What would you pay?

Steve

Steve

Member
Staff member
To have the body of your dreams today?

I was thinking randomly today about how much $ people spend on diets, pills, programs, special foods, books, clubs, gyms, surgery, etc, etc and it's really astonishing.

I think what really gets me thinking is the fact that we all know obtaining our optimal bodies overnight isn't possible. It requires hard, consistent work over a number of years for most of us. There's a *cost*. The cost is different for all of us... or I suppose I should say is perceived differently. Whether it's the cost of time, of saying no to your poor eating habits, to ditching the sedentary lifestyle you once led... whatever.... there's a cost.

Most often people desperately spend money b/c they can't manage the above costs adequately. But spending money is obviously a cost. So it seems that people are more likely to part with their money than their time, habits, cookies, etc.

<discuss>
 
Its funny you say this...b/c not too long ago I got my student refund of almost $5,000 and at one point I thought, you know, i'd EASILY hand all this over if I could be down to a healthy weight. Whats funny though is that in the end, weight loss is free...i can be down to a healthy weight for no money down :D
 
But it's not free. Monetarily sure, you can argue it's free. But the 'cost' comes in different colors than green and it's something most people seem to hate spending.

Time, energy, commitment, hassle, etc.

How can people learn to spend on these sort of 'costs' opposed to the monetary costs, which usually result in failure (read: gimmicks and scams)?

I'm not really looking for an answer. It was just something I was randomly thinking about. For me, it always comes back to finding ways to change perception. I mean, that's what it always comes down to when you're trying to get someone to spend something on something.

Marketers realize this by tapping into your emotions and perceptions netting in a desire for their product b/c the customer, after seeing the advertisement a few dozen times or whatever, believes that they're derive pleasure or reduce pain in their life by purchasing the product or service.

With that said, and elaborating on the perception bit, I think managing beliefs and expectations are important too.

But these things are hard to manage without some sort of knowledge. Knowledge provides the ability to think critically about your beliefs, expectations and goals.

Maybe that's why the success rate on forums like this is higher than that of people who are off doing it on their own in the gym. Forums like this help cement a basic foundation of knowledge.

Again, I'm rambling.
 
WOW tough question.
It must be the moon because while i was at that gym today i was think i would love to have a six pack for one day just to see how i felt and how i looked. Then 2 seconds later, i want to be back at 350 jst to remember how it felt.

How much would i spend??? I have already spent a lot, although it has been spent over roughly two years. I probably wouldnt spend one lump some to be there tomorrow. It's just not who i am. I have a friend at the gym that keeps telling me to have a full body lift and i keep saying it's not me. I just wouldnt feel good about it. Like I'm being selfish. (rant) I actually watched a medical show about plastic surgery last week and there were people getting full body lifts at the cost of roughly 28,000. When they showed the befores i quickly realized i am a lot worse than i thought. I have some pretty stretched out skin. Oh well, better than being 350lbs.

On the other hand, if my wife said i need x amount of dollars to be there tomorrow i would ask who to make the check out to. That's just how i am.
 
I think that's a good mentality.

Mind you, if people wanted to pay me 28k to help them be thin, I'd be preparing their meals too! But my service would lack the instant gratification.
 
Definitely a tough question.

In monetary terms, I'm willing to spend the $42 on my Bally's membership every month. I go to the gym 6 days a week and I truly believe it's money well spent. Yes, I know. There is no way in hell I'll be able to go to the gym 6 days a week for the rest of my life but I still plan on using the gym 4-5 times a weeks once I'm done with the weight loss portion of my journey.

Right now I'm paying around $400 a month for a personal trainer. By the time I'm done with him, I'll have spent $1600. It's not even about what he has me do (exercises). I can do that myself. Most days I push myself just as hard when I'm working out alone. It's about being held accountable. It's funny because that's the first thing he told me on the first session we had. I was like, "Pssh whatever. I don't need you. I hold myself accountable." But he was right, he holds me accountable. I'm a very competitive person. I don't want to disappoint Jared. I push myself like crazy to complete the things he wants me to do. I meet with him twice a week. Sure, I could only work out twice a week but then I would not be able to complete the things he wants me to do. It's like I train up to our sessions and when we have a session, it's like competition day for me.

I just needed that accountability when I started. I needed to build that routine and have that structure. I don't plan on signing up for more training once I'm done.

I don't think I'd every spend the money on plastic surgery or anything like that. I was talking to a friend the other day that is also losing weight and we were talking about stretch marks. They serve as scars and a reminder: I will never treat my body like that again. Reminder of what I once looked like. I also agree with Matt. Stretch marks/skin is better than being 350lbs.

The time, energy, commitment cost? I don't mind. I can handle that cost. It's better then my life ending at a young age because I didn't give a crap about my body.

Everyone just looks for instant gratification when it comes to our bodies. It's finally somehow made it into my head, that just won't happen. It's going to take time. It's not going to happen overtime. It's going to require a lot of time, energy, and commitment on my behalf and I'm okay with that. They don't even seem like costs to me because only good is going to come out of it.

Whew huge ramble lol
 
I would never pay for the body of my dreams.

