Living a healthy lifestyle will not only
help you to lose weight and feel great, it can also save you cash. Read on to
find out how.
Shun the takeaways
The UK fast food industry has grown by more
than 46 per cent in the last 10 years, and is expected to grow a further 13 per
cent by 2016, meaning that more of us are dialling for our dinner these days
than ever before. With the average household now spending $27.51 on takeaways a
month, giving up this habit could save you a sizeable sum and help you to lose
weight too.
The
UK fast food industry has grown by more than 46 per cent in the last 10 years,
and is expected to grow a further 13 per cent by 2016, meaning that more of us
are dialling for our dinner these days than ever before.
Healthy bonus if you need a fast food
treat, try swapping your takeaway pizza for a shop-bought one. Half a Weight
Watchers Thin & Crispy Hot & Spicy Chicken Pizza has a Prơ Points value
of only 6 - the same as just one slice of Pizza Hut Chicken Supreme!
Extra cash in your pocket $27.51 a month
Use the money that you save to stock up on fresh ingredients and cook some
delicious, healthy meals from scratch.
Can the coffee
Need a morning pick-me-up? Swap your usual
daily coffee for an antioxidant-packed cup of green tea - or three - instead.
Researchers found that drinking three cups of green (or black) tea a day
reduced the risk of stroke by 21 per cent.
Healthy bonus tea without milk has a Pro
Points value of zero, so switching to three cups of green or black tea instead
of one Starbucks grande café latte with skimmed milk could save you 131
calories. New jeans here we come!
Extra cash in your pocket Buying $80.36 a
month a grande café latte from Starbucks on your way to work will set you back
up to $3.87 a day which amounts to $83.36-26.33 a month. A box of Tetley Pure
Green Tea Bags, however, only costs around $ 2.73for 50 bags - that’s a saving
of $80.36 a month if you drink three cups a day.
Bin the booze
A survey by the Office for National
Statistics found that working professionals drank the equivalent of a bottle
and a half of wine cach week. More than a third of women regularly drink more
than the recommended daily amount of two to three units (a 175ml glass of 14
per cent ABV wine has two and a half units), with a quarter of us buying booze
in our weekly shop. But did you know that, aside from contributing to weight
gain, drinking even small amounts of alcohol regularly can increase your risk
of mouth, throat, breast, liver and bowel cancers? Sticking to one bottle a
week may ait down on hangovers too.
Healthy
bonus With a ProPoints value of 4 for a 175ml glass of dry white wine,
switching to a lower calorie brand may pay dividends on the scales
Healthy bonus With a ProPoints value of 4
for a 175ml glass of dry white wine, switching to a lower calorie brand may pay
dividends on the scales. A 175ml glass of Weight Watchers Fruity White Wine has
a ProPoints value of 3.
Extra cash in your pocket $20.11 a month
One 750ml bottle of wine, which would typically cost $9.28 in a supermarket,
contains 4.2 glasses. Cut out that extra half a bottle a week and you could
save $20.11 a month.
Ditch the car
That little voice in your head might object
to walking to work, as you don't want to get up early or arrive hot and sweaty.
But imagine making the most of the longer days, not getting stuck in traffic
jams and arriving at work feeling energised. Brisk walking can help strengthen
bones, prevent heart disease and control diabetes. It can also improve thinking
and reasoning skills.
Healthy bonus: If your walk to work takes
an hour, you could burn 210 calories striding each way, totalling a whopping
420 calories a day. An hour of walking can also earn you 4 activity ProPoints
values*.
Extra cash in your pocket $177.09 a month
The average UK motorist who drives to work spends $177.09 every month on fuel,
parking, congestion and other related driving charges.
Pack your lunch
Tesco
meal deal
Relying on a supermarket meal deal for
lunch can easily throw you off track. For example, a Tesco meal deal, including
a Ham Salad Sandwich, Walkers Ready Salted Crisps and a can of Coke, adds up to
a Pro Points value of 16. Taking leftovers to work will help you to save cash
too.
Healthy bonus By making your own lunch, you
can pack it full of zero ProPoints value fruit and veg, which will also help
you on your way to your five a day.
Extra cash in your pocket $57.06 a month A
supermarket meal deal costs from around 2.50 a day or $83.91 a month. Adding an
extra portion to your typical Weight Watchers magazine recipe can cost as
little as $ 26.84 a month, saving you $57.06
How would you spend an extra $346 a month?
'New clothes!’ I've dropped six dress sizes
and need to update my wardrobe’ says Fern Crickmore.
‘Hire a personal trainer,' says Claire
Langwortby
'Buy fresh salmon, prawns and organic fruit
and veg,' says Carolyn Green
‘Go to a couple more exercise classes a
month,’ Mys Katie Forman
'Stock up on my favourite Weight Watchers
goodies,’ says Sharon Bette.
