How To Save Money: More Food Tips

Last year on June 4th, I wrote a blog article titled How To Save Money and Reduce Waste. Most of these ideas were based on food and grocery purchases. Here's another list of tips for saving money on food. Most of these tips are listed here: 100 Great Tips for Saving Money. I took whichever good tips I could use. Good for your pocketbook and your waistline.

1. Invest in a box of canning jars. Not only are they good for storing excess local fruits and veggies, they are great for packing cold lunches.
   I've always wanted to try cold oatmeal for breakfast and salad in a jar for lunch. My favorite salads is the Starbucks Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl. I learned to love quinoa because of it. But I keep kicking myself because the salad is almost $7.00, which I could be saving if I made me own. Just look at all the ideas I found just by searching! Canning jars are also great for portion control. 

   

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2. Cut back on convenience food. I stopped buying frozen foods this year, even the frozen veggies I would use for lunch. But sometimes it's difficult to pack my lunch, and I end up having to buy something. Even though packaged foods may be cheaper, they pack on too much salt and other chemicals as preservatives. I'd rather not mess with that.
3. Drink more water. I have heard that when you feel that hunger pang, you could be more thirsty. Drinking a cup of water before you eat will also help you feel full without eating too much.
4. Eat breakfast. Another great idea. Eating a good breakfast should keep you full way past lunch. I eat a little bit of oatmeal before I work out in the mornings to keep my energy going, then I eat the rest after the workout. This is also why I want to try these rolled oat recipes to make my breakfast the night before. Mmmm.

   

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5. Make your own meals. Brown bag your lunch. Eat leftovers. These all go under the same category. I love eating leftovers. I think it makes some foods taste better, like stews and soups.
6. Make your own items instead of buying them. This goes along with everything. I always think "I could have made this at home" when I'm buying fast food or those Starbucks salads.
7. Use coupons. I have never been able to use coupons effectively, but these guys seem to have a good strategy.
8. Pack food for a road trip. Much better than stopping at a fast food joint every few miles.
9. Eat less meat. I didn't think this was something of importance. But I guess since meat products are more expensive than fruits and veggies, this is a smart choice.
10. Turn off the television. I didn't understand this point until I read the rest. Commercials are constantly trying to make you spend money. I always get hungry when I see a fast food commercial. It worse when they replay it 2-3 times in under a minute. 

The biggest points that got my attention are driving a different route to work/home, spending to de-stress, and spending for entertainment. When I am stressed, I feel like going to the nearest drive-thru and buying a cheeseburger. And I used to go to the store when I needed something, and I'd walk out with ten things I think I needed. Making a list is another good reminder. 

Changing even the little things make a big difference. I am paying down some debt, and I need to keep that in mind before I spend anything. That's the main goal with these lists, to be debt free and save for the future. 

~ Sara

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My thoughts about the Biggest Loser Finale

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So I've been reading the comments and discussions on the web about the Biggest Loser finale. I never like talking without some facts to back it up. So today I looked at some information.

When I saw Rachel walk out on stage, I was more shocked than the when the others walked out. The first thought that popped in my mind is, "She lost too much for her height". Mind you, I thought she looked much taller than me. People on T.V. and movies tend to look taller. So I looked up her weight, and Wikipedia had some nice charts. I then found out her height is 5'4", and her BMI is 18, only .5 less than the stated "normal BMI".

After all this talk about her losing too much, this is what I want to point out. It's not our problem. I'm sure many people are concerned about her health. Maybe she'll gain more muscle, or she will gain some of her weight back. There's only so much a person can do to help another, even when a person is looking for help.

Yes, I understand that seeing her on T.V. like this may be giving a bad view of the show and on the self esteem of many boys and girls. If you feel this is wrong, then go do something about it. If you are doing something about it, keep at it. If this inspires you, find ways to make a difference. Things we see in life will create a negative or positive reaction.

The first time I found out the preferred weight for my height of 5'6" is 130 lbs, I told myself no way. I don't think I would look good losing all that weight. That's my choice, and this is her choice. Every time I watched, the show gave me the motivation I need to keep trying. In the end, it's a show.

Another great thing I found on the interwebs is this talk with Jillian Michaels the day after the finale. They talk a little about the show at the 7:00 minute mark.

