Fat, Fitness, and Finances
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight - for my heath and my upcoming wedding. After several failed attempts to go it alone, I finally admitted to myself that I need help if I’m going to drop 60 pounds before my October nuptials.
Last fall I began researching my options: I considered the usual suspects (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, hiring a personal trainer, etc.). In the end, I chose a local martial arts gym that offers a 10-week program that combines alternating days of cardio kick-boxing and resistance training with a low-carb, high protein diet. I work with a coach and a team of nine others - my teammates have become valuable resources - they provide my motivation and are my sounding board.
After just two weeks, I can already see results - I have lost 5 pounds, have more energy, and am sleeping better. I love the accountability that comes from being part of a team, and I actually look forward to my workout every day.
The only downside of this program so far - it doesn’t come cheap. I spent $359 of my Christmas money for the 10 weeks, which works out to about $6 a class. When I think about it that way, it doesn’t seem so pricy - that’s cheaper than a day of Jenny Craig meals, but still - that’s $360 I could have put towards my outstanding credit card balance.
Once my 10 weeks is up, I will have to make a choice - continue with the classes or do it on my own. I am already dreading the decision. Do I go the frugal route and try to do it on my own with the equipment I already have (my bicycle and a few free weights), or do I continue with the kick-boxing program? Maybe I should try something new - like yoga (which runs $15 per class in the city where I live) or join a gym and take spinning classes. I wish I enjoyed running - that’s something you can do for just the cost of shoes, but I have weak ankles and every time I have tried to take up jogging (something I seem to attempt about once a year) it ends in shin splints or a turned ankle - so I’ve finally given up on becoming a runner.
I have been struggling to determine what, in dollars and cents, looking and feeling good is worth. Clearly, losing weight now and keeping it off will decrease my chances of having heart disease and diabetes (two concerns my doctor mentioned at my last physical). If I have found a regimen that works for me, do I stick with it regardless of the financial costs? The long term CBA (cost-benefit analysis) would surely point to sticking with whatever keeps me moving - but I’m trying to pay off debt here!
So here are some questions for readers:
Can you put a price on wellness?
What has worked for you?
Is fitness something that everyone just works into their budget?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stumble it!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Unfortunately, nothing has worked for me but I keep trying. I weighed 160 at 34 and have gained up to 240 now at 58. I am very disciplined at saving and investing but my discipline breaks down when I eat. My problem is portion control. I have joined a table tennis team (I quit 32 years ago when I got married) and the two hours workouts four times a week have made me feel much better and my DOC says I my hearthealth is 48(ten years younger) but I continue to be unable to apply my financial discipline to my weight. I do believe that the consistent workouts, which I love, will eventually work. My metabolism has slowed down so much that I can gain weight on 2000 calories a day.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
One advantage of having specific classes is that you know you’ll do it. That beats just going to a gym to work out or working out at home. Of course the financial part is difficult.
I’d look into making some changes in your routine besides classes which help you keep the weight off once you lose it. Planning healthier meals, for instance, or walking more…parking farther, taking walks, using the stairs, whatever helps.
Spinning sounds like fun.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Perhaps the 10 week class - and the initial weight loss that comes with it - will be just the kick-start you need to find the motivation to go it alone after that. Since you have a pretty strong motivation and deadline (your wedding), you may find it easier to stick to your diet/fitness routine this time around.
However if you find yourself gaining the weight back despite all your efforts, I’d allow yourself to sign up for another 10 week class. This is your wedding, your health, and if you can reach your goal for just $700 or so, then I’d consider it money well spent.
Of course that IS a lot of money - and you’ll need to spend even more on new clothes if you drop 50-60 pounds! So I would really try to do it without paying for the motivation (which is really what you’re paying for when you get a personal trainer or join a class). You CAN exercise and diet on your own, and there are ENDLESS free resources online and in books (at the library).
