When you need to lose weight, you might be prepared to spend a lot of money, but losing weight doesn't have to cost you a dime. Despite being able to exercise for free, the fitness industry is flooded with expensive ways to lose weight.
Exercise Machines
Many people turn to exercise machines when they want to lose weight. They can be a good investment for the fitness enthusiast, but there's virtually no workout you can do on a machine that you can't do with cheaper equipment or none at all. Treadmills, for instance, can cost $1,000 or more, as of 2011. That's an expensive machine for something you can do for free outside.
Joining A Gym
It's not uncommon for a person to join a gym when they want to lose weight. Gyms are loaded with expensive equipment and machines, so you don't have to buy any of that stuff yourself, but the cost of belonging to a gym can add up. Most gyms will charge you an initial signup fee and then charge a subsequent monthly fee. If you pay $100 to join a gym and then you pay $40 per month to retain your membership, your total for the year will be $580.
Hiring a Trainer
Hiring a personal trainer is the most expensive way you can go about losing weight. It might get you the best results, but it will put the biggest dent in your bank account. As of 2011, an average personal trainer will charge you between $50 to $75 per session, which usually lasts about an hour. Some trainers, such as Jackie Warner, charge as much as $400 per hour. Even at the low end of the spectrum, if you hire a trainer for $50 a session and do two sessions per week, you're spending $400 per month.
Buying Workout DVD's
A lot of good home-workout DVDs are on the market, and one thing many have them have in common is a hefty price tag. P90X, Insanity and GSP RUSHFIT are three of the most recent and most popular programs out right now. They're each good programs to follow and are certainly cheaper than hiring a personal trainer, but they cost $90 to $120 plus shipping and handling, as of June 2011. P90X and RUSHFIT also require you to buy additional equipment.
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