Why does this WOE C*O*S*T so much???

[blemay]

:cry: This WOE is so terribly expensive for me. Hubby, son & I are all doing Atkins. We are spending WAY more $$$ at the grocery store than we ever have before. And I don't even buy any of the low-carb stuff.

Who can afford to pay $5.00 plus s/h for a single package of low-carb tortillas??? I certainly cannot.

So, we are getting bored very quickly. No variety. I'm afraid we are going to find that this WOE is not going to work out.

PS: Not to bash Atkins or anything, but I lost WAY more weight on Jenny Craig than I have on the past 6 weeks of Atkins. Any ideas on why that might be?? I do feel better physically on this diet, but am depressed that Iam not losing as fast as I feel I should.

How do you guys get around the high $$$ on this diet???

[whyspers]

My grocery bill hasn't really changed really, although I do buy a lot less for the money (I have always spent a lot groceries :( ). I figure its worth it. The money it will save me in health care bills, Tums for hubby, etc. I'll get a second job if I have to...as long as I can be fit and feel good :) Wish I could afford the shrimp, lobster and salmon more often though...lol.


L

[justcindy]

Yes my grocery bill has gone up too. All I can say is buy the cheaper cuts of meat and spices spices spices so you don't get bored. And I am about to write a book...One Million Things You Can Make With Eggs! LOL Eggs are cheap and they seem to speed my weight loss along.
Look up and try some recipes on the site here and develop your own too. :) Buy in bulk when it is on sale and above all keep it interesting, you don't want to get bored with your food choices.
~Cindy :)

[jmarionw]

I find we're spending about the same, or even less. The cost of the extra veggies, meat, etc., is offset by the fact that there's no more chips, bread, pasta, pop (only have a diet pop about twice a week if I get desperate), etc.

Plus we were constantly eating out a few times a week, $30 here, $50 there, so that's stopped now. So I guess all in all, we're kind of saving money.

[tagcaver]

Well, I've been thinking about the increased costs vs. other, cheaper "meal plans". I've come up with some ideas:

Reasons for spending more for a low-carb lifestyle as opposed to other "diets" that cost less:

1. Slow weight loss usually stays lost, fast weight loss usually comes back.

2. Can enjoy real butter on veggies and good tasting dressing on salads vs. bland low-fat veggies and salads.

3. Have energy; don't feel washed-out. Am more motivated to exercise because I have the energy to do so.

4. Never hungry vs. starving all the time.

5. Improves my lipid profile.

6. I LIKE steaks and pork chops. I DON'T LIKE having to come up with a gazillion low-fat ways to cook a boneless, skinless chicken breast.

7. Not tempted to cheat. If I occasionally get a desire for sweets, low-carb (high fat & high calorie) alternative to candies are allowed, but not on low-fat/calorie diets.

8. It's easier to eat out at restaurants.

9. It feels good to see a steady improvement in my health and not feel deprived.

10. It WORKS!!!!!

Joan

[mammoth]

Blemay: We arrange our dinner menus around what is on sale that week...so our grocery bill has really stayed the same. Heck, we are still buying the same foods....just NOT the cookies, cakes, etc...so we are able to spend THAT money on better cuts of meats etc...and Variety is just a matter of being creative, look up recipes here on this forum etc...there are lots of YUMMY ones! I notice we spend more time cooking and cleaning up which is kind of a bummer....but we take turns!

The Tortilla's are only $2.59 per pack...at www.vitaglo.com and if you plan ahead and order over $50.00, shipping is free. And, they are FAST. They sell other products you can use too...and the tortilla's are a lifesaver! They last 6 months in the fridge, I believe it says on the package!

Jenny Craig: If you lose better on JC then Atkins, I would say get back to JC. However, as I am not familiar with the JC program, could not say if the health benefits are as good as atkins...perhaps you should weigh it all out and decide. It is about losing weight, yes...but also about health. Pick whats best for you and your family.

I think it is WONDERFUL that you are taking the time to explore a better way of life and health for your family! GOOD JOB! You are to be admired for your efforts! Pick the plan that you think you can all stay on for the long-haul!
Best wishes;
Jake

[fatchick]

I too found that at first I spenta lot more on groceries than usual. However as I've settled into this WOE it's really evened out and back to what I used to spend. I'm never hungry, and eating out is easier.
As to Jenny Craig, I've never tried it. I have tried many others with a variety of results. (I once lost 30kg/66lb on weight watchers) JC may be cheaper but did you keep the weight off?
Icertainly don't know all the answers (just look at my stats!) but I'm giving this a jolly good try and hope that it's a life time answer not jst another fad.

[yvonne326]

This WOE does not cost a lot of $$$. ITs the low-carb "mocK" products that do. If you stick to what you find in the grocery store like I do, your budget does not change much. I only buy low-carb shakes -- all else is veggies, fruits, meat, dairy..... And you have to shop around...I look at all circulars that come on Sunday and buy what's on sale...meats, dairy, etc. My budget is just slightly higher than pre-LC (and much more healthier!)

Now if you buy lots of low-carb mock products than yes, your budget will go up. BUT There is NO NEED to buy low-carb products ALL THE TIME. These products should be eaten as an occasional "treat" thus your food bill will not suffer. Those foods can be problomatic as well...causing stalls, overeating, etc. for some.

[Aysiama]

Hmmmmmm... Jenny Craig was cheaper???????
JC meals for just me alone cost more than I spent on my whole family grocery bill pre low-carb. I cannot see how JC could be cheaper.. IMO.
I spent a little more at first on low carb. It is closer to normal now. I think if my whole family were eating LC it would actually be less, but they eat the bread, pasta, cookies, cokes, etc.

[motis]

I was going broke in the beginning, too. I thought "My God, we can't stay on this or our kids will NEVER go to college!" It has rounded down now that I've been on it a while and didn't have to buy all "new" things.

Buy generic for everything that you can. I've found that things like generic salad dressing and sausages are cheaper and actually have LESS carbs than the name brand.

Don't buy more than 3 days worth of fresh veggies at a time. Any more than that and they can go bad, causing you to spend more money on veggies.

Heavy cream is expensive. Try to keep it as much to a minimum as you can. It really should be used sparingly anyway, but it was a mistake that I made in the beginning.

Don't buy expensive meats. Particularly steaks. Round steaks can taste just as good as a T-bone if seasoned and tenderized the right way.
Buy hamburger in bulk.

Find a fish and meat market. (I didn't think I even HAD one around here, but I was wrong). I just bought 30 lbs of steak for $60. And good steaks to boot! It sounds like a lot of money to shell out at once for meat, but I won't need to get meat for at least 3-4 weeks now. Meat markets are cheaper because they buy in bulk.

Look for one of the "do it yourself" grocery stores (Save-a-Lot, Aldi's). Places that make you bag your own groceries are REALLY cheap. I've saved as much as $40 doing my grocery shopping at these types of places. The "no frills" stores save you TONS of money.

Check those ads!! Anyone who didn't do BIG TIME grocery shopping this weekend missed out. Every store in the world was doing 4th of July sales. I stocked up like crazy!! It's big savings when grocery stores compete over holiday sales. Don't do like I used to do and just look at the ad and say "oh, what a good deal on hamburger" and then throw the ad away and never think about it again. lol. There's stuff on sale EVERYWHERE. You just have to find it. :)

Variety is the spice of life, but don't try out too many new recipes if you don't have the ingrediants right on hand. Maybe try a new recipe every two weeks or so. I have a cupboard full of things that I have used ONCE for ONE recipe and now there they sit. If it's not an ingrediant that you won't use for other things as well, then don't buy it. (What the heck IS pet's milk, anyway? I have 4 cans of it!! LOL)

Ok, I guess that's as far as my knowledge runs. If I think of any more, I'll let you know. Your grocery bill really will go down once you adjust to this WOE and you know what things you need to buy all of the time and which ones can be left at the store. :)

Good luck!!

