Remember this shirt? Well, it’s getting loose on me. When I first bought it, the blouse was nicely fitted (see pic!), but it is starting to hang on me just a bit. It’s a nice problem to have. . . . I just wish I had the funds to immediately replace it and the rest of its too-big brethren immediately.
Let me be frank with you guys: Money has been on my mind lately. Most of us who have ever gone on a diet know that weight loss costs money. Some of the costs are obvious:
- Gym membership, personal training fees, or cost to join an exercise class
- Pantry and fridge sweeps and replacement with healthy foods; possible special diet shakes and meals. Diet program membership costs.
But what about the less-obvious price tags attached to weight loss?
- New work clothes every 8 weeks or so, because you can’t show up to the office looking like a slob or with your pants falling off.
- Fitness gear like good walking/running shoes (very important!) and clothes to wear while working out; if you’re a former couch potato like I am, you didn’t have any lying around before you got started.
- Occasional misjudgment costs: As a health and fitness newbie, you may occasionally make a wrong choice. There was the time I bought a huge butternut squash at the farmer’s market, attempted to make soup out of it, failed miserably, and had to throw the whole batch away. Once I signed up for an exercise class up front that I hated almost immediately, but couldn’t get my money back at that point.
- New kitchenware if, like me, you used to rely exclusively on pre-made foods and are now branching out into the wonderful world of home-cooking.
So yes, my weight loss has cost me. But my weight gain and obesity cost even more:
- I spent about $10 on sweets/soda every single day. May not sound like much, but it really adds up!
- More doctor’s visits.
- New clothes . . . as I continued to go up a size at least once a year. Plus size clothes, in case you don’t know, are often twice as expense as “normal”-sized clothing.
- Eating out or ordering delivery frequently cost me another $50 – 75 per week, I’d estimate.
- Heartburn medicine isn’t free! My old eating habits frequent caused me intense esophageal distress, and most nights I had to take something to alleviate the discomfort so that I could sleep.
- Friends. I realize this is not true for all obese people, but in my case I stopped wanting to appear in public/social situations, and just sort of fell off the radar. I am coming out of my shell again, but I’m the first to admit it takes time.
Money is something I have to manage very carefully, but in my current situation (losing weight, gaining health), I am willing to do that because the pay-off is worth it. I still can’t have everything I want, but I do get a few of my wish-list items now and then to keep myself happy. Boot camp is a substantial cost currently, but down the road I hope to be able to self-motivate myself to work out intensely enough on my own and no longer be dependent on Coach barking orders ;). In the meantime, I’m learning a lot and losing weight quite nicely too.
How about you? What are/were your costs for being heavier? What does it cost you to lose weight?
8. March 2010 at 9:14 AM
Let’s see…
Costs:
Weight watcher’s membership (for 2 people) was $80 a month!
Healthy food (much much more expensive than junk!), my grocery bills jumped from $120 a week to $200 a week. Now that I know more what I’m doing, and clipping coupons, (and gave up buying 4 or 5 12-packs of soda every week!) I’ve squished it down to ~$150 a week, but still…
new clothes for two people (don’t get me started!) even if I could get by with too-big stuff. As a stay at home mom, no one expects me to be perfectly turned out.
Savings:
Cut down to less asthma medication, and was able to change brands; cut my pharmacy bills at $90 a month to $10 a month.
Cut out soda: minimum of $30 a week saved
Don’t eat out (sit down resturant) as much: savings of at least $40 a week
Don’t grab take out: $18 per run we don’t make (which used to be AT LEAST once a week on Tuesdays.)
9. March 2010 at 7:55 AM
Lynn: Thanks for sharing some of your costs (on both sides of the equation) with us! It seems like for a lot of folks, the money thing comes out about even, and the emotional/personal benefits of getting healthy and fit are what truly make it all worth it.
8. March 2010 at 10:17 AM
I’ve been reiterating this same point to myself and others since I started this. In the past I always let the ‘cost’ of weightloss prevent me from even trying. I would say I can’t afford a gym or healthy food but the truth was I could no longer afford to keep treating my body the way I was. For me, it’s pretty much evened itself out.
