Forums: September 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon
Created on: 09/21/10 11:35 AM Views: 3253 Replies: 16
skylar Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 16	ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 11:35 AM Good morning! I have voiced my frustrations on this forum a couple of times. Been following the vegan way of eating since mid-June. Lost 8 pounds in 4 weeks...not an ounce since. I know one is not to get stuck on numbers, but...it's Sept. 21. My weight has not budged for almost 2 1/2 mos! And, no, my clothes are not fitting any looser. I am 56, female and post-menopausal. I exercise. I ride my road bike, I work out on cardio machines at the gym. I started to do some tricep/bicep work. I am muscular by nature; therefore, weight training definitely makes me too bulky. I use my own body weight and have nice muscle definition. So, I am back today. Breakfast is a baked potato, spinach, vegan patty. Lunch will be McDougall's black bean soup with probably 2 Wasa w/ fiber crackers. Dinner...don't know yet...salad w/ some beans I also started B12 supplement as suggested previously. That's my story....
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legnerk Joined: 09/14/10 Posts: 34	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 11:42 AM Hey! I can definitely imagine your frustration. If you want my not-so-medical opinion (but one that has worked for me) is to avoid anything processed and overly startchy. For example, eat grains/carbs only in their whole form (think rolled oats instead of bread; quinoa instead of crackers; brown rice instead of pasta; even squash or sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes). I probably eat tofu once or twice a month, make an active point to have 2-4 cups of leafy greens each day (side salad with every meal), topped with some lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper, and avoid processed foods like the plague (unless I am short on options, or incredibly stressed and just need some comfort), but I keep it few and far in between. After adopting this style of eating, I stay fuller on less (and for longer!), actually grave the bread, cracker, etc. less and less, and have noticed a significant difference in my waisline. I know it seems really restricting, but it helps you stay creative and realize how downright crappy processed foods (even the seemingly healthy ones) can be at times. If you want any recipes, let me know! Most of the recipes I have make huge portions, so they're easy to just grab and heat up during the week. Good luck!!!
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2069	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 12:54 PM also, if you're adding muscle with weight training, you might not see much weight loss - muscle is heavier than fat on the scale. Things to check are how your general fitness level is, your blood pressure, any pre-existing issues (blood glucose, lipids, etc), and so on. The scale doesn't differentiate between 180 lbs of fat and 180 lbs of muscle. For instance, back when I was a teen, my sister and I had the same size thighs. Mine were mostly Jell-o; her's were solid as Mt. Rushmore. Which of us was healthier/fitter? The tape measure and scale couldn't tell. But she definitely was (competitive swimmer, soccer player, softball player, etc) --Deb
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craftycat70 Joined: 01/08/10 Location: Southern California Posts: 139	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 1:07 PM Re: legnerk Quote: If you want any recipes, let me know! Most of the recipes I have make huge portions, so they're easy to just grab and heat up during the week. Oh do share........ Craftycat - Southern, CA ~Isaiah 43: 18 & 19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
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skylar Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 16	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 1:20 PM I feel as if a vegan diet is certainly very restricting already. To legnerk: Yes, I would love your recipes. I would prefer to cook a large pot of something that I can eat throughout the week. I'm especially interested in any good soup recipes. Thank you so much!
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craftycat70 Joined: 01/08/10 Location: Southern California Posts: 139	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 1:42 PM I posted some of my vegan soup recipes on the March Kickstart Forums......here's the link http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/forum/messages.cfm?messageid=5730454A-C1CD-C803-76BF3506139FE6EE#5730454A-C1CD-C803-76BF3506139FE6EE If you can't bring it up with this link.....go to March Kickstart forum....click on search box at top Then under author put "craftycat70"......and search "vegan soups".....should be able to bring them up there. Craftycat - Southern, CA ~Isaiah 43: 18 & 19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
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marge Joined: 09/08/10 Location: Seattle Posts: 211	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 2:26 PM skylar, it took me MONTHS to just drop a single pound. Now it's been six months and the weight is slowly coming off, but it's not the scale it how you feel.
