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As a health and fitness coach, I often hear people say they can't afford to eat healthily or join a gym.
But what if I told you that you might already be spending more than enough money on your health - just not in the way you think?
In this post, I want to challenge you to reconsider your spending habits and how they might be unknowingly investing in poor health.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Our Spending Habits
Let's start with an uncomfortable truth: we are often reluctant to pay for health. It's a statement that might make many of us squirm, but it's one that deserves our attention.
Think about it - while we often balk at the cost of gym memberships, healthy food, or preventative care, we rarely think twice about shelling out money when we're sick or in pain.
I've seen this countless times, both in my own life and with my clients.
When we're sick, we're quick to say, "Go to the store. Get me everything. Get all the over-the-counter stuff. Give me the cough drops, the syrup, the pills, whatever it takes. I just want to feel normal again."
We're willing to pay any price to feel better in the moment, but we hesitate to invest in our long-term health.
The Fast Food Fallacy
One of the most significant areas of unhealthy spending for many people is fast food. Let's break down the numbers: If you're spending an average of $15 on fast food three times a week, that adds up to $45 a week.
That's nearly $200 a month on fast food alone!
When you consider the long-term health implications of regular fast food consumption, this "investment" starts to look less like convenience and more like a health liability.
And remember, this is just one area of potential unhealthy spending.
The Ripple Effect of Unhealthy Choices
But it's not just about fast food. I want you to consider other areas of spending that might be contributing to poor health:
Sit-down restaurant meals
Designer coffees and other drinks
Alcohol
Unhealthy grocery items
Entertainment that leads to late nights and poor sleep
When I guide my clients through breaking down these expenses and estimating their weekly, monthly, and yearly costs, they're often shocked.
Many people are spending thousands of dollars each year on items and activities that are actively making them less healthy.
In fact, when I do this exercise, I often find that the average person might be spending around $7,680 a year on things that are making them less healthy.
And it's not just about being less healthy now - these choices can lead to serious illnesses and diseases down the line.
Reframing Health as an Investment
Now, I'm not sharing this to make you feel guilty or ashamed. My goal is to create awareness and open up possibilities.
Here's the key insight: If we have the money to make unhealthy investments, then we can certainly afford to make healthy ones, right?
This reframing is powerful. It shifts the narrative from "I can't afford to be healthy" to "I'm already spending money – how can I redirect it towards better health?"
It's not about deprivation, but about making conscious choices that align with our long-term health goals.
Small Changes, Big Impact
I'm not suggesting you need to eliminate all unhealthy spending overnight. That's not realistic or sustainable. Instead, I encourage you to start small: Look at those areas of unhealthy spending and pick just one to focus on.
Which one feels most important or achievable for you to adjust?
Maybe it's one less fast food trip per week, or sharing a meal when dining out. These small adjustments can start to show you the impact of your choices without feeling overwhelmed.
The Long-Term View
The most compelling reason to reassess our spending habits is the long-term impact on our health.
By making healthier investments now, not only are we going to feel better in the short term with more energy and positivity, but we're also truly taking better care of our long-term health.
As we make these changes, our risk of sickness, illness, and disease will lower, allowing us to enjoy better health for longer. That's the real return on investment we're after.
Key Takeaways
Awareness of unhealthy spending: Take time to track and calculate how much you're spending on items or activities that may be detrimental to your health. You might be surprised by the total.
Redirecting funds towards health: Consider how you could reallocate some of the money you're currently spending on unhealthy choices towards health-improving investments. This could be a gym membership, healthier groceries, or preventative care.
Making small, sustainable changes: Start with small adjustments in one area of unhealthy spending rather than trying to change everything at once. This approach is more likely to lead to lasting change.
By taking a closer look at our spending habits and making conscious choices about where our money goes, we can start to invest in our health in meaningful ways.
Remember, every dollar spent on your health is an investment in your future well-being. We all have the power to make choices that lead to better health – it's just a matter of recognizing where those opportunities lie.
I challenge you to take a look at your own spending this week.
Where might you be making unhealthy investments?
And more importantly, how could you redirect even a small portion of that spending towards your health and wellness?
Your future self will thank you for it.
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