Veganism and Weightloss Advice

(sorry, this is a bit long.)

I've been vegetarian for 11 years now.  Since going veggie when I was 13, I slowly lost tons of weight (I was a fat kid.) Since living with my bread/cheese/dessert loving fiance, I have gained all that weight back in the past 2 years. I have been meaning to go vegan for a year now and always planned to do so, but I've felt guilty because my parents already feel bad they can't cook for me, and my fiance does not want to go vegan and we wouldn't be able to eat the same foods together.

I was wondering if going vegan helps with weight loss. I don't like dairy products or egg products or anything creamy, etc, but I eat them with my fiance as a compromise for meal plans. I'm certain this has caused my 30 pound weight gain. Ethical reasons aside (As trust me, it bugs me on a regular basis), would going vegan be worth disrupting my meals with people around me? Would I lose weight?

 

If the main cause of your weight gain is cheese, bread and desserts then you'd lose weight by cutting down on all three and by doing more exercise.  If you went vegan you'd lose the cheese but you'd probably still be eating bread and desserts.   You're also in your mid twenties... a time when a lot of formerly slim people start to gain weight because they get the desk job and the car and the cosy home-life!  I don't think veganism on its own is the solution to your problem.

You can lose weight quite effectively on a vegetarian diet by eating more vegetable proteins e.g. tofu, beans, lentils, drastically reducing refined carbohydrates such as starches and sugars and replacing them with smaller amounts of wholegrains, eating less fat (vegetable as well as animal) and by eating a lot more vegetables  to maintain the bulk.  Replace sugary desserts with fresh fruit.  Go easy on nuts, seeds and cheese.   Cook from fresh ingredients rather than using processed or prepared meals.  It would obviously help if your fiance would commit to making the same changes because then you could encourage each other.  Finding a sport or fitness activity you both enjoy would be another good way to shape up

I agree with gi-jane that simply going vegan probably won't make you lose weight, because there are plenty of unhealthy vegan foods out there. 

As far as feeling bad because others can't cook for you/you and your fiance can't eat out together...does your fiane refuse to eat any food which is not made with animal products?  There are lots of great grain and vegetable dishes that I imagine you would both like.  The same goes for your parents.  Why can't they cook for you?  Even if they have meat with every meal, it shouldn't be too hard to keep the meal out of one portion.  Or, you could try introducing them to some of your favorite vegetarian meals.  Would they mind not eating meat for one meal?  Good luck with everything!

Trid

This turned out longer than I was expecting--enjoy the novel?

While I'm 100% sure that it is possible to not lose/gain weight when going vegan, that has NOT been my experience.  I ate completely vegan for the month of October '07--my friend said I couldn't do it for a week, so I said "watch me do it for a month!"  I think I lost about 15 pounds in that month, without really trying.. I certainly wasn't counting calories or anything.  I ate as much as I wanted of whatever I wanted (as long as it was vegan).  I also felt SO much better--never stuffy, etc.  I would never have called myself "lactose intolerant" or anything like that, I love(d) cheese and ate a lot of it.  It never made me ill.  Sooo with that month of experience, and my looming graduation/obvious health concerns, I decided I would go vegan again for (at least) the two months until my graduation.  It has been one month... exactly as of today, and I have lost 21.5 pounds.  I had/have a lot of weight to lose, and while I know that this isn't really the ideal rate to lose weight, I don't think I could force myself to eat anymore than I do now, so I'm going with it.  How much of this is just because I'm vegan now?  I'm not really sure, because I have started exercising and I do watch what I eat as far as calories/fat/sugar/etc I eat.  But I think being vegan has certainly contributed quite a bit to it. 

As far as you being worried about eating w/ your fiance, etc.  It really isn't that hard, I don't think.  I live/eat most of my meals with my meat/cheese/egg loving roommate.  If I make pasta with tomato sauce, he adds meatballs/parm to his.  If I'm having rice/tofu/veggies, he adds a hunk of meat to his plate... luckily he's a pretty decent cook, so i don't have to cook for him (not sure what your situation is).  But really, even if you start off gradually, I think it will help you.  Just start by avoiding the obvious--no cheese on that sandwich, please.  hold the butter/sour cream on that baked potato, thanks!  It's doable, and let me know if i can help!

