Doing it wrong??
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WOAH kyla you work full time and will be a full time with being a mom? You are super woman. I've never tried pinterest, but heard it was a good site. Will have to look into that.0
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tiffnkailey - you sound awesome - I love your honesty - I won't pile on any more advice other than to say you've got to figure out what works for you - some of the loudest people on these MBs are the most radical and some of what they say isn't practical for "normal" people
It takes some time to figure out what works for you, it's pretty hard to change your diet and your habits overnight, take baby-steps and don't be too rigid, just keep going in the right direction, it isn't a race - I've got a feeling that so long as you stick with it and muddle through the "figuring out" stage there'll be a success story post about you in a year or so.0 -
tiffnkailey wrote: »Yes, you are doing it wrong. But, also yes, you can do it right.
I'm sort of floored that you are an adult with a child and can't cook anything. Please find some simple recipes on the internet that you can learn. Buying groceries and cooking at home is much less expensive and creates better habits for you and your daughter.
Good luck.
Most people are. It's a long story, something traumatic happened to me, and I was stuck mentally as a 16 year old for a long time. I didn't get out of that victim mentality till I was 27. I'm 30 now. So I have a ton of catching up to do. While most young girls are learning to cook/clean. etc I was on sucide watch. While most young girls are going to college, having their first apartment, I was in an abusive marriage with a child.
So life was always survival mode, until 27. Then 27 was getting out of victim mentality, making better choices, trying to get a job. 28-29 was holding down a part time job and starting college, while parenting, getting my first apartment. 30 Was/is Fulltime job, part time college, parenting, bigger apartment, and finally being able to work on getting myself healthy through eating and exercising.
First, I think it's great that with all you've been through, you're trying to get yourself healthy and making YOU a priory0 -
Well tonight I am planning to make dinner. It's not the healthiest, but its better then mcdonalds. Cut up some chicken off a rotisserie chicken, Kraft Mac n Cheese (yes I know its loaded with junk) and Peas from a can. It's a start.
I have to wait till saturday to buy groceries, so I have to eat up whatever is left over in my kitchen.0 -
I was also looking at your exercise calories and they seem really high. You might be overestimating those numbers and if you are eating them back it could be contributing to the lack of progress you are seeing.0
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Thanks! This is my first time going back to college in 8-9 years, so I have no clue what I am in for. Good thing my child is 13 and can do for himself. Pinterest has given me a ton of ideas so far and I am going to try and prep some meals on Sunday. Slow cooker options and freezer options. Great for you to take a look at when you can.tiffnkailey wrote: »WOAH kyla you work full time and will be a full time with being a mom? You are super woman. I've never tried pinterest, but heard it was a good site. Will have to look into that.
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If you don't have a salad spinner, put your washed greens in a clean pillowcase, go outside and swing it rapidly in a circle to fling most of the water off. You can store the greens in the pillowcase in your crisper. I actually prefer this to a salad spinner.0
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You know what, I suspect you are worn out and stuck in a cycle of using caffeine and sugar for energy while getting drained from the crashes. You'll want to wean yourself off of the sugar excess like week by week. Week 1 no more Cap'N Crunch. Week 2 no more candy bar. Week 3 no more shakes and Gatorade. If you drop it all at once you'll feel like you have the flu.
All the stuff you're eating is also pretty nutrient-poor, so you're probably going to be hungry until you start hitting your macros of protein, carbs and fat. Once you get those nailed down you should feel more full, and also have more steady energy.
Are you sleeping enough? That's another danger zone: for most people if they are short on sleep they'll instinctually try to make up that energy with food. Get more rest if you're tired.
And my last rec: crockpot!! I got mine for $10 off Craigslist. It's not fancy and programmable but it works like a champ. It takes 5 minutes to dump stuff in in the morning, and when I come home it's all magically turned into food! I can't rave enough about it.
All the best to you!!!0 -
I would also suggest a crock pot. It is really easy for people short on time to just put something in that morning and bam...dinner is ready that night. I use mine all of the time. That way you are cutting down on the fast foods.
