What is the cost of being healthy? That’s the original question. Most people only think of the monetary value to being healthy and while that is a major part of being healthy, there are several other factors that I have come up with that are incorporated into the “cost.”
This article is going to be my personal Q & A of the monetary costs to being healthy. Starting off by rattling out the numbers might not always be the best way to persuade someone into believing that they can be healthy but I am going to “keep it 100” with my readers.
How much does it cost to go to the gym?
Well, I can say from personal experience that I have went to several different gyms and none of them actually made me feel welcome. I was paying for something that I used from time to time and ended up terminating my membership because it was more of a burden to me than it was helpful. I am not saying that gym memberships are bad because they do work for some people. However, speaking as someone who has been overweight their entire life, a gym is not the place for me. Here are some numbers.
LA Fitness requires you to purchase an initiation fee of approximately $100 and then $30 monthly. Sometimes they have promotions to get you to join and the initiation fee is less OR their monthly fee is less. Using what is the regular amount, an initial start up is $160. They charge you for the initiation fee, first month’s membership, and last month’s membership. Sometimes those memberships are good for any LA Fitness you want to go to anywhere in the country and sometimes they are only good for that specific LA Fitness. For 12 months, you’re spending $460. (Information cited from LAfitness.com)
Planet Fitness, another growing gym in the US, offers people a membership for only $10/month and $20/month. The $20/month membership gets you all the amenities that the gym offers including tanning beds, massage beds, ½ price beverages, and unlimited access to any Planet Fitness in the US. Both of these memberships require a $10 start up fee followed by a $40 annual fee for the $20/month membership and a $30 annual fee for the $10/month membership. The $20/month membership fee costs $290/year and the $10/month membership fee costs $160/year. (Information cited from Planetfitness.com)
Twenty-four (24) Fitness is another very expensive gym that a lot of people have joined. They have a variety of different memberships and the least expensive one goes a little something like this. The initiation fee is $100, the annual fee is $40, and the monthly membership is $55. To start, you’ve got to pay for your first and last month PLUS your initiation fee. For a whole year, someone would pay $800. (Information cited from 24hourfitness.com)
Let’s be honest, what is the difference? These are just a few examples but seriously, what IS the difference? Is it that some gyms have a pool? Sauna? Spin classes? Security cameras? A cafe? That is totally up to someone’s opinion.
Can I get in shape at home? And if so, which home-based program is right for me?
The answer is Yes. You can get in shape and be healthy right in your own home. Which program is dependant on your own fitness level or goals. From personal experience with home based programs, I am able to help people who have different fitness levels choose the right program for them. I started off using something called 21 Day Fix. It was a portion control food program with workouts being 30 minutes a day. To date, I have lost 25 lbs! All I had to do was change the amount of food I ate and do a 30 minute workout every day. There are some programs that are only Monday through Friday with a specific eating plan. The type of program, again, depends on your fitness level. These programs cost about the half or less than half the amount you would be paying at a gym.
Do I have to buy a home-based program?
No. There are workouts that you can look up online that use your own body weight. There are circuit training guides on websites such as Pinterest or heck, do a Google search. You could run outside, at a school or college track, run or walk around your neighborhood, and get creative with your equipment that you would need.
Do I need equipment?
Yes & No. There are some home-based programs that require you to have a resistant band, a heavy set of weights, and a light set of weights. Some recommend that you use a yoga/gym mat. Walmart sells resistant bands that work perfectly for $10. Walmart also sells a 40 lb dumbbell set for $15. These things could be purchased at Dick’s Sporting Goods for more but if these are items that you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on, Walmart weights weigh the same as Dick’s Sporting Goods weights. Make sense? Yoga mats are also sold at Walmart and are anywhere between $8 and $30. You don’t necessarily need a yoga mat but if you wish to purchase one, again, Walmart has these items. If you’re not a Walmart fan, Target probably has comparable prices.
If you choose to do your own circuit training exercises at home, you don’t need any equipment. You can use your own body weight to get stronger. You will see more results if you’re using weights in addition, but for those who are just starting, using your own body weight can actually be a pretty tough workout. I recommend having a pair of comfortable sneakers though. I am very picky when it comes to sneakers so having something comfortable alleviates the excuse that your feet hurt.
How much do groceries cost if I am eating healthy?
