Weightloss on a SERIOUS budget?

Why do you want to be a member of a gym? What would you use it for? Just wondering b/c i'm a bit different. I prefer to work out outside and just use my own body weight for strength building. A lot of people on MFP love to lift weights, is that why you are looking for a gym?

I used to go to a gym and I felt that I lost more weight when I did. I don't want to be a body builder so lifting weights is out for me! I prefer cardio. I do love outdoor exercise too! I just for some reason feel more motivated to go to the gym. One, because it is practically my alone time (I am ALWAYS surrounded by people I have to talk to for my job) so it's basically an escape, and two it's less of a hassle to workout indoors since I live around such a busy area. I just prefer a gym. It's relaxing (weight, right?). I don't have any kids or a husband so I'm set in making time for me. For a lot of my older teenage years I went to the gym 5 days a week just because I enjoy it, then college came about and I gained weight, not. So I guess maybe I just like familiarity.

Thanks for the food tips! I eat pretty healthy for the most part (I have an allergy to a lot of processed foods!) so that's not the issue, just the price would be nice. How can a supermarket charge so much for a vegetable?! It's cheaper to buy food like Ramen and oreo cookies than it is to buy fresh food because those last, unlike veggies and meats.

Oh my.. You have the wrong perception of lifting weights. But I won't even go there...

good luck

I was making a joke about being a body builder. I have the correct perception of lifting weights, and I obviously have done plenty of that in the past. I know what it can do for the body. I, however, want to stay on more of a cardio track (obviously I'll include weights..) but I'm looking to get more fit and heart healthy than to bulk up. People always go wrong and do weights, weights, weights, instead of getting on a treadmill or even getting outside to ride a bike.

Lifting weights improves body composition, cardio does not.

Lifting weights gives you the thighs, glutes etc that I know you want.

Lifting weights does not "bulk" you up, especially not women. If it did, everyone would be "bulked up"

Hi! I'm new too and I can relate on having a tight budget for sure. I used to belong to Planet Fitness years ago but I got tired of trying to make my schedule match their down times and if I tried to go when it was convenient for me, it was so packed that I couldn't use any of the machines I needed. I ended up going for a few months but then I gave up because it was too difficult to get there and get off to work on time. I'm focusing more on losing weight and changing my eating habits now since I have some health issues so at this point, it's more about buying quality foods. When I do work out, I use small weights to increase lean muscle since that helps burn more calories when you're at rest and as far as cardio, I used to like to walk. At my local mall, if you hug the walls all the way around, it's 1 mile. I like being outside but my allergies get the best of me so being inside where it's cool in the summer and warm in the winter, is a plus. I plan on going back to walking the mall very soon. Plus, it's free and since I'm not working, I can't afford a gym right now.

I find that buying frozen organic berries at my local grocery store is more cost effective than buying fresh pesticide treated berries. I like the frozen because my husband abhors fruit so it tends to go bad before I can eat it all and I don't have to worry about that with frozen. It's awesome thawed with a little lite cool whip or you can make smoothies with yogurt or even frozen fruit pops. I also find that frozen veggies are more cost effective for me that fresh as well. I wait for a sale on them and I stock up. I find I save money cooking from scratch as well. If I want pasta with sauce, I make my own sauce since pre-made sauce tends to be loaded with sugar. I also use 2% cheeses because I find that they're the same price as the regular cheese and they taste the same. I tried fat free and I didn't like it and sometimes they cost more. As far as fresh produce, I buy what's on sale using the flyers (a budget conscious girl's best friend!) and Walmart has excellent and affordable organic options as well. I do a lot of comparison shopping and sale watching. Also, my town and surrounding towns have farmer's markets and you can't beat the price of the produce! Plus, you get to eat locally grown food and meet the farmers. Meats and the like tend to be more expensive so I either buy what's on sale at the local supermarket or I check out the specials at my local butcher's and fish shop (I love in Maine and fresh seafood is easy to come by and affordable if you know what you're looking for). I love Sam's too (big box store you need to purchase a membership for but it's worth it for me). I use Arnold 100% whole wheat sandwich thins instead of regular whole wheat bread and they're 100 calories a roll and you can get a big bag of them for much less that other places. Depending on how many people are in your household, you may not want a big box store membership but a lot of grocery stores sell their own brand of sandwich thins so you can save money that way.

