Today’s post is a guest post from Lisa Thompson who writes for Plus Size Survival.

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I can’t afford to eat healthy.  I don’t have time to go to the gym. My family needs me. I need to get my sleep.  I can’t afford a gym and even if I could, I’m too big and out-of-shape to go.  Eating healthy doesn’t fit into our budget. It doesn’t matter if I lose weight…I’ll still have to wear the same clothes because I don’t have money for new ones. I’ve failed before and I’ll fail again.

How many times have you said one of those phrases to yourself?  If you’re like me, chances are great that one or more of those phrases has been echoing in your mind for a long time.  And the sad truth of the matter is this:  Those excuses are just excuses. While there may be some underlying truth in each of them, most of them are things you can change.

In this series What’s Your Excuse?  Common Excuses That Keep Your From Losing Weight, I am going to focus on 5 of the most common excuses I hear that keep people from losing weight.  I’ll share the things I’ve learned that have turned those excuses around and have helped me shed over 35 pounds.

Common Excuse #1:  I can’t afford to eat healthy.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who told me “I’d love to lose weight, but I can’t afford to eat healthy.”  Although fresh fruits and veggies, lean cuts of meat, and organic items tend to be more expensive than what we think of as junk food, there are plenty of ways to eat healthy without breaking the bank.

1. Make a budget and stick to it!

2. Plan your meals based on what’s on sale.  Go through your local grocery flyer and highlight the items that are on sale for a great price.  Use those items in your weekly meal plan.

3. Eat at least one “meatless” meal a week.  Beans are a great source of protein and fiber, can be prepared in a variety of tasty ways, and are extremely inexpensive.

4.  Buy produce in season.  When you buy “in season” produce, you’ll save money and enjoy the freshest tasting fruits and veggies.  Freeze whatever you can’t use before it spoils.  Frozen fruits and veggies are great in smoothies and sauces.

5. Drink water (and not the bottled kind)!  Beverages often add unnecessary calories to our diet and unnecessary dollars to our budget.  Rather than buying bottled and canned beverages, invest in a water filtration pitcher which can be used over and over and over!  It’s good for you and good for the environment!

6.  Cook at home.  Making meals at home will save you a ton of money over restaurant meals.  If a busy schedule is keeping you from cooking during the week, consider investing in a crockpot (You can pick one up for next to nothing at a local thrift store) or consider bulk cooking on the weekends.  Many meals can be prepared on the weekends, placed in the fridge or freezer til you’re ready to use them, and popped in the microwave or oven when you get home.

7.  Hit the Freezer!  Frozen fruits and vegetables are nearly as healthy as fresh fruits and veggies and can often be purchased for mere pennies when combined with a coupon.

8.  Use coupons!  In the last month, I’ve used coupons to get free frozen vegetables, free cheese, free yogurt, and Kashi Heart to Heart cereal for under $1 a box. (Warning: Do NOT use coupons on items you would not normally buy.  This is a huge waste of money.)

9.  Pack snacks! Frequently our healthy eating (and our budgets) go out the window when we’re hungry.  Taking healthy snacks with you will keep you from hitting the drive-thru or heading to the grocery store when your tummy starts growling.

10. Stock up on these budget-friendly, good-for-you foods:

* Milk
* Eggs
* Canned Tomatoes
* Canned Fish
* Sweet Potatoes
* Beans

Don’t let your excuses keep you from losing weight!

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Be sure to check out Plus Size Survival for lots of great information about exercise equipment, fitness shoes, videos and games that are ideal for getting plus size people off the couch and in to shape.