Feeling very low and discouraged

The technology is helpful but people lost weight before the Internet, DVD, HRMs and YouTube existed. When I was young (back in the 80's!) people dieting would write down what they ate in a notebook. We didn't have instant access to the calorie information, but writing it down still helped. I remember getting books out of the library to learn exercises and then doing them in our living room with only the carpet for padding.

So while it may be less convenient without the technology, it is still possible. Think of it this way, when you do lose weight, you can be even prouder of yourself because you'll have done it the old fashion way.

Why is your outdoor exercise limited? And if you can only walk around the perimeter of your house, then do that.

Or put on some music and dance your butt off. Moving does not have to be expensive and while an HRM is nice for being as accurate as you can, it isn't a necessity. You can use pen and paper to write down your calories.

It's ok to feel discouraged when it seems like the odds are stacked against you. Most things (not just fitness) are easier when you have enough money. :flowerforyou:

Some thoughts off the top of my head.

-you don't have to exercise to lose weight. Yes, it makes things a little easier, you get to eat more, it's hugely beneficial to overall health etc, but it's not necessary for weight loss.

-you don't need a ton of equipment. I'm not a gym member, and I don't have a smart phone. I do have internet access, but I don't (by choice) do online videos. I do have a heart rate monitor, but it's really not necessary. It's helpful, and interesting, but for many months of my weight loss, I relied on MFP's exercise database to calculate burn, and did fine with that. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a set of weights, but you can sometimes pick equipment up for free, or cheap, if you keep an eye on small adverts or sites like craigslist. I'm not sure what else there is in your country, but in the UK there are a few sites where people advertise things they want to get rid of for free. Often people are happy to offload exercise equipment they no longer use because it's bulky & heavy and they don't know what else to do with it. Anyway, like I said, you don't need any equipment. When you're in the library, google "body weight exercises" and either print off a few routines or jot them down in a notebook. You can watch videos while you're there to see what your form should look like. Things like squats, lunges, pushups, planks etc will be beneficial, even without weights. Nerdfitness.com is a good website for that kind of thing too. If you have the option of ordering books from your library, you could try to get hold of something like "You Are Your Own Gym".

-walking is great, and 100% better than nothing, if you can do it. Is there nowhere near your home that you can walk? If not, hey even walking round the outside of your home is better than nothing. Get out there, get your heartrate up... you might not be burning mega calories, but you'll be active, and improving your fitness.

-As for logging your food, perhaps you could spend a couple of hours in the library on your food diary. You could enter in all the meals you typically eat, and snacks etc, and then jot down all the values. So, at least you know that if you have a particular meal, you'll be eating roughly x amount of calories, and if you add in this or that favourite snack, you'll be adding y amount of calories. I know it's trickier and more tedious than using the website/app but it's something at least.

Do you have a YMCA in your town? A lot of them have scholarship programs you could apply for.
Also, someone mentioned the library- I bet they have exercise DVDs you could borrow.

I'm really sorry that youre going through all of that. I definitely have had several moments of low motivation and mental/physical exhaustion and i feel a lot like i have to drag myself some days to follow through with eating healthy and working out. The fact that you have made the positive decision of joining a healthy life style website like this shows that you are on the right track. keep taking positive baby steps like youve already done and day by day things will get better. By the way im a newbie to this site. :-)

sorry that you're having such a hard time, but keep in mind that nothing is permanent so it's very possible that your financial position can change

in the meantime you dont need to have a lot of $ in order to lose weight and keep it off. keep in mind that weight loss is mainly about the calories you put in to your body rather than how you work out. trust me on that, i got 90 pounds overweight all while working out at least 4 days a week- 60 minutes a day. it's very easy to overeat your calories than to burn those extra calories off.

you might want to look at the types of food you are receiving on assistance or what you are buying with that assistance. many of those foods tend to be overly processed which is going to usually mean more calories, sodium, sugar than you need or than you would get if you made the same thing yourself.

as far as working out goes, it's free to walk and run. go to your library and print out routines for walking, c25k and those that involve you using your body weight for strength training. most libraries also have dvds and vhs tapes you can borrow so you can get exercise videos from there.

you dont need internet access, hrm or home equipment to lose weight. if that was necessary then how where people able to lose weight before these things were invented?

bump

Hello,

I think you'd lose a lot of weight first-off by changing your diet. Diet is the main part of weight loss. You could gradually cut out unhealthy things, eat less fast food, cut out sodas, etc. and replace them with fruits and vegetables, healthier meals and ways of cooking, and so on.

Second, your cleaning job provides some physical activity, so that is good for you. Also, walking around your area is still a very helpful way to moderately burn calories, especially if your diet is already under control and is aiding your weight loss. If you put your mind to it and be consistent, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Hi
I'm sorry you are feeling so discouraged! The hardest part about losing weight is changing your mindset. It is very easy to sit back and list all the reasons you CAN'T do something, that way you can't possibly fail. On the other hand is very hard to push through the negative. A lot of people think money is the answer but really it can be a good excuse NOT to do something. A notebook and pencil are really all you need. Logging everything you eat is the key, and since you have access to a library you are set. Use the time at the library to track your calorie values, invest time in reading about nutrition and check out some cookbooks to learn that you don't need a lot of money to eat a healthy diet.

You mentioned your cleaning job and that you start at 9 and sometimes work 6 hours, that means you are done by 2, lots of time to get moving. You also mention 3 kids and at your age I am guessing they are still young. Go outside and play with them, kick around a ball, make a game out of jump rope and jumpimg jacks, tag, hide and seek, or just a plain race to the fence and back. Kids love to play,

As for the equipment? You dont need it. It is that simple. The more equipment you have the more complicated things get. My DVDs are gathering dust (I dont have time to watch them), the treadmill is a great clothes hanger (when it isnt raining) and I never had a HRM. I invested $8 on an inexpensive pedometer which counts steps and miles. At work when I take my break I walk, and becasue it is heavyily industrial, I dodge the trucks, walk in the gutter and jump over the train tracks. I use every minute I can.
I know life can be hard, I have been there and I am still there, but it is how you approach your life that matters, wishing and waiting for things to change will never accomplish anything. As the great Erma Bombeck said, "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade"
Remember you can do it if you choose. The question is do you really want to? It really comes down to your willingness to try all the things that have been suggested here and not think of a reason why you can't do it. Find a reason to do it. Your kids maybe? Only you can lose the weight, and the control is all yours.