Good luck.0 -
If you don't have a salad spinner, put your washed greens in a clean pillowcase, go outside and swing it rapidly in a circle to fling most of the water off. You can store the greens in the pillowcase in your crisper. I actually prefer this to a salad spinner.
lol seriously? I can just see what my daughter will think of this.
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Yes I do have a crockpot. Just haven't used it yet.0
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I like to cook but I almost never cook the way people mean when they say they cook -- I do all mine in 15 minutes or less, or in the Crockpot. I'm like you: stunted by early trauma, had a child too young by an abusive man, spent years trying to figure out just how to be a person in the world without caring too much about the fine print.
Here is what I would advise, for you.
Learn three or four basic cooking techniques. Don't waste time learning "recipes." Learn a few easy processes instead. For me, what I use most, it's simple: how to pan-fry meat without a lot of cooking fat, how to parboil vegetables, how to compose a sauce, how to bake/roast meats and vegetables. Those processes are your steady, never-fail base. You can do anything with them. Once you understand a few very simple processes -- how to do them, yes, but also how they work and WHY they work -- you'll find it easy to modify them for a range of meals. Learn, this week, just how to cook a lean meat on medium heat in a pan. Next week, learn how to parboil a sturdy veg like broccoli; once you understand that you will know how to modify it for any vegetable. The week after, learn how to roast a simple pan of root vegetables. Just knowing the very basic processes will help you immeasurably, because understanding these gives you a sensory idea (or "gut instinct") of how to do other things.
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid! My son and I were living on $600/month until December, and I know the fear of wasting food... or spoiling a meal... and yet the best advice I have is, DON'T BE AFRAID. Your life has been an unceasing battle and you're still here, so that means you've conquered it all. Trust that you can also conquer a burned meal or a bad recipe. It might be hard. You might go to bed hungry a night or two. Life will go on. In the meantime, you will have many more successes in the kitchen if you approach it with confidence than you will if you edge in with fear -- thus saving you money and time.
Don't worry about fancy, gourmet meals. Look honestly at what you eat right now: the frozen whatsits, the drive-thru thingamabobs. Consider how you could make them at home. What is a McDouble? It's two beef patties, a bun, some cheese, some lettuce and pickles and ketchup. You can handle that! Do it at home. Buy pre-formed meat patties, if you need to. Use convenience foods to your advantage, to improve on your fast-food lifestyle. You don't need to be perfect, right now. You just need to be a little better. What's a Lean Cuisine? It's a small portion of pasta, some sauce, and some veggies. You can do that, too; buy bottled sauce, buy frozen veggies, cook your own pasta, and watch your portions. Whatever you eat -- make it at home, but make it feasible. There's no shame in using convenience items to expedite your cooking as you learn.
Finally, stop thinking about recipes. Stop thinking about all the whatever to produce the Eiffel Tower of food. Just think about components: how do I cook meat, how do I cook veg, what grains do I like and how do I cook them. You can do that. You can learn a couple of ways to cook any meat, a failsafe method of cooking veggies, one single stir-fry method, and how to make a dried grain. Once you know those few things, and what foods you like to make... you can do anything. Food is just categories. You don't need to be Julia Child, you don't need to be Alton Brown, you don't need to be that b*tch down the street. You just need to make a quick, tasty meal, and that is all about process and components -- not complexity.
On a personal note, OP, I really admire you and I'd love to be friends if you're into that.0 -
On a personal note, OP, I really admire you and I'd love to be friends if you're into that.
LOL I loved your post. And yes we can be friends.
I know how to cook meat in a pan on the stove ex:hamburger meat. I have a crockpot, and steamer. I know how to use the steamer, I love steamed broccoli. The crockpot I haven't figured out what to cook in it, so that will be my goal.0 -
tiffnkailey wrote: »If you don't have a salad spinner, put your washed greens in a clean pillowcase, go outside and swing it rapidly in a circle to fling most of the water off. You can store the greens in the pillowcase in your crisper. I actually prefer this to a salad spinner.
lol seriously? I can just see what my daughter will think of this.
most definitely seriously... I did that LOL but what I didn't know was that the green "juice" splattered nicely on my back patio LOL I did it in the middle of the yard after that... great workout lol0 -
If cooking is kind of scary, you could look up some no cook recipes and start there until you feel more comfortable preparing your own food.
