If you’ve made the decision to make a change in 2026, then congratulations! It’ll be a long road, but you should be proud of your commitment to becoming the best version of yourself.
That said, while losing weight is relatively simple, it’s not necessarily an easy task. There are several core elements that must come together in synergy to ensure long-lasting results, and if you don’t have a core understanding of what makes a weight loss plan work, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.
The hardest part is getting started, so in this article, we’ll cover the above and more, informing you on the most important things you’ll need to consider on your weight loss journey.
Diet
Diet is fundamentally the most important element of this entire process. Despite what many online health and fitness articles, Instagram posts, and TikTok videos will tell you, losing weight is simply about calories in, calories out.
It’s about energy balance. Everyone has a maintenance calorie level at which their weight remains stable. When you eat more energy than that (a calorie surplus), you gain weight, and when you eat less (a calorie deficit), you lose weight.
Working with a dietician to establish your maintenance calorie level and then how much to deduct from it is key. You can also use an online calculator to gain a rough understanding.
Physical Exercise
As you’ve no doubt heard, another part of the equation is exercise. While it’s much more effective to control a calorie deficit through food, exercise still helps. The more calories you burn during exercise, the more weight you lose (providing you remain in a deficit and don’t compensate by eating more).
One of the best forms of exercise to start off with is walking. You don’t have to do anything vigorous in the beginning, and you’d be surprised at the extent walking can improve your caloric burn, elevate your positive health markers, and make you feel good.
Psychology
The psychology of weight loss is an often underappreciated part of this equation. No matter how good someone’s diet and exercise strategy is, they have to actually be able to stick to it, and many times, there are psychological factors getting in the way of that.
One of the best things you can do if you struggle with this is to get in contact with a weight loss psychologist. They can employ a plethora of therapeutic techniques to get you to the point where you’re fully ready to make the change.
Weight Loss Medication
The above three elements represent the gold standard for losing weight, but there are other evidence-based aids available, too.
Weight loss medications (also known as GLP-1 drugs) work by significantly suppressing your appetite, and alongside a well-devised diet and exercise strategy, they can have a profound impact on your results.
These days, you can be assessed and prescribed this kind of medication through an online weight loss clinic, which makes the process quick and easy.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you now feel a little clearer on the core elements of losing weight. It’ll take time to develop a viable plan, and there will need to be a great deal of effort on your part to see it through, but anyone can get there. Good luck!
