Fat and Veggie?

[TheFirstBus]

I have never had the urge for candy. Though sometimes I wonder if I enjoy tofu to much

[Veganmama]

i know a few Vegan who are very over weight, i myself put on A LOT of weight with my first pregnancy and went from being very under weight to extremely over weight. Due to having to be sedetary due to a high risk pregnancy, but slowly over the last 18months since my second daughter was born i have gome back to a healthy weight.

I find most vegan's or vegetarians i know who ar eover weight have a diet high in refined carbs. If you read any crappy mag's thre has been heaps about drew barrymore who has lost 12kg due to stoping being a vegetarian. But all she has really done is gone from eatin lots of carbs to eating a diet high in protien and vegetables, which she could've done being Vege:rolleyes:

[harpy]

I agree about the refined carbohydrates, Veganmama. Also there are an increasing number of vegetarian (and also some vegan) ready meals and other manufactured foods which, when you look at the ingredients list have a horrific nutritional profile, full of hydrogenated fat, sugar, salt etc. Anyone, vegetarian or not, who lives on commercially prepared food is probably asking to be overweight and worse :(

[phillip888]

Refined foods in general are incredibly calorie dense. The more people make vegan versions of traditional western foods, the more we're going to see fat vegans. One of the best things you can do for your body is eat lots of raw fruits and veggies, when you do cook avoid oils and grains, and don't consume food-like products like soda and candy.

[Mystic]

phillip888, there is no reason to avoid grains, as long as they are wholegrains. 3 meals a day i eat wholegrains (breakfast cereal, bread, pasta, brown rice, couscous etc...) and the occassional refined grain (white rice for example) - I am FAR from fat and have trouble gaining weight at all. I would wither away into nothing if i eliminated grains! they have healthy minerals/vitamins and fibre as well. I also include olive oil and it hasn't harmed me either - in fact my skin dries up and goes flaky without it. I include plenty of raw as well as cooked fruit and veg, dried beans/legumes and sometimes nuts, as well as cookies and processed foods like hummus etc...
i think the key is moderation, not eliminating healthy foods

[ConsciousCuisine]

I would wither away into nothing if i eliminated grains!
i think the key is moderation, not eliminating healthy foods
Everyone's system is different, based on habits, lifestyle and lastly, genetics.

I know of many people who have went on an all raw fruit and vegetable only diet who have lost extreme amounts of weight, only to eventually stabilize and then return to a healthy weight without altering their diet of raw fruits and vegetables or consuming more calories. It is believed that this is due to the body's detox and dumping of toxic deposits in the organs and tissues that are deeply pocketed away. Losing all fat reserves is necessary to accomplish this. There are Naturopathic Doctors, Nutritionists and Medical Doctors who back this up.

As far as moderation and "healthy foods" are concerned, everyone has different ideas and theories about what is actually healthy and what is not.

I personally feel that even a junk food vegan is heathier than 99% of those who consume the S.A.D, and I applaud any move anyone makes towards a more plant-based diet and gentler living. :)

[slinkyvagabond]

Though sometimes I wonder if I enjoy tofu to much

My friend's Iranian mother eats incredible amounts of tofu--usually just standing at the kitchen counter, forking the plain stuff right out of the asceptic package. So unless you're weird like her ;) I think you'll be alright. :p

[Veganmama]

I'm definetly not saying to do away with grains just over refined flours extra are just really unnatural and i'm sure they slow down and clog up our digestion. I eat alot of grains , just not refined. We like our brown rice and also eat heaps of sprouted rye and out groats :)

[Artichoke47]

I usually eat whole grains, specifically whole wheat, but if I happen to use unbleached white flour in a recipe for something, I don't find that I'm bloated or feel heavy or anything afterwards.

I think the best advice is to stay active. Your body needs exercise.

[orchidprint]

My mom and dad have been vegetarians for good portions of their lives (40 and 20 years, respectively). My mom stayed very thin up until after menopause where she filled out a bit, but I wouldn't say she is fat. Plus, she's always eaten lots of junk and drank a lot of soda. My dad remains pretty thin. They're both in their mid-50s.

[beforewisdom]

There are many fat vegetarians, particularly vegans.

Many people who give up animal products never bother to learn about nutrition, excercise and/or become junkatarians.

In the end, if you are fat you are taking in too many calories.

It is harder to stay feeling full with junk food and processed foods.

It is easier to feel full and stay feeling full on whole foods.

If a veg*n who exercises is very fat it is probably due to a "pasta and bagel" diet high in flour products( even whole grain flour products can be a problem with weight control), sweets, processed foods, refined grains, refined carbohydrates, and refined fats.

Moderate exercise along with eating lots of fresh vegetables, WHOLE grains, and legumes ( not processed soy foods ), and drinking water versus caloric beverages will reverse this issue.

[beforewisdom]

I have heard such comments as well.

From watching my own thoughts I do think it is true that individuals who are part of a movement represent that movement to other people in their everyday lives.

Unfortunately this is true with veg*ns who do not take care of themselves.
It is harder to help animals( or the environment) by convincing people to go veg*n when many veg*ns are overweight or sickly looking.

No one wants that for themselves.

You can mention all of the famous fit veg*ns out the wazoo, but that is a bit abstract.

Seeing up close is believing