I Tried Going Vegan To Lose Weight And It Backfired In The Worst Way

Women's Health investigates why some women are turning in their V-cards.

Stephanie Schwartz, a New Yorker who works in retail, tried a 21-day vegan challenge with a friend in 2015 because "I wanted to lose a few pounds and see if I could get visible abs, like all the yogi vegan Instagram girls, and this seemed like a healthy way to do it." So Schwartz, then 25, abstained from all animal products—meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and eggs. The trial period came and went and she stuck with it, absorbing the plan's "cruelty-free" ethos. As her passion for animal welfare grew, though, something else did too: her waistline.

Instead of toning up, within four months "I gained 12 pounds, lost muscle tone, and felt so bloated," she says. She also overheated easily and lost her period. "My body was like, 'Excuse me, I don't like this.'" She couldn't figure it out, but she did notice she always felt ravenous—and was constantly eating. Like 70 percent of people who try going vegan, Stephanie ultimately went back to eating some animal products. Interest in veganism, the stricter, coconut milk-ier cousin of vegetarianism, has surged in recent years. In Hollywood and on social media, it seems as if every flat-bellied celeb (Olivia Wilde, Jennifer Lopez, Lea Michele) is reported to have tried the lifestyle, and luminous-skinned fitfluencers (vegan chef Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows; blogger Ella Woodward of Deliciously Ella; Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram, the local-organic-raw pioneer behind FullyRawKristina) have been touting the lifestyle. Some sources show that the number of vegans in the U.S. has spiked by as much as 600 percent in the past three years, and search interest in veganism was 460 percent higher than vegetarianism in the past year alone.

It's not surprising that an increasing number of women have taken Schwartz's tack, looking beyond veganism's moral raison d'etre and health benefits—which include a reduced risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood-sugar issues, hypertension, and overall mortality—to a hope of weight loss. After all, while veganism is not considered a weight-loss diet per se, multiple studies have shown that people who shun animal products tend to be lighter than their omnivorous counterparts. A recent Harvard University meta-analysis found that vegans lost about five pounds more than meat eaters over an average of 18 weeks. Another study found that vegan women tend to have a BMI of 22, which is 1.5 points lower than the average of those who dig meat. But people who go vegan specifically to shed inches may be doing themselves a disservice, says Pittsfield, Massachusetts, nutritional consultant Virginia Messina, R.D., M.P.H., creator of TheVeganRD.com and coauthor of four vegan-centric books. "Women read stories that promise the pounds will just melt away"—but simply starting your day with a quinoa bowl rather than an omelet doesn't mean you're automatically going to drop pounds.

VEGAN DIET TRAPS

Newbie vegans hit some common dietary roadblocks, says NYC dietitian Cynthia Sass, R.D., M.P.H. First, plenty of foods can be vegan without being good for weight loss. "Healthy, filling vegan diets require knowledge and planning," says Sass. "Twenty years ago, eating vegan meant lots of whole grains, produce, and pulses, like beans and lentils." Now the aisles are packed with higher-calorie shortcuts like mock meat and cheese products, and it's easy for new converts to assume that any item with an "All Vegan!" label will be somehow better. But eating processed foods means "you'll miss out on fiber, which slows down digestion, keeping you feeling fuller longer," says Sass. She adds that fiber feeds the good-for-you gut bacteria associated with weight management.

Even if you do stick to the healthier vegan fare, it's easy to OD on portion size, given the health halo sported by "clean" but calorie-dense foods like avocados, cashews, and coconuts. Sass had a female client whose breakfast was a jumbo smoothie bowl that "probably had about 700 calories, and then she'd be sedentary all day." Vegan or not, "anytime you eat more than you can burn, the surplus will either prevent weight loss or cause weight gain."

Another pound-adding culprit? Skimping on protein, which is needed to maintain the muscle mass that helps keep your metabolic rate up, Sass says. Too little could lead to a loss in muscle tone, as Schwartz experienced. And finally, in the life-ain't-fair department, Messina points out that if you're already eating a healthy diet with generous amounts of fiber, good carbs like whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, you're less likely to see a stark difference on the scale when you drop all animal foods. Someone who goes from egg-and-bacon sandwiches and hamburgers to a well-rounded vegan diet, though, may start losing weight more easily. (Speed up your progress towards your weight-loss goals with Women's Health's Look Better NakedDVD.)