Body For Life is one system that has worked for me. I revert back to it whenever I want to lose some weight. I would check out their website and/or books. It’s really easy and there’s no fee or food to buy.
PS, I’ve also become a bit of a jogger against all odds. If you’ve never done it then you probably are going to have shin splints and/or be sore at first. But you may also be trying to do too much too fast. I’d try walking 2 miles, 3x/week. Then walk 1.5 miles and jog .5 miles in small increments in between. Then walk half, jog half (try doing 2 minutes walk, 2 minutes jog). Eventually you’ll be able to easily jog 2 miles. This is easier than you might think, and it’s a great way to exercise without the gym fees.
January 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
It is great that you have already started feeling the difference from your two weeks.
With the clear and precise pre-determined goal that you have set, I have no doubt that you’ll make it.
Keep on going!
January 21st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
We each have different triggers for change, sometimes it is a group, or a new program etc.
Dropping 60lbs is hard…if it wasn’t you’ld just will it done.
Besides the wedding, there is your overall health to think of; you are at a decision tree. If you jump on this now, you may solve an issue for the rest of your life, if not…I hate to say it but it can get worse.
Not an excuse to blow budget, but if you need this to be well, I would do it and cut other things to pay for it, or raise the cash via selling something, etc..
You are the only you, you have!
January 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I lost 30 pounds just WALKING on my treadmill. For me to stick to the commitment it had to be something that won’t allow me to make excuses. If I signed up for a program where I had to go somewhere to exercise, I would have used that as an excuse not do it. You have to eliminate any inconveniences. I walk at 4 miles per hour on a 4 degree incline 4 to 5 days per week. I started at 1 1/2 miles now I do from 3 to 4 miles depending on how I feel, but never less than 3. Find a time that that you can stick to. If you are an early riser, then do it in the morning to start your day. Each day you do it, it will get easier. It is a commitment. Treat it as if you are violating your integrity if you don’t do it. Make yourself a chart and put a check mark on it each time you complete the scheduled walk. I have found that distance isn’t the key, but sweating is. If you can break a good sweat at 1/2 a mile, then start there. Increase the distance ever so slowly. Stretch before you start. Your muscles will ache for the first week or so. Expect it and deal with it. If you don’t have a treadmill, then buy one. I bit the bullet a few years ago and I am glad that I bought a good one. I still have it and it still is in good shape. Make sure you get one that has a deck with some spring in it. That is very important. One obstacle that I encountered was boredom. Use a radio, an IPod, or even a TV to pass the time. I put a TV next to my treadmill and I watch the news while I walk. Also bought a scale. Put it in the bathroom next to your shower. I am obsessed with weighing myself now. Keeping your weight in front of you is incentive to keep it off when you start to lose it. It feels good when you see progress and feels bad when you lose ground. The final thing that I will say is that the other thing that I do is watch my portions when I eat. I did not go on a diet, but I do watch what I eat. I always eat cereal for breakfast, and I try to eat slightly smaller portions. I said slightly. Just create an awareness of what you are eating. You mentioned that you were going to try and lose 60 pounds. Create a mental model that you are carrying around three 20 pound bags of dog food on your shoulders. Getting rid of that is worth its weight in gold. Sorry if I rambled, but I am pretty proud of the results that I have achieved and hope that you can reach your goal as well. Good health… Priceless!
January 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I agree with RacerX. You have a great start and have found people who can help.
I think you might want to do a checkpoint (or milestone) after about 7 weeks, and if it’s still as good for you then as now, sign up for another session.
Because after two10-week sessions you’ll probably be too busy with wedding plans and other things for another 10-weeker.
By then you will have the knowledge and confidence to continue on your own, whever it takes you.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Heidi,
$360 could have gone towards your debt. Or it could be an investment in your health. At the end of the day, it’ s just money. If you spend it on something that makes you feel good at your core, then it’s worth it.
Wellness has no price - it is the foundation upon which we build everything else. I am reading a book about a man who builds schools in poverty-stricken areas. Education is the key to moving out of poverty, but children aren’t going to make it to school if they don’t survive past the age of 1.
