unhealthy and fit

135

Replies

  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    Also, frozen vegetables are pretty wallet-friendly, and they last a very long time in the freezer
  • EccentricDad
    EccentricDad Posts: 875 Member
    i can't afford healthy foods or anyting. I eat whatever my dad buy and prepares. with my 95.00 phone bill, $77.00 internet, and 100.00 for transportation and only earing $400.00 check or less a month I have no money. sourthern food is homemade for the most part but he also buys packaged and can foods. he refuses to buy and eat healthier foods and we don't have much anyways. I will eat canned veggies if he makes it and no fruit or salads. he doesn't buy them.

    Is 4G offered in your area? You can switch to a 4G smartphone plan and when you're home, switch your phone into "Shared Internet Mode" and have your computer get internet from your phone. This would save $77 a month. Anything you do on the $77 internet you can do on your phone's 4G or on your phone in general.

    As far as your dad's cooking, maybe it's time that you lend a hand in the kitchen. A lot of times the reason why people grab CANNED veggies is because they don't know how to cut veggies and cook them; if you took a more hands on approach, you could probably get it done in half the time it currently takes him.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    White =/= unhealthy.

    woah woah woah

    Actually this is very true. White bread spikes your insulin levels more than a snickers bar.
  • k900
    k900 Posts: 140 Member
    Cheap foods you could try -
    Frozen veggies and fruit. Around where i live a bag of frozen broccoli is about $1.10.
    NO salt added canned veggies.
    Whole grain/whole wheat bread. It depends on what brand you get but there are cheap options out there.
    Brown rice.
  • skeeterrose1
    skeeterrose1 Posts: 11 Member
    I've read all the posts here and it sounds very much like everyone is suggesting great ideas and you're just giving them a bunch of excuses. You are they only one that makes decisions for you. You have to want to change, not find reason you can't. If you wanted to eat healthier you would find a way. The fact is that eating healthy doesn't cost anymore then eating like crap. When you're ready to change you will.
  • mensasu
    mensasu Posts: 355 Member
    I want a slimmer toned body (fit, flat abs, slimmer thighs and arms and looking good in clothing and bikini next summer) and I mainly do workout dvds to achieve this (my trouble areas are the stomach and thighs).
    Good start but are you doing this consistently or just haphazard. A regular routine that you follow would be good. Also walk when you can and take the stairs
    I am not able to eat healthy and I'm pretty sure I'm way below my 1430 calorie limit on a daily basis, however I'm not eating out or eating fast food regularly. usually I will have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on WHITE bread, scrambled egg sandwich fried with vegetable oil on WHITE bread, oatmeal WITH WHITE SUGAR, FRIED and PACKAGED foods for dinner, WHITE rice and mashed potatoes.. (I'm in the south so think of typical sourthen foods).
    If you are not logging your food into MFP (I couldn't find any entries in your diary) you can't claim you know your calorie intake. If you are not using a measuring spoon when you make you PBJ, you don't know how much you have put on the bread. All calories add up. Start logging. Most people tend to overestimate the exercise they do and underestimate what they eat.
    My main concern is this will hinder my results... what do you think?
    No. You do not say you want to be healthy, just fit a particular body image. Less calories and more exercise will do that. When you are serious about getting healthy, then changing your diet will be important. I've read that a person can diet by only eating snickers bars to their calorie limit and still lose weight. Not healthy but doable.
    is whey protein needed to prevent losing muscle and do you think pro-biotics should be taken to help with belly fat and bloat?
    Sorry but I would say no to both of these and the questions look like you are just trying to justify a purchase you made earlier. Protein helps with muscle loss and expensive whey powder is only one way to get your protein. SInce you have it go ahead and use it but I would recommend you not buy it again. Get tins of tuna instead. The pro-biotics won't help you lose weight which is what belly fat is and without knowing what is causing your bloat I can only say maybe. Once again since you already have it and its not harmful go ahead and use it. But again don't waste your precious cash to get more.

    In between all the comments about your economic situation I noticed someone who gave you a really good exercise routine suggestion. Try it out.

    I suggest that when you are able economically and willing to take accountability for a healthy diet you consider all the other advice. If its just about getting the body image you want then start really truthfully logging your calories into MFP and exercising routinely.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    i can't afford healthy foods or anyting. I eat whatever my dad buy and prepares. with my 95.00 phone bill, $77.00 internet, and 100.00 for transportation and only earing $400.00 check or less a month I have no money. sourthern food is homemade for the most part but he also buys packaged and can foods. he refuses to buy and eat healthier foods and we don't have much anyways. I will eat canned veggies if he makes it and no fruit or salads. he doesn't buy them.