THE COMMITMENT FACTOR

Motivation also comes into play, says Sarah Hoffman, an epidemiology doctoral student at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill (and happily vegan for the past 16 years). Her study in the journal Appetite shows that subjects who decided to become vegan for ethical reasons remained so for years longer than people who went plants-only hoping for weight loss or other health-related benefits. "If you're doing it to lose weight and you have unpleasant effects, like fatigue or digestion issues, you may stop, while an ethical vegan may be more likely to stick it out, because avoiding animal products is about something bigger than themselves," she explains.

Side effects often include cravings, which can be more intense in vegans who are looking to slim down, says Art Markman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and an expert on motivation and behavioral change. Without the larger goal of saving animals from suffering, "you may still psychologically crave the foods you're not eating and eventually give in." Someone who feels eating beef is gross, in other words, is less likely to crave a burger. All diets involve some deprivation, but it can help to recast yourself as "plant-based" instead of "vegan," says Markman. That reminds you of all you can eat (produce, grains, nuts, beans) and is less likely to lead to sex dreams featuring a gaucho at a Brazilian churrascaria.

WHEN IT GOES TOO FAR

The experience of Jordan Younger, 27—whose blog, The Blonde Vegan, debuted in 2013—points to a more insidious drawback to veganism. Younger says she amassed 30,000 followers in just three months with recipes like Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups. But a year later, she was increasingly restricting her eating choices, cutting whole categories of foods (gluten, oil, sugar), and at one point even eating 10-banana smoothies as a meal. She realized she had veered into a form of disordered eating: orthorexia, a rigid fixation with eating healthfully.

Studies have shown that women with eating disorders are more likely to be vegetarians than omnivores. That doesn't mean vegetarianism or veganism causes eating disorders, explains Steven Bratman, M.D., author of Health Food Junkies: Orthorexia Nervosa—Overcoming the Obsession with Healthful Eating. But someone predisposed to disordered eating "may use veganism as a socially acceptable way to carry it out," he says.

In 2014, Younger stopped eating vegan and changed her blog name to The Balanced Blonde. Initially she lost more than 30,000 followers, but now she has 179,000 Instagram followers and 3 million downloads of the podcast she started in 2016. "I'm spreading the word that if you want to be plant-based, that's cool," she says, "but you can also live healthier and eat more foods from the earth without being radically extreme."

Stephanie Schwartz, too, felt that veganism triggered a relapse of her prior anorexia. When she went back to fish and eggs, "my clothes fit better and my energy returned. Some days I'm still vegan, and I love the conscious aspect of eating that way, but I definitely have more energy in yoga or HIIT class when breakfast is scrambled eggs with lox, avocado, and hot sauce." The first thing she lists now on her Bumble and Tinder dating profiles? "Recovering vegan."

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How This Woman Has Maintained Her 125 Lbs. Weight Loss for Over 7 Years

Samantha Call found success with the Atkins diet.

This article originally appeared on People.com.

Samantha Call’s weight loss journey began as the result of a tragic loss.

Call – who said she was “always the big girl” growing up and reached 265 lbs. by her senior year of high school – lost her father to heart disease in 2008. Her dad, who had struggled with obesity, was just 48-years-old.

“I’ll never forget sitting with my [12-year-old] brother after my dad had passed, when he told me ‘Samantha, I don’t want you to die like daddy did,’ Call, now 33, told PEOPLE.  “That broke my heart but gave me the drive that I needed to start my journey.”

First, the Callis, Maine resident consulted with her doctor. “My blood pressure was through the roof,” says Call. “I had wanted to get gastric bypass [surgery] because I felt like I had failed so many times on diets. I couldn’t stick with it. But, my doctor pushed me to lose the weight for myself and on my own. It lit a fire under me.”

