SparkPoints: (42,895)
Fitness Minutes: (19,789)
Posts: 3,514
5/25/13 12:46 P

My name is Tracey and I'm from Texas (not that you would guess that from the screen name, right?). I am married with 3 wonderful children. DS22, DS13 and DD11. We have recently started couponing in an attempt to save more money since we have been helping to support 2 other households besides ours. Even though we seem to be down to only helping to support one other household, I'd like to continue couponing in an effort for DH and I to take a trip for our honeymooniversary. :-) Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

current weight: 191.2

198 182.25 166.5 150.75

135

SparkPoints: (2,732)
Fitness Minutes: (1,687)
Posts: 154
5/10/13 3:53 P

Thanks, I added you too! I didn't even notice the weight. Let's race each other to the finish! LOL Really I want to get to ~160 too, but SP put me on some 1300 calorie plan that i knew I could never stick to, so I raised it. Then I found out I could design my own plan so that's what I did. It's livable for me and sometimes I even stay within their lower range.

OMG, BBQ'd lamb......... Irish stew from the bone made with Guinness, yummm!

1 Days since:  Free from Bingeing

0 12 25 37

50

SparkPoints: (12,888)
Fitness Minutes: (7,110)
Posts: 903
5/10/13 2:34 P

Hey we are the same weight...I'm adding you as a buddy...

current weight: 225.0

232 214 196 178

160

SparkPoints: (12,888)
Fitness Minutes: (7,110)
Posts: 903
5/10/13 2:33 P

Thank you for those suggestions. no poultry. I just placed a leg of lamb on the grill.
I cooked: black eyed peas, black beans, white beans, brown rice, jasmine rice, a head of savvy cabbage, sautéed onions and garlic in 1 Tablespoon of canola oil today.
When they cool I'll bag them and place in the freezer.

I have calf's liver in the freezer...thanks I forgot I had it.

I found a bag of something...is it a pork chop or a piece of beef...hmmm

Anyhow thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

current weight: 225.0

232 214 196 178

160

SparkPoints: (2,732)
Fitness Minutes: (1,687)
Posts: 154
5/10/13 1:10 P

2009GETINLINE, took me a minute to get your joke. hehe! Luckily they don't have that effect on me. I'm a little unclear about which of those foods you can have and which you can't. I have no food allergies, so this sort of thing isn't up my alley, but there are some groups here for people who do. In fact there seem to be hundreds of groups tucked away that I'm just beginning to discover after a month. Hopefully this will help. http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/search_results_google.asp?cx=partner-pub-9318947853224619:5707387032&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&q=food%20allergies&siteurl=www.sparkpeople.com%2Fmyspark%2Fsearch_results_google.asp

What about TVP? You could combine that with hamburg or ground turkey. Eggs? I like to make Asian-style soups with lots of vegies, add a little meat/seafood/tofu and some eggs. I usually use buckwheat soba or brown rice. Liver? Cheapest meat protein out there. Pulled pork/chicken/beef in the crockpot? Chili? Chowders? if your market has a real meat dept and they have a sale on turkeys, ask them to cut it up for you. Split it in half and cut up like a chicken. I like to make soup with the drums and wings and carcass, roast the breasts and thighs one at a time, tucking stuffing under the breast, and have the liver as a treat. But whatever you do with it you get a LOT of meals for very cheap. That's all I have for now, hope it helped some. I am finding that I save a lot on food simply by the big reduction in volume and elimination of junk food. Good luck and welcome!

1 Days since:  Free from Bingeing

0 12 25 37

50

SparkPoints: (12,888)
Fitness Minutes: (7,110)
Posts: 903
5/10/13 9:40 A

YIKES! Life goes-on beyond beans. I need help on buying foods (not processed). My canned items are tomatoes, evaporated milk, decaf coffee and tuna fish.

I just found this site, Low income and I need to lose a lot of weight. Beaned out! 2x's a day. I'm so glad I live alone.
Food allergies to (ragweed family) fruits and vegetables which contains tiny seeds. Soy-edame, bananas, squash, all foods must be cooked at least 1 minute. These are not a problem for me.

