Health 10 surprising costs of losing weight

Christian Delbert/Shutterstock Losing weight might cost you more than you think. Losing weight is a difficult feat, and it can come with unexpected impacts to your time, money, and energy. Here's what you need to know if you're thinking about losing weight, or are already on your weight-loss journey.

Healthy foods can be more costly. Matt Cardy¬†/ Getty Eating healthier takes a little more time and a little more money. When you're not focused on being health conscious, you can easily satisfy your hunger by going through a drive-thru or grabbing something from the vending machine. When you are focused on your health, or a specific fitness goal like weight loss, you're better off to prepare your own food than to eat out, making it a more time-consuming process, especially if you live somewhere like a food desert. When you prepare your own food, you know exactly what's in it and how it was made. Although it takes a bit longer and costs more to buy most nutrient-dense foods, as long as you live in an area where you have access to grocery stores, it might not be as difficult as you'd expect to make the switch to more healthful food habits. A study done by Harvard found that eating a healthy diet only costs about $1.50 more per day than an unhealthy diet does.

Losing weight might cost you energy. Pexels Often times losing weight requires increased physical activity and decreased calorie consumption, both of which cost you energy and lead to decreased energy overall, according to Only My Health. To lessen the negative effects of lower energy levels, it'll be important to know just how many calories you should be consuming, and the types of foods that your body needs specific to your goals, body type, and overall health. There's no single caloric amount that's right for everyone, so be sure to work with a nutritionist, registered dietitian, or clinician to figure out what's right for you.

You may have to buy a new wardrobe. Flickr / Pat (Cletch) Williams As you lose weight, your clothes might not fit quite like they used to. If you only lose a small amount of weight your clothes may fit better, finally allowing you to get back into your favorite pair of skinny jeans, if you lose a more drastic amount of weight, you may find that your clothes just don't fit anymore. Some individuals will have to or want to, buy new clothes to fit the new, smaller version of themselves, which is a surprising cost of weight loss many don't think about.

A gym membership might now be a part of your monthly expenses. Thomas Peter/Reuters If you weren't already working out prior to your weight loss journey, you might be surprised to see how expensive it is to go to most gyms. According to CNBC, the average gym membership costs between $40 and $50 a month. If you decide to add any additional gym fees like child care, or personal training, that cost only increases. While it's important to incorporate physical activity to your daily and weekly routine, it's also important to budget for it, and to recognize that in order to lose weight, gym fees will cost you.

You may choose to use supplements before, during, and/or after your weight loss journey. PIXNIO Protein powders, meal replacement bars, fat burners, and stimulants are just a few popular supplements used to kickstart weight loss or assist with one's weight loss journey. While none of these are required for weight loss, they are an often forgotten financial cost of weight loss. Some choose to buy weight loss food products in order to adhere to a specific diet, others, to fill in the gaps in their diet as they cut down on calories. Either way, it's important to work with a physician, registered dietitian, or nutritionist to figure out if supplements are right for you and your goals.

If you choose to join a weight loss program, it'll cost you. Shutterstock Commercial diet programs are costly. Weight loss programs include everything from in-person meetings, to online support groups, to food and supplement delivery services. Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, and Jenny Craig are some of the most popular weight loss programs to date. Weight loss programs are right for some, but not for all. A study performed by the Global Health Institute at Duke found that average cost per kilogram lost on popular weight loss programs was anywhere between $155-$338.

Workout advice isn't free. Reuters Whether you choose to work with a personal trainer twice a week, opt for an online trainer, or choose to do some form of small group training, it'll cost you. While not everyone needs workout advice in the form of a trainer, a lot of folks do. And according to Angie's List, the national average for a one-hour personal training session is $80 to $125. It's a great way to guarantee proper exercise instruction, accountability, and motivation which may help jumpstart your weight loss journey.

It could place a strain on your relationships. Africa Studio/Shutterstock Many friends and couples bond over things like food and liking similar activities, but if you've lost weight by working out or eating healthier, you might find an unexpected strain on these relationships.

Losing weight might cost you time. Didriks/Flickr Weight loss takes dedication, change, and ultimately time. Your weight loss journey may require you to exercise more frequently and more regularly than before, to prepare meals rather than conveniently grabbing food, or to more frequently attend appointments with physicians or fitness professionals. Losing weight may mean that you have less downtime, as now you're prioritizing workouts oversleeping in, or you now have to get up earlier to workout before work, which means you now have to go to sleep earlier each evening.

You may want to acquire your own equipment for at-home or on-the-go workouts. Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Often times losing weight goes hand in hand with a newfound love, or simply a routine of exercise. Many decide to purchase exercise equipment for their homes, or for when they're traveling so that they don't have to stray from their goals and routine. Dumbbells, benches, cardio machines, mats, and workout DVDs are just a few examples of beneficial, yet costly equipment that will assist with weight loss and weight maintenance goals. Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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