Ever wanted to try quinoa or wheat berries, but not willing to invest in a large expensive container? Try the bulk bins in Whole Foods or other natural grocery stores!
Whole Foods gets a wrap for being "too expensive" and it can be very pricey for certain items, but the glory of the bulk bin is you can buy as much as you want (or as little).
Only need a cup of cous cous for a recipe? Get it at the bulk bin for less than a dollar.
The bigger the store the more options you may be able to get, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit and other treats.
What is your favorite bulk bin item?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday Recap: Month 1
January seems to have gone on forever, yet I can't believe it is over. We have had our share of winter weather and I had my share of festive parties at the beginning of the month. I do consider the end of January to be the biggest hurdle in getting through winter, February is a short month and even if it snows in March we know it won't be around for too long.
So, good riddance January!
Diet: I have established my new post-holiday baseline. I lost the few pounds I had regained over the festive weeks and have re-established goals for myself moving forward. I have a good gym routine back in place after being away for most of December, but I am still struggling with food. I am definitely indulging too much, not just on special occasions, but also on like, Wednesday. So February will be all about re-instating the meal plan and, here is the tricky part, sticking to it.
Budget: For the first time in a couple months I came in under budget overall for the month. I was over budget in 2 areas: Groceries and Entertainment. Since the first two weeks of this month included New Year's Eve and Russian Christmas I will let that slide. They were not the sole culprits, but a big part of that spending.
Mood: I go back and forth on winter, some days I find it so depressing all I want to do is eat an entire box of Thin Mints and sometimes I find it delightful and wondrous. Getting past January will lighten my mood. February has a couple festive days and is a short month. I am also going away for a couple days to visit a friend, so something fun to look forward to!
So, good riddance January!
Diet: I have established my new post-holiday baseline. I lost the few pounds I had regained over the festive weeks and have re-established goals for myself moving forward. I have a good gym routine back in place after being away for most of December, but I am still struggling with food. I am definitely indulging too much, not just on special occasions, but also on like, Wednesday. So February will be all about re-instating the meal plan and, here is the tricky part, sticking to it.
Budget: For the first time in a couple months I came in under budget overall for the month. I was over budget in 2 areas: Groceries and Entertainment. Since the first two weeks of this month included New Year's Eve and Russian Christmas I will let that slide. They were not the sole culprits, but a big part of that spending.
Mood: I go back and forth on winter, some days I find it so depressing all I want to do is eat an entire box of Thin Mints and sometimes I find it delightful and wondrous. Getting past January will lighten my mood. February has a couple festive days and is a short month. I am also going away for a couple days to visit a friend, so something fun to look forward to!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
My New Favorite Machine at the Gym
This is my new favorite machine at the gym. It is the Arc Trainer and like the elliptical before it, it intimidated me for a long time.
I had only ever seen really fit girls using it and I figured it was out of my league. Then I noticed they were using them on this season of The Biggest Loser and thought I might be wrong.
During one of last week's cataclysmic winter weather events I went to the gym and it was practically empty. It was the perfect time to risk injury and humiliation (you know which one hurts more right?). So I hopped on, fiddled with the buttons, selected a 20 minute "Weight Loss" workout (do the others not help you lose weight?) at level 3 of 10 and turned up my Ipod.
I am pretty sure you are not supposed to hang on for dear life like I did and I probably mitigated some of the benefit by not going hands-free, but the second I took my hands off the multiple sets of handles (why so many handles if you aren't supposed to use them?) I nearly toppled over.
There is a great variety of both resistance and incline, which apparently works different large muscle groups creating a better calorie burn than the treadmill or even my newly-beloved elliptical machine. I definitely got a good workout, I was challenged but not debilitated (which is the fine line I try to walk at the gym).
So far 20 minutes is my limit, but I burned as many calories (if those things can be trusted) as I did in 25 or 30 on the elliptical and treadmill respectively. I am all for efficiency!
I had only ever seen really fit girls using it and I figured it was out of my league. Then I noticed they were using them on this season of The Biggest Loser and thought I might be wrong.
During one of last week's cataclysmic winter weather events I went to the gym and it was practically empty. It was the perfect time to risk injury and humiliation (you know which one hurts more right?). So I hopped on, fiddled with the buttons, selected a 20 minute "Weight Loss" workout (do the others not help you lose weight?) at level 3 of 10 and turned up my Ipod.
I am pretty sure you are not supposed to hang on for dear life like I did and I probably mitigated some of the benefit by not going hands-free, but the second I took my hands off the multiple sets of handles (why so many handles if you aren't supposed to use them?) I nearly toppled over.