String beans, whole or cut fresh or frozen, all peas, all cabbages, all large leaf veggies, no gluten, steel cut oats and occasional corn.

There's a lot I can eat. But putting a meal together is the challenge. Sure I can have beans, rice, string beans, a dollop of yogurt, throw in some spices voila. But how many days a wee can you eat it?

current weight: 225.0

232 214 196 178

160

SparkPoints: (2,732)
Fitness Minutes: (1,687)
Posts: 154
5/8/13 2:33 P

Hi! I discovered this team yesterday. Reading the posts brought back a lot of memories from when I was a struggling single mom on a very tight budget. Money is a little better now, but with the infamous fixed retirement income I still have to be careful, and I'm frugal by upbringing anyway. I have raised my own meat and would be glad to share some info on that if anyone is interested. Sometimes it saves money and sometimes not, and sometimes you can even do it for free, or almost.

Edited by: KLUTZY68 at: 5/8/2013 (14:33)

1 Days since:  Free from Bingeing

0 12 25 37

50

SparkPoints: (5,349)
Fitness Minutes: (4,287)
Posts: 46
5/6/13 10:35 A

Happy monday morning everyone! new here... looking forward to the journey of being more fit and healthy... with teamwork.... have a fabulous day all!

current weight: 198.2

205 192.5 180 167.5

155

SparkPoints: (141)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 9
5/4/13 7:45 P

Hi everyone. I am 48 yrs old with 2 beautiful daughters, one in college (go Hoosiers!) another a Junior in high school. I am having a lot of difficulty buying items I need to follow my diet plan. My budget is very tight, so any ideas is welcome. I would love to do a garden, but ... some barriers to that at the moment.

Posts: 152
5/1/13 10:28 A

Hi All!

Carol in southern Wisconsin here. Thanks in large part to SparkPeople, i am down 15lbs this year, with more to go :) and definitely doing it on a budget! always looking for good ideas to eat healthy without $pending a lot.

Pounds lost: 21.0

0 7.5 15 22.5

30

Posts: 193
4/29/13 1:56 P

Hello All
Stephanie here. I am a married stay at home mom to a 4 and 6 year old. Due to having one income I really need to learn how to be creative and eat and cook healthy for my family on a budget. I look forward to getting to know everyone here and learning. Have a great day

current weight: 304.0

320 277.5 235 192.5

150

SparkPoints: (188)
Fitness Minutes: (102)
Posts: 6
4/27/13 12:29 P

Hello everyone, glad to join this group. Trying to eat healthy on a budget has been a challenge for me but now I need to really get creative. I am unable to work for 6 weeks do to having two left feet and trying to fight the sidewalk, that hurt! Anyways I look forward to trying some of the tips on this page and joining everyone in this journey to better health.

Tammy

Pounds lost: 45.0

0 17.75 35.5 53.25

71

SparkPoints: (28,755)
Fitness Minutes: (17,646)
Posts: 3,104
4/18/13 6:45 A

, Christy.

It is a challenge, but healthy eating can be accomplished at a reasonable price.

Love that you are container gardening!

Not sure where you live, but here in Virginia, we can put lettuce around the tomato and pepper plants and they will have grown and been eaten, by the time the tomatoes and peppers get bigger.

Some of our Dollar Tree stores have frozen fruit and veggies, for a buck a bag. Blueberries are one of my favorite deals!


Sales, I am sure you look out for those. Beans can really stretch the budget and there are so many varieties,

Ethnic stores, may times have much cheaper prices on fresh produce and the quality is superb. Also a bigger variety.
Farmers markets and produce stands are a mixed bag, but if you get to know your vendors, deals can be struck.

Hope this helps get you started!

Pounds lost: 7.0

0 5.5 11 16.5

22

Posts: 116
4/18/13 4:09 A

i am new to the team. i joined because there are too many times i scratch my head trying to figure out how i am supposed to feed everyone (7 of us) on a food budget of 500/mo. i am going to try container gardening to see how it works for growing bell peppers and tomatoes this year. i want to get rid of more of the junk food for the rest of my family and have all of us eating on the right path

i hear so many people say that it is too expensive to buy healthy food and i want to prove them wrong

Edited by: CHRISTYBTHEPOET at: 4/18/2013 (04:12)

Pounds lost: 16.0

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100

SparkPoints: (28,755)
Fitness Minutes: (17,646)
Posts: 3,104
4/12/13 8:57 A

Hi Crystal, welcome back!

