Need encouragement - on tight budget but need to lose at least 2 stone

[imalostcause]

We're on a really tight budget but I need to lose weight, at least 2 stone (I daren't weigh myself ). Also I have depression and struggle with comfort eating

Can someone help me work out how to do this and how to motivate myself? Any ideas for a meal plan? (I have ibs and can't eat various vegetables or pulses, only eat root vegetables).

Thanks.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Step 1 - change your nickname as that's awful, you're not that at all.

Step 2, er...? I really like my fitness pal (mfp). And it's free! I started by logging what I actually did eat, in the bad old days. Then i worked out what weight I wanted to be, and how much I thought I could aim to lose each week. That, plus my starting weight etc generated a calorie goal per day. I find it easy to use and surprisingly motivating.

Do you think you will weigh yourself? Obvs if not, then that suggestion is no good for you!

[TheSpottedZebra]

Are you ok with repetitive food? I found it helpful to cook up a BIG batch of soup, fridge some, freeze some, and eat that for lunch, every day. Mine was just onion, garlic, lentils, tomato puree, stock and veg really (mostly root veg). Sometimes I'd go wild and and add tinned tomatoes or spices. But not always.

Having that ready worked for me, and it is no more boring than a sandwich everyday. And it's v v cheap, filling and healthy.

[TheSpottedZebra]

NB I did read that you don't do pulses, I didn't ignore that! I am veggie so use them for protein but you could easily substitute with something else.

[imalostcause]

I used to make a big pot of soup to take to work for lunch so I could start doing that again.

I really struggle for main meals, as meat is so expensive.

and breakfast is a struggle, the only thing I can face in the morning is bread. I don't have milk as it makes me ill, so cereal and porridge is out of the equation. I don't really like eggs.

Any suggestions?

[Rockchick1984]

Could you have porridge made with water instead of milk for breakfast if it's dairy that's the problem? I struggle with dairy first thing so I usually just have a herbal tea in the morning and a pint of water, then eat something for brunch at about 10.30.

[imalostcause]

I'm really scared to weigh myself, I think it'll be really bad and make me feel really down.

I will have a look for my fitness pal app.

[imalostcause]

Do you have anything in porridge with water? like sugar, jam? Doesn't it taste awful?

[goodasitgets]

If all you can face is bread then go with that. Have whole grain or similar, eat protein with it though like peanut butter, or some ham. Rice or almond milk with porridge?
Keep it really simple and stick to unprocessed food as much as you can

[imalostcause]

Thanks. I will try almond milk - isn't it expensive though?

[Rockchick1984]

Porridge (proper stuff, not ready brek type) made with water is lovely, it still tastes creamy, I like it with a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg in it.

Can you give an example of a day's food that you eat, see if anyone can suggest small changes to your diet?

[imalostcause]

I really don't like porridge made with water, sorry

[TalkinPeace]

OP
Try the 5:2 diet - it involves hardly eating two days a week so saves money!

[Viviennemary]

I agree with soup. I'm trying with soup for at least one meal if not two. And no bread and I'm a lot less hungry.

[imalostcause]

Well I weighed myself earlier, about what I expected. I've eaten sensibly so far, tonight will be the test. I had 2 slices of bread and butter for breakfast, veg soup for lunch, but all I have in is chicken and mushroom slices for tea with carrots and peas.

[TalkinPeace]

Hmmm,
ditch the carbs at breakfast : they switch on hunger.
eggs or yoghurt

and have a look at stews : cheap meat slow cooked for ages .... warms the house up and really healthy

[imalostcause]

I don't like yoghurt or eggs

Dd won't eat stew or anything casseroled I do often put a really cheap piece of shoulder pork in the slow cooker, that will feed us for 2 days.

[Enlli]

The best way I find to lose weight is to just eat less and only eat when your properly hungry and stop when you feel fuller. In learning to eat less and listen to your body you can eat the foods that are normal in your household so no need for any additional purchases.

[imalostcause]

Thank you, that sounds doable. I just need some willpower now when dh gets the junk food out.

[TalkinPeace]

imalostcause
tell your DH to grow a pair and point out that he should not be eating the Junk food either.
Any that is in the cupboards can either be binned or not replaced when it runs out
and as for takeaways : hide the phone.
Neither of you need them, even if he's a skinnymalink.

AND
Junk food is killingly expensive per portion - so you'll save money by ditching it completely

[imalostcause]

Thanks Talk I don't know if junk food is more expensive, given how expensive meat, veg and fruit are.

