Should I go vegetarian?
Would it help me lose weight? Will it make any difference at all?
With this, I would like to add several caveats/ things to keep in mind
1) I do like meat, and I will probably still be cooking it and probably still have it occasionally. There is no way I am going to ask Jon to do this with me (nor will he choose to, I don't think), so the meat will still be around. I know I will just give in and have some sometimes, and of course special occasions are entirely off the books. The question here is not so much about strict vegetarianism, but a distinct effort to limit the meat in my diet.
2) I am well aware that going vegan is an amazing way to lose weight and just generally eat better, but for reasons previously mentioned on this blog (ie, my love of cheese), I simply can't do it. I'm going for vegetarianism as a sort of halfway point that will still give me some benefits, without taking away the things that I love.
3) Part of the reason I am contemplating this is because I want to be able to make the cheaper starches (pasta, bread, rice) a reasonable part of my diet without feeling guilty for eating them. If I'm vegetarian, there's all those meat calories to make up for, and therefore the carbs aren't so bad. Especially if I combine properly to make complete proteins out of them (red beans and rice ALL THE TIME). I think this will also help me to consider meals consisting of mostly veggies and starches to be complete meals, rather than them missing something.
4) I actually really like most meat substitutes. I like tofu, tempeh and portobello mushrooms, though I would like to try to stay away from soy as the estrogen is bad news for weight loss. Plus, I have been dying to try some freezer meal marinades, and I think those will take to them well. Also, those are cheaper than meat... right?
5) As mentioned in #2, I will still eat cheese. Lately it has mostly been goat cheese, parmesan (the kraft stuff, awful, I know but cheaper) and the occasional aged white cheddar binge. I don't drink milk regularly (makes me break out) and I've already moved to almond milk (or soy when I must). I could definitely do to eat more eggs generally, I don't usually have time in the morning. I'm still on the fence about seafood?
So, thoughts on this? My concern is that because it is only a halfway point it won't be effective at all, but I'm really trying to find a way to lose weight that isn't an unsustainable diet that I will just balloon out of the second I drop it. Exercise will continue, obviously, but I need to get the food part right too.
In other news, I'm itchy AGAIN / still? Taking the antihistamines helps, but towards the end of the day they wear off and the itch returns. Lotions help somewhat as well. Still. BLERG WHY??!
Anyway, more on Monday.
Anyway, more on Monday.
If you are concerned with strictly losing weight, believe me, pasta, bread, and rice will hurt rather than help by replacing meat. You can go for 96% fat free ground beef rather than fatty beef (150 calories per a 1/4 pound burger instead of 230+), but the same amount of pasta (even whole-wheat) would be probably about 400-500 calories.
ReplyDeleteI totally know that eating rice+beans makes a complete protein, which is good! But so are meats (yes, even red meats), fish, and cheese.
I guess the conclusion I'm trying to get to here is that going vegetarian won't make weight-loss goals any easier, or make it easier to get complete proteins. In fact, unless you replace your main meals from meat dishes to veggie dishes (I'm talking like, salads, not pasta), it won't reduce your caloric intake, on average.
What WILL help (and I promise you this!) is to go grocery shopping when you are not hungry, with a list of foods to stock up on that are low-calorie. "Light" soups, low-fat meats (like I said, 96% fat free ground beef is delicious if you like grilling hamburgers), tofu dogs (50 calories per dog? um, heck yes!), all of the fruit and salad kits with low-fat dressing (I don't know if you're like me, but unless salad is really easy to make, I don't bother... so, salad kits are a little spendier, but I actually consume them), canned or frozen veggies (so you don't feel bad when you don't eat them before they go bad), those breads that are really low-calorie (I get Sara Lee 45 Calories bread... smaller sizes, but if you put a bunch of lettuce, tomatoes, low-fat turkey meat... it fills you up without the extra bread carbs), yogurt... basically just stuff that comes in small portions. THAT'S what I find to be the key. Portion control + "lighter" versions of yummy foods.
Anyhow. That's my insight on what I've found to work for me, at least. Because I totally feel you. I can't go veggie or vegan. I like having meat and dairy in my diet. And hey, there are ways to make that work with losing weight! You just gotta shop correctly to make it work (as with anything, I suppose!).
Also: I dunno if you like pepperjack, but it is definitely the lowest calorie cheese I've found out there. And almond and soy milk is good, too! My dad loves it, so we never had milk growing up. I just kinda grew up on it, so there was no change for me.
I do not think that going vegetarian is a good option. First, biologically we are geared to be omnivores. My advice is to look at ingredients. Avoid MSG, high fructose corn syrup, and other no nos like red dyes, etc.. Watch your sodium intake as well. Many of the veggie substitutes for meat are crazy loaded with sodium. Remember that simple carbs (your white breads and pastas) burn like sugar and can bounce your insulin levels around--make you feel sluggish and less likely to exercise.
ReplyDeleteThe Greeks were also onto something when they talked about moderation. Maybe make your portion sizes smaller or decrease your meat and starch portion and to make up for it up your greens for the meal. I've heard hard cheeses are very good for you and have lots of calcium and phosphorous. Mushrooms (if you like them) are a nice meat sub. Make a portabello mushroom sandwich with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead of a burger. Use turkey bacon and ground turkey instead of beef.
I (before my surgery) was working out 3 times a week. Not a huge time commitment but effective for cardiovascular. Cardio and upper body lifting is going to be the key with staying really hydrated and eating well balanced meals. Also, instead of three meals a day--switch to 4-5 small meals instead. You can still eat when your boyfriend does, just have two more small meals and eat a small portion with him.
I know it is all simple stuff but it will add up and make a huge difference. You should start by at least doing 30 minutes of cardio three times a week. Set a schedule and keep it. That is how I met my goals in the gym while modeling. Good luck with the weight loss and eat your meat!
Honestly, I'm rather inclined to agree with these guys (and I'm a partial vegetarian talking here!). If you like meat, I say keep it, and everything in moderation. Protein fills you up faster and lasts longer than do carbs, so having a small amount of, say, chicken, will do you better than a whole plateful of pasta. My advice is, keep the meat, but try to keep it classy! I.e. only meats that are on the lean side and not prepared in a greasy way. But by all means, mix it up with those meat substitutes, if only for variety's sake!
ReplyDeleteI think the best idea I ever heard was to eat what makes you feel good afterwards--not bloated, sleepy or heavy, but energized and healthy. I'm not always good about following that, but it is certainly a good philosophy.
I hope the itching goes away SOON!
I think that a person can lose weight as a vegetarian, but only if they eat healthy, and then there's the same chance as when you're eating meat. Does that make sense? If being a vegetarian will help you eat more vegetables, then maybe it's a good idea. But regarding meat, I think small portions is the key. You can eat meat and lose weight. I'm a vegetarian and I don't eat spectacularly healthy. Also note that my dad has been pescatarian since January, hoping to lose weight, and he hasn't really (besides the meat, he is eating the same as before). In conclusion, I think you could go either way on the vegetarian question, but in either case you'd still need to work at being healthy. And I second what Kira said about the itching!! So weird. My legs have been kind of itching the past week and I think it's the heat (which came suddenly to The Hague).
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