Overweight Vegetarian

[Blue Sky]

My husband is a vegetarian for personal reasons. I don't have a real problem with his choice other than it means I have to cook two meals for dinner sometimes. I try to include a nice variety of things for him to eat.

My problem is mainly what he eats when I'm not doing the cooking. He lacks a source of lean meat and basically fills up on carbohydrates. He eats bread all the time, and since he's hungry again a short time later, he eats more bread. Of course, it's never plain bread. He includes a lot of mayo and cheese.

His weight it out of control and he is only getting bigger.

His dad was a very fit man. Nonetheless, he died at 42 from a heart attack.

My husband is sensative about the topic of his weight. Does anyone have advice for me?

[dice]

replace the fridge door with a mirror, and hide all the bread at the top of 5 flights of stairs.

[Blue Sky]

Any serious advice?

[dice]

Nothing magical sorry. Be honest and direct with him. Say exactly what you posted here to him. If that doesn't work, set an example, go to the gym more, invite him out to walk with you, etc.

No threats and no attacks -> encouragement and understanding is the key.

[JSB]

Vegetarianism is not in of itself healthier than eating meat. There are plenty of vegetarians/vegans who eat just as abominably as the average American "human vacuum cleaner"; they just don't eat meat.

Perhaps you could point him in the direction of a healthier vegetarian diet? (Veggies, fruits, raw nuts & seeds, no white flour/sugar, whole grains and dairy only in moderation, etc.)

[funchy]

Originally Posted by Blue Sky

My husband is a vegetarian for personal reasons. I don't have a real problem with his choice other than it means I have to cook two meals for dinner sometimes. I try to include a nice variety of things for him to eat.

My problem is mainly what he eats when I'm not doing the cooking. He lacks a source of lean meat and basically fills up on carbohydrates. He eats bread all the time, and since he's hungry again a short time later, he eats more bread. Of course, it's never plain bread. He includes a lot of mayo and cheese.

I'm a vegetarian. And I did what he was doing for a long time, too. It doesn't mean vegetarianism is bad. It means I ate crap, plain and simple. In your situation, he probably won't like being told he's eating crap though. LOL

I sense there is some tension going on concerning food in your home. Perhaps this is why he's grabbing for junky premade foods or not wanting to think about what he is eating? Can you approach him & communicate about the food available? Some men simply don't know how to cook, and if he's hungry he may feel like cheese on white bread is easier than having to stress you out over making in a special dish.

Idea: get some vegetarian cookbooks and have him pick a few dishes he think he'd like. Make a larger portion than usual and put the rest in tupperware for him to microwave later.

It shouldn't matter that he's vegetarian, but it does seem to matter to you (or else you wouldn't bring it up). Can you be subconsciously annoyed about it, and he's picking up on these bad vibes? And now he's afraid to ask for a healthy snack?

It also sounds like he wants a complete meal, but without the experience of being meat-free, maybe what you're able to cook right now isn't satisfying. It's understandable. And if he's new to being meat-free, maybe HE hasn't figued out yet how to avoid the SAD and still eat right? (It took me a long time to figure out good dishes because the world is so meat-centric)

I have a suggestion but it requires work on your part: make a few dinners a week without meat. This removes the burden of preparing extra food, and it gives you a real understanding of his point of view. Meat-free food can be very satisfying and delicious.

For example: my meat-eating friends don't like much soy. But I found a mushroom-like product called Quorn they actually ask for seconds on! Last night I started with a hot sauce pan and olive oil. I added diced garlic plus purple & white onions and started them cooking. Then I added chopped up broccoli. Then I added the Quorn 'meat'-balls and some veg 'italian sausage' for myself. When it starts to brown, add meatless spaghetti sauce & let simmer. Serve on a little bit of ziti. I had a bunch of friends (all meat-eaters) share it with me, and I had no leftovers.

Another example: some of the better restaurants offer meat-free sandwiches in their lunch menu. I had a wonderful (and filling!) one over the weekend: lettuce, tomato, avacado, roasted peppers, and smoked mozzarella on a quality (not white) bread. I was so full I ate only half, and I was not hungry later.

For some menu ideas just google "vegetarian recipes" and you'll find many choices. Why not get the whole family trying new foods? I love hummus, eggplant, tahini, falafel, fruit dishes, indian foods, soups (bean, potato, veg, cream of broccoli, etc), and stir fry... mmm!

Next suggestion: STOP buying white bread, mayo, chips, and the other junky foods he's been scarfing down. He can't eat it if it's not there. White bread just turns to sugar in your body anyway, your family is better off without it. Does he like nuts? Offer him nuts or peanuts to snack on in between meals.