~Angi~

[aimie]

my bill does not go up unless i buy the lecarb icecream. i have always spent a lot on meats my hubby is a big meat eater. we have a meat every night. i just fix meals as usual and avoid the potatoes, pasta, bread, and desert if we have any.

meal suggestions 1 (chicken)
1 meat of choice
1 dark green veggie (the frozen ones are delish if fried in butter)


#2
meat of choice (pork chops
squash (fried in butter)


#3 pastaless spagetti
brown the burger
put in casserole dish w/ favorite spagetti sauce ( one low sugar would be great the reg serves a lot so you would not really get that much. you do not have to use the whole jar or can. i like the mushroom and green pepper). add lots of cheese of your choice with onions, green peppers, and what ever you want. lots of mushrooms make up for the pasta loss.
*green salad w/ dressing

#4
meat of choice/ the banquet salsbury steaks are good. (7 carbs per steak) i have had no trouble w/ them. or make your own
the already jar gravies are low in carbs so you could use them.
califlour mashed like mashed potatoes

#5
cheeseburger steaks w/ onions
salad/ dressing or just mayo

you may already use these kinds of foods but if not...
you could rearange these so you do not have all the beef in a row. i hope these suggestions help.
this is some of the things we eat at my house no one is low carbing but me.so i make reg. mashed pot. and such and just avoid them. but since your whole family is doing it ...it should be easier for you.

try the recipes section: add a low carb cheese cake to one of the menus.

hope this helps. also check out my journal and others for menu ideas.

[Operaghost]

I definitely spend less now than before. No more fast food, no more junk food. Heck my favorite meal is roast beef tortilla wraps which probably costs about $1 each.

My wife is on JC (yes, I am on Atkins and she is on JC!) and her bills were about $90 a week. My foods are no where near that amount.

But, cost aside, do what works best for you and your family. I certainly have less/no temptation to cheat on Atkins than on any other plan I have tried.

Good Luck,

OG

[flutterbye]

I too, kind of plan my weekly menus according to whats on sale. If king kullen or waldbaums has buy one get one free on meats, I'm in my glory! Also, Bj's, price club, sams, those places are great to stock up on quanity meats, cheeses, oils,h20, etc. See, I'm on atkins. Dh and dd are not so I have to buy food to accomadate all of us although I'm getting dd and dh to eat healthier just by example and dd requests fruit salad or cruites over cookies and icecream quite often now! flutter

[Coriolis]

Funny. I was just thinking the other day how inexpensive this WOE is. Considering that most low-cal programs that you join, you need to pay a membership fee, or buy certain products to stay in-line with "the plan", but with Atkins you just need to buy regular food. I probably do spend more money now on fresh vegetables as I eat way more veggies than I used to, but as far as meat, eggs and cheese, no change there, and I'm certainly buying WAY LESS pasta, rice, cereal and bread so I'm more than making up for the costs there. I don't go for the "low-carb" marketed foods anyway. I like natural foods.

[LCBarbara]

In general, fresh & natural foods do cost more. However, I have found that since we are not eating those high carb packaged side dishes, cookies, crackers, icecream, frozen dinners, etc, my grocery bill is actually less. I buy extra of any meat that's on sale and freeze it. And eggs are the cheapest food going!

As for Jenny Craig, that plan was much more expensive than is this! Plus, what do you really learn? Meals already prepared doesn't teach a person to really change habits.

[RoseTattoo]

Also, once you're done with Induction (or even on Induction, I guess), you can get a very inexpensive source of protein from soy. Tofu is much, much cheaper than meat and relatively low in carbs (2 g per 4 oz. serving). Unsweetened soy butter has only 1 carb per 2 tbs. serving, is cheaper than unsweetened peanut butter, and goes great on a high-fiber, low carb cracker. Even the soy burgers that are sold in some health food stores are relatively cheap (certainly cheaper than meat) and fairly low in carbs.

But just a note of warning: Don't eat too much soy and certainly don't take soy supplements. Not clear yet what the phytoestrogen in soy does (or doesn't do). IMHO, moderation is called for.

Good luck with this! I've found low carbing much less expensive than the wretched sweet snacks I used to crave. :)

[blemay]

Please, let me clarify something about my original post...I did not mean to lead people to think that the Jenny Craig plan was CHEAPER...it certainly wasn't cheaper.

What I tried to say is that I lost WAY MORE POUNDS doing JC compared to Atkins, and I wondered why?

After 6 weeks, I have only lost 12 pounds. At the same 6-week period on JC, I had probably lost 26 pounds or so. And, that one seemed easier for me, because there was no thought to it, since you ate their pre-packaged food.

I'm not trying to say that JC was better in any way, I'm just saying that for me personally, the Atkins plan is so much SLOWER to see results, and I'm having a hard time not getting depressed over the results (or lack thereof) to date.

And, when you are used to cooking some french fries and corn-dogs for the family for dinner (quick AND cheap!), switching over to cooking steak and fresh veggies IS more expensive!!

[angelswed]

i find all my atkins stuff and low carb either at the healthfood or the grocery store.
i dont really see it at being more expensive pretty much the same when you figure all the money you save not buying chips and bad stuff like that and eating out at fast food.
i think it evens itself out.
i try to buy the mean that is redtaged that way i put it in the freezer for when i going to eat it.
and really a packet of something like porkchops is about the same price as a frozen dinner in most cases.

[angelswed]

blemay i know someone who has lost alot of wieght on jenny craig in fact she now works for them..lol
protein is not for everybody i would also choose a diet that gave me the best results and thats great that you have lost so much on jenny craig.
keep up the great job!
:thup:

[LCBarbara]

I am a true believer that slower weight loss leads to success in keeping it off. I have dropped lots of weight in a short amount of time, yet put it right back on (plus more) when I quit following the diet.

Try not to set yourself up to be disappointed. A reasonable expectation of loss is an AVERAGE of about 1 lb. a week.

This WOE is one that I can live with for the rest of my life.

You don't have to cook steak. There are plenty of meat/fish/chicken options. And veggies from the local farmers are very reasonable.

[black57]

You can spend as much or as little as you want to on this WOE. My basic shopping list does not consist of low carb tortillas, mixes, syrups etc. I purchase butter, olive oil, vegetables, cream, meats and my grocery list isn't any higher than before. Now, I will buy low carb items once a month and I have a budget of about $30.00 that I will spend on them. We no longer buy beer and hubby buys fewer chips so I believe the grocery price is balanced.


Black57

[SandraDee]

Could you tell me where you buy your LeCarb ice cream? I hear so much about it, but cannot find it.
Thanks,
SandraDee

[mschube]

Our grocery bill is about the same as before because of the reasons already stated - basically not buying all the carby stuff and shopping for the sales. One thing I have noticed, though, is it takes us less time to do the shopping because we're just going around the outer isles in the store. No need to look for cereals and chips and stuff - just meat, dairy and veggies. Pretty cool in my book! I'm always looking to save some time. . . .

Someone mentioned earlier about it taking more time to cook and clean up than before. That was a real bummer to us, too. One thing we've done to try to help with that is we make up a lot of stuff and store or freeze it. I'll cook 10 or more hamburgers at a time, make some "chili", or even cook steaks then freeze in bags or containers. They all do well reheated in the microwave on low power. Last night we scrambled a dozen eggs for breakfasts this week (can reheat and put on cheese, sour cream, guacomole, salsa, etc.). We just keep those in the fridge. Good luck and hang in there!

[Jeanne Sch]

Hmmm....yes I agree that the food can be more expensive if you get extras like the drinks and bars. Like Mammoth says: if you stick to the weekly specials your grocery bill should be about the same. I indulge myself and buy shrimp when it is on sale and chicken breasts. All of the carb processed foods can be had for cheap because there is nothing nutritionally sound in them and they have mega-crops of the stuff.

I spent a lot in the beginning because I bought a lot of the goodies (subsequently can't having them because all of them contain dairy which I am allergic to).

A thought: You lost more on Jenny Craig? But here you are trying another diet plan because Jenny Craig didn't work longterm. I've seen more longterm success with Atkins than I have with any other diet plan.
The ONLY person I knew that suceeded at Weight Watchers was my sister at age 13 but I think her decision was based on sheer will because she was teased terribly for being *chubby* as a kid. Didn't know anyone that succeeded longterm on Jenny Craig.

