Last Updated on August 25, 2026 by Michael Brockbank
Because things have changed drastically over the last few weeks, I’ve decided to change the weight loss strategy a bit to accommodate my current situation. Currently, I’m homeless and need to properly budget what money I have left.
Besides, my scale is in storage at the moment, which means I can’t collect some of the data I wanted at the moment. I suppose I could have brought it along, but I was running out of room in my luggage.
That also means that I have no idea what I weigh. Judging by what I see in the mirror, though, it’s pushing close to 260 pounds.
What Am I Focusing On Instead of the Challenge?
What I’m working on at the moment is relatively simple: 1700 calories per day. I’ve already changed the calorie goal in MyFitnessPal. The great thing about this is that I can “afford” to have more calories on days when I am physically active.
I know that if I do nothing but sit on my butt and write at my laptop all day long, I’ll still burn more than 2200 calories just by being alive. So, if I do nothing else, I’ll still burn .14 pounds per day at the very minimum.
That’s a bit of a rough estimate, as there are a lot of variables that go into how much fat I’ll burn. For instance, I know that if I keep the carbs to fewer than 200 g each day, I’ll lose weight much faster…even if I sit and do nothing in a hotel room.
In other words, I’ll need to make healthier decisions while homeless, which doesn’t always work out for everyone. Usually, it’s the cost of eating healthy that discourages people from eating better.
Still, I’ve proven in the past that I can still lose quite a bit of weight despite being a trash panda. Of course, I was far more physically active back then.
The trick is to not over-indulge on poor food choices as a way to get some dopamine. Keep in mind that I am incredibly stressed out at the moment. So, something heavy in sugar might make me feel less stressed for a moment, but it’s not conducive to losing weight.
Besides, my cholesterol is high enough to kill a small duck. I need better options that are affordable.
Cans of Soup to the Rescue!
One shelf-stable item I can buy that often doesn’t cost a mortgage is the can of soup. Most soups are pre-cooked and prepared, meaning that there is really no reason to heat them up aside from having a preferred temperature.
Sure, there are a lot of meals that seem to taste better hot. But when you don’t have those options, a meal that keeps you alive is preferable regardless of temperature.
The great part is that I know how well the soup diet works for losing weight. I remember dropping fat very quickly while mixing in regular Xbox Kinect play.
Of course, then there’s the balance of quality versus expense. Progresso Soups are usually twice as expensive as something like Chef Boyardee pastas. However, they are also half the calories with twice the health value.
When you don’t have a lot of money but want healthier options, you might have to mix and match between the two. But remember, being physically active can offset carb and calorie counts.
It’s all about balancing your diet with your current situation.
Working and Moving
I start my new job tomorrow morning. It entails unloading semis and stocking shelves at the store. I’m relatively certain it’s going to be physically grueling, meaning I’m going to burn all kinds of calories.
Now for the drawback: I am also 50 years old and very much out of shape. This job is going to hurt me in a variety of ways, especially considering I hurt my shoulder pretty badly moving stuff out of my house.
Currently, I’m looking for a job that has fewer physical demands. I mean, I’ll still do the job to the best of my ability. But I’m not sure how long I can maintain a steady pace.
Then again, I could excel at the job, lose weight, and build stronger muscles during the time. I won’t know for sure which one that will be until the end of the work week.
Nonetheless, I’m still looking for a job that pays more. Making $16 per hour is not going to help me afford much in the way of a home. So, I might spend a bit of time in a tent.
It’s OK…I love camping.
Balancing the School Work
The hardest part right now is balancing my education among being homeless and looking for a job. As I decided to go full-time, there is a lot of work involved with maintaining my 4.0 GPA.
Right now, I am a week behind in math. I’m going to try to play catch-up this week, but I might have to drop the course. If I can get everything back on track, I shouldn’t have to drop. And the professors in my other classes compliment my work.
I can tell ya, though, the stress has really racked up the cortisol around my midsection. It looks like I swallowed a small beach ball. And I can feel the pressure against my diaphragm as I try to breathe.
Anyway, I’ll keep trying to balance my time. But if it looks like I’m not going to be able to handle everything all at once, I’ll drop the class. I have a week or two before the drop deadline. So, I’m giving myself that long to see if I can stabilize the schoolwork.
What About Planet Fitness?
Luckily, I still have my Planet Fitness account, and there is a facility not far from where I am staying.
However, I might have to change when I can go. If I keep the freight job, I’m working from 4am to 12:30 pm. Why does this matter? Because I haven’t had the best of luck going to the gym in the afternoon.
It’s always way too busy, and it’s rare that I get to access the machines I want to use. Of course, that was also when I lived in Denver. Things might be way different here. Besides, I’ll be able to get a regular shower every day while homeless.
I’m sure I’ll have to change a lot of my habits since moving. In fact, I keep telling myself that the past few months were the end of an era, and that it’s time to start writing the next part of my life. That means learning from my mistakes and taking steps to ensure this never happens again.
Essentially, I took a lot of things for granted and procrastinated because I was comfortable with the status quo. Well, the universe just took a dump on that ideology and demonstrated how I should have been working towards something greater this whole time.
This is a message for the young: don’t think that the status quo will always be stable. Put in maximum effort and secure the life you want to live in your golden years. Otherwise, you could find out that all that gold is nothing but iron pyrite.
Working Toward a Successful Last Half of 2026
I’m not worried about landing on my feet and getting stability before the end of the year. It might not be where I wanted to be at 50 years old, but it’s not like I’m living under a bridge somewhere. I will survive and then start working toward something greater.
In fact, I have all kinds of ideas to get the blog and YouTube channel rolling. I just need to implement them AFTER work and school.
But I also realize that there are some priorities that take precedence over the fun stuff. For one thing, I need a better job and an apartment somewhere.
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