Save and Conquer

What is the number one New Year’s resolution? Get fit and lose weight!

And the marketers know it.

I just got an email from Costco.com with the subject “Resolution 2009 – Save and Get Fit!”

They advertise

• fitness books
• diet pills and meals
• mp3 music players
• blood pressure, body fat, and weight measuring devices
• every kind of fitness machine imaginable

If I bought one of everything in the main advertisement it would cost $27,843 before tax. Of course there were some duplicates, like 6 different treadmills, 4 elliptical trainers, and 5 biking machines. If I cut back to just one of each of those at the average price, and I even get rid of the spa, the total cost of all that “get in shape” stuff would be $12,505.

That price only includes a 21-day Smart for Life food management kit, 170 alli Orlistat weight loss capsules, 1 month of IdealCleanse weight loss system, 12 Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews, and 60 SlimShots liquid appetite controller. You would of course want to replenish these as they get used. [I am being sarcastic.]

Here’s a better idea!

Go out and walk, run, jump rope, or ride a bike every day. My wife bought a simple pedometer that she uses to try to make sure she walks 10,000 steps every day. Of course we do not get that far every day, but it is a good goal to stick to. We also try to do some calisthenics such as push ups, jumping jacks, and burpees. Our son likes watching me try to do the prison burpee workout. I am working my way up to being a “man.” I doubt I will ever make it to a “bona fide stud.”

For diet, my wife likes the Weight Watchers points method to keep our caloric intake under control. You don’t have to buy anything, although they will try to push you into signing up for a paid plan and to attend their weekly meetings. My wife recommends the meetings as motivationally helpful for beginners.

Weight Watchers assigns a number of points to all foods based on calorie and fiber content. You should eat healthy, but you can eat non-healthy treats, as long as your total points stay below a certain daily amount. That amount depends primarily on your weight. She finds that having a daily goal by keeping track of points at each meal and snack works well for her. Even though I do not perform the point-counting regimen for myself, my wife’s counting helps keep all of us healthy since she does the big grocery shopping runs with healthy foods in mind.

Stumble it!