Trying to lose weight? Here's a fitness coach's insight on a common hindrance

Social media platforms are flooded with videos that claim to offer weight loss in a week, a month, six months, and more. But if shedding weight was truly that simple and fast, why do so many people still find it challenging to achieve? Shedding excess weight can feel difficult, yet it's not out of reach if you follow effective methods and steer clear of social media tricks. In an Instagram post from 13th April 2026, fitness instructor Raj Ganpath discussed how your attitude influences the weight loss process.

Raj noted, “If you consider weight loss as portrayed on social media — 15 kg in 6 months, 8 kg in 2 months, and the like — that's essentially one of the most significant mindset issues.”

Here are the points Raj emphasised regarding weight loss:

1. The body’s potential to achieve

Raj explained that aiming for unrealistic weight loss targets isn’t the issue; the problem lies in not understanding what your body is capable of accomplishing within the desired timeframe. He explained that weight reduction involves creating a calorie deficit. To shed such a significant amount, you need to establish a large calorie deficit, necessitating burning a lot of calories while consuming fewer. Most of us are not up to this, and hence these impractical plans collapse after a few days. Only a handful manage to push themselves excessively and end up losing the weight, only to regain it months later and have to repeat the process.

2. Lifestyle integration

Weight reduction shouldn’t be your life's sole focus; there’s much more to life. Therefore, it’s vital to incorporate this journey into your lifestyle, rather than making it your lifestyle. Raj pointed out that such rapid weight loss demands extra effort, impacting your everyday life. Creating a significant calorie deficit calls for daily exercise, one to two hours of walking, seven to eight hours of sleep, including protein in every meal, reducing starch, and much more. Incorporating all of this into daily life is challenging for most people, and attempting to do so often means deprivation of many things. Such methods are unsustainable in the long run, leading to failure. “Hence, it’s crucial to ensure your lifestyle can accommodate these changes before setting targets,” advised Raj.

3. How the body functions

Raj mentioned that our bodies don’t operate on a timeline. Regardless of the deadlines we set, our bodies don’t always comply. “Your body isn’t going to lose one kilo each week. There will be fluctuations. Some days you’ll do well, others not so much. Some weeks you’ll shed a few pounds, and others you won’t,” Raj said. He suggests focusing on effort-based goals. For example, instead of having a target to lose 10 kg in a month, consider walking more each day. Effort-focused goals will allow for sustainable weight loss, maintaining it over time.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media.