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Resolutions: Lose Weight Without Losing Money

Crystal Amador
GYM
YMCA fitness instructor Crystal Amador leads an overall conditioning class using kettlebell weights that resemble a cannonball with a handle, Wednesday, jan. 4, 2012 in Wichita Falls, Texas. (AP Photo/Wichita Falls Times Record News, Torin Halsey)

You’re finally going to lose that extra 15 pounds (didn’t it used to be 10?) in 2012.

Since weight loss is one of the top resolutions after holiday indulgences, it’s not surprising that so many gym and weight-loss centers are offering sign-up specials.

But before you hand over the credit card, take some time to make sure your weight problem doesn’t become a financial problem.

Americans spent about $26 billion on weight loss in 2011, according to Marketdata Enterprises, a market research firm. That figure, up 2 percent from 2010, includes everything from sugar substitutes to bariatric surgery. Of the total, about $20 billion was spent on health clubs, $3.4 billion or so on commercial weight-loss programs and roughly $2.4 billion on diet or low-cal foods.

The growth in weight-loss spending has slowed due to the struggling economy, said John LaRosa, Marketdata president. Plus, more dieters are now using online programs that emphasize using regular food, for instance, rather than the more expensive programs that require purchasing their food products. But plenty are still getting daily deliveries of prepackaged meals.

And plenty more are signing up for programs they abandon long before their contracts run out.

Here are three tips to help you get started losing weight, without losing your cash:

1. Try a trial gym membership or pay-as-you-go plan.

Paying for the time you actually use can save you money. One University of California-Berkeley study found that a $70 monthly membership cost individuals about $600 more during the life of the contract than if they paid $10 per visit. That’s because customers only went to the gym an average of 4.3 times per month.

For more on the questions you should ask before signing up at a gym, check out the advice from the Better Business Bureau here: http://bit.ly/ybOiWz .

2. Read the contract before you sign.

Some weight-loss programs require you to pay for every meeting, even if you don’t attend. Others automatically charge your credit card each month, even if you stop charting your meals and exercise data on their website. Most ready-to-eat meal programs charge delivery fees that may not be mentioned in their advertised prices. Make sure you understand the real costs of any program before you sign up, and know how to get out of a contract if you change your mind.

3. Search for a low-cost program

Hospitals, universities and community organizations often offer less expensive programs. Other alternatives include the nonprofit Tops Club Inc., www.tops.org , and Overeater’s Anonymous, www.oa.org . Neither offer specific meal plans, but both offer supportive meetings and guidelines.

GET INFORMED:

It’s also possible to build a do-it-yourself program, but to do so, you need the right information. There are a lot of wacky diets out there, some that can do more harm than good. Go to the experts for diet and nutrition advice:

The website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, www.eatright.org , offers fact sheets on healthy weight loss, tips for eating out, and you can also get the lowdown on fad diets and read reviews of popular smartphone applications, like Calorie Counter, Daily Burn and Lose It!

Advice on losing weight and how to keep it off is also available on the websites of the federal Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/healthyweight ; the National Institutes of Health, http://health.nih.gov/topic/WeightLossDieting ; and the Health and Human Services Department’s Weight-control Information Network, http://win.niddk.nih.gov/ .

GET INSPIRED:

Try a podcast for tips and advice. Listeners rave about the “Cut the Fat” podcast, www.cutthefatpodcast.com . It’s one of dozens focused on fitness and nutrition available for free on iTunes.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.