9. March 2010 at 7:56 AM
Josie: For me, it seems like the money has also evened itself out (i.e., I’m still watching my pennies ;). The changes to my emotional and physical state, on the other hand, are definitely what has really made the pros of getting fitter invaluable. So glad to be on this journey with you!
8. March 2010 at 11:46 AM
Great post Hilary. I think that’s a beautiful picture of you BTW. :)
I do think there are a lot of things that factor in to the costs of dieting or not dieting. A lot of give and take.
I always thought that if I bought “healthy” foods that it was much more expensive than convenience foods. But the fact is I think I’m saving money now. I don’t hit fast food restaurants anymore (I’m saving a ton of money there) and the whole foods I’m cooking seem to last much longer and are more filling.
The most important thing though that I have to remember is that MY LIFE is more important than anything – a few dollars here, an extra pair of shoes there. If it helps me get my life back, I’m all for it. :)
9. March 2010 at 6:39 AM
AFG: “MY LIFE is more important than anything.” That’s right! Great way to put it, Bobbie.
8. March 2010 at 1:29 PM
interesting post….
Cost to Maintain my Healthy Lifestyle:
$100 in groceries a week (for two people)
$37 gym membership
$20 in workout gear
$50 a month in race entry fees
I dunno – it seems worth it to me to lead a long, happy life! hopefully it will save me in medical bills in the end :)
9. March 2010 at 6:41 AM
Thank you so much for stopping by, Caitlin!
“hopefully it will save me in medical bills in the end”
That is a really good point! It’s hard to quantify a parallel, unhealthy future where the costs of obesity show up in extra doctor’s visits, medications, even surgeries—but I know that by taking care of myself now I will be saving Future Hilary a bundle.
8. March 2010 at 1:31 PM
This reminds me of a mastercard commercial!
8. March 2010 at 1:46 PM
“Priceless!”
;)
8. March 2010 at 1:41 PM
Honestly, my biggest costs with weight were emotional! Sure there were other expenses like clothes. Sigh.
Getting healthy does have monetary costs but is sooo worth it. I feel better about all I am spending on fresh veggies than I ever did on bigger pants.
9. March 2010 at 6:42 AM
WaistingTime: Oh yes, the emotional costs of being obese have been, well, almost impossible to calculate. And it is hard to put a price tag on feeling better just all around.
8. March 2010 at 4:27 PM
You look great! :)
The costs are great, you know I can totally relate (oh wow, I rhymed).
When I was 350+ lbs I paid more for clothes (larger clothes), doctors visits for things they couldn’t diagnose due to aches and pains from being so heavy, insane grocery bills to support my food addiction, $ for my blood pressure meds. Not to mention the emotional costs, which you can’t put a price on.
Now that I’m 200 lbs, yes I still pay more for clothes because I need a new wardrobe all the time it seems. I still pay a lot for groceries becuase post gastric-bypass it’s integral that you are eating high-quality high-protein foods and those don’t come cheap. I stopped my blood pressure meds the day i left the hospital but have traded them for bariatric vitamins, 6 calcium pills a day and b-12 injections weekly. And my medical bills are still around the same, only they aren’t for undiagnosable aches and pains but to make sure I’m healthy post bariatric surgery.
So to sum it up, I haven’t saved a dime losing weight, in-fact, I’ve spent a lot more. But it was, is and always will be well worth it.
Many times the road is much tougher fighting the battle at the “top of the mountain” so to speak. It’s a climb getting up it, but even more difficult staying on top. But like it just said… it’s so worth it.
Keep on climing, my dear!
Love you!
Madoodle
9. March 2010 at 7:53 AM
Madoodle! That last paragraph you wrote about the road being tougher near the top of the mountain makes sense to me . . . as does your assessment that it’s all worth it. It IS worth it! Thanks for sticking with me over the years and sharing so much with me, girl :). I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished! I know it hasn’t been easy.
