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Forum THE LOUNGE Vegetarianism?

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    • Amys Animals
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        I was vegetarian for about 6 or 7 years.  After I felt like there was “no point” to being vegetarian anymore because I *thought* it made me feel sick and sluggish I stopped and began eating chicken/poultry.  I don’t eat red meat or pork.  Just poultry.  Now I have gained A LOT of weight and I cannot figure out why but I am thinking it has to do with converting to eating poultry again.  Anyways, I am not supposed to eat too much soy products so that was one of the reasons I stopped being veg.  I was thinking of becoming vegetarian again.  Is anyone here vegetarian?  

        I have a bunch of vegetarian cookbooks and know I can find vegetarian things online. 


      • equalsign
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          I’m a vegan. I know some other members are vegetarian. What is it you were wondering about?


        • LoveChaCha
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            I’m a flexitarian, but I am about to began converting over slowly. I gave up milk (substitute it with almond milk), and will just be one that just eats fish.

            How is your activity level? My dad became unemployed and we could not afford to spend $70 to go to the gym, so we stopped for 2 months. It was not good for me, but now a new gym opened and we only pay $24 a month for the two of us.

            Also, what kind of chicken do you buy? Conventional or organic? There are a lot of hormones in conventional, but I have nothing against people that buy it. Organic can get expensive.


          • peppypoo
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              If you have noticed changes in both weight and energy level, there could very well be underlying causes…I’d encourage you to check up with a physician .

              I’m not vegetarian myself, though I do find that I don’t cook a lot of meat for myself. I’ll occasionally happen to go for days without eating meat just because (and not on purpose or anything) but I enjoy a good steak as much as the next person haha.


            • equalsign
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                In general, there are no healthy and unhealthy foods, only healthy and unhealthy diets. I believe that a meat eater making good dietary choices can be just as healthy as a vegetarian making good dietary choices, and visa versa.

                I’d look at your activity level. It may be time to start counting calories. A kitchen scale can make this very easy. Keep in mind that you’re getting older and your metabolism is slowing down. How long has it taken you to gain this weight? 

                I’ve been having trouble with weight gain over the last 6 months or so. I used to work manual labor, but now I do scientific research. That has me much less active. My biggest flaw is serving size. When I eat, I eat large portions. It’s a really hard habit to break. If you were one of those vegetarians that ate specialty vegetarian foods (ie: Morningstar, Quorn, Boca, Tofurkey, ect) you may have self regulated serving size because of how expensive those foods are.


              • Roberta
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                  It would be highly unusual for poultry or fish to cause rapid weight gain unless A. You have an allergy or B. You are eating it crumbed, fried and floating in rich sauces.

                  A few years ago I had rapid weight gain and no amount of dieting or exercise would shift it, in fact it got worse… My weight had yoyo’d over the years but have never been this stubborn. Upon exploring my symptoms I discovered I am gluten/wheat intolerant and one of the reasons it had not affected me so badly in my youth is it can be cumulative, also the longer you go without it the worse your reaction may become each time you eat it.

                  I have since dropped nearly 30 kilo’s, nearly 60 pounds and manage to maintain my weight easily. I cannot however tolerate any product with wheat or gluten and suffer a range of reactions from simple wheezing and swollen tongue to violent stomach cramps, diarrhea and constipation (yes, both at the same time is such a joy), nausea, itching, bloating and vision problems.

                  You mentioned you have difficulty tolerating Soy Proteins, it might be an idea to check the contents of a lot of your day to day consumables as soy flours are commonly used to bulk out a lot of prepackage foods, like gluten it often hides in plain site. The soy intolerance is the most likely cause for your poor health whilst you were vegetarian.

                  You could try an elimination diet and see if it helps. General bloating would be reduced within 2-3 days.

                  That having been said, food allergies can also cause weight loss and if you have been under your healthy weight whilst vegetarian your body may just be adjusting back up to a healthy weight.


                • Amys Animals
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                    Yeah I really need to start being active. That’s probably the main reason I’ve gained weight. I think my body is rebelling against me! lol I have never been too active (which is horrible I know) but now I am probably less active than before. We have exercise equipment and I neglect them. =( I think I am going to download some sort of app on my phone to help me with the calories. I am going to cut out sweets and carbs. (maybe not all but I won’t eat as much of them) I don’t know if I’ll be strictly vegetarian but maybe mostly. Chicken here and there is OK.

                    Does anyone have any tips on being vegetarian? HEALTHY vegetarian? haha I wasn’t the most healthy veg in the world. I did try though.


                  • Amys Animals
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                      Posted By Roberta on 09/05/2012 06:04 PM

                      It would be highly unusual for poultry or fish to cause rapind weight gain unless A. You have an allergy or B. You are eating crumbed fried and floating in rich sauces.

                      A few years ago I had rapid weight gain and no amount of dieting or exercise would shift it, in fact it got worse… My weight had yoyo’d over the years but have never been this stubborn. Upon exploring my symptoms I discovered I am gluten/wheat intolerant and one of the reasons it had not affected me so badly in my youth is it can be cumulative, also the longer you go without it the worse your reaction may become each time you eat it.