It's not just the physical aspect I am interested in. It is the emotional and mental journey that I embark on everyday that is important too. Money won't buy that for me.

By being organized, motivated, healthy etc. I am getting so much more out of the situation. And most importantly I always want to be a role model for other women, especially mothers and to my children.

Sure the money spent on a gym is always an option for me. But it's not necessary. I find buy using as much of the natural environment and making the most of everyday activities has given me the body of my dreams.

Being, living and looking healthy is something I enjoy. I will never need to buy it. i live it in all that I do.
 
Oh, I read all of the other answers and I guess I'm shallow because I can def. name a price.

Let's say a years worth of my time exercising at least an hour a day that is 365 hours (or 366) = $5,475

A years worth of "healthy food" at about 100 dollars a week x's 52 weeks = 5,200

A boob job = $6,500
Rhinoplasty = $4,500
A little tuckin' here and there = $12,000

total = $21,687

I'll make out a check.
 
gohomejes said:
Definitely a tough question.

In monetary terms, I'm willing to spend the $42 on my Bally's membership every month. I go to the gym 6 days a week and I truly believe it's money well spent. Yes, I know. There is no way in hell I'll be able to go to the gym 6 days a week for the rest of my life but I still plan on using the gym 4-5 times a weeks once I'm done with the weight loss portion of my journey.
Click to expand...

Gym memberships are definitely worth it IMO.

Right now I'm paying around $400 a month for a personal trainer. By the time I'm done with him, I'll have spent $1600. It's not even about what he has me do (exercises). I can do that myself. Most days I push myself just as hard when I'm working out alone. It's about being held accountable. It's funny because that's the first thing he told me on the first session we had. I was like, "Pssh whatever. I don't need you. I hold myself accountable." But he was right, he holds me accountable. I'm a very competitive person. I don't want to disappoint Jared. I push myself like crazy to complete the things he wants me to do. I meet with him twice a week. Sure, I could only work out twice a week but then I would not be able to complete the things he wants me to do. It's like I train up to our sessions and when we have a session, it's like competition day for me.
Click to expand...

Being a trainer, I've heard that often. Clients come in saying they want to use me for accountability. And in truth, that is a part of what training is all about. If you can't be consistent on your own, paying for training and having expectations of a trainer is a good way to keep you on track.

I've always tried to give my clients more than accountability. Sure, I've trained experienced people who know 'how' to do exercises. Invariably though, I've yet to meet a client who has as much experience or knowledge as me. Duh, why would I... if they had equal or greater experience/knowledge they wouldn't need my damn help.

Point is, I try and educate them on what they don't know. This lifestyle entails a whole heck of a lot more than how to execute various exercises.

This has nothing to do with this thread so I'll stop rambling.

Getting things back on course, I definitely thing a good trainer is worth the money though, unfortunately, it's not affordable to many. That's partly why I'm taking things more toward the online training route. More affordability.

The time, energy, commitment cost? I don't mind. I can handle that cost. It's better then my life ending at a young age because I didn't give a crap about my body.

Everyone just looks for instant gratification when it comes to our bodies. It's finally somehow made it into my head, that just won't happen. It's going to take time. It's not going to happen overtime. It's going to require a lot of time, energy, and commitment on my behalf and I'm okay with that. They don't even seem like costs to me because only good is going to come out of it.

Whew huge ramble lol
Click to expand...

It's getting people to this point or this realization that I'm talking about. When or how do they stop viewing things in terms of "this will cost me X, Y and Z. These 'lenses' set people up for failure b/c they're immediately seeing the negativity/pain associated with this lifestyle and said pain blinds the positives/pleasure and long term gratification.

The pain is now. The gratification comes down the road.

Sure, there are ways to help people see the small pleasures in the things they do daily. There are 'mental exercises' that help mold different perspectives so you can see things in a different light.

It still seems to me that this is the biggest challenge for most though. They'd rather spend a fortune on shit that *might* work than spend the time and energy on a very consistent basis which will surely work.
 
shae said:
I would never pay for the body of my dreams.

It's not just the physical aspect I am interested in. It is the emotional and mental journey that I embark on everyday that is important too. Money won't buy that for me.

By being organized, motivated, healthy etc. I am getting so much more out of the situation. And most importantly I always want to be a role model for other women, especially mothers and to my children.

Sure the money spent on a gym is always an option for me. But it's not necessary. I find buy using as much of the natural environment and making the most of everyday activities has given me the body of my dreams.

Being, living and looking healthy is something I enjoy. I will never need to buy it. i live it in all that I do.
Click to expand...

But is that natural to you? Have you always been like that?

I have been.

I've always lived this.

I've always been hungry to excel in fitness and health.

But many don't have this natural proclivity.

What do you suggest to help those who don't see things in the same light?
 
xxmanduh said:
Oh, I read all of the other answers and I guess I'm shallow because I can def. name a price.

Let's say a years worth of my time exercising at least an hour a day that is 365 hours (or 366) = $5,475

A years worth of "healthy food" at about 100 dollars a week x's 52 weeks = 5,200

A boob job = $6,500
Rhinoplasty = $4,500
A little tuckin' here and there = $12,000

total = $21,687

I'll make out a check.
Click to expand...

