I Would Be Healthier If I Had The Money

Seil · 03-22-2010, 08:30 PM

So recently, I've been trying to quit my coke habit. I mean, my cola habit. I used to drink a two-liter a day, and recently I've started to drink more water and juice. My favorite type of juice is usually on sale, too: two two-liter bottles for $5.00 - but I can get four bottles of Coke for that price. Even more if I go to the dollar store and get the one-liter bottles from there.

I'm not saying that I'm the healthiest person in the world - I barley exercise, I don't eat right, and I'm a couch potato. However, it occurred to me that others might feel the same as me; looking to make a change but assaulted by low-priced grease and soda on all sides. And talk about readily available.

They've now got hybrid, fuel efficient cars. That's great for the people that need to buy a care, and can afford to buy something new and shiny... but everyone else is left with their gas-guzzling behemoths because of a lack of funds, or whatever the cause may be. Are we wanting to be healthier because we actually want to do so, but lack the means/funds to? Or is it one of those "New Years Resolutions" we tack on to our to-do list that we never end up doing?

Eltargrim · 03-22-2010, 08:39 PM

Juice isn't all that much better for you; sugar is sugar.

Eating healthier may mean an increase in investment of time, and possibly an increase in cost as well, but the benefits are worth it. Less preservatives, less salt, more fresh veggies; all good for you.

If you can't afford a hybrid car, look into public transportation, or cycling. Transportation and exercise.

Azisien · 03-23-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eltargrim

Juice isn't all that much better for you; sugar is sugar.

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

Of course, other alternatives like water or tea just have straight up less calories. But the former is tasteless (mostly) and the latter doesn't usually satisfy us sweet tooths.

Therefore, I say, switch to compulsive milk drinking! It's just the mammal thing to do.

We live in a horrible society because unless you're living almost entirely off staple carbs, junk food is cheaper than healthy food. Have you been to a Walmart recently? Giant box of cookies for $1. McDonalds? A double cheeseburger for $1. It is honestly more expensive to buy real fruits and vegetables and meat. The only things that beat it are maybe rice or pasta with like...tomato sauce. Who wants spaghetti and meatballs?!

...With the handsome trade-off that you feel less like shit, of course.

Meister · 03-23-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

Of course, other alternatives like water or tea just have straight up less calories. But the former is tasteless (mostly) and the latter doesn't usually satisfy us sweet tooths.

Can't have your cake and eat it, and specifically can't expect to lose weight if you eat it.

Azisien · 03-23-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister

Can't have your cake and eat it, and specifically can't expect to lose weight if you eat it.

Well, one weekend of cake binging never hurt anyone! But yea, if you eat one or more cakes per day, you may want to cut that out. Switch to...bananas? They're sweet?! Same goes for soda.

Melfice · 03-23-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

Any unsweetened juices are positively loaded with natural sugars from the fruit itself.
I think they even have a higher sugar content than sodas, but don't quote me on this.

Azisien · 03-23-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melfice

Any unsweetened juices are positively loaded with natural sugars from the fruit itself.
I think they even have a higher sugar content than sodas, but don't quote me on this.

Sugar isn't bad for you. Bad sugar is bad for you. If you eat an apple, all you've really done is eaten sugar and water, and a bit of fiber.

I was curious about your possible fact, though, so I looked it up:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calorie Count.com

Tropicana Grovestand Orange Juice: 110cal, 22g sugar per 8oz.
Coca-cola: 97cal, 27g sugar per 8oz.
Barq's root beer: 111cal, 30g sugar per 8oz.

Dairyland Skim Milk: 91cal, 13g sugar per 8oz.

Milk wins!

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiuska

but standard Minute Maid, Ocean Spray, and the like all have it.

Ew, minute maid...

katiuska · 03-23-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

They totally are, unless you're thinking of like, orange juice. Pretty much all of them come in non-HFCS varieties, but standard Minute Maid, Ocean Spray, and the like all have it. I'm tempted to try sugar Pepsi, but I don't know, do they compensate with an equivalent amount of sugar? Because really, you shouldn't be consuming that many monosaccharides in any form.

Not that that stops me, mind you, but I've made that choice.

EVILNess · 03-22-2010, 08:54 PM

Yeah, seriously. Drink water. It's honestly probably the best, AND cheapest thing you could be drinking. If you want something sweet drink some kool-aid or tea. I lost about 50 lbs from doing this.

pochercoaster · 03-22-2010, 09:10 PM

A waterbottle barely costs anything and you can refill it for free.

