Can I lose weight on a Hamburger Helper budget?

[randomlady]

Hi all.

My boyfriend and I just moved in together. He is working, but I haven't been able to find a job yet, so we aren't eating like kings or anything. We normally live off Hamburger Helper, ground beef, bratwurst and mettwurst, spaghetti, etc. I know that's a TON of carbs, but until we get more income going we can't really justify buying foods that will go bad fast (fruit and veg). I'm just wondering, if I exercise twice a day for 20 minutes, can I lose weight? I've become very depressed lately and hate the way I look. I'm shying away from calorie counting because I usually try to starve myself and restrict, so I normally just eat 1 cup of whatever for dinner, and 1/2 a cup later. I only make one meal a day, but I make it into 2 small meals for myself, normally.

 

[Omega]

Welcome to the forum.

While exercise is really good - I think that you get the best results if you eat as healthily as you can and exercise.

That doesnt mean to say that people have to eat expensively to get good results... Lots of people see improvements if they cut out junk food and drink lots of water...

If fresh fruit and veg seem expensive it may be worth you looking into other forms of fruit and veg.

I have often had some brilliant fruit and veg bargains by shopping at the wholesalers... Our local wholesalers are more than happy to sell boxes of fruit or veg to anyone that walks in...

You can also get some great fruit and veg bargains at supermarkets if you shop late in the day (maybe after 5pm) when they downprice things that are going out of date that day... It is well worth looking around the supermarket to see which shelf they put the last minute reductions on...

Market stalls can be good for bargains too.

I know people that swear by getting bags of cheap frozen vegetables from frozen food stores and supermarkets...

As for a healthy protein at a cheap price - a frozen chicken can be used to give a healthy protein basis for quite a lot of meals in the week.

I am quite a fan of baked beans. They are high in fibre and are a lean protein - and they are very good for reducing cholesterol.

If meat is fatty - the fat content is reduced if you grill it... If cooking minced beef or lamb - you can drain off (and even wash off) the fat after browning to reduce the fat that you actually eat.

If calorie counting does not work for you - then do not count the calories... Cook food in as healthy a way that you can and do not eat large portions... LOL let the proof of the pudding be in the eating... Weigh yourself and if you are losing weight - keep on doing it since it is obviously working...

The following link may help you to settle in.
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/57955-My-advice-to-newcomers

Good luck with your project

 

[Sashe]

Hi Randomlady!

I know it gets really difficult when you have income limitations, but there is definitely hope for you to eat clean despite your income restrictions. I have a nutritionist and personal trainer in my circle, and what I've learned is that you can not out exercise a poor diet. Also, by not eating frequent small meals, your metabolism slows drastically causing it to hold on to unwanted pounds.

There are some inexpensive things you can buy and prepare that are super awesome for your body. Beans, brown rice, yams, frozen veggies (these will last much, much longer than fresh and can be bought for under or at a buck a bag), ground turkey instead of beef, and switch your pasta noodles with quinoa noodles (which is whole grain). Quinoa is about a buck more than regular noodles, but will make a whole pot of spaghetti.

The main thing is stay away from boxed and other processed foods. Let me know if you need any recipes. I'd be more than happy to share. FYI...Eating healthy on a budget is my forte.

Good luck with your journey!