Listen to "Renee talks to Jillian Michaels" The River 105.9

Weight Loss 2014 - Motivation

So I'm back at it again. Another year, another resolution to lose weight. I already have everything I need to do this. I know what kinds of exercises I enjoy doing. I know which foods are best for me. The thing I need the most is motivation. Sometimes when the motivation runs out from friends on Facebook, my motivation dwindles. I know what I need to do, I just have to do it!

I've been walking again, and I'm bringing in my lunch to work. I'm looking for an inexpensive place to work out or do group fitness. I also found this interesting website called giveit100.com. You can log something that you want to learn or practice for 100 days and show your improvements. It's pretty neat to see these short videos of people practicing and achieving. I saw this video and it encouraged me. Here's to the next 100 days.

Weight Loss Challenge: Month One

It's been a difficult but exciting month. The last 2 weeks have been stressful. I found out about a prospective job opportunity doing the thing I love the most: playing worship music! I want to write a separate post about this event when I find out the results. Even though it was stressful to get all my paperwork and resume together, I completed it and I am waiting for a response. 

Food counting-wise, I haven't been on track with writing down my food intake. But I made an effort to keep foods in the fridge at work, and I can eat them whenever. The staple foods I have stuck with are:

• Mixed greens
• Tomatoes
• Tuna Fish
• Cheese
• Pepperoni
• Pita Bread

I only had tomatoes available a couple of times, but it's nice to make a fresh salad. 

I love having pita bread around! I can make two different things with it: add cheese and pepperoni for a pizza, or put mixed greens, tuna and cheese for a filling pita pocket. I calculated the mini pizza on Calorie Count, and it's about 325 calories, depending on how much pepperoni and cheese you put on it.

I was getting discouraged a couple of weeks ago, because my weight went from 204.4 to 204.8. But I weighed myself this Tuesday (8/6) and I weighted 200.8. I'll be more relieved when I get under 200 lbs.

Now for lunch!

How are you striving to eat healthier foods? Do you have an staple foods you stick with?

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Lunch Options: Lean Cuisine

This week I tried the Lean Cuisine meals for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised with the Santa Fe-Style Rice and Beans. It might not have looked appetizing at first. It smelled really good though. I loved that it had 2 types of beans, and the sour cream and mild chile sauce made my lunch taste just right. This is one of the best frozen meals I had yet.

Nutrition Information:

• Calories: 290
• Fat: 5g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 11g
• Sodium: 590mg
• Carbohydrates: 50g
• Diet Exchange: 1/2 Lean Meat, 3 Starch,  1/2 Skim Milk
• Weight Watchers® Points: 7

I also tried the Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli. It was great too, although I wish there could have been more chicken and broccoli. (I don't have a second picture for this meal. I was so hungry I ate it so quickly!) One of my favorite meals, but I think the Healthy Choice meal was better. 

Nutrition Information:

• Calories: 260
• Fat: 5g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 17g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Carbohydrates: 37g
• Diet Exchange: 1 Lean Meat, 2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Skim Milk, 1/2 Fat
• Weight Watchers® Points: 7

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this review.
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Weight loss Challenge: The First 2 Weeks

I'm so excited about the things I have been learning! I already learned so much over the past years of trying to lose weight. I started being concerned about my weight after I graduated high school. I was 180 lbs, and with Weight Watchers I lost 30 lbs. But the weight loss didn't last. I stopped counting points and gained the weight back, plus an extra 20 lbs.

I wasn't concerned about changing my lifestyle and learning how calories work. Last year I had personal group training and I learned a lot about adding protein to my diet and combining cardio with weight training. I enjoyed exercising, but I couldn't get the food part working properly. I ended up gaining weight and feeling stuck between 200-210 lbs. I even tried raw vegan but I was still missing something.

It took another year to finally put all the things I have learned together. Eat clean. Exercise regularly. Eat enough calories to keep your metabolism running. Eat less red meat. Eat less carbs. Minimize processed foods. This is what I am working on now. I will add weight training later, once I get my calories in balance first. Then I can add more exercise and balance again. This is what it's all about.  Balance.

I need to brag about Calorie Count for a minute. The past 2 weeks have been great. Sometimes I forget to log in foods, but I fill in the blanks the next day and be as accurate as possible. I use Map My Run to calculate my distance and calories burned more precisely. 

When you log in your food and exercise, the program calculates a net calorie. Recently I was wondering, "How do they figure out net calories?" So I did a basic Google search. The first result took me to Calorie Count's forum, where some of the members were talking about the balance between how many calories you eat and what you burn. What I learned today is that with the daily exercise I do, I have to have a deficit of at least -500 or less to make sure I had enough "fuel" to keep my metabolism up. What does that mean? I means I have to eat MORE food. I was trying to keep my calories less than 1500, but when I ate a little more, the net calories balanced out. Now I have to figure out what to eat to keep a lower negative deficit.

