depressed, fat, and broke

I wear a regular bra under a sports bra for extra support. I got 3 basic sports bras from Walmart for about $10. Low sodium canned green beans, carrots, etc can get you some decent nutrition with less waste. So can low sodium canned black/red/garbanzo/northern beans. I have found my local food bank stocks those and a lot of other healthy food. Is that something you can look into?

As far as exercise, walking is great. I have lost most of my weight from doing it. And YouTube has lots of workout videos, if you want to try something different. Just be kind to yourself and have patience. We can't change a lifestyle in a day. I know the strain of struggling financially. Ultimately, I have been trying to turn from food to exercise for coping with my anxiety over it.

As already stated, weight loss is about calorie deficit.

For cheap meals, how about batch cooking some hearty soups and stews? Prep for the week and you'll be using your veggies before they go bad, and you'll always have something in the fridge or freezer that you can reheat in a few minutes to try and prevent you heading to a takeaway. Use beans and pulses to bulk out the meals and add more protein if you can't afford much meat.

In terms of exercise, there's no need to do high impact activities that require an expensive bra. You could walk, cycle if you have a bike, do yoga or pilates or body strength training.

I see a lot of excuses in that there post. If there's a will there's a way. Find your will.

If you are not eating your fresh right away you can portion it and freeze it or buy frozen. When buying food, go for fresh first, frozen 2nd, and canned as last choice (low sodium or no sodium for me). Exercise? Walking. I was cleared for exercise 3 weeks ago and started walking. Only thing needed was tennis shoes. I have found that exercise, even just 20-30 minute walking, has helped with stress levels, sleep, and mood. I feel better all around. Sports bra, agree, wear regular one and but the $10 Walmart, they work. Also totally agree with crispsandwich!

You are putting yourself in a position where you are overwhelmed by the supposed enormity of the project.
Break it down into its component parts, understand them and how they relate to you and your overall objective.

Understand whats motivating you to want to lose and decide if you are prepared to do what it takes for as long as it takes. 1lb a week is a rule of thumb I suggest merely to give you an idea of how long it might take, it may take longer.

Your first step shouldnt cost anything and you have access to this site and the internet. Learn about weight loss and pick up tips on how to lose weight healthily and sustainably. The idea is that you get to the end. Knowledge of how calorie deficits, nutrition and exercise fit into the scheme of things will al hel you become familiar with the unfamiluar and take some of the fear out of the task.

Look at your mental wellbeing and either focus or work out a plan that can have you commited with other things like your job being less likely to distract you. You might even consider getting a better or different job if its nt working for you.

With good knowledge of nutrition you cna use this site to see what people eat (things in moderation) plus you will find sensible shopping (rather than fast food) where you cook for yourself will work out cheaper.

Exercise then just start with walking at whatever level you are, do a bit more the next day and the day after till you build up to 30-60 mins a day. You can do soem exercise at home just bodyweight or workouts from fitness belnder or youtube. Whatever you cna manage .

If you want a sports bra and you have virtually nothing then have a look on ebay. If you know what you are looking for then its just a question of being patient. If you walk and do workouts at home then its less of a problem.

You talk about food and laziness, so you are going to need to tackle those head on, commit take responsibility and do something about it instead of making excuses. Do it one day, then focus on the the next until it becomes normal. Keep your targets small, so you cna easily meet them and build momentum. It starts with you commiting.

Focus on the things you can control and positive life changes will come. Keep your chin up! Don't need to jog to lose weight just go out and walk the miles.

It is really hard to do this, to break out of this cycle but it CAN be done. I was where you are over a year ago, the only exercise I have ever done is walking so never needed a sports bra (you could try wearing two ordinary bras, one over the other btw for more support). It is correct to say it is calorie deficit so you could do that whatever way you wanted, you do NOT have to live on lettuce and radishes for ever - do what you can. Gradually you will realise that you can eat a whole lot more healthy stuff than you can unhealthy stuff. You can make your calories go further just like you make money go further. I have gradually changed my diet over the year, swapping to fresh food and cutting out a lot of crappy food and I lost 104lbs so far. No gym memberships, no special food, no miracle protein shakes, supplements or anything else. Keep it simple BUT you have to keep yourself motivated so get a bunch of good supportive friends here who will help. You can do this but you have to put effort in.

alexandramyers wrote: »

...and its a vicious cycle. How do you break the cycle? I'm sick of being miserable but I can't seem to stop abusing myself with food and laziness

You sound like me 25 yrs ago...it's only a few more lbs, I'll take care of it soon! Guess what, I let the cycle continue and now am 51 and 273 lbs. Stop the cycle by making a choice, decide on what you want, map out how you can succeed and sticking to it. Force yourself thru the first two weeks of eating healthier and it gets much, much better. Yes it is easier and cheaper to eat bad...but if you make that choice you will lose who you want to be.

