How to Lose Weight and Save Money at the Same Time
Losing weight and saving money are two perennial goals that exist as old as mankind. When people are asked about their short- or long-term goals, it almost always includes one or both of these. But is it possible to achieve both at the same time? The concept of healthy living has been around for quite some time now, but one of the main qualms about it is that it can be expensive. Both of these goals require a nice dose of commitment if you want to succeed at all but it does not mean that it would be impossible.
Can you lose weight while you save money? Yes, you can. It is possible to employ the “hit two birds with one stone” approach. These are strategies that you can use to lose weight while you save a few dollars.
Reduce Your Portion
Reducing your portion size is the key to losing weight. (Image Source: Pexels)
When you want to lose weight, your diet is the first area of concern to address. Start by consuming less of what you normally would. By simply reducing your intake, you will also cut down on grocery costs as you won’t need to buy as much food or as often. You’d be surprised at how a little saving can go a long way in terms of stretching your budget.
A good trick is to cut down your food intake gradually. This will allow your body to adjust to the changes better. You will notice that, over time, you will not feel as hungry as you normally would when you eat less. Be mindful not to reduce your consumption too much, though, as that would be detrimental instead.
Create a Healthy Meal Plan
Designing a meal plan is beneficial in two ways. For starters, it will enable you to monitor your weight and your budget effectively. By having a meal plan, you know exactly what to buy so won’t be tempted to spend on unnecessary items as much. Also, if planned well, you can consume all of what you buy resulting in less food going to waste, especially for ingredients that are usually sold in bulk.
The second advantage to creating a meal plan is that you can make a conscious effort to be healthy. You’ll pay better attention to what you’re putting in your body as you decide on the dishes you want to include in your diet moving forward. There are plenty of sites like fitnessvolt that can help you put together meal plans, foods, workouts and inspiration.
Avoid Soda and Carbonated Drinks
If you want a meaningful start to your weight loss journey, consider skipping sugary soda. There is plenty of research that supports the claim that drinking soda can result in significant weight gain (even within a week). This is in comparison to those who do not drink sugary soda.
While there are also studies being conducted on the actual benefit of soda in weight loss, there is enough data to show how it can facilitate weight gain. Aside from weight gain, drinking soda can also lead to a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases.
In terms of saving money, skipping soda might seem like an insignificant step in your efforts to save, but imagine if you eliminate it from your diet permanently. The few dollars you save per bottle can add up over time, resulting in hundreds to thousands of savings per year.
Ditch the Gym
Re-evaluate your gym membership if you want to lose weight and save money. (Image Source: Pexels)
When was the last time you went to the gym to workout? And if you do make it to the gym, do you actually enjoy working out there? Gym memberships can be extremely expensive, especially if you live in major cities. This can be a complete waste of your money if you are unable to maximize your gym membership, such as when you workout only once or twice a week.
Perhaps you can try more functional options or choose to exercise outdoors instead. When you ditch your gym membership, you can save up to $200 a month or over $2,000 per year. Outdoor workouts are also more fun and engaging. You will feel more inspired to workout in nature or in an environment that you are comfortable in. A little creativity can go a long way so you can stay constantly motivated.
The gym is not the only place for you to achieve your weight loss goals.
Grow Your Own Food
If you have the yard space, how about you grow your own vegetables and herbs? Gardening offers plenty of benefits, including the ability to get a good workout. It is a great way to infuse some physical activity into your daily routine. You could easily burn up to 400 calories when digging the garden or plucking out weeds. It is also one of the functional forms of exercise because you sweat while doing something productive.
Save money when you grow your own food in the garden. (Image Source: Pexels)
Growing your own food is also practical and economical. You will be able to save money as you no longer have to buy vegetables and herbs from the market or grocery. The best part is that you can guarantee the freshness of the ingredients you use when preparing meals at home.
Consider Going Partial Vegetarian
If you are able to grow your own garden, it becomes easier to adopt a partial vegetarian diet. If you are not completely sold on the idea of giving up meat, you won’t have to worry. You can still incorporate meat into your diet, but you can switch to consuming more vegetables and greens than you normally would. Not only is this an affordable way to build your diet, but it is also extremely healthy.
A study claims that switching to a vegetarian diet can help you save up to $750 per year on your food budget. Even if you won’t completely forgo meat, you can still see a significant improvement in your savings. Start with limiting your meat intake to once or twice a week. You will see a significant difference in your health and nutrition.Are you ready to embark on your weight loss journey? Visit Total Shape to get extensive information and resources that you can use to inspire and motivate you towards your goal.
