Cutting Back
With our financial situation right now we’re cutting back a lot. I’m not renewing my gym membership and we may need to cut down our cable even more. I fear more than anything giving up my DVR, I wouldn’t know how to live without it. Luckily to get exercise, if you’re creative, you don’t really need to spend much money. I use dvds and when it’s nicer out I will go back to walking/riding my bike.
Food on the other hand is tricky, in order to eat well you really need to spend some money. It all depends on how desperate we get but at the same time I still don’t need to over-eat and that will continue to be a main focus for me.
On the bright side I think I ate pretty well yesterday and did some toning. Actually I probably could have eating a little bit more.
ps. It’s really hard to force yourself to figure out your portions when you come home really hungry, therefore I really need to keep some snacks at work.'
Have a great weekend!
I am no expert, but I think if you are working out and eating right, which you are, you can have more than 1,027 calories a day. that is just my opinion based on my experience only, I also know that snacking boosts your metabolism as well, I love snacks!
Personally, I try to buy everything on sale, food wise, but I cut back on other things like eating out, starbucks, makeup, shoes, LOL! I did not cut out my DVR or my food, cuz those two things make my life sane. haha!
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Jen Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@Jen, actually you consumed 1199, sorry.
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Robin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@Jen, I didn’t actually mean to eat so little, I had no idea. Normally just eating the way I usually do I go much higher.
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A good friend of mine always keeps a small jar of peanut butter in her desk drawer. It’s a good hit of protein when you need it..
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Robin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 9:51 am
@Gwen, good call. i could also just have you sit at my desk with me and go get me a snack when i need it.
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Gwen Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
@Robin, True story.
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I just cut back my cable. I had a year deal, and the year is up, so I was just going to keep internet, but with some special, it’s cheaper for me to keep the super-basic cable (broadcast, pbs, no comedy central or food channel or anything fun) and get discount on internet. I live in a shack, single, pay almost no housing, so I can afford to eat, but it’s hard to break the eating out habit. That’s so expensive, though, so I’m eating home. Today, yesterday, two days ago, tomorrow, and maybe even next day, I am eating lentil soup and veggie lo mein that I made the other day. If you have good Asian/Latino groceries or farmers markets with cheap fruit/veggies/beans/grains, not Whole Foods, it’s a lot more affordable to eat well.
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Robin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@julie, I changed my cable a little bit ago but I still want to pay less and it’s not fair I can’t get rid of the phone. I swear, they make it so you never pay less than $90. We have a lot of asian markets here, we’ll have to hit them more often. We used to all the time.
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We’re in a similar boat, right down to cutting cable. I’m worried about how the grocery shopping is going to look if we have to cut back further: I know we overspend for two people, but the only way I can see saving any money is start eating nothing but no-name KD and ramen.
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Robin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
@Chibi Jeebs, I know, I’m probably going to be eating more cereal, which I don’t mind really.
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Sorry about the tight times. We cut cable because we have the internet and we watch everything on HULU.com totally legal, just a place where all the online episodes from different sites in one place. I just stream it for a few minuets then it’s good to go. ABC, USA, FOX, NBC they have all the shows that these sites have on their web site, just with a better video player. I use it as my DVR and watch my shows when i want. Hope this helps.
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Robin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@Krystal, I have a question, how do you watch on the computer together? We do it occasionally but it’s always kind of awkward trying to get it so we can hear it well and it’s at the right eye level and where to sit.
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Krystal Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
@Robin, That’s the only way we watch shows, unless we spend a buck and get a RedBox. We use a lap top in between our feet on the ottoman, a chair would work. We plug our computer speakers into the headphone jack for excellent sound. It’s a little rough until you figure out what works best for both of you. We’re tight and don’t have the $$ for cable.
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I can so understand this post. We have had many, many times of cutting cable, getting rid of extras, and second jobs. It’s so hard in this economy. I hope you don’t have to get rid of your DVR since you really like it.
I do a lot of couponing for food. It really helps, although a lot of the coupons in the paper are for processed stuff we don’t eat.
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the internet is sooooo full of workouts and great budget friendly, waist friendly recipes! you’re doing great but I agree with the other commenter – you could up the caloric intack a smidge (if you workout) you just don’t want to burn out, or slow down your metablism…I don’t know, I’m no expert – just a thought
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Robin, I struggle with being very hungry when I get home in the evening too. You are making me stop and think about that. Perhaps I need to add a mid-afternoon snack.
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Maybe you can keep fruit at work for your snacks. Then Gwen can get you the fruit whenever you need some.
We don’t eat out much, but we get delivery and take-out a LOT. We’re trying to cut back on that, not just to save money but so Brian can cook healthier meals. And it’s true — when I was much more active, I needed more calories because I burned so many. What matters is the type of food you’re eating.
Also, after a while, I learned what it feels like to be full. It’s hard sometimes, because if I especially like whatever it is I’m eating and there’s plenty left, I have to struggle not to overeat.
Sounds like you have some good work-out DVDs that you mentioned a couple of posts ago. I hope all this will work out for you. And remember — when that thyroid medication reaches a therapeutic level, you’ll have more energy and you’ll see the results of all the work you’re doing.
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