You can definitely lose weight on a vegetarian diet, just choose 2% or lower fat milk products, use sharp cheese so the higher flavor makes it so you don't need to use as much. Brown rice is very filling especially when paired with beans or bean soup. Mrs LJ even makes her own tortillas sometimes (fresh ones are a different thing than store bought!) and homemade bread. OF course, not everyone has the time to do this. But whole wheat bread is so much tastier and satisfying than gooey stuff...
If you use herbs and spices for flavor, and add a variety of vegetables to the grains and beans, and make sure you have some milk products but cut down on fattening ones like sour cream that have little protein, you should do fine! Especially if you add some exercise.
I know what you mean about not cooking - before mrs LJ and I got married, I lived on toast and sprouts. And was much skinnier!
Oh, boy. Well, this will certainly take up my idle time. I won't have anymore time to feel sorry for myself since Phillip passed away.
My kids will croak! They have been after me to start cooking again. Wait until they see this! ROFLOL!