The Usual Place Podcast

Abs like Thor, curves like Kim K: Are unrealistic expectations holding us back in the gym?

As we inch closer to a new year, will you be putting “losing weight” on your list of resolutions - for the nth time?

Natasha Ann Zachariah

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Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

Dropping the kilograms is a classic New Year’s resolution for many people, but sticking to it often proves challenging.

Curious to pin down what trips up our weight loss goals, Natasha turned to the experts who have seen success stories and epic fails.

On this episode of The Usual Place, she is joined by Mira Azman (

@miraacurl

), senior exercise experience coach at Virgin Active Singapore, and Jerome Simon (

@jxmonxstar

), senior club general manager at Fitness First Singapore.

The new year usually brings them new clients – it’s a “New Year, New Me” vibe, they both concur – but people have been known to drop out within weeks of signing up.

Mira and Jerome highlight that people often come in with unrealistic expectations.

Like one of Jerome’s clients, who wanted to get the physique of Chris Hemsworth when he was playing Thor within two months. (Spoiler alert: The Thor-wannabe went AWOL after two months).

Or Mira’s client, who wanted to lose 10kg in a month to fit into her pre-pregnancy clothes. As the trainer put it: “Even if you’re a seasoned athlete, that’s a lot of work, and that client basically has no exercise experience at all.”

Jerome, who has more than 12 years of experience helping people of all fitness levels from beginners to seasoned athletes, said: “I often notice some members get kind of lost. They are not sure how to progress after a certain point… and they don’t see the results fast enough, then they lose a bit of motivation to continue.”

That’s why both trainers say that accountability, whether by working out with a coach or finding a supportive community, can keep one on track.

Also, ditch the people who are unsupportive, said Mira, who has 10 years of experience as a certified personal trainer, and specialises in women’s health as well as strength and conditioning to enhance athletic performance.

It’s quite common for her clients to tell her that the people around them – boyfriends or spouses – second-guess their decision to lose weight.

“Of course, people around you whom you feel are significant in your life should be supportive,” said Mira, who founded an all-girls run club (

@girlgang.runclub

“But even if they’re not, honestly, how you receive the information is entirely up to you. What are you going to do with it?”

Her pro tip: “I always tell my clients, ‘If you don’t like the vibe, don’t change the vibe. Change the environment.”

Watch this week’s episode of The Usual Place to find out what else these trainers had to say about TikTok trends, unsustainable diet fads, and how to shift your mindset to get fit in 2025.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:18 “New Year, New Me” vibes

2:58 How soon does the break-up happen?

5:48 How a Thor-wannabe went AWOL

8:15 Sticking to a game plan

9:10 The importance of the first three to six months

11:58 Can you achieve your goals with your TikTok fam?

15:43 Unsaid truths about weight loss

19:06 Is having no time bad for the plan?

23:14 Why these trainers dislike “cheat meals”

30:51 Facing social sabotage – “Are you sure you can do it?”

35:12 A motivational push from Mira and Jerome