Ep: #42 - Losing Weight Is So Damn Expensive… Or Is It?

Faye Casement Author

Mar 22, 2023 |

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As human's there are 2 things that always come up as a problem no matter what it is you are working on… time and money and when it comes to weight loss this is no exception.

Our brains fear change, when it perceives risk it will throw a hissy fit and start bombarding you with a ton of thoughts and excuses to keep you away from the oncoming tiger!

Losing weight is often thought of as a difficult process that requires a lot of dedication and hard work this is not necessarily true.

What is also not true sometimes is to call it costly.

When you look at the costs of healthy food and weight loss programs, it can seem at first glance that shedding pounds is an unaffordable luxury. And with a cost of living crisis on the horizon, many of us are feeling the pinch more than ever.

But

For starters, there are ways to lose weight without breaking the bank and also I want to try and bust a couple of the myths your brain could be telling you about money.

Sometimes value is not always aligned with cost.

For example, a £4.00 cup of coffee can give you more value than a £1.00 chocolate bar if what you want at the moment is a hit of java even though it is 300% more expensive, whereas, if you want some chocolaty goodness the chocolate may satisfy you more at that moment.

Likewise, a cheap weight loss program may appear to give you more value and this could be true if you actually have long-term success on it but it could be a waste of money if you quit and gain it all back as it is not sustainable.

Stay tuned until the end for some money-saving tips also you can try today.

I'm Faye Casement creator of the Triple-A-Way Life & Weight Loss Program™ where I can help you ditch diets that keep you miserable and help you find weight loss success and food freedom. If you want to know more about this check out the links in the description or comments depending on where you are catching this.

When it comes to weight loss, there are a lot of misconceptions about how much it costs. Some people think that you have to spend a lot of money on healthy food, expensive products, expensive surgery, and expensive gym memberships in order to see results. But that's not the case!

So don't let your perceptions of the cost of weight loss keep you from reaching your goals.

Value v Cost

Let’s explore for a minute the concept of money.

In life, we are constantly exchanging energy.

Money is a tool that we use to exchange energy. Believe it or not, money is a neutral thing until we apply our thoughts to it. Believe me, it took me a while to get my head around this bad boy as I had a lot of money stories!

How we know this is true is by seeing how people react differently to the same circumstance.

One person, can look at the cost of an item and say ‘that is expensive’ and another looks at the same thing and another with the same money in the bank says ‘wow what a bargain’.

It comes down to each person's perception of the item and the benefit they think they will receive, the value you ultimately are placing on the thing in question.

If you believe that something is going to improve your life, make you feel better then the value you place on it will be high and the money you are willing to exchange for it will be less of an issue.

For example, you may think nothing about spending £100 on a new outfit, a night out on the town, your fav perfume/makeup, the latest gadget. If you have been working hard and feel you deserve it, the £100 would seem worth it and your mind will be telling you how much you want it.

You might however decide to trade that spending for something else.

Likewise, if you are shorter on money you may have to weigh up will the outfit, trip out, latest gadget etc, is really worth it, will the outfit just sit in your wardrobe, will the night out be true value for money.

Don’t get me wrong I am all for joy, happiness and living your life. These things will bring you that but all I am saying is we need to consider if they are temporary fixes and what is going to bring you the most long-term value for money.

I have been there I have spent money to make myself feel better. I have a whole room of craft supplies, a wardrobe full of stuff I don't wear that have gathered over the years.

I am not trying to be rude here by the way to anyone with dire money struggles for which I hope you are seeking support I am just trying to outline that the majority of us make choices with regards to our spending and sometimes some of this is unconscious and based on habits and old stories we have.

The value of weight loss

The big problem when it comes to weight loss, is a low value can be placed on it.

It can be perceived as a short-term thing, a bit like the outfit in the wardrobe. It is possible after years of yo-you dieting that you think losing weight can only be done through deprivation and fad diets that make you feel bad. You may believe you will never be able to stick to your weight loss plan so what is the point?

All of these stories and perceptions can be untrue!

When you lose weight in a way that feels good, that is sustainable and in a way you can stick to for the long term.

When you value your weight loss journey and give it the importance it deserves you are much more likely to stick to it and see results.

