Vegan Diet? 6 Things To Know Beforehand.

Vegans tend to get a bad rap, and for the average person who could never imagine parting with steak forever, it may seem like a lifestyle with too many rules and very little reward.

While there are lots of solid reasons someone might decide to go vegan, such as concern for the environment or animals, you might also be interested in what a plant-based diet can do for your health.

It definitely has its upsides if you want to give it a shot: Research finds that people who eat a vegan diet may have an easier time losing weight and reduce their risk of chronic diseases.

That said, the best diet you can possibly follow is the one that works for you. So if you want to take a crack at going vegan and see if it aligns with your personal goals, there are a few things you should know first. If you’re used to chowing down on cheeseburgers, it's probably going to be a big switch. But once you’ve decided to say goodbye to meat, milk, and eggs for good, keep the following tips in mind.

YOU’LL NEED TO RETHINK YOUR PROTEIN

The first question you probably have about going vegan: But how will I get enough protein? It’s a worthy concern. Protein keeps you full and helps repair the tiny tears that strength training creates in your muscles, helping them grow bigger.

The good news is, getting enough protein when you have a plant-based diet is not impossible. You just have to be a little creative about it.

Good sources of plant protein include beans, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh, and pea protein, says Vandana Sheth, R.D.N., C.D.E., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Can You Eat Pizza Every Day And Still Lose Weight?

If you were stuck on a desert island and could only eat one food the rest of your life, pizza wouldn’t be a bad way to go. But if you're trying to lose weight, it's definitely not the obvious choice.

However, according to the New York Post, one New York City chef (and Naples, Italy native) dropped nearly 100 pounds by, among other changes, eating a pizza for lunch every day. Which begs the question: Can eating a slice a day really help you shed pounds? 

“Monotony has its advantages when it comes to weight loss,” says Jennifer McDaniel, R.D. She says some research has also found that eating the same thing day after day can lead you to want to eat less of it, while variety can spark appetite even when you're full. A limited menu, therefore, can be less tempting and simpler to plan—at least for a while.

“If weight loss is your goal, sometimes repetition can be helpful,” agrees Brigitte Zeitlin, R.D. “Some studies have shown that consistency can help when it comes to changing habits. For example, if you are trying to lose weight and never eat breakfast, then eating the same thing every day for breakfast can make the new morning routine easier to get accustomed to instead of trying to think of seven different breakfasts for the week.”

10 Reasons Why You Feel Like You're Always Hungry.

10 Reasons Why You Feel Like You’re Always Hungry

Obviously if you haven’t eaten anything in four hours, you can probably guess why your tummy’s rumbling. But if you just finished lunch a few minutes ago and you’re already digging through the snack drawer, here are a few things that might be giving you that bottomless-pit feeling.

1. You’re not sleeping enough

If you regularly skimp on sleep — like one-third of adults do — it could be to blame for your endless snack attacks. Just one night of sleep deprivation can cause your ghrelin levels to spike, and sleep debt has been linked to higher BMIs and obesity-related metabolic disorders.

And when you’re running on fumes, your body will start looking for any fuel source to keep you going — like, say, that bag of corn chips in the pantry. Studies have shown that sleepy people tend to consume hundreds of extra calories in a day — so if you burned the midnight oil last night, don’t be surprised if you’re hungrier than usual today.