Try to keep your eye on the longterm goal of weight loss and control over yourself and your diet. That is REALLY why you are doing it - in the hopes of keeping it off forever. I like this WOE and I didn't even think of myself as a vegie and meat person before I started. I just *FEEL* better eating these good foods :) If I spend $40 more a week in groceries maybe that's because I should have been doing that all along and not causing my body and mind so much misery. Yup, food is expensive alright!

[Paris]

Pre-Induction I gave the majority of my food away because I was coming off of WW and everything was carb loaded so my first Atkins-friendly shopping trip was a bit expensive. However, no I really want for nothing. I have 2 great low-carb dressings and a ton of meats and I buy my veggies twice a week. All in all my bill on ANA is lower than when I was on WW because I am not buying all of that expensive processed crap.

[acohn]

My grocery bill's gone up, but primarily because my gf, who would benefit from LC, refuses to, and eats all sort of carbage. So, we have two separate stashes of food. Still, as we've all said, protein is more expensive than carbs.

One cheap snack I make for myself is Heroin Wings (From Dana Carpender's 500 Low-Carb Recipes; I can't list the recipe here due to copyright infringement issues). A batch of 50 wing pieces, with the wings bought from Costco, lasts us 7-10 days, and gets me two of my major macronutrients (protein and fat) in one fell swoop.

[atiaran]

1. Buy the meat that's on sale in bulk quantities and freeze what you won't use within a day or two. It should be fine in freezer for up to 3 months.
2. Buy the generic or store brand of canned veggies or chicken broth or heavy cream etc. since they are much cheaper and essentially the same as the name brand.
3. If your grocery store has coupon books, pick one up and browse through quickyl before starting shopping. Sometimes they have great deals on produce.
4. Buy heads of lettuce or spinach instead of pre-cut, pre-bagged. Much cheaper and lettuce is really not hard to chop up!
5. This varies but shop on a Monday or Tuesday as there are usually lots of specials due to fewer people shopping on these days - guess they figure they won't lose a bunch of money doing it those days.
6. Buy some of your veggies frozen. Bigger bags of frozen cauliflower or broccoli or green beans with no sauce added to it can sometimes be cheaper and will last longer than fresh produce.

When I first started I was at $190/week for myself. Now I am at $125/week for a family of four. Once a month I splurge on a LC treat such as Atkins icecream or cookies, but mostly stick to sf jello or berries with some whipped cream. The one thing I do get every other week is the LC tortillas but that's because my local store carries them. I skip the shakes and bars mostly.

[LadyBelle]

When I first started I spent a ton of money on LC products to have in the house, just in case I had cravings. It was a huge waste. I have found that I have very few cravings, and most things have been touched once, if at all. About the only thing I buy regularly now is eggs, yogurt, soy milk, salad/produce, and meat if it is on sale. My bottles of oil last forever, as do the jars of nut butter, so I rarely have to rebuy them. The LC bars I have lost almost all taste for, and my son ate all the Zone ones I was saving for later :) I have KETO pudding, potatoes, Atkins shake and bake mixes ect, and they don't get touched. I also have Atkins BBQ sauce and katchup, which are both good, but not when you may have candidia. When winter hits I will probably use the thickner I bought and the soy flour, but that's not for a while yet.

Moral, don't buy a ton of LC products unless it's something you will actuly use alot. If there is one food you really love and want to have around, hide it. For some reason my non LC family finds all my LC foods more appitizing. I've stopped buying them non LC items except for a multigrain bread and fruit because they would steal all my food and the carby sugery things would mold. My son still gets his fruit and his once a day treat (Usualy a splenda sweetened icecream bar) and my SO buys his carby things at work for lunch break. It saves alot of time, money and energy not cooking seperate meals for everyone.

[Angel66668]

Hasn't really changed much for me instead of spending tons of money on boxed meals and quick dinners, and $7 frozen pizzas, I now have to spend sometimes $2 for a freaking Atkins bar and $5 for a bottle of Keto Ketchup.

[gtarent]

One solution for the expensive tortilla shells is to pool your orders with other low carbers you know. I just placed an order for 13 packs of small tortillas and 5 packs of burrito size. This will be divided among my growing group of low carbing friends and family. We order about every other week or so, and with such large order a mere $5 shipping is barely noticeable.

[Shellyf34]

FYI - She said she doesn't buy lowcarb products so that is not the issue here.

Yes steaks are expensive. Here are the cheap staples in my house (I am not working right now so have to be money conscious)

boneless skinless chicken thighs
thin cut pork chops and pork shoulder stakes
pork shoulder roasts to make pull pork
chicken legs and thighs (bone in, skin on) to BBQ
chicken breasts to pound thin and roll in egg and crushed pork rinds
Salmon (I live in the West Coast and it is cheap here)
ground beef (lots)

Zuchinni (sliced thin for mock lasagna)
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Summer squash
Spaghetti squash (for my lowcarb bolognase sauce and alfredo sauce with chicken and broccoli)
Salad stuff
Artichokes (live in artichoke country too)
celery
peppers, all colors

[vcrothb]

A lot of butchers do 'freezer orders' where you can buy, say, half a cow or pig for a lower price than buying at the supermarket- and they generally wrap it all up nicely and according to your specifications. It may also help to join Costco- buy as much as you can in bulk.

That said, I do sympathize with you- especially with a family to feed all on Atkins. If you don't have a big food budget, you end up having to buy cheaper meats and cheeses (which as stated above are often just as good as the more expensive cuts if you prepare them right).

Good luck!

Cathy

[Morgan1974]

There's stuff on sale EVERYWHERE. You just have to find it. :)

Variety is the spice of life, but don't try out too many new recipes if you don't have the ingrediants right on hand. Maybe try a new recipe every two weeks or so. I have a cupboard full of things that I have used ONCE for ONE recipe and now there they sit. If it's not an ingrediant that you won't use for other things as well, then don't buy it. (What the heck IS pet's milk, anyway? I have 4 cans of it!! LOL)

Ok, I guess that's as far as my knowledge runs. If I think of any more, I'll let you know. Your grocery bill really will go down once you adjust to this WOE and you know what things you need to buy all of the time and which ones can be left at the store. :)

Good luck!!

~Angi~

EXCELLENT advice, Angi! Sounds like you're a thrifty shopper and that makes all the difference in the world! Wish we had a dairy around here and I'd use them for my eggs and cream and cheese, a meat market for meat and poultry, and our veggie/fruit stand for produce. Yes, that takes 3 stops but you can really save!

Oh........do you have a dog or cat? Maybe that's what the "Pet" milk is for! :lol:

[Tiffanylip]

I'm one of the people who feel like my grocery bill has increased. It's interesting that this question got posted because DH and I had just had this discussion at the grocery store! We're currently spending close to $115/wk on groceries, compared to a pre-LC total of $70. With that being said, DH looks great! and is so full on energy that it IS worth it.

Tiffany

[scthgharpy]

You know, I have a freind that lost about a ton of weight really quickly on this doctor-approved (and insurance covered) liquid diet. She put not a morsel of solid food to her lips for 9 months. I was, frankly, rather jealous, even though I warned her that shes not learning to eat healthy. Then I saw her put it all back on -and thensome.

Thats my only worry for you, sure it may work quicker for your metabolism, but will you keep it off? Will this break your habits and set you on the path of healthy eating for long term?

Im actually really pleased with the results Im getting-average of 3.5 pounds a week is almost double what weight watchers says you should lose and expect long term maintenance.

Youve been given a lot of suggestions on this thread on how to incorporate the lo carb WOE into your life, so I wont elaborate.

Just a few things to consider before tossing out lo carb completely! Best of luck!

JC

[rebbetzin]

I can really relate to the cost this WOE entails. We only eat kosher meat which is much more expensive than non-kosher meat. Yikes. I had to take out a mortgage when I went to the butcher the other day!