Next suggestion: if the bigger picture is his weight gain, why not get him involved in being more active? Can you encourage him to take up a sport? Even something like golf can be good exercise if he's walking instead of using a golf cart. Or can both of you take an evening walk together for some together time & exercise? (And increased activity may also help him with his big appetite, too)

Do you feel like lately he's not be taking care of himself the way he used to? Is he not as attentive to you? The reason why I ask: I'm wondering if he's also not under stress and/or depressed, since this is often a cause of comfort eating? Men sometimes aren't as in touch with their feelings or have problems talking about them.

And when he's ready, encourage him to come here or to some of the other online vegetarian / diet forums. There is a lot of good information out there. He can eat food that makes him feel good AND still be eating right.

Good luck to both of you!

[klg]

There is a web site that I have found to be very helpful, it has info on vegatarian pyramid, dietary guidelines along with much more. Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet Information: Vegetarian Diets

[funchy]

Originally Posted by dice

replace the fridge door with a mirror, and hide all the bread at the top of 5 flights of stairs.

OMG - too funny.

I think you should patent that idea: full length mirror for fridge door. We'll call it a "diet mirror" and sell it on TV for $19.95.

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Blue Sky

My husband is a vegetarian for personal reasons. I don't have a real problem with his choice other than it means I have to cook two meals for dinner sometimes. I try to include a nice variety of things for him to eat.

My problem is mainly what he eats when I'm not doing the cooking. He lacks a source of lean meat and basically fills up on carbohydrates. He eats bread all the time, and since he's hungry again a short time later, he eats more bread. Of course, it's never plain bread. He includes a lot of mayo and cheese.

His weight it out of control and he is only getting bigger.

His dad was a very fit man. Nonetheless, he died at 42 from a heart attack.

My husband is sensative about the topic of his weight. Does anyone have advice for me?

Funchy had a lot of good advice
that bread,mayo ,cheese has got to go

if he cannot give up the bread than buy wholegrain -but it has to say wholegrain ,high fiber bread

for a snack if he still wants to eat cheese
he can make mini pizza's using wholegrain pita bread ,meat free pizza sauce and low fat cheese

I use organic cheese

kids like these too

add more fruit
and salads ( veggies )

it can be done simply as to not put you through so much extra cooking
good luck

[MickeyM]

I became a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) myself on April 10th 2008. And that after three consecutive years eating 6 days a week at McDo for 3 times a day. I supersized before the film was there.

Your husband needs to clarify the reason why he became a vegetarian in the first place. If it is weightloss only than he will not succeed. He can still eat meat and than with the proper exercise he will loose weight.

The main problem for me was that I could not tell what to eat in stead of meat. So it became bread and cheese, for supper lettuce/tomatoes/cheese and that was it. I grew bigger, because after eating my dinner I started to eat crackers and cookies.

I went to a good dietician and she and I made up an overview what to eat in which combinations. She checked my body on vitamins and minerals stats. It seemed I had built up (during my meat eating years) an deficit on minerals and vitamins. I am taking now supplements and I feeling muc better.

Weightloss since starting a vegetarian dieet AND regular exercise AND supplements is 6.0 kilo in two months. The trick for me is that my metabolism seems to be changing. If I do not eat in time, than I start getting real hungry and a bit insecure. That is something I never have experienced before.
Good luck!

PS. It does not hurt to minimize meat intake for yourself and cook one meal for both.
PS2: Some soya milk has sugar added. You think you are doing the right thing, while instead you are damaging yourself. So allways read the ingredients.
PS3: It is not you that should find out what to eat, if your husband is serious about his new lifestyle he should try to find out for himself what to eat.

[pyrogen]

Vegetarian Low Carb Resources - Tips for Vegetarians on Atkins, South Beach, or other Low Carb Diets

He needs low carb and fast. You're describing insulin resistance and the carbohydrate-fueled insulin chain reaction that ends up leading to constant hunger and obesity.

Also, it seems like raw is healthier than other vegetarian/vegan diets. It is relatively low carb, all carbs are complex, all raw food is nutrient dense, and also you're getting protein from places other than soy, beans, dairy (probably none of which are healthy in the amounts that vegans/vegetarians depend upon them). You don't have to be 100% raw, try about 50%. a lot of vegans and vegetarians start loading up on bread and carby foods, and depending upon one to two sources for their protein, the healthiest thing is probably to have a good variet.

Am a quasi-paleo omnivore (50% raw) and am healthier than I was as a mainstream (but "healthy") vegetarian.

