Managing Weight With a Vegan Diet
Dear Veg Coach…
I am trying to loose weight but have found myself filling up on a lot of carbs since going vegan, I have know in fact GAINED weight!
Going back to a high protein meat eating diet is out of the question!!
What can I eat for weight loss.
I have also found since going vegan my high blood sugar has gotten worse, what are some good vegan foods to keep this under control?
It’s great that going back to meat is not an option, because diets high in animal protein only lead to future health problems like cardiovascular disease. Check out Atkins Diet Alert to feel extra good about your choice to stay vegan and work things out.
Lots of people report losing weight on a vegan diet, due to better digestion, more fibre and less saturated fat and cholesterol in their diet. But it’s not guaranteed to happen, especially if you’re replacing meat with high calorie foods such as rice or chips. Especially if you find yourself suppressing cravings for your old food habits with unhealthy but comforting plant “foods” like potato chips or soft drinks.
If you’re picking the right foods your health will defiantly improve and for many people this means losing weight.
Instead of meat, the best source of protein and iron is wholegrain legumes (lentils, chickpeas etc) or beans (navy, broad beans, white beans, soybeans). These foods contain little carbohydrate and sugar but hare high in protein and minerals, and also actively keep cholesterol and blood sugar in healthy balance.
Substitue wholegrain foods wherever you can, such as brown rice instead of white, wholegrain pasta. These foods universally have a lower GI than their processed counterparts, as well as providing much more vitamins and minerals.
Carbs are fine, but the time you them is important. High energy foods like fats, starches (potatoes) and carbohydrates (rice, noodles), are better for breakfast or lunch than for dinner. This is because you don’t need energy to rest and sleep. Your body will store the it as fat instead. You want to be eating high energy foods as lead ups to period of high energy expenditure. Legumes and vegetables make a better dinner.
You can eat fruit at any time, but generally not together with heavier foods because they need to digest faster. Defiantly not with high protein foods. This way you will feel more satisfied by what you eat, and not feel like eating more.
Think of your change to vegan as change to wholefoods vegan. You’ll see the benefits faster and stop any health conditions that may be developing in their tracks.
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