    Is 4G offered in your area? You can switch to a 4G smartphone plan and when you're home, switch your phone into "Shared Internet Mode" and have your computer get internet from your phone. This would save $77 a month. Anything you do on the $77 internet you can do on your phone's 4G or on your phone in general.

    As far as your dad's cooking, maybe it's time that you lend a hand in the kitchen. A lot of times the reason why people grab CANNED veggies is because they don't know how to cut veggies and cook them; if you took a more hands on approach, you could probably get it done in half the time it currently takes him.

    4G isn't available in my area yet so I'm stuck with 3g. I can share internet with my phone and computer with US Cellular's wifi hotspot but that's an extra 25.00, but it's better paying the 77.00 for internet. however if my phone get 's turned off, I don't think that's an option.
    I could take a hands on approcach but he will still buy and want to eat whatever he want's and if he doesn't want it he'll take over. he has no interest in trying new things.
  • Lyssa62
    Lyssa62 Posts: 930 Member
    well like Sheldon says.."this conversation has circled round"
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    white bread and wheat bread cost almost the same... same at brown rice vs white. .. i don't understand why its so hard to do this. Tell your dad to leave one piece of chicken out and you can bake it yourself or bbq it. When I moved back with my parents they ate junk and i just said leave the meat ill cook it myself my way.

    LOL that would be too easy

    he's not buying that even if it's the same price and he's not buying both because for example after buying what we want's there isn't any more money. he had two dollars left over from this time and sometimes he has none left over. he could leave me a piece and I bake it seperetly....some instances that could be possible.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    I've read all the posts here and it sounds very much like everyone is suggesting great ideas and you're just giving them a bunch of excuses. You are they only one that makes decisions for you. You have to want to change, not find reason you can't. If you wanted to eat healthier you would find a way. The fact is that eating healthy doesn't cost anymore then eating like crap. When you're ready to change you will.

    I have yet to find a way how eating healthier is the same or less in terms of pricing. when I try to come up with something it's always more expensive, but maybe there is a way, I haven't found it yet.

    I'm not coming up with excuses. yes my dad refuses to do these things and I don't see a way around it but I am going to do what is suggested and cancel my phone service and maybe find a cheaper one or go without it for a while and I'm canceling my internet service untiil I can do better in terms of earning more money.
  • Lyssa62
    Lyssa62 Posts: 930 Member
    and...then take those savings and buy YOUR OWN food.
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
    there are ALWAYS ways to eat healthy. perhaps cut back on things that aren't necessities and buy in bulk. frozen fruits and veggies are cheaper than fresh produce and often still have the same/similar nutritional value. diet is a huge component of being healthy and getting fit.
  • mensasu
    mensasu Posts: 355 Member
    But as I mentioned in my last post you can achieve your body image goal even on bad food. Even if you switch to healthy food if you are overeating and only doing haphazard exercise you won't see results. Start logging into MFP even the bad food to see what you are really eating. Take a look at the calories and all the nutrients. Are you getting enough protein and your vitamins? What about fiber. A whole scale diet change to you and your family will be very difficult and you are best to do it slowly. If you have extra cash invest in a good multivitamin and maybe something to add fibre and good oils like flax seeds.

    Start logging cause many of the good foods mentioned by others are calorie dense and you might go over your calorie count.
    Make an exercise plan (time, day, etc)and follow it.

    There is a lot of drama in this thread about your economic situation. I don't want to get into it. You have a few simple things to do first without a massive wholescale change that can get you started on the right track.
  • Sailorwind
    Sailorwind Posts: 158 Member
    Wow, it feels like people are yelling in here. This is clearly a difficult situation for her, she has no choice but to eat what her dad buys. The problem seems to be convincing the dad to buy healthier things. I'm going to guess there's no chance you could convince him to give you the job of grocery shopping on the budget one month.

