One of the biggest problems for vegetarians is that they eat way too many carbohydrates and not enough protein. Protein is what promotes lean muscle growth which is necessary to revv up your metabolism and get that fat loss happening. It also keeps you full a lot longer than carbs. Snacking on high sugar foods, even those low in calories will actually cause your energy levels to spike, which means on the other end they will slump, which in turn causes your body to crave more carbs in order the bring them up again. You are better off having a small amount of nuts and seeds, which are high in protein and good fats, than having something like dried fruit.
One of the big keys to weight loss is to eat little and often – 5 to 6 times a day – and to eat some form of protein with every meal. If you are a vegan then this will take some research to find out what you can substitute. Off the top of my head I would say: nuts and seeds, soy products such as tofu, soy yogurt, soy cheese and the vegie versions of meat, legumes, beans and some whole grains. Rice and beans together actually make up a first class protein.
So the first step would be to figure out what protein sources are suitable for you and then to start eating them at every meal. Even if you have a piece of fruit have a small amount of nuts or some cheese (soy cheese if vegan) with it. It will stabilize your blood sugar levels, curb any sugar cravings, keep you feeling fuller longer and speed up your metabolism – how can you lose!
I find that the key to success is not doing anything too drastic that can't be sustained. Once you have created new habits with the basic principles mentioned above, then you can move on to some more diet fine tuning. One step at a time will bring you closer to your goals.
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