Only one in family wanting to make the change! HELP.

Hi Everyone,

I have started my journey over and over. My biggest problem is no one else in my household is willing to do the same. I don't think its fair they need to change just because I am over weight. I also don't have the budget to buy 2 separate meals for every meal of the day.

Does anyone else have this issue? How do I get past this, inexpensively.

I am in need of motivation/support and friends!! :)
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Replies

  • Llamapants86
    Llamapants86 Posts: 1,221 Member
    I just change what I fill my plate up with. I have a smallish portion of the main entrée when we are having things like spaghetti, casseroles,etc. I also stick to smaller portions of the carb-y sides (not that I cut carbs a lot, it just tends to be higher calorie). Then I fill up my plate with a lot of veggies. I also try to have things like grilled chicken or fish a little more often.
  • H0llyG0lightly
    H0llyG0lightly Posts: 214 Member
    I just change what I fill my plate up with. I have a smallish portion of the main entrée when we are having things like spaghetti, casseroles,etc. I also stick to smaller portions of the carb-y sides (not that I cut carbs a lot, it just tends to be higher calorie). Then I fill up my plate with a lot of veggies. I also try to have things like grilled chicken or fish a little more often.

    Same.
  • brieny
    brieny Posts: 1 Member
    Thank you for posting this, I have exactly the same problem
  • nesto610
    nesto610 Posts: 107
    Hang in there! I don't really have any advice as I am a divorced dad with a 7 year old and I make all of the meal decisions. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to make a change while others around you don't share in your aspirations.

    As far as the expense of groceries, I feel your pain. My problem is that groceries seem to be packaged for families and not single people and I end up either throwing half of it away due to spoilage, or I am tempted to "get my money's worth" and eat it ALL!

    Feel free to add me if you wish. FR sent
  • MABmom
    MABmom Posts: 15 Member
    Portion size is really the way to go. I am the main chef in the house so I make sure we always have veggies with dinner so I can load up on that. I try and save calories during the day and really be sensible then so there isn't a huge difference between us at dinner. Plus I can decide if we eat less pizza and more chicken breast with broccoli. My family doesn't seem to mind because it isn't "diet" food at all, we eat regular stuff just less on the lasagna. I always make sure there is protein so no one feels deprived. My husband is big on meat so we eat a lot of lean meats. Plus loading stuff with other flavor, like over loading, helps with less fat, like I use lean ground turkey or beef and put in tons of herbs, garlic, stuff like that when I make burgers. My husband prefers it.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    Oh yes families can be a problem, but you can get thru it. The key is just to do portion control. Don't eat the chips and the other snacks family members insist on having in the house. Buy yourself fruit, low fat yogurt, for your own snacks.

    Stay away from second helpings, cut your bread intake in half. It works for me.

    Eat less, move more.
  • Elizabeth42013
    Elizabeth42013 Posts: 30 Member
    I hear ya. Really doesn't help when I am the one getting home from work late and the husband cooks. I am at his mercy, lol. I try to watch portion sizes, but he does often try to be aware of what I can/can't eat. My problem is snacking, and does NOT help when he brings home chips all the time, or, the other day, a box of gooey cinnamon rolls. REALLY SUCKS.
  • Shutter_bug03
    Shutter_bug03 Posts: 35 Member
    I'm the cook of the house. I do try and add in healthier choices for meals, but if i cook something that isn't so healthy, to please them, i just eat it in moderation and add it in to my log. I have 3 kids, ages 9,7 and 4.....and if i offer them healthier snacks instead of what they think they want, they eat it without complaint. My problem is my husband doesn't give a crap what he eats and he actually gets MAD at me if i don't buy him junk food, which makes it hard for me to avoid. But I've just had to stay strong against that stuff and make healthier choices for ME.
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    Good Afternoon!

    I would love to help you lose the weight. I am a weight loss coach and I use the product Herbalife. It is really easy to use. 2 meal replacement protein shakes a day, 1 meal, and healthy snacks in between. I help you every step of the way. You don't need to exercise but of coarse it will speed up your weight loss process. If your interested email me at: lizthuer (the sign at) hotmail.com

    Thanks for your time,

    Liz

    wow Liz, you have been busy - and you're so kind wanting to help folks out with their weightloss....




























    ...or make money or something
  • cheripugh1
    cheripugh1 Posts: 357 Member
    If you have control over the menu try to pick a few meals a week that are more friendly to your diet, like lean meats and more veggies. I eat what we eat, I am not on something special this is real life and these are changes I will need to live with for the rest of my life. So I take control of ME, I eat a low calorie lunch such as a huge salad, I have salad often with my dinner and not eat too much of things high in calorie, basically I make sure I eat a serving size not a generous serving that is 2 or 3 servings in reality! Eat what is there but control your portions.
  • That's great Herbaliz!!

