Trying to lose weight can be incredibly lonely and isolating.
A lot of times we feel like it’s the sort of thing that we need to do on our own for a variety of reasons.
Maybe it’s because we feel ashamed to share our weight loss goals. Or, we are scared of telling others that we want to lose weight because we are afraid of failing or afraid that they might judge us.
I know that when I set out to lose 50 pounds a few years ago I told absolutely no one.
You see, I didn’t tell anyone I was trying to lose weight, and I certainly didn’t tell anyone that I was trying to lose what felt like a STUPID BIG number.
If you ask me if there is anything I would have done differently about my weight loss journey? I would say that I would have done it with friends. The whole process is so much less isolating when you have someone to talk to, love you, and support you along the way.
Honestly, I wish that I joined a program, or hired a coach. I wish that I had a group of other women to talk to about what I was going through.
Doing it alone just because I was worried that once again I would fail made the whole process so much more difficult and lonely than it had to be, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake I did.
In this article I will share 5 ways that friends can help you lose weight biking.
#1 You’re Not Alone
Now, I know that this one sounds obvious, but it’s SO helpful to know that you aren’t alone in your weightloss journey.
Having a buddy, whether it be an in-person one, or online, gives a sense of “we are in this together.”
When you are spiraling/in your head about what’s going on with your body and your weight loss, it is so helpful to be able to send a text, a DM, or post in a group about what’s happening.
You realize really quickly that you aren’t alone and that your friends can absolutely relate to what is happening with you.
For example, if you have been doing ALL THE THINGS and the stupid scale just isn’t moving, and you talk to a friend, you will likely find that the exact same thing, or something similar, happened to them.
When my weight loss would invariably stall (yup, it does this for pretty much everyone), I wish I had someone who would have been able to tell me that this is normal, this happens, and to stay the course.
It would have been so helpful to know that in a week, or even a month, I would likely see the results of my hard work in a “woosh” of weight loss. This is exactly what happened! After not losing weight for about five weeks I found that I lost a few pounds in one week.
I wasn’t really losing a few pounds in one week, it’s just that my body had finally realized it didn’t need to hold space and hold onto some extra water, that the fat wasn’t coming back, and it let it go. Having someone to talk to about this and reassure me would have helped a LOT.
#2 Holding One Another Accountable
Another reason having a friend when we are trying to lose weight is so helpful is that you can hold one another accountable.
If you aren’t feeling like getting on your bike, you can text your friend! She will tell you to get on the bike already and will ask you later if you actually did it.
Likewise, one woman once mentioned to me that she had been consistently getting on her Peloton because she and her friend would text one another to make sure that they both got on and completed their workouts.
Or, if you find that you have been overeating lately, you can chat with a friend about it and what’s really going on. Maybe you are emotionally eating and your friend can help you figure this out and brainstorm things you can do instead…like…I dunno…text a friend!
#3 Sharing Articles, Podcasts, Resources
Another way having a weight loss buddy can help you is that you have someone to share resources with. You can let your friend know when you come across helpful information, and they can do the same for you!
There is just so much information out there on how to lose weight biking, and it can be really overwhelming.
Trying to figure out how to balance weight loss and fueling for your rides, for example, could be something that you are curious about and struggle with.
Now we have some great resources here at Sascy Cycling to help with this, of course, but it’s also great when you and a friend are in it together and sharing other things that you find.
Being a weight loss coach I will often have friends who come to me for resources and advice, and I am always happy to share those that I create as well as ones that I find from others that I think can be useful and helpful.
Sometimes I come across a podcast or an article that I just know will help one of my friends or the Sascy Cycling community, and I am always happy to pass this information long.
#4 Having Someone to Ride/Workout With
I think we all can agree that working out or riding with a friend can make it SO much more enjoyable.
Sure there are times we are happy to go it alone, but workout time goes SO MUCH FASTER when you have a friend to share it with!
One of my favorite ways to do this is through local group rides with my bike shop. I find that two hours on the bike with friends can fly by, but if I try to go it alone there is only so much I can handle being in my own head.
Earlier this year when I did my annual 50 mile charity ride I was so thrilled to meet up with my friend, Michelle, around mile 12. This year in particular the ride was a bit of a struggle for me because I recently had surgery to remove a cyst on my ovary.
If you are interested, you can read all about my surgery journey right here.
Michelle made the last 38 miles go so much faster. Instead of focusing on how hard the ride is, I was chatting away with Michelle and the miles just kind of faded away.
Also, when you have a riding buddy, it’s a great way to be held accountable. When your friend is counting on you to get on the bike you are so much more likely to do it!
#5 Sharing your wins!
Finally, when you bring friends along on your weight loss journey, you have a built in cheerleading squad to help hold you accountable and celebrate your achievements.
It is so easy for us to see the benefit of sharing our struggles and getting advice, but at the same time it is just as, if not more awesome to share our wins!
I cannot tell you how helpful it would have been if I felt like I was able to share some of my weight loss milestones with my friends.
Sometimes I was so terrified of gaining all of the weight back that I didn’t even take the time to really celebrate all of my successes along the way!
I think that for the most part, deep down, I knew that this time was different, but still there was always something holding me back.
Also, don’t forget to celebrate the NSVs (non-scale victories). These are just as, if not more important, than what that number is on the scale.
A day when you stick to your plan, when you get on your bike and don’t feel like it (even if you only ride a few miles) is absolutely a day worth celebrating. It is SO much fun to do it up and cheer for your friend as she cheers for you!
A Final Note…
Weight loss is so much more fun when you have a friend to share it with, or a group of supportive friends.
Having a judgment free group that will help you celebrate your wins and help pick you up when you feel like you are losing momentum is SO helpful.
Find an in-person buddy or surround yourself with a community, like the awesome women of Sascy Cycling…or both!
And, if you haven’t already, make sure that you get your free resources and get on our email list here.
You’ve got this, I totally believe in you, and know that you and your friends will lose your weight for the last time, together.
Ride on!
xoxo
Stacy
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