Broke = Fat

lethalsarcasm

So, I am rapidly becoming VERY discouraged in my weight-loss effort because I just can't afford even the simplest thing to help in my journey. I can't even buy a scale, so I can't do much to track my progress. I can't buy different foods for myself, so instead I have to settle for eating the same junk the rest of the family eats, but in smaller portions - which generally leaves me hungry and cranky. I'm a graduate student, so by definition i should be living on welfare and eating ramen noodles, and somehow I chose this point in my life to try to lose weight. Am I just dumb? Should I just give up and be fat until I have the money to lose weight? I am so frustrated with my whole situation...

JessesGirl05

stop buying the "junk" and just buy the healthier foods. youre entire family should be getting healthy with you! even if they aren't trying to lose weight, it wont hurt them to eat healthier!! :-)

Crystals422

No, don't give up. There are so many people on this site that are in your situation. Try clipping coupons. I think if you go to eatbetteramerica.com they have good coupons. I get the family pack of boneless skinless chicken breast from Walmart for $10 and it makes about a weeks worth of meals for us. Get some frozen veggies to go along with it. I think you can make it work. Go to freecycle.org and find a free scale. You can track your progress with a measuring tape. Good luck.

b00b0084

I couldnt afford a scale until three weeks into this then last week I hijacked my moms digital scale! I found a cheap dial one for 15 dollars at walmart and would have my dad and son tell me what it said lol

Newmammaluv

Some of the cheapest things out there are fresh veggies. Not corn and potatoes but broccoli, cauliflower, bulk carrots, cabbage etc. Stay away from calorie dense or pre packaged foods they tend to cost more and are less healthy. As far as a scale? Skip it, run to your local Walmart or equivalent and pick up one of their $0.98 measuring tape from the craft/sewing section.

Don't throw in the towel right yet. Do some research and if your other half and children aren't down for the healthier eating I guess they better hurry up and get hungry. My daughter stares at her food most of the time like "what are you trying to poison me with?!?!" but that's all there is and sooner or later they all get hungry enough to dig in.

Happyoceangirl

I was at Goodwill today and saw three scales, three bike helmets, two sets of swim fins, a 15 lb weight and a bunch of exercise tapes. (Not DVDs but the old VHS kind). It might be worth checking out your Goodwill or searching Craigslist to see if you can get a scale for less.

Good luck!

KathyWel

If your doctor is near, I am sure they wouldn't mind letting you weigh yourself there, thats what I did when I first started dieting, they didn't mind at all.

LillysGranny

I agree with other posters--get your family healthy while you're at it. Beans are an awesome health food and super cheap.

BandMom2

It is hard and when you shop for a family on a tight budget it is even worse! It cost more to eat right, if I bought only healthy "good" food for my family it would take my two week budget and cut it in half! Plus, it would add alot of prep and cooking time to my week nights. Not cool for a working mom with active kids! =/ I feel your pain! No answers yet from this end, but I so get what you are saying!!!

tobitude

Stay with it!! I am in the same situation and have lost 26lbs, the smaller portions get easier as your stomach shrinks and I survive on cucumbers and heads of lettuce sometimes to help me feel full because they tend to be cheaper. I only buy some of the stuff if it is on discount or on sale. I swear it is possible, I am a prime example!!!!

shreddingit

you know many supermarkets have scales where you can weigh yourself, go check!!
and about food if you really want to lose weight in your situation theres a way, we live paycheck to paycheck and we always have healthy food around for us 4... dont cheat yourself...

healthyjen342

SHOOT NO! This is a very big point in your life! Its hard to make changes, but you dont need that much money! Smaller portions help, but you can also find very healthy things for a small amount of money..like Tuna..Ramen Noodles cost about the same amount as a can of Tuna...YOU CAN DO THIS...and the most fun part can be trying to figure it out for a low cost! That will make it so much more rewarding..KNOWING you did it for less!

Also, you dont need ANY money to exercise...Just jump around..literally..Jump up and down like you are jumping rope 50 times...you will definitely get your heart rate up!...run up and down the hallway..do 50 jumping jacks twice a day..ANYTHING!!

Also, dr's offices have scales, the grocery store, etc...The scale can be frustrating...maybe just seeing it in pictures with your cell phone...or in your clothes..anything...