In early 2009, Call found success with Atkins. And after a year and a half got down to 132 lbs. Call has maintained her weight loss for about seven years.

“I’ve always been someone who loved bacon and loved eggs, that was easy to me,” Call said of her new low carb program. “How many diets can you do that you get to eat bacon and eggs every morning?”

She also learned to love lean meats and vegetables, and now enjoys making her own healthy meals. “My fiancé is very supportive with what I cook us for dinner,” she says. “He’s always been a physically fit guy so it helps. He’s a huge support.”

While losing weight, Call gradually added in exercise, and now works out for an hour in the morning before work. “It’s part of my daily routine,” says Call, who switches between fitness DVDs, a Pilates ball and at-home gym equipment.  She even ran a half-marathon two years ago, and hopes to do more in the future.

Still on Atkins, she also allows herself a cheat day once a week, but doesn’t go overboard. “I have my mind fixated on one thing that I’m going to have,” she says. For example, instead of the three large plates of fried, carb-heavy food she used to get a Chinese buffet, Call now has a small plate and maybe half an egg roll. “It’s all about portion control.”

Another big change? Her confidence. Call, who was married once before, felt uncomfortable wearing her wedding dress at her previous size.

“I look at those photos and it was unflattering,” she says. “I’m excited for the fact that I’ll be able to pick out a beautiful dress and feel good about myself because I was very self-conscious about myself the first time around. I’m happy that I’ll look and feel good.”

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How To Lose 20 Lbs Fast - 5 Tips To Start Today

If you wish to answer the question"how to lose 20 lbs fast", there are some basic things you need to be aware of. Today's high fat, high calorie and low mobility lifestyle is not helping us much when it comes to achieving that trim, toned figure we all want to have. We live in an era where food is available in abundance.

We are bombarded with flashy TV advertisements and glossy magazine ads that stimulate our appetites and tempt us to rush to the nearest fast food outlet for some great tasting cheeseburgers or mouth watering pizza.

To make matters worse, physical activity is not longer a main part of our modern lifestyle. We have cars, limos, public transportation to transport to anywhere we want to go at amazing speeds. We have the elevator to carry us; no longer do we need to climb the stairs. This kind of sedentary and luxurious lifestyle has created a generation of overweight and obese individuals. So if you are stuck in this situation, how do you lose weight fast? And if you have an important event just around the corner, you would definitely be interested to answer this question-how to lose 20 lbs fast?

How to Lose 20 Lbs Fast

1. Calorie Counting

The first step to effective weight loss comes with knowing the right amount of food you need to consume per day in order to drop those excess pounds and inches. The normal recommended daily intake for a man would be somewhere around 3,500 calories. For the women, it would be within the range of 2500-3000 calories. The daily requirements would need to take into account the lifestyle and body size of the individual.

2. Thermogenic Food

Thermogenic food refers to those kind of food which would burn more energy when hey are consumed than the ones they would be providing the body with. High fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables would definitely fall into this category. Aside from that, lean meat, protein and certain herbs are thermogenic foods as well. One very popular recipe to help people lose weight fast is to combine a spoonful of cayenne pepper with a cup of honey diluted with apple cider vinegar. Those who can consume this concoction on a daily basis can expect to dramatically rev up the metabolism and see rapid weight loss within a short duration of time. If you are looking for unique way how to lose 20 lbs fast, this recipe might just be right for you.

3. Water

Drink plenty of water if you want to lose weight. Yes, water will help you lose weight as it removes the need for your body to retain excess water if you supply it daily with fresh, energetic liquid. Water retention is a major cause of hose puffy eyes, bloated tummies and excess fat stored around the waistline.

4. Eat Smaller Meals

This is a well kept secret used by medical professionals and those who get to know about the wonders of spreading your three huge meals into smaller meals. Every time food is consumed your body will get into an active state where the metabolic and digestive systems will be in high gear to turn the food into energy. These processes require energy of their own and when the food intake is less than what is required, it will start using up the stored fat. If you combine this trick with the intake of thermogenic food, you can see some dramatic weight loss soon! If you are looking at ways how to lose 20lbs fast, this is a great trick you can apply immediately.

