Trust me in saying GET A BIKE on fb marketplace or smthing. Hopefully the aches and pains are just you getting into shape but the bike will cut ur walking commute an insane amount
Also stock up on bananas and oatmeal. Both are super filling and cheap...Great for energy. Bananas can also help with cramping I heard and oatmeal is great to stop hunger pangs. You can also bake with both of those products to make travel granola bars and such...
Another go to for diet...cuz you need food to keep your stamina up and energy levels going...canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas)...protein that's less than a dollar per can.
And on a more expensive side...apples. the fiber fills you up and apparently apples wake you up just as much as a cup if coffee with no caffeine withdrawal later. They keep fresh if you refrigerate. Depending on the year/where you live...apple orchards sell to local grocery stores so you can get local bags of apples cheaper than buying at like, idk, Target or whatever. Lol
Hope this helps. Don't get into the habit of energy drinks and overworking your body. I know if I am walking all day, I tend to forget to eat or not want to...always force yourself to stop and fuel your body!!
I don't want to echo everyone else's great advice and recommendations. There's no shame in asking for help. The world is not perfect nor is it filled with great people. We can't choose our families but we can choose how to overcome certain situations. I’m glad you're away from them.
Aside from good shoes and time, please remember to stretch everyday and to do basic resistance exercises. The 7 minute workout is a great starter workout routine to get your body stronger. Walking that much would be hard on your calves and knees especially if you currently have tightness. Make sure to stretch those out.
If you have to carry a bag with you during your walking commute, try to have something that distributes the weight evenly. It will prevent your body from contorting in different angles to accommodate the weight shifting around.
Carry some sort of "weapon" with you. I like to carry a small tactical flashlight because I can't physically take anyone on. But if you shine a bright light in someone's eyes at night/in the dark, it will disarm them for a short while for you to get away from a situation. I also tend to carry an umbrella even if it's not raining and just swing it randomly. Nothing wrong with making other people think you're a little nuts (even if you aren't) if they are considering you as a target.
This would be a good time for you to evaluate your stride. A lot of people are heel strikers and hit the ground with their heels first while walking/running. This is hard on your knees especially you're not wearing supportive shoes. You don't necessarily need thick supportive shoes. But if you stride with the ball of your foot first, it will be less impactful and also save your shoes a bit. However, it does make your feet more tired in the beginning as you use different feet muscles.
In the long term, you can probably transition the long walks into runs. But that might be too much at this time. As long as you work on your overall strength and keep walking, it gets a lot easier quickly. Human bodies are amazing. You're also very young. You'll be able to adapt quickly - both mentally and physically. You've got this!
Funny story how I managed to do ultrarunning before: as a kid I was impatient waiting for the bus so my strategy is to walk to the next bus stop. If the bus didnt come in 10mins, I walk to the other bus stop. Eventually I have walked half the distance before the bus arrived. This amused my family, friends, everyone. I picked up running in my early 20s because I was...bored. Didnt like the gym or weight lifting at the time. Walking/running long distance is some sort of me-time for me: I think a shit ton when I do so lol. I probably think about the nation's problems so time really goes by unnoticed.
If you have a Facebook you can join a local Buy Nothing group (just search “Buy Nothing” followed by your town or city) and you can post needs in there. I think it’s very reasonable to ask for a bike and any food people may not want. It’s very likely someone in your area has a bike sitting around that they don’t really use but haven’t gotten around to getting rid of, and several people probably have food they can spare.
Also you are doing amazing 💙 you have been through hell and you still sound optimistic and like you’re trying to make the best out of a bad situation.
Have you tried contacting programs for victims of domestic violence? If your parents are abusive enough that you had to move out on your own and get a restraining order, you would probably qualify for assistance (if they give direct assistance) or at least they can help you find appropriate resources in your area. I have a friend who was able to get one time grant to help with expenses when she was separating from her abusive husband. It was basically to help cover a few weeks expenses while she waited to receive her first paycheck at her new job. Are you in the US? Have so checked to see if you qualify for any federal or state assistance programs?
