80 percent of Americans are overweight, and live paycheck to paycheck or are broke. They gain weight and remain fat because they can't afford to stay thin. People well off financially do not have a smaller waist because they have more self-discipline or willpower. They weigh less because they can afford a personal fitness trainer and chef to come their homes, and can afford to spend more to remain thin than you made last year.

Being thin is an investment, if you can't afford it, chances are you'll gain weigh and remain fat. Go to the grocery store to prepare a great salad. You'll spend around $40, and have enough food for the day. Fruit and vegetables only stay good for a few days. On the other hand spend that same amount on Ramen noodles and hamburger helper, you have enough food for a month. Noodles and pasta last for years on the shelf. Also you can buy noodles and pasta in bulk but even if you were able to buy fruits and vegetables in bulk, you can't afford a freezer to store a months worth. And some fruits and vegetables can't be frozen. If you eat out, $5 won't buy you a filet of grilled tuna with a side of steamed asparagus; but will get you a McDonalds' value meal. Fruit and vegetable dishes are not available for less than $3; but a candy bar costs only 75 cents. The basic rule is eating healthy costs.

People plan to lose weight, but most of the time they fail and when they do it's a blow to their self-esteem. They don't understand how much it costs to succeed and didn't set enough money aside to reach that goal. What you need to ask yourself about losing weight is how bad do you want to lose it? You have to make choices on what you spend money on. You have to make a choice to either live a healthy lifestyle or continue to consume junk food. If you choose junk food, realize the reason you're overweight isn't because of not having self-discipline or willpower, you just chose to prioritize your life differently.

You can still have a healthy lifestyle, but you need to set your financial priorities in order different from the average person. For example, spend less on clothing by buying at Wal-Mart, Ross, and Payless discount shoes, drive a car five to eight years old, and you be able to have a personal trainer. If you have a mortgage, keep the cost low. Your health should be your biggest expense; the moment you cut back on that investment you gain weight. If you keep your priorities in order you be in the 20 percent of Americans that are healthy, not the 80 percent of Americans that are fat.

About the Author

Yuri V Dissident is a freelance writer and journalist. You can learn more about overweight and fitness at http://www.martialarts3000.com.