unhealthy and fit
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If you maintain your calorie goals you will maintain a healthy stature. It is better to skip white bread, white sugar, fried processed oils and other types of foods but you still can sustain a good body. I dated a triathlete (once upon a time) who competed in several ironman races, he ate whatever he wanted and placed fairly decent for his age group. One key factor this person never drank alcoholic beverages of any kind! He did better than most people who are eating “healthy” style foods. When additional money comes to your household or by a miracle of the economy God you can start to incorporate healthy foods to your diet. It’s really about calories in calories out. Yes there are plenty of overweight folks hanging out in the organic healthy stores.0
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I got married youn and money was tight I learned to make foods on a cheap budget. You should buy dried bean. They can be soaked over night and you can cook them slowly on on top of the foood. It might be in your best option to cancel the service and work with the carrier on making payments. You could cancel your internet service and use the internet at school or the library you can even go to a McDonald's for their WIFI service. My oldest son says he can find hot spots almost very easily. You could proably bundle internet and phone cheaper. You don't have to have the best phone or 4G. I have a prepay phone that had a free phone and I apy $25.00 month. It is very easy to save money. The cost of a slow cooker would pay off in just a few days. Well if you don't have a slow cooker you can still make easy meals instead of prepackaged food. You can pick one day of the week to make all the meals for the whole week. Going to college and you are tight on money there are creative ways to earn money. I offered to help tutor a few kids on reading. I offered to do a neighbors laundry because she hated to do it. I only got paid $20.00 a week, in between loads I studied. You could also probably get a slower internet and save some money. Just a few ideas. You should go shopping with them and bring a calculator and figure out how much you are spending. You can even go online and check prices as well. I have been known to barter. I have cooked a few meals for a neighbor and I got to eat as well. You just need to come up with ideas. There are always posting at colleges and you can post for jobs for watching kids or doing elder care. I am sure you will find ideas.0
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is whey protein needed to prevent losing muscle and do you think pro-biotics should be taken to help with belly fat and bloat?
You have a lot of good suggestions from people here. Take time and read through them. You should be able to make some changes to eat healthy.0 -
It sounds like you need a financial adviser more than a food adviser. You are spending 42% of your income on non-essentials --- phone and internet. You're paying for frills and not paying for basics of food and shelter.
Drop the internet and take the financial hit for breaking the phone contract. Buy a no-contract phone and stay within their cheapest minute plan. Get free wi-fi at McDonalds or go to the public library. Start banking the money you would have spent on internet and phone and start saving for a downpayment on your own apartment. Buy your own food. At your age, there's no reason why you should be dependent on a disabled parent for your food.
Without spending hours a day on your phone and the internet, you'll be amazed how much more you'll be able to accomplish. When I was laid off a few years ago, I immediately cancelled my cellphone, internet, and cable --- you can easily live without it!
Internet access is arguably a necessity, especially for a college student. And it sounds like the package is for the family, not just the OP.
OP: How receptive are your parents to new cooking methods? Preparing some of the same foods differently could make a huge difference. Maybe you could share information with them0 -
I think you are doing great. You are exercising and here asking the questions and trying. Is white bread better than bread with more fiber? No. But, you keep focusing on trying to improve your diet you will probably get better. None of us are perfect. We're all works in progress.0
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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). 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). My main concern is this will hinder my results... what do you think? is whey protein needed to prevent losing muscle and do you think pro-biotics should be taken to help with belly fat and bloat?
I live in the south too, so i know all about the southern fried food that our families get together and eat! Truly, you can lose weight eating anything as long as you stay within a certain amount of calories and burn a certain amount off. BUT, why not choose foods that are better for you and will nourish your body instead of eating empty calories or foods that are going to make you hungry in an hour? If you don't like wheat, it's all good. You don't have to eat wheat bread. There are other options, such as Whitewheat or even Honey wheat that taste better than Whole wheat. I don't care for brown rice, but I love spanish rice and can eat that just as much as I have consumed white rice. My thoughts veer toward eating balanced, though. If you are going to have bread and protein at every meal, you should have HALF of your plate in veggies. If you don't like vegetables plain, add some seasoning to it and use less butter or even spray butter. I LOVE mashed potatoes, but instead of using russets, I use red potatoes. They make good potato salad, too, and are tasty roasted! It is best to have another vegetable with them, though, because potatoes are a starch, and turn into a sugar in the body. Same as white bread. Eating oatmeal, though, is a great way to add some grains. Even cereals can be chosen wisely. Look to see if they are Multigrain. Many cereals out there are. Avoiding the ones with dyes in them, like Trix, can help too.
