Vegetarians -- height, weight, diet poll?

Question

I am wondering, if I go on a vegetarian diet, will I lose weight? I barely ever eat beef as it is, and I usually eat something like chicken or ground turkey once a day, so I don't know what a difference it would make. I love cheese and eggs, so I can't give them up. Anyway, I want to see how well it works for you who are already vegetarians!

Please answer:

Height and weight.
Vegetarian diet type (lacto-ovo, or vegan).
How long you have been eating this way.
How much exercise you regularly do.

Thanks!

Top Chef, technically it is just protein that the body needs, not necessarily from meat. Nuts and dairy and lentils are all great sources of protein, as I'm sure you know.

Answer 1

Cheese and eggs are high in fat and calories. If you cut down on the eggs and switch to a light cheese (like Cabot 50% cheddar) I think that in time you would shed some pounds. You also need to avoid other things like refined sugars and white bread. Those are BAD carbs.

Anyway..I'm 5 feet 2 and weigh 110 lbs and I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 2 years. I gave up everything but poultry about 15 years ago and gave up poultry 2 years ago.

PS: I had already stopped growing by the time I gave up meat.

Answer 2

When I became 'vegan' it was for athletic reasons. I was in full time bicycle racing training for 15 years and in the off season weight training and badminton team. Before changing my diet, I was 6-feet 145-pounds (on an empty stomach, naked). After changing my diet, my weight went down a bit (also had to get some new recipes etc.) then went back to the same. Seems my set weight has is around 145 with a maximum of 150 or so after a winter of weight training. I have no stored excess fat at all (I look like a European bicycle racer). I've weighed the same for the past 16 or so years since becoming 'vegan'. Doesn't matter now if I exercise or not, my weight stays the same.

I think that if anyone does heavy endurance training, or lives in a very hot climate, no matter what they eat, they will likely go to their natural set weight. Meat and diet really doesn't change people's weight, it's their metabolism. In fact, eating meat, as the Atkins Diet proves, you will lose weight. Why? - not enough nutrients, not enough energy, then your body eats itself and you get thin.

I know many fat vegetarians and vegans. High calorie and high bad-fat intake with little exercise will make anyone gain weight, vegatarian or not. Just make certain that you are not mistaking weight for fat. You could just be gaining more muscle if you decide to exercise more or weight train more.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

I'm 5'3" and weigh 155. I had my second child 8 months ago. I weigh less with this child at this point in my child's life than after I had my first child. I believe it is due to being vegetarian. I am lacto-ovo, but eat vegan the majority of the time, which I also think helped the weight come off faster. I've been veggie for about 6 months. And I don't do very strenuous excercises. Just walk with my kids, pick them up and play with them. When I do start some type of real excercise, I believe I will lose the excess weight faster (I am still losing weight now, but not very fast).

Answer 5

Going veg is not a sure weight loss strategy. When I first turned veg 17 years ago, I ate a lot of dairy which is high in fat. Now I eat a lot of veg protein from beans, tofu, whole grains and I've managed my weight well. I'm 5'4, 125 pounds, I just had a baby less than 4 months ago and lost my baby weight pretty fast. I haven't much time to exercise, but I try to walk regularly with the baby.

Answer 6

Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 120 lbs
Vegan for two months, Vegetarian for two years
Not much exercise... I should probably do more of that...

Answer 7

Lacto, used to be lacto-ovo from birth till about 10 years of age.
5'6" and 130 lbs, Male
Moderate exercise but not enough

I should mention that my parents and everyone on both my mom's and dad's side are pretty short, so genetics has played a big role in why I'm only 5'6". Just so no one assumes it's automatically because I'm a vegetarian.

Answer 8

i am 5"6", 135# Same weight as ninth grade

lacto-ovo

been eating this way since 1980-26 years

not much exercise-just a little hiking

I got into this way of life for purely spiritual reasons, but the side benefits have been GREAT!!

While most people my age suffer from assorted chronic degenerative diseases and live on prescription meds of all kinds, i enjoy vibrant health (thank God), due to a diet free of decaying flesh and the judicious use of supplements and herbs.

If you do go on this diet, you will probably never regret it and it may do you much good health wise.
Good luck and love and light to you

Answer 9

Going vegetarian alone won't make you lose weight. You have to reduce your calorie intake and/or increase how many you burn each day. But since many of our protein sources are lower calorie than meat, it can be easier to reduce your calories than if you were eating meat.

In response to the first answer, no your body doesn't need meat. It needs sufficient calories and nutrients, along with a healthy ratio of protein, fat and carbs. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year in the US due to diseases related to too much protein in their diets. Virtually none die because of lack of protein.

For the record, I'm 5'6", 110 lbs., lacto-ovo for 13 years. I excercise moderately - mostly walking and stuff.

Answer 10

considering that you do not eat much meat to begin with, i dont think your weight will change much. its really the junk food and sweets that are downfalls.

im 5'3"
120 lbs
30 minutes of exercise basically everyday.
lacto-ovo vegetarian, who occasionally likes to try being vegan. :) i say that even if you believe you may not lose a lot of weight , give vegetarianism a shot. see how you do.