One of the main reasons why people struggle to lose weight today is because they deem it to be too expensive. After all, you only need to take a trip to a supermarket to see that the processed, unhealthy foods are exceptionally cheap, while it costs a lot more to get your hands on the good stuff, like fish, organic fruit and vegetables, and white meat. Plus, you then have the likes of a gym membership and exercise equipment to add into the mix. It’s not hard to see why the expense can be off-putting. Nevertheless, you can lose weight healthily without spending a fortune, and here are some ways to do so…

Embrace free exercise options – Yes, joining the gym is going to cost you money. However, there are many different ways you can lose weight. You don’t need a personal trainer, nor do you need to buy expensive exercise equipment. What about a good old-fashioned run or power walk? This is one of the best ways to exercise. It doesn’t cost any money, and you can enjoy some beautiful views, depending on where you live, of course! Also, thanks to the Internet, you can gain access to so many different exercise videos free of charge. All you need to do is a quick search on YouTube or another video site and you will see all different types of exercise videos you can follow, from Zumba to yoga. You no longer need to pay to go to a class.

Rethink your commute – Another easy and effective way to incorporate free exercise into your lifestyle is to re-think your commute. All you need to exercise is your body at the end of the day. If you live within a few miles of your place of work, why not consider biking or walking to work? If this is not an option, small changes can make a massive difference. For example, take the stairs and stop using the elevator.

Skip ‘healthy’ convenience food – If you want to save money while you are shopping for healthy food, you need to tailor your shop more effectively. Not all healthy foods are expensive. After all, carrots are probably one of the cheapest things you can buy in a grocery store! What is expensive, however, is those convenient ‘healthy’ foods. You know, those 100-calorie snack packs, and the ‘healthy’ ready meals that are available in supermarkets. These are nothing more than budget drainers. You would be much better off buying a packet of dried fruit and nut and making your own snack packs with sandwich bags. Weight loss has a lot to do with budget control, but do you really need to spend way over the odds for someone to give you the right quantity? You can do this yourself. In fact, if you’re worried you will overeat, all you need to do is carry a measuring cup with you, and this will ensure you are always on the right track.

Buy in bulk – One of the best ways to save money when you are shopping is to buy in bulk. Of course, this is something you won’t be able to do with fresh food, as you’ll end up chucking a lot of it in the bin. However, you can buy the likes of frozen vegetables, wholemeal rice, and oatmeal in bulk, and this will save you a lot of money. Another option is to buy a whole chicken instead of buying chicken pieces. You can easily cut the whole chicken up yourself into portions for the week. This will save you a good deal of money over time.

Are you eligible for surgery? If you are deemed morbidly obese, you may be eligible for LAP band surgery. This is something you may have to fund yourself, or you may be entitled to some form of monetary assistance from the government. This all depends on your unique circumstances and where you live. Nevertheless, it is something that is worth exploring further, and this is certainly a case of money well spent if your weight is having an extremely detrimental impact on your health. You can’t put a price on living longer.

Ditch the red meat – Ditching the red meat is not only good for your diet, but good for your bank balance too. The likes of lamb and beef can cost a considerable amount of money, and they contain more calories than white meat, such as chicken and turkey. Therefore, instead of embracing the red meat one night a week approach, why not go meatless? Turning veggie, even if it is for one night every week, will make it a lot more cost efficient for you to lose weight.

Make the most of vouchers and coupons – Last but not least, one of the best ways to save money on your grocery shopping is to make the most of vouchers and coupons. After all, nowadays, you only need to do a quick search online to find hundreds of vouchers for different stores. You can also make the most of money-saving apps too. Also, a lot of supermarkets and grocery stores offer you a discount on your first purchase, and so it’s worth exploring the option of buying from different stores from time-to-time. Don’t forget to make the most of loyalty cards as well; those reward points certainly add up over time.

If you follow the advice that has been discussed above, you should be able to lose weight without it impacting your bank balance. While there are a lot of companies that profit from exploiting people’s want to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, you don’t need to buy into what they are offering. Being healthy doesn’t need to cost money.