No doubt about it. Weight loss is expensive. But it's so worth it.

Now, now... we all know copying copywritted dvd's is illegal...


naw, we do it too!



I'm on the second floor and it doesnt seem to bother my neighbors when I'm bustin it out at 5:30 in the morning.
Go for it!

I generally figure what I spend now to be healthy is less expensive than what I was spending to be unhealthy. I figure the benefits outweigh the costs!

I do spend $40/month for my Weight Watchers membership, and my health insurance will reimburse me for $150.00 of that. (They will also reimburse for $150.00 of a gym membership, but I am moving in a couple weeks and don't like going someplace to work out.)

I have purchased 3 work-out DVDs, and it cost around $25 - this gives me enough to swap DVDs when I want a different work-out, or I walk. I also own an exercise bike, but it's in storage from now until I move. If you're looking for larger equipment, you can usually find cheap or free! on Craigslist.

I think I've spent less than $100 on clothing, as I still had some from when I was thinner and have been hitting up sales. Also, I have been borrowing!

Other expenses include $10/month for my blood pressure medication and I'm actually saving money, because I am now only going to the doctor every three months, instead of every month!

If I had let my weight go uncontrolled, I am sure I would still be at the doctor every month, my medication costs would be higher, I'd be eating more expensive unhealthy food, and I'd be facing more expensive health complications as well! Also, I recently went to the dentist after 20 years of not going (bad, I know) and I used up the $1250.00 yearly coverage my dental insurance offers after 5 visits in one month - but, only one cavity! I look at this as one more way I am keeping myself healthy.

Honestly, the only thing I am not SAVING money on is buying new clothes!

Walking to work (3 mi. each way) is my main exercise, and much cheaper than driving/taking the metro. I can do pushups, situps etc in my room for free.

Cooking my own meals is soooo much cheaper than eating out or buying premade stuff. For the month of september, so far I've spent less than $100 on food, and that counts a few ice cream cones that I've had in the hotter afternoons and a trip to chipotle, so I'm not some ascetic living on rice and beans

All due respect, it is illegal. And some of us work in the music and film industry and take that very personally

Anyway, I have totally been there. Last winter when money was tight and I couldn't just "go outside and play" I was absolutely miserable! I discovered that My OnDemand has FitTV and the Exercise Channel and I could do Jillian Michaels and Tae Bo. I do live on the second floor and try to be courteous though and frankly, I couldn't fully get into it for that reason (I know the people above me are quite loud and I can only imagine what kick boxing sounds like downstairs)

So I bit the bullet and got a gym membership to the Y. You mentioned that you don't want to sign a contract for a year. I've had a couple of memberships and have never once had to sign a contract for a year. It's always been month to month. I pay around $45 for mine and it's worth it. I also invested in some hand weights and resistance bands so at least when I didn't have a gym membership I felt like I was doing something.

I also go to classes at a dance studio. I buy a punch pass that works out to about $6/visit.

As far as food budgeting, the farmer's market has cut our produce bill tremendously. Now, the season ends in late October for us, but to continue the trend through the winter we're going to try to eat in season as much as possible. Also, shopping more than once a week helps to cut down on wasted food

I too have been there and loss over 100 pounds and unfortunly I have gained my back. I am back on the weight loss battle. My income is not as it use to be and with this economy every penny counts.

Exercising equipment you might be able to get cheap from someone on Craigs List. I would think it better to spend your money on something that you can keep and look at every moment to encourage a look out. I know I am the type to come up with every excuse not to drive to the gym.

As far as a clothing. I had a hurdle to overcome and I lost all mine in a fire. So I did not want to have to go out and have to buy clothes that I did not wear in a month from now when I am hoping to be in another size. So I went down the avenue of renting clothes to get me through those months. There was a company called Transitional Sizes that offers this. This help me save for my ideal size. I found one of the biggest mistakes I made is keeping the bigger clothes in my closet. This time I am only going to have in my closet the size I am in or smaller.

For the first time in my life I have discovered the meaning of the word BUDGET and I am going to make it work with my diet!!! I am on a food and money diet!

I can do dips, elevated push-ups on my stairs at home...

Situps and leg lifts and stretches in my living room.

And getting outside to run or walk or ride my bike and get some fresh air is always free too!


Gyms are overpriced and overhyped. You don't need that crap, any of the useful tips and tricks and exercise recommendations you need you can get on the internet. I know I sure as heck wouldn't pay some person in spandex shorts $50-$100 a session to tell me something I could read on the web for free.

I realize that weight loss is expensive... but think about this: think about all the money you spend eating out, on going to the doctor, on yet another diet book, on buying new clothes? If you think about it, losing weight will save you money! If you're strapped for money, you can honestly ask yourself what you need and what you don't. Don't let money be the reason you don't lose weigh. Good luck! :-)

I am on a budget and I've been able to really do this without many problems. If there is an Aldi or PriceRite near you, there are several choices you can make to stay healthy. In fact, I buy almost all of my food at these two places, only supplementing about 4 ingredients at the regular grocery store. Now I'm paying out less than I was in the first place!
I'm lucky that my job has a gym - it is only $10/month for a single membership or $15/month for a family. My husband and I are both members, so they take $7.50 out of my bimonthly paychecks.
With clothes, I've been able to go to a Goodwill in a very expensive area and found so many quality items for less than $5. Many of my old clothes are fitting again, so that helps too. Some places have excellent sales as well - namely NY & Co, Old Navy, H&M, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx. These are good places to buy staples for your wardrobe.