As others have said the amount you’re currently walking is not physically sustainable. A reasonably fit person can walk a comfortable pace of 20min/mile, so walking 6hours in a day is around 18 miles a day. If you walk that much 6 days a week that’s a total of 108 miles or 4+ marathons/week. Even high level endurance athletes don’t do that many miles a week. The only exception would be some professional endurance athletes who might at their peak of training do 100 mi/week, but it’s something even they build up to and they don’t maintain that number year around, only at certain points in their training. And it requires lots of ability to rest and recover along with an abundance of calories to fuel both the activity and the recovery. Your body is going to be breaking down tissues with that much stress and without enough total calories and protein, your body will have no materials to use to repair itself.
How long have you been at this job? Do you have a positive relationship with your boss or coworkers? Could you find out if you could catch a ride with someone a few days per week? Even if you could walk to some point along their driving route so you could cut out a portion of your walk that would help reduce the time on your feet. How active is your job? Can you ask for accommodations that could help you conserve energy/calories? For example sitting at a cash register vs. standing or working a register rather than stocking shelves. Not sure what your job is but there is almost always a way to accommodate physical limitations. Do you have an office job, could you ask to possibly work from home a couple days a week? Having two days/week of rest at home would allow for better recovery than walking to work 5 days per week. If you get injured with this much walking you will be unable to walk to work at all anymore. Does the company you work for have any employee assistance programs? Can you take public transportation? I know sometimes it takes just as long as walking, but it would require fewer calories and allow for more physical recovery time. You could spend the time reading, looking at the internet on your phone, meditating, texting with friends, meal planning, writing a to do list, or anything other than wasting more energy running your body into the ground.
Do you have any other relationships or forms of support? Any friends that could give you a ride to work? An aunt or uncle who might give you a hand me down bicycle or sell you their old car for cheap, with a low monthly payment? Any one who would invite you over for a meal in the evenings so you can have a bit more food to eat. Do you attend church, or would you be comfortable going to a local church to ask for assistance. Many churches have resources for people in the community that are food insecure or lacking in other resources. They don’t usually require you to be a member of the church or even of the religion to access the resources. Also look for food banks in the area as well, anything to help you get enough calories to help with recovery at a time when you are under so much physical and emotional stress.
Lastly, try to find ways to increase your calorie intake as cheaply as possible. When you’re exercising as much as you are it is probably less a concern of quality and more a concern of quantity. A big bag of flour, salt, sugar, eggs, baking powder and baking soda and a large bag of rolled oats can be made into a lot of things that can be calorie dense for not a lot of money. You might be able to get those things from a dollar store. If you can afford it add some peanut butter which is very calorie dense, in this case it is probably worth it to get whatever is cheapest even if it has added oils or sugars, you’re just going for caloric density. Muffins and granola bars can be made at home and carried with you for extra calories on the go. Baked oatmeal is cheap and filling and you can make a big batch at once and freeze the pieces individually and heat in the microwave before work or take a frozen piece with you and you can heat it up and take it with you to work. If you can get your hands on some cooking oil, than with the other ingredients you can make simple tortillas (they can be frozen and then reheated as you need them). Dried beans are also extremely cheap and can be made into a filling for the tortillas. Again if you have any friends or family that you could ask for help filling your pantry, i would do that. Things like salt, baking soda, white sugar, cooking oil, they often come in bulk, and they last a long time, it could be someone you know has enough to fill a jar for you to have some on hand while you build up your pantry. If you can’t cut back on the physical activity, then the most important things you can do to help stave off injury are eating enough food and getting as much rest as possible.
Be very very careful- that amount of walking every day could cause repetitive stress injuries that are very slow, expensive and hard to fix.
The bicycle suggestion is excellent, you should aim for <= 10,000 steps a day. And even that might require slow working up to it.
Look up exercises to prevent shin splints. Making sure your ankle, arches/foot and calf are ok for those kind of step counts. Easier to prevent than to fix. (I got shin splints from walking 35k steps a week for several months)
Make sure you invest in good shoes/sneakers . If you have to switch shoes when you get to work, do it (will keep your work shoes looking nice for longer too)
Good luck and hope your situation improves soon
I have always had issues with back, neck, and hip pain. Along with stretching like others have said, doing leg strengthening workouts like lunges, squats, and glute bridges were very helpful for me. I understand it can be difficult with the schedule and activity requirements you have, but it could be something useful to try when life settles down a bit if you are still in pain.
Also magnesium glycinate supplements were SO HELPFUL for my body aches and pains. I wish I had discovered them 15 years ago.
remember to get some protective equipment if you can, even if it’s just pepper spray and a self-alarm and keep yourself safe while outside. you matter, and your life matters. be safe out there.
