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| Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: I could be an overweight vegan... | |||
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| kaiasgram
Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 14 |
I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 4:12 AM ... if I don't count calories in addition to following the two overriding guidelines of no animal products and minimal oils. I'm already a vegetarian eating a lot of steamed veggies and whole grains and still I have to stick very close to 1200 calories/day to lose weight. So I'm on board for this 21-day challenge, but I'm nervous about it. Anyone else? |
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| kiwi
Joined: 01/03/11 Location: New Zealand Posts: 405 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:15 AM I am an overweight vegan. Only lost 5lbs at the last kickstart. The advise I got was to watch my fibre intake and make sure I was eating plenty of beans. Others have found that if the beans drop off the weight doesn't. I understand why you feel you need to count calories and have some concerns. I am a bit too lazy to work it all out - mostly because i have so many other things going on at present. Instead I plan to stay away from the vegan 'meat' substitutes and processed foods during this kickfast and to have some portion control. While I found many conveneince/processed vegan foods that taste great, they are very expensive where I live and higher in calories and higher in sodium (salt) that home cooked meals. That can add to weight gain. I am just going to trust the kickstart process and see how it goes. It will be better for my household budget if not my waist. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates. |
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| SpongeBobFishpants
Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 86 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 7:54 AM I'm also an overweight vegan. I have found I actually gain weight if I eat processed vegan foods like fake meats and cheeses or vegan baked goods instead of fruit. On the other hand I lose weight if I eat home cooked meals with whole foods and increase my activity level even a little. I also hate to work out... and I mean I HATE working out. This time around I have decided to stop fighting that fact and instead think outside the box. I bought a beautiful backpack with a camelback feature and all sorts of bells and whistles and have decided to walk to any place I need to go that is within 2 miles and doesn't require buying anything bigger than my new bag. I pack a lunch and a fun activity like a book or sketchpad and head out. I reward myself for a good walk with a tea or soy latte at out local coffee shop. I've also decided to turn housecleaning into a workout since I have to clean anyway, why not up the effort and kill 2 birds an all. It would be great if those of us that are overweight got together on a special thread or email to give ourselves a mini-support group. Anyone else interested? |
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| Elisheva
Joined: 04/04/11 Posts: 32 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 11:39 AM I have been on a vegan diet since october and have not lost weight. I bought Alicia's Kind Diet Book and have used those recipes, but I know I do snack too much, especially with children around. Potato chips etc...I forgot it was starting to today and made cinnamon roles for breakfast today, because I had a few in the freezer to get rid of. Yes, I broke and had one. But I usually do really well eating vegan...I do have cheese once in awhile but rarely ever...getting used to not having it. I am on board with the rest of you trying to lose weight. I also am frustrated that when I hear people that just gave up meat and dairy and became just vegetarian and lost 30 lbs I am like, what the ? I dont eat pizza on family movie nights anymore, or fried chicken like I use to with cole slaw, you would think that i would drop at least 5 lbs...nothing! Though i have not got on the scale in about 3 weeks...I would love to support and encourage each other...So 21 days and beyond!!! |
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| Katherine Lawrence
Joined: 01/12/11 Posts: 24 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 11:44 AM Hey guys - I, myself, am a formerly overweight vegan. I'm a nutrition/cooking instructor for PCRM and also have several students who begin the program overweight. The most important factor I've found is fiber - aim for at least 40 grams of fiber per day. This means, you'll need to eat mainly whole foods (i.e. whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, etc...instead of "whole grain cereals", pasta, etc...) and you'll need to include beans into your daily diet. I have never counted calories and only recently started exercising - and I was able to lose 40 pounds. (You can see the before and after pics on my website, if you're curious) Here's some basic fiber amounts: Also, my husband struggled with weight loss and we tried a new approach on him... having beans for breakfast. We found if he had at least 1 c of beans for breakfast, along with whatever else he wanted, getting his fiber and protein early in the morning really made a big difference. He was able to lose 30 pounds this way. Also, we noticed that he consumed the bulk of his calories at dinnertime (when he really needed them to use earlier in the day!) -so we flipped his meals upside down and he had large breakfasts and lunches, with an afternoon snack, then would just have smoothies for dinner. Lastly, if youc an stop eating 2-3 hours before bedtime, this is helpful. It will give your liver and kidneys a chance to rest while you're sleeping instead of having to work all night. I hope this helps! Don't give up - you'll see results! Thanks, Katherine Lawrence |
