What is the best way to lose weight on a very limited budget and a busy lifestyle?

Question

I am a stay at home mom and I try to keep myself busy I dont eat breakfast and I eat a sensable lunch. Supper is usually a decent meal but I cant seem to lose the extra pounds...what do you suggest?

Answer 1

well, that is a tough one indeed.
First you HAVE to eat breakfast in the morning.
Have a good breakfast. Maybe a bowl of cereal and banana. I know on a limited budget it is hard to get milk when it is $3.00 a gal now.. but we buy powered milk and make it up that way. Once it is chilled it tastes the same.
Breakfast is what gives your get up and go for the day and if you don't eat breakfast your get and go will get up and go (away)
Try drinking LOTS and LOTS of water. besides being healthy for you, it is supposed to fill you up so you arent' as hungry. All it did for me was make me go pee.. but that's exercise,right, running back and forht to the bathroom every 2 min. And it will keep you so busy that you won't have TIME to eat lol.
You will need more exercise. Exercise builds muscle and muscle is what burns calories.
Keep a list of what you eat. Keep a calorie count and I bet you'll be surprised at what you consume.
If you have spare time, go for a walk. go visit a friend, something to take your mind off eating.
Also, try to cut down on what you eat. If you eat a salad with 2 tsp of blue cheese dressing - try to get buy on 1 tsp. Or switch to anohter dressing with less calories.
If you eat 1 baked potato at supper - cut it down to 1/2 a potato. You can also do potatoes in the microwave. So you don't have to put butter on them. Just "cook" them until you can stick a fork through them. Until they are soft.
Try to cook with Pam or antother cooking spray.
Use the imitation bacon bits or a butter FLAVORED spice, my husband puts mayonaise on his potaotes EWWW... it makes me want to throw up. But when you buy something, look at the fat content. Fat has calories too.
It's not just about calories. It is fat too. Although the label will seperate them, add 9 calories for every gram of fat. If you eat too many calories it will TURN INTO fat. Even if the calories themselves do not come from fat. At least according to the label.
Weigh yourslef at the same time once a week. Because you will weigh different during different times. 5pm is best but if you can't do that.. then just make sure it is at the same time and in the same clothes. For example - wihtout shoes or change in your pockets or something else. This is how the Dr will weigh you and you want them to be somewhat similar.
If you have or can afford a digital scale- one that will weigh you within a 1/4 of a pound - you'll at least feel like you are accomplishing something and be more likely to stick to your diet. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Your first mistake is not eating breakfast. Believe it or not, you have to eat to lose weight. For a while at the beginning of my weight loss (50 pounds since the first of the year) I was eating like 1000 calories a day and didn't lose a pound. I cranked that up to 1400-1600 calories a day by including a good breakfast and the weight fell off. Not eating at the beginning of the day will just make you more hungry later and make you possibly binge.

Try doing the five or six small meals a day thing. It'll make you not be hungry and will help your metabolism stay higher.

If you can't get to a gym you have other options for exercise too. Try getting a good aerobics DVD or just going for a nice brisk walk for 30 minutes a day or so. Every little bit helps.

Answer 3

You should eat a light breakfast with some sort of protein. Exercises is very important. If done in the morning it will kick start your metabolism. Walking 4 to 6 miles a day will do you well. And you can work up to that. Cut out as much sugar as you can. But DO NOT replace it with sugar substitutes. They are not good for you either. Honey is an excellent substitute. Eat lots of veggies. Carrots and celery are good to snack on throughout the day. Stay with the sensible lunch and dinner. Remember also that women loose weight differently than men. It will probably take a full 8 to 9 months to see any real gain. Check out Dr. Weil. He has some good advice to staying healthy that won't break the budget.

Answer 4

Invest in some pilates videos. Most will run about $10.

1) Eat breakfast at all costs. This is the MOST important meal of the day.

2) Start with a large breakfast fill with proteins. As you go through the day, eat only when you're hungry and stop only when you're full. No bread in the evening.

3) Fill your plate with 2/3 veggies/fruits with every meal. Everythiing on your plate should be good for you in some way.