    I know your spending income is not high, but I would guess you know your dad's taste pretty well. How skilled are you at cooking? If you could maybe buy one or two healthy, yet inexpensive ingredients a month and prepare them for your dad in a way he likes, maybe he'd be more willing to put them on the grocery list in place of the less healthy alternative. For example, I can't stand wheat bread, but Healthy Life makes this white bread that is only 35 calories a slice and it's cheaper than pretty much every other loaf of white bread at my grocery store (and just as big). I find major differences withing the same price range on a lot of items when comparing the nutritional labels, be it yogurt or tuna or canned tomatoes. If you go shopping with him, maybe you can pick out some of the items that he really won't even know the difference on. After all, a can is a can if it's the same price, right?

    For fresh fruits and veggies, I'd imagine your grocery store may do something similar to mine and that is when it's withing a few days of the "sell by" date, they take 50%+ off the price so they don't have to throw it away. I buy them this way all the time as I am also on a budget. Maybe you or he could buy small amounts of fresh fruits and veggies that way and see if they have a place in the monthly budget?
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    i can't afford healthy foods or anyting. I eat whatever my dad buy and prepares. with my 95.00 phone bill, $77.00 internet, and 100.00 for transportation and only earing $400.00 check or less a month I have no money. sourthern food is homemade for the most part but he also buys packaged and can foods. he refuses to buy and eat healthier foods and we don't have much anyways. I will eat canned veggies if he makes it and no fruit or salads. he doesn't buy them.

    WHY DO YOU HAVE A $95.00 phone bill and a $77.00 internet bill????? I'm sorry, but that is RIDICULOUS.
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    If you can afford whey protein, then you can afford healthier food.
  • islandnutshel
    islandnutshel Posts: 1,143 Member
    I think all I will say is that your circumstances are not perfect and that you are doing great with what you have. You may only be able to make small changes right now and that's all right, there are years ahead of you that you will have more control over what you eat. Maybe keep focus on the other things you can do for health that don't cost money. Work on exercise, pick up pilates and work on flexibility. Keep focused on what you have accomplished and what changes you are able to make for the better. Keep positive and keep making new goals. Hopefully you can keep incorporating new foods, like frozen veg into your diet slowly as your dad gets used to the idea's. I am sure this is hard on all of you. So congrats on the steps you are taking. Keep strong.
  • tinacrane
    tinacrane Posts: 134 Member
    Although your current eating situation is not ideal, you seem to be doing your best in your limited situation. For this, I applaud you. When you can- buy some fresh fruit and veggies and get plenty of exercise. For a 22 year old, you have alot of responsibilities and I admire you for the concern you are showing your family. Hang in there, things have a way of turning around when you are young.
  • I'm shocked at how much judgement there is in this thread. Everyone has things they need to overcome to get healthy and the OP is clearly trying, so hey let's all just criticize and shame her instead of trying to help.

    OP, you're on the right track. There's is some good advice in this thread. Do what you can to bring your bills down (I know it isn't always easy or even possible, but it's life and you'll be doing it forever, so you might as well start now). Track everything you eat, track everything you spend. Diligently. Every day. Work out a financial budget for yourself and figure out how much you can spend on food for yourself and shop for that food wisely. And talk to your dad, I bet you guys can find middle ground on some things, so maybe all of you are eating better.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    But as I mentioned in my last post you can achieve your body image goal even on bad food. Even if you switch to healthy food if you are overeating and only doing haphazard exercise you won't see results. Start logging into MFP even the bad food to see what you are really eating. Take a look at the calories and all the nutrients. Are you getting enough protein and your vitamins? What about fiber. A whole scale diet change to you and your family will be very difficult and you are best to do it slowly. If you have extra cash invest in a good multivitamin and maybe something to add fibre and good oils like flax seeds.

    Start logging cause many of the good foods mentioned by others are calorie dense and you might go over your calorie count.
    Make an exercise plan (time, day, etc)and follow it.

    There is a lot of drama in this thread about your economic situation. I don't want to get into it. You have a few simple things to do first without a massive wholescale change that can get you started on the right track.

    Thanks! what I mentioned previously is my main goal but I do want to eat healthier. my parents are taking over the internet bill so I will still have that and be able to come here. and I'm canceling my phone and going without or going cheaper.

    another note. I don't eat packaged oatmeal as one commenter stated she thinks I did. I have a big container of quaker one minute oatmeal that I can put in the microwave. isn't that healthly? and adding unsweetened applesaucefor taste in my oatmeal doesn't make it taste good but I'm trying to go through it without adding sugar...just saying.
  • EccentricDad
    EccentricDad Posts: 875 Member
    i can't afford healthy foods or anyting. I eat whatever my dad buy and prepares. with my 95.00 phone bill, $77.00 internet, and 100.00 for transportation and only earing $400.00 check or less a month I have no money. sourthern food is homemade for the most part but he also buys packaged and can foods. he refuses to buy and eat healthier foods and we don't have much anyways. I will eat canned veggies if he makes it and no fruit or salads. he doesn't buy them.