As for Whey Protein, I love it! I have only been using it to make smoothies, but it really helps keep you full for awhile and definitely helps your muscles heal when you are active! I have seen more results eating more protein every day these past few months than not eating it as much.
Supplements and weight loss aides, I am not going to comment about, but I will say that I use a Multivitamin each day (One A Day) to help get the nutrients I lack in my diet. I would suggest asking a doctor about any weight loss aides because they may be more informed on the subject and will have a better understanding of what YOUR body can and cannot handle.
Good luck! Oh, and I do suggest drinking AT LEAST 8 - eight oz glasses of water each day. I, myself, drink up to 10, and I have seen great losses drinking water.0 -
I had bought the whey protein over the summer while school was out and I was working more hours, so I have plenty left over as well as the pro-biotics.
there isn't a dollar store near me that carries fresh produce or any healthy items. i've checked.
there isn't a package unless my parent's were with direct tv, but they have dish network. the internet is for the both of us. me for school and leisure and my parent's are finally are able to connect with their friends they haven't seen in 20 years or more using the video relay system. they enjoy it A LOT (video relay system is used by the deaf to communicate face to face with other deaf indivuals) and my mom has been asking for it for the longest time. I'd really hate to take that away from her and him. but I could cancel it and use wifi. next semester may be a different story and I will actually need it but that's uncertain for now... I'll do what I need to. also, I think 77.00 on healthy groceries isn't enough to last unitl next pay day. I have a town grocery store but mostly it's unhealthy foods and sometimes not fresh. for instance there has been two occasions where the food was old or rotten and even the cashier told me he wouldn't shop there, foodlion is more expenisve and lastly theres walmart. those are my only choices unless I'm able to travel out of town an hour away to shop which I can't.
my phone is my only way for people to contract me and I them and if something were to happen I wouldn't have anyone to turn to. I live in an isolated area and don't drive yet. also, it's for personal reasons I'll admit. I would truly be isolated without it.0 -
I know exactly what it's like to not be supporting myself at an age where every expect that's what I would be doing regardless of life circumstances. My suggestion would be talk to your dad about trying a different diet. Buy a bag of rice,a bag of lentils or beans (which ever you can tolerate), and an onion.
For everyone else, speaking as someone from this generation; It's very annoying, demoralizing, and plain old not helpful when you apply economics from WHENEVER you were young (even if it was just the early 2000s) to now. Trust me when I say that economics purchase do not work quite that way anymore and the ability to acquire free services or cheap services depends greatly on where you are. For example, there are two very cheap grocery stores where I am now, they don't much exist in the city I'm from and the ones that do exist do not carry good produce (it's often just this side of rotten). I've never seen a dollar general carrying veggies, but I confess I've yet to visit the one in my current town. Wi fi is abundant in Chicago (where I'm from) but difficult to find where I am now and was almost impossible to find in some of the smaller towns I went through to get here.
Most importantly, these are the issues that the OP believes she has. Just because you think you know a way out does not make her feelings or fears any less valid.0 -
$77 is a lot of money for healthy food if you know how to shop. Don't knock Walmart if that's near you. $77 of oatmeal, lentils, dried beans, and frozen veggies would last you much longer than you think. I'm vegan, so I can't offer much help in the way of meat and cheese inexpensive eating. I guess worst case scenario, $77 gets you a lot further than you are now. What about working the extra 8 hours over a course of the month? 2 hours a week more.0
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Most importantly, these are the issues that the OP believes she has. Just because you think you know a way out does not make her feelings or fears any less valid.
Isn't she asking for help on ways out? And I'd be shocked if her college campus didn't have both Wifi and computer labs. If she doesn't want to take it away from herself and her parents, that's a choice, and only she can make that choice.0 -
OP, you may want to check out high satiety foods and try to figure out which ones are inexpensive. These are filling foods, more bang for your buck.0
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I've asked repeatedly for my boss to increase my hours and she says she isn't able to because of high labor. If I had to I wouldn't mind living a veagan lifestyle if I had to but i'm not sure on how to go about that. my college wifi SUCKS it's hard to get a connction and due to lack of transportation I'm not always able to get to a computer lab. classes are back to back and public transit picks me up around 4 and they won't come later so I go home and unless I go to work earlier or stay a little later I can't get there. which I am thinking about doing that since it seems to be my only choice.0
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You do not need to justify your internet/phone. It is not a luxury, in North America in 2012, point blank. Especially given the importance of communication for all of you.
