Deflabbify

The killer hidden cost of weight-loss programs

Written by admin on July 4, 2008 – 4:21 pm -

BankRate.com had this article on MSN Moneycentral:

What does it cost to drop 30 pounds?

The article runs down the costs associated with well-known diet programs like Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, and The Zone Diet. These programs aren’t cheap. The cheapest of the four for losing 30 pounds is under $100 (for online registration at Weight Watchers, not including food) to over $5,000 for daily food delivery in some cities for The Zone Diet.

A former member of our church went on one of these programs (his was $10 per day including food) and lost the weight initially, but then it came back.

I can see the plans being pretty difficult to stick to, and I can see it being pretty easy to cheat (eat food outside of what’s allowed). And that’s the killer cost.

I’m sure the added external structure of these programs is worth the money, but let’s face it: It’s not in the best interest of these companies to get you to a point where you don’t need them. They make money by selling controlled portions of food and other services. And they also make money when you fail and come back.

So though these programs may be good at kick-starting a diet, the dieter should look for a way to maintain the eating habits without that company. Also, if one of these programs doesn’t seem to be working or is just too painful to follow for whatever reason, get out. That’s not failing; that’s just being pragmatic. Try something else after figuring out why that particular plan didn’t work. There’s no real reason to pay a premium for food if it’s not serving its intended purpose.

Related Posts

• Hundred Pushups, Week 3 wrap-up Got through another week!  I thought week 3 would get me but I squeaked by.  Here's my progress so far: Date Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Maximum Total 06/18/08 Initial test 8 06/21/08 7 7 5 4 12 35 06/23/08 9 8 6 5 10 38 06/25/08......
• It's my own fault that I'm fat A report issued this past Tuesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust for America's Health blamed a bunch of things for the rising obesity rate in thirty-seven states, including: Federal, state, and local governments School cafeteria meal planners Long commutes Longer work hours Exclusion of obesity treatment from......
• Signed up for Man vs. Debt's weight loss challenge I'm on Team Delta for the Man Vs. Debt weight loss challenge.  I'm joining 29 other personal finance bloggers in a competition to reach weight goals.  The challenge will run from June 1st through July 31st. I've set as a goal to lose 10 pounds during that time.  So it's......
• My biggest health or fitness vice Nickel at Fit36 tagged me to post on my biggest health or fitness vice. I just plurked on this: I love beer, but beer doesn't love me back. Beer might have some health benefits but for the most part it's empty calories, and any health benefits I might have gotten......

Related Websites

• Losing Weight Can Bulk Up Your Savings. I came across an article this morning that discussed the weight factor in how much money you spend/save. Turns out that losing weight can save you a ton of money, sometimes in places that you wouldn't even think of. A few weeks ago I wrote a post called How a......
• 3 Weight Loss Techniques You Need to Avoid We all know that fad diets are a bad idea and rarely work, but it is so easy to get swept away by their claims that many forget this. Who doesn't want to lose ten pounds in a few days? The problem is, these diets not only are not......
• Diet Bug, the Weight Loss Site for Women Some of my articles involve lifting and certain workouts that aren't really specified for women. Ladies, I haven't forgotten about you. Everyone wants to lose weight and feel good. I found another great website that focuses just on weight loss for women. Diet Bug DietBug is a weightloss program designed......
• Money Saving Tips: 75 Ways to Survive Recession Regardless of how economists refer to this economy, recession or no recession, people are hurting, financially. Unemployment, flat wages and rising costs for food and gas have many hurting. Check out these great money saving tips to help your family survive these tough times. Here are a few money saving......

Posted in Eating Right | 1 Comment »