[TalkinPeace]

imacause
If you measure it in terms of real nutrition
the sort that builds muscles and bones and brain synapses
junk food is exactly that
you are better off eating less of better food that leave you full for longer

seriously :
jacket potato with home made chilli mince that includes lots of veg
will leave you all stuffed for 12 hours AND provide the nutrients your kids need to excel at school

veg is cheap : carrots, spuds, parsnips, seasonal stuff like leeks : made into stews / soups / casseroles
fruit : citrus is in peak season : all you can eat for £1 a day

[Blondie1984]

We'll firstly congratulations on admitting you thin something isn't right - as well ad the healthy eating though you really need to try and explore and understand your emotional eating as otherwise it's like putting a plaster over a deep wound

For your diet, what are you eating at the moment?

[imalostcause]

We've been eating cheap quick stuff like frozen battered fish, cheap sausages. cheap frozen kievs, sausage rolls with frozen peas or carrots and mash. For breakfast dh and dd have muesli and I have toast, for lunch dd has a packup at school (roll with cheese, home made muffin, pot of fruit or some cherry tomatoes and a cartoon of juice, I have soup or veg rice out of a pack Neither of us drink much, but in the evening we snack on crisps or chocolate.

You're right, it is emotional eating. Hopefully if our situation improves this won't be as much of an issue. Things have been really difficult for over a year, we're close to losing our home, I suffer with depression - it's just been really difficult. I know I need to turn things round and am trying hard to change my frame of mind.

[kaykayblue]

Actually junk food is more expensive if you take into account what you actually get for your money. What junk food IS in comparison to "real" food, is quick.

Rather than try and turn everything around at once, why not start by making a few changes, get them established in your life, and then add a few more?

The sausages, kievs and sausage rolls will be LOADED in fat, pretty much devoid of any actual protein (they tend to use a tiny percentage of meat and then lots of flour and water to bulk it up). So you really should give them a very wide berth.

Aside from stress, IBS is normally attributed at least in part to fatty foods, processed crap (like crisps and biscuits), chocolate and fizzy drinks. Since most of those things seem to feature quite prominently in your diet, you may well find that your IBS improves as your diet does.

Firstly I would recommend that you not use butter on your toast in the mornings. One single tablespoon of butter is over 100 calories and almost pure fat. Obviously use it up, but when it comes to replacing it go for something like lurpak lightest (or do some research - go for something without hydrogenated fats or oils). You can also try switching to wholemeal bread, which will keep you full for longer, as it takes longer for your body to digest (white bread is converted to energy at almost the same speed as pure sugar, which means you get hungry quickly after).

Don't snack on crisps and chocolate in the evening. It's pretty much a vicious circle - emotional eating aside, you're probably at least partly hungry later on because the kievs and stuff you eat aren't going to keep you full for long. But the money you save on not buying the crisps and chocolate gives you a little bit more to spend on decent food to eat at mealtimes.

I think cooking in bulk is going to be your friend. It saves on money, because you get a good few uses out of one batch, and there's no wastage at all. A batch of vegetarian chilli is going to fill you up, last longer, be 100% better nutritionally for you, and come out at pretty much the same price as some of your frozen stuff. Same for a big batch of lasagne.

The only thing I'll say in relation to your aversion to vegetables is this:

1. Vegetables are very high in fibre, which - when you are not used to it - can cause you constipation and indigestion AT THE BEGINNING. High fibre diets are recommended by pretty much everyone and his dog as being extremely healthy and can even help to avoid certain types of bowel cancer.
   
   
2. Vegetables are very versatile and extremely cheap. They are a brilliant and cheap substitute for meat, they are low in calories, and they are brilliant for your health.
   
   So if you have had an actual doctor tell you to avoid vegetables, then fine. But if you are self diagnosed, then I'd really urge you to start to slowly introduce them into your diet.
   
   On the depression, I take it that you are already seeing a doctor about it, and have been given either medication or some sort of guidance? Whilst I in no way think that it is some kind of "magic cure", I would really recommend that you start doing some form of exercise on a daily basis, which has been proved time and time again to help manage depression. Even if you start off with a brisk 30 minute walk on a daily basis and work your way up. I'm not saying that it's a panacea, but it should help, and it will have the added benefit of helping you to burn calories.

[imalostcause]

It's only certain vegetables that aggravate my ibs, mainly brassicas and pulses.

Thanks

I've put the sausage rolls and pasties in the freezer for emergencies when we have nothing and restocked the fridge a little. We did have the sausages tonight but I only had one with a pile of swede and cauliflower.

Tomorrow we're having roast pork with the rest of the cauliflower and carrots, mash for dh and dd.

I've cut right down on the chocolate and crisps but did have a mince pie this evening.

Breakfast is still a problem. I don't eat white bread, I've got 2 loaves of Genius gluten free Brown bread in the freezer that I bought when reduced. We don't eat spread or lighter anything in this house though, I'd rather have a little real butter. I don't eat sandwiches, the only time I have bread is 2 small slices of toast for breakfast or sometimes a slice of dark rye ryvita.

I feel quite motivated at the moment, hope I can stick to it for a while and don't lose the plot over Christmas.