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.

Over Christmas, when the celebrations start kicking in, it might be easier to think to yourself that rather than not eating ANY sweets (which will be very hard to stick to), that you eat only a couple of sweets, and not half a tin.

Damage control is much easier over christmas than completely sainthood I think!

Imalostcause I have IBS and find bread ,flour , brasicas and any diet food trigger it. Also when I get stressed. When I am having an attack I eat low carb and that seems to sort it out. I also eat real butter. A side effect of low carb is weight loss but it does keep the IBS in check.

Thanks

Enlli, I agree, but the problem with low carb is the cost. We are on a really tight budget at the moment, as dh has been out of work for a long time.

I am trying to cut out rice, pasta, potatoes, but for breakfast I am stuck for what to have, as I don't like eggs or eat yoghurt (dairy affects me too). At the moment I am having 2 slices of toast with butter - currently gluten free Genius bread that I bought reduced to 34p!

If you find genius bread doesn't affect you then that's fine. You sound like you are leaning towards low carb by yourlast two days meals. Is that what you are doing?

I don't find low carb costly though. I just eat the meat and extra veg, salads soups etc. If you don't eat dairy, eggs or cheese then that is a problem. I still feel the best way for you is to just cut down and be more mindful which you seem to be doing anyway

I have eaten low carb in the past and felt much better for it.

I seem to get away with eating butter and cheese, but milk and yoghurt make me feel ill. Eggs I can eat, but just don't like them much. I go through phases of eating omelettes or bacon and eggs, but then I'll have had enough again.

So at the moment I am trying to have a little of what I want, cut back on the junk food and eat more veg. I just struggle for breakfast, so am using up the gluten free bread I have at the moment, after that I'll have a rethink, as I'm not paying over £2 for a small loaf of bread!

My breakfast today was berries and cherries and a small banana with a spoon of Greek yoghurt and milk, whizzed into a smoothie. Lunch was scrambled eggs with salty butter and toms. Dinner chicken breast fillet , so tiny bit, green beans, carrots, broc. Snacks were cheese and grapes,

Sounds nice Enlli, but I don't think I would survive all morning after just berries with a spoon of yoghurt.

Today I had 2 slices of gluten free toast with butter for breakfast, for lunch some Leek and potato soup with another slice of toast as there wasn't much soup left. For dinner I had roast pork with cauliflower with a little grated cheese, peas and a small spoon of stuffing. Plus a snack mid afternoon of one ryvita and this evening a small bar of Aldi chocolate from their packs with 5 small bars in (Moser?).

Oh sorry, I didn't see that you included a banana

I think you're doing well with your changes so far. Hopefully you've found "Myfitnesspal" helpful.

Do you think you could fit in 30 mins brisk walk into your day couple of times a week? I know the weather's turning crap but even if you can do once round the block briskly it's better than nothing.

Remember to drink lots of water too!

Good luck.

Thanks Pinky I have walked the dog for half an hour the last few days except today, when dh took her out because I was busy - but I walked round a school for an hour this afternoon instead!

I need to find something that's quick when I'm hungry and haven't got time to prepare food, as that's when I tend to grab a slice of toast, but could be tempted to go for a biscuit instead when my willpower starts to slip Maybe just some grapes or something ..

Sorry, forgot to say, yes My Fitness Pal is very useful for keeping an eye on how many calories I'm consuming.

How about a banana or an apple for a quick snack on the go?

Have you tried overnight oats for breakfast. I got it from a blog called 'Bess Be Fit'. You put oats and whatever kind of milk you're using (almond, soy, whatever) in the fridge over night. By the morning it's all soaked in and delicious. When I used to do a lot of running five stone and two children ago this was my breakfast treat with chocolate almond milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter on top. Aldi's cheap PB has the last amount of sugar in it of all of the supermarket own brands. Another suggestion is a load of fruit with the chocolate milk, or plain milk with a drizzle of honey. I've got IBS too but it's so much better when I'm eating really healthily.

Sugar free peanut butter is lovely and still sweet but it costs a little more.

I haven't tried overnight oats, so will try that, thanks.

I love peanut butter, don't mind when there's no added sugar.

Hi OP, your changes sound great, I would recommend eating a piece of fruit mid afternoon every day before you get hungry. That will make you less likely to have an unhealthy snack. If you could swap one piece if toast at breakfast for berries or fruit that would help get in your 5 a day. Packs of frozen mixed berries are nice and cheap. Good luck!

Thanks I've bought some apples, bananas and satsumas and had a banana mid morning and a satsuma this afternoon. I'm still having gluten free toast for breakfast, I had leek and potato soup lunch and for dinner hm chilli with mashed swede

Hopefully Imalostcause between this and your other thread you will be able to move forward and put some of the ideas into practice. Its not easy to pull yourself up when you feel down but as others have said, small baby steps will add up.

Thanks Enlli I hope so, lots of good advice.

Feeling positive this morning - six days into eating more healthily and I've lost 5 lbs

Wow! That's great progress!
Keep doing what you are doing and keep the end goal in mind. Bear in mind you're likely to hit a plateau when you don't lose any further weight and that's when to make your next set of changes and review what you are doing!

Well done!! X

Thanks Pinky Yes, the Plateau is where I usually slip up

Well done

imalostcause
are you measuring yourself as well as weighing?
Just that on the long term 5:2 threads there is a clear pattern of loss - plateau - loss - plateau
but during the plateaus, many people notice that they get smaller as their body consolidates the changes

so if you keep up the exercise and healthy eating, you will get leaner, lighter, slimmer and generally healthier
in stages