Healthy eating, finances and motivation...

Lululucyloo
Lululucyloo Posts: 64
in Health and Weight Loss
I am single mum, study full time and work, being busy isn't an excuse just painting a picture so you can please please give me some advice. I live in New Zealand and my finances are very limited, sometimes having $50 a week for food, other times $100.

I need to eat healthier but am struggling because of money. I cant have bread or pasta it makes my stomach churn and hurt.
I am 5'7'' and 94kgs so I am obese now for the first time in my life. I am so tired, at breaking point and to be honest don't know where to start.

What do I eat on such a tight budget and how do I stop feeling hungry or at least ignore it? - for example today I had porridge for breakfast at about 7.30am and by 11am I was so hungry.
I had a herbal tea but it didn't help haha

I need advice in general, about food and about exercise, I have no motivation and don't know how to get any. I know excuses, excuses but how do I get passed it?

Thank you in advance.

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    You lose weight by eating at a deficit. You can lose weight whilst eating the exact same food you're eating right now—just eat less of it. (So your shopping money will go even farther.)

    Log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Weigh your food. (Food scales are really inexpensive. If you don't weigh everything, you will badly underestimate your calories.)

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    Edited to add that the best exercise is free: walk with your kids and play outside with them. As an added bonus, you'll help them build healthy habits.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Why not bring in some snacks for the morning between 7:30 and 11 am? You can buy a bag of baby carrots...one serving is only 35 calories and may hold you over until lunch. And they are pretty cheap...Kroger usually has them on sale for $1 a bag.

    As for your dinners and stuff. Plan your month out. Take a calander, sit down in front of the computer one night and plan out your meals for the entire month. Make a list of ingredients and keep an eye on your grocery ads and buy the items you need when they are on sale. Plan your meals according to seasons too....Martha Stewart cookbooks do that and it is a lot of help.

    Plan for 2 nights a week to eat left overs....so you only have to buy for 5 nights a week.

    Cut your own fruits and vegetables. 1 container of cut cantaloupe: $2.00 and only holds about 2 servings. 1 whole cantaloupe: $1.50 and when cut up makes about 6 servings. Bagged salad mixes: $3.00 and hold 3 servings. Green, red or romane lettuce whole: $1.00 a head...each head serves about 2.5....so for the same price you can buy 3 heads and have 7 servings instead of 3.
  • Frigs
    Frigs Posts: 745 Member
    porrige is great. If you truly are starving at 11 then your metabolism is all fired up. How about eggs for protein? When my brother was having difficulty nothing like a hard boiled egg to keep you satisfied and stave off hunger and it's easy to boil them up. if you can get some protein and stretch it....say stew or chili? Good luck! Once you decide to do it you will.. You just have to decide to go all in.
  • Lululucyloo
    Lululucyloo Posts: 64
    I had to google Kroger haha. Had no idea what that was. I was not even sure what a Cantaloupe is lol... they are rockmelons here and certainly not cheap. Not readily available either but I can certainly see what you are saying.
    Thank you for the advice so far it is great!!

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