There is a great variety of both resistance and incline, which apparently works different large muscle groups creating a better calorie burn than the treadmill or even my newly-beloved elliptical machine. I definitely got a good workout, I was challenged but not debilitated (which is the fine line I try to walk at the gym).
So far 20 minutes is my limit, but I burned as many calories (if those things can be trusted) as I did in 25 or 30 on the elliptical and treadmill respectively. I am all for efficiency!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Support System Part 3
I've talked about friends and loved ones the past couple days, both the good and the bad. Today I want to talk about the nearest and dearest people in our lives. Your nearest and dearest may vary: spouse, parents, siblings or childhood bestie. This is the person or people you feel closest to and who love you unconditionally.
For me it is my parents. I have a great relationship with both my mom and my dad, they provided all the tools I needed to become strong and independent. They taught me that my mind was my greatest asset and assured me I could do anything I wanted. I love them so very much.
Because I love them so much it is hard sometimes for me to tell them how unhappy or scared I become over my debt or my weight. I don't want them to know that I feel I have failed both myself and them. They have provided such great support and they love me no matter what, but the thought of letting them down has paralyzed me.
When I started on this plan I told them, in the most positive cheerleader way that I was making some changes, looking ahead to the future and trying to become the best me I could. They are 100% supportive, both of them trying to fight the food issues too and as they look towards retirement not opposed to budgeting either.
My parents have always helped me financially when needed, and I try very hard not to need it. When I started the debt management program this summer I had to make double credit card payments so I didn't go delinquent while the accounts were being set up. My parents jumped in and covered my student loan bill for a couple months to get me going. Over the years little things like that have made my life easier, but their greatest financial contribution often comes in the form of gifts, clothes or things like that that make my life a little bit nicer.
I know that my parents love me, that love keeps me going some days and it is as much for them as for myself that I am doing this. Failure is not an option.
For me it is my parents. I have a great relationship with both my mom and my dad, they provided all the tools I needed to become strong and independent. They taught me that my mind was my greatest asset and assured me I could do anything I wanted. I love them so very much.
Because I love them so much it is hard sometimes for me to tell them how unhappy or scared I become over my debt or my weight. I don't want them to know that I feel I have failed both myself and them. They have provided such great support and they love me no matter what, but the thought of letting them down has paralyzed me.
When I started on this plan I told them, in the most positive cheerleader way that I was making some changes, looking ahead to the future and trying to become the best me I could. They are 100% supportive, both of them trying to fight the food issues too and as they look towards retirement not opposed to budgeting either.
My parents have always helped me financially when needed, and I try very hard not to need it. When I started the debt management program this summer I had to make double credit card payments so I didn't go delinquent while the accounts were being set up. My parents jumped in and covered my student loan bill for a couple months to get me going. Over the years little things like that have made my life easier, but their greatest financial contribution often comes in the form of gifts, clothes or things like that that make my life a little bit nicer.
I know that my parents love me, that love keeps me going some days and it is as much for them as for myself that I am doing this. Failure is not an option.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Support System Part 2
Yesterday I wrote about the steps you need to take to ensure that those around you get on board with any lifestyle changes you are making en route to a healthier, more fiscally sound existence. Sometimes the people in our lives do not embrace the changes and problems can arise.
Generally these people fall into two categories: Enablers and Saboteurs
Enablers
Enablers' hearts are in the right place, but their heads often aren't. They want you to be happy and if they know food or shopping make you happy they will encourage you to splurge. They love you the way you are and it doesn't matter to them if you gain a few pounds. They bring you scones in the morning and ice cream at night, suggest a weekend away you can't afford, but they do it out of love. Enablers are a big problem if they live in your house. If you see an enabler once in awhile you can manage the temptations, but if you live with them you will have to have a talk.
Saboteurs
Saboteurs do not have your best interest at heart. Deep down they want you to fail and they will put up road blocks along the way, possibly under the guise of being an enabler. You have to suss out the saboteur, they can be killing you with kindness. Their motivations can vary, perhaps they are jealous that you are changing your life and they don't have the strength to do the same, perhaps they like the role that you currently play as the fat friend or possibly they are just plain evil. In any case saboteurs are not good for your evolution into the new fabulous you, ween them out of your life.
No one said making these lifestyle changes were going to be easy and with issues like health and wealth involved there is no way to not infiltrate every aspect of your life. You can not isolate these issues, they are a major part of who you are and require you to take a good long look at yourself.
Do you have an enabler or a saboteur in your life? How are you handling it?
