[PandaBean66]

... my first time out here. Hello, all!

I'm a rookie vegetarian (little over a year). Have had a few carnivorous lapses lately, and want desperately to get back on the veg wagon ... it's so much more peaceful there.

I have tried so, so, so many things in the last 20 years to control my weight and eating, and so far vegetarianism (I was actually vegan at first) has been the closest thing to a "diet" that I can do. I don't consider it a "diet" in the traditional sense because I get to get a really good amount of food (lots of fiber) if I'm doing it right, and not gain weight. My real reason, personally, for wanting to be vegetarian is a choice to help alleviate animal suffering and oh, by the way, maybe help save the planet along the way, who knows?

The problem, really, at this point is losing the weight. I'm 5'6" and 325 pounds (can I get a shout out?!) I know this is the number because I got on a scale yesterday. It's a good thing I don't weigh more, because the scale could only gauge just a few more pounds than that, LOL.

I've been in and out of Overeaters Anonymous so many times I think I've probably tied or surpassed the "retread" record. I'm not in it now, don't know if I should be, I have a strong hunch that there are other ways to approach the weight loss other than OA. I hope that there are ... that's why I'm here!

I'd love to connect with others out here who are engaged in an effort to lose large amounts of weight as vegetarians/vegans. What has worked well for you? What hasn't? These are broad questions, but I am hoping to get specific answers from such broad inquiries.

I'm 39, divorced, live in a major city in the Northeast (no, not NYC) and have an overweight (!) "senior" cat (she's going on 11). She is my baby, AND she lets me keep my "dog lover" side too. We just don't talk about it -- it's best that way.

Anyway ... I really don't know what else to say here except that I am hoping to find some sanity and clarity around the food and weight issues as I move forward, slowly, on my own -- because I know I can't do it alone.

Thanks for reading, all. Nice to be here.