Comments on: Guest Post: Losing Weight: Pure Vanity or Money Saver?

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:28:57 +0000

This idea of walking the shelter dogs ROCKS! Seriously, it makes great exercise, it's fun, it teaches the kids about giving and the dogs are great company. My son has the best time when we bring our dog to picnics or walks. Walks have been our main exercise lately, we walk twice a day one hour each time. A great way to burn calories, get some fresh air and notice what kind of renovations the neighbors are doing. Love the walks! Emma´s last blog post..Childproofing - a guest post at Almost Frugal

By: rjleaman

rjleaman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:04:45 +0000

For sure, walking is good frugal exercise… and a real stress-reliever, by the way! Those of us who work at a desk and/or struggle through a dark northern winter will get extra benefit from taking our exercise outdoors, too. And on top of that – you’re not spending gas money to drive to a gym!

But I mostly just wanted to drop a note to say I love Gypsie’s extra bonus tip, about going to a local shelter to walk the shelter dogs. A dog is great to have along if you’re not completely comfortable about walking alone, and it’s been proven that hanging out with animals is good for the spirits and stress level.

If you have kids, taking them along to the shelter with you would be a fantastic family outing – not only encouraging them to be active, but also modelling volunteerism and good citizenship values. And if the the kids have been begging for a pet but you’re not quite ready to commit, walking the shelter dogs is a great way for the kids to learn a bit about the responsibilities of pet ownership too.

rjleaman´s last blog post..President Bartlet on the Butterball Hotline

By: Ana

Ana — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:49:04 +0000

Losing weight CAN save you money. The idea is simple: eat less. When my husband and I cook a big meal, we make sure to note how many servings our recipe should feed. We take out only our own servings and put the rest in the fridge for lunch the next day. Even with this plan, we often find we eat less than what the recipe calls a serving. We don’t have to buy anything special for lunch, or pay high prices to eat out. We enjoy the good food we made the night before. The benefit: by not overeating, we don’t waste food by turning into extra pounds we’ll have to burn off later. We stay trim and save money. Voila.

By: JR

JR — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:53:02 +0000

I did Body for Life and for me it was a pretty sane way of losing weight. It may not be the cheapest because you are eating a lot of food but it was worth it to me because the focus is on putting good, quality food in to your body. The program also focuses on the cardio/lifting heavy weight combo which women should definitely not be afraid of. There are a line of protein bars, etc. that go along with this program but you definitely don’t have to use them as long as you eat something else with the same carb/protein requirements. I did the program almost a year ago and was very pleased with the progress I made. I haven’t been able to go to the gym lately but I’m still losing weight because of the muscle mass I built up.

By: Cyndie

Cyndie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:52:17 +0000

I am a big believer in the wisdom of focusing on adding healthy things to your routine like 5-9 fruits and veggies a day…….it keeps you pretty full and satisfied. 3 glasses of water before each meal helps keep you hydrated and not craving other calorie laden beverages. The Pur water filter is inexpensive and healthier than bottled( no plastic) . It makes tap water taste better and so I drink more of it. Also if the filter ever malfunctions the Pur company will send you a new one with a free filter just to keep you happy,,,,,they have done this 3 times now for me. Walk Away the Pounds exercise tapes done with weights are the ticket for me. I do three miles before my little ones are up, ( sometimes they use their alphabet blocks as weights and do it with me) no gym memberships, no gas to burn, no excuses. I lost 10 pounds without even trying( I mainly do it for stress reduction) and with no change in my eating habits.When I am really tryingto tighten up, I add a Callanetics tape to the mix a few times a week, the results are amazing! I hope this helps someone.

By: Gypsie

Gypsie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:51:14 +0000

While I do have a few pounds to lose, I have some other tips as well. Do you have a dog? My dogs love going for walks and without those walks they have too much energy and get bored! Or if you dont have a dog, volunteer at your local animal shelter. They usually need people to help clean and socialize the animals and that can also translate into exercise.

Oh, and women do not have the ability to "bulk up" from weights without the help of steroids, so there goes that myth!

Plus, planning your lunches for the week is extremely helpful. DH and I both take our lunches to work 90% of the time. Sometimes it is sandwiches, sometimes chicken and rice…

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:53:23 +0000

Great points Emma! There are a few things in life that are worth going through pain and suffering to enjoy… health and children are the first two that come to mind!

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:27:26 +0000

@Kelly:

Going to gym is the most conventional way of loosing weight and it doesn't work for everyone. I hate gym. Luckily I know it – so I don't have to buy membership and wait a year to see that I never use it.

@ Everyone:

Every sports you start doing has to pass the test of time – if you have done it for a couple of months, then you have a chance of making it your routine, otherwise it simply "isn't you". So I'd say try a few things – swimming, riding a bike, rollerblading, walks at the beach until you find what's your kind of sports. You can always sell the bicycle or the rollerblades. It's OK to spend a little on this research because that is a once-in-a lifetime kind of thing and it's to do with the most precious asset you've got- YOUR HEALTH.

Emma´s last blog post..Working mom: get a nervous breakdown or … get a nanny! (part 2)

By: Vintage Mommy

Vintage Mommy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:34:54 +0000

My gym membership is worth its weight in gold; I would otherwise be spending money on therapy and/or anxiety medications! Vintage Mommy´s last blog post..Mommy Moment or Senior Moment?

By: Sarah H.

Sarah H. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:51:08 +0000

Thanks for the encouragement! I am also trying to lose some weight (as you said, it's been slowly creeping up on me over the years). So far I've been mostly exercising (treadmill) but I'd also like to start dieting too. I love all your points about how being fit and healthy can save money!! I also am encouraged about my wardrobe...I currently have a few dresses that don't fit anymore and I'd love to wear them again! Sarah H.´s last blog post..Don't be tricked by toothpaste: Three money-saving tips