I need a personal grocery shopper!

Not that I can afford one but I really would benefit from having a personal grocery shopper. I need to stay out of the grocery stores! Where I live there is no grocery deliveries like I read about. My problem is I get to the grocery store and even if I have made a list I go right off track and pick up things that look good or that I think I might want for the week. I can't seem to help myself and it is a big problem! I can't get the hang of the meal planning either because I am the kind of person that can't figure out what I feel like eating on a daily basis let alone a few days or a week ahead. I have no discipline at all! I am so angry with myself.

Is it possible to order your groceries online and pick them up at the store? Some stores offer that as an alternative to delivery. The groceries would be bagged and ready for you when you arrive. That way you would face fewer temptations.

Or perhaps you could team up with someone else who is trying to watch what they eat. You do their shopping, and they do yours. You only get what's on the list.

I just found out there is one grocery store locally that does let you order online and pick it up. It is a little further away but would save me money and from temptation. I also like your idea of teaming up wth someone and doing each others shopping but I really don't know anyone around here too well.

A definite life changer for me is an app I purchased years ago called Paprika. It does require time to set it up, but once it is working, you just plan a week of menus, then check the items you need to make the meals and when you go to the grocery store you click the items off as you buy them.

The beauty of it is that you always know what you are going to eat each day and that you have every ingredient needed for the meals. I download menus from the internet into Paprika and then drag the recipes over to the week's menus and grocery list.

Just walking into a store without a plan is asking for disaster. Plan you meals, menus, and list before you walk into the store and learn to stick only with what you need.

I just looked the Paprika app up. I would definitely have to get someone to help me set that up as I am not real great with adding app's and stuff like that. Computer challenged! This sounds like another good solution. I agree, walking into the grocery store without a plan is a mess! Thanks for the tip.

changingmylife2021, Your name says a lot... we have all been in a similar position. some faced the same challenges you do now, and some a different one.. Only YOU can change your life. We are here to support and encourage you.

I have not been on the board in several months, my computer was sick. a new hard drive fixed the issue.LOL..( I gave it a new mind!LOL) That is what we all have had to do -change our life by changing our mind and assessing what was most important... I was at 292.5.. when i decided i was not going further up. am 25 years into my journey to maintain a healthy weight.. I lost half my weight.. and maintain around 170 presently.I am stable and have been for a year this time.. when that scale creeps up to a certain point i tighten everything back down again... cutting the carbs and increasing my meat protein. ( do not tolerate nuts, legumes.. so kinda limits my options.)

You need to know you can do this too. YOU are important and worth the effort.

The ideas for shopping for a friend is good as is ordering on line and doing a car pickup..we do not have that option here, but is in the nearest city. I have never used it.

. Consider a rewards program..for "sticking to the list".. only exception would be a needed item- something on your menu plan. you forgot to put on the list.... ex. You forgot you had used the last of your salad mix,or chicken breast patties and did not put it on your list. You realize this will also help you gain control over your budget as well.

another game( these are the only games i play.) i like to play with myself is estimate what my groceries will cost. and see how close i can get to my estimation. or estimate what i am putting in the cart and see how close i can get to checkout price.including tax.

Make up your mind where you will go in the store. avoid counters with pretty tables of goodies laid out..pick up needed items on those aisles and either turn around and go back the way you came or look at the floor.- do not acknowledge the temptations while you are in the store. If you can get in and out and stick to a list without indulgences. give yourself a non food reward... an extra walk in the park, extra time with a special pet, extra time with family... after 4 times in a row ...give yourself a foot soak , pedicure or manicure

Focus!. Think! Decide! How important are you to yourself.? You must do this for you and NO ONE else.

what is your goal? ..How can you gt to goal? ...What do You NEED most? ....How committed are you? .

....Have you had surgery, guessing not...

You need to know....You must control this or surgery will do nothing for you I.E...Gastric surgery is an extreme method to give you control- A tool to help you get and stay on track. it works if YOU control your MIND.

If you can not do it alone get help for impulse control.. psychological assistance. Sooner rather than later. This is half the battle. This does not mean we will do all perfectly, but that we will give it our all . It does mean when we get off track, we get back on and do better.

I identify with not a menu planner. see if any of this will work for you.

Plan your portions. A general meal ORDER... Mine looks like this. Meat 3 oz., low carb veg. 4-o. carb veg 2-3 oz.,.t hen you can substitute what meat and veggi choices you have. eat in that order.. most of meat first, then low carb veg.then carb veg.( so if not enough "room in the inn-" this will be what gets left.)

. I plan meats to rotate - within a week. I know i will require chicken for 3 days,..(. I have chicken for every meal one day... and in 2 different recipes. ' ( teriyaki or chicken salad/or chicken w/rice noodles/chicken pot pie/chicken stew)/

pork for 2 and beef for one-I do purchase 2 weeks at a time and put in portions in ziplock bags in freezer..I eat 3-4 eggs every morning with one pc of toast, coffee wth lactose free milk. snack is 2 pc of lunch meat , ham or roast beef rolled ..( before i became intolerant would put a tablespoon of peanut butter on it- the natural kind.) Snacks are lunch meat type meats rolled up/no bread or dressing.... in 2 oz portions or 2 boiled eggs. or half chicken salad sandwich.

I can not eat dry cereals or oats, grits.. the only cereal hot i do tolerate are wheat based .. whole wheat berries or cream of wheat. the others bottom out my blood sugar.( prediabtic for 40 years-used to be called relative hypoglycemia) when i have cream of wheat- about 3 oz.cooked. i also have 2 eggs- , put small amt. butter in cereal w/ stevia.. ...( nutrasweet,or splenda make me hungry.) I have chickens so eggs are not cheap but they are the freshest and best quality. I alternate prep ways from poached, to "fried" using cooking spray and copper skillet, to fried in real butter- scant amt.in iron skillet.

.I purchase meats,.. brought in and portioned out... and frozen or fresh veggies- string beans , sweet peas, carrots,celery are our main ones,-I plan him asparagus and broccoli alterating 2x a week for him... (Hubs has health issue- requires strict vitamin K control.). is easier for me to limit what i eat out of what HE can have. Carb'ed veggies i get 2-3 oz portions. sometimes we make pickled beets, about 5 slices is a serving. for me.

. I eat no -almost no fruit, (1 serv a week,) no juices or cola,filtered water only -no flouride. . very limited dairy- lactose intolerant , lactose milk for coffee. ( half gallon for 9 days.**** water. to drink.

Hang in there you can get there..

What an encouraging and insightful post! (Ive been sick for bit and had a death in the family so apologies for my delay in responding.) I very much appreciate all of your tips. I have not had the surgery yet and have set some personal goals for myself. I am very committed to changing my life this year and I am taking in all I can and learning from you and others who post on the message boards.I am very thankful for the support!

IMHO if you're going to be successful you have to change your habits. You don't say what type of surgery you had or when you had it. A personal shopper isn't going to change your habits.

Start reading labels - learn what you're putting in your body and how it affects you and your new insides.

You say you "can't get the hang of meal planning". Ok, so learn how to plan your meals.

Embrace this new normal. Don't get angry - make a change!!

Hi Janet. I have not had weight loss surgery yet. It is my goal to make that happen this year-the sooner the better. You are right. I know that I need to change my habits, without a doubt. For meal planning, I am going to try that Paprika app recommended by White Dove. (If I can get someone to help me start it up!)

I had another thought: why not go to the store with a friend who will keep you accountable? You could help each other. Maybe they're on a budget, a diet, or just trying to avoid unhealthy foods. You can both keep each other from buying things that weren't on the list. I think a lot of people could use help like that.