I also like how you can write something to close the day, and people can comment and support you. Nothing like support to keep me motivated!

There's even this cool weight loss ticker that I can add to my blog for more motivation.

Hey everyone, I've lost 5.8 lbs so far! I told myself I am not celebrating until I get under 200 lbs. But I can't help it. I am going to celebrate!

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Lunch Options: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers

I try to bring my lunch to work every day (mostly leftovers). But the past couple of days have been difficult. So for lunch I went to Target and bought a few frozen meals. I made the effort to look at the calories of each meal. I chose one from each of the "healthier" frozen options to choose from.

Today I tried Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers' Grilled Chicken Pesto with Vegetables.

NUTRITION FACTS (from Healthychoice.com)

• CALORIES: 310

• FAT: 9g

• FIBER: 3g

• PROTEIN: 21g

• SODIUM: 550mg

• CARBOHYDRATES: 34g

Inspired by Top Chef, the meal was delicious with a light basil pesto sauce. I was hoping to find more vegetables in the meal though. There were large chunks of chicken instead and plenty of pasta.

I liked the fact that it did not taste like a frozen meal. Sometimes frozen chicken has an unpleasant taste. I don't even like reheating leftover chicken for that reason. The chicken was tender and very good. The meal was especially satisfying with the pasta, which I needed today because I had a small breakfast.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this review.

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Weight Loss Struggles, and My Weight Loss Plan

I don't really write much about weight loss. I've been doing a variety of things, I just don't think I have been consistent with them all. I still have the monthly gym membership, and I need to try to use it daily. I have C25K, but running lately has given me knee problems. Not to mention I've also had pain on my left foot from my Achilles tendon. I don't want to break anything. So I've been feeling more sluggish lately. The Florida rain hasn't helped out either. At least I am able to use the machines at the gym, and I swam 2 times last week. After spending the last weekend in the water, I couldn't wait to jump in the gym pool.

So this is my "weight loss plan". I need to combine the things I have been doing into one package to get the results I want. I haven't been losing weight, and I am afraid it might be something that I'd have to talk to a doctor about. I don't want to waste my money on things I can try to fix myself. So here is a list of my plans for here on out. *raises right hand* I promise to write an update next month to show my progress. It's only fair!

• I will be using the Calorie Count app on my phone to keep track of my food, activity, weight and water intake. I have to admit, I have not been following a great food regiment. I used to use My Fitness Pal, but I think Calorie Count is more visually pleasing. The app is not only colorful, but they show all the options you use on the main page, including posts from other users about their progress. I get an email from Calorie Count as well, with other success stories and struggles.
• The best part of this app is that it is always showing on the top bar of my phone, so I can remember to always log in my food intake. That's always the most difficult think for me. I remember doing weight watchers 10 years ago, and it did benefit to write down the food you eat (or were thinking of eating). I may even try to use both apps to see which one is more beneficial.

• With this app, I will track my food intake, drink A LOT (at least a gallon) of water, calculate my exercises, and occasionally check my weight. The biggest thing about weight loss and muscle building is that weight doesn't matter. If you are losing inches, the weight part doesn't matter. That's a big struggle for me to understand.
• Since I am tracking what exercises I do, it will be easier for me to remember to change my exercises every week. I love swimming, but I can't do it every day (I wish!). Imagine what would happen to my hair?! Knowing how many calories I burn will help me know how many extra I need to burn for any special dinner party coming up.
• In the beginning of the year, I tried being a raw vegan. It wasn't a bad plan, and buying only fruits and veggies is not as expensive as one may think. I am still bringing fruits with me to work. I just have to up the amount of raw foods and cut out sugars, wheat, dairy, etc. If my weight is a result of these things, I need to stop eating them!! (I keep telling this to myself all the time). 
• I got to get back on my 100 squats a day workouts!

Following Sunny With A Chance of Sprinkles' post, I decide to post my before picture. It was taken last month, but I still look the same:

Today's weight: 209.4

It's ALL in the stomach area (and no I have not had a baby).

Goodbye weight! Time to eat my homemade salad with tuna and get some workout in!

(FYI, I was not given any compensation for writing about My Fitness Pal, Calorie Count, or C25K.)