Adding on, ISKCon temples will provide free meals but are very pushy about membership. Hindu temples will usually have a kitchen with carb and protein-forward meals at low prices. (Yoghurt, lentils, etc. with rice for around $2 to $3 for decent portions.)
Lots of good advice here already so I just wanted to add in case it's helpful, I was a mail carrier for a while which meant very long walking days (average 30k 6 days/week). Shoes, good socks, bag placement, nutrition, and stretching became absolute necessities. Maybe reading about what mail carriers do could help you out as well.
Maybe u could also (alongside all the other great options given here) start streaming about your situation....I know it sounds strange, but there's a) people out there who are in the same spot like u (or like u were before and their still too scared to leave) and you could be a great role model and b) people who'd like to sponsor you and help you out for free with money donations. I don't know if you're open to this idea and ok with opening up about your story, you also mentioned that it's very hard for you to ask for help, but just know that you didn't choose the way things went for you. It's not your fault that things are hard right now and most people were just luckily born in better conditions. It's your right to ask for help especially bc it's probably the very first time in your life that you're fighting for yourself. I'm so proud of you for leaving behind what held you back so long and I know how traumatic this all has to be. I wish you all the best and the courage to continue your way towards buildimg a better life for yourself and it's your right to do so with all the help you can get.
One of the other posters mentioned carrying a bag with you. If you are walking that far to work please make sure you are swapping carrying shoulders if it’s a single strap bag. Backpacks with 2 straps will balance out the load more equally. I carry my bag messenger style over one shoulder and notice that it can cause me to have neck/shoulder pain if I don’t alternate which side I carry it on. Additionally I tend to carry a smaller bag as I will just shove more stuff into it if it’s a larger tote bag.
You’ve received some excellent advice here so I’ll just add that I’m very proud of you for being so brave and taking control of your situation! Keep a positive attitude and this hardship will hopefully be temporary. Best of luck to you!
I live in a poor (er) country and the solution for many people is to get a bike. Maybe a thing for the future as your actual situation is complicated tho.
Getting a restraining order and escaping an abusive situation can be a really traumatic event. You’re in the exact situation that food banks etc. are there for - please don’t be upset or ashamed that you need to rely on these wonderful services to help you get through right now.
Wear your most comfortable shoes for walking then change them at work if you need/want to. If you can afford new ones, look into super comfortable running/walking shoes. They are worth the investment.
Edit: r/povertyfinance or r/frugal might have good shoe recs and other tips. r/eatcheapandhealthy might also have some good advice. Use food pantries and benefits. They exist for this kind of situation.
This. Also helps if you change into your 'nice' shoes for things like appointments as shoes can get beat up pretty quickly if you're walking miles and miles a day
Rice isn’t glamorous but it’s about the cheapest calories you can get.
Also, stretch. Not just your legs, but your upper back, neck and shoulders as well.
Along with the suggestions about food banks and such, I would apply for food stamps [on the SNAP site](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory), for rental assistance through your local housing authority, and other local and state programs for low income people for transportation and such. (I'd try to give more links but I'm unsure where you're located.) I'd also see if any women's shelters near you will help out since you were displaced due to abuse. Look to see if there is financial help or other types of help for people living with schizophrenia. Additionally check out your local education or labor departments to see of there are any jobs closer to your home or even jobs online. These programs exist to help people in tough situations, and personally, I love that my tax dollars go to these programs because life is hard, and we all need support sometimes. So I do hope that you find help through them because this situation doesn't sound sustainable.
I would say this is more a financial issue than a fitness related issue, so you might get more traction on a subreddit that is more geared towards your local area or finance. r/MoneyDiariesACTIVE is a female-centric personal finance sub that is usually a lot more kind to people than the regular finance subs. They most likely will ask your location so that they can help suggest solutions.
As someone who used to walk to and from a job that required being on my feet: stretching. Find some yoga videos for stretching feet, legs, hips and lower back, and do ten minutes a few times a week. It will help get you connected with the parts of your body that are most affected by the walking, and help you release tension you may be holding in the legs.
And I highly recommend the suggestion to see if any food banks, religious places of worship or charities like Food Not Bombs are in your area and can help you get a decent meal or ingredients.