[Cron]

Okay, I know reality isn't a favorite subject on this board, but here are it goes for those interested in helping themselves:

1. Carbs do not make you fat. Excess calories make you fat

2. Being a vegetarian or a vegan does not make you slim or healthy.

3. The health and weight control benefits from vegetarianism and veganism come from eating mostly low processed, high fiber, high bulk ( water + fiber together naturally ) food.
Fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, legumes and whole grains. These foods make you feel fuller on fewer calories and provide more nutrition.

Veg*ns who fill up on dairy products or junk food are going to be just as fat, unhealthy as anyone else.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by funchy

OMG - too funny.

I think you should patent that idea: full length mirror for fridge door. We'll call it a "diet mirror" and sell it on TV for $19.95.

I can't believe no one has done this yet!

[supertom]

milk ?? its in everything, its why most people are fat i think.

personal case. My mum was a fat vege, than he walked for 1 a day medium tp fast pace. at nice she ate salads, no chococlate.....

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by dice

replace the fridge door with a mirror, and hide all the bread at the top of 5 flights of stairs.

do not forget the pantry door

[funchy]

Originally Posted by pyrogen

Vegetarian Low Carb Resources - Tips for Vegetarians on Atkins, South Beach, or other Low Carb Diets

He needs low carb and fast.

I hope you don't mind me throwing in my 2 cents, since I've tried that.

I did a high-protein diet on the advice of my Doctor. He really liked South Beach. I bought the book and gave it my best shot. It worked for about 3 weeks, then weight-loss plateaued, then I started feeling terrible. It also sucked I couldn't *ever* go out to eat. I suffered through a few more weeks of feeling absolutely yucky and hating my food, then finally gave up. Any weight loss I achieved vanished the moment I ate normal food.

South Beach or Atkins (i.e. over-emphasis on protein) is not the same thing as a balanced lower-cal diet and/or a veg'n lower-carb diet, at least not in my opinion.

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by Blue Sky

My husband is sensative about the topic of his weight. Does anyone have advice for me?

Ask him to increase his activity level. then he can eat anything he wants.

[Dimond]

Only have healthy substitutes on hand-true whole grain breads, non-dairy healthier versions of foods, etc. Really need to have more real vegetarian foods which are fruits and veggies rather than processed stuff. That's the main problem with most diets. Don't need to become raw to incorporate them into your diet.

Nothing like raw vegan cheese though, yum.

[seanner689]

cut up some veggies or something to munch on while making dinner.

[beautyscientist]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

I can't believe no one has done this yet!

I am pretty sure that Roseanne did a joke along those lines on one of her programmes.

[pyrogen]

Originally Posted by funchy

He really liked South Beach. I bought the book and gave it my best shot. It worked for about 3 weeks, then weight-loss plateaued, then I started feeling terrible. It also sucked I couldn't *ever* go out to eat. I suffered through a few more weeks of feeling absolutely yucky and hating my food, then finally gave up. Any weight loss I achieved vanished the moment I ate normal food.

YMMV (your mileage may vary). I stuck it out for a year and a half, with great results. I only gained back about ten pounds. I never returned to high carb eating, though I ate a far more mainstream diet. I ate and eat more veggies than I ever did before (even when vegetarian) and learned to like them a lot, I like lettuce tacos now way more than I ever liked tacos in a corn tortilla.

I also had a lifestyle change to go with it, became a lot more active and switched to on-the-feet employment from desk work. I am now a fitness buff and eat more carbs to go with that lifestyle.

And I ate out more than on any other diet I've been on. I can see where it'd be impossible to eat out if you are a vegetarian, though. That I'm an omnivore is probably what made it doable. My restaurant breakfast standby was omelette or eggs + breakfast meat with green salad instead of starch sides, and lunch/dinner standbies were either meat/fish entree with salad or veggie side, or salad topped with meat. But if you're a vegetarian, I see no way you'd be able to get the protein from a meal at a mainstream restaurant... you'll get sick of veggie omelets pretty fast.

Again, it's YMMV, but I also had great support (alt.diet.support.low-carb or something like that was the group I was in, plus a diabetic friend who ate low-carb as prescribed by the doctor).

to the guy who said "carbs don't make you fat, calories do" - actually it's not the inherent calories in a carb meal. It's the fact that for some people, carby food causes blood sugar to bounce around, which makes you hungry, which ends up making you eat more and have more cravings.

The reason also that LC may have worked for me is that I was eating only nutrient dense foods. It ends up ruling out most "empty calorie" foods. Anything carby I ate was bundled with high fiber and nutrients. Bread, pasta and rice went bye-bye.