Why You Weighed Less at Uni

And how this impacts your current goals

When it comes to setting goals related to body composition or weight, there is an important question I’ll often ask when discussing these targets.

When did you last weigh [insert goal here]?

It’s remarkable how often the answer is somewhere in their early twenties. This insight leads to a couple of points to consider when contextualising goals and timeframes.

Firstly, it quantifies the time between then and now. If it took 15 years to gain weight, do they need to lose it in ten weeks?

Most people have never considered the time it takes to accumulate weight. While this doesn’t necessarily impact the rate it can be lost, it provides a reality check for overly ambitious targets that few people can adhere to.

Secondly, we can compare and contrast lifestyle differences between then and now. This is a useful activity for discussing ways to manage the 3 F’s.

It is also a handy exercise for learning about their fitness and nutrition preferences and understanding what may work now. Of course, this can change over time, and we don’t just replicate what they did back then, but it’s a useful starting point for personalisation.