    Is 4G offered in your area? You can switch to a 4G smartphone plan and when you're home, switch your phone into "Shared Internet Mode" and have your computer get internet from your phone. This would save $77 a month. Anything you do on the $77 internet you can do on your phone's 4G or on your phone in general.

    As far as your dad's cooking, maybe it's time that you lend a hand in the kitchen. A lot of times the reason why people grab CANNED veggies is because they don't know how to cut veggies and cook them; if you took a more hands on approach, you could probably get it done in half the time it currently takes him.

    4G isn't available in my area yet so I'm stuck with 3g. I can share internet with my phone and computer with US Cellular's wifi hotspot but that's an extra 25.00, but it's better paying the 77.00 for internet. however if my phone get 's turned off, I don't think that's an option.
    I could take a hands on approcach but he will still buy and want to eat whatever he want's and if he doesn't want it he'll take over. he has no interest in trying new things.

    That's a bummer about the 4g. Does anyone else use the internet? Maybe it's time to split the bill so you can afford better food options?

    Your Dad will never change, he was this way before you came along. But if you were to buy 4 carrots and cut them the exact way they are cut in the sliced carrots can and explain to him how much money he'd be saving he might budge. A can of carrots is an average of $0.50, but you only get 2 carrots worth and 4 carrots is $0.75 (or free if you grow it yourself).

    I hope your situation gets better.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    i can't afford healthy foods or anyting. I eat whatever my dad buy and prepares. with my 95.00 phone bill, $77.00 internet, and 100.00 for transportation and only earing $400.00 check or less a month I have no money. sourthern food is homemade for the most part but he also buys packaged and can foods. he refuses to buy and eat healthier foods and we don't have much anyways. I will eat canned veggies if he makes it and no fruit or salads. he doesn't buy them.

    WHY DO YOU HAVE A $95.00 phone bill and a $77.00 internet bill????? I'm sorry, but that is RIDICULOUS.

    I realize that's proably a rhetorical question, but I'll answer anyway. it's unlimited talk, text, and 5G of data, insurance for if the phone get's lost or damaged, two other people on the line and it's the family plan. and I think there's something else but I don't remember. it's the family plan. I live in a small country town so I onlly have one option in terms of a internet company and that's how much they charge for dsl high speed.
  • Gramps251
    Gramps251 Posts: 738 Member
    I would LOVE to move out and be able to support myself but it's not an option right now. I do work part time and I only receive 400 a month or 200 every two weeks OR LESS. the money I make goes to my bills so I don't really have anything extra and if I did it's not enough to feed myself until next payday.

    Just do what you can for now then. You're situation will change soon enough. Stay as healty as you can, don't forget your goal of eating better and find a way.
  • cspinney
    cspinney Posts: 81 Member
    Thanks! what I mentioned previously is my main goal but I do want to eat healthier. my parents are taking over the internet bill so I will still have that and be able to come here. and I'm canceling my phone and going without or going cheaper.

    another note. I don't eat packaged oatmeal as one commenter stated she thinks I did. I have a big container of quaker one minute oatmeal that I can put in the microwave. isn't that healthly? and adding unsweetened applesaucefor taste in my oatmeal doesn't make it taste good but I'm trying to go through it without adding sugar...just saying.

    I wouldn't care for apple sauce in my oatmeal either, to each his own. I actually don't mind eating plain oatmeal with just some milk, so you may get used to it. If you do feel you need to add sugar, just try not to use too much. I think that actually tracking it all would be a good place to start, so you can see how much sugar you are eating and how many calories it all adds up to.

    I have been in the position of trying to live on not a lot of money, and I know it's hard. It sounds like you and your family are trying to pool resources and help one another out, which is great. School won't last forever, and hopefully things will get better.

