Hi Everyone!!
 

My name's Dani and I'm so new to the idea of online support...but I really wanted to support people out there and in turn, hopefully receive the same! :D

I'm 23, I'm a new vegan, and I've lost a few pounds but hit a plateau... :(

I got this confused with the member blog area... so I set that up only to find out it really wasn't the same thing.

I introduced myself a little more there...

So, let's do this!!! :carrot:

Hi and welcome to 3FC.

Good luck with your goals.

Hugs
Michelle

Hi and welcome Dani! I had success in the past on a vegan diet as well. Good luck reaching your goals! :)

Welcome, Dani! Good luck with reaching your goals. Question, how do you feel your new vegan diet is helping with your weight loss? When I went vegetarian, I actually gained a lot of weight haha, so I'm always interested to hear other's experiences when going vegetarian or vegan.

Thanks everyone!! :D Still getting the hang of posting on here,etc.

KenzideRhae- Thank you! :) It's been 16 years of worrying about weight and I'm just glad that I'm well on my way!

Anyway, I was a vegetarian for a good 5 years before deciding to turn vegan a few months ago. It's funny that you mentioned that you gained weight because I had the exact same problem!!! Instead of losing, I gained thirty pounds in college and it was a constant struggle and pain to have to defend myself and make it clear that not all vegetarians are skinny! LOL

Anywho- I just recently read the perfect term for it in a magazine- "carbotarian". Looking back on my vegetarian days- I may not have been eating meat but I definitely was loading up on the carbs- french fries, bread, grilled cheeses from in n out... as long as it didn't have any meat I would think to myself that it wasn't a problem but it really was! So that's why when I read that article- everything clicked. A lot of vegetarians turn into carbotarians, and that's why they either stay the same or gain! :-/

HOWEVER, since I made the switch to vegan, the weight really has been coming off- the first week and a half was reallly difficult because I missed cheese and it was just something new to get used to...I found myself reading a lot of labels and visiting Trader Joes and Whole Foods on a regular basis. There's also that preconceived notion that being a vegan is expensive but it really isnt-it's what you make of it. I'm a full time student with a minimum wage job and I manage just fine!

If you can, I'd really recommend trying to be vegan for at least a month- the weight literally melts off- I should mention that I was working out three times a week as well- for thirty minutes. But if you do make that switch, make sure to take a multi-vitamin and that you're getting enough protein in your diet! If you need any recommendations, I'd be more than happy to help! :)

I've been a vegan (I've fallen off the bandwagon a few times- freakin cheese! lol) for about six months now.... and I've gone from a 192 to a 169 and it's continuing. You also have a lot more energy and overall, just feel amazing!!

Good luck and I hope I answered your question! :D

Thank you!! :)

Haha, that was totally my problem too! I definitely became a carbotarian and gained a good 30 lbs as well. I was heavy before that, thought, "Hey, this will help me lose weight!" and then the rest is history.

I've been doing really well losing weight ever since I started calorie counting (I'm still eating a lot of carbs, but more complex carbs and less simple ones), but I've been thinking about trying to go vegan for at least a little while. I have "vegan days" where I stick to a vegan diet, but those only happen a couple times a month. Just so hard to stay away from the cheese!

Anyway, thanks for answering my question!

haha, yeah!! I had the same reaction when I started gaining!!

And I forgot to mention that I was counting calories as well! Lol I use ************ - its free and has every food I can imagine. :)

Welcome and good luck!

:queen: Dhani :queen:

I did all the counting by hand and just Googled stuff I didn't know forever, but I just recently started using Calorie Count. I still like to write everything down in my little book, though, but having a website doing all the adding is so much easier!

Welcome Dani to 3FC, we are glad you are here!