Great that you both lost weight, last time and I know you all will do it again!

Yes there are challenges in the budget department, but this team has wonderful tips and we are in it together.

Every day is a fresh start.

Chris

Pounds lost: 7.0

0 5.5 11 16.5

22

SparkPoints: (1,095)
Fitness Minutes: (68)
Posts: 66
4/9/13 10:27 A

Hi Crystal, and welcome back!

I know you can do this! You can lose the weight. We are here to support and encourage you. There are a lot of wonderful people on this site, and I'm sure you will hear from them too. It's great your husband lost 150 pounds. It must be challenging since he travels so much. I know you will get some great ideas from others to help him as well.

Baby steps Crystal! One pound at a time!!

Hugs, Becky

Posts: 179
4/9/13 4:43 A

Hello All,
My name is Crystal. This is my second time on Spark People. The last time I was here (2009) my husband and I were living in hotels as his job made him move around. As you can imagine, eating out every day for a year can add a few pounds to your waistline. I only lost 5 pounds back then and have been the same weight ever since. My husband lost 150 pounds back then, but he is slowly gaining it back (gained 30 pounds back!). I am hoping that if I lose a little weight myself, that I can encourage him to lose those 30 pounds too. I’m always worried about him since his new job has him traveling away from me for long periods of time, which he will eat fast food because he has to walk a mile to a real restaurant on most days (he can be in a new city every day). Between 2009 and today, I have been unemployed and went back to school, so my budget seems to be very low. Any inspiration would be appreciated! Ha ha ha. Have a good day!

SparkPoints: (1,095)
Fitness Minutes: (68)
Posts: 66
4/2/13 2:49 P

Greetings! My name is Becky; I'm 46 years old and single. I need to lose 87 pounds. What initially got me in trouble was eating out every day for lunch. When I'd run out of money, I would use a credit card. So now I have debt and weight!!! Double whammy! I now brown bag my lunch, making healthy sandwiches and bringing fruit. I drink water. I just need to be consistent with the exercise.

I look forward to getting to know my fellow team members!!!

SparkPoints: (9,256)
Fitness Minutes: (4,575)
Posts: 554
3/31/13 3:01 P

Hello! My name is Dawn. I live about 45 minutes east of Cincinnati, OH. I am 39 years old. I am a single mom of 3 children (9,11, &17). I have been struggling with my weight for several years now and I realized that I have to put myself first. I want to have energy to play with my children. I deserve to be happy and healthy.

SparkPoints: (4,223)
Fitness Minutes: (1,278)
Posts: 165
3/31/13 2:56 P

Hello, I have come and gone, many-many times, but I feel this time is it. I kind of have this thing where I quit and go back, quit and go back. With smoking for instance. I really wanted to quit and made up my mind to do so then a few days later I would go back. Until finally I just put my mind to it. Losing weight is another of those instances. I just have to finally say enough is enough. Im 36yrs. and just want to be fit, healthy, and just to feel great about myself. I want to do this before I get sick. To be able to enjoy my years with my kiddo. I want her to look up to me and say, "wow, this is my mom"

current weight: 216.0

220 198.75 177.5 156.25

135

SparkPoints: (41)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 2
3/18/13 7:41 P

Hello. I fell off the wagon a lot but this time ready. I am on a very low budget and just am looking for ways to eat healthy

SparkPoints: (22,878)
Fitness Minutes: (8,527)
Posts: 315
3/16/13 8:56 A

Hello all. My name is Sarah and I am a SAHM of 2 teenaged boys, so saving money is imperative just to be able to feed them! It looks like this group is for me. I am looking forward to supporting and being supported!

Have a great day!

