now I only fix pasta or pasta related (egg noodles, gnocci, perogis) only one time a week and try to limit sweet bready items like bread sandwiches, bagels, waffles, pancakes, graham crackers, regular crackers and granola bars, and sweet cereals. I also try to zap all the sugar. I usually try to go totally sugar free for one week a month (including bread, condiments etc). Of course fast food of any sort is a big no-no. Diana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 a couple of thoughts: 1. too many carbohydrates. especially simple carbs, but really , lots of starch in the form of rice, potatoes, bread, etc. 2. too much oil to replace flavor 3. way too much soy. Soy in excess can affect the thyroid, slowing the metabolism. (this one is a big controversial subject for a lot of people, who get a tad defensive) - vegton<vegton < > Sunday, September 16, 2007 5:33 PM gaining weight I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on him. Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming vegetarians. I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out anything I can to help them! Thanks, Tonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 Sometimes people also eat more carbs when the stop eating meat, instead of eating more vegetables. Make sure that the carbs that are consumed are whole grains as much as possible or from vegetables like sweet potatoes more than white, summer squash and zucchini more than winter squash. If they just need quantity to feel full then incorporate more broth based soups, celery, etc. And don't forget the healthy fats in limited quantity to help feel full like avacado, nuts, and seeds. danitamark wrote: Gaining weight is just calories in > calories out so they must be less active or consuming more total calories or both. Animal protein and plant protein both have 4 calories per gram so if they have replaced the same amount of animal protein with the same amount plant protein they wouldn't be gaining weight. Could they be watching more tv or playing more electronic games or having shorter recess at school etc? Maybe more sodas or other sweet treats? Sometimes new ovo-lacto veggies worry about not enough protein once they stop eating meat and go overboard with dairy, eating way more cheese and other dairy products to make up for it. D >vegton <vegton >Sep 16, 2007 5:33 PM > > gaining weight > >I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year >when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister >and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest >children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian >about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on >him. > >Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's >their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be >eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just >all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming >vegetarians. > >I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out >anything I can to help them! > >Thanks, >Tonia > Laura Ballinger Morales Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 Tonia said: I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on him. Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming vegetarians. I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out anything I can to help them! ~~~~ Tonia: Do they eat a lot of cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products? They have a lot of fat in them. When I was still a lacto-ovo vegetarian, I was 85 pounds overweight because I loaded up my vegetables and rice with waaaay too much cheese! Just something to think about... Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 Even on a vegetarian diet, you can eat too much fat and sugary products. Are they eating lots of cheese (most which are high in fat), whole milk products, lots of eggs, lots of fried tofu, etc. The best way to find out why they might be gaining weight is for them to keep a food diary. Just have them write down everything that they eat on a typical day for one week, and hopefully from that you can find out if they're eating foods that cause them to gain weight. Also, are they getting enough exercise? Whether you're a vegetarian or a meat-eater, you should choose foods that are high in fiber (vegetables, fruits, whole grains) and not eat too many fatty foods (nuts and nut butters are great, but, of course, in moderation). Good luck! , " vegton " <vegton wrote: > > I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now. I lost 15lbs in about a year > when I became a vegetarian (though that's not why I did it). My sister > and her family all became vegetarians about 3 year ago. Her two oldest > children are starting to put on weight. My husband became a vegetarian > about 4 years ago and since doing so the weight has been creeping up on > him. > > Does anyone know why they would be gaining weight? They think it's > their diet, but they eat pretty much what I do. Could they not be > eating something that they'd normally get with a meat diet? They just > all think a coincidence that they're putting on weight since becoming > vegetarians. > > I don't want them to go back to eating meat so I'm trying to find out > anything I can to help them! > > Thanks, > Tonia > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 Weight gain won't be an issue if more raw foods are a major part of the diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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