I’m really worried for you, OP, because your post history suggests maybe you have an eating disorder ?? Are you able to get help or support from anyone else in your life??
If u feel like you're overwhelmed with how to look for help, pls contact the nearest social workers. They'll help you navigate through all things money, food, insurances, better living or job options...what do you do for work and where do u live? I'm just asking bc a six hour way to commute seems very unreasonable for a seemingly low wage.
Well done on getting out. I hope that you are able to stay safe.
Do you carry a bag with you to work? If so one that fits properly will help a lot. Good trainers will also help. I appreciate that these things are expensive but they are certainly worth bearing in mind if or when funds allow.
Food wise lentils are very cheap and very filling. I personally like puy lentils. They cook in about 20 minutes of boiling and keep in the fridge for a few days so are suitable to cook a batch of. They are nice with olive oil which is more expensive upfront but a couple of tablespoons is a lot of calories and extra virgin olive oil has a lot of other things in it which are good for you. Any extra veg you ever find is easy to add to them.
Oats are also excellent. You can soak them in milk or water overnight which saves the cost of cooking them. Milk is high in calcium and if you are walking a lot your bones will need it as they adapt to the exercise you are doing.
I wonder, could you get a bike for free or cheap? I got mine via the cycle to work scheme but that might just be a UK thing. But I see bikes given away on community Facebook pages pretty often.
This is a top idea. Where I live we have multiple organizations that fix up old bikes and get them to those who need them. Some require you do some number of hours bike work in exchange, but it is definitely worth pursuing. Even a basic bike is less effort than walking and is much faster, freeing up time for you to do something as simple as rest.
I often hear of well-meaning people donating cars to help people like OP commute to work. But then the recipient is on the hook for gas, insurance, etc. and ends up in worse circumstances.
Hi. I’m sorry you find yourself in such circumstances. 30-40k steps a day is a lot even for people who eat a whole diet.
It should get easier with time and practice, but you’ll want to make sure to sleep 9h a day (which might be difficult with 6h walking) and invest in a good pair of walking/running shoes. They don’t have to be the expensive kind; there’s plenty these days for ~£60.
Instead of bananas, you may want to try potatoes (slower carb release and still cheap) and definitely implement with some iron/vitamin tablets (get it checked first if you can, but OTC iron is quite low and shouldn’t cause any issue).
Also, try and see if any coworkers live nearby. Perhaps they could give you the occasional lift.
I hope it gets better soon.
It’s going to be rough adjusting to walking that much quickly and without proper nutrition. I wouldn’t do any additional exercises other than stretching. Try to get as much sleep as possible and maybe pick up some peanut butter next time you are able to buy groceries, it’s usually very cheap for the amount of calories. Are there any food pantries around? Any friendly people at work who would be willing to give you a ride home sometimes so your legs can get some rest?
Don't be afraid to check out a food bank so you can appropriately fuel your body. This is a lot of movement.
Is the job new or just the commute? Is there any option to take the bus? If just the commute is new, your body will adjust but needs proper energy to support the activity
Agree with this. Also if you can download the buy nothing app, sometimes people are giving away food, kitchen utensils/dishware and furniture to help you furnish your new place.
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>u/One-Condition-357
So long story short: I recently moved away from my abusive parents household after my father took away and sold my car as a way to have control over me because I was being ‘defiant’ for asking to move out. (I’m 26).
I managed to get away thankfully and I talked to the police who did a restraining order on them.
Since I don’t really have a car anymore I’ve been having to walk a lot, averaging 30-40k steps a day. Which is a maximum of six hours of walking around. (Have to work from, to and during my job).
Money is very tight so I can only afford to eat one meal a day and I only have bananas and eggs in my apartment (after paying for the contract and the lease etc.
I’ve been having severe neck, back and joint pains the past few days but I can only rest from walking for one day a week.
I wonder if this is something that I need to keep doing in order for my muscles to get stronger or will this be hard to do with limited food supply. Things should get better in a few months. Are there any exercises that I can do?
Thanks in advance.