[freckles]

I thought the exact same thing as you....until I went shopping last week. I ended up hunting for extra things to buy with the leftover money in my grocery budget!!! $30 extra!!! So, I think over the long run it does get cheaper...you have to figure out how to shop differently...figure out the cheap, tasty meals all over again, because they'll be different than the cheap, tasty ones you used to make. It's like anything you learn...it takes awhile to get good at anything new, but pretty soon it's old hat and your good to go. :agree:

[Froggiebro]

http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/23/pf/investing/weight_loss/index.htm

Go check out this article about the cost of Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and L.A. Weight Loss

At least we don't have to pay to be a "member" of Atkins!

[Morgan1974]

I thought the exact same thing as you....until I went shopping last week. I ended up hunting for extra things to buy with the leftover money in my grocery budget!!! $30 extra!!! So, I think over the long run it does get cheaper...you have to figure out how to shop differently...figure out the cheap, tasty meals all over again, because they'll be different than the cheap, tasty ones you used to make. It's like anything you learn...it takes awhile to get good at anything new, but pretty soon it's old hat and your good to go. :agree:

(Off Topic) I love your signature butterfly. I've been trying to add my signature since I joined and it won't work. :rolleyes: I do what it says but still no Sig; just that dreaded "x". If there's a secret to it, I'd love for you to share it with me! Thanks!

Morgan :yay:

[freckles]

Thank you, Morgan. I love that animation very much. I don't know of any trick other than do you have the item saved on a website? If it's just saved to your computer I don't think it will work....I just put in the target web address of where the animation is saved and it works. That's all I did. I hope this helps some...I'm definately no expert. Someone has had to walk me through most everything...I never could figure out how to include the quit smoking calculator!

By the way...did you put the link in your profile? Or are you just trying to put it at the bottom of each post? Just a thought.

[Morgan1974]

[QUOTE=freckles]Thank you, Morgan. I love that animation very much. I don't know of any trick other than do you have the item saved on a website?

Yes, I have it saved on my website with Bravenet. I've used my signatures everywhere else but just can't get them to work here. Driving me coo coo! :rolleyes:

If it's just saved to your computer I don't think it will work....I just put in the target web address of where the animation is saved and it works. That's all I did. I hope this helps some...I'm definately no expert.

Well, I can practically take a computer apart and put it back together so that's why this is so frustrating to me. I've never had a problem like this before. It's a conspiracy!! :lol:

Someone has had to walk me through most everything...I never could figure out how to include the quit smoking calculator!

Oh, do you belong to Quitnet.com? I did for a long time but (unfortunately) fell off the wagon after 8 months! But going back in the VERY near future! :yay:

By the way...did you put the link in your profile? Or are you just trying to put it at the bottom of each post? Just a thought.

Well, actually....both! Can't get it to work either way! I've done everything short of running over to this forum's creator and handing it to them in person! Well, maybe that's a stretch. :lol: Guess I'll just keep trying things. Thanks for your post, I appreciate it.

I like your screen name; freckles. I'm a redhead with freckles. :thup:

Morgan :)

[freckles]

OMGosh!!! I'm a redhead with freckles too!!! :D AND I did quit smoking about 5 weeks ago...lasted a whole 3 weeks....I'm only smoking about 2-3 cigs per day, but I'm slowly inching my way up from a couple drags. I will have to quit again as I have health probs that insist upon it! :rolleyes: So far the only thing we don't have in common is the taking the computer apart and putting it back together...and the weight...and where we live. :lol: My mom lives in Port Orchard, though! Nice to meet you, Morgan. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with the sig...have you asked for help? I'm sure you have. I would be frustrated too. Anyway...Nice to meet you!

[Morgan1974]

[QUOTE=freckles]OMGosh!!! I'm a redhead with freckles too!!! :D AND I did quit smoking about 5 weeks ago...lasted a whole 3 weeks....I'm only smoking about 2-3 cigs per day, but I'm slowly inching my way up from a couple drags. I will have to quit again as I have health probs that insist upon it! :rolleyes:

Sorry to hear about your health problems. I don't really have any, but I want to quit BEFORE I develop them! This coughing is driving me nuts!! Well, I just joined quitnet AGAIN a few minutes ago. I set my quit-date for Dec 31st. I used the patch the last time and it really worked....for 8 months, anyway. :rolleyes: I'm having my kitchen remodeled right now and no way can I quit during that stress! :nono:

So far the only thing we don't have in common is the taking the computer apart and putting it back together...and the weight...and where we live. :lol: My mom lives in Port Orchard, though!

I know Port Orchard well. I'm actually about 25 miles south of Seattle.

Nice to meet you, Morgan. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with the sig...have you asked for help? I'm sure you have. I would be frustrated too. Anyway...Nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you too! Yes, I've asked for help. I've asked you and one other person. LOL Someone suggested I ask a particular person but I can't remember her name now; Lara, I think, or something like that. Duh! :lol:

Good luck with your LC'ing! I've been a bad girl today so have to get a little strict with myself this weekend! Have a great weekend!

Morgan :)

[FromVA]

I, too, found my grocery bill went WAY up - but now that I've been doing this WOE for a month I also have found I've got loads of stuff I never should have bought - mainly different kinds of cheeses and sausages. I think it takes being on this WOE for awhile to re-learn how to shop. AND cook! I don't buy much of the "low-carb" stuff - mainly the Atkins' Breakfast bars and Indulgence bars for DH for his breakfast and lunch during the week, but get them at Wal-Mart. Our grocery bill should now be going way down because I don't buy him the "no-fat" cookies and chips, and the expensive whole-grain breads he loved. His snacks cost a lot because he insisted on "no-fat" and never looked at the calorie or sugar content. The initial $ lay-out is high, but if you started re-stocking your kitchen from scratch (moving across country, etc.) you are looking at lots of $.

[Archie]

I think, as others have said, that initially it was more expensive but as time goes on the cost has dropped dramatically. At first I was stocking up the freezer with a good meat selection which was costly. I was trying all kinds of products, recipies, etc. and buying stuff I'm not rebuying.
The biggest savings for us was when we stopped buying fast foods. We could spend $20 - $30 up to three times a week. No more of that.
I've heard people comment (read complain) about the extrordinarily high price of low carb bread....approx. $7.95Cdn. It is expensive per loaf but now I might eat one every two weeks rather that 2-3 loaves per week. In the final analysis I think It is probably costing me less. The only thing that has the potential to push up the cost for us is when I go nuts buying Endulge Peanut Butter Cups and Caramel Nut Chews which I eat too much so have learned to buy sparingly. I won't be buying many of the low carb bars because, although they are OK as a snack on days where I can't easily get some other LC item they are not so good (after the first few) that I would overdo it. I also expect once I use up my Bake Mixes, etc. that I will learn how to make my own as the ingredients are readily available at the Health Food Stores and that will likely be less expensive. :agree:

[FromVA]

Archie: I found I, too, made a lot of expensive mistakes when we first started this WOE. (The Atkins PBCs are something I spent WAY too much on and ate like Reese's pieces...wonderful but not teaching me anything about the proper way of eating.)

Oddly enough, as we finish up our second month of Atkins, we don't eat very differently than we did many years ago...chicken, fish, meat and two vegtables and salad. The only thing missing is bread and potatoes, and rice, which we didn't have at every meal, anyway. I think I let the entire thing get too complicated, when eating simply was really the answer. I cook extra chicken and make chicken salad, egg salad, ham salad and tuna salad and keep it on hand all the time. An omelet with deli turkey or ham and American cheese and fresh spinach is breakfast, and on a busy day, it will do for dinner as well.

I see a lot of complaints about eggs on this board and wonder why so many eat so many!! There are lots of alternatives, as I mentioned above. And the more mayo, the more satiating it is...throw in some chopped dill gerkins and a tiny bit of red bell pepper and it really perks it all these salads up. Very occasionally I will fix H some of the Atkins Hot Cakes, which he likes, but doesn't love, but weekends are fried eggs and sausage and bacon. Being southerners, though, we DO miss our grits!

I think simplicity is as much the answer to the expense issue as anything else.