Posts: 261
3/15/13 3:17 P

Hi My name is Debbie, I am a mother of 3 grown children and 10 grandchildren. My hubby is a small engine mechanic, and is laid off right now. I am disabled and on disability. Things are very tight. Right now we are living day to day. Trying to eat right is really tough. I have type 2 diabetes and a heart condition, and a paralyzed stomach. I ttried spark people 4 months ago until I hit christmas then it all fell apart. So I am going to take baby steps back. Starting here.

current weight: 356.0

356 335.75 315.5 295.25

275

SparkPoints: (656)
Fitness Minutes: (697)
Posts: 1
3/9/13 3:54 P

Hi. My name is Susan. I have at least 43 pounds to lose, and I'm trying to do it on a budget. I have five kids, two are in college and one is a senior, getting ready to go to college, and one is in high school and one in junior high. I want to get in shape with little time and little money to do so. (Also just found out the youngest two need braces). I just joined a running group at church but there are so many hidden costs for that. I bought some clothes that won't fall down when I run, and now they are telling me I probably need different shoes...and then there is the healthy food, which costs more and also takes more energy, which I don't have a lot of. I'm hoping exercise will help me regain my energy, and eating better, perhaps.

SparkPoints: (29)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 1
3/2/13 3:28 P

Hi

My name is Dotty and this is my first day at sparkpeople. I like to read, do crafts and take pictures. I have been trying to lose weight but I find I give in to temptations way too easy.
I would like to lose some weight for trip we are taking in May and more for another trip in
August. Just need support and some ideas on how to get away from temptations.

SparkPoints: (645)
Fitness Minutes: (410)
Posts: 6
2/5/13 5:35 P

Hi everyone, I'm Dominique this page is really cool. As a newlywed and mother of two very energized little boys ages 2 and 9months losing these pounds on a budget would be really ideal. On top of that hopefully I get to me new people.

Edited by: OVERNIGHTMOMA24 at: 2/5/2013 (17:37)

SparkPoints: (3,659)
Fitness Minutes: (1,288)
Posts: 48
1/21/13 9:39 A

Hi all I have been here 4 days I just can't believe all the great information that is on this site
I use a meal planner and list with a budget
Hoping to make a lot of great friend

Posts: 1,030
1/20/13 5:18 P

Hi, I'm new here. I have no choice but to save money on groceries. I live on a fixed income. Healthy isn't cheap--at least not from what I've seen.

current weight: 255.6

273 244.75 216.5 188.25

160

Posts: 4
12/27/12 1:44 P

Hi all, I'm Kari and on a tight budget (think ramon noodle). Excited to find great ways to eat healthy for less.

SparkPoints: (9,940)
Fitness Minutes: (3,521)
Posts: 593
12/26/12 1:08 P

Hi everyone!

My name is Eileen and I'm here to find tips on losing weight while on a budget--I LOVE saving money! Who doesn't??!!

SparkPoints: (4,101)
Fitness Minutes: (1,901)
Posts: 267
11/12/12 11:35 A

Hello!! My name is Breanne, most call me Bree, I have a 14 year old daughter. I am hoping to get lots of tips & tidbits of info on how to make this journey without much money. My daughter is in marching band & let me tell you, most of what little extra money I have goes to that. We are going to Ireland with the marching band in March, so purse strings are a bit tighter for now. I also have student loans that I have to pay every month too.

Here's to success on all of our journeys!

Pounds lost: 7.0

0 32.3 64.6 96.9

129.2

Posts: 100
10/18/12 12:23 A

Hi everybody!

It's cool to find a sparkteam that focuses on budgets. I'm on a mad mission to have my student loan and car loan paid off by the end of 2013. So finding ways to cut back on other bills has been a fun game! (well, okay, not always)

Hope to have exchanging ideas with you all.

current weight: 123.8

134 130.75 127.5 124.25

121

SparkPoints: (1,429)
Fitness Minutes: (285)
Posts: 378
9/26/12 10:33 P

Hi,

I am Polly.I am very interested in cutting my expenses this fall.Hopefully ,this will give me some pointers.

current weight: 182.0

182 178.25 174.5 170.75

167

SparkPoints: (81)
Fitness Minutes: (22)
Posts: 2
9/26/12 11:39 A

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer. I just joined this morning, and I'm excited to start learning as much as I can and interacting a little bit. I'm 34 years old, from WV, and I have a beautiful 10 year old daughter. Still learning the ropes here, but it looks like an awesome site. Can't wait to learn more!

