I'm looking to lose about 130 pounds for free (no joining expensive programs) without having to have surgery – suggestions?
I’m on a budget, so I’m hoping to find some healthy meal solutions that are inexpensive, and a weight loss program that doesn’t require joining an online program or a gym. I’m a young college student on a college student’s budget. Any advice would be helpful. I want to turn my life around so that I don’t die at a young age.
You can absolutely change your lifestyle without spending any money. The first thing I would do is join a free site as the others mentioned or Sparkpeople (www.sparkpeople.com).
At Sparkpeople, you can track everything you eat which lets you know exactly how much you’re eating, as well as holding yourself accountable for what you eat. You can also track your workouts as well as your weight. They have articles and a great community of support.
Do you ahve any gym access included in your student fees? My father pays for a gym membership for me, but otherwise, I’ve lost 60 pounds without spending anything else. It has been almost effortless by simply changing my lifestyle. My goals have been to be healthier, losing weight has been a great side effect of that. I owe a lot of it to the support and educational materials available at Sparkpeople.
Sparkpeople (and youtube, and other sites already mentioned) have lots of videos showing you how to do strength training and cardio without much equipment. Go for it, and good luck!
If you join Sparkpeople, look me up! I’m Josey98.
I am wondering id you can afford Weight Watchers. I believe it is about $50 a month. If you can, the support you get with face to face is the best bet.
Also try http://www.oa.org/membersgroups/find-a-meeting/ (OA). They have telephonic and face to face meetings in many places.
Your local hospital my have a partially funded health program for the community.
Actually, your school may also have a program.
Get the support of others. Do not do this alone.
You have taken the first step, explore your options and do what feels doable.
All the best,
Danielle
Hi Valerie,
Congrats on making the decision to exercise and eat healthy. Everyone has offered some excellent suggestions. All of them will help you to reach your goal, you just need to find the one that will work for you.
You can also see if the college you belong to offers any free fitness or nutrition classes. These will be a great resource for you and offer you some support right where you live.
You can also set a weekly or daily goal for both nutrition and exercise. Focus on what you want to accomplish, not what you want to stop doing. For example, I will eat a salad with my dinner and lunch each day this week. I will walk for 30 minutes 5 days this week. Just like you check things off your list of things you have to do for class, you can add these items to your list and check them off as well.
Also, college libraries have some of the best resources available. You may already have tons of books at your fingertips that can suggest healthy, real food recipes and exercises you can do to help you lead a more healthy life and lose the weight. Just look for nutrition books that suggest eatting real food and that don’t eliminate whole food groups.
Good luck with your goal!
Hi Valerie!
It’s a big step to take, but one worth taking! You can’t change without challenging yourself and you won’t stick with it unless you like it. Losing weight without joining a gym is possible, if you have the dedication! Find something that you love doing and make a workout out of it, if you like walking try interval training, walk slow from one light pole to the next, then run fast to the next light pole and so on. Try getting at least 150 minutes of cardio a week. Weight training is extremely important for weight loss and toning, if you can’t afford weights find something around you can lift(water bottles, rocks). Weight training burns calories, boosts your metabolism and makes your body stronger so make sure you add it into you fitness routine. Writing up a plan of what you’re going to do every week will help you stick to it and remember, seeing results can take some time but you can do it! Nutrition wise: eat clean; no take out, no junk food, no soda. limit alcohol and drink tons of water!
Best of luck to you!
Jen Lawler
Hello Valerie Brooks,
Congratulations on your healthy decision.
Now, be sure to do things safely by having a check up with your doctor and discussing your plans and goals.
We get what we pay for; but, if you find a good exercise buddy, walking daily will be so much more fun. Is there a physical education/fitness class for you to fit into your college schedule?
Please remember to eat healthy, too. You can check out www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Continue taking care of yourself; I hope to hear back from you.
Good luck.