Going vegan has become a trend among the health conscious because most people think that abstaining from all animal products is what it takes to shed fat and bulk on muscle. Sure, going vegan- giving up all animal meat and dairy products- helps in weight loss. In fact, some might even say that vegan plans are the best for weight loss. That might ultimately be true but not for everyone. Some people go on vegan diets and end up piling body fat instead of losing it. The reason? They might not know how to make vegan diets work for them. If this is you, or if you’re planning on becoming a vegan anytime soon, here are five things you should try in order to lose weight on a vegan diet.
Eat the Greens
Going vegan means that nuts, greens, whole foods, and legumes are going to be your best friends. They are going to guide you through the weight loss journey. So when you go vegan, pile on the greens.
Veggies like spinach, broccoli, zucchini, and bok choy are a mine of minerals and nutrients. They are not only full of fiber which is good for satiety but also thylakoids which reduce cravings and induce weight loss. A meal of sautéed spinach over spaghetti squash is delicious and nutritious, and friendly to your waistline.
Up the Protein
Cutting down on animal products means that you’ll be missing out on a lot of protein. You will need to compensate this by upping your plant-based protein intake as compensation. Nuts, protein-based smoothies, spinach and legume meals like tofu, quinoa, and tempeh can provide protein. You should never underestimate the power of proteins in your weight loss plan. Proteins are good for post-workouts because they help the body recover. They also maintain your body mass during the weight loss journey- comes in handy because larger body mass will help you lose more calories at rest. You might also check out protein based vegan supplements offered by the body by nature to increase your protein intake.
Cut the Plant Junk and add dietary supplements
Steaks and burgers are not the only calorie bombs. The normal vegan treat such as a coconut ice cream can carry as many calories, and the ‘healthy’ fruit juice on the supermarket shelf could pack as much empty carbs as a can of soda. Knocking plant junk out of your diet will help you lose weight. Switch from processed grains and fruit juices to their whole grain and blended fruit alternative if you want to make a dent in your weight loss regime. Also, incorporate vegan supplements into your diet. You can check out Body by Nature, they have a wide variety of vegan supplements.
Plan your meals
If you want to eat healthily, you must plan for healthy meals. There are several options to help you with that. You could get easy-to-prepare prepackaged vegan meals from your local store. Alternatively, you can order from healthy food delivery services like HelloFresh or try out a recipe from healthy-eating sites such as Eatingwell. Also, ensure you save heavier meals for the daytime when you’re more active.
Work out and Hydrate
Like every other weight loss, a vegan diet is more efficient with exercise and hydration. 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week will help you shed a lot of pounds. Keeping hydrated just helps you make sure that your body can handle the stress.