The incredible shrinking vegetarian...?

Question

I know this sounds crazy but I just had my yearly physical this morning and I have shrunk 1/2 an inch (I'm only 5'1!). I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for eight years and I've recently been trying to cut down on my cheese/egg consumption. I'm only 26...has anyone else experienced this? Please don't make fun...

Answer 1

1) I agree with the other 12 ka-jillion who say that your height simply varies depending on the time of day (gravity sets in on your bones), and not to worry at all about the half inch.
2) Please do not listen to the people telling you that you MUST eat meat. In this day and age, protein (and vitamin b12) are easily attainable without meat. If you have access to a natural foods store (Trader Joes, Henry's, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, etc.) try picking up some Textured Vegetable Protein and Nutritional Yeast (Note: Nutritional, not Brewers or baking) from the bulk section. TVP is a cheap, great source of protein, and Nutritional yeast has plenty of B12. For a less direct appraoch, you might also try Braggs Liquid Aminos. It's like a soy sauce, but contains all essential amino acids (protein). My fav. is to stir fry tofu in it, so that it carmelizes on the outside. Best of luck, and don't give up.

Answer 2

I would re-measure yourself over the course of several days. Try doing it at the same time each day, and make sure to use the same method of measuring.

Talk to your doctor about this if you feel it might be something serious like osteoporosis. Obviously, your doctor measured you, so if something was wrong I would thing he/she would bring it up.

I've been vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for over ten years and have not lost any height. None of the vegetarians that I know of have either.

Don't feel like you need to start eating meat again. Meat is not going to make you grow another half inch. First go and get yourself re-measured and then the find out if there is a legitimate medical reason for the loss.

Answer 3

You don't need as much protein as carnivores will tell you that you do. Eggs and cheese should be more than enough protein in the average diet. Also don't use dairy as a source calcium because it has so much calcium taht it robs your body of calcium stores. You cannot absorb calcium from dairy. Green vegetables such as broccoli are a much better source of calcium. I don't think it is related to your diet.
The reason I think you shrunk is the same reason they say people should buy shoes in the morning. Your body parts are different sizes at different times of the day. Perhaps it is the same with height...
However, I used to be 6'2". Now i'm 5'11". I'm am only 25 and somewhere I lost three inches (although i think its hard to say when the person measuring my height is usually to short to do it accurately. The best thing you can do for your health is to give up the yearly physical. Doctors'll make you sick.

Answer 4

You may need more protein in your diet. Look for soy products and nuts to replace the missing meat, egg and cheese in your diet. Also, consider taking calcium supplements since you are forgoing dairy products. You're very young for osteoporosis. And check your posture when having your height measured. I don't know about adults, but the way the docs measure my kids doesn't seem very accurate, so it could merely be an inaccuracy.

Surely there are lots of vegetarian sites on the Internet. If your doctor is not supportive of maintaining your health with your vegetarian choices, get another doctor.

Answer 5

I would not get too upset yet. Just call your doctor's office back and ask if you can be re-measured. I am sure they will be happy to do it. You do not have to explain anything to them. If it shows again that you have shrunk, you need to talk to your doctor about your diet and maybe they can run some blood work and check things out. I used to be a vegetarian also when I was your age and I did not eat any red meats and I paid dearly for it because I did not eat properly. I have taken a multivitamin all my life, but I still think you have to get your protein from another source. Just do not become too obsessive about it. It can get you into trouble. Good luck.

Answer 6

All I see is diverse wind, or might want to I say "breaking" wind... the following is a stat YOU and everyone else is conventional with about the deficit: After Clinton left place of work, there became NO DEFICIT. even as bush took place of work, our deficit has a minimum of reached four hundred BILLION. You communicate about the deficit shrinking. I see A DEFICIT that would want to not have befell if bush became effectual adequate to run this u . s . a .. Now you want to communicate about the Democrats having a negative theory on lowering it. WHY do not YOU communicate about WHAT led to THIS challenge contained in the first position?

Answer 7

When I stopped eating meat (I was never as strict as you) I lost weight very gradually over a period of years and have found it very easy to maintain a healthy weight on a no-meat diet. I'm not aware of loosing any height though.

Did you know that you shrink a tiny bit over the day anyway? When you wake up your body has been horizontal but gravity shrinks you a tiny bit over the day...you know, now I wrote this it looks stupid but that's what I heard anyway.

Answer 8

Don't listen to half these people. If you eat eggs and dairy, you have enough B-12. B-12 is stored over time so it just does not go away. It could very well be that either last year or this year, you were measured wrong.

Answer 9

A very meat-and-potatoes sort I know thinks he's lost an entire two inches over the years, for what consolation that might be...

Answer 10

I'm a vegeterian too and the same age and I haven't lost any height. You should call your doctor back and see why the loss of height. That's very weird.