Hey everyone! I am a college student hoping to some day be a veterinarian! I work part time as well as full time school, and school is an accelerated program so there are INSANE amounts of homework. I sadly use these as excuses not to actually spend time working out, but manage to find hours to waste at the computer staring blankly into cyberspace. Just as bad, my boyfriend whom I live with is gaining as much weight as I have! Whereas neither of us were ever very trim, since we have been together I have gained almost 50 lbs! In two years! My man was at 180-190 ish and is now 230! We really need to lose!

Sad thing is that we don't support each other enough in the weight loss...we both keep telling each other "it is ok to cheat" and "i don't really care how you look, as long as YOU are happy" and don't get me wrong, it IS ok to cheat ON OCCASION and I am very glad that our appearance isn't the basis of our relationship. But I know i am not as attractive as I was, and we BOTH need to watch our health! Neither of us are willing to be the "bad guy" and force the other to stay on track....which is totally the wrong thing! We need to be firm with each other, as well as understanding.

The food is primarily on me too, he absolutely despises cooking, and I can barely make mac and cheese! He is willing to cook on occasion, especially when I am really busy, but he certainly tries to avoid it, and only cooks when it would help me or to do something nice for me. So I need help finding new food ideas, things that are easy-ish to make, something i have HEARD OF before (although i am not opposed to new things!) and that can be made in large amounts and stored for left-overs. I need ideas that are cheap as possible as well, since we are slowly getting further into debt each month (currently at about 4 thousand!) and most better quality food is out of our price range. (hence the ramen, hamburger helper, and other pastas).

I know, its the same thing everyone else wants, cheap, easy, but hopefully life changing! I don't want a quick-fix!

Oh, and as for exercising, any opinions on DDR? (dance dance revolution) My apartment complex has a workout room, but I am quite self conscious and I have a bit of a health condition---I can't sweat. So working out is very difficult for me as I over-heat and pass out. Any suggestions for that?

SORRY!!! this post got long on me! You all will hate me now i am sure!

raven

Hi Raven, Welcome

Hi raven,

Do you have a slow cooker? If not, I would suggest getting one (the larger size - 5 or 6 qt). I know you probably don't want to invest into kitchen gadgets right now, but IMHO, that would be money well spent. You are quite busy and there is nothing nicer than to come home to a dinner that is already made. True, you need to spend some time prepping and chopping the ingredients, but at least you don't have to spend time at while the meal is cooking. You don't need to use any oil and you will always have enough for at least another meal (for you both) if not more.
Pasta - can you at least switch to whole wheat pasta?

Hi Raven, and welcome! Thanks for including some info about you. I have heard good things about DDR (it sounds really fun) but you might want to look at the exercise forum for a more informed opinion.

About inexpensive/easy cooking: as a "lifelong student" (I'm now a college professor, so spent a looong time in school), I can recommend making soups -- freezes well in varying amounts. You could buy fresh or canned or frozen veggies (freezing preserves nutrients better than the canning process, I think) and throw them in a pot or slow-cooker. There's no real recipe, you could use any combination of tomatoes / peas / corn / carrots / onions / beans / whatever, add lean burger (or Boca burger), and voila! Serve it with brown rice and you've got a meal, plus fruit for dessert. And, if you've been doing HamburgerHelper,maybe you could create a healthier version of it, maybe brown rice + fatfree creamofsomething soup + lean burger + onions and bake? Don't be afraid to experiment, you might find that you get to like cooking : )

Few of us have the problem of both partners needing to lose weight -- many on this forum, it seems, are married to men who never gain an ounce! But it'll be good for both of you to encourage each other --- maybe you could make up a "biggest loser" contract for the two of you where the winner gets a massage (or other sexy reward)??

Take care, and keep posting! There are a variety of forums for age, diet plan, etc. I'm sure you'll find lots of info and support here.

Congrats on getting into vet school : ) I hear it's very competitive.

to 3FC's, glad you joined us.

thanks everyone!

I do have a crock pot, a larger one and a single person one. My BFs parents gave them to us when we moved out ^.^ I also have a juicer that i have NO idea what to do with, and have yet to use it! I thought about carrot juice, but it really doesn't taste too good to me lol. Maybe i will find something in the recipes on this site!

Oh and sorry, I am not in vet school YET, I am in an accelerated vet tech program. When i moved I had to switch colleges, and the classes didn't quite cross over well, so I decided to drop regular college and do this program so I can at least start working in the vet field. Once i finish the program I will have an AS in veterinary technology, and will go to Fresno State to get a BA in animal science, and well, continue on. I hope to go to Davis, but I am worried about getting in >.< In college I has a 3.87...good but not great. In this program I have a 4.0 so far, but have about a year left. >.<

*sigh* again with the long post! lol

raven

Hi Raven! Welcome!