Weight loss question -- Help!

[Guest guest]

I just purchased a couple days ago a copy of Men's Health magazine's

weight loss supplemental issue. It seems to have lots of great advice

in it. Not only to I want to loose weight, I really need to for

health reasons, as do so many others.

 

So this magazine, while certainly not shunning vegetables and such,

does not seem to have a great deal of good to say about a vegetarian

diet. Two negatives I've found in skimming through: 1. It

specifically recommends *against* going vegetarianism for weight loss,

because quick vegetarian foods are often higher in fat than

nonvegetarian foods, and 2. In it's ranking of fast food sandwiches,

it slams on vegetarian options due to the low protein content. As for

the latter, it even recommends getting the salad instead so you throw

on some chickpeas for protein (fiber and protein are keys, and I

wasn't surprised), but the meat sandwiches that they recommend get to

remain sandwiches. I feel a little left out, you know, seeing as how

much I love sandwiches ;-)

 

Anyway, regarding the first problem, it's always bugged me when

organizations suggest weight loss/health as a reason for becoming

vegetarian. It's pretty easy to go vegetarian and be unhealthy...all

that cheese and sugar and oils...they don't disappear unless you go

vegan, which I am sure can help.

 

My first thought this evening was that I could go back to meat eating,

so I could get the protein I need for weight loss, and when I get

those pounds off of me, go back to being veggie, but then of course I

picture the chickens and cows and fish and such, and I think, there

they are, living, then dying, and I would prefer not to go that way.

 

So, I have been vegetarian long enough to know how to get protein, but

I'm a loss with weight loss. The Taco Bell discussion raised my

eyebrows, and now I see that their food is just not very good for you!

And that was almost a staple for me.

 

My rambling is, of course, and attempt to get suggestions on this

issue. I'm not a nutritionist, or a weight loss expert, or more

importantly a doctor. So nothing I've written here should be

understood as " Andrew knows his stuff, so I'm going to take something

from what he wrote and apply it to my diet. " I'm too sleepy right now

to claim anything, let alone basic fundamentals of a science (weight

loss) that I've never mastered. Any great, effective veggie weight

loss books out there? I'm personally not vegan, though that would be

welcome too...even if I don't use it I'm sure it would be good

information to have...even for me if I ever manage to get to that level.

 

Sorry. This went on much longer than I expected. Take care everyone.

 

Peace and all good,

Andrew

[Guest guest]

HI,

I had a similar question before I became vegetarian. Although I do love the

animals, the biggest pushes to become veggie was the health benefits and

ecological factors. However. although I have only been doing so for 6 weeks, I

have found that I lost weight almost automatically. Although I know exercise is

important, I have not been working out at all and have lost at least 10 pounds.

Extremely encouraging for me.

 

I have the same concerns about getting enough protein. I've read several places

that one should have about .5 grams of protein per pound of weight. Needless to

say that is a LOT of protein to try and get when one is not a skinny mini,

healthy weight person yet. UGGG frustration.

 

I also dfinately be interested in suggestions for more ways to increase protein

intake.

 

J Lyn

 

Andrew <awerling wrote:

I just purchased a couple days ago a copy of Men's Health magazine's

weight loss supplemental issue. It seems to have lots of great advice

in it. Not only to I want to loose weight, I really need to for

health reasons, as do so many others.

 

 

 

Write. Write like a demon on fire, til you're out of breath. WRITE! OR DIE!

Spill rivers of blood on the page. Flood tears through a heart. Send horrible

screams into infinity but WRITE! Keep writing until you've poured out your soul,

your mind, your vital organs. Speed across the keys, the page, the net, the

virutal reality that is cyberspace. Fill volumes, libraries, magazines,

newspapers, napkins, old receipts. Spill ink, crush graphite, pound plastic

keys. JUST WRITE! WRITE LIKE LIGHTENING IN A BLUE BLACK SKY.

http://spirit_candle.bravejournal.com

lucid_lit_lines/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Andrew,

A friend of mine, a meat-eater, has had a very

successful weight loss experience on L.A. Weight Loss.

 

I haven't followed up on this yet, but at one of his

weigh-ins, he asked for me, and they told him that,

yes, they do have a vegetarian weight-loss diet to

follow!

 

Jiraph

=====

 

1. It specifically recommends *against* going

vegetarianism for weight loss, because quick

vegetarian foods are often higher in fat than

nonvegetarian foods.....