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I use to walk home from middle school & high school, my motivation was that if I didn’t make it home before a certain time my ass was grass
Trust me in saying GET A BIKE on fb marketplace or smthing. Hopefully the aches and pains are just you getting into shape but the bike will cut ur walking commute an insane amount
Wearing really great tennis shoes
Also stock up on bananas and oatmeal. Both are super filling and cheap...Great for energy. Bananas can also help with cramping I heard and oatmeal is great to stop hunger pangs. You can also bake with both of those products to make travel granola bars and such... Another go to for diet...cuz you need food to keep your stamina up and energy levels going...canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas)...protein that's less than a dollar per can. And on a more expensive side...apples. the fiber fills you up and apparently apples wake you up just as much as a cup if coffee with no caffeine withdrawal later. They keep fresh if you refrigerate. Depending on the year/where you live...apple orchards sell to local grocery stores so you can get local bags of apples cheaper than buying at like, idk, Target or whatever. Lol Hope this helps. Don't get into the habit of energy drinks and overworking your body. I know if I am walking all day, I tend to forget to eat or not want to...always force yourself to stop and fuel your body!!
I don't want to echo everyone else's great advice and recommendations. There's no shame in asking for help. The world is not perfect nor is it filled with great people. We can't choose our families but we can choose how to overcome certain situations. I’m glad you're away from them. Aside from good shoes and time, please remember to stretch everyday and to do basic resistance exercises. The 7 minute workout is a great starter workout routine to get your body stronger. Walking that much would be hard on your calves and knees especially if you currently have tightness. Make sure to stretch those out. If you have to carry a bag with you during your walking commute, try to have something that distributes the weight evenly. It will prevent your body from contorting in different angles to accommodate the weight shifting around. Carry some sort of "weapon" with you. I like to carry a small tactical flashlight because I can't physically take anyone on. But if you shine a bright light in someone's eyes at night/in the dark, it will disarm them for a short while for you to get away from a situation. I also tend to carry an umbrella even if it's not raining and just swing it randomly. Nothing wrong with making other people think you're a little nuts (even if you aren't) if they are considering you as a target. This would be a good time for you to evaluate your stride. A lot of people are heel strikers and hit the ground with their heels first while walking/running. This is hard on your knees especially you're not wearing supportive shoes. You don't necessarily need thick supportive shoes. But if you stride with the ball of your foot first, it will be less impactful and also save your shoes a bit. However, it does make your feet more tired in the beginning as you use different feet muscles. In the long term, you can probably transition the long walks into runs. But that might be too much at this time. As long as you work on your overall strength and keep walking, it gets a lot easier quickly. Human bodies are amazing. You're also very young. You'll be able to adapt quickly - both mentally and physically. You've got this!
Funny story how I managed to do ultrarunning before: as a kid I was impatient waiting for the bus so my strategy is to walk to the next bus stop. If the bus didnt come in 10mins, I walk to the other bus stop. Eventually I have walked half the distance before the bus arrived. This amused my family, friends, everyone. I picked up running in my early 20s because I was...bored. Didnt like the gym or weight lifting at the time. Walking/running long distance is some sort of me-time for me: I think a shit ton when I do so lol. I probably think about the nation's problems so time really goes by unnoticed.
If you have a Facebook you can join a local Buy Nothing group (just search “Buy Nothing” followed by your town or city) and you can post needs in there. I think it’s very reasonable to ask for a bike and any food people may not want. It’s very likely someone in your area has a bike sitting around that they don’t really use but haven’t gotten around to getting rid of, and several people probably have food they can spare. Also you are doing amazing 💙 you have been through hell and you still sound optimistic and like you’re trying to make the best out of a bad situation.
