Vegan Diet & Weight Loss....DO they go together???

Question

I have been considering going vegan.

It should be fairly easy for me because I hate milk(unless it's chocolate) and cheese(unless it's on pizza)and the only meat I eat is chicken and turkey. I want to give up those things and only eat fruits, veggies, and whole grains....and occasionally some of my favorite sweets. I also have recently started working out 5 times a week. I have a goal to lose 15 lbs(to go from 130 to 115)and I am 5'5". Did any of you vegans out there also lose weight when you started the diet? I heard that meat and dairy slows your metabolism and Im just wondering if my metabolism will speed up and if I will lose the weight I want to lose.

Answer 1

Often it's easier to maintain a certain weight on a vegan diet, as you're often not taking in excessively large amounts of fats and highly calorie dense foods that are often found in many omnivorous diets - e.g. cheese, butter, many meats etc. However, there are still some vegan foods that are high in fat and overall calories, so I wouldn't describe it as a weight loss diet as such.

Besides, there are also excellent reasons to become a vegan besides weight concerns. A well planned vegan diet has many other advantages. Check out more if you like: e.g. vegansociety.com

Answer 2

ohhh yess they do !

i lost 35 pounds in four months .

:)

Answer 3

I lost 15 lbs over the course of a year and a half after I switched to a vegan diet (from vegetarian). Most of it was due to my inability to eat sweet stuff, like pastries and cookies; once I started making my own, I gained 5 lbs back!

Following a vegan diet is great for your health, but please inform yourself as to what your body needs and how to get it from a vegan diet before you switch (for instance, you need to add nuts, fats, proteins, and a reliable calcium source to the fruits, veggies, and whole grains you mentioned above).

The book, "Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Plant-Based Diet" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina is a great resource. It also has a chapter on losing weight.

Answer 4

I lost about 20 pounds on a vegan diet.

It is possible to be vegan and overweight by eating lots of simple carbs and junk food. It's best to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains.

Vegan weight loss success stories and photos:

http://www.goveg.com/f-veganweightloss.a...

Vegan slimming tips:

http://www.vegcooking.com/slimmingtips.a...

Vegan slimming menus:

http://www.vegcooking.com/slimmingmenus-...

Answer 5

dont become a vegetarian just to lose weight...do it for the animals and just to have a healthier body...not looking for a diet...

Answer 6

It seems like there are two types of vegans.  There are the ones who eat a more natural diet and avoid the heavily processed "foodstuffs" that are marketed to vegans.  They're usually quite lean.

Then there are the ones who eat pretty much only the heavily processed foods.  I have a friend like that and she's huge, and frankly her diet is disgusting.

Answer 7

Losing weight is a function of burning more calories than you consume.  The single best way of increasing your metabolism so you burn more calories is to add lean muscle mass.  If your workouts are all aerobic, consider adding weight training to the mix.  It takes a few months to really see the difference, but adding lean muscle mass will allow you to burn fat more efficiently and has the added effect of looking good.

I didn't lose an ounce going vegan (from vegetarian) but clearly I didn't decrease the calories I was consuming.  You may see some weight loss, but I'd ascribe it to consuming fewer calories.  It should be noted that I did not go vegan in and attempt to lose weight and I don't consider it a diet, but a consciously chosen lifestyle.