    And I have a magic pill that will make you skinny while eating burgers and fries! Limited time offer, must pay in cash.............. :bigsmile:
  • Reyangi
    Reyangi Posts: 18 Member
    You took the words right out of my mouth!! lol
  • nesto610
    nesto610 Posts: 107
    That's great Herbaliz!!

    And I have a magic pill that will make you skinny while eating burgers and fries! Limited time offer, must pay in cash.............. :bigsmile:

    HAHA!!! Chelsey, I would love some of those pills! Where should I send my hard earned money to so I can acquire these magic pills? Please respond quickly so I can get them before your limited offer expires.........:laugh: :laugh:

    Hey Herbaliz, who wants to have shakes when all it would take are some pills...?... freaking troll..
  • Reyangi
    Reyangi Posts: 18 Member
    As far as the family thing. I went through the same thing over and over again until the "skinny" people in my house finally decided to be a little more supportive. They love you and if you make them see how important it is for you and for them that you be healthy they'll make adjustments. I basically cook a healthy meal of meat and veggies then add a starch for them. I stay away from most starches but it makes them not feel so deprived and if you cook the meat and veggies with lots of flavor it should make the transition a little easier for them. And don't feel like you're making them suffer because you're overweight. In the long run, a healthier diet will benefit them as well. Hang in there.
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    I dunno, I started shopping cheap so that I could afford both my food and my spouse could get theirs. A lot of focused ethnic stores are stupid cheap. Click my profile now for a free webinar and links to my budgetary shopping books! :)
  • halfpintpeggy
    halfpintpeggy Posts: 64 Member
    SPAMMER
    Good Afternoon!

    I would love to help you lose the weight. I am a weight loss coach and I use the product Herbalife. It is really easy to use. 2 meal replacement protein shakes a day, 1 meal, and healthy snacks in between. I help you every step of the way. You don't need to exercise but of coarse it will speed up your weight loss process. If your interested email me at: lizthuer (the sign at) hotmail.com

    Thanks for your time,

    Liz
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    SPAMMER
    Good Afternoon!

    I would love to help you lose the weight. I am a weight loss coach and I use the product Herbalife. It is really easy to use. 2 meal replacement protein shakes a day, 1 meal, and healthy snacks in between. I help you every step of the way. You don't need to exercise but of coarse it will speed up your weight loss process. If your interested email me at: lizthuer (the sign at) hotmail.com

    Thanks for your time,

    Liz

    Of COARSE she is.
  • Savannah1204
    Savannah1204 Posts: 7 Member
    WOW! Thank you all soooo much! I cannot believe the support on here. With all this I may actually succeed this time! Minus the magic protein shakes and pills!! hahaha.

    Portion size seems like something I can really try! My family too, NEEDS (think they need) to have the junk food in the house. The temptations are always going to be there, I just need to keep focused!

    I finally got my garden in, I'm hoping to get my boyfriends 11yr old son interested in getting to pick his own veggies. Then maybe I can sneak in more healthy options!
  • I'm in the same boat all those the two other adults in the house do need to change too. But that's not my choice...

    As for meals I don't always have different stuff than them. Most of the time I just eat more veggies or don't add more cals with butter, dressings and things like that. I do buy most of the food that comes in the house. So I try to make healthy choices for all of us. I don't eat "diet" food. I'm not on a diet. I'm trying to change my life habits forever! And since it's summer we have been grilling a lot. Now when the kids have hotdogs I have a turkey burger on skinny bread instead of a bun. Little things like that don't make my food bill much more. I may spend like $20 more a week on substitutes for me. But most of the time we eat the same things. I just eat more greens and less of the extra stuff.

    I struggle with the constant snacking the other adults in my house do or the pizza they order or whatever. Drives me crazy! But it's not their probably it drives me crazy. So I try to distract myself with music and other stuff that I enjoy that doesn't have to do with food. I also vent on my profile here and try to distract myself with the success stories on here. You can add me if you want to.
  • That's great Herbaliz!!

    And I have a magic pill that will make you skinny while eating burgers and fries! Limited time offer, must pay in cash.............. :bigsmile:

    HAHA!!! Chelsey, I would love some of those pills! Where should I send my hard earned money to so I can acquire these magic pills? Please respond quickly so I can get them before your limited offer expires.........:laugh: :laugh:

    Hey Herbaliz, who wants to have shakes when all it would take are some pills...?... freaking troll..

    I'm glad you see the light!! Miracle weight-loss is the only way to go. Hey, after you buy these pills from me, I have a Persian prince who wants to sign you over his entire estate if you'll only send him $2,000!!

    :drinker: :bigsmile:
  • WOW! Thank you all soooo much! I cannot believe the support on here. With all this I may actually succeed this time! Minus the magic protein shakes and pills!! hahaha.

