Vegetarianism and weight loss?

Question

i just recently decided to go vegetarian, however, i've been trying to lose weight on top of it. i don't do fad diets (they don't work and are bad for you) and i'm very healthy about it however, most "healthy cooking" recipes include meat. i do eat fish but you can only eat so much of something. i don't want to deprive my body of needed proteins or starches...any one in the same boat? any suggestions?

and yes, i exercise when i can between work and school.

and before those who are quick to answer because they want their 2 points to be rude, i already ate your mom's tree.

Answer 1

Why not add beans to your diet.  And although you have omitted meat from your diet, be careful not to overdo it on breads and the like.  They are very high in calories and can undermine your attempt to lose weight.  It's not just being a vegetarian that can help you lose weight, it is still a matter of getting the right balance of nutrients/proteins/fats/carbs albeit not from meat.

Answer 2

i'm trying to eat healthy too. i just cook healthier and eat less. i love fish and your right you can only eat so much of something. i try to eat a salad before i eat so i fill up on that first. then i have a little bit of starch and some protein, fish or a soy product. i also like lean cusine pizza's even though they're not good for you. i eat them for lunch because they are quick and easy to make. also you can leave the meat out of almost anything.

Good luck!!!!

Answer 3

If you decided to go vegetarian..you wouldn't be eating fish.  Vegetarians do not eat fish.

Regardless of that..protein is found in pretty much everything..not just flesh.

Answer 4

What *is* your question anyway?

You want to know where to get protein?

Protein is found in breads, pasta, rice, beans, peas, lentils and just about everything else but in smaller amounts.

If you don't find any of that appealing and would rather eat fish instead, that is fine but don't try to call yourself vegetarian as that would be a calling yourself a person that does not eat animals that happens to eat animals. There is no debate on the matter.

Answer 5

There are a couple of easy things you can do here.

One is to replace the meat in the "healthy cooking" recipes you already know with a meat substitute.  Tofu, beans, faux meat, that kind of thing.  Be careful with your protein levels if you just leave the meat out, though.  

Another thing is to invest in a low-fat vegetarian cookbook.  No weird replacements here--someone has already figured out the good substitutes.

Also, all of the general tricks for healthy eating as an omnivore work for you, too.  Decrease fat content by using small amounts of oil in a stir fry.  Eat smaller portions.  Actually, you're already ahead of the game here--reducing meat content is often advised, as many people eat well over the amount of meat they should be every day, and meat tends to be high in calories.  

Healthy dieters that eat meat are in the same boat as you are--decreasing the overall calorie content of their food without leaving out necessary vitamins and minerals.