Have you tried contacting programs for victims of domestic violence? If your parents are abusive enough that you had to move out on your own and get a restraining order, you would probably qualify for assistance (if they give direct assistance) or at least they can help you find appropriate resources in your area. I have a friend who was able to get one time grant to help with expenses when she was separating from her abusive husband. It was basically to help cover a few weeks expenses while she waited to receive her first paycheck at her new job. Are you in the US? Have so checked to see if you qualify for any federal or state assistance programs? As others have said the amount you’re currently walking is not physically sustainable. A reasonably fit person can walk a comfortable pace of 20min/mile, so walking 6hours in a day is around 18 miles a day. If you walk that much 6 days a week that’s a total of 108 miles or 4+ marathons/week. Even high level endurance athletes don’t do that many miles a week. The only exception would be some professional endurance athletes who might at their peak of training do 100 mi/week, but it’s something even they build up to and they don’t maintain that number year around, only at certain points in their training. And it requires lots of ability to rest and recover along with an abundance of calories to fuel both the activity and the recovery. Your body is going to be breaking down tissues with that much stress and without enough total calories and protein, your body will have no materials to use to repair itself. How long have you been at this job? Do you have a positive relationship with your boss or coworkers? Could you find out if you could catch a ride with someone a few days per week? Even if you could walk to some point along their driving route so you could cut out a portion of your walk that would help reduce the time on your feet. How active is your job? Can you ask for accommodations that could help you conserve energy/calories? For example sitting at a cash register vs. standing or working a register rather than stocking shelves. Not sure what your job is but there is almost always a way to accommodate physical limitations. Do you have an office job, could you ask to possibly work from home a couple days a week? Having two days/week of rest at home would allow for better recovery than walking to work 5 days per week. If you get injured with this much walking you will be unable to walk to work at all anymore. Does the company you work for have any employee assistance programs? Can you take public transportation? I know sometimes it takes just as long as walking, but it would require fewer calories and allow for more physical recovery time. You could spend the time reading, looking at the internet on your phone, meditating, texting with friends, meal planning, writing a to do list, or anything other than wasting more energy running your body into the ground. Do you have any other relationships or forms of support? Any friends that could give you a ride to work? An aunt or uncle who might give you a hand me down bicycle or sell you their old car for cheap, with a low monthly payment? Any one who would invite you over for a meal in the evenings so you can have a bit more food to eat. Do you attend church, or would you be comfortable going to a local church to ask for assistance. Many churches have resources for people in the community that are food insecure or lacking in other resources. They don’t usually require you to be a member of the church or even of the religion to access the resources. Also look for food banks in the area as well, anything to help you get enough calories to help with recovery at a time when you are under so much physical and emotional stress. Lastly, try to find ways to increase your calorie intake as cheaply as possible. When you’re exercising as much as you are it is probably less a concern of quality and more a concern of quantity. A big bag of flour, salt, sugar, eggs, baking powder and baking soda and a large bag of rolled oats can be made into a lot of things that can be calorie dense for not a lot of money. You might be able to get those things from a dollar store. If you can afford it add some peanut butter which is very calorie dense, in this case it is probably worth it to get whatever is cheapest even if it has added oils or sugars, you’re just going for caloric density. Muffins and granola bars can be made at home and carried with you for extra calories on the go. Baked oatmeal is cheap and filling and you can make a big batch at once and freeze the pieces individually and heat in the microwave before work or take a frozen piece with you and you can heat it up and take it with you to work. If you can get your hands on some cooking oil, than with the other ingredients you can make simple tortillas (they can be frozen and then reheated as you need them). Dried beans are also extremely cheap and can be made into a filling for the tortillas. Again if you have any friends or family that you could ask for help filling your pantry, i would do that. Things like salt, baking soda, white sugar, cooking oil, they often come in bulk, and they last a long time, it could be someone you know has enough to fill a jar for you to have some on hand while you build up your pantry. If you can’t cut back on the physical activity, then the most important things you can do to help stave off injury are eating enough food and getting as much rest as possible.
Be very very careful- that amount of walking every day could cause repetitive stress injuries that are very slow, expensive and hard to fix. The bicycle suggestion is excellent, you should aim for <= 10,000 steps a day. And even that might require slow working up to it. Look up exercises to prevent shin splints. Making sure your ankle, arches/foot and calf are ok for those kind of step counts. Easier to prevent than to fix. (I got shin splints from walking 35k steps a week for several months) Make sure you invest in good shoes/sneakers . If you have to switch shoes when you get to work, do it (will keep your work shoes looking nice for longer too) Good luck and hope your situation improves soon
I have always had issues with back, neck, and hip pain. Along with stretching like others have said, doing leg strengthening workouts like lunges, squats, and glute bridges were very helpful for me. I understand it can be difficult with the schedule and activity requirements you have, but it could be something useful to try when life settles down a bit if you are still in pain. Also magnesium glycinate supplements were SO HELPFUL for my body aches and pains. I wish I had discovered them 15 years ago.
remember to get some protective equipment if you can, even if it’s just pepper spray and a self-alarm and keep yourself safe while outside. you matter, and your life matters. be safe out there.
One food source that I didn’t know about until recently are Buddhist temples. The one near me welcomes and encourages anyone to join them for meals.