5. Walking.

Walking has been a popular activity around for many people. But are you aware that walking can be a great way to help you lose weight fast? Brisk walking would be the best way to turn up your natural fat burning mechanism. But a slow evening stroll would be just fine if you aren't particularly interested to engage in high intensity workouts.

These are five helpful tips to help you answer this important question" how to lose 20 lbs fast." If you are diligent in applying all of these weight loss secrets we share with you today, you would definitely be seeing some pounds and inches dropping off real soon.

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How To Lose Fat On Your Face - 5 Tips You Can Use Today

It can be exasperating to have a fat face and chubby cheeks. Add to that the dreaded double chin and you are in for some unhappy moments ahead. We all desire to have the perfect image of high cheekbones, well-defined facial lines, and slim, sexy chin to go along with it. But this is easier said than done. Getting that picture perfect look is difficult when you have are burdened with excess fat on your face. So what could be the answer to this question how to lose fat on your face right away without resorting to surgery?" Let's find out.

You may be interested to know how to burn fat face easily and effectively right at home without resorting to dangerous surgery or expensive treatments to get rid of your facial fat. Here are five tips how to lose fat on your face.

Tip 1: Reduce Your Body Fat

It may be hard to believe but you can dramatically reduce your facial fat chance by lowering your total body fat! Many people have reported having a slimmer face and sharper jaw lines just by dropping the body fat so it would be between within the range of 15% to 20%. If you currently have very high body fat, this can be a considerable feat to achieve, but with the correct mindset and the right strategy, this can be reached if you are consistent in your effort.

Tip 2: Reduce Salt

Take some extra steps to remove salt for your daily menu. Salt is the major cause of water retention. Your body will cling on tot h stored water which only adds to the overall puffiness and gives you an unhealthy bloated look. Avoid crispy foods, fried foods and potato chips if you to have a slimmer face and lose fat on those areas.

Tip 3: Drink Water

To enable your body to remove the excess stored water in the body, you would need to replenish it with fresh water daily. Experts recommend an amount of eight to ten glasses for water per day. If you follow this tip, you would enjoy a clearer and smoother complexion and a slimmer brighter face in no time at all!

Tip 4: Remove Stress

Stress can cause your face to become puffy and bloated too. The stress hormones are in some way causing fat to be built upon your belly and face areas which can leave you with a very unattractive look! So if you want to lose fat on your face, consider lowering the level of stress you experience on a daily basis by including some form of relaxation in your daily schedule.

Tip 5: Slimming Creams and Masks

There are some innovative products going around that claims to help you lose face fat by using slimming masks and creams. Most of these wore by removing excess water from the surrounding cells. So in the end you would end up looking slimmer and more attractive as a result of using these masks. There are even homemade remedies which would help you reduce the water retention on your face through homemade facial masks using honey and sea salt.

These are all effective tips if you are looking at ways how to lose fat on your face. Before resorting to dangerous surgery, consider following these tips we share.

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Rapid Quick Weight Loss Done Right

If you are looking to lose weight then I am here to tell you that you are in for an adventurous ride. Losing weight can be hard and seem like somewhat of a struggle. Day in and day out people are looking to lose weight but have no where to turn, They don't know where to look, They don't know who to talk to.

That's OK, because there is resources out there out to help you such as this article. I am going to give you some advise on what you can do to start looking weight when you need to lose weight the most.

When the holidays are near it can be even more hard to lose the weight and so many people flock to lose weight come the new year, There are so many new years resolutions to get fit and in shape.

Here are some things that you can start to do now to start losing weight for the new year:

Start walking at least 20 minutes a day, and start eating healthy. Here are some things that you can start eating now to help with weight loss.

Green veggies
Fresh fruits
Whole grains
Fish

Here are some supplements that you can start taking to help lose weight:

Fish oil
Flax seed
Multi vitamins

These are all these that you can include in your system to start losing weight and feel great while you do it. If you have followed some of the directions in this article then you can begin to see results in just as little as 30 days.