Anyway, sorry for the novel, I just got so excited to meet someone who wanted to talk about losing weight on a budget that I rambled. Honestly, if you want to join a gym, good for you. Maybe it would be helpful if you could go in and check it out to see which one you prefer. Some gyms have free day passes or free trial periods (sometimes it's a temporary promotion but it doesn't hurt to call and ask!). I wish I had scoped out my local Planet Fitness better; I would have chosen another gym that wasn't so overcrowded. And, if you would like to add me, I'd love to have someone to help motivate and who helps to motivate me!

A gym is really unnecessary. You can work out at home with videos (lots of youtube, from what I've heard), running, body weight exercises, etc.

A few obvious tips:

Buy in bulk. Buy frozen veggies.

Dedication is what makes the difference with weight loss - whether you join a gym or not! I'm confident you'll be just fine from everything you've said... You certainly seem like you've got your head screwed on.

As for budget eating, this may help http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/below-the-line-budget-recipes/ Its from the UK, but she has a near cult following for her ablity to make great, healthy food from a nearly non-existant budget. She has some great recipes.

Echoing what other people have said:

*buy at markets wherever possible
*buy and cook in bulk and freeze
*portion control and self-restraint are keys
*change what you like to eat to healthier options

...I don't want to be a body builder so lifting weights is out for me! ...

I lift heavy and I'm not a body builder. Check out my profile pic - I don't even look like I lift, but I do. It takes an incredible amount of training and effort to "look like" a bodybuilder. I'm a runner, and lifting weights has really improved my performance by making me stronger and less prone to injury - plus, it helps me maintain my lean mass even when training for marathons. Don't fear the weights, lift them! :drinker:

Some of my quick thoughts (sorry if any are repeats)
Lift common heavy household items - I think somebody mentioned this.
Cook your own food - as scratch as you can manage - you control the ingredients and calories this way
Buy meat on sale (sometimes bulk packs) and repackage for meal portions and freeze
Beans - cheap, high fiber high protein - use dried - easy to make - lentils have become my go to
Yardsales and sale ads for home gym equipment - I got a bike this summer for $30 - needs minor work - ride-able. Also consignment stores, flea markets, junk shops - I'm currently hoping for dumb bells - and I'll probably find some if I tried much. I love that somebody paid full price so I can buy them later for cheap. Facebook has a yardsale page in many places - put up on "In search of" list and see if anyone offers you anything.
cook extra and freeze leftovers for lunches later
Use coupons if you can and match to sales to optimize - many people are accustomed to buying as they need and usually paying more that way - buy it when it's cheap and it's already there when you need it
If you have an Aldi's in your town - it's the cheapest produce I can find - and it has great deals on most other items - including some lower calorie versions
I too am reliant on cardio right now, but planning to start adding some strength in soon. I bought one of those ring sets to play with. Muscle burns calorie - therefore I want more muscle.
Try walking where you need to go as much as you can - that's always free. Take the stairs.

You don't need any special food. Just cut down on what you know is total junk food, and eat a bit less of whatever your regular food is, add seasonal or frozen veggies for good measure.

I disagree with everyone saying you don't need a gym....My gym membership is the absolute last thing I would ever give up.

but, OP you should really reconsider your stance on lifting weights!!

Tuna + ramen Noodles

PF is 20 minutes away and only $20 a month, whereas Snap is 7 minutes away but it's $40 a month!

You say you are wanting to do Cardio mostly
Just a question
How much could you buy a second hand bike for?
I would humbly suggest that instead of driving 7-20 minutes, running on a treadmill (if it's free) for twenty minutes and then driving home
you could spend that time and that money cycling for an hour.