Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With A Plant Based Diet

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments:

Often times, a patient expresses to me that they want to lose weight, and they know that it's a big part of their low back pain. But when I suggest a vegetarian diet they roll their eyes back. Oh, I tried that...I can't do that I starved to death for 3 days one time. Or...I did that and I gained weight.

Oh...I need meat...my body craves it.

Lots of people try to lose weight by starving themselves and only eating salads and fruits. That's not the way to do it. You will never win the battle with the hunger drive. Your appetite must be satisfied or you will not be able to stay on the program.

This is where a starch based diet comes in. A diet centered about starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, whole wheat pasta, yams, and whole grains is very satisfying. Heck, a couple of baked potatoes which is only 300 calories fills the entire stomach. When the stomach is full you are not hungry.

Then, you add all the fruits and vegetables you want. But, what happens is people eat salads and dump a bunch of dressing on it. Or eat white rice or pasta (all the nutrients and fiber are removed) with junk sauce and cheese. Or load their baked potato with butter and sour cream. It's all the junk that's added on to these good foods that makes them fattening.

There are tasty low calorie alternatives to all of these problem add-on foods (butter, cheese, rich sauces). And whole grains taste much better (than beached rice or pasta) any way. You just need to learn how to shop. It's also very cheap to eat this way. So it's cheaper, you lose weight, you look better, all your organs function better, your immune system is turbo-charged...and you resist all the chronic diseases at a higher level. A plant based diet just makes sense.

The best source of plant-based nutrition and recipes I know of is Dr. John and Mary McDougall. You can visit them at www.drmcdougall.com.

Do a little homework. Don't do it on your own or listen to uninformed sources. You can eat as much as you want and lose weight at the same time if you do it right.  And...keep it off.