Weight loss Success with Lowfat Vegan Diet?
Posted by dl-bailey on Dec 25, 2009 · Member since Oct 2008 · 286 posts
My Dad needs to lose quite a bit of weight - somewhere around 65 pounds. I was looking into some lowfat vegan diets, McDougall in particular. The programs seem fairly simple, no calorie counting, and healthy. (My sister has also been considering joining Weight Watchers with him.) He is currently an Omni that will eat anything put before him. I am a pretty good cook and will probably make his meals I am also planning on going on the diet with him for support. Has anyone had success with this type of diet? Is it easy to stick to? Problems switching from an omni diet? Any suggestions?
I am on a similar diet by Caldwell B Esselstyn. I lost about 20 pounds in a few months. It wasn't my goal to loose weight; the purpose was to adjust my lipid profile. So I think you are on the right track, and should see results.
It is easy for me to stick to my diet and I didn't have any problems switching from an omni diet. But like they say...
You know the one about how many psychotherapists it takes to change a light bulb?
One, but the light bulb has to really want to change.
I lost about 80 pounds following McDougall's plan 80% of the time. I know I'd still be that size if I had stuck with it. For an omni, I'd probably try Furman's Eat For Health unless he is really motivated to give up meat. By my current thinking, McDougall is a bit grain heavy. I'd stay away from Weight Watchers. They encourage some very unhealthy practices unless the user knows better. (Dairy, chicken, fish, etc.)
I lost about 80 pounds following McDougall's plan 80% of the time. I know I'd still be that size if I had stuck with it. For an omni, I'd probably try Furman's Eat For Health unless he is really motivated to give up meat. By my current thinking, McDougall is a bit grain heavy. I'd stay away from Weight Watchers. They encourage some very unhealthy practices unless the user knows better. (Dairy, chicken, fish, etc.)
I disagree.
I do Weight Watchers and no one encourages me to eat dairy, chicken or fish....
Its about tracking what you eat...it doesn't exclude any certain types of food - it teaches you balance and accountability....I can sing it's praises all day!
I lost about 80 pounds following McDougall's plan 80% of the time. I know I'd still be that size if I had stuck with it. For an omni, I'd probably try Furman's Eat For Health unless he is really motivated to give up meat. By my current thinking, McDougall is a bit grain heavy. I'd stay away from Weight Watchers. They encourage some very unhealthy practices unless the user knows better. (Dairy, chicken, fish, etc.)
I disagree.
I do Weight Watchers and no one encourages me to eat dairy, chicken or fish....
Its about tracking what you eat...it doesn't exclude any certain types of food - it teaches you balance and accountability....I can sing it's praises all day!
That is why I said UNLESS the user knows better. Please don't jump me yet. Lol. I have a bunch of friends have done it off and on for years and get all kinds of bad ideas from them, because they are clueless about nutrition and believe whatever they are told by the so-called "experts." For example, one friend had cut out dairy products due to the points, but was told she HAD to consume so many servings of dairy a day to be healthy. Their advice probably does vary some by location and employee to some degree though. Their teaching of balance and accountability is good. I just meant I wouldn't go to them for nutritional advice beyond weight management and caloric intake.
I meant in no way to "jump" you...I just don't want anyone to be discouraged from trying Weight Watchers, as a veg*n or otherwise, because it has helped me tremendously. It teaches a lifestyle, rather than a diet and I appreciate that.
But you're right about the nutritional information. I get irritated when they peddle all of their hokey, over-processed snacks...but I do know better, so it's easy for me to dismiss.
Weight Watchers is the one tried and true plan that has had the most success. That said, the point about people knowing what they are doing is important. It takes a bit of diligence to keep track of points. A couple of coworkers are on it and they eat poorly. "Lets see this hambuger is all most points for the day". Yet they are loosing weight.
This is not the norm. I had a good friend who had a heart attack, joined weight watchers, lost 100 lbs. and has kept it off for years. He now works for them. Too bad he could have prevented the heart attack.
Anyway McDougalls is a good diet, but too low fat for me. It doesn't really allow tofu and I can't be vegan without it. I've lost weight slowly just by staying vegan and eating a lot of whole foods.
I think it's best to give him a few options of different diets and let him choose one that he likes the best. I agree with Tweety that WW works, as a friend of mine has kept over 100 pounds off for 2 years. It just depends on the person. I've had success with Eat to Live, but I was going off meat anyway and it was a good reason to tell people that I went vegan when I didn't want to go into the ethics of it ;)b
Eat to Live is the best ;)b
Old thread but I hope your Dad has been successful! I am one of the few that WW does NOT work on but I just started Vegan and am hoping to lose some as well.