Good Luck on anything you choose!

bia_bia1

Don't lose faith! If you eat much smaller portions youll be fine. Studying burns calories. And if you feel cranky, go walk outside for a bit and it will help give oyu some peace and quiet. And youll be far from the fridge. lol

You are completely right for making the decision to change your life for the better! come on, i know youre stronger than that to question yourself before you even get started!
Its so hard, i know. I struggle everyday myself, but sometimes you have to work with what you have. I mean tribes have no money but they eat smaller portions, and do a lot of exercise and they are fine. Follow that rule and you will too.

Ive found that when you arent tracking your weight loss, you lose the most. Just follow your diet rules and forget about "have i lost anything?" becuase the stress of thinking "i have to lose weight" literally, fisiologically doesnt' let you lose weight. So in a way youre better off, and i think youll notice a change when you put on your clothes and they fit looser.

The fact is that you need to make a change in your life. Today. There is never a perfect time to diet, cuase no one likes to do it. Excerising is annoying. And im a student too so i know how hungry and how bad cravings can get when you have a test coming up. Its the biggest reason why ive gained the weight i have. BUT YOU CAN DO IT. if other people have those crazy wieght loss stories, why cant you? you deserve to be healthy too.

So just maybe scavange the fridge from some fruit for breakfast. Or skip supper if you didnt do any exrcise, and go to bed early to avoid temptation. They is a solution for everything. Don't you want to look in the mirror and feel great? To walk around proudly and have more energy? to feel peace with the fact that you wont end up with diabetes, or a heart attack where they have to saw your rib cage in half to save you? or a stroke that leaves you unable to go to the bathroom on your own?
The question is do you want to be healthy when you are old or not?
If you cant afford a scale, forget about it. Save up if you can. But for now just keep dieting and exercising.
The rest will follow. You deserve this. Good health. A happy heart. A peaceful soul.

AngelaPowPowPOW

I was at Goodwill today and saw three scales, three bike helmets, two sets of swim fins, a 15 lb weight and a bunch of exercise tapes. (Not DVDs but the old VHS kind). It might be worth checking out your Goodwill or searching Craigslist to see if you can get a scale for less.

Good luck!

I got two pairs of yoga/pilate pants and two pairs of track pants for $5 there today!

jenilla1

You can get frozen vegetables and fruits for super cheap. They are usually flash frozen so they maintain their nutritional values, unlike nasty canned vegetables. They also tend to be cheaper than fresh. My favorites are edamame and spinach - but there are tons of options. There are many affordable healthy whole grain products you can buy as well. Beans are great and very cheap. I have a very tight budget and never use it as an excuse to eat crap. Don't throw your money into nutritional black holes (junk food). Don't remember where I got it, but my non-digital low-tech food scale works well and cost me $5. Well worth the investment. You can do this! Don't let a tight budget be an excuse to stay unhealthy! P.S. The whole family could benefit from eating healthy foods. I don't cook individual meals in my house - it's not a restaurant! They should all get on board!!! :flowerforyou:

edited to add: By the way, since we started eating healthier (mostly just eating less) our grocery bill has gone down by about $100 to $150 a month. All that extra crap we used to eat doesn't make it into the cart anymore...

gameovergt

don't worry about a scale, use a mirror or your clothes. Look for coupons for veges/fruit

monylove311

These are all great posts, but Lethal, can you tell us what you do have to eat, so we can try to help you find better ideas for your food?

LarryPGH

Well... you could always buy a measuring tape (for about $1), and use that to track your progress! Just measure yourself every 3-4 weeks!

And, if you're a grad student, then does your school have a gym / exercise room? Bet there's a scale there that you can use!

Good luck!

absie107

I guess I would suggest buying eggs, beans, nuts (I know they are pricey... it sucks) and protein-rich foods in bulk if at all possible, and try try try your best to ditch stuff with sugar. Also try to buy fruits and veggies that are in season or frozen, because they'll be cheaper. Don't worry about buying sustainably too much either, because I know how expensive farmer's markets can be, and it blows as a broke college student. Just do your best with what you have.

Just keep swimming! You can do this!

