Sources: weight gain
First, the bad news: My weight hasn't exactly plummeted since I started this money diet. Oh, the first week was amazing. The second week, nothing happened. This third week, I seem to have lost a pound or two.
But I am confident that I'm saving money.
For those of you who aren't in the know, I've decided to call my weight loss plan the “Money Diet.” On January 1, I declared on WalletPop that I was finally going to lose weight, and as an incentive, I was going to start adding up what I'd be saving by not spending money on junk food.
During the first week, I lost 11 pounds. I know that sounds incredible, but I think it was due to my putting on the brakes on drinking all those sugar-laden soda pops I'd been consuming. I used to drink them far too much, but since January 1, I think I've had just two Cokes. I also cut out just about every other high calorie food imaginable. I guess now the numbers are becoming more realistic — and less dramatic.
Of course, it didn't help that I went to the gym less this week, or that I broke my diet a few times last weekend when I celebrated my 40th birthday. Still, I'm pretty happy with these numbers.
- My weight when I began: 264
- My weight last week: 253
- My weight this week: 252
Sigh. I have a long way to go, though I'm not really sure exactly where I'm going. Ideally, I'd like to drop another fifty pounds, but if I can knock off twenty more this year, I'll be dancing a jig, so . . . we'll see.
Before I offer my tally of what I really, really considered buying or wanted to buy but didn't, and how much I think I've saved this week, I thought I'd seek a few opinions from some real diet experts and see what tips they could offer for losing weight as inexpensively as possible. Here we go:
Grow your own organic produce. That idea comes from Kami Gray, author of The Denim Diet (a diet book designed to help you fit into that pair of jeans you wish you could fit into, which seems like a fun concept for a book). She's also a TV wardrobe stylist, so she knows something about staying trim (being surrounded by actors every day). Anyway, Gray says that growing your own produce doesn't just save you money, but, as she puts it, “The time you've invested in your garden encourages you to eat healthier and not let your efforts to go waste.” And, you know, there's exercise involved in gardening. When the months get warmer, I may have to try that.
Brown bag it. Michelle May, M.D., author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle, had a lot of ideas for me, but this one stuck out: “Take your lunch to work,” she advises. “You'll save money and eat healthier while taking food that you choose.” No kidding. I don't think I need to elaborate — that advice pretty much speaks for itself.
Focus on cooking one big meal, a few times a week. That suggestion comes from Dr. Richard Kozlenko, the director of research and development for NXT Nutritionals, a developer and marketer of alternative sweeteners and food and beverage products, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Dr. Kozlenko told me that he likes to make one meal of the day a “giant meal,” like a giant salad, soup or stew, with “everything in it — fresh, lean, healthy vegetables, nuts and seeds, slices of chicken or fresh or water-packed fish.” He might also add in low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt, and maybe a hard-boiled egg. For the other two meals of the day, he goes light and eats something like a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast or soup for dinner or lunch.
“Be creative but strict, with no artificial, high-calorie, greasy or overly sugary junk as ingredients,” says Kozlenko of his large meals. By doing that, he says, “you'll begin to influence a habit pattern of what and how you eat that spreads to the other days of the week in how you prepare and choose your meals.”
That “habit pattern” is what I've been hoping to get with my concerted effort to keep an eye on what I'm not spending every time I forego junk food. So here's what I think I saved in the past week:
- I went on an overnight road trip for a writing project, and I managed to avoid stopping at any fast food places (save for a Diet Coke at a Wendy's). I also didn't pick up any bags of chips for the road. Since I could have done either on my way back, I'll put my estimated savings at…$10.
- Bag of my favorite pretzels that I used to buy weekly but still haven't. Actual savings: $3.29
- Less snacks and soda pop in general…I'm going to estimate my savings was $10.
But I could have saved even more money and lost more weight if (and, granted, it was my birthday) I hadn't bought some candy at the movies. That was $4.
My weekly total saved: $23.29
Saved this year so far: $71.56
I'd rather see more progress on the scale, but that's what's nice about this goofy diet. If you aren't happy with your weight, you can at least enjoy looking at how your bank account is doing.
Geoff Williams is a frequent contributor to WalletPop and co-author of the new book, Living Well with Bad Credit.
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End the weight-loss struggle forever! Forget about the latest fad diets! A 100 percent-guaranteed diet program is here!
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I have struggled with my weight throughout my life. I have only been on two diets that seemed to work, both in a very short period of time. However, these diets were brought about by lifestyle changes - divorce and acute pancreatitis - and the pounds eventually piled back on with a return to my previous eating and drinking habits.
It is very easy for overweight people to blame their excess weight on a number of factors - slow metabolism, thyroid disease, bad knees or bad genes. I freely state for the record that I do have a slow metabolism, I was diagnosed with thyroid disease at 17 years old ,and I've worked as an inventory auditor, crawling around on my knees causing excruciating pain. As for my genetics - let's just say that in my family, there's plenty to love!
I also freely admit the following: my metabolism is slow because I don't get enough exercise. I keep my mental state in check regardless of my thyroid situation and don't take medication. During the three-plus years I worked as an inventory auditor, I gained almost 50 pounds, even though I was actually on my feet and moving more than I had been for years behind a desk.
Most importantly, I love to eat. I love the process of picking out the ingredients and cooking a meal. My eclectic heritage and sense of food adventure means that I may prefer a Southern-fried chicken dinner one day, a Northeastern corned-beef boiled dinner the next or a Creole-cream sauce over my rice on another night. I also enjoy craft beers, wine and cocktails.
Through extensive research, I believe I have finally discovered the secret to permanent weight loss. I am willing to share it with the world at absolutely no cost.
