Vegetarian... Ever consider it?

[officeperson]

Have you ever considered becoming a vegetarian? Vegetarians usually weight less than non-vegetarians. Also, I'm sure that getting rid of meat would reduce how much fat a person eats.

[summer]

I'm not all that fond of meat, so it's one thing that is fairly easy to omit. But vegetarians have to be much more conscious of what they eat, because it is hard to get enough protein, and hard to get complete proteins. It would help if I liked tofu, but I don't.

[chocolate]

If you convert to a vegetarian diet, I think it is easier to reduce the fat in your diet because you have eliminated all that fat that comes with meat. Of course if you make whole milk and cheese major sources of proteins, that won't be true.

[whiteangel]

I think it is a myth that vegetarians are thinner. I was a vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for 16 years and I recently went back to eating all meat. I feel better and I eat less. I think being a veg is tricky and you have to make sure you get all of the correct supplements. For example, if you don't get sufficient B12 over a long period of time you can cause permanent brain damage. There are studies now suggesting that soy protien is not all that good for you and it is VERY tough getting enough protein, even as ovo-lacto.

I find that since I started eating meat again my moods are MUCH more even keel. I am sure I was not getting Amino Acids or something else that I needed from meat. I would suggest limiting your beef intake to sirloin (this is very low fat) and meat that you know has not been hormone fed/treated. This is easy to find in most grocery stores today. I usually get mine at Ralphs

[catlvr]

i have been a vegetarian for 15 years, i am 75 pounds overweight ! i think i am doing it maybe not a strick as i should have i never ate meat, but lots of sugar ! lots of high carb vegtables. i agree it is tricky. i eat soy products but like was said earlier it may not be good in large amounts like i was eating for protein . i am starting to eat fish but it is hard to think of eating animals. i have problems with fish too, and there's my problem, thinking too much !!