Edited by: JENRON12 at: 9/26/2012 (11:41)

Posts: 9
9/17/12 3:18 P

Now this is a group I can relate to. As if losing weight and getting fit doesn't bring it's own challenges. We have to manage it on a budget as well. And it is getting pretty danged expensive to buy fresh food. I got a great juicer last year and planned on juicing my way to health and then went to the store and realized how much it was going to cost to feed that machine every day. LOL. It looks lovely sitting on my shelf.

So finding other healthy ways to get my fruits and veggies now.

Pounds lost: 5.0

0 35 70 105

140

SparkPoints: (671)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 7
9/11/12 9:11 P

Hi...my name is Jamie. I'm married with three kids and a step daughter. I really need and want to lose weight. It seems as if eating healthy is so expensive. Junk food is so much cheaper :( Excited about the support I hope to find on here.

SparkPoints: (13,787)
Fitness Minutes: (7,953)
Posts: 520
9/11/12 5:54 A

Hi I'm Tammy and I've made the commitment to get fit and re-joined Sparkpeople. I am 47 and I have a busy life but grocery bills have been eating a huge chunk out of my budget so I really want to learn some ways to eat healthy without it being so expensive. I really want to get fit and regain more flexibility again. So any help will be welcome.

Posts: 7
9/1/12 9:58 A

Hi I'm Michele and I am a SAHM of a two month old and a 3 yr old. After Alyssa was born (two month old) I decided I need to lose weight cause I don't want to end up like my mom who died of a heart attack when I was only 14, which in 14 yrs I will be the same age my mom was when she had here first heart attack. Anyway just trying to lose the weight this time in a healthy way that keeps it off.

SparkPoints: (53,703)
Fitness Minutes: (26,584)
Posts: 2,065
8/20/12 2:54 A

My name is Scare, real name Phillippa-Jane (I prefer Pippa though) and I have a £2100 loan that I'm saving up to pay off early. I'm also try to save up some money to travel, so trying to scrap together as much cash a month as I can.

Posts: 10
8/12/12 5:56 P

My name is mary and i have 2 children aged 9 and 11 and need help 2 cook healthy meals on a very limited budget instead of buying cheap frozen meals

SparkPoints: (11,912)
Fitness Minutes: (3,830)
Posts: 656
8/12/12 3:56 P

Looking forward to figuring out how to reach my goals on a very limited budget.

current weight: 155.5

170 157.5 145 132.5

120

Posts: 784
7/2/12 10:16 P

Hi! My name is Jennifer aka Jenn...36 yo mom of two kids...i live in southern la....looking forward to learning more with the help of the team

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 15 30 45

60

SparkPoints: (25,846)
Fitness Minutes: (26,484)
Posts: 3,894
6/28/12 11:52 A

Hi I'm Sharon from Clarksville Arkansas. I am married to Apachesteve and we have one son who loves to help cook in the kitchen. I have been with Sparkpeople since March 2010.

current weight: 215.6

220 198.75 177.5 156.25

135

SparkPoints: (32,224)
Fitness Minutes: (16,159)
Posts: 3,146
6/27/12 11:20 A

Hi,
I'm Jan ......... From Eugene, Oregon .......... Began on SP last March and just love it! It is so much fun meeting new people and sharing good thoughts ............. I meal plan most weeks and do batch cooking when I can .............. Really do like to save w/ expensive super-market prices and try to avoid wasting food ................. This looks like a good place to be ........... look forward! .............. (Will celebrate a B-day in a few days--hate to say which number-lol) ..........

current weight: 157.0

172 166.5 161 155.5

150

SparkPoints: (3,284)
Fitness Minutes: (2,435)
Posts: 182
6/21/12 10:43 A

My name is Jennifer I'm 37 y/o married, with 2 wonderful daughters.
I live in a small E. Texas town known as The Oldest Town in Texas
I'm excited about this, page and group!!!