[Valkyrie]

This is an extremely interesting topic. When I first started eating low carb I went out and bought loads of expensive steak, roasts and all sorts of expensive goodies. Then I started buying loads of low carb goodies over the internet which cost me a small fortune (especially when getting them shipped over to the United kingdom as at that time there were few suppliers here). I too thought it was going to cost loads more money but then I soon realised that the low carb syrups and low carb pancake mixes didn't taste half as nice as my own low carb ones with a little melted butter and splenda and vanilla essence as a topping. I now make everything I need from bread, pasta, crackers etc and my food bill has come right down.

On the other hand I am now spending a fortune on supplements and nutrients instead. However my health has improved so much I am sure it will be worth it in the end.

Can I please ask a question about something mention earlier in this thread. As a person from the UK I am intrigued to ask what on earth are Corn Dogs?

[doreen T]

.. Can I please ask a question about something mention earlier in this thread. As a person from the UK I am intrigued to ask what on earth are Corn Dogs?
Basically, it's a hotdog (weiner, frankfurter) covered with a cornmeal batter then deep fried. Usually it's on a stick so you can eat it with your fingers.

http://www.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/water/2-lunches/corn-dog.jpg

I used to love those things when I was a kid. Had a bite of one recently and .. well, it did NOT live up to the memory. :thdown:


Doreen

[adkpam]

I agree that it is not really an expensive way to eat, since I'm not buying cookies ($3 a bag) cakes & pies ($5 each) candy ($2-3 a bag) and those packaged side dishes ($2-3 each.) I am buying more meat, but I watch for sales (2 for 1 bacon quite often, and pork chops seem to go on sale every week) so I've found our food bill to be the same, or a little less. And everything I buy is FOOD. So I'm getting more bang for my buck.

[Morgan1974]

Basically, it's a hotdog (weiner, frankfurter) covered with a cornmeal batter then deep fried. Usually it's on a stick so you can eat it with your fingers.

I used to love those things when I was a kid. Had a bite of one recently and .. well, it did NOT live up to the memory.


Doreen
I LOVE corn dogs and miss them terribly! So this is what I do now. I take a weiner and roll it up in a low-carb tortilla with mustard and nuke it for about 45 seconds. Not a traditional corn dog but does the trick! :)

[Kristine]

Mmmm... corn dogs... :doah:

My favorite LC on a budget advice comes from Dana Carpender in this FAQ. (http://www.holdthetoast.com/faq.html#httfaq94882171824373faq)

My grocery bill was probably about the same. It's easy to point out the cheapness of potatoes and pasta, but in reality, I spent *big bucks* in my pre-LC days. $3 on a box of Snackwells that would last a whole 15 minutes. :rolleyes: $5 for a box of cereal that lasted three mornings. All the snack food... and it just makes you hungrier. To paraphrase the above FAQ, "what could be cheap about food that makes you hungrier?" :daze:

[LilaCotton]

Oh, this is something I've been thinking about for a while now! Like many have said, I do believe we are spending more right now than before, but I know we'll adjust and things will get better. I was doing some mental price comparisons earlier today with things we used to buy and things we buy now. Keep in mind, I'm a stay-at-home mom (with a 5-year-old not on Atkins but eating better, nevertheless), so I've always shopped on a budget, so some of my regular costs may be pretty low.

Then (monthly): Now:
10 boxes of cereal, $20-$30 10 dozen eggs, $10
16 gallons of milk, $32 2 gallons milk, $4
10 bags of chips, $15 5 bags pork skins, $10
15 loaves of bread, $20 1 loaf of bread, $1.50

(And this doesn't even begin to count all of the tortillas, refried beans, canned chili and other high carb foods we were using.)

One thing I don't think anyone mentioned about shopping cheaply, is to make sure you check outlet stores, like the $1 stores in your area. I usually get super bargains on good mustards, salad dressings, etc.

Also, find out if you're eligible for some type of employee stores. We have a major food producer in our area, and all employee family members are eligible. I buy frozen berries and frozen vegetables from that store quite frequently. I don't save much on the frozen veggies, but the quality is way better than from the store, and I do save gobs on the frozen berries and such.

[Digitalgrl]

I found Jenny Craig a lot more expensive than low carb. Here in Canada, it's about $125-130 per week, plus you have to go to the grocery store to buy your own veggies, fruits, bread ( if you are allowed it ) crackers etc.

I found myself spending nearly $200 a week on food in total - OUCH!

[sunspine17]

I agree that if you only shop at your regular grocery store it can get expensive -- especially if you but a lot of prepackaged LC products. I stick to natural foods -- meat, veggies, cheese, condiments, etc. and find it quite inexpensive. I think our trick is we buy our staples at Costco and Aldi's (don't know if Aldi's is all over the US -- it's an inexpensive store that sells only generic products). We only do a run of the mill supermarket (like Jewel, Dominick's, Albertsons, Safeway, etc.) for the few things we either use very little of or for certain brands we can't live without (Like Marie's Super Blue Cheese dressing-- Yum!). We also order out much less so that saves a lot right there. I haven't specifically costed it out but I'm pretty sure we are spending less (at worst it's about the same). It's amazing how much you save in less snacking alone -- no chips, donuts, trips to Starbucks, etc.

I'd say it costs much less but requires more shopping time to find the good deals.

[cbcb]

Hmm... someone could describe the cost in terms of the money supply... that things with protein and fat are of real value like a hard currency... whereas carbs, so plentiful here in this grain-producing giant of a country we have... are kind of a "we can print more!" currency. Ie, value's in the protein/fat content.

This is just a spurious analogy... but it came to mind while reading the thread title... feel free to run with it if you must! :)

[Jetgirl01]

I find we're spending about the same, or even less. The cost of the extra veggies, meat, etc., is offset by the fact that there's no more chips, bread, pasta, pop (only have a diet pop about twice a week if I get desperate), etc.

Plus we were constantly eating out a few times a week, $30 here, $50 there, so that's stopped now. So I guess all in all, we're kind of saving money.

I agree. The bill at the grocery store may be bigger but I'm definitely saving on lunches....no eating out during the week because I'm taking my lunch every day. That alone is 50-75 a week saved. :wiggle:

[teresamay]

I dont' find it expensive at all! In fact, my grocery bill has gone way down. I am a single mom, so every penny counts. The trick is to shop around for bargains, stock up and let's face it, we all probably spent a small fortune in the "old days" on junk food, restaruant meals, etc...I love this, it is forcing me to cook regularily, and I have cut way down on the "food treats" my daughter was getting as we are both leading much healthier lifestyles. I also stay far away from the low carb stuff as well, the lc icecream, syrups etc, aren't necessary, and are a nice splurge once in a while...

there are lots of ways to keep the bills down, and stay on this lifestyle.

[AndreyV]

My grocery bill is much, much, much less since I began low-carbing... :yay: Before I was a big fruit freak... And fruit, my regular low-fat/high-carb snack, can get quite expensive here in Belgium... And I would devour it in huge quantities and still feel hungry (2 kg of aplles a day/$4)... In fact, I was never satisfied with carby stuff... I could devour a whole pack of Swedish knäckebröd (about 250 g) with jam or Nutella... And ten minutes later I would be craving a new snack... And what would I turn to??? Yes, Belgian chocolate!!! Lots of it!!! Cote D'Or, Leonidas.... mmmmmmmmmmm :yum:

Anyway, since I am no longer consuming any unhealthy carby foods, I can save a lot buying meat and veggies, occasionally fish... In fact, being a student with a tight budget, I can now live (not survive) on about 20 euros ($25) per week!!! :) I do get most of my meats in bulk on sale and just freeze it... Chicken breasts, chicken wings, pork chops, sausage...I am not a big beef eater (especially after all the news about the mad cow disease ;) ) and it saves me a lot... Veggies, even not so cheap, can last me a whole while now... A zuccini can last me about 1 week now, instead of 15 minutes, in addition to other vegetables of course... I don't eat lots of eggs, but I eat a good amount of cheese, since it's cheap here and we have all different kinds from France, Holland, Germany, Denmark, etc... In fact, low-carbing diet is the only one that allows me to eat well and never be hungry...

