Hello mamas,
So I'm a stay at home mom and I really would like to lose weight! I have a gym membership but I have a son who doesn't go to school yet and their daycare price has gone up. With being a stay at home mom it is hard for me to spend money like that!! So I wanted to try to start working out from home but without having to buy any expensive equipment or videos! I also want to try to eat healthy! I'm not a food kinky at all but I can snack late at night sometimes and I don't mean snacking on fruit or granola bars! I'm not really heavy but would like to lose some weight and become more healthy so I have more energy for my two boys and energy for chores around the house! I feel getting older doesn't help and I notice a big difference now from when I was youn ger! Any suggestions on a budget diet and excersize? I just find that trying to eat healthy costs so much!! Please help me and thank you so much!!
Thank you all so much for the great and useful advice! I have changed my eating habits and I'm eating more fruits and salads! Once payday comes around I will be able to buy more healthy stuff and hopefully stick to it!! What motivates you to keep up with your diet? I try pictures of skinny models like the Victoria secret models! Sometimes OT works and sometimes it just makes me sad!! LOL burning am going to try my best since I'm turning 30 in may!! :( I'm not getting any younger!
Hi,
I was in the same spot you are and I found a friend that got me jump started on a detox and cleanse. It put my feet underneath me, so to speak, and it was a nice spot to start from. If you want to know more about it, please email me. Since I started I've already lost 10 pounds and going strong.
Good luck whatever you end up doing!
I'm in the same boat as you! The year before I had my 2nd daughter, I lost 40 pounds pretty easily. Just counting calories, walking and doing a workout dvd. I only ate 1500 calories, which isn't nearly as bad as it sounds once you figure out what foods you can eat with very little calories. I took my dog for a walk 3 times a day...all 2 mile walks. And I plan on starting that up again once the weather stays nice enough to take my 6 month old out. And I did the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd...brutal, but only 20 minutes and I felt great afterwards! And I just saw that you can get those workouts for free on youtube, but I think the dvd is only $6!
Good luck!!
Cancel the gym membership since you aren't using it. Have you thought about the ymca? It's cheaper and the child watch is included in the price.
Do you have netflix? You can get instant streaming workout videos. And workout dvds are cheap at places like ross and such. I like the yoga booty ballet one, zumba is really popular now too. Get some ankle and handweights (or use large soup cans) and do some at home workouts. Lifting weights and cardio actually help you burn more calories, so not only are you losing weight, but you are toning your body, which is probably what you mostly want, so be sure to get into weights!
Oh, and women's health magazine has TONS of awesome free at home workout tips and healthy snacking/eating guides. I don't even buy the magazine, I just read it online for free, so check there often:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com
Buy less junk food, cut out sodas and stuff like that and get more healthy snacks, your grocery bill will be cheaper without the junk so you can afford more healthy and fresh produce and such. Eat smaller meals, more frequently so you aren't always wanting to snack. 5-6 small meals a day are much healthier. Some healthy snacks I like: avocado with a hint of salt, hard boiled eggs with a hint of salt and pepper, celery or apples with peanut butter, fruits, raw veggies,trail mix (I make my own, usually I get peanuts, almonds, cashews, dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries or blueberries), string cheese, hummus on wheat crackers, blueberries are superfoods so eat those, eat salads, but stay away form ice berg lettuce, it's just water.. eat romain, spinach, top with mandarin oranges or craisins, sliced almonds, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions and drizzle a bit of light vinigrette on top. Drink lots and lots of ice water, all day, at least 8 cups!
There are lots of healthy substitutes you can use too, like plain yogurt instead of sour cream, applesauce instead of oil in baking or a banana and half the sugar in baking. Stay away form cooking soups like crem of mushroom and that, you can make your own instead that is easier, tastier and not as bad for you. Stay away from processed foods as much as possible and cook fresh when you can. Eat ground turkey instead of beef, salmon instead of steak, reduce the amount of condiments and butter that you use. Snack on lightly salted pretzels instead of cheetohs. Eat healthier cereals instead of sugar ones. Make your own oatmeal and flavor it with honey, a bit of plain yogurt and lots of fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches) instead of using high sugar and no nutrient reich instant flavored oatmeal. Make fruit smoothies, add in spinach or carrots for some extra health.
Anyways, those are a few tips that help us!
You have received great information so far. I'd just like to add that I noticed that you snack late at night. That was my greatest diet downfall at one point in my life. You might like to think about setting an earlier bedtime routine, including a warm bath or shower, soft music and decaf tea or coffee in pretty mug. The earlier bedtime means more sleep, which most of us don't get enough of, andmore sleep has been shown to help you lose weight. And of course, if your not up late at night, you're not eating! All my best.
My suggestion, because I'm kind of in the same situation... is keep a food journal for sure. I use a computer/ iphone app called Lose it, which is free- and you can keep track of your food and exercise each day and set goals for your weight loss. Just writing down what you eat might help you make better decisions on what that is. I try to get some exercise each day- and here are some of the things I do. ( I have a nearly 3 year old, and my husband travels for business about 1/2 of the time- so it's just me a lot.) I walk with my daughter in the stroller in our neighborhood- and run errands on foot (grocery store, post office etc), use a jump rope in the back yard. We have a Wii in the basement that I use for the step aerobics and running programs- and I also do yoga on a mat with poses I learned in a yoga class a couple of years ago. I also do some crunches and push ups a few times a week, and I ride my bicycle 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes. Sometimes we go as a family on the weekend, but other times, I either have my daughter stay with a neighbor for 1/2 hour so I can ride- or I might do it after dinner and my husband will take care of my daughter. It's a lot of work trying to fit it all in- but the results are gratifying! I too have always had a late night snacking issue- but when I keep the food journal, it really makes me think twice! There are two pieces of pithy advice that I've clung to as well: Move more and eat less...... and Nothing tastes as good as thin feels......Good luck!
I agree with Momma L. Netflix has a ton of workouts on line so for around $9 you can stream them right to your tv or computer. The nice part is that you can change up your workout any time you want. Your local library might also have work out videos that you can check out.
I second Momma L's advice. I was also going to suggest checking out the YMCA since the childcare is included. Plus, you may qualify for a reduced price if your income is low enough. Otherwise, I agree it's hard to buy all the good/healthy foods on a budget. Try to get in a couple servings of fresh veggies and fruits a day. Then limit how much you eat otherwise, and get moving. Walks would be a great way for exercise for you and to burn off the energy of two boys :)
Thanks M. for posting this question,even i am on the same boat, i have a 2 n 1/2 year old daughter, and she is too naughty that she don't keep her hands off from anything,so for me going to the gym is kinda impossible,and day care or nursery we(me n ma husband) don't like,cos anyhow for the next few years she has to study so let her be with us for now. I go for a walk with my daughter in her stroller every evening, and then it is the household chaos.this is the only workout i get now...now after reading your post and its feedback i too can try this tricks....lets see,how much i progress,,best of luck to you and me...takecare.
Can you go to the gym early in the morning while your son and husband are still sleeping?
