I used to be fat. Two years ago, I was tipping the scales at almost 200 pounds --and for someone who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, that is far from a healthy weight. When I decided that I had really had enough, and was sick and tired of being tired and overweight, I committed to a fitness program, but I also made some life changes that helped me get fit faster and saved me money in the process. Want to know what they are? Read on.
I Used Less Gas
Instead of jumping in my car, I chose to ride a bike or walk to the store. Since I have a grocery store and pharmacy within a two-mile radius from my home, I was all set. I will even walk or bike to my doctor's office and to the salon.
When I added it up, I was saving 728 miles per year, or 24 gallons of gas. At today's price of $3.50 a gallon, I saved $84.
I Made Different Food Choices
At first, I thought that eating healthy would be more expensive, but I came to find out that it isn't. In fact, by changing out high-in-sugar snacks with healthy alternatives, I was spending a little less at the grocery store each week. Then, when I began growing my own fresh herbs and vegetables using grow bags, I wound up saving a jaw-dropping $1,320 per year on food.
I Quit the Gym
This might seem counterproductive to weight loss, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. I completed a series of Beach Body programs at home and supplemented these by jogging with my dog each evening. The pounds melted off and I saved money I would have spent on the gym, a trainer and the cost of getting back and forth. My annual savings amounted to $1,980.
I Saved on Healthcare and Diet Supplements
Before I wised up to the truth about diet and weight loss, I was like many other folks I know. I was looking for a magic pill to solve all my weight problems, and not facing facts. I bought into several diet pills and programs that had me spending over $400 a year, just by looking for answers in a bottle.
My blood pressure was high, my organs overworked from my being overweight and my cholesterol wasn't in a healthy range. When I lost weight, I got incentives from my health insurance company and my life insurance company in the forms of lower premiums. I didn't need to go to the doctor as much anymore, and now I am off the blood pressure medication and cholesterol lowering prescriptions. My savings on healthcare added up to over $2,000 a year, just thanks to my simple lifestyle changes.
I had to "give up" fast food to feel better. I had to "quit" snack cakes to look great. I had to "juice up" on my daily dose of athletic endorphins to feel happier each day. I had to make changes that made me an overall better and healthy person. And even though I didn't know it at the time, these changes helped me trim down my waistline and beef up my checkbook by over $5,384 a year. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a win/win.
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