Losing weight in an unhealthy household??

BOSScal
BOSScal Posts: 2
in Getting Started
I am feeling very discouraged today. I am 20 years old and I just moved back into my parents house. I am trying to lose around 100-135ibs so far I have lost 10 ibs by cutting out soda and juices and working out. Its very hard for me to lose weight and be healthy like I want because I just got laid off and I dont have the money to buy groceries for myself. All my parents do is eat unhealthy. As I type now my mom is frying fish and making grits. Its frustrating because I cant control what she cooks and I cant control what groceries they buy. Our fridge is filled with soda and things I cant have. With my last bit of money I bought fruit and different things for me to eat and I cant even keep them because my mom eats my fruit as a snack not realizing that these are my actual meals because I cant eat what they eat. I just feel like im never going to lose the weight. I am trying so hard but I just feel so bad. I have been applying for jobs all day every day and I just havent had any luck yet... I dont know how I can continue with my weight loss journey like this....

Replies

  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    You can eat what they eat (minus the sugary soda, IMO). No, it's not ideal. But as long as you maintain a calorie deficit you will lose weight, even if you are eating small portions of fried food. Grits aren't "bad", actually no food is "bad".

    It's rough that you got laid off, and don't have the means currently to buy your own groceries with healthier choices. Surely in the future you will get to a better place where you WILL be able to do that...make it your goal!

    But in the meantime, measure/weigh the "unhealthy" food, try to choose the lesser of a few evils when possible, but remember that even the fried, fatty comfort foods do have nutritional value and as long as you maintain a deficit you will get a head start on weight loss. Don't let your situation be an excuse. It really doesn't have to be! I wish you the best!
  • willrun4bagels
    willrun4bagels Posts: 838 Member
    I'm sorry you are feeling discouraged.

    Can you have a conversation with your parents about your goals? Would they be at all willing or financially able to purchase the things you want to eat to meet your goals? You can eat the things that they cook, just less of them if they are very calorie-dense and you want to stick to your MFP recommendations. This might mean that you can have a small piece of the fried fish, but then have some vegetables or greek yogurt or something with it to fill you up. If they would be willing and able to help purchase the add-ons for meals for you, that might help you. Frozen fruits and veggies are what make up most of my fruit and vegetable consumption - they are cheap, and I am the only one in my house that eats a lot of it, so buying a lot of fresh stuff ends up going to waste for me because I can't eat it before it goes bad.

    You could also offer to help cook for them. Offer to cook dinner once or twice a week (or more! Your mom might love that! I know mine would if I lived with her lol), if they are open to that - come up with a grocery list for a simple basic healthy meal for everyone to enjoy. It doesn't have to be about you cooking a super low calorie meal for all of them if they don't want to eat it, it could be any sort of meal - just taking that burden off of a parent might be enough for them to agree to help purchase a wider variety of foods.
  • fitOsaurusRex
    fitOsaurusRex Posts: 15
    willrun4bagel had a good idea of offering to cook for them. i've found that most people honestly dont realize how good healthy food can taste. My husband is a junk food junkie and the main reason we have junk food in our house. i've been able to come up with yummy healthy recipes to swap for his not so healthy cravings and that's helped us a lot. it's hard when you dont have control over whats being made and purchased. i'd recommend saving what money you can and opting for your own goodies but keeping them separate from everyone elses food. that way you know where it is and you can have it when you want it without worry that others will eat it; thats what i did when i lived at home. maybe also check out some macro tracking plans...if you're following a plan where youre tracking macros (fat, protein, carbs, fiber) you will have more wiggle room over just calorie tracking. i hope you get some good ideas to help you feel less discouraged. i bet you will continue to lose weight just being aware of what you're eating as well.

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