Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by Any Lane Pexels Logo Photo: Any Lane

Why haven't I lost weight on a vegan diet?

A whole food plant-based diet often leads to healthy weight loss, but if you're not seeing the scale move, these reasons could be why: You're still eating and cooking with oil. You need to eat more leafy greens (and fiber in general) You're going out to eat too much.

mamasezz.com - 3 Sneaky Reasons You're Not Losing Weight on a Plant-Based Diet
Where can I buy phentermine over-the-counter?
Where can I buy phentermine over-the-counter?

You can't buy phentermine over the counter without a prescription. You may be able to buy phentermine online, however, though doing so without a...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 22, 2018
What gets rid of the most belly fat?
What gets rid of the most belly fat?

To battle belly fat: Eat a healthy diet. Focus on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and choose lean sources of...

Read More »
Last updated Jun 29, 2020

Quick Take

Not losing weight on a plant-based diet? Can going vegan help you lose weight even? Here's the deal: while a plant-based lifestyle is associated with lower BMI and better overall health, these 3 things could be keeping you from reaching your healthy weight loss goals and even explain gaining weight on a vegan diet. Before we begin: how to stop yo-yo dieting (and lose the weight for good)! Get plant-based meals for weight loss delivered right to your door with the MamaSezz Weight Loss Bundle. No calorie counting, no gaining back the weight just a few weeks later. Flood your body with nutrients by eating tasty, comforting, and satisfying whole food plant-based meals - and lose weight easily.

Learn more about the MamaSezz Weight Loss Bundle here.

On this page

Do I have to lose weight to be healthy?

So you've been plant-based for a while now and you're not losing weight on vegan diet? A plant-based diet is naturally low in calories and fat which may leave you wondering "why am i gaining weight on a plant based diet?"

Can going vegan help you lose weight or not?

Sometimes, you just don't need to lose any more weight. Optimal health isn't about weighing 100 pounds (unless that's a healthy weight for you!).

Does being vegan help you lose weight?

Ok, but back to the question at hand...if you're struggling to lose weight on a plant-based diet you may be wondering "does being vegan help you lose weight" or is it all a gimmick?

It is NOT a gimmick. In general, vegans have lower BMIs than their omnivore counterparts. But it's important to understand that the absence of animal products doesn't necessarily yield weight loss (nor is does it mean you're eating healthy). Think about it: Oreos are vegan! So it's just as much about what you add to your plate as what you omit. So if you still do need to lose some extra weight to be healthier and stronger, there are usually three culprits to your plant-based diet weight loss plateau or even for weight gain on vegan diet...

3 sneaky reasons you're not losing weight on a plant-based diet

1. You're still consuming and cooking with oil

If the scale's not budging or you're even seeing weight gain on a vegan diet, it's important to cut out oil. To lose weight, you want nutrient-dense foods over calorie-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods are high in nutrients but relatively low in calories. Oils are nutrient-deficient and calorie-dense. One tablespoon of oil has 120 calories and 14 grams of fat. At MamaSezz we try to avoid calorie counting when possible. That said, a calorie-dense food like oil lacks both nutrients and fiber so your body quickly absorbs it and turns it into fat. And even though it's got lots of calories, oil doesn’t take up as much space in our stomachs as nutrient-dense whole plant foods so our bodies have a harder time recognizing when we're full. This leads to overeating and sometimes plant based weight gain.

Do bras prevent sagging?
Do bras prevent sagging?

Dr. Blake says wearing a bra doesn't prevent your breasts from sagging and not wearing one doesn't cause your breasts to sag. “Wearing a bra...

Read More »
Last updated Oct 3, 2020
Is Slim Fast Good For You?
Is Slim Fast Good For You?

However, most research suggests that diets like SlimFast are not sustainable. Additionally, the SlimFast diet relies on highly processed meal...

Read More »
Last updated May 15, 2022

image from HelloNutritarian.com

The good news is, cooking without oil is easy! And what about salad dressing? We've got you covered there, too - don't miss our 5 favorite oil-free dressings. Or skip the cooking altogether and get MamaSezz oil-free and whole food plant-based meals (and salad dressings!) delivered to your door, ready to heat and eat. Order MamaSezz here.

2. You need to add more leafy greens to your diet

Unlike oil, leafy greens, like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard, are low in calories and high in nutrients. They've also got lots of fiber, helping you to digest your food slowly and absorb the nutrients from your food. Plus, they take up space in your stomach but don't pack a big calorie punch. So you'll stay full longer and be less inclined to overeat after a big leafy green salad, which means you probably won't see weight gain on a vegan diet that's loaded with leafy greens. Not a huge salad person? We hear you. Here's how to sneak leafy greens into your diet. And our tips for making the ultimate vegan salad. (Pro tip: it's all about the dressing, baby! We love MamaSezz vegan ranch on just about anything.)

3. You're going out to eat a lot

Most restaurants, even the vegan ones, use all sorts of salt, sugar, and oil in their cooking. In other words, restaurant dishes tend to have more calories and fat than if you cooked at home. Love going out to eat? Don't worry. Your restaurant days aren't behind you. Just follow these whole food plant-based dining out tips and ask the kitchen if they can cook with water or veggie brother instead of oil.

Key Takeaways

A whole food plant-based diet often leads to healthy weight loss, but if you're not seeing the scale move, these reasons could be why:

You're still eating and cooking with oil

You need to eat more leafy greens (and fiber in general)

You're going out to eat too much

Bonus: you may not need to lose any more weight!

Interested in losing weight for good?

Updated 6/2/21

**

By Ali Brown

Ali is a mom, wife, and nutrition and lifestyle writer and editor. She has her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

mamasezz.com - 3 Sneaky Reasons You're Not Losing Weight on a Plant-Based Diet
What should I eat in middle of morning to lose weight?
What should I eat in middle of morning to lose weight?

Yogurt is one of the healthiest foods you can snack on. Loaded with fiber and calcium, yogurt or curd is easy to digest and is satiating. You can...

Read More »
Last updated Jul 20, 2022
What can I wear at night instead of a bra?
What can I wear at night instead of a bra?

Sleepwear bras or home wear bras thus become an ideal choice that supports the breasts while you slumber.

Read More »
Last updated Nov 28, 2021

Learn More »
Promotion
What should you not drink at night?
What should you not drink at night?

Five drinks to avoid before going to bed Alcohol. It's no secret that alcohol makes you feel drowsy after a few drinks. ... Coffee. The caffeine in...

Read More »
Last updated Jul 4, 2021
What Cannot be eaten with coffee?
What Cannot be eaten with coffee?

Drinking coffee can make you excrete zinc or zinc that you should absorb. As reported in the Healthy Eating page, Sunday, June 6, coffee can absorb...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 4, 2020