Generally these people fall into two categories: Enablers and Saboteurs
Enablers
Enablers' hearts are in the right place, but their heads often aren't. They want you to be happy and if they know food or shopping make you happy they will encourage you to splurge. They love you the way you are and it doesn't matter to them if you gain a few pounds. They bring you scones in the morning and ice cream at night, suggest a weekend away you can't afford, but they do it out of love. Enablers are a big problem if they live in your house. If you see an enabler once in awhile you can manage the temptations, but if you live with them you will have to have a talk.
Saboteurs
Saboteurs do not have your best interest at heart. Deep down they want you to fail and they will put up road blocks along the way, possibly under the guise of being an enabler. You have to suss out the saboteur, they can be killing you with kindness. Their motivations can vary, perhaps they are jealous that you are changing your life and they don't have the strength to do the same, perhaps they like the role that you currently play as the fat friend or possibly they are just plain evil. In any case saboteurs are not good for your evolution into the new fabulous you, ween them out of your life.
No one said making these lifestyle changes were going to be easy and with issues like health and wealth involved there is no way to not infiltrate every aspect of your life. You can not isolate these issues, they are a major part of who you are and require you to take a good long look at yourself.
Do you have an enabler or a saboteur in your life? How are you handling it?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Support System
I want to begin this post by saying that I have extraordinary people in my life. I realize that in this regard, both on a diet and a budget, I am very lucky. In order to be successful at either you must be surrounded by people who understand what you are doing, acknowledge the challenges involved and strive to help you through the long haul.
Understanding
You cannot expect your friends and loved ones to support you if they don't know what you are trying to do. If, like me, you have been battling your weight for years or totally ignoring your budget, you have to let people know you are now serious about curbing both. Getting mad at a friend for suggesting an expensive restaurant with lots of bad options is not going to help, make your needs known to those you see regularly.
Challenges
This is your battle. You cannot expect those around you to change because you have to. You must learn to adapt to group settings or remove yourself temporarily from situations in which you fail. The weekly Friday night drink fest after work leaving you poor and bloated? Try to go once a month instead of every week.
Duration
This is not going to resolve itself in a couple of weeks. You cannot go into self-imposed exile for the rest of your life. Let people know this is not a phase you are going through but a lifestyle change and if they want to be part of your life they will understand and accept your new parameters.
This does not mean you have to where a sign saying "I'm on a diet and a budget, please do not tempt me." You do not have to introduce yourself to everyone you meet with those words, but the people that are part of your life on a regular basis should be in the know and should want to help you. If they do not want to help.... well that is tomorrow's post....
Understanding
You cannot expect your friends and loved ones to support you if they don't know what you are trying to do. If, like me, you have been battling your weight for years or totally ignoring your budget, you have to let people know you are now serious about curbing both. Getting mad at a friend for suggesting an expensive restaurant with lots of bad options is not going to help, make your needs known to those you see regularly.
Challenges
This is your battle. You cannot expect those around you to change because you have to. You must learn to adapt to group settings or remove yourself temporarily from situations in which you fail. The weekly Friday night drink fest after work leaving you poor and bloated? Try to go once a month instead of every week.
Duration
This is not going to resolve itself in a couple of weeks. You cannot go into self-imposed exile for the rest of your life. Let people know this is not a phase you are going through but a lifestyle change and if they want to be part of your life they will understand and accept your new parameters.
This does not mean you have to where a sign saying "I'm on a diet and a budget, please do not tempt me." You do not have to introduce yourself to everyone you meet with those words, but the people that are part of your life on a regular basis should be in the know and should want to help you. If they do not want to help.... well that is tomorrow's post....
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday Recap: Week 3
The weather this week was much more conducive to sitting on the couch drinking cocoa and eating cookies, but I tried to fight that. Even in the worst of it I got out every day for a workout!
Diet: Last weekend was iffy food-wise, not terrible but could have been better, the week itself was an improvement. I got to the gym 4 times and during the terribly messy storm on Tuesday I walked to the library and home and it took so long and was so treacherous I considered that a work out on its own.
Budget: Definitely getting back to normal post holiday. Of course I am terribly bored most of the time :)
Mood: Resigned to winter and worried about a few things, but better than the previous couple weeks.
Next Friday is the first official weigh in since the holidays... yikes!
Diet: Last weekend was iffy food-wise, not terrible but could have been better, the week itself was an improvement. I got to the gym 4 times and during the terribly messy storm on Tuesday I walked to the library and home and it took so long and was so treacherous I considered that a work out on its own.
Budget: Definitely getting back to normal post holiday. Of course I am terribly bored most of the time :)
Mood: Resigned to winter and worried about a few things, but better than the previous couple weeks.
Next Friday is the first official weigh in since the holidays... yikes!
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