You could get a cookbook for kids or something like Better Homes and Gardens cookbook which usually has basic recipes and explains tools and techniques.
Soup can be a very forgiving beginner thing to cook I think. It freezes and reheats well too so you can make a large pot on the weekend and have leftovers for later.
cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/no-cook-recipes/view-all
myrecipes.com/no-cook-recipes
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tiffnkailey wrote: »
lol seriously? I can just see what my daughter will think of this.
Seriously!
It's kind of fun, actually.
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I suggest omelettes. If you are not too keen on cooking and a bit scared to start, that would be my go to option. Try a plain omelette, then one with spices, then one with vegetables and slowly progress until you are making fancy ones. Eggs are cheap and easy to cook.
Good luck. You sound like you are really trying to make this work.0 -
tiffnkailey wrote: »
lol seriously? I can just see what my daughter will think of this.
Seriously! It's kind of fun, actually.
lol it sounds fun.
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foodequalshappy wrote: »I suggest omelettes. If you are not too keen on cooking and a bit scared to start, that would be my go to option. Try a plain omelette, then one with spices, then one with vegetables and slowly progress until you are making fancy ones. Eggs are cheap and easy to cook.
Good luck. You sound like you are really trying to make this work.
I do know how to make omelettes, so that would be a good start. I'm going to the grocery store tonight to get some food, I only have $30 to spend, but I can get some eggs, veggies, and hopefully some fruit with it. Is there a paticular cheese you would recommend? I like cheese in my omelette.
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my favorite omelet is egg, spinach, tomato and feta
but hey I am weird and I know it lol 0 -
I'll try the egg, spinach, and tomato...not sure about feta. I do like cheddar cheese though. I dislike with a passion swiss cheese, I think it smells like feet. lol.0
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well dont look at my lunch today then lol I love Feta on just about anything lol0
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Do you like fish? I made the easiest, tasty salmon the other night..it's fool proof! Get a couple of pieces of salmon (lets say half a pound for you and your daughter). 1/4 cup of brown sugar, about half a tablespoon of chili powder, half a teaspoon of salt and pepper, mix it all together. Put the salmon on a foil lined tray, cover the top with your spice mix, bake in a preheated over at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Done and done.clambert1273 wrote: »well dont look at my lunch today then lol I love Feta on just about anything lol
Feta makes everything delicious.0 -
OMG, you are going to love your crockpot if you're busy and don't know how to cook. Most recipes, you just chuck everything in there and turn it on and go to work, lol!tiffnkailey wrote: »Yes I do have a crockpot. Just haven't used it yet.
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I_Will_End_You wrote: »Do you like fish? I made the easiest, tasty salmon the other night..it's fool proof! Get a couple of pieces of salmon (lets say half a pound for you and your daughter). 1/4 cup of brown sugar, about half a tablespoon of chili powder, half a teaspoon of salt and pepper, mix it all together. Put the salmon on a foil lined tray, cover the top with your spice mix, bake in a preheated over at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Done and done.clambert1273 wrote: »well dont look at my lunch today then lol I love Feta on just about anything lol
Feta makes everything delicious.
I agree... and I am out
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Chicken thighs are crazy cheap. And, I know it sounds ambitious, but you can sometimes get a frozen turkey for like $0.88/lb. You'll get a ton of meat from it and it's delicious and cheap.tiffnkailey wrote: »foodequalshappy wrote: »I suggest omelettes. If you are not too keen on cooking and a bit scared to start, that would be my go to option. Try a plain omelette, then one with spices, then one with vegetables and slowly progress until you are making fancy ones. Eggs are cheap and easy to cook.
Good luck. You sound like you are really trying to make this work.
I do know how to make omelettes, so that would be a good start. I'm going to the grocery store tonight to get some food, I only have $30 to spend, but I can get some eggs, veggies, and hopefully some fruit with it. Is there a paticular cheese you would recommend? I like cheese in my omelette.
