From untrained to unstoppable: How a 23-year-old entrepreneur in Singapore dropped 8.5 kg, shrank her waist by 12 cm, and took control of her health with Root Fitness.

When Raksha joined Root Fitness in early 2024, she was 23, living in Singapore, and like so many others her age, full of potential but feeling stuck in her body.

She had little weightlifting experience, and while her lifestyle habits weren’t terrible, they weren’t intentional either. Between hours spent incubating her new business idea and adjusting to life back in Singapore (she'd studied in the USA for several months), movement and mindful eating had taken a back seat. At over 102 kilograms, she knew something needed to change. But she wasn’t sure where to start.

So she started here, with personal training, nutrition coaching, and a training plan built around her goals and lifestyle.

January: The first look in the mirror

Her first assessment told us what we needed to know: Her waist measured 103.5 cm, her abdominal circumference 118 cm, and her body fat percentage hovered around 41.5%. Her waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) flagged a high health risk.

More than the numbers, Raksha admitted she just didn’t feel good: Not in her clothes, not in her skin, and not in her day-to-day energy. But the motivation to change was there, and that’s all we needed to light the fire.

February–March: Building from the ground up

We didn’t dive in with intensity, we began with intention.

Fundamental movements became a new language for her. Her weekly sessions were programmed to teach her how to move well and build muscle safely and optimally. Cardio wasn't about killing yourself on the treadmill, and nutrition wasn’t about cutting everything out. It was about adding in more of the good stuff and learning how to manage her body better.

By early March, the shifts were subtle but real. She’d dropped a few kilos, but more importantly, her waist had shrunk by over 7 cm. Her posture improved, and her energy was more consistent.

"I felt more like myself again, even though we were just getting started." – Raksha

April: The confidence clicked

Something changed in April. The numbers continued to drop—her waist now 94.2 cm, her weight just above 97 kg—but what stood out more was her mindset.

She started lifting heavier on a powerbuilding programme and asking better questions about how to hone her journey. The gym no longer felt like a foreign space, instead becoming a place where she felt in control and strong.

"Clothes fit better. Walking felt easier. Sleep got deeper. I didn’t realise how much tension my body had been carrying." – Raksha

May: A surprise victory

After a short trip overseas, Raksha stepped back on the scale to check in, not expecting anything dramatic. What she found was a massive surprise.

She had dropped another 0.5 kg, bringing her total weight loss to 8.5 kg in around three months. Her waist had shrunk to 91.5 cm—down 12 cm since starting. Her body fat percentage was down to around 40%, and her waist-to-hip ratio had dropped to a moderate health risk range.

What’s more? She had maintained her muscle mass the entire time. That’s not just fat loss, that’s smart, sustainable body recomposition.

A new baseline for life

What Raksha achieved wasn’t a crash transformation; it was a blueprint for long-term health. She built the habits, the mindset, and the strength to maintain what she'd achieved without obsessing, over-restricting, or burning out.

At Root Fitness, we specialise in strength training and hypertrophy, weight loss and weight management, sustainable habit building, personal training in Singapore, and online training and nutrition coaching (worldwide).

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