Why would anyone be willing so share such important weight loss information for free? Too many companies are making billions of dollars every year from those who search for a miracle - the miracle of weight loss. So many people are willing to spend any amount of money to try the latest belly-fat-super-berry-prepared-food-miracle-pill diet, hoping it will finally ease their suffering.
I say “no more”. I say “no more” to celebrity-endorsed pre-packaged-filled-with-preservatives-dehydrated-meal-plan diets. I say “no more” to single-ingredient diets. I say “no more” to diets that make anyone feel deprived. I say “no more” to paying for diet support.
It should go without saying, but there is a reason every diet plan in the world gives the same advice. Anyone who is embarking on a weight loss plan should always consult with their physician. Only your doctor can tell you if a diet is safe for you and your body.
I have learned what will and will not work and I want to share it with everyone. I want everyone who has ever struggled with their weight to join me on a free odyssey to permanent weight loss. There is no membership fee to pay. There is no special equipment to buy unless your kitchen doesn't already contain a set of measuring cups and spoons.
I proudly introduce the 100 percent guaranteed absolutely free “No More Diet Diet”:
No More Diet Diet Rule 1 - Reduce your daily intake of food
This sounds so easy but is truly where most dieters fail. It isn't enough to starve yourself through the week and eat what you want on the weekend (not to mention how dangerous that can be). The only means to taking weight off and keeping it off is to reduce how many calories you are putting into your body on a day by day basis.
Eating smaller portions is the most important step to success. Do you normally eat two cheeseburgers at a meal? The human stomach is not actually large enough to process two cheeseburgers at one sitting. Try eating one cheeseburger for dinner. If you are still hungry after completing your meal, eat a piece of fruit or a couple of cookies for dessert.
In this “Humongo-size” society, many people have no concept what a serving really is. Don't trust the restaurant to determine what a healthy serving is. Read packages, research the Internet, and learn that the Food Guide Pyramid lists serving of spaghetti as one-half of a cup. Use measuring cups and spoons at home with everything you eat until you are comfortable in knowing how much food constitutes a serving.
No More Diet Diet Rule 2 - Reduce your fat intake
When I was hospitalized with pancreatitis, I was placed on a very restrictive diet. In order to prevent the debilitating pain I experienced, my fat intake was reduced to negligible amounts. A cocktail wiener would cause me to double over in a matter of hours. The upside to this strict diet was a loss of thirty pounds in six weeks.
There are times that I try to channel that pain I felt in order to reduce the fat I include in my diet. I usually fail, but there are certain low-fat products I began eating at that time that I still incorporate into my diet. I only buy reduced-fat mayonnaise, and generally buy reduced fat salad dressings. These are two items that I can't make low-fat from scratch no matter how many times I experiment.
It isn't necessary to buy all fat-free or reduced fat products. Simply remember that butter is fat. Many people include butter when mashing potatoes, add a pat of butter, and then ladle on the gravy, which also includes fat blended with flour in order to thicken it. Be aware of “hidden” fat in your diet and eat less of it.
No More Diet Diet Rule 3 - Reduce your alcohol intake
There was one more restriction with my pancreatitis diet - absolutely no alcohol. As I stated before, I enjoy wine, craft beers and cocktails, none of which are diet-friendly.
It has been medically proven that there are cardiovascular benefits to a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail by raising the good cholesterol levels and thinning the blood. The health and diet issues are raised by drinking alcohol to excess.
When enjoying a glass of wine with dinner, enjoy A glass of wine instead two or three.
No More Diet Diet Rule 4 - Drink more water
There is a debate in the medical community as to the importance of the “8×8″ rule - eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. It has recently been determined that any water is good for you - including that which is found in coffee, tea, beer or foods.
I can only speak from my own experience. I don't drink soda and my beverage of choice fluctuates between water and coffee. I know that when I do drink more water, I feel better. I'm not thirsty all the time, I don't have “plumbing” issues, my hair, nails and skin are more healthy and I don't get leg cramps in the middle of the night. I also find it easier to lose weight.
No More Diet Rule 5 - Get off your butt!
Everyone can benefit from a little bit of exercise every day. A simple 20-30 minute walk everyday can cause your body to burn more calories and increase circulation. When I'm walking regularly, I feel better. I don't hurt. I sleep better. My fingers and toes aren't as cold. If the weather outside isn't pleasant, walk inside your house. Walk up and down the stairs. Find a dance-music channel on the Internet, turn up your speakers and dance for 30 minutes.
MOVE!
No More Diet Helpful Hints
Do not expect to lose 30 pounds in six weeks with the “No More Diet Diet”. It will not happen and you will only disappoint yourself and feel failure. Know that following these steps will lead to a lifestyle change that will lead to weight loss and lifelong weight maintenance.
If no one else in the household is “dieting”, do NOT feel obligated to cook one meal for yourself and another for the rest of the family. The “No More Diet Diet” is NOT about special or forbidden foods. It's about reducing your calories. This means reduce your portions, serve the cheese sauce on the side instead of mixed in with the broccoli and limit yourself to one scoop of ice cream instead of three.
Many people do benefit from a support system while dieting. If no one in your family has the need to diet, don't let that discourage you. There are many online support communities available free of charge for dieters. My favorite is SparkPeople. Offering exercise and calorie trackers, SparkPeople also has great articles to read and specific groups to join.
The No More Diet Diet is the last diet you will ever have to follow. Good luck!
Sources:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pmap.htm
http://calorielab.com/news/2006/05/28/8-glasses-of-water-a-diet-urban-legend/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/
Christian Brock