Thursday, December 17, 2009

Weight Loss Success and Bicycles

I'm not talking about riding bikes for exercise...though that is a fun way to move around a bit!

What I'm talking about is how losing weight and learning to ride a bike is very similar.

Both take some basic skills. These skills all intertwine for a successful trip. In learning to ride a bike we learn balance; getting on the bike; how to move the bike forward by pedaling; how to brake; how to stop. All are important steps, but the most important is balance.

In learning how to lose weight successfully, permanently, we also have some basic skills to learn. We learn about nutrition and exercise...this is where most diets focus...but to really have a successful outcome we must learn about our mindset and that's what diets leave out.

Changing our thinking is actually the most important part of dropping excess pounds. We must believe that we can do it. Just like we won't be able to ride a bike if we believe we can't, we will not have permanent results in losing weight if we believe we are now and always will be fat.

Think about mindset like achieving the balance you need to get on, and stay on, that bicycle. It didn't come overnight. You had to practice. It took effort and determination. Maybe you even said "I can do it" over and over, trying to convince yourself that you could...and ultimately, you did!

It is time to get the childlike focus back...focusing on the belief that you can and then relaxing with it. As long as you focused on keeping tight hold of the handlebars and not falling, what happened? You fell, of course! When you relaxed and focused on the belief that you could, then suddenly it became easy...as if you turned on a light switch.

Change your mindset about your weight, your body, and your ability to lose weight. You can do it...other people have done it, I've done it, and we are no better than you, no luckier, we don't have it easier, we are no more deserving, no more special. We are all human, all deserving...we just have to know it inside.

Once you've made that shift, the rest of the skills will fall into place and you will find yourself flying along the road to weight loss success! And what a fun ride that is!

3 comments:

Dave said...

Just found your blog, and I like your message. Weight-loss, and, by extension, healthy living is not about "dieting," but about lifestyle.

I look forward to reading more.

Laurie Tossy said...

Hi David--
Thanks for letting me know you like the blog. Have a healthy holiday and I look forward to hearing more from you in 2010!

To your healthy, energetic, trim body!

Laurie

Laurie Tossy said...

Hi Cherie--

Thanks for the kind words...your blog will be a fantastic addition to the blogroll! Great info.

And thanks for the kind words...I hope we can learn from each other in 2010 and help lots of others as well.

To your healthy, energetic, slender body!

Laurie