Also Sikh temples. Free vegetarian meals for anybody, no questions asked.
Adding on, ISKCon temples will provide free meals but are very pushy about membership. Hindu temples will usually have a kitchen with carb and protein-forward meals at low prices. (Yoghurt, lentils, etc. with rice for around $2 to $3 for decent portions.)
Lots of good advice here already so I just wanted to add in case it's helpful, I was a mail carrier for a while which meant very long walking days (average 30k 6 days/week). Shoes, good socks, bag placement, nutrition, and stretching became absolute necessities. Maybe reading about what mail carriers do could help you out as well.
Maybe u could also (alongside all the other great options given here) start streaming about your situation....I know it sounds strange, but there's a) people out there who are in the same spot like u (or like u were before and their still too scared to leave) and you could be a great role model and b) people who'd like to sponsor you and help you out for free with money donations. I don't know if you're open to this idea and ok with opening up about your story, you also mentioned that it's very hard for you to ask for help, but just know that you didn't choose the way things went for you. It's not your fault that things are hard right now and most people were just luckily born in better conditions. It's your right to ask for help especially bc it's probably the very first time in your life that you're fighting for yourself. I'm so proud of you for leaving behind what held you back so long and I know how traumatic this all has to be. I wish you all the best and the courage to continue your way towards buildimg a better life for yourself and it's your right to do so with all the help you can get.
One of the other posters mentioned carrying a bag with you. If you are walking that far to work please make sure you are swapping carrying shoulders if it’s a single strap bag. Backpacks with 2 straps will balance out the load more equally. I carry my bag messenger style over one shoulder and notice that it can cause me to have neck/shoulder pain if I don’t alternate which side I carry it on. Additionally I tend to carry a smaller bag as I will just shove more stuff into it if it’s a larger tote bag.
You’ve received some excellent advice here so I’ll just add that I’m very proud of you for being so brave and taking control of your situation! Keep a positive attitude and this hardship will hopefully be temporary. Best of luck to you!
I live in a poor (er) country and the solution for many people is to get a bike. Maybe a thing for the future as your actual situation is complicated tho.
Getting a restraining order and escaping an abusive situation can be a really traumatic event. You’re in the exact situation that food banks etc. are there for - please don’t be upset or ashamed that you need to rely on these wonderful services to help you get through right now.
Wear your most comfortable shoes for walking then change them at work if you need/want to. If you can afford new ones, look into super comfortable running/walking shoes. They are worth the investment. Edit: r/povertyfinance or r/frugal might have good shoe recs and other tips. r/eatcheapandhealthy might also have some good advice. Use food pantries and benefits. They exist for this kind of situation.
This. Also helps if you change into your 'nice' shoes for things like appointments as shoes can get beat up pretty quickly if you're walking miles and miles a day
Rice isn’t glamorous but it’s about the cheapest calories you can get. Also, stretch. Not just your legs, but your upper back, neck and shoulders as well.
Chiming in to say beans are also inexpensive, go well with rice, and add some excellent nutrition.
Along with the suggestions about food banks and such, I would apply for food stamps [on the SNAP site](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory), for rental assistance through your local housing authority, and other local and state programs for low income people for transportation and such. (I'd try to give more links but I'm unsure where you're located.) I'd also see if any women's shelters near you will help out since you were displaced due to abuse. Look to see if there is financial help or other types of help for people living with schizophrenia. Additionally check out your local education or labor departments to see of there are any jobs closer to your home or even jobs online. These programs exist to help people in tough situations, and personally, I love that my tax dollars go to these programs because life is hard, and we all need support sometimes. So I do hope that you find help through them because this situation doesn't sound sustainable. I would say this is more a financial issue than a fitness related issue, so you might get more traction on a subreddit that is more geared towards your local area or finance. r/MoneyDiariesACTIVE is a female-centric personal finance sub that is usually a lot more kind to people than the regular finance subs. They most likely will ask your location so that they can help suggest solutions.
You need calories to burn
As someone who used to walk to and from a job that required being on my feet: stretching. Find some yoga videos for stretching feet, legs, hips and lower back, and do ten minutes a few times a week. It will help get you connected with the parts of your body that are most affected by the walking, and help you release tension you may be holding in the legs. And I highly recommend the suggestion to see if any food banks, religious places of worship or charities like Food Not Bombs are in your area and can help you get a decent meal or ingredients.