 

" The cat did not respond. She did not believe in paraphrasing anybody. If

people pursued this same feline wisdom, there'd be a lot fewer

misunderstandings. "

From Kinky Friedman's

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

 

 

 

Mail

Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour:

http://tour.mail./mailtour.html

[Guest guest]

My mom lost 40 pounds over the past eight months by

lowering her calorie intake, which I would think would

work whether a person is veggie or not (she's not).

She's taken a nutrition class (community college)

which might have helped her get a good grasp of how to

calculate calories.

 

According to my understanding, it's possible to be fit

at almost any weight, as long as you exercise enough.

The media is extremely anti-fat, which can feel like

propaganda after a while. For other views, you might

try a book like Fat!So? by Marilyn Wahn.

 

good luck!

 

Laura-Marie

--- Andrew <awerling wrote:

> I just purchased a couple days ago a copy of Men's

> Health magazine's

> weight loss supplemental issue. It seems to have

> lots of great advice

> in it. Not only to I want to loose weight, I really

> need to for

> health reasons, as do so many others.

>

> So this magazine, while certainly not shunning

> vegetables and such,

> does not seem to have a great deal of good to say

> about a vegetarian

> diet. Two negatives I've found in skimming through:

> 1. It

> specifically recommends *against* going

> vegetarianism for weight loss,

> because quick vegetarian foods are often higher in

> fat than

> nonvegetarian foods, and 2. In it's ranking of fast

> food sandwiches,

> it slams on vegetarian options due to the low

> protein content. As for

> the latter, it even recommends getting the salad

> instead so you throw

> on some chickpeas for protein (fiber and protein are

> keys, and I

> wasn't surprised), but the meat sandwiches that they

> recommend get to

> remain sandwiches. I feel a little left out, you

> know, seeing as how

> much I love sandwiches ;-)

>

> Anyway, regarding the first problem, it's always

> bugged me when

> organizations suggest weight loss/health as a reason

> for becoming

> vegetarian. It's pretty easy to go vegetarian and

> be unhealthy...all

> that cheese and sugar and oils...they don't

> disappear unless you go

> vegan, which I am sure can help.

>

> My first thought this evening was that I could go

> back to meat eating,

> so I could get the protein I need for weight loss,

> and when I get

> those pounds off of me, go back to being veggie, but

> then of course I

> picture the chickens and cows and fish and such, and

> I think, there

> they are, living, then dying, and I would prefer not

> to go that way.

>

> So, I have been vegetarian long enough to know how

> to get protein, but

> I'm a loss with weight loss. The Taco Bell

> discussion raised my

> eyebrows, and now I see that their food is just not

> very good for you!

> And that was almost a staple for me.

>

> My rambling is, of course, and attempt to get

> suggestions on this

> issue. I'm not a nutritionist, or a weight loss

> expert, or more

> importantly a doctor. So nothing I've written here

> should be

> understood as " Andrew knows his stuff, so I'm going

> to take something

> from what he wrote and apply it to my diet. " I'm

> too sleepy right now

> to claim anything, let alone basic fundamentals of a

> science (weight

> loss) that I've never mastered. Any great,

> effective veggie weight

> loss books out there? I'm personally not vegan,

> though that would be

> welcome too...even if I don't use it I'm sure it

> would be good

> information to have...even for me if I ever manage

> to get to that level.

>

> Sorry. This went on much longer than I expected.

> Take care everyone.

>

> Peace and all good,

> Andrew

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, everyone, for the thoughts so far!

[Guest guest]

To get enough protein, add the vegetables kale and eggplant to your

diet. Go to the natural foods section of your grocery store and buy

the veggie cutlets, Boca Burgers or other garden burgers, vegetarian

hot dogs and Gimmelean, which comes in beef or pork flavor but

contains no meat. Buy soy milk and soy cheese. Then go stock up on

nuts that have no oil or salt added.

 

I get my protein from all of the above. For breakfast, I always

have one serving of nuts. My breakfast is always 1 cup of cereal

with 1 cup of soy milk, 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup nuts.

 

For lunch I have a salad and two servings of crackers.

 

For dinner I have two servings from the bread and grains food group,

one or two servings from the meat substitute group, and since I do

eat dairy products, I have cottage cheese, cheese or soy cheese, or

yogurt and fruit.

 

With the above plan, I have allotted all the recommended foods per

the food pyramid in my daily diet.

 

I make gravy or white sauce using 1 cup dried, unsalted cashews

which have been grounded in my blender, 1 cup soy milk, 4

tablespoons of flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper blended

together and heated over low heat while constantly stirring. Add

more soy milk to get the right consistency.