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| susie
Joined: 02/05/11 Posts: 1 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 11:44 AM WOW so glad to hear I am not alone |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2068 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 11:53 AM There are a lot of factors involved: activity level, what kinds of vegan foods you eat, other health issues, etc. For example, losing weight is tough for me because I've got to deal with hypothyroid - an underactive thyroid means what I eat doesn't burn as fast as others would burn it. Fiber and water are crucial - it's possible to eat a low-fiber vegan diet. I know that if my fiber intake drops, I start accumulating 'debris' in my intestines. I know this because when my fiber goes back up again, I drop a "load" of weight in the bathroom. I've also discovered that nuts, even a handful per day, will add weight (or slow weight loss). Exercise is also important - get moving if you're not already (and while chasing kids is a lot of work, it's not a work-out for weight loss). I figure it took me YEARS to add this weight, I should at least give it some time to get rid of it. I lost about 10 lbs on the September kickstart but now I average about 1/2 lb per week. Not a lot but it's something and at that rate, I'll be that much closer to my goal by the end of this year. --Deb R |
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| Elisheva
Joined: 04/04/11 Posts: 32 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 12:02 PM Thanks Katherine, |
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| fiji51904
Joined: 01/12/10 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 98 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 12:02 PM Well I have been vegan for almost two years now and I am an incredibly active, happy, healthy overweight vegan! I just LOVE food! And good quality, healthy food makes it all the more enjoyable for me. LOL!!! Heidi |
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| Shadowheart
Joined: 09/05/10 Posts: 83 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 12:26 PM I started using the 'lose it' app to keep track of my daily intake, nutrients and calories. I am now losing weight by following a vegan diet and watching the calories. I found I was eating way to much rice/pasta/grains to lose weight. You can find the app on Ipad/Iphone, or a similar version on the web at loseit.com I'm sure there are tons more helpful tools out there too. I actually was amazed how much sodium I was still eating, especially since I never add salt or products with sodium (or so I thought), and now I'm extra concious of this too! |
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| Bugsmom
Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2068 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 12:32 PM Elisheva wrote: Thanks Katherine, I went to your website and saw your pictures. I am 160 lbs, and cant wait to be 132 again!!!! So brown rice, quinoa (will have to try that again) I cooked it once and it wasnt that great. Got some suggestions? Not so much pasta,and bread, but beans and whole grains. Got it...I was hoping just going vegan i would lose weight, but now i still seem to have to make it a diet. I was so proud of myself for giving up meat and dairy, and thought that would help drop some weight but I am finding still no oil, no pasta no bread, no sugar,  (sigh)Nowhere is there "no pasta, no bread" - in fact, one of the DIY restaurant options is Italian. Rather, it's about finding whole grain options for these. Quinoa pasta with tomato herb sauce and a tossed salad on the side is wonderful. A nice whole grain pumpernickel with hummus and veggies is a great sandwich. And so on. Refined sugar is not generally considered vegan because it is often processed with bone char (from animal bones). A little agave, maple syrup, etc can be used (sparingly) to sweeten a smoothie or on oatmeal. Fat is to be limited, used sparingly - as in, no adding oil but many foods already contain fats anyhow. It's just as possible to eat 'vegan' junkfood as it is non-vegan junk food. Potato chips are vegan but high in fat, sodium, and high glycemic - they don't usually even have as much nutritional value as a baked version of the potato they were made from. Eating heaping plates of white flour pasta, not great. Eating a plate of whole grain pasta is fine. Provided (as always) that you stop when you're full, not when you're stuffed. If you're used to snacking on nuts, try some cold, cooked chickpeas. Similar texture to peanuts without the fat. --Deb R |
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| SpongeBobFishpants
Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 86 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 1:25 PM Thanks Katherine, The last couple of weeks have proven to me that it IS possible to eat vegan and still gain weight on low-fiber processed foods. My problems with processed food arise when I need something quick or I'm too tired/lazy to cook. After giving it some thought I think my obvious solution, since we have a chest freezer, is putting aside one day a week devoted to freezer cooking so that I can stock up on foods that are quick to grab and microwave (whole bean brown rice burritos for instance) and dinners for those nights when I don't have it in me to spend a lot of time cooking. My other problem seems to be that although we eat well within the 2-3 hour time limit before bed, I have had a life long problem with evening eating. I won't say snacking because I eat the equivalent of a full on meal. The solution to that may be getting up early and making sure I get to bed early so I physically can't snack into the late night. Anyway, I think it would be nice if we checked in with each other daily to see how it's going. And if anyone needs any motivation and feels like the only overweight vegan here, let me put those fears to rest for you... at 6 ft I used to be well over 400lbs. I am still at about 340. Just try finding a sports bra at that weight, I dare ya. I have a long way to go to get to my goals... biking, hiking, kayaking, etc. and would love a group of folks to work on this with. |
