free weight loss

I was checking out the Mindful Muscle site, where they're selling a diet program (it looks very good), and it made me wonder how much people spend trying to lose weight. A quick google search says that in 2006, Marketdata estimated that the total U.S. weight loss market was worth $55.4 billion. Assuming a U.S. population of 310 million, that's an average of $178 per person. (Corrected. Wow, was I confused about the U.S. population size!)

In my 11 month long weight loss odyssey I have spent a grand total of $8 on products. Eight dollars. That was on a book called "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet". The whole diet is contained in the title though, so it wasn't even necessary to buy the book.

Dr. Herring, the author of the Fast-5 book, provides it free of charge. To me that embodies the mindset of Fast-5. It is the antithesis of the more-more-more mentality. It's about opting out of the consumer culture, not participating in the money game. I really respect that. This is a great diet and he could be earning bank with it; instead, he gives it away to all takers.

So not only have I lost weight for free, I've saved a ton of money on groceries. That's like getting paid to lose weight. :)

And most importantly, I feel like I'm in control. I'm not dependent on a paid coach or trainer or therapist. I'm responsible for my own weight and (with a little help from my blogger friends!) I'm getting results.

Thank you, Dr. Herring!