Vegans/vegetarian weight loss question...?

Question

Hi guys,

I've been vegetarian for 10 years now (I switched at 14) and as of last week went vegan. I am trying to lose some weight so I've made sure to do a couple of things:

a.) cut out *all* prepackaged food/snacks--it's all about baby carrots and fruit in that regard.
b.) eat about 50% raw food.
c.) Drink only soy milk, rice milk and green tea (1 cup coffee with soy creamer in the morning)
d.) exercise about an hour a day, with three meals a day at small portions.

Physically I feel great and my clothes are more loose, however, this isn't reflecting on the scale. My scales seem to suggest I've lost only 3 pounds.

Eating a majority raw food diet shouldn't I have lost a bit more? Or does it take a week or two for a person's body to really get with it?

Also (sorry guys) I am just finishing up with menstruation, is it water weight?

Cheers! :)

Answer 1

Congrats on the three pounds! And especially if it was menstruation week! That is a feat in itself!

I agree that 2 lbs is normal weight loss for a healthy human body to take. Water gain from the menstruation could be a culprit, so wait for a few more days. Also water can be gained by taking in too much sodium (like store bought, even organic!, pasta sauce is notorious for water retention!). Have you gotten rid of the salt shaker at the table?

The guy that replied about taking in calories and burning is correct, the tricky thing is finding your basal metabolism and what calories are needed for that. Some times your metabolism will shut down to a low minimal, and stays there even if the calories go way down. When that happens your body shuts down and will not lose weight, unless you continue to cut calories, and then your health will be in jeopardy.

Fruit in the morning to get your metabolism going, and then not eating at night is a good plan. See if you can drink the green tea in the morning, go and exercise, and then eat breakfast (a nice big meal of grains and fruit). Then eat your small portion size meals, and try not to eat after 7/8 PM (I cheat by eating plain popcorn and drinking water to get all that fiber through me as I sleep horizontal).

Also, don't rely on the scale. Muscle does weight more than fat, and it is how healthy you feel!

Answer 2

No, I'm already very little as it is (4'11", 100 lbs.) I was a gymnast for 12 years, so that explains it. I think I gained weight but that's because I probably naturally gained it by quitting gymnastics and just getting older...as in turning 19, 20...haha Some veg*ns are actually veg*ns but can still manage to eat junk. I know you said you eat healthier than most, but just pay attention to that. Avoid lots of sodium. Is walking the only thing you do? I have some fitness suggestions for you. Cardio is the best way to lose fat/weight. Try jogging at least 3-4 times a week. I like to mix it up...jog for a few minutes, and then sprint for like 30 seconds...apparently when you go medium/normal, and then go hard, you lose more. Keep up with the walking, that is very good for you...do you power walk? If not, try to do that at least once a day instead of just walking. Also, a fun way to do cardio but not really feel like you're working out is by turning on techno/pop (think Lady Gaga) and dance to it for 20 minutes. Just do whatever comes to mind. Suggestions: running in place, high knees, jumping jacks...do dance moves that make you actually move your body, including arms and legs; lift legs up high to work your stomach. Hope this helps :)

Answer 3

3 lbs. is great.
It does take your body time to "catch up". Also your menes does play a part. You should be eating 5 or 6 small "meals".,Not just 3. Cutting back too extreme will also hamper your weight loss. The body will hoard, thinking it is in a famine. Keep your fat grams at about 30 grams this will help too.
Except for Cardio, 3 days a week is fine on exercise. If you want to do something everyday, change it up. Gym( weights), Pilates, Yoga, Kick boxing etc.
PS Muscle weighs more than fat but is sleeker.

I have 3 personal trainers in my family & I am a gym rat too.

Answer 4

I've tried many diets and couldn't make anything work. Since having my first child, I've been carrying around an extra 30 pounds. This diet just made sense and showed me that everything I was doing before was wrong and a waste of my time.

The plan was so refreshing and so simple to follow. I did everything plan said and lost 23 pounds in the first three weeks. I'm now starting the diet again to lose 7 more pounds. This plan has changed my life.

Get started today!

Answer 5

you may be building muscle mass which is heavier than fat. remember that fat/oil floats on water (means it's lighter). You may be losing fat but will not necessarily lose a lot of weight. If you feel better and more energetic, then you are succeeding in your goals. Your standards on how you judge your success is the one you need to change. Furthermore, I would consult a physician/nutritionist (if feasible) to at least help you monitor your progress and ensure that you are maintaining a safe, well balanced weight loss diet and exercise program.
PS Dehydration is common danger with weight loss diets, especially "home made" ones

Answer 6

I'm a raw vegan and when I first started out I didn't lose much weight. I soon stopped eating after 7pm and started to lose. I also only ate fruit in the morning, salads for lunch and fatty foods at night (fatty foods are avocado, dates, coconut, raisins, olives, etc).


Try going up stairs or going up hills, you will drop weight really fast!

Answer 7

A healthy amount of weight to lose in one week is 0.5 to 2 pounds. Losing 3 lbs or more a week is not recommended, and could put too much stress on your body. You might end up feeling dizzy and weak. I would suggest slowing down the weight loss a bit just to be on the safe side. Also, I think the fact that you are choosing to follow a raw-food, vegan diet is great. Just keep in mind that you will have to make sure you get enough calcium, iron, and protein in your diet. Make sure you have a protein source in every meal (soy milk in the morning, peanut butter at lunch, and beans at dinner). Also, make sure you eat calcium rich foods, such as calcium-fortified soy milk and juice, calcium-set tofu, soybeans and soynuts, bok choy, broccoli, collards, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, and okra. Foods with a good source of iron include enriched breakfast cereals, cooked beans and lentils, pumpkin seeds, canned beans, baked potato with skin, enriched pasta, and canned asparagus.

Good luck!

Answer 8

3 pounds is really great for a one week period. Most people will only lose about 1-3 pounds a week while on a diet. You're doing really well, so there is no need to feel discouraged! Best wishes!

Answer 9

The basic principles of weight loss are really very simple:
• More calories burned than eaten = weight loss
• Fewer calories eaten than burned = weight loss

The laws of physics (thermodynamics) dictate that there is only one way to lose weight: OVER TIME, YOU MUST BURN MORE CALORIES THAN YOU EAT. This is an inescapable Law of Nature.

TO BURN MORE CALORIES YOU MUST EXERCISE MORE.
TO TAKE FEWER CALORIES ON BOARD YOU MUST EAT LESS.

There is some partial good news about foods: solely in terms of weight loss it’s not WHAT you eat, but HOW MANY CALORIES YOU EAT that counts. You can go on an apple pie diet and enjoy eating nothing but pie to the tune of 3,000 calories per day, but if you burn 3,500 calories per day exercising, you will unfailingly lose weight. Obviously, in terms of your health, this would be a bad idea; it’s important to eat a balanced diet of healthy foods. But you get the picture. You needn’t deprive yourself of things you enjoy eating, but you must enjoy them in moderation.

Research shows that most people who “diet” to lose weight will sooner or later pile the weight right back on. This is because maintaining a healthy weight can’t be done by “dieting, but must include both a healthy diet and regular, strenuous exercise. So eat whatever foods you want within the broad boundaries of a healthy diet – just don’t consume more calories than you burn – and get lots of the kinds of exercises that raise your heart rate.

Answer 10

swap out brown rice or quinoa yes even the new super food which both add up to about 220 calories per cup for cauliflower or roasted peppers that are only about 30 calories per cup