    Portion size seems like something I can really try! My family too, NEEDS (think they need) to have the junk food in the house. The temptations are always going to be there, I just need to keep focused!

    I finally got my garden in, I'm hoping to get my boyfriends 11yr old son interested in getting to pick his own veggies. Then maybe I can sneak in more healthy options!

    The garden is a great idea. Don't just have him involved in the picking - I would suggest involving him in the whole process so he takes some ownership in it and really sees the whole thing! You could even try giving him his own section that he is in charge of. I think having them help in the planting and maintenance really adds a HUGE sense of pride, especially when you actually get to eat it! Gardens are AWESOME!!! Way to go!

    And I agree with the aforementioned - change your portion allotments. Make sure you always have a salad or veggies at every meal and eat that mostly, with a smaller amount of the main course.

    A successful diet shouldn't be about cutting out the foods you enjoy, just learning how to control the amount and get in enough of the truly good stuff. If you cut out the foods you enjoy completely, you will fail. Find a healthy balance and get in exercise regularly.

    Best of luck!!!
  • nesto610
    nesto610 Posts: 107
    That's great Herbaliz!!

    And I have a magic pill that will make you skinny while eating burgers and fries! Limited time offer, must pay in cash.............. :bigsmile:

    HAHA!!! Chelsey, I would love some of those pills! Where should I send my hard earned money to so I can acquire these magic pills? Please respond quickly so I can get them before your limited offer expires.........:laugh: :laugh:

    Hey Herbaliz, who wants to have shakes when all it would take are some pills...?... freaking troll..

    I'm glad you see the light!! Miracle weight-loss is the only way to go. Hey, after you buy these pills from me, I have a Persian prince who wants to sign you over his entire estate if you'll only send him $2,000!!

    :drinker: :bigsmile:

    I would be more interested in a Persian princess, but a Middle Eastern estate sounds nice too! Private message me the address I should send the cash too! WOO HOO!, guaranteed weight loss and a Persian estate is almost too much for me to handle in one night! I am so lucky!
  • KWKY
    KWKY Posts: 110 Member
    I am the cook of the family with two girls, 3 and 6. Basically the night before I prepare two containers of stuff
    - a massive box of salad
    - a smaller box of cut up veggies

    First is for snacking and main meals, second is to make smoothies, both stave off the hunger and brings about automatic portion control on eating what the rest of the family is eating (I make healthy stuff for them but I am trying to go lo carb and it's not healthy for kids to go lo carb, or lo anything for that matter).
  • That's great Herbaliz!!

    And I have a magic pill that will make you skinny while eating burgers and fries! Limited time offer, must pay in cash.............. :bigsmile:

    HAHA!!! Chelsey, I would love some of those pills! Where should I send my hard earned money to so I can acquire these magic pills? Please respond quickly so I can get them before your limited offer expires.........:laugh: :laugh:

    Hey Herbaliz, who wants to have shakes when all it would take are some pills...?... freaking troll..

    I'm glad you see the light!! Miracle weight-loss is the only way to go. Hey, after you buy these pills from me, I have a Persian prince who wants to sign you over his entire estate if you'll only send him $2,000!!

    :drinker: :bigsmile:

    I would be more interested in a Persian princess, but a Middle Eastern estate sounds nice too! Private message me the address I should send the cash too! WOO HOO!, guaranteed weight loss and a Persian estate is almost too much for me to handle in one night! I am so lucky!

    Hahaha, yes, yes luck is on your side! Go buy some lotto tickets STAT!
  • Savannah1204
    Savannah1204 Posts: 7 Member

    The garden is a great idea. Don't just have him involved in the picking - I would suggest involving him in the whole process so he takes some ownership in it and really sees the whole thing! You could even try giving him his own section that he is in charge of. I think having them help in the planting and maintenance really adds a HUGE sense of pride, especially when you actually get to eat it! Gardens are AWESOME!!! Way to go!

    And I agree with the aforementioned - change your portion allotments. Make sure you always have a salad or veggies at every meal and eat that mostly, with a smaller amount of the main course.

    A successful diet shouldn't be about cutting out the foods you enjoy, just learning how to control the amount and get in enough of the truly good stuff. If you cut out the foods you enjoy completely, you will fail. Find a healthy balance and get in exercise regularly.

    Best of luck!!!
    [/quote]


    Thank You Chelsey,

    Giving him his own section is a Great idea!! Thank You.

    I'm very happy to get the validation, I do not need to cut out foods and go on a "diet". The more I tell myself I can't have something, I just want it more!
  • Findingmyathlete
    Findingmyathlete Posts: 57 Member
    Hiya :)
    I just wanted to encourage you to stay strong. If you would like to add me I would love to be a cheerleader for you on here.

