Need help prioritizing my purchases!

evilfairies
evilfairies Posts: 98 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not "poor" exactly, but I do have a budget. Sadly, as my pants become looser, my wallet is becoming tighter because of the increase in healthy food (there was a reason I was eating boxed mac and cheese for dinner every night!), and now I want to buy things like a heart rate monitor and food scale, get a gym membership, etc. etc. etc.

I can't get them all at once, so how should I prioritize? I know spending more on healthy food is my #1 priority, but what should I budget for next? Here is my list of things I eventually want:

~ Heart Rate Monitor
~ Food Scale
~ Gym Membership (and a personal trainer)
~ At-home workout stuff (I could use some recommendations here too - things like weights and other quiet activities, no treadmill or elliptical unfortunately)


A little background: I enjoy walking, hiking, etc. spring through fall, but I hate being outside in the winter. I have a few workout DVDs, but my apartment shakes badly when I do cardio and it's very embarrassing to think my neighbors can hear/feel me moving around. Hence the reason I want a gym membership and/or quiet stuff to do at home.

I want the HRM because I log my activity each day, but the calories MFP says I burn are ridiculous. I want something that is more accurate so I know what I'm dealing with.

I think a food scale is useful for a while, until I can get a real feel for what serving sizes really look like. I think for the most part my estimates are pretty good, but I want to fine-tune it as much as possible.

I think that's about it. I appreciate any suggestions!

Replies

  • chickenz
    chickenz Posts: 101 Member
    Get a food scale
  • lolablitz
    lolablitz Posts: 38 Member
    I vote for gym first. If you've never had a gym membership before, sign-up for the free one week trials that most gyms offer (bonus, you'll get free workputs for awhile! ) this will also show you quickly if you'll use the membership enough to offset the cost. I am curious about heart-rate monitors but I think they would tempt me to eat too much when I saw what my actual caloric wiggle room is. On some days we are just more active than others, but food habits are hard to break.
  • americangirlok
    americangirlok Posts: 228 Member
    I think the HRM should be at the top of the list. The food could be measured volumetrically for a while- or you could get a cheap food scale (non digital) and use that to get a pretty fair idea. But I figure having accurate calorie burns would do you more favors. I'm always afraid my burn is higher than it is and that if I eat them all back then I'm going to be over all the time. I think that since it's spring and summer now and you enjoy being out of doors that the gym membership could wait a few months.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    Healthy Food
    Food Scale
    HRM

    Gym Membership OR Home Workout Equipment

    Good book to guide you on your workout plan -- skip the trainer
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    I vote for food scale, amazed to see what a serving size really is
  • lyssad86
    lyssad86 Posts: 31
    Food comes first. Always food first. Secondly, food scale. I cannot stress how helpful that is in weight loss! A gym membership is not necessary if you can prioritize exercise at home and even use Youtube for workouts. Best of luck to you! I understand trying to lose weight on a budget.
  • tsikkz
    tsikkz Posts: 404 Member
    I vote for gym! most gyms offer a couple free personal training sessions when you first sign up.

    Also I know this is an unpopular opinion but I don't think HRMs are a good idea because they make you dependent on calories rather than focusing on a healthy lifestyle, which is more maintainable. Then again im saying this on a site thats all about calories lol so bring on the pitchforks
  • singer201
    singer201 Posts: 562 Member
    A food scale is a necessity, in my opinion, and relatively inexpensive. You can sometimes find them at thrift stores, or any place that sells kitchen gadgets. You don' t need a digital one with all the bells and whistles, or anything fancy, if you're on a budget.
  • dynamitegalxo
    dynamitegalxo Posts: 299 Member
    1) food scale, absolutely. wait for a 20% off bed bath and beyond coupon (or sign up for their email list and get one right away) and you can pick one up for $15

    2) HRM, if you really feel you need one

    3) depending on your long-term fitness goals, get the following (i did this for ~$50 on amazon) yoga mat, block, and strap. resistance bands. kettle bell. OR, join a gym. totally skip the trainer unless they're running some kind of insane special. pick up a good book and watch some youtube videos and you're all set :)

    good luck!
  • 1two3four
    1two3four Posts: 413 Member
    I would do food scale and check Thrift and Dollar type stores (General Dollar/Family Dollar/Dollar Tree/Five Below) for quiet stuff you can do at home. Or Big Lots or Target on Clearance. Also, look for things around your house you can use for part of a work out. Gallon size jugs filled with water are 8lbs. Bags of cat litter (if you've got them) I found cheap pilates DVDs on Amazon (probably 10 or 15 dollars for two). There's free stuff on YouTube.

    I would definitely hold off on gym memberships and HRMs. Get your food and calories in order first. It's really the cheapest thing to do.
  • nogoldilocs
    nogoldilocs Posts: 87 Member
    You joined mfp a while ago and want to lose quite a lot of weight. You don't need a gym or a HRM to lose weight. You do need to know how much you are eating. Food trumps gym. Buy the food scale. It will be the best $15 you ever spent.
  • crazy4fids
    crazy4fids Posts: 173
    Healthy food, food scale, gym membership, HRM, home gym/exercise equipment.
    Get the food scale first because you will use it every day. You need it.
    Get the gym membership before the HRM. You can use the info computed from MFP or the gym equipment for calculating your calorie burn. Then get the HRM.
    I suggest the gym membership before the home gym/equipment because (at least for me) I feel SO GUILTY if I don't go to the gym (it's a waste of money if you don't go). If you can't make it to the gym, you can always use your own body weight for exercising (sit-ups, push ups, plan, calf raises).
  • BeckyAnne4
    BeckyAnne4 Posts: 143 Member
    i would go in this order