Read 'Eat to Live' by Dr. Fuhrman.  This will change the way you eat, regardless of whether you commit to going completely vegan.  Also, get the cookbook - Veganomicon.  Everything I have made out of that book is delicious and is enjoyed by vegans and omnivores alike.  If you are really concerned about food conflicts - go with being vegan-lite.  Do not buy animal products for foods at home, but perhaps allow yourself to eat a little cheese or other dairy at your parents house (if it is so difficult for them to understand).  If you strictly follow 'Eat to Live' you will lose weight, but it is pretty radical.

does your fiance still eat meat or is he vegetarian?  the meat eater/vegetarian couple is hard, but if one of you goes vegan it would be even harder... however, i don't think it's impossible.  why would you eat foods you don't like just to make someone else happy?  your the one eating it!  you should eat what makes you happy, even if that means making seperate meals... maybe you can start with a base meal and then you can add ingredients you need and he can add what he wants.  if the food your eating is contributing to weight gain which is not making you happy and it's against what you feel ethically then that's not making you happy either, i think you should stop!  talk to your fiance about it, if your going to be married and living together for a long time to come do you want to sacrifice your happiness for the rest of your life? talk to him, find meals that you can make together and enjoy together, and other times just eat different things.... as for your family, it always helps to bring your own dishes. then you have something you can eat and they don't feel burdened to find something and make something.  i'm a vegetarian who is reducing my animal products (no milk, ice cream, eggs, yogurt, but i still eat things made with those items for example bread (although at home i use free range eggs and soy milk)), my boyfriend has significantly reduced his meat intake by using the soy meat products so we can make one meal.  if he wants meat he just makes it and has it himself.  but he LOVES milk and ice cream. i just don't eat it.  you should try it out and try to find something that will keep you BOTH happy.

 

I would suggest not compromising on something like this- related to your health and morals. I recently went vegetarian (mostly vegan), and my boyfriend (who I live with) was not pleased, though was supportive. And, since I do all the grocery shopping and the vast majority of the cooking, he is eating vegetarian! If he doesn't like what I cook, he can cook something for himself! I do try to make things I think he will enjoy, and never say a word if gets meat when we're out. He has actually come around quite a bit, and says that he is really enjoying eating this way, and thinks he'll be an 80% vegetarian! Even if he wasn't though, I wouldn't change this lifestyle for him. If your fiance truly cares about you, he'll respect and support this decision.

Sweetheart... I just became vegan a week ago and I was worried about the same thing. But then my husband, who eats meat as well as a whole bunch of unhealthy foods I would never eat, told me that he wouldn't want me to not be true to myself for him or for anyone else. This is YOUR life. YOUR decision. So what of your family can't cook for you or you and you husband have to eat a little differently. Tell them that this is what you want and not to worry about it. There are always ways to work around it. If he loves you and supports you then he won't care that you guys are going to have to eat a little differently. My mom gave up her usual eating habits for her husband and is now obese and extremely unhappy with herself. Do you want that to you happen to you? I am now vegan.. and I'm loving it. I'm also trying to lose weight and it's working but I still have to make sure I'm cutting calories other wise just being vegan doesn't help me that much. I do feel much less bloated though.

Honestly, you parents are ****. "oh, buhu we cant cook for you now" they say that but what they mean is "you sick sick person, meat ismeant  to be eaten". And you know, this is your life. This is something that you shouldnt have to ask us...wow, this post is quiet bitchy! SORRY :)

If you want to lose weight but keep the peace, try this: When you eat separately, go for the green. Lots of vegetables instead of dessert, cheese, or bread will help you cut down on calories and up your nutrition. When you eat together, go for portion control, or small substations. Let us say dinner is a cheese dish, serve the cheese on the side so you can only take a small amount, or none at all. (Aka Fettuccine Alfrado with sauce on side plus Italian seasoned Broccoli on top, very delicious!) Good Luck, men are such babies, and I mean that in the kindest, most sympathetic way possible.