Losing Weight on a Budget

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These are great ideas. Running together can also double as a cheap date! Another one I like -- running outside in the morning instead of joining the gym has saved me thousands of dollars over the years, and I get to spend more time outdoors.

Kimberly Palmer of 1:47PM July 28, 2008

Use a salad plate instead of a real plate when you have meals. Most people overload the big plates with more food than they need and end up either overeating or wasting food. By using a smaller plate, you eat a healthier portion and waste less food.
As for the increasing waistlines on America's children, parents and caregivers need to turn off the television! I know I feel better during the day and sleep better at night when I go out on a nice sunny day and walk wherever my feet take me. Just the other day I walked the 2-3 miles from my apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn to City Hall in Downtown Manhattan. And let's face it, walking is FREE! Our feet don't charge us to use them.

Veronica of NY 11:37PM July 26, 2008

After getting married last year, my husband and I didn't exercise at all for seven months straight--we were feeling lazy, flabby, and weak.
Since we were starting at zero lung capacity and hardly any muscle tone, we began to jog in the mornings together before work twice a week and on Saturday mornings.
We started out very very slowly...our motto: If you're still bouncing, you're still running!
Since we were not out to break any speed records, this exercise was surprisingly enjoyable and the mornings are a glorious time to run--everything is so fresh and new.
We're still running and we started using the exercise room in our apartment that has weights and stair steppers. And it's totally free for us to use (apart from the rent we pay!).
Saving even more money and losing weight at the same time: cut back on portion sizes. I know that it is easy to trick yourself into thinking, "I just exercised today, so I can eat more tonight!" In reality, you're not allowing your exercise to do its work. Cut WAY back on portions--like 4 oz of meat instead of 8-12, half a sandwich instead of a whole, and instead of 2 cups of pasta or rice cut it back to 1/2 a cup. You WILL get enough calories that you body needs. Our bodies are created to run on far less fuel than Americans typically stuff themselves with. This way you save on your grocery bill and lose weight.

Grace of VA 5:20PM July 25, 2008

I almost forgot, another thing I did that cost very little money is I started playing tennis at a free public park with a friend a couple times per week. It is a great way to sweat for free! Once you buy the racquet and balls, which you can get used, you are good to go.

Kyle James of CA 4:41PM July 25, 2008