Hahaha, love it.
 
Steve said:
But is that natural to you? Have you always been like that?

I have been.

I've always lived this.

I've always been hungry to excel in fitness and health.

But many don't have this natural proclivity.

What do you suggest to help those who don't see things in the same light?
Click to expand...

I would hope it is something natural to all humans. But maybe more difficult for others to see or find natural because of the odd materialistic and fast becoming unnatural environments we are creating for ourselves.

Exercise and healthy eating to me is not a chore at all. I just go back to basics. I grow what I can, have my own chickens, catch my own crabs and fish etc. Might climb a mountain or a tree in the afternoon with my kids (carry the smallest one). It's the only way I know how to survive now, it feels wrong to not make this healthy effort, and its so much fun!!!!!

It happens everyday even if I don't plan it. It's a lifestyle that I chose. (And I don't need to hear excuses of how people can't do it, because you can, maybe not right away, but you have got to start somewhere. This took years of planning but I have finally done it, and I sacrificed many things, including time with my children).

My parents served adequate meals, we were active as children and had many wonderful outdoor experiences. But nothing spectacular. I have taught them more as the years have gone by.

I guess I grew up very loved and I want to live for a long time. So quite simply to continue this life I must aim for optimum nutrition and fitness. And the fact that I am fascinated at how Indigenous people lived so many thousands of years in perfect harmony with the land with excellent health and fitness sets an example for me to go back to basics.

What do I suggest to help those who don't see the same things in the same light?

Walking around in this healthy body with a healthy, fit and positive mind makes me happy every single day of my life. I am completely content and able to live life to the absolute fullest. Because of my fitness I am able to give my children unique and exciting experiences everyday, they understand and can see what is really important.

Being healthy and fit is all that really matters. If I have those two things I am strong and able to tackle any situations with a better chance.

Most importantly if being fit and healthy makes you happy, then everything else is just a bonus. Life honestly gets better and better and better every single day.
 
It's hard to say what I'd pay. The way I look at it the path I'm on right now saves me more money than when I was enormous. So it's like it's paying me. Kinda...if that makes any sense...
 
The problem as I see it is that you don't get anything more from the hard days over the easy days.

You might say its more of an accompishment, but the reward is no different. So you pay a lot more for the same thing that only yesterday cost a lot less.

Is it worth it in the end? Hell yes. It just makes it extremely difficult to get going. Either right in the beginning or after a "mishap."
 
Great topic!
I have spent a lot of time thinking of the amount people will pay to get "fit"
I hate to spend money on weight and body image products. I love to keep fit, but I make a consious effort to keep the cost low.( It's always irked me that the weight loss industry is such a money maker when exercise and eating light is free! I try to keep fit by doing things that I would do anyway but I'm always consious that it is helping my fitness goals... Housecleaning, Snow shoveling, going to the park with my kids ( I go across the monkey bars instead of just sitting around) I ride a bike ( for fun) , I plop down on the floor and just do basic old time toning moves. There is so much information out there that is free, I workout with a pbs program called "Classical Stretch" or "Gilad" on the fitness network. I'd rather spend the money on clothes. I did want some hand weights a few years back .. I put those on my Christmas list and my brother bought them for me! We have a treadmill. but my husband's work gives out 350.00 every year for any purchase toward fitness equipment so they have bought our bikes, our treadmill and some of those cool BowFlex dial a weight thingys.
 
The price I pay for the body of my dreams has always been a gym membership, healthy food, and knowing that my hard work will pay off.

I think for me it boils down to the fact that I'm too stubborn to go the easy route to attaining the body of my dreams :D

I love working out. I can't not work out. My body was meant to move; my muscles were designed to be used. To deny myself the inherent beauty and strength of human form is something I can't imagine doing.

I enjoy eating healthy food.

I enjoy the struggles, trials and tribulations of striving to attain every goal I set.

The bottom line for me is the end result means a lot more when I've put in the time, sweat, and hard work. Nobody can take that away from me.
 
Steve, I love this topic. I think the price a person would pay changes all the time. When time is plentiful and energy is cheap, one would pay very little. Why would a kid pay anything? He goes outside and runs around and climbs trees and rides his bike. There is very little to pay and he has all the health he could ask for.

As the years go on and our time is taken up by family, job, everything else, suddenly the price that we pay goes up. We don't have time to play outside because we are working till after dark, so we join a gym. A pound of broccoli is $3 and a pound of hamburger meat is $1.99. The kids need help with homework and all, so you skip the gym. All these little choices are prices we pay

When the years go on and old age sets in, suddenly the price one would pay for just a little better health goes way up.

It all depends on what you have and what you have to lose.
 
Trops, I like that post.

So as time becomes more scarce, we're willing to pay more.... financially speaking I believe you mean.

But on that same front, we're willing to spend less in terms of other resources such as time, energy, etc.

Is that what you're saying?
 
Yeah, but that's only till we start to get desperate and our health becomes more important then time or money
 
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