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How To Lose Belly Fat - 5 Tips To Use Now

Fat is not always negative. We need fat to keep us warm, protect our internal organs from damage and keeps us healthy and our cells in prefer condition. It keeps our skin glowing. But fat becomes a problem when it is available in excess in the body. It disfigures us, puts our health at risk and cause us to feel tires and lethargic the whole day. Additionally excess fat especially belly fat can cause serious illnesses such as heart disease and abates. So how to lose belly fat fast if you are one of those plagued with the dreaded pot belly?

Women may be obsessed with ways how to lose belly fat fast since it hurts their looks and appearance in a negative way. The modern women are more prone to developing pot belly due to the high level of stress, the need to keep up with the demands at the workplace, the additional chores at home and a horde of other problem haunting the woman today. The hectic schedule simply means there is no time left to exercise. Women who have protruding tummies may be depressed trying to figure out how to lose belly fat fast and effectively.

But men are not spared from this problem either. No one what to go around looking like an eight month pregnant women along with the man's boobs too! Today's competitive workplace and the high targets set makes men strive harder and stronger, which all adds up to the stress level, An men too are complaining of having less time for themselves to exercise. Most of them would be too tired after a hard days work to spend more time to hit the gym. So if you happen to be one of them you may wonder just how to lose belly fat under these circumstances?

It can be a very demanding task but here are five simple tips to help you get started.

Tip 1: Exercise

There are no excuses allowed here, you need to exercise now. If you haven't already started on your own exercise program this is a great time to check out some of the options available and choose one that you feel might be suitable for you. Take into account your personal interest and the level of fitness you enjoy when choosing the program.

Tip 2: Food

Stay away from fattening food, and food that is high in salt content. Salt tends to cause the body to retain water which account for that bloated look in your belly area. Start consuming plenty of energizing food scubas fruits and vegetables for a change. You will soon notice your skin getting brighter and takes on a healthy glow if you follow this diet.

Tip 3: Slimming Wraps

This is a new way to lose belly fat but it works. If you are wondering how to lose belly fat fast for an upcoming unimportant event, then go for these wraps! They can be purchased under several commercial brands or you can even create one in your own home.

Tip 4: Sauna

If you have time to spare consider going for a special treat at the local spa. Get into sauna room which would help detoxify your body. You would feel refreshed and raring to go just after one session in one of these sauna rooms.

Tip 5: Meditation

Now for that final touch, get a nice session of meditation to help lower your stress level and pout you in a more empowering state of mind. You may choose to follow some home made videos on mediation or you can even join into a club that specializes in these activities. It also helps to have a tutor or a guru you can rely on.

Threes are five very effective ways to help if you are looking at how to lose belly fat without expensive surgery.

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Lose Belly Fat | The 4 Elements of Belly Fat Reduction

Lose Belly Fat  The 4 Elements of Belly Fat Reduction.
What Causes belly fat : 1) Lack of Sleep

2) Sugar & Bad Fats

3) Lack of Exercise:

4) Stress:

5) Processed Food:

6) Alcohol:

The 4 Elements of Belly Fat Reduction:

1. YOUR DIET:

a) CUT DOWN BAD FAT and stick to good fats : olive oil, nuts, oily fish and flax seed.

b) KEEP TRACK Download a calorie tracking app to keep track of your calorie intake. Dietitians recommend a daily average of 2,000 calories

c) INCREASE DAILY PROTEIN Protein should account for at least 30% of your caloric intake

d) AVOID SUGARY FOODS as well as processed or fried food
2. DO MORE CARDIO

a) RUNNING : at 8 mph can boost your metabolism by 13.5 times.

b) CYCLING: for 90 minutes at a moderate speed can burn 1,000 calories.

c) JUMP ROPING: can burn 11 calories per minutes.
3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP leads to overeating. Aim for 6-8 hours sleep a Night

4. WORK YOUR ABS
MIX IT UP: by doing different exercises that work different parts of your core:
a) Stability Ball Jackknife:

b) Decline Crunches:

c) Ab Roller:

d) Hanging Leg Raises:

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