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| LisaPunk
Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 1:47 PM i am currently an overweight vegan as well. i have only been vegan since january kickstart and my weight gain precedes my veganism though i was a vegetarian. unfortunately my weight gain was health problem related. since becoming vegan i have lost about 15 lbs. it did not just "fall off" another thing i read on here somewhere was someone saying that if they eat whole grains it helps keep the weight down when they dont, like if they eat white rice or something the weight creeps back up. i totally feel the same way. it was like a lightbulb went off when i read that. |
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| kandoo
Joined: 01/01/10 Posts: 76 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 2:23 PM Here is a link to Dr. McDougall's NewsLetter re: Overweight Vegans. You may find it interesting. http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008nl/dec/fat.htm |
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| cegoans
Joined: 04/02/11 Posts: 9 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 2:58 PM oooohhh...I LOVE the idea of beans for breakfast! Thanks for the tip, Katharine... |
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| kiwi
Joined: 01/03/11 Location: New Zealand Posts: 405 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 3:10 PM SpongeBobFishpants wrote: Thanks Katherine, Anyway, I think it would be nice if we checked in with each other daily to see how it's going. And if anyone needs any motivation and feels like the only overweight vegan here, let me put those fears to rest for you... at 6 ft I used to be well over 400lbs. I am still at about 340. Just try finding a sports bra at that weight, I dare ya. Hi, I would love to keep checking in with each other - perhaps continuing on this thread or starting another for those with weight 'issues' and goals. Also for a sports bra, the best for larger ladies is Enell. I buy this myself (its not in my local shops so I order from the web site) and cant speak highly enough. If you cant find a size to fit they will custom make. It takes a little while to get used to the feel of the fit but no bounce and soreness when exercising. The web site is http://www.enell.com/ Good luck - Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates. |
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| lampey
Joined: 04/04/11 Posts: 10 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 3:16 PM When I switched from vegetarian to vegan 3 months ago, I lost 8 or 9 pounds by the end of the first week. I have not lost anymore weight since then. I think there are a lot of different variables that come into play as far as weight-loss is concerned, such as eating too little; eating too many processed foods which are loaded with sodium; not eating enough fresh foods; not exercising. In The China Study, it says that people in China eat 30% more calories than Americans and yet weigh less. Why? Because their diet consists of a lot of fresh vegetables and minimal processed foods. Vegan food can still be high in fat and artificial ingredients, so it's important to remember that just because something is labeled vegan, it does not mean it's healthy in large amounts. |
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| kaiasgram
Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 14 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 5:05 PM Thank you to everyone who responded to my first post here. I believe there's more complexity -- and in some cases, more restrictions -- to making this plan work for some of us. I would be happy to have a separate thread for support for us weight loss resistant vegans. There are also folks with special challenges -- a lot of people (myself included) have a tough time with 35-40 grams of fiber because of IBS. For me, the kind of support I need from a forum like this isn't more recipe ideas, but rather "keep fighting the good fight" support for us 'tough cases!' Again, many thanks for your replies, that already feels like great support! |
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| SpongeBobFishpants
Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 86 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 5:28 PM kaiasgram wrote: There are also folks with special challenges -- a lot of people (myself included) have a tough time with 35-40 grams of fiber because of IBS. Oh, well, you may be happy to know then that as someone who was also diagnosed with IBS a few years ago, once I cut out meat and dairy my IBS symptoms were drastically reduced. Now, that being said, if I overindulge in processed foods, they do come back. But if I eat the way I'm supposed to, whole foods, I don't have to take any meds for IBS anymore. |
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| Katherine Lawrence
Joined: 01/12/11 Posts: 24 |
RE: I could be an overweight vegan... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 9:27 PM Spongebob, Thanks, Katherine Lawrence |
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I havw been Vegan for over 3 months and have GAINED weight. Very frustruated and I hope this helps me drop some weight. I bet its all the amazing Vegan chocolate chip cookies from WFM
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