Readers of my blog will know I have an ongoing heart condition. I need a bypass operation to replace two veins that are completely blocked, meaning the two that are still working normally are having to do twice the work. Not good, and if not corrected means a fatal heart attack within five years.
A lot, if not all of the fault lies with my lifestyle choices during my 62 years on this planet, so the first change I made was to stop smoking in June last year. It has been a success and I can now move on to another challenge, losing weight. I am overweight, another factor that is not helping my overworked heart, so as from tomorrow, Monday 15th February 2016, I shall be starting a diet, the first time I have ever attempted to lose weight. However, dieting is pretty boring and no doubt means spending a lot of time being hungry. I can't do much about the latter, but can certainly make the former a little more interesting.
I have set myself a challenge of only spending £3 a day on groceries to live on. It would be easy to splash out on weight watchers type prepared meals but I don't want to go down that route, too easy and boring. I want to gather ingredients of my own choice and prepare my own meals within a tight budget. To me that is far more satisfying and will motivate me to keep going.
So today, I wandered to the supermarket with three pound coins in my pocket to see what I could pick up for day one tomorrow. It was a shock too. I pretty well know the price of foodstuffs and knew my budget wasn't great. I wanted to be able to purchase enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had intended to buy a box of Quaker Oats to sort my breakfasts out for a good few days, but the price of £2 scuttled that idea. I had no idea porridge was so expensive! Add to that a small bag of sugar at 45p and my budget would have almost been blown!
Yes I could go down the route of spending my budget of £21 a week, meaning I could get in lots of stuff in one go, but sticking to the £3 a day means I have to think about each day carefully, more interesting for me.
I will share with you my supplies for day one.
I bought five items and have some change to add to the next days budget.
The five items.
Breakfast: A piece of baguette.
Lunch: Scotch Broth Soup with another piece of the baguette.
Dinner: 100g Fusilli mixed with meatballs and the sauce, also any remaining baguette.
I had wanted to buy a net of Tangerines but they were 80p, so just outside my budget. I hope to get them tomorrow as I want at least one piece of fresh fruit everyday. The Fusilli will also last a few days too, giving me a base to work with.
My only luxury will be cups of tea, I cannot function without that! However I don't take sugar and can happily drink it without milk, so I will just be taking a hand full of tea bags out of the household supply until such times as I can actually purchase some within budget.
I will weigh myself tomorrow morning and then every Monday morning afterwards, to see if I am indeed losing weight. I will also keep this thread of my blog going, more for my own record but if you find it interesting then I am more than happy for you watch my progress.
A good idea to limit your budget. Be interesting to see how it works out. Hmmm... keep it up Ian. You got this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kurtus, I think limiting the budget makes it more of a challenge and forces me to be creative in what I prepare and how I shop.
DeleteLike Kurtus said, you got this! I've got to watch my diet too because I got hit with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis a year ago January 9th, you can do it! En avant!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erica, I didn't know about your problem with diabetes. I will be checking everything I purchase, especially for sugar content, need to keep that right down.
DeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rodney, I will certainly do my best.
DeleteGood luck with this Ian, as you might be aware I've been on a diet since May last year - although mines is more a 'new way of eating' which just means cutting certain things out. It does however mean that I can eat as much as I like of the things I am allowed (like the pasta you bought, although not so much the tinned sauces and stuff). It's hard going but seems to be worth it! I would urge caution in making things too hard for yourself, if it feels like a chore you will be less likely to stick with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie,the first day's supplies were more of a hit and hope really, didn't go to the store with any real idea what I wanted. The budget does limit me somewhat, however it does make more interesting. If I struggle too much, I will scrap the budget side of it.
DeleteHere is an idea for breakfast, I get a pack of the muller light yoghurts, 8 for 3 quid (so 8 days worth), a pack of the basic own brand musuli (lasts a couple of weeks) and a pack of berries ( blackberries, raspberries, blueberries or what ever is cheapest - last about three days worth of breakfasts). I put about 40 grams of musuli in a pot (an airtight sealable one), pur over one pot of yoghurt and get a third of the berries, cut them up (eg, in to four for blackberries and raspberries or half for blueberrires) and put them in to the post, mix it all together, seal on the lid and put it in the fridge overnight. In the morning it's all thick and lovely, great with a brew. Fills you up, tasty and works out quite cheap too over time, you can skip the fresh berries too. if they are too expensive. Started a diet too .. doctors says I will be diabetic this year if I dont and he says I have to loose 5 stone!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Ringo, I love yoghurt anyway. I had not considered muesli as I don't care for the taste of milk, not intolerant to it. I can certainly start those breakfasts off in a small way, damn site better than a hunk of dry baguette! I will check out the ingredients tomorrow.
DeleteGood luck my friend healthy eating can also be happy eating if you choose well. 3 pound a day if a tough one but im sure you will make it work
ReplyDeleteCheers Steph, I need to lose weight, and making it more of a challenge using a budget just appeals to me. However, if the budget starts causing me a problem I shall ditch it as losing weight is the main purpose here.
DeleteGood luck on that project. You seem like guy who gets things done.
ReplyDeleteThe budgeting aspect would make it more interesting and help to keep your mind off of the food cravings... though I don't know the markets in the U.K.. Here in the U.S. it's often the garbage food that's cheapest... heavy doses of sugar, fat, and salt. 'Tasty Death' as my friend calls it.
My own challenge is to get myself moving around more... back to the habit of long meandering walks... less time in the chair staring at a screen.
Cheers buddy, I have discovered that garbage food is cheaper here too. I have to study the labels for salt, sugar, fats etc. but will keep it going on the budget if possible.
DeleteBrilliant Ian. I am the last person to suggest or advise on what to eat but what you have shown seems a good start which I'm sure you can adjust as time goes on to suit your needs and taste. Ringo's suggestion sounds good also. Keep up the good work fella, you'll do it, I know you will.
ReplyDeleteThanks Graham, yes when I set my mind to something I can usually do it. The £3 per day could become a problem and if it does I shall ditch it. The point is to lose weight after all.
DeleteWow your doing well on a small budget like that Ian, good luck with the diet and I pray all goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteCheers Chris, it is a bit of a tight budget, as I have now discovered. You can't buy much with such a small sum, still I will see how it goes, I can always ditch the budget if necessary.
DeleteTry veggies they're pretty cheap, tates, carrots and cabbage will last the whole week and eat white meat such as fish and chicken. I have come down from 17stone 7 LB to 14 stone 11LBs
DeleteIan, as a Theatre Practitioner, I fully applaud and support your effort. Ringo's muesli idea is great though careful of 'light' foods as after taking the fat out to make it palatable they than load it with sugar and chemical sweeteners. Try it 'Swiss style ' grate an apple into it and leave in fridge overnight. Frozen fruit is cheaper and just as healthy. As a former student, rice,pasta. Stews and casseroles healthy filling and can last 2 or 3 meals. If you want to get really frugal UHT or soya milk. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteIan, as a Theatre Practitioner, I fully applaud and support your effort. Ringo's muesli idea is great though careful of 'light' foods as after taking the fat out to make it palatable they than load it with sugar and chemical sweeteners. Try it 'Swiss style ' grate an apple into it and leave in fridge overnight. Frozen fruit is cheaper and just as healthy. As a former student, rice,pasta. Stews and casseroles healthy filling and can last 2 or 3 meals. If you want to get really frugal UHT or soya milk. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you Didge I will check out the sugar levels etc. before purchasing anything. I will defo be going with Ringo's breakfast idea and also give yours a try too.
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