Have you ever wondered what it really takes to lose 31 kg in eight months without sacrificing your dignity or sanity?
Fitness Expert Who Lost 31 Kg In 8 Months Shares 3 Key Changes For Rapid Weight Loss – NDTV
You’re reading this because that headline grabbed you — and because you want to know if the same things can work for you. A fitness expert’s story often reads like a blueprint: data, discipline, and design. But it’s also human work: choices, setbacks, and constant recalibration. Below you’ll get the practical steps behind three core changes that produced rapid weight loss, the science and psychology that make them work, and concrete tools you can start using today.
What that transformation really means
Losing 31 kg in eight months is substantial. It’s roughly 3.9 kg per month, or about 0.9 kg per week on average — a rate that many healthcare professionals consider aggressive but achievable when done carefully.
You should know that rapid weight loss at this scale requires intentional changes across diet, exercise, recovery, and behavior. It’s not a single trick. It’s multiple habits stacked and sustained. If you’re attracted to the number, you also need to be attracted to the process.
The three key changes that made it possible
The fitness expert summarized success into three major shifts. Each shift is a lever you can pull. Alone they move things a little; together they change the landscape.
1) Nutrition: Structured, sustainable calorie control
You’ll hear calorie counting echoed in most successful weight-loss stories because energy balance matters. The expert focused on consistent calorie control rather than crash diets, with attention to protein and food quality.
You don’t have to be obsessive about every bite, but you do need a plan that makes healthy choices easier than unhealthy ones. Structure creates permission to be human.
How to set your calorie target
Start with a reasonable deficit: about 10–25% below your maintenance calories. That usually yields steady weight loss without catastrophic hunger or metabolic slowdown.
- If you don’t know your maintenance, estimate it using an online calculator or multiply your body weight (kg) by 25–30 kcal for a rough maintenance estimate, then subtract 300–800 kcal depending on how aggressive you want to be.
- Aim for no less than 1,200 kcal/day for most women and 1,500 kcal/day for most men unless supervised by a clinician.
You will need to adjust as you lose weight because maintenance calories fall with body mass. That’s normal — update your target every 5–10 kg lost.
Protein, satiety, and muscle preservation
Prioritize protein. The expert emphasized protein-rich meals to preserve lean mass, which matters for both health and metabolic rate.
- Target 1.6–2.2 g protein per kg of body weight per day if you’re actively losing weight and resistance training.
- Distribute protein evenly across meals (e.g., 20–40 g per meal) to maximize muscle protein synthesis.
Protein also helps you feel fuller, so you’re less likely to binge later.
Practical diet frameworks you can use
You can pick any dietary pattern that fits your life so long as it meets the calorie and protein targets. Common, sustainable options include:
- Flexible dieting (IIFYM): track macros and aim for a deficit while keeping room for favorite foods.
- Moderate low-carb: reduces some processed carbs and prioritizes vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats.
- Mediterranean-style: whole grains, legumes, fish, olive oil, and vegetables with controlled portions.
You’re allowed to enjoy food. The expert did not eliminate pleasure; they rearranged when and how much.
Sample daily meal plan (approx. 1,800 kcal, 140 g protein)
| Meal | Example | Approx. calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Greek yogurt (200 g) + 40 g oats + berries | 400 | 30 g |
| Snack | Apple + 20 g almonds | 200 | 6 g |
| Lunch | Grilled chicken (150 g) + mixed salad + quinoa (75 g cooked) | 450 | 40 g |
| Snack | Cottage cheese (150 g) + cucumber | 150 | 18 g |
| Dinner | Baked salmon (150 g) + steamed veg + sweet potato (150 g) | 500 | 46 g |
This is illustrative. Adjust portion sizes and calories to your target.
2) Training: Prioritize resistance training and progressive overload
Cardio burns calories, and you’ll do some of it. But the expert made resistance training the backbone of the plan. Muscle preserves metabolic rate, improves body composition, and gives your body a reason to stay strong while you lose fat.
You don’t have to be in the gym five hours a week. You need a plan that increases stress on your muscles over time.
Why resistance training matters
When you lose weight quickly without strength training, a significant portion of that loss can be muscle. Preserving muscle helps maintain resting energy expenditure and gives your body a healthier composition.
- Aim for 3–5 resistance sessions per week.
- Focus on compound lifts: squats, deadlifts, presses, rows, and pull-ups/chin-ups.
- Use progressive overload: increase weight, reps, or sets gradually.