I'm getting my gym back!

I woke up this morning with a mission: to get my gym membership, one way or another (finally).

Here's the short of this long story. I've been working at a university for almost 5 years now. I was taking classes and working part-time. Now that I finished my bachelor degree in Sociology (in December 2011), I was hoping to get a full time job on campus with benefits. That way I can do my graduate classes fo FREE! That's right, FO FREE. This is why I wanted to get a full-time job on campus in the first place.

Anyways, it's been almost a year and a half, and no luck getting a full time job in the same position. I love my job, and I love helping the professors. The department has been trying to hire me for full time every since I graduated, but the higher ups are not budging (yet). So what the department had to do was keep me as a part time 20 hours a week employee, and they are paying me overtime of 20 hours. So I am working full time, with lower pay and none of the benefits. It's been frustrating at times, but I hope things will change by next month.

This lack of a full time position has stopped me from getting the benefits that I want need right now, especially a lower fee for using the gym monthly. So this morning, I woke up with the determination to get my gym membership back! If I can get a staff I.D. (since I am working full time), I can pay less monthly to use the gym. If I can't, I am still an alumni, and I have to pay $10 more than staff.

Either way, I am getting my gym back! It's been so difficult trying to exercise on my own. I have been eating better, but I need that extra time on a machine. With the gym on campus I get free classes, access to the pool and SHOWERS (thank you God for showers)! I worked out at another gym that had no showers. I felt so awkward going to work a sweaty. NEVER AGAIN.

 It makes me sad when I can't fit into my fat pants anymore. These extra pounds have got to go! NOW!

Eating Healthy...again

So it's back to the eating again. I've been trying different things over the years, like different exercises and diets. I just have to be more consistent with what I am doing.

I made a smoothie for breakfast today, similar to the greenie morning smoothie. I added strawberries and blueberries to the mix. It was more of a purple then a greenie. I wish I added another banana though, because I'm so hungry right now! At least it's time for lunch. I didn't bring food today, but I'm going to get the biggest salad I can find with everything on it!

I'm using the my fitness pal app on my phone again, to keep track of the things I eat...even if I shouldn't have eaten them (like the small handful of reece's pieces I threw in my mouth a few minutes ago!)

BAD!

But it's a daily process. And I can't put myself down for it. I've been walking more every day, and that makes me feel better.

Lunch Workouts

I have been trying to make time to exercise in my lunch hour. I used to bring a lunch with me, but now most days I don't have much time (I am working on time management).

This time I made a big effort. Yesterday I made my usual green smoothie (I'll post a recipe of my favorite greenie). I made sure to bring my snacks. I brought my backpack with my exercise clothes. So when lunchtime came, I changed my clothes and walked to my car. I usually park my car 1/2 of a mile away from my office. I couldn't afford parking by my office building. Anyways, it's still good exercise.

I thought I had time to get gas and a good lunch. So I walked the half mile to my car. A new gas station opened up by my work, and the gas prices are cheap. I drove my car there, my gas on almost empty. As I opened the gas tank door, I realized I left my debit card in my wallet...in the office. I also forgot my license, which was also in my wallet.
I went back in my car and drove back to work. I couldn't get the lunch I wanted. But I did get something to eat. Thanks to the Starbucks app, I put more money on my account and bought a sandwich. I'm trying not to eat breads and pastas, but I can work on that tomorrow.

I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning! I am doing 100 squats a day. I can do them in the morning before I take a shower. It is said to tone your middle and your lower body, and that is what I need right now. Boy, did my legs feel like jello on day 1! Tomorrow will be hard. I know I will be sore. But I will do it.

Making small goals

I'm writing in here because I want to remind myself how I was feeling.

I have always had trouble with the way I look and how my weight is. I used to weigh less (12 years ago), and since I am not married and I don't have kids I shouldn't have a problem with losing weight, right? Even without those barriers, it's still a struggle. And I have to remind myself that I am getting older and my body is changing, but that shouldn't stop me from trying. Any little effort helps in the long run.

I felt really bad about weighing 203 lbs. I've been trying so hard to not go back, but other things in my life made me forget my motivation. It's not about being skinny enough to wear bikinis. It's about me being comfortable with myself. Nothing more.

Yesterday I felt bad, and after work I made an effort to do some exercise. Today, it's cloudy and rainy outside. But I have my workout clothes in me car, and I will make an effort to walk/run on my lunch break. It's about making small goals.