From my own experience, junk food is more costly than healthy home cooked meals. Well, that's assuming you're not like me and don't need two TV dinners to feel full or two whole hamburgers or whatever. I suppose if you ate exactly three meals a day and each of those meals was exactly one portion it wouldn't be much more expensive than making your own meals. In terms of how filling junk food is, though, I don't find it very cost effective. This is compounded by the fact that refined sugars tend to make you hungrier whereas complex carbs and proteins tend to fill you up.

These are my staples: rice, lentils, oatmeal, frozen vegetables, eggs, a cooking onion, garlic, cooking oil (sesame is yummy), cheese, and some kind of fruit (a bag of apples or some bananas or some strawberries for snacks). All of these are cheap and can be used as the basis for most of your meals. For variation buy whatever veggies and meat that are on sale that week.

Unfortunately this does require you to invest some time out of your week. It's especially annoying if you're just feeding yourself because unless what you make can be frozen, you can't cook large batches of anything without it going bad before you eat all of it. If you're organized, though, it's manageable.

FYI, I used to guzzle sugary instant iced tea and energy drinks all the time. About 6 months ago I stopped drinking them altogether and switched to plain water and tea and I feel SO much better now. Granted, a lot of that probably had to do with the ludicrous amounts of caffeine I was consuming, but all that sugar certainly wasn't helping, either. I don't even crave them anymore- water is actually appetizing now.

03-22-2010, 08:30 PM	#1
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	I Would Be Healthier If I Had The Money So recently, I've been trying to quit my coke habit. I mean, my cola habit. I used to drink a two-liter a day, and recently I've started to drink more water and juice. My favorite type of juice is usually on sale, too: two two-liter bottles for $5.00 - but I can get four bottles of Coke for that price. Even more if I go to the dollar store and get the one-liter bottles from there. I'm not saying that I'm the healthiest person in the world - I barley exercise, I don't eat right, and I'm a couch potato. However, it occurred to me that others might feel the same as me; looking to make a change but assaulted by low-priced grease and soda on all sides. And talk about readily available. They've now got hybrid, fuel efficient cars. That's great for the people that need to buy a care, and can afford to buy something new and shiny... but everyone else is left with their gas-guzzling behemoths because of a lack of funds, or whatever the cause may be. Are we wanting to be healthier because we actually want to do so, but lack the means/funds to? Or is it one of those "New Years Resolutions" we tack on to our to-do list that we never end up doing?

03-22-2010, 08:39 PM	#2
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	Juice isn't all that much better for you; sugar is sugar. Eating healthier may mean an increase in investment of time, and possibly an increase in cost as well, but the benefits are worth it. Less preservatives, less salt, more fresh veggies; all good for you. If you can't afford a hybrid car, look into public transportation, or cycling. Transportation and exercise. __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

03-22-2010, 09:10 PM	#10
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	A waterbottle barely costs anything and you can refill it for free. From my own experience, junk food is more costly than healthy home cooked meals. Well, that's assuming you're not like me and don't need two TV dinners to feel full or two whole hamburgers or whatever. I suppose if you ate exactly three meals a day and each of those meals was exactly one portion it wouldn't be much more expensive than making your own meals. In terms of how filling junk food is, though, I don't find it very cost effective. This is compounded by the fact that refined sugars tend to make you hungrier whereas complex carbs and proteins tend to fill you up. These are my staples: rice, lentils, oatmeal, frozen vegetables, eggs, a cooking onion, garlic, cooking oil (sesame is yummy), cheese, and some kind of fruit (a bag of apples or some bananas or some strawberries for snacks). All of these are cheap and can be used as the basis for most of your meals. For variation buy whatever veggies and meat that are on sale that week. Unfortunately this does require you to invest some time out of your week. It's especially annoying if you're just feeding yourself because unless what you make can be frozen, you can't cook large batches of anything without it going bad before you eat all of it. If you're organized, though, it's manageable. FYI, I used to guzzle sugary instant iced tea and energy drinks all the time. About 6 months ago I stopped drinking them altogether and switched to plain water and tea and I feel SO much better now. Granted, a lot of that probably had to do with the ludicrous amounts of caffeine I was consuming, but all that sugar certainly wasn't helping, either. I don't even crave them anymore- water is actually appetizing now.