Three Big, Fat Myths About Vegetarians

When I was a senior at UCLA, I decided to become a vegetarian. I would like to say that it was for ecological reasons. Reality check: I had gained more than the "freshman 15" excess pounds and thought that becoming a vegetarian would magically cause me to lose that weight.

My roommate decided to join me in what we thought was a "flabulous" solution to fighting flab. We enjoyed cheese pizza ("hold the pepperoni," we said virtuously), ice cream, peanut butter sandwiches, and an occasional salad topped with potato salad, croutons, and thousand island salad dressing.

The result: she gained five pounds, and I gained seven pounds. Oops, we did it again...

Instant weight loss is probably THE biggest myth about becoming a vegetarian. In reality, you need to make an effort on ANY diet, whether it's all-protein, all-vegetables, or fat-free. More details on this and the other big fat myths about becoming a vegetarian follow:

Myth 1: You instantly lose weight when you become a vegetarian.
That would be true IF you ate nothing but leafy green vegetables! But if you reward yourself for your virtuous vegetarian ways with endless peanut-butter-and-honey sandwiches, bowls of nuts mixed with carob chips and organic ice cream, you won't find weight loss magic awaiting your weigh-in! Remember: calories count. You may want to ask your health care provider or a nutritionist for guidance on how many calories is right for your body weight, as well the ideal percentages of protein, fat, carbs, etc.

Myth 2: You'll get enough protein if you make dairy part of your veggie food plan.
Another myth: If you do a vegetarian food plan that includes dairy, you don't have to worry about protein. Well, yes and no. IF you know how many grams of protein your body needs each day, and you calculate the protein in beans, legumes, your veggies, and your dairy carefully, yes, you'll be fine. If you grab a carton of yogurt or pudding cup for your day's worth of protein, it's not necessarily so. Invest in a good book on vegetarianism and protein combining, or talk with a health care provider or nutritionist about your needs.

Myth 3: All vegetables are "free foods," so you can eat all you want as long as you count your calories for other food sources.
And one last reality check: eating all-you-can-eat portions of French fries and stuffed baked potatoes may make your tummy and mind temporarily happy... but you won't feel very joyful on weigh-in day. When it comes to so-called "free foods," even celery and lettuce, although they are low calorie, are not "free." Do it right, and count your calories. Enjoy those green veggies along with sensible portions of grains and fruits and low-fat or non-fat dairy, and you'll experience weight loss the vegetarian way!