You have no reason to worry about your weight unless you are competing, either in bodybuilding or powerlifting. If you’re approach is as casual as “I’m thinking about going up to 225…” I can guarantee that you will not be 14% bodyfat when you get there, even if you plan on cutting afterwards it’s not worth it IMO. What I would strongly recommend doing is focusing on your strength. By doing this, you will get bigger, and you will have the ability to put more size on later because you’ll be able to put up more weight.
But whatever your goals are when it comes to your eating, fulfill your macros for the day through whatever foods you can afford, if you have the ability to get a costco or sam’s club membership, get one so you can buy your foods in bulk, you will spend more at the store while you’re there, but you will be spending less money on your food altogether. Eggs are great because they’re cheap and good for you. At costco you can get 7 dozen for 9 dollars.
Also, I recommend ezekiel bread. If you don’t eat out a lot and you buy your food smart, you can get what you need even on a budget. I think it is a good idea to make shakes, if you can’t afford protein powder, buy pasteurized egg whites and use them. It sounds bad but it’s not it just absorbs the flavor of whatever you mix it with. Sample shake, 1 Frozen banana, 2 tablespoons natty PB, 1 cup eggwhites, half cup oats, 3 ice cubes, you’ve got yourself a solid shake. I would throw in maybe a tablespoon of chocolate syrup if I didn’t have any protein to mix in, but even withuot it it still tastes good.
Have that when you wake up, plus some cooked eggs, and that’s a solid meal. I worked at GNC for a year, and I’m very confident when I say that supplements are not necessities, a good multi is important, and fishoil is helpful, along with protein powder, but your results are going to come from your diet and training, not whether you are taking N.O. explode pre and blox intra workout followed by dark matter