Shop on Amazon for a good sports bra. You can usually find one cheap with free shipping. You just have to take the time to look thoroughly. I did a google search for the best sports bras, then looked on Amazon. I eat what I want. I just stay within my calories. A good way to get started is to set a mini goal and then add on to it. It takes 30 days for a habit to stick. For instance, just walk for 15 mins a day. If you feel like doing more, then okay. But walk at least for 15 mins a day. You won't need a sports bra to walk. Also, stay away from restaurants of any kind. You're wasting money that is already tight. You can usually find something comparable at the grocery store cheaper. Make reminders and look at them often. Also ask yourself if you are really hungry or are just bored. Best way to find out is to drink a bottle of water and find something to do. If you're still hungry, then have something to eat.

alexandramyers wrote: »

...and its a vicious cycle. I want to start exercising, but with E sized tits u need a good sports bra, which I can't find anywhere decently priced. Then I go out and buy fresh foods, which aren't "fulfillling" and don't stay fresh long because my body is used to junk and I can't seem to eat my veggies before they go bad. And, oh, if I have a bad day at work! Then let's buy 10 mcchickens to eat throughout the night. Also, being broke makes me feel down, and being down makes me want to eat, and eating too much is how I got fat, and being fat makes me want to lose weight, so I want to exercise but can't buy the proper gear, and being broke makes me feel down... The cycle continues. How do you break the cycle? I'm sick of being miserable but I can't seem to stop abusing myself with food and laziness

First on the large bust and sports bras. It is hard to find one in the store that supports a larger bust. I ordered mine from Amazon. I measured myself and then compared it to their sizing charts. I found one by Glamorize that works well for me. They were moderately priced and gives me the support that I was looking for. I liked them so well that I wear them for my everyday bra.

On the produce...I was having the same problem with produce. I try to shop once a week and some of my veggies just weren't holding up through the week. I now make sure that I buy some hardier vegetables that will last longer. Such as...cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, onions, bell peppers, potatoes(any variety...white, red, yams). I schedule those for later in the week and use other less hardier first.

The other thing that I have done is to set aside a cooking day and just cook ahead. Once cooked most vegetables will store in the refrigerator for most of the week.

Being broke...well I live on a fixed income so I have learned just to make it last. Ya gotta work with what you have. Toward the end of the month money starts getting tight. When I shop I look for specials on foods...things that will go along way such as...rice, pasta, potatoes, carrots, cabbage etc etc.

Proper gear...not sure if you are talking equipment, clothing or both. This month I went to a used sporting goods store. For about $175 I bought a weight bench, weights, a set of adjustable dumbbells and some other odd and end things. I don't care that they are used since I saved more than what I paid for the equipment. The adjustable dumbbelss alone new would have been close to $200.

If you are speaking of workout clothing...workout in anything...try looking in thrift stores. I bought a few things at Target when they put them on the sale racks.

About being miserable...that is harder to address since I don't know what your underlying problem is. In most cases when a person is miserable there is a cause often not related to weight. The weight is a result of being miserable. You have to figure that out...why do you REALLY feel miserable.

I will say...most often we choose to remain miserable. For the short run...it is easier to do so. Takes a lot of work, time and effort to choose to change why we are miserable. Trust me...you are not miserable because you can't find a cheap sports bra or that your veggies won't last for an entire week.

Good luck...sorry...I didn't mean to write a book...I will stop now!

You don't need a sports bra. I don't care for them personally so I just wear a well fitting supportive regular bra. Works just fine for running, calisthenics, etc.
If money is so tight, why are wasting it on veggies? Buy frozen bulk. And stop allowing yourself to get fast food. Plan and prepare meals weekly and you'll save a ton of money. Also, don't think you have to live on veg just to lose weight...that's old school thinking. Eat yummy nutritious meals and you'll do much better in the long run.
Best of luck!

999tigger wrote: »

You are putting yourself in a position where you are overwhelmed by the supposed enormity of the project.
Break it down into its component parts, understand them and how they relate to you and your overall objective.
Keep your targets small, so you cna easily meet them and build momentum. It starts with you commiting.

100% AGREED. It sounds like you're trying to change ALL aspects of your behaviors/diet all at once, which is leading to being overwhelmed and throwing in the towel.

START SMALL. The first week, swap one unhealthy snack for a healthier or lower-calorie one. It doesn't mean trading a cookie for a celery stick. It could be trading chips for a 100 calorie bag of popcorn (actually pretty cheap and filling!) Trade one high-calorie drink for something else. Go on a 10-15 minute walk and be proud you did a small amount of exercise you hadn't done before.

You CAN lose weight and include SOME junk food if that's what helps you stay on track. Set up your mostly-healthy meals and decide you can get a 4 piece nugget on your way home from work.

You can find lots of low cal stuff that is NOT a fruit/vegetable. Popcorn, lower cal breads, canned soups, frozen dinners (I love the café steamer ones!), etc.

Also I have a breakfast sandwich every morning--I fry a few eggs at the beginning of the week and put them in little sandwich baggies. They reheat nicely. Put it on a toasted English muffin + a few slices of lunch meat ham, and it's practically as good as the Egg McMuffin but it's all of $8 for week + supply and it's lower cal.

When you want it bad enough you will find a way to solve all the problems that you feel are holding you back.