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 2:47 PM Hi Skylar, I know I've spoken before, and forgive me if I rehash the same, I can't remember. My suggestion would be to eat small meals very frequently, which elevates metabolism. Eat more RAW vegetables, especially leafy greens. I agree with the first poster... cut down on the starch, especially the potatoes, processed carbs (crackers, etc.). Increase the green vegetables. Add in some fruit, too. You're getting a lot of starch, but not much in the way of fresh, raw vegetables, and not enough calories. Your body is stuck in "restriction" mode because you're not fueling it enough. I think if you eat small meals, more frequently, and eat lots of fresh, raw vegetables, fruit and legumes, with whole, unprocessed grains (as other poster suggested!), you'll see a difference. Best of luck!!! Molly Horn
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mollybug Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 23	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 3:16 PM legnerk wrote: Hey! I can definitely imagine your frustration. If you want my not-so-medical opinion (but one that has worked for me) is to avoid anything processed and overly startchy. For example, eat grains/carbs only in their whole form (think rolled oats instead of bread; quinoa instead of crackers; brown rice instead of pasta; even squash or sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes). I probably eat tofu once or twice a month, make an active point to have 2-4 cups of leafy greens each day (side salad with every meal), topped with some lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper, and avoid processed foods like the plague (unless I am short on options, or incredibly stressed and just need some comfort), but I keep it few and far in between. After adopting this style of eating, I stay fuller on less (and for longer!), actually grave the bread, cracker, etc. less and less, and have noticed a significant difference in my waisline. I know it seems really restricting, but it helps you stay creative and realize how downright crappy processed foods (even the seemingly healthy ones) can be at times. If you want any recipes, let me know! Most of the recipes I have make huge portions, so they're easy to just grab and heat up during the week. Good luck!!! Please educate me more! Your talk about the "whole form" piqued my interest! So I can see the rice versus pasta thing. And I eat whole grain breads - the 100% whole wheat 100 calorie Bagel Thins help me in the morning. I put a bit of the Tofuti cream cheese and crushed walnuts on top. But maybe I should ditch them for oatmeal (which I eat a lot of steel cut oatmeal but sometimes become bored by it day after day.) Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us! I cannot believe how much I'm learning - though I'll be quite honest - it can be a bit overwhelming but that's my personality. I want to understand it all at once instead of bit by bit! Sigh... Molly D. ~ San Diego, CA
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skylar Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 16	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 5:04 PM Thanks for the recipe posting. I've just printed them out. I do understand what you are saying about breads, crackers, potatoes, etc. I do eat a certain amount of raw veges; however, if I eat too much, my stomach cannot handle it. I eat fruit (just forgot to list) but no more than 2 per day. It's interesting. Just like there are so many diets involving meats, etc., there are also different ideas on vegan diets too. Oil is good, oil is not good. Don't eat any fats. Eat avocados, olives, nuts. Eat potatoes, carrots, corn, rice, pasta....don't eat potatoes, pasta or too much corn or too many carrots or too much rice. Easy on the fruit as it contains natural sugar. Eat many small meals. Eat 3 meals with a snack. Eat before and after exercise. Don't eat before or after because then the body will focus on burning what you just ate. Exercise longer. Exercise shorter with higher intensity. Okay...I'm done babbling. But really...even look at the different celebrity opinions. To those that are successful, I commend you. Sorry..I'm just going through a rough period. Hope you all don't mind my posting. I'll get jiggy with it here and get back in the groove.
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 5:23 PM Skylar, I think your posting here is the BEST thing you can do! We're all here to support each other, and if you need to vent, there is no better place to do it. Sometimes, one person might be feeling frustrated but won't voice it for fear of being "the weird one." If one person expresses frustration, it lets the rest of us know that we're not alone. So, thank you for being brave enough to say how you're feeling. Molly Horn
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HealthandWealthgenerator Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 8	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 5:54 PM Before the Vegan challenge, I started a weight release challenge on my own. In addition, I cut out bread, pasta white rice, white potatoes and white flour products. I began to add sprouted grains and sprouted breads which made a tremendous difference in my ability to lose weight. Eating grains like quinoa, millet and bulger game me a ton of new options with grains. Try cutting out the aformentioned items to see if it makes a difference for you as well. Also, how's your sodium intake and your hydration with water. This may make a difference as well. Leigh
	Edited 09/23/10 6:18 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Mariberry Joined: 01/02/10 Posts: 297	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 12:02 AM HealthandWealthgenerator wrote: I started a weight release challenge on my own. Hey, I love that descriptor: weight release. Fat release works even better. Good one! All we are saying is "Give Peas a Chance"
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lori852 Joined: 09/22/10 Posts: 16	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 1:20 AM I've done well on this and am loving it, but I haven't used any prepackaged products, except tortillas for wraps. Since I tend to eat on the go a lot, I fold just about anything into a wrap. I thought I would really crave sugar or cheese, but haven't. I think the key for me is to eat a variety of whole grains, beans, and lots of fresh vegies. I also take vitamins and drink a lot of pure water.
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skylar Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 16	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 1:23 AM I appreciate the kind words. It does help to be able to "let it out" now and then. I drink lots of water...always have...always been my drink of choice. Therein lies my frustrations. I eat the foods listed. I drink plenty of water daily. I exercise. I do not drink coffee (never have). I do not smoke (never have). I do not drink sodas. I do enjoy a glass of red wine, once a week (sometimes twice). I know some are probably thinking that I must be cheating on the foods, etc. to not get results. If I was, then I would certainly know why I'm still in the same shape. No...I'm not giving up my little glass of wine... Tonight I purchased "Get Healthy, Go Vegan" for the extra oomph! I liked the intro and the recipes look pretty yummy. So onward and upward.
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skylar Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 16	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 1:28 AM HealthandWealthgenerator wrote: Before the Vegan challenge, I started a weight release challenge on my own. In addition, I cut out bread, pasta white rice, white potatoes and white flour products. I began to add sprouted grains and sprouted breads which made a tremendous difference in my ability to lose weight. Eating grains like quinoa, millet and bulger game me a ton of new options with grains. Try cutting out the aformentioned items to see if it makes a difference for you as well. Also, how's your sodium intake and your hydration with water. This may make a difference as well. Leigh I'm not big on salt and I do drink plenty of water daily....love the stuff. There's always a bottle in my car, on my desk at work, my nightstand, kitchen...I'm addicted you might say.
	Edited 09/23/10 6:18 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
HealthandWealthgenerator Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 8	RE: ok...I fell off the vegan wagon Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 11:11 PM skylar wrote: HealthandWealthgenerator wrote: Before the Vegan challenge, I started a weight release challenge on my own. In addition, I cut out bread, pasta white rice, white potatoes and white flour products. I began to add sprouted grains and sprouted breads which made a tremendous difference in my ability to lose weight. Eating grains like quinoa, millet and bulger game me a ton of new options with grains. Try cutting out the aformentioned items to see if it makes a difference for you as well. Also, how's your sodium intake and your hydration with water. This may make a difference as well. Leigh I'm not big on salt and I do drink plenty of water daily....love the stuff. There's always a bottle in my car, on my desk at work, my nightstand, kitchen...I'm addicted you might say. That's good that you don't consume a lot of sodium. Drinking water is half the battle. It's good to be addicted to water. You could have a worse addiction .
	Edited 09/23/10 6:10 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom

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