A fitness guru mum, known as The Gym Nurse to her 150,000 Instagram followers, has shared some advice on how long people should really be dieting for.

Shannon Collins, 44, who is in the best shape of her life, claims it’s not all about dieting and there comes a time when everyone should stop following a low-calorie plan.

She explains that the length of a diet depends on the individual, with most people staying in a calorie deficit for between 12 to 16 weeks. However, if you’re constantly thinking about food, developing a bad relationship with it or experiencing physical issues like hair thinning or digestion problems, it might be time to take a step back.

On Instagram, Shannon answered a common question many dieters have, ‘how long should I be dieting?’

Shannon said: “Probably my most frequently asked question. There are no hard and fast rules. You need to be listening to your body and signs it’s time to take a break. Don’t ignore the signs for aesthetics.

“We need to take breaks to refresh the body and mind. This isn’t supposed to be a forever lifestyle. Your body is not functioning optimally in a calorie deficit.

“Those who have a higher body fat percentage will be able to sustain more time in deficit without the negative effects on biofeedback. Those who just have 10lbs to lose will probably feel the effects of dieting much quicker.

“You need to listen to your body. And remember that if your goal is to build new muscle not much, if any of that will be happening in a calorie deficit. So if that’s your overall goal, stop dieting.”

Her post received lots of attention, with hundreds of likes and lots of comments from people eager to share their own experiences.

One follower wrote: “I knew it was time to stop when I was eating breakfast and obsessed with how long before I could eat lunch.”

Another commented: “Listen to your body! Great information in this post!” A third went on to add: “Just posted and talked in stories about how important it is to stop when your body is telling you to! Even if it’s earlier than planned!”

One fan responded, saying: “So important!! Everything is so individual and diet culture has normalized being in a deficit forever…when it’s actually a stress on the body.”

In addition, Shannon recently reassured her followers that gaining 5lbs isn’t noticeable. To prove this, she shared a series of snapshots demonstrating how her figure had altered over several months.

In some photos, she appeared to be an extra 5lbs heavier, whilst in others, she seemed to be lighter by the same amount. What was evident was that she looked the same in every image. The photos proved that while her weight might fluctuate slightly, it didn’t alter her outward appearance.