And, oh, i don't buy any of the special low-carb products since they are just not available here... Not that I think I would get them even if we had them in stores. I also try to get most of my food from cheap stores, such as Aldi or Lidl, and only visit expensive ones when I absolutely need to... That can save a lot too... And quite often their products are better than the ones from expensive places
:wave:

[BlitzedAng]

Sure... My grocery bill is MUCH larger. But I look at it this way. With it being me,dh and 4 children just think of how much our "FAST FOOD BILL" was. OUCH!!!! So when averaged out I am saving a bundle now.No more fast food trips,caving in to junk foods in the stores,etc...


Angel

[easylyvin]

I figure we are actually saving money, as far as money spent for eating out and alcoholic beverages. I go to Priceclub and buy bulk meat and cans of tuna or I buy meat on sale. It's nice to have a chest freezer to stock up.
Check out the recipe forums or the web for new recipes. I try to use 1 new recipe a week, so things don't get boring. I have gotten some really yummy recipies from this community!

[yoda_san]

I think we do spend more but I am the only one low carbing in my family so we are basically buying for two different type diets. One thing that has helped is we figured out when one of the supermarkets we go to marks the meat down for quick sell and we go that day, stock up, eat some that day and freeze the rest.

[322432]

I spend about the same as before; but I'm sure that the future will be less, when the price of medicine is included. I don't think I'll be spending as much or more on drugs as I do groceries, like most people my age do now. I just feel too good to ever :wave: need drugs. :wave:

[BadgerGirl]

Geez, I'm saving tons of money. I buy lots of meat, which is expensive, but I am no longer making 2-3 trips a week to Bread & Circus for made in advance dinners (with a stop at their bakery, of course) or going out to dinner several times a month. My own food tastes better so we eat at home.

This morning I made a fresh tomato and onion quiche (crustless, of course) that I'll just have to heat up tonight. :yum:

My husband and I spend about $75 a week on food. Before, we were close to doubling that.

Oh, and as 322432 mentioned above, I am spending $50-$75 less a month on prescription drugs. My allergy/asthma symptoms are rapidly disappearing, even though I still have the three cats to whom I am supposedly allergic.

And I imagine the money I will save on clothing when I no longer have to alternate between entire wardrobes of different sizes.

[windy]

I have found that my food bill is less too. The junk food is what cost so much. I buy a few LC products, I like to have pancakes and the muffins, shakes and that is about it.

I hope you can find a way to stay on the WOE.

have a good day,

Linda

[Lauri T.]

I agree that this WOE is cheaper. No more packaged stuff or fast food. I just buy fresh meat, eggs, cheese, coffee, and vegetables. I buy olive oil in bulk. If I want anything else I make it myself out of acceptable ingredients (like mayonnaise). I don't buy any low-carb products.

[AimeeJoi]

i totally agree that this low carb diet is very expensive. For me alone it may not be so bad but i talked my boyfriend into eating this way and he has a hollow leg. The high protein doesnt seem to be slowing his appetite either. It is even worse because we are kind of health food fanatics (we were both previously vegetarians thinking that that was healthy, duh) and we try to buy grain or grass fed meat without antibiotics and the suped up eggs with omega 3 and only organic produce and for some unknown reason this stuff is really expensive. 1lb grain fed ground beef = 4.99/lb, 1lb regular store bought ground beef = 1.99/lb. Last month we spent close to $800 on food for just the 2 of us. We are not anywhere near being rich so this is utterly ridiculous. we go shopping like 3-5 times a week and seem to never have that much food in the house. You can not stock up on meat and veggies as well as you can pasta and rice(i would never go back to the old woe though) i just wish you could find more REAL food at the normal grocery store without additives and preservatives and at a more reasonable price.

[Meggen]

Last time I did atkins (was on for 1 year) I went off because of the cost of food. My grocery bill tripled. Both DH and I were use to no breakfast, cheese sandwiches for lunch and some type of frozen food for dinner ... average weekly cost £30 currently i do NOT buy any lc garbage foods ONLY frozen veg and on sale/cheap cuts of meat, store brand bulk cheese, plain ol regular eggs and am spending £100 a week. I agree after your on it proces go down as you learn to shop better 9when i first started i averaged £200 per week) but it is still WAY more expensive then NON lc. I think a LOT of it depends on where you live and what's available to you. When I lived in the US I had no problems feeding a family of 3 on this WoL for under $50 a week.

[jun keater]

When I lived in the US I had no problems feeding a family of 3 on this WoL for under $50 a week.


I'd like to know where you shopped where you could feed a family of 3 for $50 a week! For a week (7 days) and 3 meals a day that comes out to 42 cents for a whole meal!

[Jenni-star]

Spending more on groceries, yes
but spending less on medication too

[sjkling]

i am not going to argue that meat costs more than grains. however, the money i save by not buying 2-3 bags of chips ahoy cookies every weeks adds up! the fact that i buy more produce, more lean meat and less fatty, carby snacks is a benefit of the woe that i am more than happy to pay for!

[kAd]

Produce, meat, nuts, spices and oils; they all add up to less per month than I was spending on all the processed foods. Quality over quantity for me.

[medalian1]

I find I'm spending less on groceries!

[mae_west]

I spend less just because there is no fast food in my life. I have to go home and cook and that is waaaaaay cheaper. Plus, it is summer and the produce is so cheap, especially the leafy greens.

Low carb rocks!
Mae

[stacyfitz]

This is an interesting discussion.

I would guess I am spending more per trip to the grocery store with a few less trips per month. The only 'low-carb' things I buy are Splenda and low carb wraps, the rest is fresh vegetables, dairy products and protein. I don't buy that much more protein than I did previously to feed a family of three - seem to spend a bit more on cheese and cream.

I am using the 'roast beef sandwhich' brekfast recipe and the cost of deli meats cut thickly suprises me. I paid $9 for 5 slices of thickly cut chicken last week but I prefer this to eggs in the morning.

(Though it occured to me I could have a whole chicken for that!)

Have a good day!

Stacy

[csoar2004]

I think it's unfortunate that we are trained to be price sensitive when it comes to fueling our bodies. Would you put cheap gas in a maserati? :eek:

Truth is, if you put cheap ingredients IN, you get poor results OUT (asthma, diabetes, allergies, high blood pressure, GERD, IBS, obese, etc. etc. etc.).

Don't forget to factor in stuff you AREN'T buying on this WOL:
1) OTC drugs such as sudafed, antihistimines, aspirin, etc. (dunno about the rest of you, but I haven't gotten sick once in 2+ years I've been following the FFP).
2) hair conditioners. My hair has never been better
3) skin products. Ditto skin. I don't need lotions anymore as my skin is glowing with health and vitality. Also don't need acne meds or makeup.
4) averted costs. I was on the edge of type II diabetes. Fortunately, dropping 80+ pounds has pushed THAT demon off the deep end. I don't need prescription medications of any kind.
5) I'm no longer supporting Starbucks, Lays, Fast Food, etc. etc.
While my grocery bill is larger than it used to be, overall, I'm saving money and more importantly improving my health, big time. I feel so good, in fact, that I've decided to live to 150 and bedev--er--help my family for generations to come. :D

[Rain1272]

Initally it cost more for me (my DH & DS are not actively LCing but are doing so by default ;) ). I had to replace a lot of the bad food, phase out certain products and restock with the right stuff. Now after having been LCing since March I can comfortable feed my family on about 50.00 a week and without buying any of the processed LC junk. I think a lot of it depends on where & how you shop. I am a big fan of sales and will shop at several different stores in order to make the money go farther. I learned from my grandfather how to take advantage of the marked down meats and so frequently stock up when I hit a sale. Copying his technique, I usually will go to each store in my area every morning for about a week and get the marked down meats. Then I don't have to do anymore meat shopping for the month. Sure that sometimes means that we will have more chicken then fish or meat for a while but in the end it all works out. I usually do the farmers market once a week for fresh veggies. The stuff in the grocery stores is usually of lesser quality and higher price. I will gladly support my neighbors with their roadside stands for fruits and veggies as well. My only big splurge is the protein shake mix I get at the health food store once a month.

