Weight loss: what influencers won’t tell you

I rarely talk about myself on this topic: not because I don’t have a method, but because I don’t believe in universal methods: every body is different, every life is different.

2026 Healthy and beautiful Laura

But some things are not opinions, they are facts and ignoring them is exactly why people stay stuck.

This post is about that.

I have never been obese but after pregnancy, something shifted; or maybe it didn’t.

Maybe it was just the moment when social media started shaping what a “normal body” should look like.

My son was born in 2009, right when everything started to become visible, curated, filtered.

Flat stomachs two weeks after birth, “natural” bodies that are anything but natural, perfect routines that don’t exist.

And you stand there, looking at your body, thinking something is wrong.

I tried everything: strict diets, intense workouts, every trend you can imagine.

Did they work? sometimes. Did they last? never.

Weight went up and down, energy went down, frustration went up. Too much restriction and effort: too far from myself, I love my routines, my freedom, I like the good food. So I stopped trying to follow what works in theory and started building something that works in my life.

ABOUT FOOD So let’s be clear, because this is where people get uncomfortable: If you want to lose weight, there is a non negotiable rule:

what you consume must be less than what you burn.

That’s it, you can dress it up however you want, call it keto, fasting, detox, clean eating, but if this is not happening, nothing is happening. Weight loss is science, not a trend: your favorite influencer is not a scientific source.

My example from the past: keto.

I did four weeks, no carbs, high fat; yes, even vegan, and it “worked”.

But here is the part nobody tells you: I was barely eating because fat made me feel full to the point of nausea; food was almost repulsive.

Of course I lost weight! Anyone would, eating that little.

At the same time I experienced: digestive issues, gut problems, irritability, low mood.

Fun fact: recently, while studying for the Human Physiology exam, I understood something basic: your brain runs on glucose.

Glucose comes mainly from carbohydrates, it is stored as glycogen and used as quick energy, especially for the brain and muscles. So keto was not a healthy choice.

Instead, what do I do now? No calorie tracking, no obsessions, no restrictions.

I do mainly 2 things:

👉 portions👉 awareness

Portions:

I am 157 cm, I do not need the same amount of food as someone who is 190 cm.

So I changed something simple: smaller plates, it sounds stupid but It works.

A small cat does not eat like a Maine Coon. Yet humans pretend size does not matter.

I eat everything, nothing is forbidden but I decide how much.

I want dessert? I adjust the meal.

Awareness:

2011 Less healthy but still beautiful Laura

in front of a high calories food I ask myself one question: do I actually need this, or am I just following the moment?

And sometimes the answer is no.

That “no” is not restriction, is real strength.

But here is the uncomfortable part: this mindset can turn into control, guilt, obsession; especially in younger or fragile minds.

Awareness creates freedom, control creates prison. If you are not honest about that line, you will cross it.

ABOUT FITNESS

My example from the past: I used to train 3 to 4 times a week high intensity, strength sessions, one hour each time.

Every session ended the same way: exhaustion.

Not “good tired” but drained.

And then something I didn’t want to admit: I was eating more, not because I was “rewarding myself”, but because my body was tired, stressed, asking for energy.

So I was burning but I was also compensating without realizing it.

What am I doing now instead?

👉 cardio 👉 strength and stretching Cardio:

this one needs to be said clearly.

Saying cardio is useless is ignorant or convenient if someone is trying to sell you something because your heart is a muscle, if you don’t train it, you are not “optimizing”, you are neglecting.

You don’t need to run a marathon, but 30 to 60 minutes of brisk walking a day changes your body, energy, fat metabolism, cardiovascular health.

About 1 year ago I started running as a personal challenge, not for weight.

Yes, I was part of the “cardio is useless” group. I was wrong.

In almost 1 year of consistent cardiovascular activities I have lower resting heart rate, better HRV (HRV is your body’s ability to handle stress; higher means more resilience).

For me, with asthma, that matters. This is not magic, this is physiology.

Strength and stretching:

sad but true

I am 49, in perimenopause: muscle mass declines, metabolism slow down, bone density becomes an issue. Less muscle means less energy consumption.

So I train strength 30 mins twice a week and I stretch every morning.

Not for aesthetics but for health.

Where I am now:

For months, I have been stable between 57 and 58 kg: no restriction, no stress, no extremes.

Some weeks are better, some are not.

And that’s the point: this is not about fitting into a dress or wearing a swimsuit; this is about living well in your body.

If someone is selling you an easy solution, they are not helping you, they are selling you something.

And they are not guessing: they are telling you exactly what you hope is true!

That you can skip the hard part.

But, I'm sorry, you can’t.