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I Lost 40 Pounds on a Vegan Diet and Here's How 

“You can eat carbs and still lose weight!”
FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback

A TikToker who goes by Vegan of the Sea lost 40 pounds and turned her health around after adopting an oil-free, vegan diet. "Had you told me I'd end up a vegan one day, I'd say you're crazy, but here I am. I feel more energized than ever, and I love knowing I'm nourishing my body with every bite I take of food," she captioned a post. So how exactly did she lose weight and keep it off for almost three years now? Here's what she eats every day to be fit, happy, and healthy.

No Oils!

@vegan.of.the.sea I completely changed my life by switching to an oil-free plant based diet and I lost 40 pounds in doing so! Had you told me I'd end up a vegan one day, I'd say you're crazy, but here I am. I feel more energized than ever, and I love knowing I'm nourishing my body with every bite I take of food. How did I lose the weight? I switched to an oil free, vegan, high carb, low fat diet. Yes, even healthy fats for weight loss. I now incorporate more fats than I used to, but I still exclude oil. Why no oil? Because it's the most calorie dense food in the planet. One tbsp of oil has 119 calories! And who stops at just one? You could eat 4 cups of broccoli for the same amount of calories! Is it starting to make sense now? I've eaten this way for 2.5 years now and I'm filled with delicious vegan recipes I want to share with you! Follow along for healthy, veggie filled meals! #vegan #plantbased #weightloss ♬ Hello (Reggae Cover) – Conkarah & Rosie Delmah

There is no oil in this vegan's diet. "I switched to an oil-free, vegan, high-carb, low-fat diet. Yes, even healthy fats are good for weight loss. I now incorporate more fats than I used to, but I still exclude oil," she says. "Why no oil? Because it's the most calorie-dense food on the planet. One tbsp of oil has 119 calories! And who stops at just one? You could eat 4 cups of broccoli for the same amount of calories! Is it starting to make sense now?"

Lots of Vegetables

Farmer woman holding wooden box full of fresh raw vegetables. Basket with vegetable (cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, radish, corn, garlic and peppers) in the hands.
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This influencer loves filling up on non-starchy vegetables. "No, I don't eat only bread and potatoes, but they literally make up half of my diet," she captioned a video. "The other half? Non-starchy vegetables. By eating this way, you are going to be full and satisfied, cut out cravings, eat as much as you want, and still lose weight."

Variety of Foods

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This TikToker never feels deprived on a vegan diet thanks to the wide variety of foods she eats.

"What can you make out of these ingredients? Everything! Pizza, pasta, enchiladas, Pad Thai, sushi, desserts, burritos, soup, casseroles! Everything!" she says.

No Fake Vegan Foods

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This TikToker sticks to real whole foods, not fake ultra-processed vegan meat alternatives. "Yes I'm vegan, but stick to a whole food, high starch, low fat plant based diet also known as the starch solution," she says.

Mindful of Fats

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Vegan of the Sea says she would rather eat an avocado than have avocado oil. "I limit my fat intake," she says in a caption. "Even my healthy fats. So even though nuts and avocados are vegan, they pack a lot of calories per pound. So I limit these high calorie, fatty foods."

No Calorie Counting

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While this TikToker is mindful of high-calorie fats, she doesn't count calories in her daily diet. "I have lost the weight from calorie density eating," she says in a caption. "So I eat an abundance of foods low in calories. This way of eating allows me to eat as much as I want without counting calories."

Adapting Recipes

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This TikToker knows how to adapt her favorite meals to be plant-based and delicious. She simply substituted certain ingredients to make it healthier. "I create meals I love, without the ingredients that add an abundance of calories that don't fill me up," she says.

RELATED: 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

High Quantity

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Vegan of the Sea says being able to eat as much as she likes while still losing weight has been a game changer. She works out consistently but doesn't beat herself up if she skips a workout if she's tired. "Find what works for YOU," she says.

50/50 Plate

@vegan.of.the.sea ‼️The foods I stopped eating and lost 40 lbs‼️ And kept it off for 2.5 years! I still eat the foods I love and eat as much as I want, whenever I want, without counting calories. I've realized I'm a quantity eater and I don't want to eat only half my meal. I want to eat until I'm full and this way of eating allows me to do that, making it sustainable for me. I follow a few rules when eating. As long as I stick to these rules, the weight has come off and stayed off. 1️⃣ I don't eat oil. Yep! Oil is the most calorie dense food on the planet. 4,000 calories per pound. I'd rather eat foods that are actually going to fill me up. One potato is about the same calories as 1 tbsp of oil! A potato is one of the most filling foods on the planet! I'd rather eat the potato and feel full and satisfied for hours. 2️⃣ I eat a plant based diet. I don't eat any animal products and avoid overly processed vegan foods like fake meats and cheeses. 3️⃣ I keep the fats low. Even healthy fats. Again, it comes down to calorie density. Fats have more calories per pound than protein and carbs. So be careful when consuming nuts, avacado, coconut…etc. 4️⃣ I do the 50/50 plate. I make sure half of my plate is a non starchy veggie and the other half is a starch (ie potatoes, beans, rice, banza pasta etc) By not dressing your foods with a bunch of fats and oil, eating this way guarantees your meal will be low in calories and you will be able to eat an abundance of food until you are full and satisfied so DON'T be scared of carbs! They are what's going to keep you full and satisfied for hours. I know this way of eating sounds extreme at first, but it truly is so easy once you get the hang of it. Stop focusing on the things you can't have and start focusing on the foods you CAN! Because you can still eat SO much! I eat tacos, sushi, pasta etc. And I can almost guarantee you're going to feel amazing since you're nourishing your body and most likely dropping extra pounds. Follow @vegan.of.the.sea for oil-free, vegan recipes! 🌱 I've lost 40 lbs and kept it off for 2.5 years by switching to an oil-free, plant based diet! #weightlosstips #veganweightloss ♬ Happy Day in Paris – French Cafe 24 x 7

