Shedding those pounds may be on the top of your new year's resolutions list, but be prepared to lose more than just a few inches.
We’ve officially entered 2013, and as with any new year, battling the bulge is at the top of people’s resolutions list. Many of us will hit the gym hard and start counting our calories this January, all for the sake of dropping those pesky pounds.
While it’s great to get healthy and whittle down your waistline in the process, there’s a cost for feeling the burn — and it’s higher than you might expect. We break down all the financial demands surrounding your desire to drop those pounds.
Dieting plans
If you’re just starting out on your new path to slimness, it often helps to have a little boost with a customized diet plan. But whether you choose Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or anything in between, these weight loss programs can cost a pretty penny. Here’s what three major diet plans charge:
Jenny Craig: For the 12-week program at Jenny Craig, you can expect a bill for almost $1,300, which includes their $75 membership fee and approximately $100 per week for the cost of the Jenny Craig-approved food.
Nutrisystem: For its 12-week program, expect to dole out approximately $700 to $950, which includes all your meals and desserts.
Weight Watchers: This program comes in at the least expensive at just $129 for 12 weeks worth of passes and online access to their weight loss tools.
Gym memberships
One of the biggest costs many health-conscious Canadians choose to shoulder each month is a pricey gym membership. The average sports club membership is close to $50 a month – minimum, which really adds up. Totaling at least $600 a year, be ready to hit the treadmill, hard.
Equipment
Not everyone wants to hit their local gym so if you choose to make use of a variety of workout machines at home, get ready to drop an initial premium. It’s easy to spend thousands on the latest home-gym equipment (such as the BodyCraft bench for $400) as well as a good set of dumbbells, which usually run from $300 to $700, depending on the variety of weights in the set.
In addition to machines that help you with heavy lifting, there are a range of tech gadgets to help with the drive. Consider the costs of workout aids such as GPS running watches ($200+), or the NikePlus sensor that tracks your jogs ($20), and even a smart scale that wirelessly sends your weight to your mobile device for motivation (Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale $130).
Personal trainers
For those of us who need a little one-on-one boost, many turn to personal trainers for a customized routine. The catch? The fitness professionals come at a cost of $50-65 per hour. If you have two sessions a week, that means you’re shelling out up to $520 a month just on personal training.
Diet supplements/pills
In addition to counting calories and exercising, dieters also turn to supplements and pills to help them trim the fat. Some supplements that claim to help you lose more weight faster can cost up to $50 a bottle.
Gastric bypass surgery
For those with a significant amount of weight to lose and who can’t seem to shed it any other way, surgery is an option. Getting gastric bypass surgery, which is a last-resort for most, often helps patients lose 100-pounds or more, but can cost anywhere from $18,000 to $30,000, depending on optional body contouring and other follow-ups.