Fellow vegetarians & busy bees: your advice is needed

[VeganDude]

So I am that rare specimen known as the overweight vegetarian. I've been vegetarian for almost 5 years now. I didn't go vegetarian for the health benefits, it came more from inner moral struggles. Nonetheless, when I started researching vegetarianism, I learned a lot in the process about health and nutrition. As a vegan, I've never had any issues with malnutrition. During the first two years of being vegan/vegetarian, I had lost 60 lbs (in a healthy manner, which included running 5 miles a day), going from 250lbs to 190lbs. I felt great!

I lost balance in life for the last year and a half or so, having been consumed by both work and school. Ever since then fitness level has gone down, inversely weight has skyrocketed to between 220 and 230 (fluctuating.) I am aware of the culprits here: 1)a decrepit metabolism, continually wounded by more than 12 hour gaps between meals and 2) virtually no exercise. The worst one of eating habits is that since I don't eat throughout the day, when I get home, at night, I binge. When I binge at night it isn't on a salad, but typically on empty calories usually involving plenty of white rice, tortillas, or bread since they are easy and instantly available. I'll shamefully admit that too many times during a mornings rush, I've skipped breakfast.

Working out has become difficult since I up for work by 6am and have night classes until 10pm. I essentially have to choose between getting some hw done, working out, or getting a decent nights sleep.

All advice and tips will be more than appreciated!!!!

(Btw, I've been vegan far more than I have been vegetarian. This past August, I went vegetarian for 5 months, and went bezerks with cheese and unhealthy foods involving cheese, most notably pizza and other baked goods. Just 6 months ago I was 205 lbs, within a couple months I had gained +25 lbs. I'm back to veganism, but the cheese fat has stayed!! =[ )

[Bonnie]

Its probably a combination of the dairy & the over eating of carbohydrates, that made up those 25 lbs.I'm not a pro dairy person, I think it is a contributor of body fat on all fronts personally.I say this from experimental processes on myself.I am not a very busy person such as yourself, however Lesplease is a full time student, works out & is a dietitian, so you could try contacting her. Best of luck to you