Lose Weight and Save Money at the Same Time

Growth and Development, Health and Safety, Sports and Activities
apple with measuring tape
Diet and exercise
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People spend countless hours clipping coupons and looking for ways to save a little money on a daily basis. Many of those same people might complain that they have no time to plan a healthy diet or exercise on a regular basis to help them lose weight. It might be easier to justify putting some more time and effort into weight loss efforts when you realize that losing weight is a great way to save money, too. Shedding those extra pounds might mean spending a few bucks on a new wardrobe, but the improvements to your income will last longer than the time it takes to update your closet.

Eating at Home: Good for the Waistline and the WalletOne of the main culprits in gaining weight is restaurant food. No matter where you eat, if you’re eating out you’re consuming more calories and sodium than you would consume if you cooked the same meal at home. Eating at home costs less because you don’t have to pay for the overhead of the restaurant or the salaries of the wait staff. You have complete control of portion size and ingredients, which means you can choose how much you want to spend on each meal rather than settling for the price established by the restaurant.

Stay out of the Doctor’s Office

Obesity has been linked to several chronic diseases. Overweight individuals can spend thousands of dollars annually that normal weight people do not have to spend. Two of the most debilitating and expensive weight-related diseases are diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These two maladies alone can cost hundreds of dollars a month to control. Being overweight puts more stress on your bones and joints, which can lead to additional trips to the doctor for back pain or joint pain. Add in the cost of prescriptions to relieve that pain and you’re spending far more than you would if you were not carrying around those extra pounds.

Moderate Portion Sizes Stretch Dollars Further

Losing weight means cutting back on how much you eat. If you cut your normal portion sizes by at least a third, you will spend a third less on each meal. That savings adds up quickly over a few months if you stick to your new diet. The savings will be most evident when you eat out. Since you don’t have much choice about the size of the entree, you can choose to eat half of it today and save the other half for tomorrow. You’ve immediately cut the price of the meal in half because you’re paying for two meals at once.

Losing Weight Looks Good on Insurance Policies

The health benefits of losing weight apply to more than just the cost of treating weight-related illnesses. When you are obese, your health insurance costs more because the insurance company expects you to need to visit the doctor more often. Obese individuals also pay more for life insurance because statistics show that people who are overweight usually don’t live as long as people who are not overweight. Once you drop out of the overweight bracket on your insurance, you will see lower rates annually.

Employers May Subconsciously Treat Overweight People Differently

Nobody likes to admit it, but we all tend to judge people on their appearance a little bit. Employers are no different. Studies have shown that people who are overweight generally make less money than their normal-weight counterparts. Overweight individuals are also passed by for promotions or hiring more often than those who do not have a weight problem. Losing weight also gives you a new sense of confidence, which is invaluable in the workplace. If you can drop a few pounds, your economic status might change through a higher salary or a new, better paying job. One of the best ways to save money is to bring in more money in the first place.

Exercise can Replace Expensive Habits

Stress is one of the leading causes of obesity. People who don’t handle their stress well tend to engage in behaviors that can cause them to gain weight. A good, healthy diet and exercise regimen can reduce stress and also reduce the need for expensive ways to cope with high stress lives. Regular exercise works out some of that pent up stress so that you don’t need to eat ice cream or have a beer to relax at the end of the day. You will save money when you don’t treat yourself as often, and you’ll feel better too.

Losing Weight can Improve Productivity

Carrying extra weight around causes your metabolism to slow down. A slower metabolism means you feel tired and sluggish more often. As soon as you begin to lose weight, your metabolism will begin to wake up. You’ll sleep better at night, which means you’ll be more awake during work hours. No matter where you work, increased productivity can only mean good things for the pocketbook. That extra boost of healthy energy will also make it easier to organize your daily life so that you are more efficient, even when you’re running errands on the weekends.

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