WLS on the cheap

I thought I would address something about having weight loss surgery that is not talked about as much...

Good Protein Food Sources
Protein Powder
Vitamins
New Wardrobe, Shoes, Jewelry Resizing
Gym Memberships, Exercise Equipment

It's expensive.


Here's some tips and hints that have helped me make this journey to good health more reasonable on the pocketbook I hope they help you too...

Food:

Pre-op I'd fill up on cheap pasta, rice and bread. Good protein sources cost more. I do love my Trader Joe's goodies but you can do healthy on the cheap too...

* Chicken (get whole versus boneless skinless) - roast it and divide up yourself or drop one in a crock pot all day, save & strain the broth for soups too.

* Ground Turkey, Chicken, Beef

* Costco/Sam's Club buy big bags of chicken, shrimp, turkey meatballs, burgers things like that. Frozen Turkey Meatballs are a fav of mine.

* Beans (in the bulk bins: pinto, lentils, split peas, etc. in canned kidney, black beans, chick peas, cannelini)

* Hit the Bulk bins in supermarkets for whole grains (steel cut oats, quinoa, tvp, nut/soy flours)

* Eggs - I have like 45 (almost) different "Bites" aka crustless quiche recipes that are super yummy and you can toss anything in.

* Tofu

* Tuna

* Dairy: Blocks of cheese are way cheaper that cheese sticks, buy store brand cottage cheese, milk.

* Farmer's Markets (go 1 hour before closing) freshest fruits & veggies for awesome prices.

* Buy what is in season.

* I shop the sales and cut coupons. Hit the manufacturer websites, supermarket websites and request coupons some have downloadable ones online.

* If you have a freezer stock up when there is a great deal.

* Plan menus to utilize leftovers. Today's roast chicken leftovers becomes tomorrow's chicken salad. Today's Quickie Meatball Bake becomes tomorrows Tortilla Pizza.


Vitamins and protein powders are not cheap especially the tasty ones but you know I figure I'm saving all those Dr's office co-pays, lab fees and meds from all my co-morbidities that are resolved so it sort of balances out for me.


New Wardrobe, Shoes, Jewelry Resizing:

* See if your local weight loss support group has a clothing exchange if they don't... start one.

* Craiglist, ebay, freecycle

* Thrift Stores

* Don't buy too much too soon. I swore when I got to size 18/20 that was it... it was beyond my wildest dreams from a tight 28 so I went to town a bit and bought some beautiful outfits that I was in for about 2 weeks. Seriously. So now at size small top and 4 bottoms take my advice buy just a few things to get by that first year.

* Shop the discount stores. I heart TJ Maxx, Ross, stores like that

* Look in those mailer coupon books or the back of the phone book for jewelry resizing coupons and don't do this till you are at least a year out. I went from Size 11 ring finger to 6 1/2.


Exercise

Gym Memberships are expensive and lets face it a lot of us won't go. Here's a few cheaper ways to get moving...

* Exercise Tapes - Leslie Sansone has a great set of walking tapes you could probably get off eBay for dirt cheap. Hit your local library and borrow some. This is a great way to try before you buy. Start a monthly swap with friends.

* Mall walk - some malls even have groups. If you think you might spend money leave your purse in the car truck.

* FitTV - check your cable or satellite network for this channel you can exercise all day.

* When you go to the store or work park far away from the building and walk.

* Go on craiglist or freecycle and put up a notice asking for home gym equipment. I just got rid of a gazelle machine on freecycle I no longer wanted.

* Dance at home. Turn on some great tunes and get down.

* Walk in your neighborhood. I do this one most of all.


Feel free to leave ideas you are doing to save $$$.