Weight Loss for Poor College student

Question
Hi,
I'm a student in college right now who understands the true meaning of being a "poor college student." Finances and time have prevented me from buying fresh fruits and veggie especially organic food because its so expensive. I have a full schedule between work, classes and an internship so I spend a lot of my money on cheap fast food or making Koolaid. I eat out almost every day and the the food I do buy is mainly for on the go like-Yogurt, pizza rolls, etc. I have an apartment so i could cook but I have no time to or money to but expensive groceries. Also, i get home late afternoon to evening on most days and I have no energy to work out. I used to last summer and I enjoyed it but I stopped and haven't gone back since. I want to find a way to eat healthier but stay within budget but still loose weight and enjoy the little spare time I have! It's complicated, I know! I haven't weighed myself in a while but I sure I'm about 145lbs and up but not pass 160.Im 5'4". I have gained visible weight in my stomach, legs and arms, but I know some good cardio and toning will help.

What or where do you recommend I start? I need some motivation!

Thanks,

Krystle

Answer
Dear Krystle,

Forget the cardio and toning for a second. And stop the blah blah. Dear, you are really giving yourself your own answer: you want to but you don't!

But I will gladly do you the favour and sum it up for you.
You are intuitively leaning towards a healthier diet and you know what this entails: determination, time, effort, and sensible choices (all great qualities beyond the meals you eat, I'd say). You are not acting upon this intuition because of INERTIA. Don't blame it on the money. Add up what you spend on bad food. Take that budget and become a creative, aspiring and innovating young individual. You will shine for it. Use this nutritional dilemma to show to yourself and the world that you can polish things up really nice. Why not?

How? Like this.
Know that good food is not expensive. But you might not like it. Whole grain rice, in bulk is dead cheap. But you need to spice it up. So get a bunch of spices and herbs, some mustard, mirin, soy, tahin, worcester, tabasco, balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, pot of pesto, curry sauce, malay sauce, whatever takes your fancy, one or two a week for variety will do. Then cook rice, wholewheat pasta, quinoa, rice- noodles, grits, buckwheat pancakes, quiche base, rosti, try to keep the carbohydrates on a rota (keep jars in larder with these staple ingredients, which cost less than a pizza a day, and feed you for a week); then add a protein of your choice, a lean cut of simple meat, chicken, some fish in season (deep frozen but not with batter), even tinned tuna, sardines, mackerell (all good omega acids) or soy products, and not forgetting every student's favorite: lentils/ beans which are, again, dead cheap! Then put the rest of the effort in to fresh greens. AT LEAST one veg (rotate colour) and preferably some salad, too (if only some cucumber, a lettuce leaf or a tomato): this will signal to your body: I really care. Pre-cut and packaged salad is indeed more expensive. A head of lettuce is cheap in season and can last you three days. Tomotoes keep, cucumber too, and it does not break the bank. Sure enough organic produce will taste better but out of season cost more (travel expenses, depending on where you live. If you live in a temperate zone, I don't want to hear any excuses!).

The final factor is time. Ok, it does take time to eat healthy: buying, preparing, thinking about recipes,etc. But if you REALLY care: then make it into a hobby. Set aside that one hour to cook and eat, (ok so cook cheap rice in advance for two days, when you are in watching tv, and use parboiled, wholegrain during exam weeks) and make it a feast. Put on your favorite music and let rip while you cook. Celebrate, and invite your friends over to taste, stir and get their hands on good honest produce. You have to get into the mindset of healthy living before anything, including weight loss, can change.

I sense you are ready to make that turn around. I think all I need to tell you is that it is important you do this now. Student years are no longer years you can bury under teenage excuses. Show yourself to be a budding woman of the world and seize that control in an experimental phase!

I endorse you fully.
May you feel motivated to make yourself the best you can be.
Love Evelyn.  

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