A sample 4-week beginner-to-intermediate program
You can run a full-body program three times a week or an upper/lower split four times a week. Here’s a simple 3x/week full-body structure you can follow for 4–8 weeks:
| Day | Focus | Exercises (3 sets unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Day A | Full-body | Squat 5×5, Bench press 3×8–10, Bent-over row 3×8–10, Plank 3×30–60s |
| Day B | Full-body | Deadlift 4×5, Overhead press 3×8–10, Pull-up/lat pulldown 3×8–12, Farmer carry 3×40m |
| Day C | Full-body | Front squat or goblet squat 3×8–10, Incline dumbbell press 3×8–10, Single-leg deadlift 3×8–10, Side plank 3×30s each |
Adjust weights so last reps are challenging. If you’re new, technique matters more than load.
Cardio: quality over quantity
Use cardio as a tool for extra calories and cardiovascular health. Mix steady-state (30–45 minutes at moderate pace) with high-intensity intervals (10–20 minutes of intervals) for variety and efficiency.
You’ll get more sustainable results by combining strength with moderate cardio than by doing endless long cardio sessions.
3) Accountability, sleep, and stress management
This third change is less glamorous but perhaps most decisive. You will default to old behaviors when tired or stressed. The expert built systems that made healthy choices easier when life was messy.
You can be exact about calories and reps, but if you don’t protect sleep and manage stress, both diet and training suffer.
Sleep: your underused performance enhancer
Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones (increasing ghrelin, lowering leptin), reduces exercise performance, and impairs recovery.
- Aim for 7–9 hours of consistent sleep per night.
- Establish a wind-down ritual: dim lights, no screens 30–60 minutes before bed, and a cool, dark sleeping environment.
- Consider naps only if they don’t interfere with nighttime sleep.
Better sleep helps you stick to the other two changes.
Stress, cortisol, and emotional eating
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can increase appetite and make you more likely to store fat centrally. The expert used simple daily practices to reduce stress reactivity.
- Implement small, consistent practices: 5–10 minutes of breathing, a short walk after meals, journaling to process your day.
- Remove decision fatigue where possible: plan meals and workouts in advance.
- Get social support: a friend for training, a coach, or a community.
You don’t need a perfect calm. You need manageable stress.
Tracking and accountability systems
You’re not failing because you need external structure. You’re human. Tracking provides clarity.
- Use a simple logging method for food and training, even if it’s just a note app.
- Weekly check-ins: weigh yourself once weekly at the same time and conditions to observe trends rather than day-to-day noise.
- Behavioral contracts: tell a friend or coach your goals and ask for accountability.
This is the structure that protects your momentum.
How to implement the three changes in the first 30 days
You need a plan for the immediate future, not just long explanations. The first month is where you set defaults and make progress.
Week 1: Measurement and small wins
Start with baseline measures and remove friction.
- Measure: body weight, body measurements (waist, hips, thighs), and take photos. Don’t obsess; these are for comparison.
- Track food for 7 days to understand current intake.
- Do three strength sessions this week with lighter weights to learn form.
- Sleep: pick a bedtime and wake time that allow 7–8 hours.
Small wins create confidence.
Weeks 2–3: Build consistency and increase stressors
Begin to apply the calorie deficit and progressive overload.
- Reduce current calorie intake by 10–20% if your log shows excess.
- Increase protein intake to target.
- Add 1–2 short cardio sessions (20–30 minutes).
- Increment loads in the gym by 2.5–5% when exercises feel manageable.
You’re building habits: make them repeatable.
Week 4: Evaluate and iterate
Assess how you feel and what’s realistic.
- Check weight and measurements. Expect some variability; focus on trends.
- If you’re losing 0.5–1% body weight per week, you’re in a reasonable zone.
- If hunger or fatigue is extreme, raise calories slightly and reassess.
- Keep resisting the urge to chase a single number; emphasize strength and energy.
Your body will tell you what adjustments are needed. Listen without judgment.
Troubleshooting plateaus and common pitfalls
You will hit plateaus. That’s part of the process. The fitness expert used data and small experiments to break them.
Calorie creep and non-exercise activity
Often, plateaus happen because calories sneak back in or non-exercise activity decreases.
- Re-log food for 3–7 days to find calorie creep.
- Track steps: if your daily steps dropped, increase incidental movement.
- Consider a short “reverse diet” period (increase calories slightly) if you’ve been at a very large deficit for months to reset behavior and hunger.
Small course corrections beat radical overhauls.
