How to Lose Belly Fat as a Vegan

by Monique
(New York)

Question:

I'd like to lose weight mostly because my stomach area is too big, and I'd like to reduce breast size. I am way too big for my body size and I am uncomfortable. I hear that losing weight can help that, and although I look relatively thin, those areas are not, and I wonder if there is a way to lose weight. I am not a total vegetarian; I eat fish, dairy and eggs. Sometimes I feel better eating some animal protein, even though I am philosophically opposed to eating it.

Answer:

Hi Monique,

I totally empathize with you and understand where you're coming from. I think most women worry a bit about our stomachs and belly fat, and it can be a tough area to target and tighten.

I personally ate just like you, and then when I went vegan, I gave up fish and eggs immediately, and I also tossed most dairy products pretty quickly. What I struggled with most was cheese because I absolutely loved it. I don't think I necessarily ate a ton of it, but I did have pieces of cheese as snacks, ate it on pasta and soup, and added it to every sandwich. And, I truly loved cheese, so giving it up was very difficult for me.

I initially felt better after cutting out most dairy products, but I didn't truly feel amazing until I quit cheese completely. And, when I did that, I lost about 5-10 pounds, and it all seemed to come off my stomach and thighs. It was like the dairy was plastered to the inside of my body, and when I decided not to add any more into my mouth, it shed itself off my stomach.

So, I can personally attest that cutting the remaining animal products out of your diet is a good way to get rid of the stubborn extra 5 or 10 that follow you around everywhere.

I also have to add that it's incredibly easy nowadays to go from eating a junk food non-vegan diet to eating a junk food vegan diet, and that's not going to help your body. If you're looking to lose weight, I recommend staying away from the vegan ice cream, vegan cheese, vegan desserts, and all those fun chips and cookies that are dairy-free.

If you pack your meals with a variety of vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, and beans, and use nuts and seeds as snacks, you will be able to lose belly fat as a vegan. I also think if you're eating a well-balanced vegan diet like this, you will feel better than when you ate animal protein in the past.

As for your stomach... The increased fiber from vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and beans helps to push out the stores of fat that might be blocking you from having a toned, flat stomach. When you increase fiber in your diet, you should also increase your water intake to help push the fiber through your digestive system-- aim for 8-10 glasses each day.

If you're looking to find a few exercises and cardio routines to help tighten your body, check out my friend Liz DiAlto's tips to a tighter body in 10 days. She's not vegan, but she's in amazing shape and knows what she's talking about.

You can also read more about my struggle to quit cheese and what I did to overcome it in my ebook, Cut the Cheese.