How To Make Weight Loss LAST!

Studies show that up to 80% of people who lose a significant amount of weight will regain it within a year or two.

This statistic reveals an uncomfortable truth: losing weight is tough, but maintaining that weight loss is even tougher. The reason weight regain is so common lies in a complex mix of factors—biological changes that slow metabolism after weight loss, the difficulty of sustaining new habits, life events that disrupt routines, and unrealistic expectations about the weight loss process.

However, this struggle can also serve as the key to lasting, sustainable change.

Michelle’s Journey: A Story of Second Chances and Real Transformation

Meet Michelle.

At The Fit Project, we pride ourselves on leaving clients in a better place than we found them—equipped with healthier habits, better routines, and a more balanced approach to fitness and nutrition. On the surface, Michelle seemed to fit this mold. She worked with us, lost nearly 9 kilograms, and transitioned to a healthier lifestyle.

Or so we thought.

Fast forward to January 2022, when Michelle returned. The weight she had worked so hard to lose had come back. . .

Here’s how Michelle described her experience:

"I came back to The Fit Project a second time after having lost 7–9 kilograms in 2020. But over the next year and a half, I gained it all back. I started believing the narrative that I had failed, that I couldn’t get back to where I was, and that I had lost the ability to take control of my health and appearance."

This story is all too familiar for many people, and it’s a reminder of the challenges we face in building lasting change.

The Importance of Building Sustainable Habits

At The Fit Project, our approach goes beyond simply helping clients lose weight. We focus on equipping people with the skills and habits that allow them to adapt to life’s inevitable twists and turns. It’s not enough to help someone lose weight—our goal is for clients to keep the weight off and learn how to thrive when life isn’t perfect or easy.

So when Michelle returned for her second round, we shifted our approach. This time, we didn’t just focus on losing weight; we focused on how to make those results last.

Focusing on Long-Term Success

Rather than just emphasising short-term weight loss, we honed in on what Michelle could sustain over the long haul. Sometimes, when you start seeing positive results, it’s tempting to question whether the right habits are being formed. We encouraged Michelle to ask herself, “Are we doing this for weight loss, or are we doing this for real, lasting life changes?”

The key question became: “What do you think it will take to be healthy now and in the future?”

Even with all the right tools at her disposal, Michelle had doubts about her ability to succeed again. Her concerns may sound familiar to anyone who has struggled with weight loss:

"A lot of my fear and lack of confidence came from unrealistic expectations about what works for transforming my body. As I put weight back on, I stopped trusting my ability to make the right choices. I thought I’d need to make even bigger changes this time around to see the results I wanted."

The Reality of Sustainable Results

There’s a pervasive myth that significant results require drastic sacrifices. While extreme transformations—like those of professional athletes or bodybuilders—may demand more intense efforts, most people’s desired results don’t require over-the-top changes. Small, sustainable adjustments can lead to life-changing outcomes.

The Power of a Mindset Shift

Michelle’s breakthrough came when she shifted her mindset. This shift became the key to unlocking lasting results and healthy behaviors. She realized that making progress was less about radical change and more about going back to the basics.

Here’s how she described her journey:

"I learned that making progress was really about going back to the fundamentals, making small but important changes in my diet, and being willing to experiment with what worked for me—so it would stick. And, most importantly, I had to give myself time to see results, understanding that there would be ups and downs along the way."

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves, Michelle!

Yours in health,

Coach Kimmi