South Beach Vegans?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2008
South Beach Vegans?
5
Tue, 08-26-2008 - 3:48pm

Hi everybody!


Destiny's 21-day experiment (which I've now morphed into my own experiment) has caused me to wonder how many SB vegans are lurking out there.  For those of you who are vegan (or vegetarian), what staple foods do you have?  How do you balance both SB and vegan lifestyles?

ivillage


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2007
Tue, 08-26-2008 - 5:46pm

I'm a vegan! I actually think that transitioning to a vegan diet was easier because I had been doing south beach. I still follow all the SB guidelines, with a few minor changes. I don't limit myself to 1/2 cup of beans, I don't limit my fruit servings (although I usually have about 3, but if I want more, I'll have them), and I don't use artificial sweeteners (although that's not a vegan thing).


My staples are tofu, beans (all kinds), fruit, whole grains, and tons and tons of veggies. I eat 6-8 cups of veggies a day, on average. But I eat lots of different types of veggies and cook them different ways so I don't get bored.


Here's what I had yesterday:
B:

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2008
Wed, 08-27-2008 - 9:08am
Thanks so much Katy!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2007
Wed, 08-27-2008 - 7:29pm

You're welcome! Please, don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions or need recipes or meal ideas.


I totally know what you mean about feeling better! Even though I was already a vegetarian when I went vegan, I just felt so much better! "Cleaner" is really the only way I can describe it. I'm glad you're liking it so far!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Sun, 08-31-2008 - 5:40pm

Do you find you weight loss has been any faster being vegetarian/vegan?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2007
Sun, 08-31-2008 - 6:27pm

Yes! When I first went vegetarian, I had been plateaued for months, even though I was following SB and exercising a ton (6-8 times a week). After one week without meat, I lost five pounds. I was counting calories at the time, and I was still eating the same amount. When I stay on track, I still lose weight at a good rate (about 2 pounds a week). This summer I've been struggling with baking and eating too many goodies though, so I'm just now getting back on track. In the last week, I've gone from 186 to 182. I know one or two of those pounds were probably water weight, but it's still good progress.


More importantly, I feel much healthier. My LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure had all gone down and my HDL had gone up within a month of going vegetarian. I haven't had them checked again (since last August) but I'm sure they've gone down even more since going vegan. My hair and nails grow faster, I've practically stopped having migraines (although too much sugar can still bring one on), and I just feel cleaner on the inside. I don't get sick nearly as much as I used too. In the past, if I was around someone with a cold, I would get pnemonia. I would get sick enough to call in sick to work or not go to school a minimum of 2-3 times a year. Now, I don't think I've had more than a runny nose in over a year.


Sorry, I know that was way more info than you asked for! But weight loss is just one of the many benefits of going veg!

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