                      I have since dropped nearly 30 kilo’s, nearly 60 pounds and manage to maintain my weight easily. I cannot however tolerate any product with wheat or gluten and suffer a range of reactions from simple wheezing and swollen tongue to violent stomach cramps, diarrhea and constipation (yes, both at the same time is such a joy), nausea, itching, bloating and vision problems.

                      You mentioned you have difficulty tolerating Soy Proteins, it might be an idea to check the contents of a lot of your day to day consumables as soy flours are commonly used to bulk out a lot of prepackage foods, like gluten it often hides in plain site.

                      You could try an elimination diet and see if it helps. General bloating would be reduced within 2-3 days.

                      Wow I never even thought about that!  hmmm I may need to be extra careful with the foods I eat.  Label reading is in my future for sure!!  Thanks so much!  


                    • bunnyfriend
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                        I’m kind of part vegetarian. I don’t eat meat at all period unless I know it’s from a cruelty free, grass fed, free range, local farm. My tips on being a healthy vegetarian would be to make sure you get enough protein and iron, and also stay away from replacing non-vegetarian meals with ones that have a lot of starchy foods. I got sick the first time I tried being a vegetarian because my iron levels became low. Are you becoming a vegetarian because of the animal aspect or because you want to lose weight?


                      • Amys Animals
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                          My iron was low when I was vegetarian too. =( I had to take iron pills. My iron levels are probably still low. I need my blood checked again.

                          Honestly, I want to become veg because of the animals and losing weight is a plus. I am tired of eating chicken and stuff. I watched a documentary about meat farms and stuff and it was horrifying. Those poor chickens. =( Anyways, I don’t want to think about that right now.

                          What I am going to do is be vegetarian mostly. I don’t eat fish but I am thinking maybe I need to? I know fish is healthy for you but I can’t see myself eating fish! (I want to be a marine biologist and I love marine life soooo eating something I have a passion for is just weird.) idk I’ll see.

                          I found this book about eliminating things and I think I am going to get it. It’s a cookbook but also has info in it. I think it may help as well. http://wholelifenutrition.net/store/books/whole-life-nutrition-cookbook


                        • LoveChaCha
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                            Also, when you are eating more meat, there is also more fat, cholesterol and protein in it.

                            Amy’s Animals, yeah, that is the thing with becoming a vegetarian. You have to do a TON of research on what vitamins and nutrients in the food that you are consuming, so that you do not lack any vitamins. But, if you do your research and make good choices, you should not have a problem becoming a vegetarian.

                            I am slowly learning how to cook certain foods like lentils, beans, and other stuff. I bought this book at a half price book store that shows all of the foods that a vegetarian can eat, along with what nutrients it gives. So by the time that I move out, I know how to cook these things.

                             

                            Let us know if you see your doctor and what he/she tells you!


                          • equalsign
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                              I absolutely disagree that you need to do a ton of research on vitamins and minerals in order to be a vegetarian. If you’re the kind of person that worries about getting your full DV of every vitamin and nutrient then you should be putting just as much effort in researching an omnivorous diet. If not, you are going to come up short.

                              For the casual vegetarian, B12 and iron are the main things you really need to worry about. This is especially true for vegans. I usually have Total flakes or Whole Wheat Cheerios with soy milk in the morning and knock those right out. I sometimes take a 33% DV multivitamin just in case. I think the vegetarian protein problem is very over exaggerated.

                              @LoveChaCha: I thought I’d mention that almond milk is generally considered an inadequate nutritional replacement for milk. It is not fortified enough to replace soy or dairy milk. It is also low in protein. As I said, anything can be part of an healthy diet. If you’re factoring this into your diet then all is well. Some people replace dairy milk with almond milk when they go vegetarian/vegan and do not realize that it doesn’t do what milk does. I know almond milk companies have been adding more fortification to their products in response to consumer demand, but I’m not sure if it’s consistent across brands or nutritionally adequate yet. To me it’s more of a snack food. 


                            • zoologist
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                                Amy I use myfitnesspal.com to count calories and clock in exercise. I love it! Very user friendly and you can add friends to help motivate you to reach your goal. My friend and i can see what each other is eating and it helps me stay on track. Add me if you join! Jessabelle27


                              • Monkeybun
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                                  Agreed, make sure you get your needed vitamins. I am not vegetarian in the slightest, and I have always had a b12 deficiency, to the point that when I was a teenager I needed regular b12 injections. It definitely makes you feel tired and unmotivated. SO make sure you you have plenty of that in your diet. VERY important!


                                • jerseygirl
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                                    I really like these threads as it makes me take notice again of my own diet. How bad it is!

                                    Both when I was eating meat and now. My diet is pescatarian though it wasnt a thoroughly planned thing. Just happened by default.

                                    So though I do eat fish, I don’t have it that often. I probably should.
                                    I generally have it when I eat out.

                                    Amy, do a search if the bb forums too. This topic comes up a lot so there are threads around with even more advice and links to sites that might interest you.


