low carb and vegan?
#1
FitDay Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4
low carb and vegan?
does anyone know whether its possible to stick to a low carb diet if you are vegan? and if it is, how do you do it? if it isn't, can anyone recommend any weight loss diets that are workable for vegans?
#3
FitDay Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 965
Don't worry about the low carbs, worry about the simple carbs. Eliminate or severly restrict the processed foods, anything made with white flour, white rice and sugar. Get as much protein in your diet. Tofu and beans are good protein sources.
#4
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 82
Dave
___________________________________________
stats, inspired by Ron
Male, 6'0" tall, 37 y/o
Starting weight, 4/19/10 (started Atkins) = 287
6/16/10 (finished Atkins book & joined Fitday) = 261
latest weight 8/03/10 = 244.5
mini goal (wedding) 9/4/10 = 235
ultimate goal for lifetime maintenance by 4/19/11 (one year mark, 100 pounds loss) = 187
This will be my lightest weight since high school!
Last edited by davej323; 08-10-2010 at 06:02 AM. Reason: add stats
#5
FitDay Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4
Ron is right. The way to maximize weight loss on a vegan diet is to:
1. Make sure you create well-combined meals that will give you the full 9 amino acids. This usually means a legume (black beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, green beans, kidney beans) and a grain (corn, wheat, kamut, millet, rice, oats), but you can also do it with squash (winter is the most filling) and mushrooms.
2. Avoid things made with flour, and/or sugar/high fructose corn syrup. This includes everything like soda, bakery goods, crackers made with white flour, etc. But to maximize weight-loss any baked goods, even vegan ones made with organic flours and raw sugar, or maple syrup have too high a glycemic index.
3. Avoid foods high in fat, and cook with less fat. We need some fat to be healthy, but there's naturally occuring fat in foods like bananas, olives, and avocadoes. Some good substitutes for fat include vegetable broth made with good vegan boullion, and prune puree (in baked goods). You can save 100 calories every time you use 1 tbsp of oil to saute instead of 2.
Have fun!
1. Make sure you create well-combined meals that will give you the full 9 amino acids. This usually means a legume (black beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, green beans, kidney beans) and a grain (corn, wheat, kamut, millet, rice, oats), but you can also do it with squash (winter is the most filling) and mushrooms.
2. Avoid things made with flour, and/or sugar/high fructose corn syrup. This includes everything like soda, bakery goods, crackers made with white flour, etc. But to maximize weight-loss any baked goods, even vegan ones made with organic flours and raw sugar, or maple syrup have too high a glycemic index.
3. Avoid foods high in fat, and cook with less fat. We need some fat to be healthy, but there's naturally occuring fat in foods like bananas, olives, and avocadoes. Some good substitutes for fat include vegetable broth made with good vegan boullion, and prune puree (in baked goods). You can save 100 calories every time you use 1 tbsp of oil to saute instead of 2.
Have fun!
#6
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 64
I agree that one should stay away from refined carbs, but not simple carbs in whole foods. Fruit has simple carbs, but if you avoid fruit, you will be avoiding a lot of fiber, and micronutrients.
What is your reasoning for going low carb and high protein? Are you trying to lose weight without working out? If so, you will have a nice looking body with an unhealthy engine. You should work out to maintain muscle mass and improve cardiorespiratory health. If you workout moderately, you don't need much protein at all to maintain muscle mass. Less than 10% of total calories. If you are working out very intensely, you might need up to 20% protein to build muscle mass. There are plenty of vegan bodybuilders consuming around 20% protein.
All that said, if must do a high protein diet, then a plant-based diet is best. You eliminate the cholesterol and a great deal of saturated fat. Plus, the protein in plants doesn't leach calcium from the bones.
If you want to lose more weight, eat whole foods and work out at a higher intensity.
What is your reasoning for going low carb and high protein? Are you trying to lose weight without working out? If so, you will have a nice looking body with an unhealthy engine. You should work out to maintain muscle mass and improve cardiorespiratory health. If you workout moderately, you don't need much protein at all to maintain muscle mass. Less than 10% of total calories. If you are working out very intensely, you might need up to 20% protein to build muscle mass. There are plenty of vegan bodybuilders consuming around 20% protein.
All that said, if must do a high protein diet, then a plant-based diet is best. You eliminate the cholesterol and a great deal of saturated fat. Plus, the protein in plants doesn't leach calcium from the bones.
If you want to lose more weight, eat whole foods and work out at a higher intensity.
#7
FitDay Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3
You really don't have to worry about combining plant proteins to form complete proteins. Current research indicates that as long as you eat a decently varied diet your body will take care of any adjustments it needs.
At the risk of sounding like a shill I'd suggest checking out the Engine 2 Diet. I've been following it since February and have lost 45 pounds and brought my Diabetes under very good control. My Doctor says it's gone, but I wouldn't go that far just yet.
At the risk of sounding like a shill I'd suggest checking out the Engine 2 Diet. I've been following it since February and have lost 45 pounds and brought my Diabetes under very good control. My Doctor says it's gone, but I wouldn't go that far just yet.
#8
FitDay Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 3
Maybe this could be something for you:
have you checked out the raw diet yet?
I'm a vegetarian celiac (have gluten allergies), and I'm going vegan as we speak, wich means I'm going raw
This page is a great tool, and you should follow your nutrition intake closely.
Losing weight is all about changing your lifestyle, and not about a quick and easy fix, especially if you already have a "special" diet as we do. I tried the quick and easy, lost 22 lbs, and off course gained some of it back, which has served as motivation for me to find a way of living and eating that will change my food habits completely.
Here's a link to my new best friend when it comes to food, and delicious food as well. Dieting does'nt have to mean nutrition powder or boring foods with no taste:
Starting a Raw Food Diet
I'm a vegetarian celiac (have gluten allergies), and I'm going vegan as we speak, wich means I'm going raw
This page is a great tool, and you should follow your nutrition intake closely.
Losing weight is all about changing your lifestyle, and not about a quick and easy fix, especially if you already have a "special" diet as we do. I tried the quick and easy, lost 22 lbs, and off course gained some of it back, which has served as motivation for me to find a way of living and eating that will change my food habits completely.
Here's a link to my new best friend when it comes to food, and delicious food as well. Dieting does'nt have to mean nutrition powder or boring foods with no taste:
Starting a Raw Food Diet