Losing a kilo a month: a cutting phase that never seems to end

Losing a kilo a month: the endless patience of cutting

How long does it take to notice physical change when you're losing a kilo a month? Sometimes, far too long. After nearly a year of cutting, strength numbers have gone up, body composition has improved and the waistline has shrunk. But there are still five kilos to go, five more months, and the mirror has become a slow judge.

Boredom, the silent enemy

The biggest challenge isn't the effort, but sustaining a routine. Walking, cycling or rowing works for a few weeks; after that, laziness takes its toll. The jump rope is presented as the most efficient and affordable option, though practicing it alone wears down motivation. Group sports alternatives like spinning or bag boxing are gaining ground as a remedy for tedium.

The example of one morning of activity is telling: more than seven hours of movement, between walking and kayaking, to burn barely 800 kcal. A reminder that aerobic exercise, without variety or company, is a bottomless pit of boredom.

The gym as an ecosystem

The environment matters as much as the weights. A gym with 25 people makes you want to come back; a room with a single occupant discourages even the most disciplined. The recommendation of group classes points in the same direction: sport is a product best consumed in company.

Critics of the process argue that a monthly loss of one kilo doesn't deserve to be called cutting. The answer is a simple idea: what matters is the process, not the goal. And the process is a bet over ten or twenty years. What remains to be decided is whether to change gyms or accept that cutting is, quite simply, an endurance race against your own boredom.