I'm kind of a follower of the primal/paleo lifestyle (aka less grain and dairy and sugar - more veggies, fruits, and healthy fats). Here's an article from one of my favorite blogs:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/eat-healthy-food-on-a-budget/

He does recommend farmer's markets, but that's hard if you don't have one/many around. Maybe just check out what he has to say, and definitely read through comments, as often readers and followers have great suggestions as well! Hope this helps!

cjwolfjen

I know how you feel and I'm in your shoes at times. When money is tight is hard to buy groceries for the whole family plus your "healthy" foods. Sure people can say feed your family healthier, but that isn't realistic, at least not right away. You have to gradually start feeding them healthier and they wont mind as much but you can't cut out all their favorite foods. I try to do 50/50 with the junk food and healthy foods. There are some things I buy that can go both ways, like chicken breasts at wal mart. I buy a huge bag and can make the casserole or family dinner, but also just boil or cook a couple pieces for me on the side. Then feed my family the high calorie meal and feed myself the piece of chicken and some fruit.

But I also wanted to say don't give up just because you don't have a scale. Just keep trying... I think scales can sometimes UN motivate people because they obsess over every pound they do or do NOT lose. What I like better than looking at the scale is just feeling my shirts are loose or my pants aren't as tight as they used to be. Little things like that will start to happen and you will notice it, even if you don't have a scale. A measuring tape is good. Measure yourself every 2 weeks. I've lost 2 inches in my waist already in a month. Can't lose inches anywhere else yet but I'll take it anyways I can get it, my waist will do!

If I were you I would just keep doing what you're doing. Drink plenty of water because it ups your metabolism. Keep tracking your meals even if you eat junk w/ your family and go over on your calories, just keep tracking and hold yourself accountable. It will motivate you to try buying healthier foods the whole family can eat. Slowly start trading junk foods for healthy foods. Your kids will get over it eventually, they're kids. As far as exercise equipment, I can't afford any of it either. I don't have any work out clothes and I can't buy any DVDs or anything. Instead I just walk. I go on a walk w/ my kids 3-4 times a week if I can. I also just try to stay more active when I can. So far, its working.

You can do it. Believe in yourself, don't let money or lack of money hold you back.

poesch77

Extremely tight budget here....family of four...Hubby who has a bottomless pit, growing 5 almost 6yr old and a 5month old who is hungry nonstop( and has to have premade soy formula so this is where all the money goes!!) .I buy only the necessities every week....can't remember last time I spent more than $75 at the grocery store!!! Do you have an ALdi's in your town? Also I got my food scale at the Dollar Tree dollar store...works just fine. We eat a lot of eggs and ground turkey!! It can be done on a budget!! Also Kwik Trip....not sure where you are located....this is a gas station......has cheap bananas and other fruits. And yes, clippin coupons helps too!

krisnic0525

Don't give up! I'm a broke graduate student myself so I understand your situation. Try looking for discount produce--some times you can find perfectly good produce on discount because its bruised or isn't moving off the shelves fast enough. Also try checking out your local farmers market. I also agree with the other posters about getting your family involved. Look for generic or store brands versions of healthier food options. And finally, sometimes you have to sacrifice a bit. I know you have probably heard this your entire graduate school career with regards to other facets of your life but this is a time to seriously dig deep again. Your health is more important than anything. You have to live long enough to enjoy that degree you've been slaving away for. I've made the decision to cut back spending in others aspects of my life, and dare I say it, go a little out of my budget in other ways for my health and fitness. Remember you are worth it!

wonnder1

It's not easy, no joke. I think most of us have been there.

A scale? Not really necessary. A measuring tape or even string will do it.

Here's the thing, it's not that Broke=Fat. It's Broke=Creative.

Yes, it's easier to buy Kraft Dinner and Ramen noodles. And I swore when I finished University that I would never eat it again, but there were times in my life I had to.

It's what you do with Ramen noodles that count. Nobody ever said your vegetables had to be hand picked local organic. A giant bag of frozen veggies is a steal.

You have to make better decisions with what you can afford. A pack of ramen, spice packet removed with a little bit of soy and a whole bunch of frozen veg. Those big boxes of chicken breasts. Hell, tomato soup with water. Yes, you can buy a cheap frozen pizza. Or you can buy pita bread, tomato sauce, veggies and make assembling them a family affair.

It can be done, but you have to put more of your time to make it work.

Sadly, KD is out. Seriously, how can something that good be THAT bad???

