I was wondering if there were any other vegetarians on here. I've been one for going on six years. I wanted to know how you think it affects your weight loss: helps it, hurts it?

I think it does both for me. It helps because I eat more healthy foods: veggies, fruits, nuts, beans, etc. It hurts it sometimes because I end up eating a lot of the same foods, so I become bored and want to cheat and eat bad food. Lately, I've been good about cheating.

I'm a vegetarian going on my 16th year.

I think it can both help and hurt weight loss. Generally, overall, it's probably going to help you eat healthier as vegetarians do tend to eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains and less processed food. I don't eat fast food because they have nothing at all on the menu that's vegetarian at places like mcdonald's.

I think where it can be tricky is when you are restricting calories. It seems like omni's can eat a chicken breast or can of tuna for X calories and be full. But for something healthy and vegetarian, like pasta/rice/beans/stirfry with tofu, you are going to be getting sooo many more calories than that can of tuna.

The one exception is stuff like fake meat. I will admit, Boca burgers and Tofurky slices are my friend at 100 calories, but I would much rather be eating a homemade burger of lentils, walnuts and brown rice. I think it is so much healthier than the processed Boca crap, but alas, so many more calories.

Im a veg head, but I just started calorie counting...
I think its a good thing, but doesn't help or hurt my dieting. There is plenty of vegetarian, even vegan junk out there, staying away from it is one of my biggest problems! I don't care for sweets but when it comes to breads, pastas and salty foods I have a downfall... I have been vegetarian for about 5 years now and EVERYONE says did you lose weight when you stopped eating meat? um, no. I still didn't make super healthy choices and thats what I am trying to do now! Good Luck to you! (and me!lol)

ETA: Wildflower have you tried Amy's Bistro burgers? they are fantastic and pretty much all whole... based on mushrooms and wild rice and I think only about 110 calories! YUM...

rdw1: A couple weeks ago I met this girl, I forget were, and when I told her I was a vegetarian she looked at me and said, "Aren't vegetarians skinny?" I just started laughing and said, "I used to be."

Hi Rikki - Thanks for the tip! I usually buy the Amy's California burgers, but they have something like 200 calories I think (too lazy to go check in my freezer, maybe it was only 160). I'll have to look for the Bistro if they are only 110! Thanks!

Sara- that kills me! I was even vegan for a bit... everyone says what do you eat?! I look and say well I am obviously not struggling to find food!!! lol

WF- I found them when eating gluten free and vegan, but have kept buying them because they are so yummy! They remind me of a mushroom pilaf :0)

My daughter is mostly a vegetarian. This means that 95 percent of the time, she decides she wants turkey. She loves turkey. She went vegetarian, not because of animal rights or anything like that, but because she says that the idea of eating a dead animal just grosses her out.

I have a **** of a time cooking for her sometimes. Its not that its hard to cook vegetarian, but I have found that it is hard to make sure she gets what she needs without having to consume twice as much food. It is a VERY common misconception that vegetarians must be skinny, but I find that she needs to eat a lot more food to get enough energy. She is not heavy, but its a struggle to get just the right combination of foods so she is not deprived, and it would be WAY easy for her to go high on calories.

I've been vegan for coming 4 years now, & it hasn't helped or hurt my weight-loss. There are so many options(good AND bad, for both vegans & meat-eaters) that I think it just depends on our choices overall.

I'm a veg, but a very new one compared to all of you (3 months only). I think it helps AND hurts me in ways. I don't think that being a veg has helped my weight loss because there are so many things out there that are vegetarian but not real great for you-pasta, cheese, chips, candy...stuff that I love! But then again, it has helped keep me away from fast food though, I really have a hard time finding appealing options at most places. It has helped me start cooking a lot more too. After 31 years of being a meat eater, I had no idea what to eat as a veg, so I printed a binder full of recipes off the internet and it really reawakened my love of cooking.

Tornadosiren- what do you think is hard to get in her diet? Maybe we could help ya out with that I definitely don't think I have to eat twice as much as others to get proper nutrition- I actually think I eat healthier than most of my meat eating friends...(Not that that is saying much for some of them eat terribly!)

dudesmom- I love cooking and trying new recipes too! I like to suprise my meat eating friends with fantastic healthy foods

you summed it up wonderfully... I'm off and on again vegetarian. I do find I get really hungry trying to eat vegetarian and restricting calories, plus all the carbs and I gain weight. It's been a though decision, maybe one day I can find the right balance

Remember there's also a vegetarian subforum full of good info and support:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/vegetarian-chicks-121/

I am not, however I do believe that the vegetarian diet is very conducive to weight loss. I have fallen in love with fish for the omega 3 content.

I put on 25 pounds shortly after becoming a veg eight years ago, because there was no amount of pasta, pizza, rice, and pastry that I wouldn't eat.

Do you know what helps you lose weight, I think? Being a vegetarian who also knows how to cook a wide variety of vegetarian entrees. That's one of the things that turned the boat around for me.