As I said last week, the journey is where the real value is.

It is what can help you realise how unstoppable you can be, with the right method for you the success you can have will lead to success in other areas of life. Success in life is likely to increase your ability to attract money back to you whether that be through better health so less time sick, increased confidence, promotions, working on your business, changing careers etc.

So how do you increase the value you place on your weight loss journey?

1) Get clear on your why. Why do you want to lose weight? What will it give you? How will it make you feel? How would you at your goal weight differ? You have to raise the necessity level, this in turn will also increase you motivation and chances for success.

2) Learn as much as you can about how to lose weight in a healthy sustainable way. The more you know, the more confident you will feel and the more value you will place on your journey.

3) Find a mentor who has walked the same walk. Look for someone who has achieved what you want to achieve and learn from them. What did they do to get there? I’d love for that to be me and you know I would love to help you on your journey but find the right person for you.

4) Work on your thoughts about investing in yourself. You deserve to reach your goals and dreams. When you invest in yourself, you are increasing the value you place on your journey and showing yourself that you are worth it.

5) Celebrate your wins no matter how small. Set small process goals and tick them, bad boys, off with glee. This helps you to see the value. You could do that via a win tracker for example as I have in the Triple-A Program.

So takeaway point number 1, don’t let your perceptions of the value of weight loss keep you from reaching your goals. You can find a way if you want something badly enough.

Practical Cost Savings Tips

Ok so on to some practical tips:

1. Do a little life audit

In line with what I was just talking about check in on your priorities and check they are helping you to be where you want to be right now. If you are not sure it is the kind of thing coaching can help with. It does this periodically myself and talk to my coaches about also.

2. Cut back on eating out.

Eating out can be budget-buster. Sometimes the small things add up. Having a coffee every day is nearly £4 a day so that's £20 a week for a 5 day week. What about the cost of a meal deal instead of taking your own lunches. This is all before you get into actual take-outs and meals out.

3. Shop for sales and discounts on healthy food.

Healthy food doesn't have to be expensive. Sometimes it pays to get creative with the food in the sales or look at shops like Aldi/Lidl. You'll be able to save money while still eating well. If you run out of idea check out my food boards on Pinterest.

4. Reduce portion sizes.

You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight—just eat a little less than you normally would at each mealtime. This is in effect all I have done to lose my weight. Getting to know how much you really need means you can reduce cost.

5. Eliminate food waste

I recommend my members make a realistic daily and weekly plan so they can gather awareness for weight loss but it also helps to eliminate food waste both in terms of amounts you need to buy plus the type.

6 Get active for free.

You don’t need to join an expensive gym membership that you may not use. If you are going to use it and get value then great but there are other lower-cost ways whether that be supporting your local exercise class owner, or joining an online membership I have a few friends who run these if you need their details or you can hit up you-tube and other free sources.

7. Drink plenty of water

Water is essential for proper digestion and metabolism, both of which are crucial for weight loss. So make sure to drink eight glasses of water per day—you'll save money and slim down at the same time.

8. Look at using cheaper cooking methods

Microwave and air fryers I have seen can be a little cheaper than putting your full oven on. Slow cookers can also be great for the number of meals you can create in one go to help with batch cooking and meal prep which can save you time and money long term.

9. Compare brands

This goes for all food items but especially things like coffee, jars, cans, snacks where there can be a big difference in cost.

10. Use the resources in the group and the podcast

I am providing content as I want to help as many people as I can and I have no issue if you lap it all up for free and take the action. Yes, I have a range of services depending on your need and budget when you are ready to utilise them and take things further but if you really can’t cover the costs right now to get my support then grab at least listen and implement the free stuff as this will get you on your way but I know you will find the resources when you need them as we all do in times of need.

CONCLUSION

In this episode, I have covered many key learning points about the misconceptions people often have about the value of weight loss. We've talked about how you don't need to spend a lot of money to lose weight, and that there are many affordable ways to do so.

So take away no 1 check your thinking…is it stinking! Often the things we think aren’t true. There are usually more ways and means than we think.

No 2 there are many things you can try to reduce the cost of your weight loss journey.

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Categories: : Weight loss