[bwriter2]

This is what really burns me up. The high cost of LC products. We love Carb Countdown milk products. In St. Louis, it's $3.98 for HALF-GALLON at regular supermarkets. Walmart supercenters are cheaper but I don't live near one and with the high cost of gas...When Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker put out their LC brownie mix, it was priced at over $4.00!!! Their regular mixes were under $2. Then they wondered why people weren't buying it and soon the media declaired the low carb "fad" was over. ARGGGHHH! No one charges extra for low-fat versions of their products!!!! It is interesting that the only lc products still easily found the on grocer's shelves are the products that are priced like the regular version and go on sale with it too. (yeah, I know the ice creams have less in them...but still they are affordable.) Atkins site is guilty too, their prices are outrageous. Ok, I'm done now, sorry. but thanks for listening to my vent!!

[angelb9000]

yeah,the public just get overpriced when something is popular,greed that is all,the low carb product prices are just way too high,i think that is one reason some markets have stopped selling a lot of low carb products,people can not afford them (myself included) but i will low carb for rest of mylife doing the best i can without buying the highly overpriced products but i do miss some products that have disappeared for shelves,the markets say low carb is dead, i disagree low carb is for life

[ProfGumby]

I too spend less than pre low carb.

My family does not LC, wife won't, kids don't need to, dogs are already skinny :lol: , so I am the only one. I eat less food! It is about 1/3 of what I used to eat. I drink very little pop(soda) and other such drinks.

The food I eat is healthier, I feel better and my blood levels are better than they have ever been in my life.

If you do buy a lot of the processed LC items, and eat out alot, it can be very expensive. If you are still just plain overeating, same thing. I know two others who "LC" and eat like hogs.

If you follow the lifestyle and listen to your body, you too should be consuming less.

You mention LC tortillas plus shipping, are you ordering in a lot of food?

[chelles]

I am unemployed right now, and I'll end up eating tuna, eggs, and peanut butter only!

I can eat a high-carb diet for about $15 a week. Ramen costs .10 a meal. A big bag of chips or a box of Little Debbie's cakes cost me $1.00.

Forget fresh veggies. Tomatoes $2.50 a pound. $3.00 for a head of broccoli or cauliflower that would last me a day.

I can get adequate protein, but the veggie prices are outrageous. (No, no farmer's markets around here that are cheaper.) If I could grow my own veggies, though....

[black57]

One thing for sure, I have no more migraines. Sometimes, I will get a regular headache which goes away on its own. Therefore, I am spending less on tylenol and all of its various forms.

I do spend more on my hair now that I am looking good.

[RobinDBois]

I also spend less since I'm not buying "REPLACEMENT MEALS".

If the Diet say's I can't have tortillas then I don't buy a higher price replacement...

If the Diet say's no chocolat cake, then I don'T go buying fake flour, fake sugar, fake cacao...

ETC...

Not to mention all I save on not eating 3 bags of Doritos a week, drinking pitchers of beer at the pub, ice cream in the summer (darn those HazenDaz were expensive), pop cola, pizza (and lord knows how many times the pizza guy used to come over to say hello).

I wrote a post on EXPECTIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES that may explain the reasons you find it expensive.

ChÉ

[canucksrus]

$3.00 for a head of broccoli or cauliflower that would last me a day. I agree - the price of veggies is outrageous. I paid $7.38 the other day for a head of cauliflower :o.

[bsheets]

I agree - the price of veggies is outrageous. I paid $7.38 the other day for a head of cauliflower :o.
OMG! That's absolutely ridiculous!! Even with the conversion from your money to mine it's bad!!!

Maybe I should post you some ;)

$1.50-3 here ... but they're relatively in season atm, though suffering the drought ...

e

[KoKo]

I agree - the price of veggies is outrageous. I paid $7.38 the other day for a head of cauliflower :o.


Wow that’s bad. I know that occasionally here the prices of some fresh vegetables are outrageous - say 6.00 a pound for red peppers in the winter. Usually though they aren’t too bad - 1.49 for broccolli, maybe as high as 2.99 for a fresh cauliflower. I get around the high winter prices by freezing as many red peppers as I can in the fall, I buy a couple of bushels and clean and freeze them in ziploc bags, they’re not great for putting in salads but are just fine for cooking with.

Usually frozen bagged vegetables are quite cheap no matter what season it is. It is said that contain more nutrients than the fresh because they are flash frozen shortly after picking while the fresh have to travel by truck from California (or where ever) and so have lost a lot of the “freshness” you’re paying for.

[RobinDBois]

All I have for 'greens' is salad, onions, mushrooms and green bell peppers.

Then cheeze, mayonaise, garlic, salt and pepper;

Meat and fish;

Lots of WATER;

Muti-vitamin;

a few 2.5 carb beers/week;

.
.
.
^^
a+

[canucksrus]

say 6.00 a pound for red peppers in the winter Yet the green peppers are always so cheap.

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to make sure I pick up a bag of the frozen cauliflower next time I'm at the store and try it. It's probably more convenient for making mashed cauliflower than the fresh is anyway.

[canucksrus]

Maybe I should post you some ;) Would be a good idea except the cost of postage would probably make it the same price in the end LOL.

$1.50-3 here That is much more affordable!!

[peglam]

It is, I think. But, what upsets me most is I have been so cranky on this. I know it works for many, and its a great WOE. I read these posts, and I am so happy for all of those that feel better, lost weight and are a great support system for everyone here. I had to start eating carbs (healthy one's like beans, no white flour or sugar) and I really feel so much better, mentally. Again, I hope not to offend anybody here. This is my own weakness..and, I envy all of those that can stick with it!!!!!! :)

[ecstacyrai]

I think being bored with food is totally worth it for the weight loss. ITS JUST FOOD. We need to get over the attachment we have to it, and eat what we need just for the nutrition. I would eat bacon and eggs only forever, if that's what it took.

[jpatti]

I don't think it's a fair comparison to compare high-carb processed food/eating out to homecooked low-carb.

Homecooked is cheaper, period. And frankly, there is *nothing* as cheap for food as bread you make yourself from wheat berries you grind yourself. I could make freshly-ground, whole grain bread for pennies a loaf - way better than anything one can buy in the store.

Low-carb does cost more. I have a freezer and buy meat in bulk. I garden and raise most of my veggies, canning, freezing and dehydrating for off-season use. I used to raise chickens for meat and eggs, but life doesn't allow that right now. I have a huge pantry and buy almost everything only when it's on sale in case lots. Still, meat and cheese cost more than rice and beans - sales or not. Rice and beans are dead cheap food.

There is no low-carb meal I can make that as cheaply as pancakes made from freshly-ground wheat berries. Even with real maple syrup, I could feed 10 folks for under a couple bucks until they were stuffed.

There's few foods as cheap as a big pot of dried beans with a skillet of cornbread, or a pot of beans served over brown rice.

And there's *nothing* as cheap as a ten pound bag of potatoes for feeding people when you're broke - you can get a ten pound bag for less than a large order of fries at McD's.

I am currently spending around $500-600/month for 2 people, having switched us to all organic products and pasture-raised meat and dairy. Prior to that switch, I could do it for $300-400. But if potatoes, wheat berries, brown rice and beans were staples, I could easily feed us for $100-200/month - no problem.

Course, the downside is we'd be eating $100-200 worth of nutrition per month - and the health costs of that can be astronomical. Price a heart bypass sometime... or monthly costs of insulin, syringes and testing strips. Even the most expensive food is darned cheap compared to the cost of poor nutrition.

[Luckybunny]

I would have to agree with you that starting out you do spend more money. I found that it was because in the first couple months you are buying and trying new things. I work for a Grocery Outlet and that has helped me so much. You should see if there is one near you; look on www.groceryoutlet.com. I really can afford different cheeses and meats. Good Luck!

[LoKarb Kay]

There are some ways to save money eating LC that don't require huge effort. Here in the northern hemisphere, it's late winter. That's a perfect time to start seeds in your house that you can later transplant outdoors (or move to pots in a sunny window). Seeds are cheaper than small plants and exponentially cheaper than fresh veggies, though you'll spend money on potting soil.

