Help me!

I need some major motivation.  A couple of years ago, I was down 30 pounds, using this site, and as of today, I'm back up 25.  At least I haven't gained it all back plus some, but I don't want to go there, and I'm obviously capable of it.  Most days, I've been like, "Well, I don't know how many calories were in that sandwich, so I guess I'll just be off plan today."  I've been doing this for months and months.  I've been exercising off and on, but apparently eating to compensate for that.

I'm a busy mom of 4, so time is of the essence, and cooking for 6 people, healthy foods, is really really hard.  Any motivation and quick, healthy ideas you can send my way would be appreciated.  I know how to do this.....I've done it!  I just need a new beginning, I guess.  Thank you!

Hi, I remember you.  How are the babies?

Not sure what to tell you.  Eating healthy is expensive right now. 

My daughter and four of my grandchildren live with me right now.  The slow cooker and the bread maker are our best tools to save time and money.

Thanks spoiled_candy!  The kids are fine and growing like weeds.  You're right about eating healthy being expensive.  I find that using the slow cooker is hard to calculate calories because there's so many different things in it, and unless you measure each thing you put in.....there's really no way to know the calories.  Unless you get one of those frozen thingys, which is more expensive anyway.  I love slow cookers, though.  Maybe I'll start doing some chicken in there, that might be good.  Anyway, if it were just me, I'd probably make the same 2-3 things every night so that I could keep it simple and low-cal, but it's just hard with 6 people.  Thanks for the encouragement.

I understand, when it was just me I would pick up a roasted chicken and eat for a couple of days.  It is not even a meal for six people.

I estimate on the slow cooker stuff mostly, but it doesn't always work.  I also find that the kids eat more veggies this way because they are hidden.

Is there a wholesale food store near your house?  We buy a lot of stuff in bulk.

Not that I know of.  What's a name of one of them?  Maybe there is and I just don't realize it.  hmmmm

If you mean like Sam's or Costco, then yes, but I'm not a member of those places because we don't have the room to put all the bulk supplies, so it's just not worth it.

Like costco, but we have a few that you don't need a membership for.  I am in Canada so you might not have them, Zehr's and Wholesale Foods.  WF is a place where the more you buy of a product the cheaper it gets.

I also have a fruit cellar which helps a lot.  I can tomatoes and jams and have a big enough backyard to be able to have a garden and still have room for the kids to play.  It is hard to keep them out of the garden though.

I know it is hard but it can be done,  One thing to keep in mind is that you can not please everyone.  My husband and I agreed a long time ago that if I am doing the cooking and the shopping he is doing the eating and no complaining. 

Over the years I have gotten pretty good with my shopping and stretching that dollar.  Taking the time to plan is very important, even if you feel like you dont even have time to pee.  The nice thing about planning is that once you get into the habit it makes the whole week easier.  You know what you are going to have for dinner and lunch every single day of the week and you have everything you need on hand.

Eating well isnt really that expensive either.  Portion control is your friend here.  My husband would a 12 oz steak every day of the week.  But he knows he can have only what he can have and thats that. 

Its a healthier way to eat and saves a lot of money. 

Something relatively inexpensive, healthy and yields a LOT is dry beans. I especially like lentils. You can get a pound of them for about a dollar. Also, really watch sales and buy generic brands of things. Doing this saves me a lot of money when I go to the store! Also, do you have an aldi's? Their canned and dry foods tend to be cheaper than the grocery store as well.

You can do this! You just have to get started, which is the hardest part. ;) I had a tough time getting started, but I dug out a pair of pants that fit me great when I was about halfway to my goal weight a few years ago. I take them out once in a while to remind myself that I've done it before, and I can do it again!

Have you read the new CC Blog lately?  Here's something that could help

Frugal Dieting, by Igor

I'm living on a tiny fixed income and do just fine with healthy eating.  My strategy is to stay away from expensive processed foods whenever possible.  I shop the sales and have found that there are always some fresh or frozen vegetables and fruit that are good buys and nutritional bargains. 

As for slow cooker or casserole cooking, I do measure everything.  I enter the ingredients into the Recipe Analyzer, sometimes more than once with different serving sizes so I can choose how much I want to log.  It works out fine. 

Good Luck and Welcome Back!

Thank you all!  Yes, elfkittie, I do have an Aldi, and have found some great things there, but it's kind of far away, and sometimes I just don't have the time and end up going to an all-inclusive place like Wal-Mart because I have kids with me, etc., and I can't always get everything I need at Aldi.  I just need to make it a point to go there every week w/o kids to get the "good" stuff.

Thanks again!

HELLO! i didnt know u, but now i do =), nice 2 meet u.

Well then i think ill b seen u around, ull loose all u gained, just make sure u keep it :P

Original Post by twinmama:

Thank you all!  Yes, elfkittie, I do have an Aldi, and have found some great things there, but it's kind of far away, and sometimes I just don't have the time and end up going to an all-inclusive place like Wal-Mart because I have kids with me, etc., and I can't always get everything I need at Aldi.  I just need to make it a point to go there every week w/o kids to get the "good" stuff.

 

Thanks again!

 

No problem! I'm a bit of an expert on saving money because I'm in college and I'm BROKE. hehe You can do it :)

Original Post by twinmama:

Thanks spoiled_candy!  The kids are fine and growing like weeds.  You're right about eating healthy being expensive.  I find that using the slow cooker is hard to calculate calories because there's so many different things in it, and unless you measure each thing you put in.....there's really no way to know the calories.  Unless you get one of those frozen thingys, which is more expensive anyway.  I love slow cookers, though.  Maybe I'll start doing some chicken in there, that might be good.  Anyway, if it were just me, I'd probably make the same 2-3 things every night so that I could keep it simple and low-cal, but it's just hard with 6 people.  Thanks for the encouragement.

 My wife does the bulk of the shopping and cooking at our house (family of 5). I get paid once a month and we do a monthly grocery run. We found, like you, that eating healthy seemed really expensive. Try a couple of planning tips:

Create a meal "schedule". Write down a dinner plan for every day of your shopping period. For example if it is 2 weeks plan 14 Dinners. (you can do lunches too of need be). You don't have to eat the meals in order (unless you are really that anal) but it helps you not to over shop, and avoid the impulse buys at the groc. store.

Take your grocery list and seperate it into "Needs" and "Wants". When you do this BE HONEST! Do you really NEED Beer? or just WANT it? Once your list is made, if you have done it correctly you are buying only the things you need for your meal plan (above), your household cleaning essentials, Baby esentials Diapers, Wipes, baby food etc.) You will see you have a pretty large amount of money left then you prioritize the things on your want list and get what is appropriate.

This method has been a godsend for my family. Although the Need/Want list initially turned into a fight between my wife and I, we now laugh at it. We also don't end up with 50lbs of flour and 7 cans of the same spices because they were perpetually on the list for no need. It has also allowed us, on particularly good months, to have enough extra money to go out to dinner as a family!

Good luck!