Hi, I'm new here, and a vegetarian!

Well, I just joined CC today, and I think this is an amazing site! I love that it's FREE! I've been trying to lose weight for about... all my life. I've always been the chubby kid. So I think this site will do really do me some good :)

Hm, I became vegetarian in December of '07 because of slaughterhouse footage I saw, it really broke my heart and I didn't think twice about eating meat again. I starting thinking that a vegetarian diet would help me lose weight, but so far I haven't! If anything, I've gained a couple pounds :/ Does anybody have any advice or motivation for me? I'm 16, 5'4, 170 lbs. And does anybody want to be friends?!! :D

Welcome to CC!  I'm pretty new here myself. :) 

I think if you do the proper calculations to figure out how many calories you should be eating a day and using that to eat more healthy and balance, combined with a good workout plan, you should see results!  Do you work out now, at all? 

A vegetarian diet doesn't mean you will lose weight, particularly if you are replacing your meat with more refined carbs.  Ultimately you still have to watch your calories in, calories out, and exercise.

Well, I hadn't been doing much exercise before I became vegetarian... or during... but this week I started going to the gym for about 2 hours and doing different things like the ellipticals, treadmills, calisthenics, and cycling. I hope I start seeing results soon!

I think you're right fuzzys, I've replaced meat with more cards and sweets, so it really didn't do me any good. But for the past 2-3 days I've started eating less starches and carbs, and tried eating more vegetables. Instead of eating hummus with pita bread, and ate it inside of a leaf of lettuce with red onions and tomato slices ;)

Thanks guys.

Yeah I thought that when I became vegetarian as well. It wasn't the main reason but it was a thought I had. Likewise, I found that I was replacing meat with starches and lots of carbs.

Good idea replacing the pita bread with lettuce. I'll have to try that out myself. Good luck!

Welcome Articmonkey!

I had the same problem.  I gained weight as a vegetarian. I had replaced my meat with desserts.  I was called a dessertarian!!!

It's hard to be a healthy vegetarian while eating out.  Many restaurants I went to did not have healthy vegetarian dishes.  I was eating a ton of carbs. 

I started cooking at home and actually adding vegetables into my diet.  So far I've lost weight.  I only eat good carbs like whole grains, fruits, beans.  I also discovered Panera!  They have two veggie soups with wheat bread (very healthy too).  Or you can have the  Mediterranean veggie sandwich.  They also carry fruit you can replace the chips with. 

You shouldn't have to compromise your beliefs or weight goals.  You can do this!