    In the mean time, I also think there is quite a learning curve when it comes to healthy eating. There have been a lot of good suggestions made, and you mostly seem to resist because of the money issue. For now, why don't you start thinking about some of the suggestions and learning about nutrition? Do some research. As others have said, frozen veg, bags of apples and carrots, dried beans are not expensive. No one is saying that you have to 100% buy your own groceries right now, but are there things you could afford that would supplement the family larder and help you in your goals? Maybe even if you just gradually added an item here and there?

    Change is hard, and I think it's even harder when there's a family status quo. Maybe you can't change things right now. But if you keep asking questions and learning then you will at least be ready when you are able to start making changes.
  • mensasu
    mensasu Posts: 355 Member

    Thanks! what I mentioned previously is my main goal but I do want to eat healthier. my parents are taking over the internet bill so I will still have that and be able to come here. and I'm canceling my phone and going without or going cheaper.

    Yes MFP can be your friend. Just take baby steps forward and you will get there. All the best on your quest.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    When you cancel your phone, look for a prepaid option. My daughter's phone is a Virgin Mobile phone at a cost of $35 a month for 300 minutes and unlimited text and data. I got prepaid because she's only 13 and it gives me the option to drop it for a month if she decides to slack on schoolwork or something, but it's also a good option for someone like you. They even have Android phones, so you could still use MFP's food diary even when you can't be at a computer.

    I'd ask your dad if he would just buy frozen veggies instead of canned. Canned have a LOT of sodium, so just that switch alone would help. If you get them at Walmart, they sell the Walmart brand (Great Value) in pretty large bags at a really good price. If nothing else, a couple of bags for you alone would work fine and would last for quite a while. If you eat more of the veggies and less of the meat (especially the fried meats), you can keep your calories down.

    You might also want to check into food co-ops or farmers' markets in your area. Sometimes you can get things that way for a lot cheaper than a grocery store.

    Just out of curiosity (and if you don't want to answer, you don't have to), why is your father collecting disability? There are plenty of jobs that deaf people can do, even uneducated deaf people. I worked with the deaf for many years, and there are jobs out there they can do and probably make more money than they would collect on disability.
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    I've read the whole thread and just want to give you a hug. You are 22 years old, working, going to school, your father is deaf and you are seeking advice on how to better your health. You are AMAZING!
    So, for a recap:
    Your parents are taking over the internet bill and you are going to drop or lower the phone bill.
    You will take that extra money and buy your OWN food.
    Here are just a few ideas that are on the cheap, but still healthy.
    For the oatmeal, smash up 1/2 a banana into it-more flavor and sweetness
    A tad bit of jam or honey is good too. Honey is a bit expensive, but it seemingly lasts FOREVER.
    Eggs-hard boil them and make an egg salad or have them for breakfast, lunch, snacks... If you don't know how to hard boil an egg, look it up on google.
    Beans-Look up recipes online. Mostly it is you soak them overnight and then slow cook them. You can mix a bunch of different kinds, add a ham hock and make delicious soup.
    Meat-Buy the whole chicken, ham, etc when on sale. Buy baggies and freeze portions to use later. Use the ham hock to make bean or split pea soup, the chicken carcass to make chicken stock for soup, chicken and dumplings, etc.
    Veggies-buy fresh when possible, frozen when on sale. I live in a very high cost of living area and my stores have 10 bags for $10 deals.
  • robin820
    robin820 Posts: 150 Member
    Until you cut out the fried food and all the white breads, etc.. Start making healthier choices, you will continue on with the belly fat. Unfortunately, thats just how it is, and PB & j and frozen meals arent all that great for you. Peanut butter in moderation, but protein powders are calories, and it will only add to the situation. Good luck, take baby steps, switch to whole wheat bread, or 100 calorie english wheat muffins. Try just some egg whites, no yoke. Some plain oatmeal with fruit topping instead of white sugar (or switch to some splenda instead). Fruits and Vege's. Skim milk. I have been eating alot of black beans and rice soup, Super easy and very healthy for you. Snack on things like a serving of pretzels, whole wheat chips and salsa, laughing cow cheese and fiber ccrackers, 100 calorie popcorns, rice cakes. You need to pick some healthier choices. Just a few ideas! Good luck again! ~ Robin
  • Stop putting sugar in your oatmeal. Put in fruit slices instead.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    White =/= unhealthy.

    This

    I eat sushi at least once a week. White rice is a staple for me. Unless you have problems getting enough fiber, brown rice is overrated (and it has a GI index higher than many white rice varieties). Sure it would be great to replace some of your white bread with whole grain, but do what you can.