2023 Frugal Living Challenge

mama67

That sounds very restrictive Cheryl. 

I have been diagnosed as T2 during the last year and was advised to cut back but not eliminate the complex carbs ( bread etc) and when I do have  them have whole meal versions. 

Our bodies need carbs as well as fat & protein to function properly. 

cw18

@mama67  My Mother is T2, and she eats all the carbs.   She has much smaller portions than me, but I'd put that down to her having a much smaller appetite (she doesn't eat as much as me of anything!)   That's why I was shocked when I read the lists.

maryb

MyFitnessPal is free and I found it had quite a good UK database.  You can tweak the settings to go low carb for the food diary

annieb64

I had one of those health checks a few weeks ago and now have a follow up telephone appointment with the doctor. My BP was a bit high possibly due to the fact that I was looking after both grandchildren that day also my cholesterol is high. Wasn't very happy with the check. The woman who did it put me down as moderately inactive as I don't go to the gym although I walk a lot .
It will be interesting to hear what the doctor has to say

cw18

maryb said:

MyFitnessPal is free and I found it had quite a good UK database.  You can tweak the settings to go low carb for the food diary

That's the one I don't get on with

fionaandphil

RavenRover said:

Well it seems like I am going to have to ramp up the frugality as it looks as though redundancy is coming in the next year.  Going have to squirrel away as much as possible between now and then.  Haven't had a chance to catch a break over the last 3 years.  Hopefully luck might change soon!

Fingers crossed you will be able to find something in the meantime.  Having a good bit of notice will hopefully allow you to think about what you need to put aside for the future and to prepare as much as possible.  Good luck

cw18

and finally some good news

I had a phone call this morning.   My application for a new boiler has been approved - and also includes improved loft insulation which they're coming to do tomorrow.    Means I'm having clear out the loft today - which I'm having to break up into lots of little stints as my back / sciatica isn't enjoying it !!

On the additional plus side, I've been saying for years I need to sort through everything in the loft.  Put what I really need to keep safely to one side, and sell, donate or chuck anything that isn't essential to be kept.   As I'm now having to pull everything out, it would seem sensible to do that as I'm putting stuff back - the only drawback being I'll need it out of the way for when they come to do the boiler and heating system work, and I don't yet have a date for that but was told when I asked this morning that "they'll be in touch shortly after the loft insulation is done"........

Primrose

Just in time for the winter!

takr a tip from me. Once you,ve decluttered the loft and got rid of unwanted stuff, make a list of what you,ve stored back up there and stick it inside one of your kitchen cupboards!   We cleared good kitchen equipment like electric kettle, toaster and other stuff from our sold holiday flat up there and then forgot all about it and when toaster in kitchen packed up we actually went out and bought new, forgetting we had reserved in storage.

2Scratters

@cw18 I am not a dietician and am overweight myself. However have you thought of halving your carbohydrate intake as you have a high out put of energy used? Surely 50% less is a large improvement whilst still working on making some of the changes needed. What is your normal cholesterol level as some of us naturally have a slightly over the preferred there are an average after all. Adding/making good changes goes without saying. Good luck on this journey.
 I'm so glad to hear of your success with the boiler changes and this should ease the financial worries into a bit of affordability.

2 Scratters xx

cw18

@2Scratters
Cholesterol history from fasting tests is
Dec '09 total 6.4, ratio 5.42

Apr '12 total 6.4, ratio 4.51

Dec '13 total 5.2, ratio 4.68

Jul '16 total 5.1, ratio 4.11

Sep '23 total 7.6, ratio 4.9

So it's done a big jump for this last test