[Guest guest]

Hi Andrew,

 

Congratulations on making the commitment to lose weight and become

healthier, and to stick with the vegetarian lifestyle! I've been a

veggie for about 15 years now, and I lost about 35 pounds around the

same time I went veggie. I wouldn't attribute my weight loss entirely

to the switch to a vegetarian diet, but to ditching fast food and

packaged " crap " foods, and to getting more exercise. Eating more

whole, unrefined foods (grains, veggies, fruits, beans, etc) will

certainly help with weight loss since they fill you up more and keep

you full longer than sugar/salt/fat/simple carbohydrate-laden

packaged and fast foods. If you must have fast food or sweets or

chunks of cheese (my weakness!), it is best to eat them as a " treat "

rather than part of your daily meals. I used to love fast food,

sugary soda pops and iced teas, donuts, everything that is bad for

you, but once I started cutting back on these things, I found that I

didn't miss them. Once in a while, I'll indulge in a treat, but I

find that I get more satisfaction out of a good bowl of rice and

beans, and just feel like crap if I eat a Tim Horton's chocolate

danish.

 

Increasing the amount of exercise you do is crucial to taking and

KEEPING the weight off. I don't think I would have been able to keep

my 35 pounds off for so long if I didn't try to move my body on a

regular basis. It's hard to do when you're working full time and

live in an environment that is all about driving everywhere, sitting

at your desk, and being inactive, but if you start slowly with (for

example) a 15-minute walk on your coffee or lunch break (or both!),

it becomes easier to find the time once you start seeing how exercise

improves your health, both physically and mentally.

 

If you're concerned about getting enough protein while losing weight,

you may want to check out this article from Vegetarian Times:

 

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/document_display.cfm?

section_id=80 & document_id=367

 

Most people don't think they get enough protein, but this article

explains how to calculate the needs for your body & lifestyle, as

well as provides the protein amounts in some different foods. I think

if you eat a balanced diet, you can meet your needs fairly easily.

 

I hope this helps somewhat. I know how hard it is to want to lose

weight and do it quickly, but it is truly a lifetime of changes and

small, slow steps that will get you where you want and keep you

there.

 

I wish you the best of luck!!

Kathleen

 

PS: I think you can still eat at Taco Bell, if you choose wisely. I

was just looking at their website (www.tacobell.com) and if you click

on the " Nutrition Guide " tab, they have quite a bit of nutritional

information on their foods, how to ask for a healthier meal (Fresco

Style!), and a nutritional calculator. If I order from them, I would

also ask if they would change some of the ingredients, like give you

less cheese, more salsa, more beans and rice (assuming they're not

coated in fat!), etc. And stick to the soft tacos, not the deep-fried

ones! Just a few of my thoughts.

[Guest guest]

Kathleen, I enjoyed reading what you wrote and you certainly have valid

points. Wish we didn't have to exercise to complete the process, but, we

DO! Just a question for you, to help motivate myself, what exercise did you

include with your switch to the vegetarian lifestyle?

Jane

 

Kathleen wrote> " Increasing the amount of exercise you do is crucial to

taking and

KEEPING the weight off. I don't think I would have been able to keep

my 35 pounds off for so long if I didn't try to move my body on a

regular basis. "

>

[Guest guest]

What about beans?? I'd definitely add those in!

 

 

, " Patricia Mohr "

<willow_cougar> wrote:

> To get enough protein, add the vegetables kale and eggplant to your

> diet. Go to the natural foods section of your grocery store and buy

> the veggie cutlets, Boca Burgers or other garden burgers, vegetarian

> hot dogs and Gimmelean, which comes in beef or pork flavor but

> contains no meat. Buy soy milk and soy cheese. Then go stock up on

> nuts that have no oil or salt added.

>

> I get my protein from all of the above. For breakfast, I always

> have one serving of nuts. My breakfast is always 1 cup of cereal

> with 1 cup of soy milk, 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup nuts.

>

> For lunch I have a salad and two servings of crackers.

>

> For dinner I have two servings from the bread and grains food group,

> one or two servings from the meat substitute group, and since I do

> eat dairy products, I have cottage cheese, cheese or soy cheese, or

> yogurt and fruit.

>

> With the above plan, I have allotted all the recommended foods per

> the food pyramid in my daily diet.

>

> I make gravy or white sauce using 1 cup dried, unsalted cashews

> which have been grounded in my blender, 1 cup soy milk, 4

> tablespoons of flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper blended

> together and heated over low heat while constantly stirring. Add

> more soy milk to get the right consistency.