It doesn’t have to cost £s to lose lbs

Many of us will have made New Year resolutions to get fit and possibly shed a few pounds in weight. However, fitness regimes can involve spending money.

But in the current economic climate, financing these routines is likely to be tougher. And new research released by money website Fool.co.uk finds that two out of ten people are wasting pounds trying to shed pounds.

One in 14 (7%) dieters spends more than £100 a month trying to lose weight
One in five (22%) fail to lose weight
One in three (37%) spends more than £200 trying to lose weight
The average person spends £118 trying to lose weight

Typically the average person sticks to trying to lose weight for six months, spending an average of £25 per month. This equates to £300 a year. But with one in five people failing to lose weight, it means that 20% of money spent on dieting regimes is wasted.

David Kuo, financial expert at Fool.co.uk, explains: "Simply throwing money at weight problems won't solve them. Nor indeed will throwing money at any problem unless you understand the underlying cause.

"To keep costs to a minimum try to set a budget for your weight-loss programme and plan your daily meals carefully. This will not only help you avoid overspending but it will also help you avoid paying for expensive and unhealthy meals and snacks.

"It's important to research any weight-loss programme before joining up. Make sure you know exactly what you will get for your money, and whether the approach will work for you.

"Remember that when you pay for weight-loss programmes, the first thing you lose is not pounds from your body, but pounds from your bank account."

David's top cheap fitness tips:

Save money by walking - If possible walk to your destination rather than drive or taking public transport. But if you do use public transport, consider getting off a few stops before your usual one and walk the rest of the way.

Exercise at home - rather than joining a gym save pounds by designing your own regime at home, using water bottles or cans as weights.

Bring the classes to you - if you need extra motivation save money on fitness classes by buying fitness dvds. These can be a great investment if you use them regularly. It's also worth checking out your library before buying your own

Share regimes - Form your own fitness group. Most weight loss schemes require joining or class fees, spread the cost with friends by nominating someone to go and then sharing the tips with the group