Vegitarian Diet?

Question

My girlfrind has a BMI if 25.2 and wants to try and lose around 1-2 stone and is considering a vegan or vegitarian diet. As I know there are a lot of vegans and vegitarians on this site have you got any tips to eat like this heathily and lose weight?

She does to exercise most days already but its the healthy diet she wants to work out.

All you meat lovers out there can answer too as long as its a sensible answer, thanks =:-)
PS: I think she's fine as she is but I'm sure most females out there understand that she won't take my word for it nomatter what I say lol.

Answer 1

if you just can't see your way to a full-blown exercise session (and even if every day is one of those days) make yourself feel better and use up some calories with mini-activities. This can be as little as

* a walk around the block
* taking a single flight of stairs instead of the lift
* spending 5 or 10 minutes tidying your home
* walking over to chat to someone in your office instead of emailing
* kicking a ball with your children in the garden before tea
* making alternate circles with your feet while talking on the phone
* holding your tummy in when you're stuck in traffic
* getting up to switch over the channel instead of using the remote

Every time you do something, anything at all, you're adding to your fitness bank and burning calories. Try to do something whenever you think about it during the day. And give yourself a pat on the back each time you do it.

Remember To:
* Drink plenty of water! Sometimes your body gets confused, and you can feel hungry, when really you're thirsty.
* Make sure that when you eat, it is because you are genuinely hungry, and not out of habit, depression, boredom, or some other reason.
* It will be much easier to gauge when you are no longer hungry (i.e. when you should stop eating) if you slow down your normal pace of eating, at least at first.

for the Veggie diet:
focus on fruits, vegetables, grains and soy as the primary food base. This diet does not contain, or severely limits consumption of animal products including meat, fish and poultry.

A vegetarian diet can have many health benefits including lower cholesterol levels, less heart disease, a lower risk of cancer, low blood pressure, decreased weight and strong bones. This is due to the low consumption of fat, and the high consumption of fiber and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.

There is the general idea that because vegetarians do not eat animal products they might not get enough protein or B vitamins found in meat, poultry and fish. However eating a large variety of vegetable proteins throughout the day can meet the body’s requirements. Fortified cereals and soy products are also good sources of B vitamins in the vegetarian diet.


Hope that is enough!

Answer 2

let me tell you something from experience.
being vegetarian or vegan doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose weight. and anyway what alot of people don't understand is that if you're going to lose weight following a plan or regime you don't intend to follow forever, the weight, most likely, will not stay off.
it's obvious why. when you're depriving yourself of food you enjoy, and then one day you can eat them again you will most likely over-indulge and it doesn't just last one meal or day.before you know it all of the weight is back, and usually a little more. this is the well known pattern of fad diets. choosing a vegan diet temporarily is included as a fad diet. i have seen so many people achieve temporary weight loss on fad diets, like the atkins, or diet pills... a type of diet that can not be followed forever basically. i'm not saying it's inevidable, but chances are not on your side.

my advice to her is to keep eating what she enjoys, but smaller portions and just cut out junk. it's not about going on a 'diet' because that suggests it's temporary. weight loss is a lifestyle change, and choose a lifestyle you can maintain forever. that's the secret. exercise is also a major part of weight loss. you can suggest to her to increase the level of her work out. running is fantastic. and include weight training to build a bit of muscle (not bulk, just tone up). the more muscle, the higher your metabolism will be, which means the easier weight loss can be for you.

Answer 3

Hey, I'm a veggie, have been since I was 8, I'm 32 now!!! There are lots of veggie meals you can make/buy, including Lentil cassarole, winter veg cassarole, lentil pie, veg curries, etc. The trick for the healthiness is mainly not to suppliment meat for cheese, as this is high in protien. Lentils are not only healthy but filling too so are great when you wan to lose a bit of weight. xxx

Answer 4

There's tons of recipe books out there and generally have healthy eating recipes in.

I bought a good one about the GI Diet and it had a whole section about losing weight as part of the GI diet and being vegetarian

Generally you eat healthier anyway so just try going vege first

Answer 5

as long as it's 3-4 weeks - ok

but vegan is not good for the long term, IMHO

Answer 6

i was just about to say everything natalia just said. she's right.

Answer 7

Proteins is required to burn fat.. enough said...