Hang in there, the lean years come and go, it's all what you learn from them.

ktc33

check out some garage sales. you may be able to find a scale there.

elliecolorado

I am on a pretty tight budget and I honestly don't spend any more money eating healthy than I did before. As soon as I stopped buying junk food or processed foods and started spending money on healthy foods I ended up spending the same amount. There are tons of affordable healthy foods. Brown Rice, canned tuna, frozen veggies are cheaper than fresh, I buy chicken when it is on sale and portion it out and freeze it, eggs and you can do lots with eggs, switching from white to wheat bread is the same price, you can even get a whole chicken for pretty cheap and that goes a long ways. I didn't have a scale for a long time I just measured and could tell I was losing by the fact that my clothes got looser. I didn't know how much I was losing, but I knew that I was. You could also look at thrift stores for a used scale I got an old analog one for $1 and used it until I had some extra money to get a digital one. You can do it, it just takes a little extra planning. Good luck on your weight loss :-)

Lleldiranne

My school has a fitness facility that is free to students (well, we pay for it in fees, but we pay whether we use it or not, so might as well...). They have a scale in the women's locker room. Check it out. While you're there, you can look at all the things available for exercising too, and plan it into your daily schedule.

As far as food, who prepares it? Can you get more involved in the prep (and decisions of what to buy?). I know where you're coming from, we (my husband and I) both are full-time students, plus we have kids, there've been weeks when Ramen seems like the only option. But now we go to produce first and get excited about tomatoes on sale or that strawberries are in season and cheap, and we don't even go to the cookie or candy aisle, or the Ramen. If you can get involved in the shopping and food prep, you might be able to make some changes for everyone, and help train their tastebuds as well as yours for healthier eating.

lethalsarcasm

THanks for all the encouragement guys. I really will try to stick to it. As far as dragging the rest of the family with though, I live with my fiance and his dad and brother. His dad has cancer and with all the chemo etc (as well as just being old and set in his ways) he has very strong opinions as to what should take-up our already limited grocery budget. I do get to sneak in the occasional fresh veggies/fruit, but mostly I have to make do with the canned stuff. It's 3 guys so food is usually a lot of meat and potatoes-type fare. I do buy brown rice and lentils for myself - those are my two indulgences on the grocery list so that i have a protien that i can use to replace fatty meats. I guess I am mostly trying to keep my head down and soldier through, but there are times I'd give anthing to use real free weights instead of my old milk jugs full of water or get on an elliptical instead of running up and down the staircase in our house.

reikimastertchr

Freecycle.com on yahoo!!!! Also...not sure where you live but here in NH we have Market Basket...and out of the 4 major grocery stores theys are the least expensive for fresh veggies and fruits... along with other things... you need to do some leg work to find the cheapest near you but you can if you try hard.... ALSO I agree with EVERYONE in your family eating healthy... SO IMPORTANT!!!!! Blessings for you to stay on your journey... Make it a competition in the family... See who can alter their lifestyle FIRST and stick to it!!


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

milaxx

Easy tips I do now that I am laid off.
I buy quick sale product and blanch/shock or roast whatever I cannot eat immediately.
See if there is a farmer's market in your area We have one that sell eggs 3 dozen for $4. I boil a dozen for a grab and go breakfast or if I get snacky late at night.
Try Quinoa. it's a whole grain, complete protein and dirt cheap. Use instead of rice or pasta.
Try buying frozen veg.

kayemme

pound for pound, eating healthy food is way, way cheaper than not. even organic! just start looking at how much you're paying for junk food!

if it means that you have to make yourself $20/wk to buy your own food (and believe me, you can eat pretty well on $20 if you plan it right), then do it. be determined, don't make excuses no matter how reasonable they may sound in your head.

making a healthy life is a process. and we can all say how so-and-so has it so much easier for such-and-such reason, but none of those things are real.

you can get a lot of exercise in by cycling to work/school or grocery store. walking when the distance is less than a mile. drinking water (totally free), doing calisthenics using your own body weight as resistance. broke =/= fat. just ask anyone other than an American.

Brandicaloriecountess

You can do it. I do think sometimes it is cheaper to eat junk. My grocery budget when up when I changed the way I/we eat. Some stuff, like fat free cheese is expensive, I stopped buying that!

Good luck, if I can make changes anyone can!!!!