8. March 2010 at 7:42 PM
I’d just like to point out that once you can wear relatively small sizes you are much more likely to find fabulous nearly new clothes in the thrift shops. Maybe other people buy clothing in small sizes hoping to lose weight and then give up, I’m not sure why the selection is so much better but it is. This winter I found a beautiful black wool Eileen Fischer sweater for $5 that looked brand new. And when I first started losing weight I bought a beautiful pair of Talbot brand cotton slacks in my local thrift store. A few more pounds and they will be comfortable. It’s worth a look if you enjoy a bargain!
9. March 2010 at 7:58 AM
Babbalou: Thanks for mentioning thrift stores as a resource for the rapidly-shrinking! I fully intend to check out several in my area in the very near future. Congrats on your thrifty finds :).
8. March 2010 at 8:58 PM
You look terrific! Congrats on your continued success. Keep up the good work. Maybe sell or consign the too-big clothes? After all, you won’t be wearing them again :)
9. March 2010 at 7:59 AM
Elaine: That’s a great suggestion. I need to have a too-big-clothes round-up very soon—both to make room for new, smaller clothes and to see if any of them could be sold. At the very least, Goodwill will be getting a nice donation from me ;).
9. March 2010 at 6:09 AM
Obviously, the financial cost of staying fat is enormous. From your calculations, it’s costing you about $200 a week for candy and takeout. Doesn’t compare, over the long run, to the cost of healty food.
But the really important costs are psychological and emotional. Being physically healthy keeps doctor costs way down. My sister-in-law now has to have both knees replaced because she’s been carrying an extra 100 lbs for years.
The critical costs are psychological and emotional. There is lots of data that show that, not only are fat people more likely to isolate themselves (and friends are one of the key components to satisfaction in life–even for introverts like me and you. Even more important, for people like you and me who suffer from depression or bipolar disorder, food full of sugar and chemicals has very strong effects on mood, energy and psychological health.
Hiding is bad enough but letting your food dramatically effect your physical and psychological well-being is a crime against oneself.
I’m not talking through my hat–I’m a fat, bipolar psychologist. My recovery from breaking both legs from a fall is severely hampered by my weight (ask my physical therapist) and my previous addiction to sugar brought on both manic and (mostly) depressive episodes (ask my psychiatrist, the psychological literature and, last,but not least, me. Experience has taught me–the sugar high causes sugar low and depression. It’s simply not worth it (she says as she struggles, at the moment, to keep weight steady but much too high.
We all know this stuff but usually push it aside. Psychological well-being is worth whatever it costs. I’d give up my dog if I had to to get the money to eat better. And my husband rightly says that, if there was a fire, I’d rescue the dog before him.
9. March 2010 at 8:03 AM
.”The critical costs are psychological and emotional.”
I agree with the above statement you made. The toll that eating poorly, not exercising, and being obese has taken on my heart and mind was (is?) heavy indeed. It will take even longer to undo than all my extra pounds, and will be absolutely one hundred percent worth dealing with.
9. March 2010 at 7:11 AM
You look wonderful! What an exciting way to have to deal with getting new clothes :)
I agree it can be expensive but if you weigh it all out like you pointed out, then long term it is probably alot less expensive.
Keep it up Hilary you are doing great!
9. March 2010 at 8:04 AM
Aw, thanks, Shannon! And I agree: it’s a fun problem to have, really, this whole too-big clothes thing :). You keep up your great work too, lady!
12. March 2010 at 4:43 PM
I totally forgot to mention. Find a good tailor. Those shirts you bought, especially the burgundy one, are dress shirts which means you can get that pulled in through the sides and get another couple months out of it…for about $5-$7.
Pants, same thing only better! When I was losing weight I was visiting the tailer all the time. I had all the dress pants done (some a couple of times) and did three pairs of GAP jeans (size 12, 10 and 8) which I am still wearing to this day. She did Eddie Bauer jean capris for me, skirts, you name it, they can alter it and for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Upside is better cost, get to keep garments that you really love, made to fit YOU! Downside, eventually you have no earthly idea what size you are and makes shopping in stores difficult…..but if that’s the only bad thing, you’re doing well!