Hi...I've been Vegan now since Feb. 1.  But I've only lost 1 lb and my stomach is constantly bloated.  It looks like I'm 9 months pregnant.

I love the food and don't miss the junk food, meat, dairy etc. at all.  But I thought by now the pounds would just fall off.  I exercise for at least 1 hour +  4 days a week. 

I get enough calories, without getting too many.  The foods I cook and eat are things like whole grains, veggies in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sometimes earth balance "butter". 

I did Alicia's weight loss tea for 9 days...nothing...not even 1 lb loss.

So what's up!!??  I'm not going to give up, but I'm really tired of having this bloated stomach and no weight loss, so it appears as if I'm actually gaining weight.  And I am about 20-30 lbs overweight, so it's not that I am a tiny person.
help!  : - {

Do you think it is possible that you are gluten intolerant?  A good friend of mine had a pregnant-like stomach bloating issue when she became gluten intolerant as an adult.  If she stays away from gluten, she is fine.  I know that food allergies can mess with our bodies, and make them act in strange ways. 

Thanks for the input Jess...but no, I am not gluten intolerant.  I've actually been tested for that.  Both a blood test and an endoscopy where they've biopsied my scillia.

Lulu,
I'm experiencing the very same thing.. I've been  vegan now 6weeks and have been working out faithfully since Jan2.  I've only lost 5 lbs. and have been feeling bloated and gassey as well. (I'm also 25 lbs over weight and am desperate to lose it). I'm enjoying the  cooking and the foods. I haven't cheated once. I know I'm 44 now and my hormones maybe the reason but geezee... I'm even following  Natalia Roses food combinations with Alechias reciepes.. I'm also very frustrated and depressed. I'm not giving up or going back to my old eating lifestyle but I thought I'd be down more weight than 5 lbs in 10 weeks.

I'm curious if the diet changes are kind of shocking your body. Sometimes a big change can put your body in a conservation mode. Typically it doesn't last very long, a month or two at most. I agree with others that maybe gas is causing your bloating. If you have had this problem before to the point that you had an endoscopy maybe there are other things going on. Good luck and hang in there.

Thanks everyone for your comments.  Yes, I do get bloated easily.  I ended up eating a high protein diet (meats) because that was the only way I could stop the bloat and lose some weight (not much though).  But I don't want to go back to those days of eating high protein as I really do believe that it is not healthy.  And I really enjoy the tastes and flavors of the vegan way.  Plus it is a kinder way to approach our stay here on earth. 

I wondered if anybody out there had experienced this and, as You stated Michelle, maybe it will "pass" and my body will get used to the veggies/grains and it will release the weight.

I just wondered if anybody else experienced this at first and then later had the results I hoping for....anyone?

Hi Lulu,

I was in a similar boat as you, and although the pounds haven't exactly fallen off, i've lost a few, and i think i look thinner. I was most bloated when i was eating things with a high sodium content like miso and umeboshi plums. so now i stay away as much as possible. i rinse all my canned beans and try to buy things with lower sodium. i also am trying to cut back on olive oil, but it's tough, i'm not sure if thats a problem, i think for me, i eat too much vegan junk food, the good news is my stomach is flat, i just need to work on eating a little less to get my weight loss going again.

good luck!

I know that I personally can't drink soy milk, because it makes me really gassy and bloated.  I stick to rice milk instead.  Not sure if that applies to you at all, but just a thought...

In my third vegan week, I experienced a lot of bloating... I started taking probiotics and that has helped to ease it a lot.  Also I try to eat a tablespoon of something pickled (cucumbers, beets, green beans, organic of course) to help with digestion... Good luck!

Wow...I am not alone.  See post about wagon falling, etc...

I am seeing this Ancient Chinese Medicine Man.  Actually - a medical doctor that is having me drink twigs and berries tea.  Seriously...bark, leaves, etc. 

Anyway:  first time he sees me - he informs me my liver isn't working properly, if at all.  Mentions, among the 4 other things that point to his conclusion, that I could stand to loose some weight.

Dr. Chen continues to share that the liver is very important.  It processes emotions, fats, protiens, etc.  That when I went vegan and noticed such a dramatic change in how I FELT...was because I was giving my liver a chance to do the things it is supposed to be doing all along.

I have been working on hanging in there.  If I have been eating all things my whole life - and at 42, my liver isn't working - maybe it will take more than a month for my liver to get rested, caught up, and able to process my fats, etc.

It can't only be me.  How's your liver, really?

Hope - what were the other symptoms he saw?

My tongue wasn't "clear".  Not sure what that means - but it is now.  Yellow type coating over it.

Basal temperature too - I run colder than most - so we're working on that.  If you take your temperature first thing in morning before urination -it ought to be somewhere in the 98s.  Mine - 96s usually.

Some menstrual descriptions - heavy flow -clots - ending with brown blood (old blood he says - cycle should end with pink...)

The liver, apparently, is very important for hormones and other body juices.  It takes the status of the body - then talks to the hypothalamus.  the hypothalamus then commands organs to produce more or less of varying hormones.

If your thermostat (his analogy of liver) is broken - then everything isn't working correctly.

Ironically - or not - on the Western medicinal front - the second time I went - I brought the blood test results from my other doctor - and my liver function was elevated...broken thermometer....

Funny but I have similar symptoms as Hope...tongue not clear, basal temp low...but my western md blood tests for liver function are always normal....but hmmm that is somthing to think about.  So how is your weight loss now?  Is it Kukicha tea (twigs)?  And how long have you been vegan?

I have veen vegan for approx 6 months and my last blood test showed elevated liver levels.  I have no idea why as they were normal 6 - 8 months ago.  I was also started on natural hormones about 6 months ago although everyone tells me this should no effect my liver function.  Anyone with similarities or any ideas?

Unfortunately, I cannot offer a positive end to this query, but I am super glad to know others are having the same issues. I've only been vegan for three days and I feel so full and bloated all the time. I am eating my whole grains and veggies and not eating junk foods or sugar and I look like I've been eating lard. I'm afraid to get on a scale. I'm hoping it's just an adjustment phase, but I don't want this to last a month or more! Today I didn't even want to eat because I already felt full, but I am forcing the issue knowing that I am doing the healthy thing by maintaining a balanced vegan diet. Still, it is frustrating and the gas is obnoxious. Sorry to be so gross, but seriously, I could eat eggs all day and not have gas this bad, WTH?

I'm going to keep it up, but the vain girl in me is thinking that I could eat less healthy and be skinnier!