Should I Become A Vegetarian?

Hi. I'm a 16 year old male from Texas. I have bipolar disorder, and started taking an antipsychotic in March
which made me gain 80 pounds in a month. Anyway, I was wondering if I would lose weight if I didn't eat meat. I'm off the drug.

 

So I'm not an old hippie, but I am a recovering vegetarian... Merely cutting out meat does not make you lose weight. In fact, a lot of people replace meat with pastas, breads, etc and GAIN weight when they poorly balance their diets. An overall lifestyle change was what made the difference for me. A mix of a gluten allergy and the struggle with depression lead me to a lower carb diet, substituting sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc with veggies and (mostly local) meat. I cannot speak for any impact on my mood, but I've lost ten pounds this month.

 

I've had depression and anxiety for years now, and once I went vegetarian, it really helped me out with losing weight and my overall mood. Like Dancing said, merely cutting out meat probably won't make you lose weight since you'll most likely start replacing meat with pastas, breads, etc and gain weight (it happened to me lol).

I would strongly recommend going vegetarian, or even better, vegan. Just make sure you're keeping your diet healthy and balanced Good luck!

 

My opinion is that vegetarian diets can be healthy when they're done right, but a lot of people go into them not knowing squat about nutrition and simply believe that not eating meat is going to somehow make them healthier while they continue eating what amounts to processed junk food. If one is going to go vegetarian, I would say lacto-ovo vegetarianism is the healthiest, as it does not often result in the B12 deficiencies caused by traditional vegetarian/vegan diets. If you're going to become a vegetarian, at least read up on it first. Don't do it because it's trendy, or you merely think it's healthier than diets which contain meat. Most of all, don't think that not eating meat is going to cause you to lose weight. Meat simply is not a culprit of weight gain whatsoever.

Some people I have known who call themselves "vegetarians" are among some of the sickest, most malnourished looking people I have seen. But I have also seen a lot of healthy vegetarians. Again, it depends on the person and how they go about it. I don't consider someone to be a vegetarian simply because they do not eat meat. To me a vegetarian is a person who eats only whole foods, mostly in the form of raw or minimally-cooked vegetables. Eating soy hot dogs and Tofurkey is not part of any healthy vegetarian diet, but merely a meatless junk food diet that is no better than the Standard American Diet.

Yeah, vegetarian diets are some of the worst when it comes to weight loss, but they can work if people eat the right things. Like you said, many vegetarians eat foods like bread and pasta, which spike the blood sugar and contribute to the immobilization of fat.

Low carb diets, IMO, are the best when it comes to overall health and well-being, though I don't expect everyone to agree with that. It has certainly worked wonders for myself and many people I have talked to, however.

 

80 pounds in one month????? holy fuck

 

I'd love to gain 80 pounds in a month LOL (well maybe 40 to be real)

As far as vegetarianism goes I agree with everyone else that cutting out meat alone won't help. Whole foods are best, the less processed the better.

You might also want to try eating some coconut oil every day. I did it to try and get extra energy but all it did was reduce my appetite which was the opposite of what I was going for.

Try seeing a licensed nutritionist and in the mean time just eat more vegetables even if you still eat meat. If you eatr lots of veggies and coconut oil it will fill you up but none of us on here are nutritionists (most likely) so take all advice with a grain of salt.

Question everything. Also I'm not an old hippie btw but I'm sure you will hear from one eventually. But question the "hippies" too. Question everyone and everything and think for yourself. Also if you smoke weed cut that out too. Definately my number one advice to someone your age is to not smoke weed. Thats what I would tell my younger self.

 

Licensed nutritionists follow government guidelines, so their advice is some of the worst when it comes to eating right. Most nutritionists will tell you that you need to eat a low fat diet high in whole grains.

So it's not surprising that a lot of people who turn to nutritionists to lose weight either don't lose weight or actually gain weight.

I think people looking to lose weight and get healthy would be best advised to do their own research and not blindly listen to any one person.

 

OK, the 80 pounds is there, not changing that today.
Not eating meat, has pros and cons.
The real issue is ---- You're off your meds.
Seriously, obviously you were diagnosed with being Bi-polar for a reason
The medication cured you?
You're not Bi-polar any more?
Can any body see this turning out good?

 

Many vegetarians I know forget to add supplements and such to their diets to make up for proteins, vitamins, minerals, and so on, that they are lacking. One friend had a broken wrist that took over 6 months to heal, because her diet did not provide what her body needed to mend her broken bone. Her doctor informed her that her insistence on being a strict vegetarian, and only taking minimal supplements was the reason it was taking so long. There is a right way to be a vegetarian, and a wrong way...I know very few who have chosen the right way.