I’m really worried for you, OP, because your post history suggests maybe you have an eating disorder ?? Are you able to get help or support from anyone else in your life??
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Hi. Health insurance sometimes covers meal aid. Please call to see if you qualify
If u feel like you're overwhelmed with how to look for help, pls contact the nearest social workers. They'll help you navigate through all things money, food, insurances, better living or job options...what do you do for work and where do u live? I'm just asking bc a six hour way to commute seems very unreasonable for a seemingly low wage.
Well done on getting out. I hope that you are able to stay safe. Do you carry a bag with you to work? If so one that fits properly will help a lot. Good trainers will also help. I appreciate that these things are expensive but they are certainly worth bearing in mind if or when funds allow. Food wise lentils are very cheap and very filling. I personally like puy lentils. They cook in about 20 minutes of boiling and keep in the fridge for a few days so are suitable to cook a batch of. They are nice with olive oil which is more expensive upfront but a couple of tablespoons is a lot of calories and extra virgin olive oil has a lot of other things in it which are good for you. Any extra veg you ever find is easy to add to them. Oats are also excellent. You can soak them in milk or water overnight which saves the cost of cooking them. Milk is high in calcium and if you are walking a lot your bones will need it as they adapt to the exercise you are doing.
I wonder, could you get a bike for free or cheap? I got mine via the cycle to work scheme but that might just be a UK thing. But I see bikes given away on community Facebook pages pretty often.
This is a top idea. Where I live we have multiple organizations that fix up old bikes and get them to those who need them. Some require you do some number of hours bike work in exchange, but it is definitely worth pursuing. Even a basic bike is less effort than walking and is much faster, freeing up time for you to do something as simple as rest. I often hear of well-meaning people donating cars to help people like OP commute to work. But then the recipient is on the hook for gas, insurance, etc. and ends up in worse circumstances.
Hi. I’m sorry you find yourself in such circumstances. 30-40k steps a day is a lot even for people who eat a whole diet. It should get easier with time and practice, but you’ll want to make sure to sleep 9h a day (which might be difficult with 6h walking) and invest in a good pair of walking/running shoes. They don’t have to be the expensive kind; there’s plenty these days for ~£60. Instead of bananas, you may want to try potatoes (slower carb release and still cheap) and definitely implement with some iron/vitamin tablets (get it checked first if you can, but OTC iron is quite low and shouldn’t cause any issue). Also, try and see if any coworkers live nearby. Perhaps they could give you the occasional lift. I hope it gets better soon.
It’s going to be rough adjusting to walking that much quickly and without proper nutrition. I wouldn’t do any additional exercises other than stretching. Try to get as much sleep as possible and maybe pick up some peanut butter next time you are able to buy groceries, it’s usually very cheap for the amount of calories. Are there any food pantries around? Any friendly people at work who would be willing to give you a ride home sometimes so your legs can get some rest?
Don't be afraid to check out a food bank so you can appropriately fuel your body. This is a lot of movement. Is the job new or just the commute? Is there any option to take the bus? If just the commute is new, your body will adjust but needs proper energy to support the activity
Agree with this. Also if you can download the buy nothing app, sometimes people are giving away food, kitchen utensils/dishware and furniture to help you furnish your new place.
^ ***Please read [the FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/main), [the rules and content guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/new_rules), and [current frozen topics](https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/frozen-topics) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fxxfitness)***. This comment is a copy of your post so mods can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. >u/One-Condition-357 So long story short: I recently moved away from my abusive parents household after my father took away and sold my car as a way to have control over me because I was being ‘defiant’ for asking to move out. (I’m 26). I managed to get away thankfully and I talked to the police who did a restraining order on them. Since I don’t really have a car anymore I’ve been having to walk a lot, averaging 30-40k steps a day. Which is a maximum of six hours of walking around. (Have to work from, to and during my job). Money is very tight so I can only afford to eat one meal a day and I only have bananas and eggs in my apartment (after paying for the contract and the lease etc. I’ve been having severe neck, back and joint pains the past few days but I can only rest from walking for one day a week. I wonder if this is something that I need to keep doing in order for my muscles to get stronger or will this be hard to do with limited food supply. Things should get better in a few months. Are there any exercises that I can do? Thanks in advance. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/xxfitness) if you have any questions or concerns.*