I think you're badly served by your community - just one bus from your college to home is outrageous. Without that internet connection - I'm assuming you have access to electronic resources from home? - you'd be screwed for research papers (how could you go to the library?).
It must be terribly frustrating that your boss likes to have a large float of workers and keep their hours low, and that that's the only work that will accommodate your studies. Are you eligible for any work-study positions on campus (library or bookstore clerk; research assistant)? If you haven't already done this, it's an idea to contact your college career centre, and see what programs/job postings might be available. Some are based on financial need, and mean you'll have to fill out a bunch of forms. Worth trying.
I guess the commute might still be a problem... slim hope, but are there any rideshare programs organized by student groups at your college? Is bicycling feasible at all (doubt the bike lanes are there, somehow )?0 -
no bike lines and I'm not sure what tha is.. public transit is thr only thing my county offers; no train, buses, taxies or anything. I checked out workstudy last week and the school doesn't have any more positions or they're not accepting applications. no ride share program and my school is about 20 minutes away from where I live on car so it would be longer on a bike, also, I don't have one and I wouldn't ride it when it's winter.0
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Ground beef; cook then drain and rinse rinse rinse. Takes cheap-o ground beef from 73/27 fat swimming in a pool of grease to 95/5
Buy frozen unprepared chicken breasts in bulk and cook them all at once for lunch and dinner while youre out. (bags here cost $6 for 3 lb)
Buy romaine lettuce and italian salad dressing (a little goes a long way) and top with chicken daily for lunch.($5 for the week)
Switch from instant oatmeal ($5 for maybe 10 packets?) to a big container of plain oatmeal that you cook (same price for much more) and top with banana slices (75 cents a pound?)
light Yogurts for snack (50 cents each for store brand name)
one box of brown rice even instant to make while your family is eating white ($1.50)
drink water! eliminate all other beverages. water is free and really important
you'll get used to limiting sugar if you add fruit
your dad is probably used to preparing these foods and it fits his ebt budget so he may be stubborn. ask him to try it for one week offer to cook healthy meals for him that week and tell him you want him to be healthier too.
prepackaged and microwaveable foods cost WAY MORE you pay for the prep but also for all the preservatives and nitrates and acids and syrups and chemicals! he wont miss it.0 -
$95 for your phone and you are splitting it between three people? That is insane! Plans around here with unlimited minutes, texts, AND data are only $45 per month!
You may not have much money but set aside part of it for your health. It comes down to what is your health worth to you? One loaf of wheat bread can last a while for one person. Buy whatever fruit is on sale. Start tracking your calories in and out here on MFP to see where you stand.0 -
I was wondering if you speak sign language, if you are fluent due to your parents and you are paying for the video, there are companies that will pay well for translation for deaf persons answering machines. You answer, sign them the message and they sign back and you call the hearing person for the deaf, even with text and video there's still a need for these services.
They work with your hours to, since u may be doing it for people in various time zones, perfect stay at home job.
Just a thought0 -
I was wondering if you speak sign language, if you are fluent due to your parents and you are paying for the video, there are companies that will pay well for translation for deaf persons answering machines. You answer, sign them the message and they sign back and you call the hearing person for the deaf, even with text and video there's still a need for these services.
They work with your hours to, since u may be doing it for people in various time zones, perfect stay at home job.
Just a thought
A four year degree is required for all translating jobs and I don't have that. I don't know about the stay at home part, but places that offer these jobs are an hour or more away from me so I couldn't get there. the video phone is free, all they need is internet.0 -
ok well after I saw there is also dish tv I was pretty much done. With all of the suggestions comes an excuse. I don't understand people on limited incomes complaining about not being able to eat healthy and yet have dish tv. DONE
edit to add* my husband works 2 jobs and I work one and we have rabbit ears for tv. We prefer to eat healthy vs flipping channels.0 -
I think you should try talking to your dad about being healthy (how it can benefit the whole family) and how you help him SAVE money. You mentioned he buys fried chicken? Why not buy the whole chicken, cut it up, and then fry it? Does he actually buy it FRIED? That seems way more expensive than buying a whole chicken or chicken parts and cooking it any way you like. You mentioned he occasionally buys beans: explain how buying a bag of dry beans for $1-2 is cheaper than a 15oz can of beans. You get so much more. Bread: I realize the cheap white bread is usually $1, but find areas where you can splurge (bread) and areas where you can save (beans, buying fruit and veggies at a farmer's market). For $2-2.50, you can get something like Nature's Own Honeywheat. It tastes really good and is filling.
