Your 2026 weight loss guide
Is your weight something you want to address this year? But are you discouraged by failed attempts or broken resolutions? Don't let past disappointments stop you from achieving something new for yourself this year.
Most people don’t fail because of a lack of willpower, but rather, because they lack an achievable action plan and the right tools.
Why most weight loss resolutions fail
The research on failed resolutions reveals several common pitfalls. We set goals that are too vague ("get healthy"), too ambitious ("lose 20 kilos by March"), or too disconnected from our daily lives ("go to the gym every day" when we've never been gym-goers).
When we aim for a number that is unrealistic, or we slip up on our rigid plan, we feel like failures. That feeling of failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and by mid-February, we've abandoned the resolution entirely, giving up on the idea that change is possible.
We can help! This CAN be the year you transform for good.
Set intentions, not resolutions
Resolutions are a firm decision to do (or not do) something. They're all-or-nothing and rigid and usually framed as an outcome, eg, "I will lose 15 kilos by June."
Intentions are a guiding principle for how you want to live. They focus on the process and the journey rather than just the destination, eg "I intend to feel strong and confident in my body."
A resolution says "I will achieve X." An intention says "I will become Y."
The behaviours you commit to—walking 3x a week, using FastFx on weekdays—support your deeper intention. But the intention itself (how you want to feel) remains your true goal.
Break the cycle: Shift from outcome-focused resolutions to intention-based transformation.
Set your true goal
The kilos you want to lose are not your goal—they're just a measurement.
Your real goal is how you want to feel. Confident walking into a room. Energetic playing with your kids. Comfortable in your clothes. Proud of your reflection. Healthy blood pressure. At home in your own body.
That feeling is your actual goal. The number on the scale? Just one way to track if you're getting there.
Choose three steps
Now that you know where you want to head, you need a way to get there.
Write down three small steps for the next month only:
For example:
- "I intend to walk three times a week in January"
- "I intend to replace two meals a day with FastFx for four weeks"
- "I intend to drink one litre of water daily"
Make them:
- Specific (not "exercise more" but "walk for 20 minutes")
- Measurable (you can track it)
- Time-bound (four weeks, then reassess)
Why just one month? Shorter timeframes are easier to achieve. After four weeks, celebrate what worked, adjust what didn't, and decide whether you can do it for another month. This builds momentum and self-trust.
Identify what gets in your way
Next to each step, write down the obstacles that could stop you from achieving it.
For example:
- "I wake up tired and then don’t go for the walk"
- "I'm tempted to snack after work before dinner”
- “I buy my lunch instead of making up a FastFx smoothie”
Being honest about your obstacles isn't pessimistic—it's strategic. It helps you make a plan to avoid them.
Design your environment for success
Willpower is a limited resource, so make a plan to help you on the days your resolve struggles. Next to each obstacle, make a specific plan to address it.
For example:
- Lose motivation to exercise in the morning? Arrange to meet a friend to go for the walk.
- Tempted to snack after work? Arrange to do something during that time instead, eg pick up the dry cleaning, or do a gym class.
- Tempted to buy lunch at work? Mix up your FastFx in the morning and keep it in the fridge at work.
Make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Build in flexibility and self-compassion
You will have days when you don't follow through. This isn't failure—it's being human. Research on self-compassion shows that people who treat themselves with kindness after setbacks are more likely to get back on track than those who self-criticise. Plan for imperfection. Decide now that one missed walk or one indulgent meal doesn't mean you should give up. Give yourself some slack and get back on track with the next right bite.
For more help on this, check out our article on Slip ups.
Connect to community
Change is easier when we don't do it alone. Follow our social media, find a walking buddy, or share your intentions with a friend. Accountability and support dramatically increase the likelihood of lasting change.
Celebrate non-scale victories
Notice and acknowledge every sign that you're moving toward your goal (not just the number on the scales). Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy in the afternoon? Can you walk up stairs without getting breathless? These are profound victories that matter far more than any number.
Redefine success
Success isn't reaching a target weight by a certain date. Success is becoming someone who takes care of themselves. Success is building a sustainable relationship with food and movement. Success is feeling more at home in your body today than you did yesterday. When you define success this way, you can succeed every single day.
This year, don't just resolve to lose weight. Intend to feel strong. Intend to feel confident. Intend to move with ease and eat with joy. Intend to like what you see in the mirror, not because your body looks different, but because you're treating it—and yourself—with the care you deserve.
The scale will change along the way, but if you wake up on December 31st, 2026, feeling more capable, confident, and at peace in your body than you do today, you will have succeeded.
