Claire's OS house deposit quest!

NewShadow

CRANKY40 wrote: »

I also have PCOS so the weight thing is a constant battle.

Feel free not to answer, but are you insulin resistant? I've got PCOS, but no insulin resistance (luckily), just face-fuzz and really bad stomach pain (until they gave me an implant that just stopped the whole palaver)

I know several ladies at fat-club that struggled but had success with metformin(sp) - it might be worth asking your Dr for a blood test if its not something you've considered?

I had some tests and see an endocrinologist every 6 months or so and use spironalactone (sp) for the face-fuzz - works really well, but I had to fight for it as its off book and the drs didn't want to prescribe it.

I'm just a bit knackered really :rotfl: It helps in wales we've got free prescriptions.

CRANKY40

NewShadow wrote: »

Feel free not to answer, but are you insulin resistant? I've got PCOS, but no insulin resistance (luckily), just face-fuzz and really bad stomach pain (until they gave me an implant that just stopped the whole palaver)

I know several ladies at fat-club that struggled but had success with metformin(sp) - it might be worth asking your Dr for a blood test if its not something you've considered?

I had some tests and see an endocrinologist every 6 months or so and use spironalactone (sp) for the face-fuzz - works really well, but I had to fight for it as its off book and the drs didn't want to prescribe it.

I'm just a bit knackered really :rotfl: It helps in wales we've got free prescriptions.

I was when I was pregnant with ds, but I was allergic to the baby and had steroids which messes up blood sugars, blood pressure everything. Normally I'm OK. I have tried Metformion and also the Dianette pill for spots. Both upped my migraines to a point that I couldn't cope with. Weight loss however slow seems to be the best solution I think along with a good pair of tweezers

mumto2monkeys_2

Hi all

It would be nice to join in with you all.

I need to get back to OS in order to build an emergency fund and start to get enough money together to do stuff to the house (or move...). Currently negative equity and in debt.

So, I have lots of financial goals in the new year.

I'm also 4/5st heavier than I should be and I have eczema and fibromyalgia which leads me to being stiff and sore. Next year I am determined to sort out my wellbeing (I work FT in a pressured job). I often put myself last. I honestly believe OS is the route to contentment and that's why I would like to post here with you, to keep me on track.

mumto2monkeys_2

New Shadow - know what you mean about the 60 hour weeks and the takeaways. It's fatal! It's also cost me a fortune over the years. They've started to creep back in again recently, so need to nip that in the bud.

I also think happiness and wellbeing will be fundamental to me being able to shift some weight - need to seriously consider what next in my career and whether the pressure is worth it. I can't not work, but I could certainly look at the balance.

Miss_Purple_Hat

Wow! This thread is really taking off! Glad to meet you all!
Don't worry if you don't plan to save the same sort of amount - that's my specific goal and all other goal values are welcome.

The internet is being more uncooperative than usual so am posting on my phone. This means the essay will be a bit shorter than it could have been.

Thank you for the tips - I have read them all but I won't be able to reply to them all when doing this on my phone.

This thread is going to serve for me and anyone else who wants to join in as any or all of spending/saving diary (being the main purpose), meal plans and diet/weight loss, plus general conversation. It's easier for me to keep it all in one thread.

(I'm now going to answer a few things I remember reading so the next bit will be a bit disjointed! )

I won't be on an official diet but am going to try to lose weight by sticking to a healthy meal plan with reasonable portion sizes, plenty of vegetables and a few snack options. Would love to hear what anyone else is going to try.

I have a hand mixer but have never yet used it. I avoid making cake like Christmas cake because I can't stir it. I don't make bread because whilst I don't mind a bit of it I'm not a huge fan. I also often get it when reduced and freeze it. (I'm currently working through a 2p loaf! )

I get plenty of sleep but this doesn't necessarily make me lose weight! Though I do tend to eat more on the odd occasion I am tired because I need the sugar energy boost.

I have old bananas I put in the freezer quite a long time ago and they've gone a bit black... I made banana cake with a couple of more recent leftover bananas and that went down very well at work!

I live in the general area to the East of Birmingham but would prefer not to divulge publicly so maybe PM me?

Unfortunately I don't have a bath and my parents' one is weirdly small so does not go well with my currently large body!!


Today I had porridge for breakfast with some stewed apple. I didn't really enjoy it much. I often find I get halfway through a bowl of porridge and then just feel a bit ill. I'm not much of a heavy breakfast sort. I may have to switch to toast and save the oats for flapjacks. I do have some granola in the cupboard which I really like.

Took my work pass credit down to 15p with a Twix as a snack. The intention is that I will now avoid topping it up with any more money. Had a tin of soup and 2 slices of bread for lunch.

