Originally Posted by Nikaia:

Originally Posted by :
Yes, diets CAN be expensive. It's more expensive to eat healthy than to eat quick, easy junk.

Actually, the funny thing is...as long as I restrain my spending (don't buy macadamia nuts unless they're on sale, no need to spring for salmon every week, etc) I am actually spending about the same for the healthful food I buy now as I was for the junk food I used to eat.

I still don't get the health food = expensive idea. I remember paying over $2 for a bag of chips that would be gone in a few days. Yet a bag of apples will last longer, because they fill me up quicker. Not to mention that with the chips, I was eating more of everything else too. If I was eating those $2 chips, I was like also eating some of those $2/bx of popsicles or half gallon of ice cream, plus the .50 candybar, and throw in a little french onion dip too, can't forget that. So that $2 bag has grown more expensive as the day wears on.

I also find soda to be way more expensive than water. Since I drink very little soda these days, I'm "saving" money.

And yeah, a pack of outdated ground beef is gonna run a lot cheaper than a nice piece of salmon or haddock, or perch, tilapia...even less than skinless chicken. But then I'd need either buns and cheese or a box of hamburger helper, or the other ingredients for a meatloaf, etc. Because face it, who cooks hamburger and just eats it plain all the time? But no the salmon and the chicken and others...they're great! just grilled. No need to pour in a box of Helper mix to doctor it up, and you don't need to throw it between to large pieces of baked white flour gunk.

I guess I just came to the realization somewhere that I could tell myself how expensive it was to eat healthy and continue sabotaging myself, or I could look at it in a new light and be successful.

Hi Kamby and all,

First and foremost, Kamby congrats on cutting back on certain things and making progress towards your goal! That's how it all starts! As discouraging as it may be that the scales have not shown progress in the last 3 weeks with your sacrifices or modifications, you surely have and are making progress! :) Point in case: mid jan. I started making changes to my eating plan (n o late night eating, snacking more throughout the day, etc.) and did not lose anything but then I upped it a level! I Took and am taking it to the next level, cutting out more and it is so much easier in that I have been preparing myself. You have definitely taken a step in the right direction.

Quick history: I was slim most of my life then started putting on weight when I got married, starting with the honeymoon. I was not exercising and pretty much matching my husbands eating habits and the list goes on. About 5 years later after my weight kept spiraling, I gave up smoking, quit drinking, started exercising and eating healthy! I went on to losing 46 lbs. and reaching my goal. I started a diet and then the word diet became a dirty word to me, it wasn't a diet, it was a lifestyle! I kept this lifestyle for about 10 years!!! Needless to say, I didn't do it all perfect from day 1! It was a gradual process. It takes time, try to take it one step at at a time.

I think the other posters all offered great advice, I feel the same about the pop-tarts and chips. We are all different though! I for one cringe at the thought of fruit in the morning, I just can't do it. My mother needs to eat something dry in the morning like toast. As someone else suggested , perhaps replacing the morning pop-tart with wheat toast or english muffin. Personally, I would forego the butter. Maybe try some " I cant beleive its not butter" , a little squirt on it before putting it in the toaster.

You asked for advice and from what I read and get a sense of I think a good place to start would be with familiarizing yourself with calorie content of foods, etc . and the fit- day thing. I know it's boring and work to look at all the cals sometimes but that's only in the beginning, after a while you wouldn't need to do that anymore, after having a good idea about calorie content you could plan your foods or meal plan accordingly.

My other suggestions are to look at serving size! I am doing that now! We are so accustomed to large serving sizes in this country. I measure my rice for example (again you dont need to do this after awhile, you know by eye how much to have).

The other thing to watch for is fat calories. I don't like going over 30 percent, for example. Sugar and carbs too, but I would just start with these 3 basic things right now. I read the nutrition labels at the grocery store, interesting! Look at the nutrition label for butter for example. 1 TBS. is 100 or is it 120 cals? and look a t the fat cals, ugh.

Sounds like you like your carbs and if its one thing I love and crave its carbs of that sort! Pasta, bread, potatoes, oh and I love cheese! Well, I am restricting these to a minimum right now , there are no potatoes or bread in my house right now, lol. I'll post a few suggestions that helped me and help me when I led my healthy lifestyle and am now working on getting back on track: a little cut back of cals here and there really adds up!

1 percent milk or skim milk ( i have been drinking 1 percent since my healty lifestyle days, never went back). Limited....water, water, water!

eliminate soda if you can or if you must drink the diet version, though it is high in sugar.

green tea is great, you can make ice -tea out of it.

FOr breads or pasta, wheat is best (remember to look at and measure portion sizes).

Butter - In replacement of b utter, cooking with pam butter flavored cooking spray is a great alternative. " I can't beleive it's not butter" spray works great on bread.

Oil - avoid also a.m.a.p though olive oil is best, helps with bad cholesterol and has some benefits.

Mayo - I steer clear of It! Just look at the nutriton label! I use cains fat free mayo instead or mustard.

Salad dressings - Try a progresso red wine vinegar and add oregano, etc.



FOr sandwiches, I agree with one of the posters, turkey or chicken. Perdue slim n'trim chicken breast is delicious.

For protein dinners or lunches, etc. - Turkey, fish, and chicken are lowest in fat and calorie content, versus beef (which is about 100 cals. per ounce). When getting beef, it's best to get extra lean and steer clear of the fat.

For chicken, the white meat and no skin is best. A lot of the fat in chicken comes from the skin.

Okayyyyyyyy, I feel like I have rambled, hope my post is not too l ong, I am just trying to help. I think everyone here offered great advice, what a nice supportive crew! I wish you the best of luck kamby :) Keep it going!

I forgot something! lol :) My cheese! I have been eating kraft fat free american slices (the yellow one) for years! (Yes i love feta and will never give that up, but I tr y to cut back). Anyways, at only 30 cals per slice it really is tasty. I use it when I make omelettes and many many other things. A healthy grilled cheese sandwich: put 2 slices of this cheese inbetween 2 wheat bread slices and toast! Another tasty alternative for veggies, cheese broccoli! (minus the butter). Okay, I am getting out of control now, : ) and quite frankly, I am starting to get hungry now! Not a good thing ! It is 12:30 in the morning here! :D