    In response to your post, I do the same as other posters have said. Since I am the main one to do the shopping and cooking, I buy healthier items and try to serve more fresh fruits and vegetables with my meals. While buying fresh can be more expensive, I just buy a few veggies and fruits to try for one week and then change the type of veggies the following week and so forth. I still buy and cook the things I know my kids and husband like. But I encourage my kids to eat some healthier items along with the things they like. I take smaller portions of the higher calorie food and try to fill up with veggies or lower calorie foods.

    Also as for keeping junk food in the home. I may buy some for everyone else but I buy smaller amounts of it. Then I encourage my kids to snack on fruit or carrots. I don't try to control what my husband eats. But I can definitely encourage my children to make better choices. And hopefully by having healthier options around my husband can make healthier choices too. While generally he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, he has said to me that even though it's not his choice he likes it when I make salad or vegetables for dinner because he realizes its healthier and he's more likely to have a little if it's in front of him.
    Anyway. Sorry for rambling.
    Feel free to add me if you'd like :)
  • 2BeHappy2
    2BeHappy2 Posts: 811 Member
    I have found that I really enjoy the flavor and look of steamed veggies (theyre brighter in color & not mushy from being in water).
    I can eat them w/out anything added...salt, butter etc but my husband likes to have "something" on his so he will sprinkle a little parmesan cheese.
    When we get the munchies, we will make air popped pop corn (put some kernels in a brown lunch bag, fold it down a few times & like store bought, pop it in your microwave).
    2 Cups Air Popped popcorn w/ nothing added is only 30 cal!
    I can eat mine plain and any kernels that didn't pop can be used again because nothing was put on it, so don't toss them out!
    My husband will add some butter or seasoning to his own.
    Today we had shredded chicken w/ salsa using corn tortillas.
    I had 2 (each tortilla was 60cal) and when I was still hungry I used the shredded lettuce (no cheese) and added a small amount of that salsa shredded chicken!
    When my husband wants chocolate cookies, most of the time I am ok w/ him eating them around me but when I get the craving for something sweet similar to his cookies, I get a Belgian Almond Cookie which satisfies the sweet & crunchy desire.
    8 Cookies are 140 Calories whereas 1 Toll House chocolate cookie is 90cal!
    18 Cal (1 sugar) is in 1 Private Selection Cookie!
  • LoseLiftLoveurself
    LoseLiftLoveurself Posts: 4 Member
    I am so glad I found this post, because I have the same problem!! I read through all of the comments, and all are great ideas!! I have three kiddos, and one big kid that just won't commit! He needs to lose to, but I can't make him. I have tried over and over again as well, and it does get difficult on being the only one who seems to be trying. Feel free to add me and we can motivate each other! I have also added a lot of motivational sites and people on my facebook and instagram to help me get the right mindset! Good luck and just remember if he notices it will be inspiring and may change his mind as well :wink:
  • Fit_Fox88
    Fit_Fox88 Posts: 410 Member
    I just change what I fill my plate up with. I have a smallish portion of the main entrée when we are having things like spaghetti, casseroles,etc. I also stick to smaller portions of the carb-y sides (not that I cut carbs a lot, it just tends to be higher calorie). Then I fill up my plate with a lot of veggies. I also try to have things like grilled chicken or fish a little more often.

    Same.

    This. I eat A LOT of fish and chicken. When I have pasta I usually splurge a little bit or make room for it throughout the day. If we are having pizza or fried chicken I won't deny myself any of it, but I also won't sit there and eat the whole pizza (usually) or the whole bucket of chicken. Smaller portions, make it fit.
  • cjaneplay79
    cjaneplay79 Posts: 20 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I have started my journey over and over. My biggest problem is no one else in my household is willing to do the same. I don't think its fair they need to change just because I am over weight. I also don't have the budget to buy 2 separate meals for every meal of the day.

    Does anyone else have this issue? How do I get past this, inexpensively.

    I am in need of motivation/support and friends!! :)


    Same issue. My mom lives with us and she is the MOST resistant and the only one in the house who (because of several health issues) REALLY needs to make a change.....so I've been slowly changing everybody's diet...for example, I don't use beef in family dishes like Spaghetti, I use Italian Ground Turkey....NO ONE could tell the difference...and EVERYBODY loves it. I also don't buy her as many sodas as I used to. I just buy a small pack and once they run out I conveniently "forget" to buy more and then only have 100% juices and water available so, she has no choice alot of times. I can tell a difference. She is also losing weight slowly but surely and she looks great. I compliment her all of the time and I am seeing changes. I just don't pressure her or anyone else to move at MY pace....I'm gently helping her find her own....GOOD LUCK TO YOU.....YOU CAN and YOU WILL DO IT!!!!