4) When the kids are asleep or taking a nap, go ahead and so a 30-45 minute pilates tape. When your spouse comes up, maybe go for a family walk or include them on the pilates as well. Go run around outside with your kids.

But really, breakfast is REQUIRED. Even it's just a protein shake, it's still something.

Answer 5

Maybe try a different approach. You should never skip breakfast because this is the meal that will help you star your day with energy. Then at lunch try salmon and salad or chicken breast and a small salad. But at supper try small quantities. Between the breakfast and lunch and also between lunch and supper try having small snacks, fruits, nutritive bars, nuts, yogurt. The idea is that when lunch and supper; you don't over eat because you have already took your snacks. Also try working out at the morning. If because of time you cant workout, try parking your car far so you can walk to work, also, go to the stairs instead of the elevator. This small things will help you loose those extra pounds. Here is a link that help me a lot:
http://www.glamour.com/bbg

Answer 6

What I did when I lost weight was simple. Keep track of all the calories you eat, and slowly lower the number of calories you eat in a day. Just by keeping track of calories, I was able to start picking foods that filled me better, so I never really felt like I was starving myself or even on a 'diet'. Eventually, I was able to comfortably live on 1400 calories a day. I was able to lose about 35 lbs in 6 months. Not the fastest way to lose weight, but effective, and the results have been permanent so far. I'd almost consider it a lifestyle change more than a diet, so you'd be less prone to gaining all that weight back.

Edit:
Oh I forgot to mention, exercise every day was an important part too. I didn't do anything strenuous or crazy, just a light 20 minute workout every day, but I made sure to stick to it every day.

Answer 7

the worst thing you can do is to NOT break the fast. when you don't eat you body thinks it's starving. 3 square meals plus 3 healthy snacks and take your kids to the park or just for a walk. Drink lots of water. Cut down on sodas. Grab a piece of fruit instead of potato chips. Cut back on your fried foods. Cut back on what you put on your plate. Eat to satisfy your hunger. Exercise. No matter what anyone tells you remember that losing weight requires work. There's no such thing as a miracle pill that will help shed pounds you still need to get active. Walking is a good start. Depending on the age of your children...playing with them on the jungle gyms at the park are a good FUN form of exercise. Don't be afraid to sweat a little you can always shower when you get home. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you should eat something for breakfast, even if its just something light like a bowl of corn flakes. Whatever you eat, make sure you eat it in moderation. The key ingedients are: water, water, water! You have probably heard this countless times before, but excercising and eating right are the way to go. Since you may not have time to go to the gym, get your kids involved. Exercise with them by playing tag, going swimming, or playing sports. Try to avoid butter, oil, refined sugars, white bread, white pasta, potatoes and carrots as much as possible. Basically, avoid all bad carbs and sweets. If you have a sweet tooth, eat fruits. Since you are busy at home with your family, try and fix some milkshakes for yourself with fruit and milk but NO ice cream, trust me, they are delicious. It will give you calcium and also the nutrients from fruits so you'll kill 2 birds with one stone. Switch your milk to something lighter, like 1% or even skim if your very brave. Green tea is also supposed to be very good for you. I have been exercising for a few months now and I haven't lost anything so the number one rule of thumb is: be very patient, because weight loss does not happen overnight (unfortunately.) Good luck sister!!! I know you can do it! =)

Answer 9

I struggled really bad with my weight and then I joined weight watchers, I went to the first few meetings until I understood how it worked, and then I didn't go back, and i have still lost 4 dress sizes in 1 year, it is a pretty cheap diet as there is a lot of fresh foods, such as veg etc, you will be really suprised at what is in the foods you eat, I was shocked when I first started counting, i always thought i ate pretty healthy before, but obviously, there are so many hidden fats and sugars in foods you just never know, hope this helps x

Answer 10

If you son't eat breakfast you will slow your metabolism down for the day as your body will try to conserve energy. Eat a yogurt or some fruit for breakfast or fiber cereal with skim milm.

have a salad with some tuna or diced chicken for lunch, or a tuna or chicken or veggie wrap.

Cut down on bread intake, drink lots of water, and get a little exercise. Take the kids for a walk or bike ride during the day or evening.