Calling all vegans!

[riotgurl_311]

I'm a former vegan and I am in the process of going back. I was only vegan for about 6 months before I stopped.

My question is, were you vegan even when you were your heavier selves or was this a diet you took on and lost weight doing it?

Not that it will affect my choice to go back vegan. I miss it dearly and it wasn't really my choice to stop. Long story... anyway. I love animals and it's more something that I want to do for animals. However, I'm intrested to know how others who have been vegan longer see their weight affected.

 

[lungsfortherace]

Hi,

I'm 30 years old and have been vegan since I was 16 and vegetarian since I was 11. I have been overweight since I was 12 or 13 but that has nothing to do with the fact that I went vegetarian/vegan. I guess you could say I'm a recovering binge-eater and recovering junk-food vegan. While I was never much of a regular junk food vegan (no serious junk like chips and loads of soda) I would eat a bucket of unbuttered popcorn if it were placed in front of me. I always felt funny or a little awkward telling new people, like new colleagues, I was vegan because I know they'd look me up and down and go, "Der huh?" because of my size.

I mean, I think if someone goes from eating loads of cheese and loads of high fat, high calorie processes foods to a relatively unprocessed diet, that person is going to lose some, if not a lot, of weight. But if you're a binge-eater, like me, even if you stay away from most processed foods, you're still going to put on weight from the bingeing. Besides, vegans can always get their hands on high fat, high calorie, super shitty foods like Tofuti products.

Now I've cut my calories (way too much at first, but I'm eating more now), drink loads of water, eat almost nothing procesed with the exception of some soy products (tofu, unsweetened soy milk, tempe), and workout (aerobic, weight training, and stretching) like a maniac (90-120 minutes per day). So, yeah, my weight is coming off.

 

[Trevor M.]

My question is, were you vegan even when you were your heavier selves or was this a diet you took on and lost weight doing it?

A Vegan diet can contribute to either weight gain or weight loss. That all depends on the calorie value of the "Daily diet".
Weight gain/loss is not about what you eat. Its more about "How much" you eat. In other words, a Vegan diet is no different then any other diet when it comes to weight loss/gain, as in the end. It all comes down to the "energy balance".

 

[riotgurl_311]

A Vegan diet can contribute to either weight gain or weight loss. That all depends on the calorie value of the "Daily diet".
Weight gain/loss is not about what you eat. Its more about "How much" you eat. In other words, a Vegan diet is no different then any other diet when it comes to weight loss/gain, as in the end. It all comes down to the "energy balance".

My issue before was that I'd search high and low for junk food that was vegan. :|

 

[Ganygreenbean]

I've only been a vegan for about 2 months, strict veggie for about a year and was ova lacto before that.

I did lose a good 50 pounds because of it. But, I think its because I stopped going to fast food and have really thought about what I eat. I am at a plateau with my weight. I want to kick it to a healthier leaner weight. My BMI is considered over weight.

I am cutting out the cookies, the crazy amount of soymilk I drink (sometimes half a gallon a day) and starting to eat less processed foods (soup bowls and boca burgers) and the tons of starches (noodles, fries and the like). I need more fruit and veggies for sure and more little meals.

I lost weight because I now walk to places instead of drive, I eat healthier, I also don't drink alcohol anymore. I think veganism is great for me.