Hey

lovesexwargoddess

I was always curvy, but then I starved myself throughout high school and everyone was worried. I'm 22 now. My current bf of almost a year encouraged me to eat regularly but I've gained so much more weight than before but of course it doesn't help i'm tall and naturally bigger.. I'm healthy but I want to get healthier and feel like I don't have to worry about being bigger. i can't weigh mysself, but I can tell I've gained and I don't like it.I have no money for food - all I have in my kitchen is nature valley protein granola, pasta my family gave me and tea. So I'd like to learn cost effective and healthy recipes so I can save up and get healthy and lose weight healthily. Right now I'm on 200 calories lol not by choice but I travel and when people do make me eat it's cheap high calorie and I don't want that. I thought when I moved out of my parents I'd be eating healthier - HA!!
- Anyway I heard support is good.

fatjon73

Hello

sorry to hear about your financial woes.....starting out on your own is hard for most people.....you have to prioritize what's important in life with what money you have....If food is at the bottom of your list at present then maybe you need to focus on finding work, getting your CV out there.....Offering your self to volunteer maybe could get you started......ask around in your area see if anyone needs any help with house hold chores.....payments in food......This is without me knowing your situation obviously and I do not judge or criticize in any way.....all I mean is that if you cannot afford to feed yourself on a daily basis then for me I would not worry about logging foods....but put all my attention into finding work / a way to live.....

With regards to eating on a budget......(when you have one).....I would work out what sort of foods you like to eat that are not the usual cheap crap, like processed foods / meats / ready meals....Make a basic recipe list of cheap meals that you can make in bulk and then freeze in portions for yourself.....you can work out how many calories are in that frozen meal...then you can work out a rough menu for a day from things in your freezer sticking to your MFP goals.......

Mince beef (I live in the UK....not sure what you call this) is very cheap and very versatile.......you can make Spaghetti Bolognese, Chilli Con carne, Meatloaf, Pie Fillings, Burgers, Kebabs, stews and many other things with it.....adding a few basic veg....carrots / onion / celery will add bulk to the meal, flavour and important veggies.....add gravy granules for a stew / pie filling....tinned tomatoes for spag bol, a bit of chilli powder for chilli....
Buying mince in a larger pack can save money....so save your money to buy the bigger packs once a week or month, a few veg are very cheap.....and the toms or herbs and spices can be found cheap and will last for a long time....

Cook all the meat in one go then freeze in portioned freezer bags or old yogurt pots....wrap it in cling film if that's all you have.....

Do this every week...spend say £20 or $20 on the meat / veg and that will do 6 to 8 meals at least......if you do this each week with a different meal type then you will soon build up a good freezer full of portioned easy cook cheap meals......with decent ingredients too.....

I personably have lived on my own since I was 16.....my first 10 yrs was very hard money wise/....but I did have a full time job at all time......but my priority then was paying the rent...then it was going out to get drunk....lol......so I ate cheap and I ate crap..........about 12 yrs ago I lost my job....we had just bought a house....my missus job could not support us and my new job started 3 months later due to xmas and things......anyways we were on our *kitten* money wise......nearly lost the house etc.....it was then that I started to cook things myself from scratch......and I found I love to cook...and now I cook 90% of meals at home from scratch.....its takes 30 minutes each day max to cook something better than anything you can buy in the fast food halls etc....(well most things.....KFC is hard to beat...lol)..at 30 yrs old I had never done much other than microwaves or ready meals or crap processed foods......I drank *kitten* loads of lager......and I wonder now why I am struggling to lose my belly.......but I still love to cook....and from it I know my health has improved significantly......at 30 I was a heart attack waiting to happen....My cholesterol was through the roof, I had acid reflux like you could not imagine...I was over 20 stone and could not walk a flight of start at work......roll on 10 yrs (we get a MOT from our Docs in UK at 40) my cholesterol was down to healthy, and although still classed as Obese by the statistics....my doctor was more than happy with my internal health,......I am now trying to work on the other health.......

I am 41 now 42 in 4 weeks and although still 17.5 stone and obese....I know I am much healthier for it...I can now run up the stairs at work..... I just cannot move this beer belly of mine......Now I am trying to add exercise to my routines.....at my age and size and fitness level I am starting out SLOWWWWWWW.....lol but I am prepared to do this over a long time.....It does take time to get into it all and to change your habits......

I hope you can work out your money woes soon and get on the track you want with food.....I hope you find the support here you need too...I is a great place if you are sensible with what you do and say.....but it can also be very cruel and harsh if your a sensitive type....lol

Good luck....