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 18.25 36.5 54.75

73

SparkPoints: (31,066)
Fitness Minutes: (17,880)
Posts: 3,332
6/17/12 11:36 P

Hi I'm Tara, 50 yrs old, in Alberta Canada. Very excited to be starting this journey to a healthier, lighter me and was thrilled to see this Spark Team. Money is always being stretched and I pride myself on making something delicious with very little. But it hasn't always been the healthest food, so I look forward to sharing healthy budget saving ideas with all of you.

current weight: 212.0

250 225 200 175

150

SparkPoints: (590)
Fitness Minutes: (610)
Posts: 35
5/24/12 6:49 A

Hi RALPHIEBOY3, and welcome to the team

Pounds lost: 37.0

0 27.5 55 82.5

110

SparkPoints: (5,263)
Fitness Minutes: (5,749)
Posts: 26
5/24/12 5:25 A

new member here looking forward to being part of this team

SparkPoints: (590)
Fitness Minutes: (610)
Posts: 35
4/30/12 11:41 A

Hi i am Nikki , I am form Brighton in England . I am 31 years and have a husband and 3 boys 13,10,2 and on a budget for food . Find it hard to keep the shopping bill down each week. I want to eat healthy and get might weight down, since having my knee op I am on the mend now and getting in the right track again.

Pounds lost: 37.0

0 27.5 55 82.5

110

Posts: 214
4/29/12 5:15 P

Hi! My name is Deb I am 54 and I live alone and on a fixed income and I try to make my money stretch. I live rural and get to town every 2-3 weeks since it is 47 miles away. So need less to say I was excited to see this group. Right now I have been eating a lot of frozen dinners a salad and fruit for portion control. It is so hard to cook for just one.

current weight: 306.0

325 318.5 312 305.5

299

SparkPoints: (3,120)
Fitness Minutes: (1,410)
Posts: 82
4/11/12 12:17 A

Hello my name is Dawn and I will be 45 in a few weeks. I decided to join SparkPeople to get so motivation to help me lose the weight. I have been married to a wonderful man for 21 years and we have two adult kids that are both married to very nice people and we have two doxies. I am a stay at homemaker and I love to sew and bake. My husband and I like to go do activities on the weekend to get us out of the house. I look very forward to getting involved with your group.

current weight: 339.0

349 311.5 274 236.5

199

SparkPoints: (7,087)
Fitness Minutes: (1,871)
Posts: 260
4/3/12 8:06 P

Hi!My name is Dawn and I am recovering from heart surgery.I think that joining this group might help me to plan some meals on a budget. It is hard to eat on a budget when you have meds, picky eaters, and health issues. I am looking forward to this team input. I love different recipes and I am always looking for recipes that are ;ow in fat, calories, sugar, and still delicious. I cannot wait!! Thanks, D

Edited by: DWHARLOW at: 4/3/2012 (20:10)

SparkPoints: (1,488)
Fitness Minutes: (1,245)
Posts: 5
4/2/12 5:32 P

hello I just joined the group my name is Tony and I love to find new and low cost but effective ways to lose weight I love to eat and love to find delicious low fat versions of my favorite food my wife loves to cook and is always having me try new things I am glad I found this group and hope to find some new recipes to try wish all a good day

SparkPoints: (13,290)
Fitness Minutes: (9,391)
Posts: 59
3/22/12 7:15 P

Howdy do! I'm Jossie and I'm always interested in eating well and keeping the budget in check. I can't wait to check everything out here, save some money and keep eating healthy!

23 Maintenance Weeks

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40

Posts: 156
3/14/12 5:48 P

Welcome Susan from Iowa! Hope you drop in often and share ideas with us!

Terri from Massachusetts

SparkPoints: (415)
Fitness Minutes: (365)
Posts: 4
3/14/12 11:00 A

HI, I am Susan from Iowa. I just started eating healthier and working out. I am 67 yrs old and way overweight. It is hard to get started but I am on my way now. Thank you for being here.


