How much money do you spend on being Fit??

Wow! I need to spend more. My grocery bill is still the same, I'm just making different choices. I bought all my workout clothes at Walmart and even though I lost 20lbs, I'm still wearing them 2 1/2 yrs later. I spent $50 on shoes and was already spending $120 per year for the gym when I started my weight loss journey. But I did spend a fortune on a new wardrobe, especially my work clothes probably around $4,000.

Monthly crossfit memebership $180
Regular gym membership $103 a month (family membership)

Around 3396 then a year for just gym memberships. Throw in fitness clothes and misc equipment for stuff at home and it probably rounds out to 3700 a year.

I really don't spend that much.

In the beginning, I bought a weight set for about $300, a DVD set for about $150, and running shoes for $100. I might have spent $150 or so on workout clothes. And that's it. I wouldn't consider food as extra since I have to eat anyway. I don't eat that differently anyway. I was never really a fast food/junk food person anyway. My problem had always been eating out a restaurants for every single meal. That gets expensive. So, I save money now.

Since my income hasn't changed, I would say that if I wasn't spending money on health related items, I'd just spend them on something else. So, it's not net new stuff. It's just changing my priorities. But, as you can see, compared to some of you, I'm a lightweight.

Food, vitimins, and bars, I would buy anyway so I don't consider that specifically health stuff.

I replace my shoes about every 3 to 6 months, depending how much I am running, but other than that, since my start up, I haven't spent a dime.

When I first started, I had a gym membership...it's not a gym, but more of a club. It cost me $69/mo. So, it was expensive. Ditching that cost was the best thing I ever did. There are gyms around here I would love to join and they are only like $9/mo. But, they are really ghetto. So, I just can't do it.

I have been thinking a lot about joining Cross Fit. I might. It seems like it's my style of workout and fitness.

I forgot about my half-marathon this year. That was around $150, and I ran a Turkey Trot (10K) in November, that was around $50).

About $600 a year on hiking boots and trail runners.

$7/month for my BodyMedia online subscription.

$20 here and there for a new exercise video.

I've had free weights at home for almost 20 years now. If I want to go to a gym, I can use the one at the university where I work for free.

Tons. I have a trainer, I go to a small private gym, I want to look cute working out so I spend money on clothing. I run, each race costs between $150-300. I'm even thinking about getting cellulite treatments. But, for me, it's worth it. I'll go without other things instead. I don't care what my car looks like, for example. I just pick and choose.

Preface: I'm a Dave Ramsey fan. I have no credit cards, I own a "beater", live on a cash only system (and have for well over 2 years), and my only debt is either beyond my control (divorce) or school loans. Conclusion: I am not a careless spender, nor do I advocate irresponsible habits.

Now. My point.

If you actually take a calculated, objective look at the financial impact of obesity, you would be shocked. Yes, you might be spending $20-50 a month or more on a gym membership. Perhaps you've hired a trainer at $50-100/hour. Not to mention you're paying hundreds of dollars at the checkout line for natural, healthy foods. Oh and if you take supplements or have any special dietary additions - shakes, powders, etc... damn they can be pricey. Last but not least, many if not all of us are paying ungodly amounts for proper workout gear, clothing, and shees. This is stressful. I know it is and has been for me.

However - on the flipside - Guess what's more expensive than all of that?

"fat" clothes. extra seats on the bus and airline, or first class tickets and taxis because your rear end is more than 18" wide. extra gas for your automobile because a) you clearly aren't walking anywhere, and b) the additional weight requires more energy. alcohol.

and then...

Lipitor. Plavix. Celebrex. Never heard of them? These are drugs required to manage your comorbidities. (Comorbidities: Big word meaning other reasons you are dying faster that exist because of your weight) Some of these drugs cost up to $400 per month! What are you taking these EXPENSIVE drugs for?

Diabetes
Cancer
High cholesterol
Arthritis
PCOS - Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome
CHF - Congestive Heart Failure
A host of other cardiac diseases
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Hypertension
Acid reflux
Hernias
Liver disease
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (yes. size matters.)
Lymph edema
Gout
Stroke

Some of these happen anyway. Why increase your chances up to 100% by being overweight?