Dinner was a "use what you have about meal", plus I made lunches for the next 2 days and having same as tonight tomorrow night. It doesn't offer much variety but I don't want to go shopping when I won't be here from Wednesday evening. Dinners are sushi rice, frozen mixed veg, a couple of spring onions left over in the bottom of the fridge and a kipper fillet (frozen reduced food). Very fishy but not too bad with a bit of soy sauce. Lunches are sushi rice, frozen veg and a hard boiled egg, plus a bit of soy sauce.

Again, lovely to read all the responses. Hopefully we'll get to know each other really well and in 6 months those of us trying to lose weight will be posting pictures of us fitting into our chosen outfits!

kboss2010

I'm in the same boat! 26, had a dead-end job for 3 years after graduating, went back to uni for a Masters, got a year contract out of it at the end and have been unemployed for 5 months and have just been offered a job. I live in an expensive part of the world (only place I could find work) so my essential living costs are high (£790 PCM for flatshare, car, food and phone).

I've reduced my outgoings as much as I can (£40 PCM on food, unlimited everything phone contract for £17 PCM, cheapest utilities tariff and haggled down my broadband). I need a car for work and it would cost me more for a bus pass where I live so it wouldn't save me anything to get rid of it.

I'm aiming to save around £10k in the next 2 years which, with my current savings, will give me a 10% deposit for a cheap flat where I am. That means I need to find £400 a month to put aside. if I live very frugally it may be doable.

janb5

NewShadow wrote: »

Keep old bananas in the freezer (peeled in a bag) until you're ready to use them.

I have found that mashing ripe bananas in quantities of 3 will fill a polythene bag quite well and uses less space. Just remember to label the bag. Old cereal bags( cleaned!) work well too!

Miss_Purple_Hat

Evening all, and welcome kboss.

I slipped slightly with spending today, but am not officially started yet... I bought a metre of some gorgeous Christmas material from John Lewis. It was half price at £8 and has lovely little squares containing pictures that I plan to cut out and make fabric decorations for friends for next Christmas. I thought I might put stuffing in them and add a couple of drops of essential oil to make a room smell nice. So not necessarily not money-saving as it will hopefully save me money next Christmas!

I made my nan's birthday card today as it's her birthday on Christmas day.

Looking forward to the end of tomorrow when I'll be ready for my week and a half off!

Defrosted a toasted teacake for breakfast this morning. Had my sushi rice lunch and dinner. I didn't spend any money on food today, which is good as that's what I usually end up impulse buying on. (Bad for both my purse and waistline!) Did have a bar of chocolate this evening that was in my fridge. But now I'm all out of sweet treats so if I don't meal plan it from 5th Jan I can't have it. I am going to have to plan some treats, but perhaps more along the lines of hm cakes and flapjacks - freezing most of the batch I make, of course.

I used to get excited for Christmas a long time in advance but these days it just kind of creeps up on me. I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas eve.

Is everyone looking forward to Christmas?

nursemaggie

Kboss congratulations on the new job so pleased to hear that.:T

I wish DS could get a job. He is planning on doing an OU degree full time in April. He decided two weeks to late to do it in October. My emergency operation for cancer rather messed up his chance to go to uni but as he has ME I think he will be better with the OU.

For those of you who want to diet I think it would still be good to read the OS diet thread they seem to achieve very good results.

I once went on a fish and salad diet. Fish is high in protein and low calories. I cut the carbs right down, fats often go with carbs (cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc.) The variety of different fish especially if you include shell fish means you can eat fish twice a day and not repeat one in three weeks. It's surprising how many vegetables you can eat raw. I just used to cut up a lot of raw veg, put them in a plastic box and take out with you. I put the fish, meat or cottage cheese I ate quite a lot too, in a little plastic box or dish and take a fork. Maybe not the fish for work if you eat in the office but have it in the spring and summer to eat outdoors.

This should save you some money too. You need treats so another suggestion is the bite sized chocolate bars and freeze the rest of the bag so you can't just go get another one. You can break a tooth on a frozen chocolate bar. Remember the cost of a crown and you won't do it.

In case I don't get back Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. :xmastree:

brownsauce

ooh may I join?


I already have a home but am in some debt (around 7k in credit cards). so I am thinking 2015 is going to be my year of nipping it in the bud!


I have recently been promoted at work so I think I can put away around 600 a month.


My problem is food. I buy loads of food to cook and then because I work shifts I get too lazy to cook.


need to organise myself to cook lunches on a sunday and then just take them out to be defrosted.


Also need to buy a new travel mug. I walk to work and by the time I get in I fancy a cup of coffee. With so many costa/starbucks/local coffee shops around its a minefield every day!