We have a small city yard that is "in progress" -- we have a lot of landscaping to do and a full garden is not in our plans, ever. But, we'll grow tomatoes hanging upside down on our front porch instead of baskets of flowers. Pots of herb plants fill shelves in my dining room window year-round. We're replacing some ugly old shrubs with blueberry and raspberry bushes. A small plot next to the garage will supply green beans, zucchini, and I'm hoping for cauliflower and salad greens as well.

I feed a family of 3, including a ravenous teenaged boy, for under $100/week. I'm no domestic goddess: I buy meat in bulk when it's on sale and stash it in our basement chest freezer (best investment ever). Every Sunday I clip and sort coupons from the paper -- mostly for paper goods and drugstore stuff, since coupons tend to be for packaged/prepared foods -- check what's on sale, create a menu plan for the week, make out my shopping list, and I'm done. That might take an hour. LC cookbooks from Dana Carpender have been lifesavers (the slow cooker and 15 minute meal ones are great) when I don't have the brain power to come up with a creative meal plan on my own.

Another advantage to that routine is that I never enter the kitchen in the afternoon and yank my hair out in frustration, trying to come up with an idea for dinner. My menu for the week is done. I can be sure that I'm varying protein sources, buy only as many carby foods as my family will eat, and all it takes is a glance at the list the night before to know what to pull out of the freezer to defrost.

Other little money savers: my husband and I eat no more than one restaurant meal each week (and we usually use a coupon or the Entertainment Book), I pack my kid a lunch for school every day, we drink a lot of water, and the only "new" products I've started buying since eating LC are coconut oil, stevia, and those insanely delicious Chocoperfection bars.

[esoteric]

I don't know how on-topic this is, but does anybody know any desktop/web/pocket-pc sites or applications that help with grocery tracking?

Things like what foods you bought, how much they cost, where you got them, etc? Giving you breakdowns on where your grocery money is going, etc?

I mean, this could be useful in seeing where your grocery money is going, where usually gives you the cheapest products, etc.

[girlgerms]

It costs much the same for me. I've never bought much packet stuff so I'm just exchanging one perceived health food for another. It's great to have your own vege garden though, even if you spend the same amount at the end of the day on composts and mulch and all that, the convenience is hard to beat plus fresh garden veges are so superior. I'd have chooks, too, if it weren't for the snakes: we do get through and awful lot of eggs low-carbing.

[SylvieK]

In my area I've noticed a lot of price hikes in packaged foods, "junk" and processed stuff seems really high now. But meat, eggs, and cheese prices seem stable and there are often sales. So maybe low-carb really is a more economical option now. I also eat much smaller meals than I used to. It took a while to find my preferred foods and get organized, but now my grocery bills are about 50% less than I used to spend before LC.

[Melesana]

Bump! Very interesting thread.

For me, low-carbing is still VERY expensive, almost double what I used to spend on groceries. I've been at it only a month, though, so I'm glad to see long-timers say that it settles down.

I don't buy any low-carb products like Atkins stuff, the substitutions... I'd rather get used to what's actually good for me now. I was vegetarian until this, so I still don't buy red meat or pork, but I do use fish and poultry now.

Know what's really expensive, though? Organic dairy. I may end up buying less dairy. Organic veggies too, and fresh veggies. I'm buying more veggies and more dairy now - used to eat lots of whole grains.

It's just about a complete restocking for me, and I've given away lots of food. Yes, it's worth it for my health. The food? The jury's still out, except for my new love, butter.

Meg

[shellienz]

interesting topic all right!

heres my experience...
I felt really bad about buying frozen chicken pieces and chops that Im eating for lunch and DH isnt getting any (as hes at work), so i did a rough calculation last night.
Now that im not buying any of the gluten free bread, snacks, sauces, cereals and cookies (im a coeliac) that I used to, its still not as much as Im now spending on the extra meat, cheese and eggs.
And the food that the family likes; bread, chips, ice cream and processed meats like crumbed chicken is lasting MUCH longer now that im not eating them. So all in all, I dont think theres been much of a difference at all.
And I am very lucky in that DH works his parents farm so we occassionally get free lamb and beef, which of course helps enormously. I feel bad for those who are finding it expensive, because it can be. maybe the trick is to only buy whole foods and not bother with any of the LC substitutes?

[addict1000]

It is often times more expensive to be thin when you add it all up.

Healthier food is more expensive.
Gym equipment and memberships are pricy.
You will probably spend more on clothes, hair, nails, shoes, vacations, new hobbies, dating etc.

Hopefully the cost is offset by some other expenses like fast food, medical bills, therapists for depression :) etc


I choose to pay more to be thin and enjoy life.
It always makes sense to make the food as cost effective as possible though....by shopping sales etc

[girlbug2]

Yes I agree with the above posters: it is more expensive to eat a meat-based diet than a grain and potato-based diet, but dont' fall into temptation to go back to your old ways onthe SAD: it has hidden expenses. Being overweight and ill will always be more expensive than being thin and healthy.

Another bonus; once you hit goal you can buy good maintenance clothes in your new size and wear them for years if you're careful. On my old SAD I was always gaining weight and had to constantly buy new clothes.

There are also myriad little ways I've saved money since going LC. Surprisingly one of those ways is that I spend less gas money because I go out to eat less. I only have to make 2 or 3 grocery trips per week for all our meals, but if you go out to eat every night, that's a lot more mileage on the vehicle. Another way is that I spend less time snacking between meals so I get more done. I am generally a much more efficient person, and we have all heard that time is money, no?

bottom line: the SAD is a false economy. Please dont' go back to it thinking that you'll save money, you won't.

[jpatti]

Know what's really expensive, though? Organic dairy. I may end up buying less dairy. Organic veggies too, and fresh veggies. I'm buying more veggies and more dairy now - used to eat lots of whole grains.

I agree the dairy is the worst of it. Organic cream, organic half-and-half, raw cheeses, Greek yogurt, organic cottage cheese, imported butter made with raw cream, etc.

I need a cow. ;)

[addict1000]

I just have to bypass organic. I am thinking that the fat will kill me faster than the pesticides. ;)

[mainecyn]

I don't see much of an increase at all in the budget. I am the only one that is doing lc in the family, but save a lot. I used to buy a coffee (more like flavored coffee syrup with a million grams of sugar and flavoring added) every morning, a muffin, etc. on the way to work. I no longer do that and save at least $15 a week. Then there were all the snacks and thing I would buy for my binges.

I know that you hear many things in readings and on news that if it usually people with a lower budget that has a more carb based diet. I rememer eating spag. several times a week or mac n cheese as a kid. As a college student it was ramen noodles.

I cook everything at home, don't buy convience foods so I can control what goes in it. I will buy a roast when it is on sale and cook it for a meal. Another day that week I will shred the leftovers and make a filling for taco salad..do the same with whole chickens. I usually buy two or three at a time when they are on sale and will make sure that I get them large enough so there will be left overs. I have an extremly low budget for food and look for whatever I can. I love chicken breast, only can get it when its on sale cheap and stock up when it is. I also buy things that are marked down, sell by date is a few days a way.
I also eat a great deal of tuna fish-canned. I usually dump it on a bed of salad. I can understand what it means not to have extra money for an increase in groceries. Up until I got married in Sept I often at tuna for days in a row..$50 worth of groceries to last a month for myself and my two kids.

[SylvieK]

I know organic dairy is expensive but I still think it's often worth it because chemicals and additives are more likely in nonorganic diary, and the effects may disrupt your system and affect weight loss in the long run. A lot of shredded cheese blends for example have potato starch added. If you can't afford organic dairy, try to find the local brands of cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, etc.; they're more likely to have fewer additives or chemicals. I usually buy organic butter and cream, local or small-dairy cheeses.

On my recent trip to the large supermarket I visit about once a month, I was in the natural foods aisle to buy stevia, mayo, and organic/SF tomato sauce. I noticed that prices on a lot of the packaged whole foods stuff I used to buy (crackers, pasta, etc.) are really high now.

The biggest cost for me is fresh veggies. In this area one red pepper is $3.49, often I just buy mushrooms and greens because they're the most reasonably priced. I save so much at the farmers market in season, it's really worth going every week and getting to know the farmers (if you don't have your own garden).