This TikToker follows what she calls the "50/50" plate. This means half of her plate is a healthy starch, and the other is a non-starchy vegetable. "This allows me to eat as much as I want and not overconsume calories. The mass quantity of food will fill you up, and the starches will keep you full for hours," she says.

Avoiding White Flour

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Vegan of the Sea avoids white flour options and focuses on high-fiber ones instead. "I play around with chickpea flour, oat flour, lentil and bean pasta, corn or brown rice tortillas, Ezekiel bread…etc," she says in a caption. "These foods have more fiber and nutrients than white flour and will aid in your weight loss."

RELATED: I Lost 9 Pounds on the Whole30 Diet and Here's How

Beautiful Skin and Energy

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This TikToker says losing weight is just a small part of the benefits she gets from her new lifestyle. She sees improvements in her skin and energy levels and is in the best shape of her life. "It didn't happen overnight, but I found a lifestyle that was doable for me," she says.

Meal Prepping

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Vegan of the Sea is a big fan of meal prepping, making big batches every time. This way, there is always something healthy to snack on. "Eating this way, you literally eat as much as you want, whenever you want, as long as you're eating the right food," she says.

Diet Before Exercise

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This TikToker feels that diet is far more important for her weight loss than exercise. She became physically active later in her weight loss journey. "I started slow and worked my way up, but my success has come mostly from my diet," she says.

She Loves Potatoes

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Vegan of the Sea recommends eating plenty of potatoes but avoiding high-calorie toppings. "Did you know potatoes are the most filling food on the planet? Believe me! Eat more potatoes, and you'll lose weight because you just won't be hungry!" she says.

RELATED: 10 Foods That Are Making You Gain Weight

Consistency Is Key

@vegan.of.the.sea But wait❗️There's more👇 Yes! You can eat carbs and still lose weight! You can actually eat mostly carbs and lose weight! Just hear me out! 1 cup of rice = 206 calories 1 cup of oil = 1,910 calories 1 cup of butter = 1,627 1 cup of cheese = 531 calories 1 cup of avocado = 384 calories 1 cup mixed nuts = 813 calories 1 cup of ground beef = 339 calories The starches aren't the problem! In fact, our ancestors thrived off of a starch heavy diet! No I don't eat only bread and potatoes, but they literally make up half of my diet. The other half? Non starchy vegetables. By eating this way, you are going to be full and satisfied, cut out cravings, eat as much as you want and still lose weight. What can you make out of these ingredients? Everything! Pizza, pasta, enchiladas, phad Thai, sushi, desserts, burritos, soup, casseroles! Everything! Things I don't eat Animal products! So no eggs, dairy or meat. I am completely vegan. Oil! Oil is the most calorie dense food on the planet. Offers no fiber and almost no nutritional value. I'd rather eat an avocado, not avocado oil. But with that said, I limit my fat intake. Even my healthy fats. So even though nuts and avocado are vegan, they pack a lot of calories per pound. So I limit these high calorie, fatty foods. No fake vegan foods. Yes I'm vegan, but stick to a whole food, high starch, low fat plant based diet also known as the starch solution. Before hating on it, look into it! This way of eating was created by a doctor and has helped thousands of people lose weight and cure Illnesses. And yes! I get plenty of protein! Follow @vegan.of.the.sea for more oil-free, vegan recipes! 🌱 I've lost 40 lbs and kept it off for 2.5 years by switching to an oil-free, plant based diet! #weightlosstips #veganweightlosstips ♬ Makeba – Jain

This TikToker was successful because she found something that worked for her long term.

"It's the only thing that's ever worked for me, and I've kept the weight off for 2.5 years. Enjoy it, or it won't last," she captioned a post.

💪🔥Body Booster: Fake vegan products tend to be ultra-processed—stick to whole foods instead.

Ferozan Mast
Ferozan Mast is a science, health and wellness writer with a passion for making science and research-backed information accessible to a general audience. Read more