Maybe not this week but in the future when you're feeling more confident in the kitchen.
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Can I just say OP, that you've already accomplished and achieved so much? I have zero doubt that you're going to reach your fitness goals while being a full time student/full time employee/excellent mom.
Also for your crock pot, you had said a few times that you dont know what to make in it. I use my sundays to pre-plan my meals. My go-to lunch is chicken soup, which is cheap and easy to make. I buy a rotisserie chicken (about $6 at my grocery store), some bouillon cubes, garlic, onion,and add whatever veggies are floating my boat that day (often carrots, and spinach). I strip the chicken, and put half into the freezer for next week, and half into my crock pot. Chop up my veggies, and chuck everything in the crock pot and keep it on low for 8 hours. If I'm feeling fancy/theres a sale I might add a link or two of spicy sausage for extra protein and flavor.
Now, it's not the most gourmet soup, but it's pretty tasty. Plus its cheap and filling. Possibly something to try?0 -
I_Will_End_You wrote: »Do you like fish? I made the easiest, tasty salmon the other night..it's fool proof! Get a couple of pieces of salmon (lets say half a pound for you and your daughter). 1/4 cup of brown sugar, about half a tablespoon of chili powder, half a teaspoon of salt and pepper, mix it all together. Put the salmon on a foil lined tray, cover the top with your spice mix, bake in a preheated over at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Done and done.clambert1273 wrote: »well dont look at my lunch today then lol I love Feta on just about anything lol
Feta makes everything delicious.
That does sound good, and easy. I will have to try that.
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Can I just say OP, that you've already accomplished and achieved so much? I have zero doubt that you're going to reach your fitness goals while being a full time student/full time employee/excellent mom.
Also for your crock pot, you had said a few times that you dont know what to make in it. I use my sundays to pre-plan my meals. My go-to lunch is chicken soup, which is cheap and easy to make. I buy a rotisserie chicken (about $6 at my grocery store), some bouillon cubes, garlic, onion,and add whatever veggies are floating my boat that day (often carrots, and spinach). I strip the chicken, and put half into the freezer for next week, and half into my crock pot. Chop up my veggies, and chuck everything in the crock pot and keep it on low for 8 hours. If I'm feeling fancy/theres a sale I might add a link or two of spicy sausage for extra protein and flavor.
Now, it's not the most gourmet soup, but it's pretty tasty. Plus its cheap and filling. Possibly something to try?
I'm probably going to get a rotisserie chicken tonight when I go to the store. For now that is easiest for me.
So lets say I put half of the chicken in the crock pot, carrots, (what other veggies do you put in your soup?) Then do you fill it with water and add some spices?
The crockpot part is simple, turn it on, and let it go for 8 hours. The ingredients for the crock pot is what is confusing.0 -
tiffnkailey wrote: »
So lets say I put half of the chicken in the crock pot, carrots, (what other veggies do you put in your soup?) Then do you fill it with water and add some spices?
Carrots, celery, onion is my go-to on chicken soup, with some thyme and a boullion cube. I find that if I make my own soup, I can make it with less salt/boullion/broth than it calls for. Typically, I'll go half and half water and broth. My attitude is I can always add salt at the table, but I can't take it out of the soup.
Don't toss the stripped carcass, either! The next day, throw it back in the crockpot with onion, celery leaves (good way to use them up), carrot, thyme and fill it up with plain water. Let it cook all day and you'll have chicken broth much better than you can buy.
And simplest tomato soup on earth if you have a blender: throw no-salt canned diced tomatoes in a blender. Add about 1/4 cup milk per can, sugar and salt to taste (I usually go about a teaspoon sugar and just a sprinkling of salt on top per can.) Heat it up. Takes 5 minutes, tastes better than the canned condensed with fewer unpronouncable ingredients.
Not sure if canned, diced tomatoes are cheaper than canned soup, but on sale I can usually pick them up for about 50 cents a can, and the no-salt are no more expensive where I live than the regular.
I also like to blend cooked sweet potato in with tomato soup. Means I can use less sugar, as I get the natural sweetness off the sweet potatoes.
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