Did you know that The Jenny Craig Program can easily cost you monthly from $280 to $680? Seriously, I don't know about you but I don't have that kind of money laying around to help me lose weight. Even one of the cheaper programs, (and a really good program might I add) Weight Watchers will cost you $39.95 per month to attend meetings and the online counseling plan has a cost on top of that. Call me crazy but I would rather not lose any weight at all then dish out that kind of dough for a diet program.
With that being said, below you will find a few ways that you can budget your weight loss goals and frugally lose weight. You don't have to give up an arm and a leg in your journey to losing weight, and you certainly don't have to pay for those pricey diet plans.
Let me start by saying do NOT buy diet pills. Just like Diet Programs, in order to get a diet pill that will actually help you in your weight loss, (and MIGHT not be dangerous to your overall health) you will be putting out some serious money. I'm sure you've stayed up late one night and watched those infomercials doting their miraculous diet pill; they don't work. Diet pills that might work can easily cost upwards of $100 dollars for a months supply and it can often take months to see any results. Skip the diet pills, and opt for healthier and more budget-friendly alternatives.. if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Eat at home more often & clip coupons! Obviously eating out will lead to weight gain so eating at home more often will limit what you take into your body and allow you to see exactly what you are eating and how much of it you are eating. Grocery shop wisely for foods that will help promote weight loss like fresh greens, whole grains and healthy fats. Clip coupons from your paper and follow sales ads, deals, and price matching opportunities for the best deals on your groceries. Here on my blog I do most of the hard work for you. Keep checking back for new deals, coupons, freebies and more!
Drink more water.. and not the bottled variety! This is obvious, right? You'd be surprised how many people (yes I am pointing at you) hardly drink water on a daily basis. You don't even need to purchase those fancy bottled waters either – tap water works just fine. Ever feel hungry randomly in the middle of the day and then you eat to get rid of that feeling? Often times when our body is dehydrated we mistake it for hunger and eat instead of drink. Drinking water will keep you full longer and will help you eat smaller portions. While most studies suggest 8 full glasses of water per day but this can easily be too much or too little depending on who you are. Check out this cool hydration calculator to find the recommended water consumption for you.
Eat more in the AM and less in the PM. Easier said than done, believe me I know. To improve your metabolism and lose the weight you should try to eat heavier in the morning at breakfast and lighter in the evening for dinner. I rarely eat after 7pm. Have a nice filling breakfast full of protein and then eat a light salad with soup or potato for dinner as an idea. You want to be full and have plenty of energy through out the day so a well balanced full meal in the morning is essential for your weight loss goals.
Always have a complete meal. This is one of the best tips I can give you and also one of the simplest to do to help you lose weight. Each meal you eat should contain all three basic food groups: carbs, healthy fats and protein, because your body needs all 3 to absorb properly and most efficiently in your body. You can really eat almost anything you want so long as you limit your portions and are sure to include the 3 food groups always in your meals. Now don't go out eating cheesecake and brownies all day, but it doesn't hurt to treat yourself now and again!
Check out Exercise Videos at the Library (or TV on demand!) I have never ever paid for an exercise video.. Not to say that there isn't some great ones out there, but why pay when you can work-out to a video for free? I have Bright House TV here in Florida and our On Demand channel offers some really great exercise, toning, and work-out videos for free. You can also try your local library where you can check out workout videos absolutely free with your library card. While on the topic of libraries.. I need to make an article about all of the great free resources the library offers!
Snack Smart. My last tip would have to be that you should snack smarter. To often when we feel the hunger coming on or even boredom and stress we reach for unhealthy snacks like packaged cakes, chips, and candies. Avoid the vending machine and take along your own snacks to curb mid-day hunger. Portion off crackers, chips, etc in ziploc bags to limit portions. Also consider taking cold veggies, low fat cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, or other healthier options. I love 100 calorie snacks and light and fit yogurts for snacks during the day. Try to avoid soda and other colas all together. Soda is just empty calories and do absolutely nothing good for your body. Just limiting your snack intake and replacing with healthier options will show you results in your journey to losing weight.
What frugal ways do you work at getting the weight off? Share in the comments below!
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