So this is one of the biggies that a lot of people say are the reason why they can’t be healthy. Foods that are NOT processed cost a little bit more than those that are not. I eat clean MOST of the time. I say MOST of the time because I do indulge in sweets and processed/fast food every so often. Not weekly or biweekly but maybe once every 3 weeks. My husband and I have started eating clean and by doing so, we aren’t spending money on boxed dinners, frozen dinners, canned foods, added sauces, preservatives, or baked goods. We purchase A LOT of produce. When I say a lot, I mean that about half of our grocery bill is produce. When you go to the store, think about the way that you shop for food. Do you shop around the outside of the store? Do you go through all the aisles? Do you choose whole grain over white? These are the things that you need to ask yourself. From personal experience I can say that we use to go up and down every aisle. We would get cookies, icecream, juice, boxed dinners, and food that was just NOT good. Now we don’t even go down those aisle unless it’s for something for the children. Please, don’t get it twisted. Our oldest daughter eats what we eat but she does have graham crackers and some juice every now and then.
When I made the commitment to eat better, I realized that I was shopping on the outside of the store. Produce, meat, and dairy are the foods I eat the most. When you go shopping, look for lean meats such as chicken and turkey. We don’t eat much red meat anymore and have it as a treat. We buy a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit. Sometimes fruit is expensive during the times of the year that it’s not in season so we purchase frozen fruit without any sugar. We purchase eggs, some cheeses, almond milk, and Greek yogurt. Over the last 3 months, our grocery bill has been anywhere between $140 and $200. That is for a family of 4 who purchase diapers in 2 different sizes and formula. That lasts us approximately a week and a half to 2 weeks. That comes out to be between $280 to $400 a month in food. Are we healthy? Yes. Are we eating enough? Yes. Are the children eating enough? Absolutely YES. I don’t buy named brand items and I don’t buy organic. If you really want to be critical, you could say that is my downfall. Oh well.
What about you? Do you think you could make it work? Do you have more people in your family? Do you have less? It’s mostly about the concious decision to purchase healthier foods. It reigns true that if you don’t buy it and take it into your house, you aren’t going to eat it. I’m not losing weight by temping myself with Oreos and sugary cereals even though I love both of those! I also want to point out that we are surviving on one income right now. Money is tight. A budget is necessary BUT we are still making it work. If we can do it, so can you!
Can I still eat out and be healthy?
Yes. When you’re eating out, you might want to look at a menu before you go to that restaurant. I had a friend recently who emailed me her menu before she was going to the restaurant and asked me what I thought about the food they served. I gave her my honest opinion. It’s all about choosing the foods that you know are going to be a good choice.
Applebee’s, for example, was the first place that my husband and I went to when I started eating clean. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know what I would get. I got the steak with a side of mixed vegetables, baked potato, and a salad. I asked them to hold the onions and mushrooms they toss around in some mystery sauce. I asked for oil and vinegar as a dressing. I asked for a box to take half of the baked potato home in after dinner and I asked them to put all the extra shit they put on the salad on the side. I was able to determine how much cheese I wanted on my salad, bacon bits, and I totally ignored the croutons.
What about supplements? Do I need them?
Supplements aren’t exactly in my wheelhouse of things I know about. I can say that I have used a multi-vitamin and Shakeology. Even though Shakeology has everything I need, I still take a multivitamin for women. You can choose to use Shakeology if you wish but you don’t have to. It has the potential to be pricey but it is worth it. It comes out to be about $4 a glass and if you think about it, how much do you spend on a meal? It’s probably more than $4 and it keeps you full longer. I take a multivitamin because I have had 2 children in 2 years. It took a lot energy out of me and my health suffered for a little while during my second pregnancy when I gained a lot of weight. Vitamins aren’t going to kill you. Whatever you body doesn’t need, it will release it as waste anyway. As to whether or not you need something like this or not is completely up to you. Which leads me to my next point.
Should I consult a doctor?
Yes. Before starting any type of workout plan or eating change, let your doctor know. Yes, the trip to the office will probably cost you a co-pay but you want to be sure you are healthy enough for physical exercise. This is the person to ask about supplements too. You doctor will be able to recommend a vitamin or even prescribe you something. Your doctor might suggest that you try doing the program and see how you feel. Again, I am not an expert in the supplement department so I can not advocate FOR or AGAINST anything. Always consult your doctor! :)
With these questions answered, I hope that this portion of my “cost of being healthy” has answered a few questions that may have been lingering around in your brains. If there’s anything relating to this topic that you’d like to discuss further, let me know. I’m always available to answer any questions that anyone has!
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