Likewise, if you don’t take care of your health, you won’t be in the best shape to enjoy your debt-free retirement years.
As for what works - only you can decide that. I think, if you make it to every class in the 10 week period and you see real changes in diet, etc, then it’s a success. If it kick starts you into a real lifestyle change, even better. But if not, there’s nothing wrong in admitting we need a little help or external motivation to move us down the right path.
I can’t just sit on a machine for an hour. I need an activity that is social, but more importantly, I need guidance. Hence, my climbing gym membership falls in my “essential” category. I am considering getting a part-time job there to save money, but if it doesn’t work, I’m still ok with paying for it. I also work at my yoga studio, and get free classes. I’d never do yoga otherwise.
One thing I notice though - when you integrate an active component into your lifestyle (however you do it), it bleeds into the rest of your life too. I find that I eat healthier too because I get more energy when I do so, and have a better experience climbing. So you do what you have to do, and don’t worry about the rest.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
This sounds really similar to my thoughts on the gym classes I take to stay healthy for myself and my team.
In the fall and spring, I’m on a sports team that keeps me busy with some practices and games. That said, I know that I need to stay fit outside of the sport and especially when I am not playing (winter/summer) and as I now realize I’m aging. Just turned 30.
My sport is cheap, so that has become like a class too.
The classes we take as a class are great, they kick my butt and I love the team atmosphere. But they run about $7.50 per class and only last 8 weeks. After that, there is no way I could join the same gym or others at a cost of $50-70 per month and visit them enough to be worthwhile.
So, I decided that I would make a commitment to myself to use what I learn in the classes and the kickstart of the classes to do similar workouts at home. Whenever I get a bit boring or need a change, I try something else or I go drop in for a class at the gym, rather than a full membership. Or try a free membership some place for a day/week.
My biggest thought with this is that if I can’t make myself workout with all of these free tools (i.e. knowing the exercises, having a body!, basic tools like a jumprope, etc.), it doesn’t matter if I join an expensive gym. I need to find the motivation and will to do it first. That’s the hard part.
You can probably find a friend or two who’s in the same boat too. Make a appt. to workout together. And Meg and Sam are right too, sometimes just walking regularly or jogging are good motivators. Once you’re moving, it’s easier to say what else can i do?
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Hi, I found your site from Trent’s TSD website. There is a group called Gut2Cut (G2C) on YouTube that has been around for over a year. I’ve been a member since November ‘06 and there are MANY members supporting one another through videos and through the community message board. In fact, a long time member, faintstarlite, very recently became the host of the Weight Watcher’s myspace page. Check it out : www.myspace.com/weightwatchers
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Whoops, here’s the link to G2C: www.youtube.com/cutthegut
January 30th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
[…] Heidi wrote an interesting post today on Fat, Fitness, and FinancesHere’s a quick excerptLast fall I began researching my options: I considered the usual suspects (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, hiring a personal trainer, etc.). In the end, I chose a local martial arts gym that offers a 10-week program that combines … […]
February 4th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hi, I just discovered your site, and I wanted to comment on this post because I went through this exact same dilemma last year.
I think unless you are able to motivate yourself (and be honest here) it is better to just make your peace with the expense of an exercise regime, gym or trainer. Your health is important. Don’t think of the money. You’ll see plenty of benefits if you stick with exercise over the long term. It’s a preventative measure on the drag of illness and future heath costs.
Congratulations on your weight loss. Keep soldiering on. I was quite heavy when I got married almost 10 years ago - I’m curvy anyway but then I was probably another stone on top of that - and I always regretted not losing weight for my wedding. It is just one day, but everyone wants to feel like a beautiful bride.
The good thing is that as long as you exercise and take care of yourself between now and then, you’ll automatically feel better about yourself and your skin and hair will glow, whether you lose the entire 60 pounds or not. Good luck!
February 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
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