Overtraining and under-recovery
If you push too hard with workouts and don’t manage recovery, performance stagnates and appetite dysregulation follows.
- Ensure one full day of rest per week and manage weekly training volume.
- Add mobility or restorative sessions when needed.
Recovery is training in another form.
Emotional eating and social stressors
Weight loss often triggers emotional responses. You’ll encounter social dinners, travel, and slow days.
- Plan strategies: choose protein-rich options at restaurants, have a pre-planned snack when you’ll be at events, or set a flexible macro buffer for those days.
- Reframe “cheat days” as planned higher-calorie meals you account for in your weekly plan.
You aren’t failing when you eat outside the plan. You’re learning how to integrate life into your plan.
Safety, medical considerations, and individual differences
Rapid weight loss isn’t safe for everyone. You need to be realistic and, in some cases, consult professionals.
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or are taking medications, talk to your doctor before major changes.
- If you have a history of disordered eating, avoid strict tracking without support — consider a registered dietitian or therapist.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, and older age require tailored approaches.
Context matters. Your plan must fit your health profile.
Measuring success beyond the scale
You’ll find the scale is a tiny noisy instrument for a complex story. The fitness expert tracked multiple indicators.
- Strength gains: lifting heavier is a sign you’re preserving or adding muscle.
- Energy and mood: feeling better throughout the day matters more than a number.
- Clothing fit and photos: these show body composition shifts.
- Health markers: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol can improve with weight loss and better habits.
If your improvements show in these areas, you’re succeeding even if the scale stalls.
Sample 12-week plan overview
Here is a simplified roadmap you can follow. Adjust intensity to your starting level.
| Phase | Weeks | Focus | Weekly training | Nutrition emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 1–4 | Habit setup | 3 strength + 1–2 cardio | Track food, set calorie target, increase protein |
| Build | 5–8 | Progression | 4 strength (split) + 2 cardio | Tighten tracking, add veg and fiber, refine macros |
| Consolidate | 9–12 | Performance & sustainability | 3–5 sessions with deload week | Slight calorie re-evaluation, plan for maintenance |
Use the phases to avoid burnout and maintain progress.
What to expect psychologically during fast weight loss
You’ll feel empowered on some days and fragile on others. Rapid change brings identity work.
- You might face conflicting feelings: pride and fear, excitement and boredom.
- Social dynamics can shift; others may react to your changes.
- Long-term success depends on how you integrate the new behaviors into your identity.
This is personal growth disguised as a diet plan. Let it change how you treat yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to lose that much weight so quickly?
It can be safe for many people under proper guidance. The critical factors are sufficient protein, resistance training, adequate sleep, and medical oversight when needed.
You must avoid extreme calorie deficits that create nutritional deficiencies or severe metabolic slowdowns.
Will the weight come back?
Weight regain is common if you revert to old habits. The expert emphasized a gradual maintenance phase and continued strength training to minimize regain.
You’ll need a plan to transition from deficit to maintenance: increase calories slowly and maintain activity.
Do you have to count calories forever?
No. Counting is a learning tool. Many people switch to portion control and intuitive habits after they learn what appropriate portions look like.
Use tracking until you internalize the habits that fit your life.
How important is genetics?
Genetics influences where you store fat and how quickly you lose it, but behavior changes still matter. Focus on factors you can control: diet, training, and recovery.
Genetics does not excuse inaction, and it does not nullify hard work.
Practical quick-start checklist you can use today
- Decide your daily calorie target and protein goal for the next 7 days.
- Schedule three strength training sessions in your calendar and a couple of short cardio sessions.
- Prepare three protein-rich meals and freeze or batch-cook for the week.
- Choose a consistent sleep schedule and set a nightly wind-down routine.
- Find one accountability partner or join a group for weekly check-ins.
Small, consistent steps beat perfect plans you never start.
Final thoughts: what this story gives you permission to do
This fitness expert’s success — 31 kg in eight months — is not a recipe you copy blindly. It’s a proof-of-concept: intentional, compound changes create dramatic results. You’re allowed to want fast change, but you’re also allowed to insist that change be humane.
You can be rigorous without being cruel to yourself. You can lift heavy things, eat protein, prioritize sleep, and ask for help. You can track without letting numbers define your worth. If you’re ready to commit to these three changes — structured nutrition, strength-focused training, and supportive recovery and accountability — you’ll be surprised at what consistent effort produces.
If you want, tell me a bit about your current habits (meals, workouts, sleep) and I’ll help you draft a 30-day plan tailored to your life.
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