grad student, no money, 20lbs to lose

dhealy11
dhealy11 Posts: 15 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hi, everyone!! So, like many people, I have gained the dreaded "freshman 15/20". It happened gradually...a few pounds each year. I started college at 110lbs and now am about 130lbs. I have been trying for the past year to get back down to 115lbs...and once even got close! But somehow it always creeps back up on me. Before I just wrote everything down in a food journal, but I have since downloaded this app and use it everyday! I have been really frustrated lately because I have no money to buy healthy food (or any food really) and thus have been relying on drive thrus (gasp!) and also have no time due to work and class to exercise..though I do manage to squeeze it in 4-5x week sometimes.

Replies

  • Uxorial
    Uxorial Posts: 38
    I've found that as I learned more about cooking, I could feed myself more cheaply.

    Things like soup, chili and spaghetti sauce can be healthy and cheap. Rice is cheap, as are noodles and potatoes.

    Also, compare prices on produce, frozen is likely cheaper than fresh. You can google to see what fruit or veg are in season too, they will be cheapest.

    Meat will probably be the most expensive, but by using beans as a meat alternative you can be healthier and save money too.

    Good luck!
  • itsrebec
    itsrebec Posts: 38
    Farmers markets are great ways to get in-season, fresh fruits and veggies for so much cheaper than grocery stores.

    Today, my hubby and I went to a local farmer's market (we just happened to drive past one, and stopped by).

    For $20, we bought:

    a quart of blueberries
    a quart of raspberries
    a quart of grape tomatoes
    10 honey sticks
    spinach
    basil (and entire plant!)
    an a bottle of natural ginger ale

    I say shop around!
  • dhealy11
    dhealy11 Posts: 15 Member
    thanks guys for the tips!! :happy:
  • crzyone
    crzyone Posts: 872 Member
    If you have money for drive thrus, you have money to buy groceries and eat. Make sandwiches, put beans in a crock pot, buy veggies and make soup, freeze them and take bowl out when you are on the go and don't have time to cook. Brown rice...cook a pot and keep it handy for eating in a hurry all week. Veggies.....drive thrus kill a budget!!! And a waistline!!
  • photojunkie28
    photojunkie28 Posts: 292
    I'm running into the low budget as well after going all gung-ho on the organics for quite some time and bootcamps and such. Some foods that i've found that don't cost a lot but go a long way are as follows :

    bag of apples
    Quick Oats
    The value size container of greek yogurt
    Eggs (I was buying just egg whites but they get costly so I will seperate 2 of my own now and use one whole and sometimes save the other yolks for my boyfriend or baking with later)
    Any veges that are not pre cut/prepared. Carrots, Lettuce, Cuccumber (basically if you have to do the work, you pay less so why not save money and burn a couple extra calories making dnner?)

    You can also check ads online for the best prices and plan what you will base your meals around for the week that way.
    If you are a night shopper, some grocery stores also have discounted sections where you can get good breads or veges to cook with at half the cost as well.
    Ask coworkers/relatives/friends to save coupons from the newspaper for you and stock up on a few staples on the rare occassion that there are 'clean' food coupons. Especially meats.

    I hope this helps some :)

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