Trying to go vegan has been the healthiest thing I've done -- I made it easier on myself (and on my budget) by deciding to be "almost vegan"; just as it's really hard to cut out all unhealthy foods dieting, it's nearly impossible to cut out all foods with any egg/milk/butter contamination eating in a college dining hall!

So to keep in control I try to put together as many 100% vegan meals (again, in the dining hall) as possible -- and I feel a jolt of happiness every time I succeed -- which has been a great way to avoid eating dessert and replace it with fruit :D So yes, trying to do vegan means, for me, almost no actual servings of dairy, but spinach that was cooked with a little bit of butter is fine, since I can't do anything about how it was cooked. Makes for much less drama, and no purchasing of marketed-to-vegans "clean" foods I miss, which are usually super-unhealthy (cake! cookies! ice cream!)

But yes, being nearly vegan has helped me lose weight easily and in a very healthy way -- I eat a ton, it's just almost entirely fruit and vegetables now :) It's also another way to stay motivated -- that cake isn't just bad for me, it's bad for Bessie the cow! So the important thing has been to *not* allow veganism interfere with dieting (hence, permitting "contaminated" veggies) while using it as another reason to not eat unhealthy things.