Consider the cost of those extra calories

The cost of those calories are calories, right? They are when you're adding on extra pounds. But how much are those extra calories costing you in cold, hard cash? I'll bet you've never given a thought to the daily cash outlay to maintain that extra girth around your middle.

So, let's start with food cost. Food can be like any other addiction; the cost is there, whether it's for alcohol, tobacco or candy bars. If you are someone who tips the scale at around 300 pounds, you are consuming 3,000 to 5,000 calories per day, and that takes money. I've known people who wouldn't go anywhere without cartons of candy bars, and they constantly consume them, like a chain smoker. At lunch, if you normally eat three hamburgers, three bags of fries and three shakes, you have tripled the cost of your meal. Someone who consumes a large amount of calories per day spends a lot of extra money on groceries.

There are travel costs relating to the very overweight individual, including the cost of an extra airline seat. If you need that extra seat, you are paying a penalty for your overindulgence. And at today's rates, that's no small fee. You pay for extra space for any travel, whether it is by car, bus, boat or plane, and you also pay for extra size in room accommodations and meals.

Medication is a cost factor if you are overweight. Diabetes, heart disease, not to mention the interaction of arthritis, knee and hip problems and back pain, are just a few of the costly medical conditions relating to the very overweight individual. Extra weight in any amount is hard on your body, but the really overweight individual increases his or her own insurance cost as well as influences the insurance cost for everyone.

The cost to your lifestyle when you are overweight is an important consideration. When you can't fit in a chair or in a restaurant booth, when you can't fit behind the wheel of a car or in the seat of a bus because of your size, the cost is a loss of lifestyle. And, don't forget there is a higher cost of clothes to cover the 3,000 to 5,000 calories per day; large sizes cost more money.

So medicine, health cost, clothes, travel restrictions, food costs and lifestyle restrictions are all factors to consider while you maintain those extra pounds.

Is it worth it?

• Jerry Vance is owner of The Sweat Shop/Wet Sweat. She offers classes through Carson City Recreation and Aquatics Center and is a fitness instructor for the Senior Center.