    1) food scale! i use mine ALL THE TIME. it's super helpful! i have this one

    http://www.target.com/p/escali-primo11lb-capacity-digital-scale/-/A-10636535#prodSlot=medium_1_11&term=food+scale

    2) home equipment

    3) heart rate moniter

    4) gym membership etc.
  • jonibc
    jonibc Posts: 104 Member
    I vote for food scale, amazed to see what a serving size really is

    That was my first purchase. And yes, I was amazed. I still weigh some of my food. Next I got a Fitbit Ultra to track walking in the course of my everyday activities . I got it for $79 on Amazon. Next was my new scale, accurate enough to jive with my doctor's. Now, after buying The New Rules for Lifting for Women, I'm searching Craig's List for cheap weights. The book is going to be my personal trainer and the used weights are going to be my gym.
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    Definitely get a food scale! I bought one at Wal-Mart that measures in kilograms, pounds, ounces & grams. I would also invest in a heart rate monitor that comes with a chest strap. It will let you know how many calories you're burning while you're exercising at home.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I agree... food scale, and it's pretty cheap.

    Then, it gets trickier... I actually would go for the Trainer if you 1. Don't really know what you're doing and could use the guidance and need someone spotting you and critiquing your form. 2. Are intimidated to go to the gym.

    If you DON'T have an issue with the above, then I'd go for the HRM and a book and do it yourself as previously proposed.
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    I say food scale. Then gym membership if you feel like you would be most likely to use it over home equipment. Then get the hrm.
  • dogetta
    dogetta Posts: 61 Member
    Food scale my grocery store $10 try walmart/meijers. HR monitor at a sports store or amazon. Good to know how hard your working and cal burn. I have the $10/month gym now but for yrs I worked out at home . If you workout at home do it when people are up or at work somebody should be able to put up with about 1hr of your thumping around.. You can get bands or a few wts or do body wt exercise. I still w/o at home some lazy days. Oh I would'nt work out outside winter or summer!
  • Alta2000
    Alta2000 Posts: 655 Member
    The most important is the food scale. Measure and weigh everything. Since you are above 300lbs, cut calories aggressively until you reach ~280lb. It is warm outside right now so until October you will be able to walk for exercise. Map the distance with mapquest and keep increasing how far you walk and you will increase your stamina. Try to go on hills. Instead of listening to music, listen to the radio and talk shows. Even if you hate some hosts, it is fun to listen to some callers and makes you forget that you are walking. When cold starts, you can go for the gym membership. Usually there are membership specials in September. You do not need a trainer until you reach oneland, but even then you can probably do it on your own. There is plenty of information on the web on how to design a good exercise regimen yourself. And snack on plain cheerios or the 100 calories Orville bags. You can also mix the popcorn with the cheerios and have bowls available with it and just snack.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    You can find digital food scales for as little as $10-$15 usually. I still use mine daily.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    Gotta agree with the other posters....a food scale will be your best investment. There are some foods that are just hard to eyeball. I use mine religiously now. They are very easy to use, especially once you are accusomed ot them.

    After that, it really depends on your ambitions, and what you want to do exercise wise. If you plan on doing alot of cardio, I'd say get an HRM...if you plan on strength training...then gym or equipment.
  • thistimewillbedifferent
    thistimewillbedifferent Posts: 217 Member
    I totally agree with everyone who has said food scale first. After that, though, my vote is definitely for the trainer. I started working with one in January, and it has made a HUGE difference. He pushes me much further than I would ever push myself, and watches my form carefully to make sure I'm hitting the right muscles and not injuring myself. There has also been an unanticipated "spillover effect" from working with him. I don't want to stay up late/drink/eat fatty foods on Wednesday nights because I know I'm seeing him on Thursday mornings. On Thursday evenings I don't want to ruin all the hard work I did at 06h30 that morning. On Fridays I don't want to overdo it food- and beverage-wise because I see my trainer on Saturday mornings, which also makes me behave Saturday nights. So instead of just seeing him twice a week, it's like he's there with me a minimum of four days a week! If you're going to go the trainer route, though, be sure to look for someone with experience helping people achieve the same goals as you. I didn't want someone who was used to training athletes or turning people into bodybuilders. I wanted someone who could help me strengthen, tone, and lose a LOT of weight, not just 10-20 pounds. He has helped me lose 32 lbs since the beginning of the year, which is great, but he has also helped me improve my endurance -- I don't get out of breath going upstairs any more, etc. Some of the best money I've ever spent. Whatever you end up deciding to do, best of luck!
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    you don't need any of what you listed.

    you need:
    healthy food like lots of lean meats and produce. eggs. legumes.

    use websites or books like convict conditioning, you are your own gym,
    there are many others, they have great body weight activities.

    you can also make your own equipment.
    using a heavy back pack for example for squats.
    or if you're really into diy:
    http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/?sort=none&q=workout+equipment

    http://www.instructables.com/id/Adjustable-TRX-style-Suspension-Work-Out-System-/

    http://www.instructables.com/id/Duct-Tape-Adjustable-Weight-Vest/
    http://www.instructables.com/id/Military-Surplus-Weighted-Conditioning-Vest/
  • JudibugDesigns
    JudibugDesigns Posts: 38 Member
    Food scale...you'd be amazed how easy it is to over/underestimate portions without one
  • Lunachic77
    Lunachic77 Posts: 434 Member
    #1 - Food Scale
    #2 - HRM
    #3 - You don't need a gym membership...running/walking on the road is free. Free weights can be bought for a fair price at most retailers or Craigslist.

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