July Challenge: Losing weight while saving money!

apple_mint

I make couscous with vegetable stock and stir in some corriander. DD stirs a dip into this made of low fat cheese and yoghurt.

Spendless

I'd like to join too, holiday in 7 weeks:o . I actually have lifetime membership of a towns gym, so can go without paying anything, they also have a creche that I could take DD to, but I haven't finished flylady yet and really I need to finish one project before starting on another. However I can look into their times etc this week with a view to going perhaps next week.

Also need some ideas for lunch, very easy to snack all time when you're at home all day and for everyone on an evening.

annie-c

If you like snacking all day then the best thing to do (I find) is have absolutely loads of healthy snacks around the house and as few high-cal ones as possible.

Cheap snacks I use are:

Rice cakes (not Snackajacks - they are expensive and 10% fat!!) - Tesco do big packet ones in all flavours inc salt n vinegar - like crisps but with less than 3% fat

raw veg sticks - I use pepper, carrot, celery and cucumber

home-made dips, using v low fat yoghurt as a base

home made hummous - make it go further by stirring in v low fat natural yoghurt

fresh fruit

dried fruit - make your own weighed mini portions to save buying those overpriced mini packets.

For lunches I am doing:

Sandwiches using mustard or tiny bit of relish instead of butter/spread

Soup - extra thisk with vegetables

Couscous - 1 oz, bulked out with loads veg sauteed in 1-cal spray oil

pasta with tomato/veg sauce

aimeelister

Oooh can i join too please! I had already committed myself to get fitter and more healthy (as i have a point to prove to someone) and decided i would start on Friday. Now ive seen this it will be great to get some more OS ides.

I have been really good so far and made packed lunches and have reduced my portion size in the evenings (the oh doesnt know it yet but hes joining in too!) bulking things out with loads of vegies, meals are lasting more sittings and costing less, yay!

Ive got to look into it but we had fajitas last night and instead of using all the chicken (dry fried with added peppers and onion) and pack of 10 wraps up in 1 sitting I set aside 1/2 to make wraps up to bring to work today adding extra lettuce to bulk them out. No more popping to the shop when we're peckish.

Going to go for a swim today and maybe if its cooler this evening i might brave it out for a run (first time in several years....)

Good luck everyone :j

researcher

A few tips that might help someone.


Use a little stock to stir-fry rather than oil, even the spray type.
Cut down on processed carbohydrate, like bread and substitute 'complex' carbohydrates like brown rice and lentils.
Substitute normal bread for pita.
Eat fruit, but don't go overboard on high sugar types like grapes. Try and eat 4/5th veg 1/5th fruit.
Prepare a salad from lots of vegetable, not just lettuce - and if taking to work take the dressing separately, unless its hard veges that benefit from being marinated.
Steam veges.
Cook fish/chicken (no skin) in a greaseproof paper parcel (folded to seal) - add a touch of lemon juice/herbs/garlic etc - but no oil. Tastes really lovely - and can be served hot or cold. (Can be roasted or steamed)
Eat/drink any dairy sparingly.
Avoid potato's - however cooked.
Cut out all fizzy drinks, sugar in drinks and learn to love water.
Drink a glass of water before any meal.
Walk a dog - even a borrowed one will do.

Hope some of these help - the important thing is not to go on a strict diet as the weight will come pilling back on as soon as you stop. Rather, it is to change your habits in a way which you can continue.

recovering_spendaholic

I don't know if anyone is interested but I just bought a DVD set on ebay for £9.99 called "Walk Away the Pounds" by American exercise and fitness guru Leslie Samsone. It is just great because it is basically just walking to music but it is nice to look at and you can do it in the privacy of your own living room! You start with the first DVD which is the equivilant of a one mile brisk walk and then you build up to the second (2 miles) and the third ( 3 and then 6 miles). I love it! and alot cheaper than joining the gym. DD2 loves it too because of the catchy music and moves!!

pounds_and_pensive

My favourite piece of cheap exercise equipment is a skipping rope. As well as being low cost, it's easily portable so can just be bundled up and taken with you when you go away etc - I've had no success with trying to shove an exercise bike into an overnight bag You do have to be careful with your knees though, and like anything else, start gently.

Foodwise, I'd imagine Pick Your Own to be beneficial on all counts. A cheap, low calorie harvest, plus a bit of exercise thrown in when gaining it.

Neat thread

ailuro2

Try your local council gyms- ours have monthly packages that are as low as 17pounds, a third of the price of the gym I used to go to.

researcher

Our local 6th form college has a gym open to anyone - they do annual, monthly and a course of 20 visits - all very much cheaper than elsewhere (course works out at £2 per visit). The equipment is excellent, it's not too busy the staff are really excellent and do remedial work too. The only thing I can fault them on is their choice of music - :eek:

The other short term option would be to ring the gyms in your area and ask if they give 'tester' sessions. You could schedule work outs at two a week; usually these sessions are free or very much reduced in price and it would enable you to decide which one would best suit if you did decide to join. You could probably get a months worth of visits from most small town and definitely from the cities. Not worth it if you have to spend a lot on travel to get there though!

bulchy

How have I missed this one???
I've started putting weight on again since I stopped going to aerobics, it seems to have a knock on effect,I'm not going to excercise classes,so I eat more junk than I would if I was going there twice a week.
From now on I will give up crisps,only drink wine at weekends, dont eat a lot of chocolate, so giving that up wont be difficult, except maybe if I get a craving at the time of the month, but I will give in to this, as its not much is it?? This will save me money as well, I hope.
Havent been able to walk dogs as much the past week, as its been too hot, I'm gonna start walking them in the evening with OH, and make him walk them longer than he does. In cooler weather I have them out for about 2 hours, I've been lucky if I walk them for an hour in this heat. I would agree with researcher, dog walking has helped me loose a lot of weight this past year, and I feel better for being out in the fresh air. If you dont have a dog, offer to walk a friend/neighbour/relatives dog, Could be a good way of making some extra money too
In place of crisps, I'm gonna start having potato skins again, as a treat on a weekend, theres a thread on here somewhere for them, there delish, dont know why I stopped doing them.
If I can think of anything else, I'll be back.
Thanks for starting this annie, and to everyone who has posted tips and advice, great thread.
Sue