Costs of Diets Compared

wow, peeps could save tons of money by getting on motivational or educational sites like this one instead of spending hundreds for something that may or may not work. isn't a diet a life long commitment? a way of life? that right there is one expensive way to live!

I'd like to see a comparative price for 21 fast-food meals plus the costs in sick days, healthcare, etc.

Prepared diet meals is big business, but you can easily prepare them yourself at much lower cost.

$21 a week....Hit the Dollar menu board at McD's and get a doublecheese burger 3x a day...1500cal, zone proportions, it would work....may have a serious case of acme and gallbladder issues but you will lose weight!

This is misleading. I've had experience with both WeightWatchers and SouthBeach, and you can follow both on a fraction of what's quoted. The books have suggested menus that few follow (in my experience) and guidelines that anyone can follow using simple basic menus with economical alternatives. You don't *have* to use expensive ingredients.

Uh, where did they get that price for WeightWatchers???

Both my belt and my money are on a budget, and the only "extra" I pay at this point to be on WW is for the monthly internet fee.

Other then that, I choose what I want to eat... as WW advertises. So I usually don't spend more than $50 a week on food with WW.

Do they take into account the fact that people have to spend money on food anyway? Presumably they should add up the cost of a week's menu on the diet then deduct the average cost of a week's grocery shopping ... otherwise it's somewhat misleading!

I'm on the Weight Watchers Flex Plan and I spend about $60 on food per week and the only reason it's that high is because I go out to eat once or twice a week. I have no clue where they got that number.

Losing weight can be very expensive when you consider the cost of food and exercise, but there are inexpensive weight loss strategies.

I hope you all don't think this is SPAM, but I have actually created an affordable nutrition and activity plan called The Don't Go Broke Weight Loss Plan. I won't link to it, but Google it if you want.

I usually save money on weight loss. You are eating less food, right?

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The least I ever spent was on my canned salmon diet.

Breakfast:
3 eggs, 2 slices bacon, cheese (in an omelet)

Lunch 1, Lunch 2, Dinner 1, Dinner 2:
7.25 oz of canned salmon, broccoli florets (eaten straight)

I think that was about $45 per a week.

I agree that at the very least you are saving money by not eating as much.

I also want to know where they got their cost figure for WW. I did WW in college when I was dirt poor and I managed to feed myself on about $40 a week. My main dietary staples were apples, carrots, spinach, frozen veggies, beans, rice, oatmeal, canned tuna, bananas, potatoes, skim milk, and light yogurt. And if it was on special, I would buy some turkey. I guess you COULD spend a crapload of money on all the WW brand items that are out there (or those Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches that WW pimps...those things are seriously $4 for 6 of them!).

I, too, would like to know where they got the numbers for Weight Watchers. I have been on it for 1 1/2 years and saw my food bill either the same or somewhat less. Sure, the Weight Watchers packaged food items cost something, but you can easily stick to WW without any of those extras. Makes you wonder what their agenda was...

If it costs you less money to lose weight, then you're not doing it the correct way. To lose weight, the rule of thumb is to eat fresh foods, less prepared foods. If you stick mainly to the outside of edges of the grocery store, you will find everything you need. BUT, fresh foods do tend to cost more. Hense, the prices up above reflect 'diets' in which you prepare your own meals with their recipes vs prepared meals. I used to work for a weightloss company. And the few of you who do the online program are able to achieve your goals (in theory) without the extensive help as visiting a location to meet with someone would. If everyone just ate more fruits and veggies, we'd find a thinner country. It's crazy....to think SO MANY people just don't eat ENOUGH and THAT is why they can't lose the weight, or lose is and then gain it all back and then some. Just like everything else in life, it's all about balance.

I don't spend that much in a month on groceries for 2 people. I spend less than $200 a month on healthy food from Winn-Dixie and I am from Central America and buy some of those special foods. Those numbers are seriously flawed.

I'm on the Weight Watchers Flex Plan and I spend about $60 on food per week and the only reason it's that high is because I go out to eat once or twice a week. I have no clue where they got that number

That does seem really excessive for Weight Watchers. When I did Weight Watchers, I didn't buy any food I wouldn't have bought anyway, for my family, and since I was eating less, I probably spent less.

I'm not a big fan of Weight Watchers for other reasons (I don't like the way they advertise and push fast food and junk food), but it was not expensive. I couldn't have joined if it was.

I'm on the Weight Watchers Flex Plan and I spend about $60 on food per week and the only reason it's that high is because I go out to eat once or twice a week. I have no clue where they got that number