Well how do you like that?

Frugality has been a way of life for me for a very long time. I don't remember a time growing up when we had any more than just barely enough. I do remember things like searching the house for loose change so we could pay the electric bill, church people bring food over, getting boxes of food from the food bank, and getting scolded for going to the ER in an ambulance because I fell on ice in the 6th grade and knocked myself out.
On second thought maybe those aren't examples of frugality. More correctly it's just being poor. My family didn't eat very healthy. So my opinion has been to eat healthy and lose weight I have to spend a lot of money. But I'm changing my mind! You can eat healthy food on a tight budget.
Oatmeal is so so cheap, so are beans, lentils and rice. I baked bread earlier this week and I have yet to figure out the difference in cost between store bought and my 2 loaves of yummy goodness. But I will.
Split chicken breast was on sale last week at 2 different stores...99c / lb. I got a little over 9 lbs of chicken. 1/3 of it went in the crock pot overnight and got shredded the next morning. I now have a large container of chicken that will be used for many chicken burritos with homemade spanish rice, had it last night for dinner. Very good, my compliments to the chef!
Something funny about the chicken. When boneless skinless chicken is on sale for 1.99/ lb, you are lucky to find a few packages left after a couple of days. I went Thursday night, very near the end of the sale, and the chicken had barely been touched. Skin and bone doesn't account for much of the weight and I only put in 5 more minutes of effort.
The frugal side of me is helping the lose weight and get healthy side of me. I went to the store last night to get a little can of tomato sauce for the spanish rice. I went by the Reece's eggs, 2/$1. My first thought was what could it hurt to get one. Then it was one is never enough. Next time I'm in there I'll want to get another one. And if I want something chocolate I have hot cocoa mix at the house. I also have everything I need to bake a cake or brownies.
I've spent $28 on food so far. I still need to get milk (1/2 gal-2/$3) and 3 dz eggs (18ct-3/$5). Even after that, I'll be under $35. With everything I already had and things I bought, I have enough to last me until next payday.

I'm going to really try to not eat at work. Being allowed to eat and put it on a tab is too convenient. The food was good but I would not normally choose a $5 sandwich or get a $4 sub and fries and cheese sticks. I paid my tab yesterday and it was almost $20. This is after my 50% employee discount too by the way. I got by just fine without eating at work Friday. Tried to do it again yesterday and got yelled at by both managers. "You have to eat." "You can't work 6 or 7 hours and not eat." My pleas of "I'm not hungry" and "I ate right before I came in" went by ignored.

And one final note. I got on the scale this morning, down to 225. Well how do you like that?

Pound For Pound Challenge Widget

Pound For Pound Challenge

Found this challenge through eatbetteramerica.com. For every pound you pledge to lose between now and May 5th at the latest, they will donate 10 cents to feed the hungry. A little extra incentive never hurt.

Still alive

I haven't posted in so long because I'm not really working on weight loss right now. I haven't regained it all either. Still hoovering at 230.
I'm still looking for a second job. I have yet to take the state test to get my CNA certification. I missed the one in Dec I was scheduled for because I didn't have a way to get there. Now I have to pay for the test myself and I just don't have $100 sittin around right now. I plan on going to a couple of the nursing homes close to me and apply for a job. Maybe (fingers crossed, hopin and prayin) they need CNA's badly enough they would be willing to sponsor me and pay for the test. It's worth a shot anyway.
Payday is tomorrow finally and I have my shopping list ready. It's a small list. The frugal side of me says I should use up what I already have. Most of it is good stuff anyway. I had yesterday off and I baked bread. There is nothing in this world like homemade bread fresh from the oven. I have one packet of yeast left and I'll do it again when I get another day off. I have walnuts and 2 cans of pumpkin left from holiday baking. I'll probably make pumpkin bread too my next day off. Pumpkin bread and a hot cup of tea sound like great breakfast to me.
Before long I'll be in a position to give 110% to weight loss efforts again.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty

First I gotta brag about my very first real NSV. I went to Walmart after work last night to get a few things. I finally got my car yesterday and I didn't have license plate screws. I think those are kinda important...maybe. So got those and a few other car related accessories. I went to find a scarf I had spied when I was there before. Right across the aisle, I saw a clearance rack. I, like most women I suspect, can't simply walk past clothes on sale. I have been wanting/needing another pair of black pants for work. I found one pair in a size 16. I got them, took them home, and tried them on. Holy crap...THEY FIT! They are ever so slightly a bit more snug than I'm used to, but considering the pants I wear to work now threaten to fall off every 10 minutes...I think it'll be OK.
I went today and got my hair cut. Needed that done so very badly. I've went to the same stylist for 2 1/2 years, I love her. I always just get a trim. I've had the same hair style forever. All one length, like an old hippie. (BTW, I love old hippies) Today she asked me what we were doing. I told her I needed a change. I'm all about change. Finally filed for divorce Tues, going back to school soon, losing weight, etc. I told her do whatever you want. She cut 3 or 4 inches, angled the ends around my face, added a few layers, and flat ironed it. I LOVE IT!
I love getting my hair done. The only thing more indulgent and relaxing would be a massage.

Hit the reset button...continued

OK where was I...oh yeah...OK.
I gained back 4 lbs. No worries...it'll be gone again before long.
I've been saving to buy my own car. My roomie is moving out in a couple of months and I have to have a car before he goes. So in an effort to save as much as possible he was buying all the food. I didn't feel entitled to ask for anything special so there was a lot of frozen pizzas, burritos, you know guy food. We went out for chinese twice in the past two weeks. But in a week I will finally have my car. So after next week I will take control of the grocery shopping again. I'm a control freak so I will make time to plan a weekly menu for myself instead of trying to come up with a dinner that fits my plan every night. He thinks it's a waste of time and food to cook one thing for him and something different for myself. But I don't care what he thinks. He's overweight also but has no desire to change...I do!

I'm going to be an aunt again. My youngest sister, Melissa, is pregnant again. This will be her 4th. She and her husband split right after Easter last year. She's been with this new guy since Sept. If I could clone him I would. He's so close to being the perfect man, it's scary. He opens doors, cooks, cleans, has a steady job, and whatever my sister wants she gets. She is so spoiled. He surprised her at his family's Christmas party. Santa was there and all the kids took turns sitting on Santa's lap. After the kids were done, he sat on Santa's lap. Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He said he wanted Melissa to marry him. They had talked about getting married but she didn't know when he was going to propose or how he was going to do it.

Hit the reset button

I can't find the words that express how freakin happy I am that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are behind us. I gave in to the very tempting goodies. I caved to the stress of holiday shopping, family crisis, work issues, and the growing stack of bills. My lowest point was standing at the kitchen sink eating a big bowl of plain spagetti at 3 am. Yeah that's gonna help me sleep.
I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) so that doesn't help me. A couple of years ago it was so bad I thought my husband was going to commit me. I worked overnight, never saw the sun and I cried everynight when I was getting ready for work. The year after that wasn't as bad. I had normal hours at work. But I still went to the doctor and started Zoloft. That helped a lot.
Now I know a few things I can do that helps. Everyday as soon as I get up I'm opening curtains, raise the blinds on the kitchen door and stand there soaking up the sunlight while the dog does his thing. Exercise helps, I know I'm not walking enough to lose weight right now. But a 15 minute stroll around the block with the dog helps drive away the winter blues.
Things are lookin up. I'm close to finishing up two things that have been holding me back in other areas of my life.
I have more to say but I have to get ready for work...Yippie.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!