The personal health and weight loss industries earn billions of dollars per year. So that might give you the impression that you need to spend a lot of money to get healthy or lose weight. The fact is, yes, some of these books, programs, diet foods, videos, and other products can help you lose weight and live a healthier life. But many of them are simply helpful aides, not necessities.

You don’t absolutely need the following three things to get in shape or lose weight. Check out what you can do instead, and then read our number one tip that definitely is mandatory!

A pricey gym membership. Going to the gym can certainly be one way to fit a workout into your busy schedule, and regular visits could help you lose weight. However, if you can’t afford that membership, don’t sweat it. Walking, hiking, riding a bike, roller blading, or even just dancing in your own living room can also get your heart rate up and burn calories.

Packaged diet foods. These products are helpful because they come in correctly portioned sizes, list their nutritional information on the package, and you don’t have to do any math or keep track of anything. But they also lead to the common perception that weight loss costs a lot of money, when that’s not really true. For example, you can purchase bulk, organic salad mix on sale, rather than relying on pre-portioned salads from the deli. A can of tuna is inexpensive and packed with protein, so you don’t need a three-dollar protein bar. And so on.

Trendy products. If your friend’s “wraps” or a DVD series seem to help you, then go ahead and use them. However, weight loss really boils down to creating a calorie deficit. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight (unless you have an undiagnosed medical condition which contributes to weight gain). You don’t need any special products.

What you do need: If you’ve struggled with weight loss in the past, the problem isn’t some magical food or product that you have yet to purchase. You could have an underlying hormonal imbalance, you might need to brush up on your nutritional knowledge, or you might need some other type of medical support. Weight loss can be a medical issue, so take the time to set an appointment with us. We will review your history and make recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. Medical advice is the one weight loss “tool” that really does work, and that everyone needs!