As for weight loss, eating healthy (lean meats, lots of green vegetables (kale, collard greens, spinach, peppers, etc.), low carbohydrates, with minimal fruits, etc) with a reasonable exercise routine seems to be a healthy way to go. If you research things like flax seeds, chia seeds, whole foods, apple cider vinegar (unfiltered) and other 'health foods' you might find something that sounds appetizing to you, which means you are more likely to stick to healthier eating habits. Personally, I hate the term 'dieting' instead I use 'eating healthier'. Same with exercise, do something you enjoy and you are more likely to stick to you. Take walks, especially if you have a dog, it is great for both of you. If you don't have a dog, find a friend that is seeking to be more active, and that wy you both benefit from a support system.

If you insist on going the vegetarian or vegan route, do your research! It is NOT as simple as cutting out meats, and other animal products. You will need to find a replacement for the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) that meat, dairy, etc. do provide in your diet. Whatever meal plan you choose: Drink LOTS of water, avoid sugary drinks and snacks (an occasional treat is fine, as depriving yourself will only frustrate you. Just be mindful of portion sizes), stay active, and you should be able to shed some pounds.

Rarely does someone need a drastic dietary change due to weight gain from medication unless they were eating lots of fried foods, sugary snacks, etc. Normally portion control, more activity, and just eating healthy can help shed pounds. (I gained close to 40 lbs during med trials, and the only change I made in my diet was limiting simple carbs, and sugars, and increasing my activity level. The weight came off slowly but consistently, 2-4 lbs a week) Don't expect the weight to shed off in a month, give it some time, do it safely, and hopefully you will be back to your pre-med size soon. It took me weeks to gain the weight, and months to take it off. You can do it! Just be patient, and don't give up.

Good Luck!

On a side not my husband has Type 2 diabetes. His doctors insisted he use medication, but the side effects were too much for him. I manage his diabetes completely through diet. He has better glucose readings now than he did when he was medicated. If you eat right, it can do amazing things for your body, and your mind.

 

I have the best results from a low-carb diet. The opinion I hear most is "Oh yea, the hideous all meat diet, have some red paint" or the like. What I have learned is that the fat a body MAKES from excess caloric intake sticks to the body where the fat consumed by eating does not. Like it or not, maybe some of us need a more primitive diet to thrive. I'm also a lazy bastard and hate to exercise and a low carb diet drops fat from me so fast I have to slow down to prevent flabs.

Never try to drop a lot of fat too quickly. It's not healthy and your skin takes a long time to adapt back to a thinner frame. It ain't a cheap suit.

 

It's a simple matter of intake vs. output , meat doesnt have anything to do with it.
If you eat more calories than you burn in a day, you gain weight.
If you burn more calories than you eat, you lose weight.

Regarding the disorder, I am sorry to hear that. Look in to Niacin supplements, some people have had success for treating depression (including me).

 

Cutting out meat caused me to lose 20 pounds. I don't believe that this was because of the lack of meat, but rather because I was forced to learn about nutrition--something I lacked before going vegetarian. But, about health, here is a quick excerpt from a TIME article about why vegetatians live longer (probably not perfect, scientists, but interesting and worth investigating!):

1. Low blood pressure: In the latest study, researchers found that not only do vegetarians have lower blood pressure on average, but that vegetarian diets could be used to lower blood pressure among people who need an intervention.
2. Lower risk of death: A 2013 study of more than 70,000 people found that vegetarians had a 12% lower risk of death compared with non-vegetarians. With none of the saturated fat and cholesterol that clogs arteries, vegetarians may be at a lower risk for chronic diseases overall.
3. Better moods: A 2012 study randomly split participants into a three diets: all-meat allowed, fish-only, and vegetarian no-meat. The researchers found that after two weeks, the people on the vegetarian diet reported more mood improvements than those on the other two diets.
4. Less chance of heart disease: Another 2013 study of 44,000 people reported that vegetarians were 32% less likely to develop ischemic heart disease.
5. Lower risk of cancer: Researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied different versions of the vegetarian diet and cancer risk among people at a low risk for cancer overall and discovered that a vegetarian diet may have protective benefits. Although the study is not the final say on the matter, vegans had the lowest risk for cancers, specifically cancers most common among women, like breast cancer.
6. Lower risk of diabetes: Studies have shown that vegetarians are at a lower risk for developing diabetes. While the diet won’t cure the disease, it can lower an individual’s risk by helping them maintain weight and improve blood sugar control.
7. Less likely to be overweight: Research shows that vegetarians tend to be leaner than their meat-eating counterparts, and that they also tend to have lower cholesterol and body mass index (BMI). Some data suggests that a vegetarian diet can help with weight loss and be better for maintaining a healthy weight over time.

http://time.com/9463/7-reasons-vegetarians-live-longer/