Preface: I'm a Dave Ramsey fan. I have no credit cards, I own a "beater", live on a cash only system (and have for well over 2 years), and my only debt is either beyond my control (divorce) or school loans. Conclusion: I am not a careless spender, nor do I advocate irresponsible habits.

Now. My point.

If you actually take a calculated, objective look at the financial impact of obesity, you would be shocked. Yes, you might be spending $20-50 a month or more on a gym membership. Perhaps you've hired a trainer at $50-100/hour. Not to mention you're paying hundreds of dollars at the checkout line for natural, healthy foods. Oh and if you take supplements or have any special dietary additions - shakes, powders, etc... damn they can be pricey. Last but not least, many if not all of us are paying ungodly amounts for proper workout gear, clothing, and shees. This is stressful. I know it is and has been for me.

However - on the flipside - Guess what's more expensive than all of that?

"fat" clothes. extra seats on the bus and airline, or first class tickets and taxis because your rear end is more than 18" wide. extra gas for your automobile because a) you clearly aren't walking anywhere, and b) the additional weight requires more energy. alcohol.

and then...

Lipitor. Inderol. Humira. Never heard of them? These are drugs required to manage your comorbidities. (Comorbidities: Big word meaning other reasons you are dying faster that exist because of your weight) What are you taking these EXPENSIVE drugs for?

Diabetes
Cancer
High cholesterol
Arthritis
PCOS - Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome
CHF - Congestive Heart Failure
A host of other cardiac diseases
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Hypertension
Acid reflux
Hernias
Liver disease
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (yes. size matters.)
Lymph edema
Gout
Stroke

Some of these happen anyway. Why increase your chances up to 100% by being overweight?

Wait, I think I love you.

I don't spend any money to be "fit." I may consider that I spend money to be healthy, but it's not any more than I do from being unhealthy. Now I watch what I eat, so I eat less. I am currently doing an elimination diet to find food allergies (it runs in the family). That requires a strict diet of all organic foods and such.

To compare to your list...

Vitamins: $0. I already buy those, not to be fit, but to be healthy.
Protein bars: Those things aren't as good for you as you might think. Try a glass of milk, some nuts, or a ham sandwich.
Gym membership: $0. I find gyms boring and uninspiring. I prefer the outdoors or my own home.
Fitness DVDs: $0. On the internet, they're free!
Home Gym Equipment: $0. I prefer to use my own body weight and go for HIIT instead of max weight to build bulk.

As for things like shoes and whatnot, the money I would spend on those I save by not using a car as much. It's a change of habit and lifestyle. In general, the healthier you live,t he less expensive it'll cost you.

I guess you could call me frugal.

My breakdown is as follows:

Yearly Vitamins - $20/30 mo (I do not always take them every single day like I should)
Yearly Protein Bars - very rarely buy. This year I have spent maybe $120ish on protein powder.
Yearly Gym Membership - starting July 1st will be $0!!! for the year, my boss is paying it, last year I only paid half $240.00
Shoes-approx $200/yr
Fitness DVDs - 0
Home Gym Equipment - 0
Healthly food- ALOT of money (but we all have to remember this will help us save a lot more if we were eating bad now & tons of dr bills later in life for medical problems)

i will say calculated everything average, and i at LEAST spend 2,778 per year on healthfied stuff...so i will say in between, $2,500 to 3,500 a year just on my fitness health. this is NOT including dvd's becuase i dont buy those any more due toalready having enough accumilated from my younger years, dont buy shoes that often due to how my birthday and christmas are 6 months apart so family usually does that for me, i have no home gym, but I DO have a gym member ship of 40 a month,i dont buy that many new clothes becase again, have accumulated alot from highschool and college. i buy QUEST bars and use promasil protein powder by rivalus. both of those are good quality. it will vary on health supps on where you buy them and how good of quality they are. right now, all my purchases i know are good quality supps, from the fish oils i take, etc. i would not waste your time on fish oils in super markets,walgreens,..most, not ALL, but most are made with "fillers"...a friend of mine have actually tested most of these and its mostly fillers.

summing up mine -2,500-at most 3,500..some things i dont HAVE to have, but i just choose to put it in my purchases. am i crazy? not if it helps me live a longer better life.