Edited by: SUKABO at: 3/14/2012 (11:01)

current weight: 228.1

233 214.75 196.5 178.25

160

Posts: 5,005
3/10/12 10:44 P

May Minutes: 90

0 150 300 450

600

SparkPoints: (36,271)
Fitness Minutes: (22,302)
Posts: 3,780
3/9/12 7:29 P

Hi, I'm Suzie. I love the idea of this team. I think cooking whole foods over packaged processed or fast foods really helps keep the costs of meals down. Although it is a bit more work. We also seem to get 2 or 3 meals out of whole food cooking, using the leftovers for other dishes or lunches.

Right now I get a box of organic produce delivered to the door each Monday. I recently changed it to a veggie only box as the fruit piles up while waiting for it to reach the perfect stage of ripeness. We use the veggies for side dishes, salads, omelets and we make a big pot of creamed veggie soup each week that lasts for about 4 days. We cook all the leftover veggies before the new box comes with some chicken broth and then puree it. Quick and easy to heat up. In fact I love a bowl for breakfast with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Glad to be on your team!

current weight: 182.5

187 182.75 178.5 174.25

170

Posts: 5,005
3/6/12 10:51 P

&to all hope you enjoy this team

May Minutes: 90

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600

Posts: 156
2/24/12 9:32 A

Hi Everybody,

My name is Terri. I just found this team and I have good news to report! I printed out my "Grocery List for the week" after planning my menus. I only had $98 in cash so I doubted that would cover the cost of the list. I decided to do the best I could to choose the most important items and make the economic substitutes necessary to stay in-budget. With list in hand I went to Market Basket. Well I got everything on my list (and even a couple items not on the list) for $96.35! The cashier and helper must have thought I was a Wacko when I waved my dollar laughing, "I did it!" I was so happy because, if I'm honest, I didn't believe deep-down that I could. So thank you team, Market Basket and SparkPeople!

SparkPoints: (12,950)
Fitness Minutes: (8,306)
Posts: 471
2/13/12 4:37 P

Hi All..
My name is Teresa & just found this team...I am interested in how to continually cut my grocery bill while still choosing healthy options to continue my weight loss journey...Look forward to getting to know everyone...

Pounds lost: 2.0

0 34.75 69.5 104.25

139

SparkPoints: (3,047)
Fitness Minutes: (3,349)
Posts: 82
2/5/12 5:41 P

Hi, I'm Vonn. I'm serving a year with Americorps, which means I get paid very little to work with a community organization whose mission is to alleviate poverty/increase access to education. So, I am very conscious of my spending! I am also on a journey to eat healthier and make exercise a habit. I am currently doing the INSANITY workout program and training for my first 5k in June. I just started logging into SP again after four months and I'm falling in love with the site all over again.

SparkPoints: (24,295)
Fitness Minutes: (22,092)
Posts: 3,057
2/4/12 12:48 P

Hi my name is Carol. Not new to sparks, just found this team. Have started keeping a budget sheet of what I spend & am working on ways to cut back as much as possible in all areas. DH will be retiring next year so what I find reasonable now may not be then. I was sticking to a mostly vegetarian diet but back slide because of things that were out of my control & preparing separate meals became to taxing for me. Now ready to try again. Do use coupons & store perks, but don't buy just because I have I coupon. Also stock up when things are on sale. Am trying to shop only every 2 wks to cut down on impulse buying.

SparkPoints: (370)
Fitness Minutes: (681)
Posts: 3
1/31/12 6:31 P

Hi I just started with Spark the last few days. I am interested in your group because I am on a limited budget. I hope to learn how to cook in proportion sizes. Not to mention make something that my fiance and 2 year old will eat also. So that I am not making two different meals for my family everynight for dinner.saving money is a very big thing I have been exploring and started using the coupons I find. My two year old is pretty much a good eater. she loves brocolli,believe it or not. And is a big fruit lover, pasta and rice. a lot of chicken and she loves steaks as do her father and I. He is a big meat eater too,potoes, and lots of startchy food. So I want tips on how to cook that everyone will enjoy it. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. Thanks!!