                                  • jerseygirl
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                                      I do agree about a dr check up to look into the weight gain first.

                                      And Robertas suggestion about food allergy.


                                    • LoveChaCha
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                                        Equalsign, I gave up milk because it really is not needed. It is quite unnecessary and is for cows. To me, it shouldn’t even be consumed due to the fact that it is an animal’s milk and we are the only species that consumes an animal’s milk. Plus, there are other ways to get calcium and it isn’t just milk. I don’t drink almond milk daily, but I do replace it in cereals. I actually do not mind soy, but I prefer almond over it.

                                        I’m slowly becoming a Pescetarian and to me, it is important to know that I will be getting all that I need in my body daily. I’m not obsessing over it, but I just want to make sure I have the essentials in my food.

                                        I do agree that vegetarian protein is extremely over exaggerated. There are so many sources of protein if people look around and research. That is why research is so powerful, it gives people education to learn more.

                                         

                                        I think that we should get back on track to helping Amy here : ) 


                                      • equalsign
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                                          LoveChaCha, you must have misunderstood me. I never said that milk was necessary. I stated that if you’re factoring the relatively limited nutritional benefits of almond milk into your diet, then all is well. I was mostly stating that stuff about almond milk for the benefit of Amy. If someone doesn’t eat any meat and substitutes dairy for almond and rice products, they are likely going to need to be more reliant on supplements. If they don’t realize this, they will be nutrient deprived and feel sluggish and tired. This is what Amy was trying to avoid, so I saw it as relevant.

                                          I’ve re-read the thread and I don’t think it is off track at all. Even then, discussion is fine. The OP left things pretty open-ended. I think she’s looking for personal experiences and opinions. Either way I’m going to state mine.


                                        • Roberta
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                                            I see what both of you mean and you’re both right.
                                            Mean while take an example from our Masters, green leafies are an excellent source of Calcium amd Iron although it doesn’t hurt to keep things interesting with lots of legumes and nuts.
                                            Personally, I am a “happy little carnivore” though I can understand the stance of those who forgo meat I am afraid I am unable to do so, especially with a diet that is already very limited, that and I feel quite ill if I do not get animal protein… However such things as rice,lentils, chick peas, root vegetables and greens are also a very big part of my diet, they have to be as without bread and grains it is very hard to bulk out a meal and ensure a good balance of fibre to protein.


                                          • LittlePuffyTail
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                                              I’m a vegetarian. Almost 10 years now. Want to eventually go vegan. My first tip for about going veg is to take a Vitamin B12 supplement. It’s crucial to your health if you cut out meat. I also suggest you have your doctor test your B12 after you’ve been veg for several months. I take the highest B12 supplement available but not everyone needs that much.

                                              When you first start out on the veg journey, it seems like everything is made of soy. I limit my soy to 1 serving per day since it’s supposed to mess up your hormones. There are lots of non-soy alternatives for protein though.

                                              I love being a vegetarian. Not only because of my love for animals but it makes me feel clean and almost spiritual.

                                              My favorite veg/vegan site is: I’ve made lots of recipes from here.

                                               http://www.vegweb.com/

                                              Today I’m making vegan chocolate chip cookies.


                                            • Elrohwen
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                                                I’d say I’m flexitarian. I do eat vegetarian quite a few days of the week, but I’m not strict about it. I’ve been trying to only eat meat products mindfully. For example, we used to put boneless skinless chicken breast in many meals that would’ve been fine as vegetarian meals (this is mostly due to DH’s preferences). Lately, I’ve only been eating meat if it’s really delicious and adds something to the meal. I find chicken breast to be pretty tasteless, so it was easy to give it up. DH still eats deli meat, but I’ve mostly given that up too since I don’t find it that tasty. I also get almost all of my eggs from a friend and buy local organic milk. My goal is to do as bunnyfriend does and only eat meat from local, humane sources – I’m working on that, but I live in an area with a lot of farms so the more I learn about the area the easier it becomes.

                                                It seems strange that adding poultry back to your diet would cause weight gain – it’s generally pretty low-cal. I don’t find vegetarian food to promote weight loss anyway, since it’s easy to eat just as many calories of a delicious veggie pasta dish as it is with a pasta dish containing sausage or something, ya know? Though if someone’s non-vegetarian diet is steak and potatoes and their vegetarian diet includes tons of veggies, then I can imagine they would lose some weight.

                                                I just got a new veggie cookbook – Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. I’m liking it so far and it’s a nice addition to my other veggie and non-veggie cookbooks. The cookbooks from Moosewood Restaurant are also a favorite and I grew up with my mom cooking from them.

                                                 Equalsign, I agree with you that being vegetarian doesn’t require a ton of research. Vegan probably requires more, but generally if you eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits and veggies of all colors, you’ll be fine. I think sometimes overemphasizing the research aspect makes people think they could never be vegetarian and keep track of so many things in their diet, but it’s really just as easy as being an omnivore for  the most part.

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                                            Forum THE LOUNGE Vegetarianism?