I think the biggest thing you can do is talk to him, offer to help "save money" by doing some of the shopping and helping prepare healthy and tasty meals. You can start with a hearty bean soup. You don't need to overhaul the entire grocery list, but pick a few things like bread, meat, beans, and/or fruit/veggies to focus on first.0 -
ok well after I saw there is also dish tv I was pretty much done. With all of the suggestions comes an excuse. I don't understand people on limited incomes complaining about not being able to eat healthy and yet have dish tv. DONE
edit to add* my husband works 2 jobs and I work one and we have rabbit ears for tv. We prefer to eat healthy vs flipping channels.
the dish tv is for my parents and they're not intersted in eating or being healthy and I'm not paying for it. the dish tv is not for me and in fact I don't watch tv and have'nt in a very long time. I'm woring, going to school, doing homework, fitting in excercise somewhere, and then its bed. my dad buys what he wants and that's it. if I want to eat healthy I would have to buy it myself. and I'm not trying to come up with an excuse, I'm simply stating a fact.0 -
Stop paying auntie and uncle's phone bill. they can get stuffed.
Waiting for the excuse why that's not possible ..0 -
I think you should try talking to your dad about being healthy (how it can benefit the whole family) and how you help him SAVE money. You mentioned he buys fried chicken? Why not buy the whole chicken, cut it up, and then fry it? Does he actually buy it FRIED? That seems way more expensive than buying a whole chicken or chicken parts and cooking it any way you like. You mentioned he occasionally buys beans: explain how buying a bag of dry beans for $1-2 is cheaper than a 15oz can of beans. You get so much more. Bread: I realize the cheap white bread is usually $1, but find areas where you can splurge (bread) and areas where you can save (beans, buying fruit and veggies at a farmer's market). For $2-2.50, you can get something like Nature's Own Honeywheat. It tastes really good and is filling.
I think the biggest thing you can do is talk to him, offer to help "save money" by doing some of the shopping and helping prepare healthy and tasty meals. You can start with a hearty bean soup. You don't need to overhaul the entire grocery list, but pick a few things like bread, meat, beans, and/or fruit/veggies to focus on first.
he buys the chicken in parts and fries them, I tried to get him to bake it instead and add bbq but that's a no go sometimes. I showed him the dried beans and he saw that it's cheaper, but wasn't interested because he didn't know what to do with them or how to cook them also, he says it takes too long so he doesn't want it. so that was the end of that conversation though of course if I bought these myself and figured out how to make it he and my mom would want to eat it depending on what it is except for the wheat bread or anything brown like whole grain pasta, rice, or ground turkey..that he won't touch.0 -
Stop paying auntie and uncle's phone bill. they can get stuffed.
Waiting for the excuse why that's not possible ..
Sorry to disappoint, but you're not getting one. I'm going to speak with them today about canceling the service and I'm going to search for a cheaper plan and maybe I could still eat healthy? so I wouldn't be competely without it, even if it's just a basic plan. and I'm canceling my internet service. unless a miracle happens and someone decides to pay for them.
just a thought... how am i suppose to log in without having a phone to scan the items and internet to get on here?0 -
use a notebook and pen.0
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"this" is just another tool . People have been losing weight way before myfitnesspal.0
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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.0
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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 easy0 -
ps I just did the math on your check/ vs bills and that would leave you $128 (even though personally that phone bill is crazy and that needs to go)..but that being said you should have right around $100 left..go buy your own food...get a plastic tote to keep it in..what you need to put in the fridge label it yours. for 1 person you could buy a bunch of healthy food that would last you a couple of weeks.0
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Not sure if anyone already said this- but as far as the oatmeal thing, you can always add apple sauce instead of just straight sugar to sweeten it. It still contains sugar, but at least it's not a spoon full of added white sugar. Apple sauce is relatively cheap.
Other things that are pretty cheap (try to shop at aldi's if you can, I love that place)
- Brown rice
- Whole grain oatmeal
- Lettuce
- Reduced sodium canned beans (i still rinse them even thought they are low-sodium)
- Dry beans (takes care of the sodium issue)
- Vegetables/fruits
- Frozen chicken breasts (keep your eye out, they go on sale sometimes for $5/bag which has around 2 lbs. of chicken)
- If you're already buying jelly, get sugar free instead
You can always sign up for the grocery ads of places in your area. If you find things on sale, Wal-Mart does price match if you take the ad in with the exact same item currently on sale0
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