Posts: 2,111
1/31/12 1:14 P

Hi
I've just discovered this group and since I know that $ is a big issue for me, I'm looking forward to participating and learning from all of you. I am a single mom but my kids are both grown and away from home. Both of them eat well and my youngest is vegetarian and has helped me a lot. In the last few weeks, I've been adding lentils to my soups. They are cheap and filling and of course, "good" for you.

current weight: 141.0

155 148.5 142 135.5

129

Posts: 794
1/29/12 3:07 P

Hi, I'm Angela! Looks like we're all here for the same reasons. I am happy to hear there is a team that addresses this issue. It is expensive to eat healthy, but so worth it. I am looking for any tips I can use to feed my family of five on a reasonable budget. Really glad to be here.

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 2.125 4.25 6.375

8.5

SparkPoints: (40,435)
Fitness Minutes: (25,725)
Posts: 3,524
1/29/12 9:04 A

I'm Jessica!!

Pounds lost: 0.2

0 15.75 31.5 47.25

63

Posts: 356
1/25/12 11:04 P

I am delores iam 54 years old ihave 2 sons but, only 1 son is still at home so i try to cook healthy . I have lost aprox. 20 pounds since returning back to spark. I an now weighing 220 pounds. I want to get to 175.

Pounds lost: 27.0

0 16.75 33.5 50.25

67

Posts: 773
1/25/12 9:57 A

hi im55 503over and i need to lose on a budget thanks for having me

current weight: 185.0

190 177.5 165 152.5

140

Posts: 126
1/22/12 5:21 P

Hi, I'm Robin, and although I do clip coupons, I find that I can't use that many, because I try to limit processed foods in my diet. I'm looking for creative ways to lose weight on a very, very tight budget, but still eat healthy foods.

current weight: 174.0

178 167.25 156.5 145.75

135

SparkPoints: (149)
Fitness Minutes: (10)
Posts: 7
1/21/12 4:40 P

Hi, my name is Becky. I'm a married with an 18 year old son. We're in the process of closing on a house at the end of this month so things are frantic, and the added expenses require more budget tightening. I try to plan meals and shop around what's on sale.

I look forward to talking with y'all.

Posts: 45
1/16/12 8:42 P

Hi my name is Casey. I am super excited to find support, give support, and learn more ways to save. I am a light couponer. I only cut coupons that I will actually use. Save the others for someone who needs them. I am relearning how to cook. To save money I have to cook it. I am not into the microwave meals. I have a handful of favorites. The less the ingredient list the better I do ;). So here is a big Hello and it is so very nice to meet you.

SparkPoints: (5,718)
Fitness Minutes: (6,298)
Posts: 53
1/15/12 11:28 A

Hi! My names Abby, I'm a nursing student and getting married in a couple of months! I'm new to spark people but not to "trying" to lose weight. I'm not "trying" anymore, I AM losing weight. Glad to find some other people on a budget :-)

current weight: 160.0

160 153.75 147.5 141.25

135

SparkPoints: (24,782)
Fitness Minutes: (5,590)
Posts: 4,159
1/9/12 10:56 A

Hi I am not new to sparks but I am new to this site. Looking for motivation and hoping this site can provide that for me. need to lose weight this year and learn to keep it off.

current weight: 218.6

248 234.75 221.5 208.25

195

Posts: 13
1/8/12 9:07 A

Hi, I'm not new to sparks...just haven't ever comleted my goal weight. I guess you can say I give up to soon. I keep getting back up on the horse and trying though. Hopefully I can find some good money saving tips on here since it costs so much more to diet...at least that is what I have found.

SparkPoints: (11,198)
Fitness Minutes: (10,128)
Posts: 392
1/5/12 12:22 P

Hi I am Jenn. I am new to the team, not to sparkpeople. I am not a coupon clipper . . . yet I suppose. I am on a VERY tight budget and looking for ways to exercise and get into shape.

Pounds lost: 14.4

0 11 22 33

44

SparkPoints: (19,580)
Fitness Minutes: (8,775)
Posts: 376
1/3/12 10:15 P

Hi my name is Cynthia. I am 40 years old. I am looking to lose weight on a budget. I clip coupons. I am looking forward to any ideas anyone have. I am excited to join this group.

Posts: 540
12/21/11 12:45 A

Hi, I am new to this team , but not new to Sparkpeople. It is an awsome place to get support. I think in this economy everyones is struggling. I hope to get some good tips as well as share anything I come accross. Looking forward to getting to know everyone