That is absolutely wild.
When I was command fitness leader in the Navy we had a lot of people who needed to lose weight to pass their PRT. I had a very simple process that essentially boiled down to spending the first week measuring your food intake — ignore any form of workout at this point. Then after you get an idea for what you are putting in your body, clean it up and reduce the calories. Incorporate interval training.. it can be anything... rock climbing, spin bike, standing up and sitting down at your desk, etc. Whatever.
The reason the interval training can be so vague is 1.) most of these people never worked out and specific routines are essentially irrelevant when someone behinds their fitness journey (as long as its done safely) and 2.) Abs are made in the kitchen.
Understand your diet, then make incremental changes to dial it in.
You don't need to be worrying about 5/5/2, PPL, the WOD, etc. Just get your food right and you for sure don't need to spend $200 a month on it. I get that these have their place, I promise. I spent most of my adult life lifting.
The fitness industry is so set on "this is the program you should be on", "this is the diet you need to be following", etc.
If you are wanting to lose some weight make one simple step that cost the price of a notebook and pen (or your phone) to start. Spend a week just logging everything in your body. At the end of the week, total it up. Search for healthier alternatives (don't nuke it.. if there are a bazillion alternatives just pick one), and work on burning more calories than you are putting in.
One of greatest mistakes I see people make is over complicating everything then burning themselves out. Fitness is about changing habits.
Sorry for the rant.