Meat eating hardgainer switching to Vegetarian Diet [Help]

[nyquil]

Hi guys(and gals),

 

What a great site and community this is! I feel very fortunate to have found this site at this time when i'm about to make the biggest diet change of my life! and I look forward to learning from each and one of you in the future.

 

Though i am still currently a meat eater, i've always been very concious about my diet. I have never been overweight in my entire life... never was into sweets and junk food, and overall, have been quite athletic all my life. In addition, I have always known the importance of having a balanced meal, as well as the crucial role fruits and vegetables play in our lives. But, i think it's time for me to finally embrace and take the plunge and give this Vegetarian diet a go. (hey, if i can get all the protein from non-animal products without clogging my arteries... why not right?)

 

I'm a male in my late 20s, with a height of 5'11 and weigh in at around 145-155 lbs. Needless to say, i'm quite lean with a very low body fat percentage. I know that a lot of people enjoyed the weight loss that often comes with switching from a meat oriented diet to a strictly vegetarian diet, but as a hardgainer with a fast metabolism, weight lost is really the last thing on my mind.

 

With that being said, I was wondering if anyone could perhaps help me build a good vegetarian meal plan? Though i'm quite familiar with sprouting alfalfa , superfoods, making kombucha tea, making kefir, and what fruit/vegetable is good for what, there are still a lot of names i am very unaccustomed to. (all the different kinds of beans and grains especially)

 

If it's not too much trouble, could someone show me what their grocery list or what their daily meal plan is like? Because I would very much like to start on this journey as soon as possible.. maybe go shopping this weekend and gather up all the necessary ingredients a vegetarian bodybuilder would need for his daily consumptions. Maybe some good recipes for some simple everyday vegetarian dishes? (not something extravagant and fancy looking like the things we see in Vegetarian magazines... but just real meals that are simple to make and dont take up too much time)

 

Lastly, do i need to consume about the same amount of calories as i did when i was on the meat diet? will i require the same amount of protein? I'm guessing that if i take out the meat from my diet i probably wont need as much as i used to since my body will no longer spend so much energy digesting the meat. But at the same time, I am dreadful of losing weight during this process. (since my goal is to be gain some size while staying lean and cut.)

 

Anyway, i'll cut this post short since it's already long as it is. haha

 

I look forward to hearing from you all, and thanks in advance!

 

-nyquil

[beforewisdom]

The quality of information you may get off a web board should be taken with a big grain of salt.

 

Here is a SHORT guide to finding reliable vegan nutrition information. There is a lot of misinformation on the web and in print:

http://beforewisdom.com/blog/vegan-diets/

 

I would take that information to heart, eat more calories, add a protein drink and try to get the same amounts of nutrients other bodybuilders get...........as well as filing people who give you advice that you don't need to do that as being "well meaning but not a source for good information".

 

You might also find it helpful posting your question on veganfitness.net. There are some very huge powerlifters there as well as some health related professionals who talk down to Earth information rather than diet folklore.

 

I would also Google on "vegan bodybuilder". There are 2 - 3 professional ones out there. If you email them, they might point you to some good information.