Welcome! Food is so expensive whether healthy or not these days! Super on getting some $ help with where you can go exercise....PLUS PLUS!
This is a great group and I would like to invite you to a small group of gals at One Calorie at a Time.
https://www.dailystrength.org/group/one-calorie-at-a-time

The group above is great!!! We're all in a different boat but quite a few are active and supportive!

Welcome! I'd like to point out that if you'd like a place to check-in each week with your progress, there are articles each week and you can share your progress or frustrations on the Weekly Weigh-In page if you like: https://www.dailystrength.org/group/diets-weight-maintenance/discussion/weekly-weigh-in-oct-16-22-holiday-game-plan?page=1

While you're waiting for your doctor's advice, you can certainly enjoy some stretching and the circulation it promotes to all your muscles. I try to catch "Classical Stretch" on public television. It's on a few times daily during the week. Remember not to concentrate on the past, but think of what you can do today, and prepare your goals, small, achievable ones.

Food is really a matter of planning. In my opinion, it costs more to eat junk than it does to eat healthy. Welcome aboard, and very best of luck to you in setting your goals and sticking to your plan. ♥

Hi when I started I was 9 stone overweight (a lot less now) and on a very limited income. My husband buys most of our food when it is marked down in price. I am on a low carb diet, so it's all vegetables and lean meat and fish. We save money not buying bread and I actually eat a lot less on this diet. Things like lentils and dried pulses are cheap and healthy too. I know it can feel like a struggle when you are overweight and have no money, but it is possible. Great that you've got help to exercise. Good luck!

Hi! I think food prices have gone through the roof across the board. And the things they have coupons for are generally processed foods you want to stay away from. I'd like to share some things that I've found to be helpful.

The bulk bins available at some of the less expensive health food stores can be cheaper than prepackaged. And if you can get generic, it's almost always less expensive. Buying fruits and veggies in season is cheaper and they're actually tastier. Often shops will mark down fruits and veggies when they only have a few days left. You can also ask to speak with the store manager and let them know you're dieting on a budget and ask if they have fruits and veggies to see if they can give you the stuff that's marked down because they don't want to have to toss it. If that seems to extreme, frozen veggies are healthier than canned and often, cheaper. I can usually get a nice sized bag of veggies 10 for $10.

My list for the week: oatmeal, lentils, split peas, barley, popcorn - all from the bulk bin. Frozen peas, frozen green beans, canned black beans, canned white beans, tuna, peanut butter. Eggs. 1 avocado, tomatoes, lemon, cabbage, carrots, jicama, marked down salad and mushrooms. Whatever fruits and veggies are on sale. Meat that is marked down (chicken, beef or pork that is lean). Whole grain bread if I'm out. I usually spend about $60/week.

If you need to use a food bank, you can let them know that you really want to be healthy and you're working on that goal. They can help with providing you with beans rather than mac and cheese and can try and hook you up with fresh veggies. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Here's what I eat to stay on a budget:
Breakfast: Oatmeal or eggs or peanut butter on whole grain toast.
Lunch: Marked down salad with lemon juice and a hard boiled egg or generic low fat cheese.
Or - soup with beans and / or barley and lots of veggies like carrots, celery, spinach, mushrooms (I can get all of those on sale except the carrots which are pretty affordable).
Dinner: Lentil soup or split pea soup with home made tortillas that I make from black beans and/or cauliflower (haven't perfected them yet, but they taste good). Or tuna mixed with avocado (expensive) and tomatoes or just a touch of mayo over a salad.
Snacks: home made cole slaw (cabbage and carrots and jicama sliced thin and mixed with a tiny bit of mayo and old bay seasoning). Fruit or applesauce. Deviled eggs. Half a sandwich. Popcorn. Carrots and celery with peanut butter.

Best of luck to you!