For people who want to lose weight, riding a bike is one way to do it. It's one of the most beneficial ways to lose weight. In fact, invest in a hybrid bike and you'll be able to ride anywhere while enjoying the scenery as you ride. It's an investment that you won't regret because while you may think it's hard work, you'll be shaping your body while getting so many other benefits as you go. The reason is because of the aerobic attributes cycling has when you commit to it regularly. Through time, you'll help yourself get through it. Gradually, by making a goal or two every week, you will get eventually lose weight if you stay consistent enough.

Here's 10 ways to lose weight with your bike:

1. Think wisely with food intake!

One of the best ways to lose weight with your bike is to know the foods you eat. Eating healthy is the way to keep your weight down. You need to know the healthiest foods to eat when in training. For instance, eating whole foods will help you have a healthy diet. Having a healthy diet every time you put food in your mouth is something to consider. When you increase your food intake in terms of vegetables and fruit is what is healthy. Therefore, remember those two food TYPES next time you go grocery shopping. Eating whole grains are needed because those don't have preservatives. Many processed foods will weigh you down, especially when you ride a bike for long periods of time. You will lose those extra pounds when you eat wisely. These foods will also help you have a better "ride" when cycling.

2. Carbs and Proteins.

The "nutritional balance" of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins is what's going to help you lose weight when using your bike. Remember, because of the percentages of carbs compared to the percentages of fat is where you'll win in this diet. Helping yourself by knowing the differences will help you in the long run. The high-performance diet has "60 to 70 percent carbs" and less than "30 percent fat." Ride your hybrid bike (or regular bike) with knowing the facts of carbs and proteins in mind. This will give you that high level performance. Be prepared to make some changes, but not too drastic of those changes. It should be moderately. You'll be better off if you gradually give yourself a goal every week. Such goals are how many pounds you want to lose every week when you weight yourself. Be realistic. Additionally, substitutions are a good way to start this type of diet. For example, use fruit for your sweet tooth and instead of using sour cream on food eat yogurt with fruit.

3. Goal-minds.

Don't deprive yourself by starving yourself. For instance, if you burn 3500 calories, you'll burn 1 lb. Therefore, 500 calories in one hour of a bike ride is possible. This means, realistically, you can burn up to 1 lb. per week if you ride your bike every day for an hour. Push yourself to commit yourself to riding the best hybrid bike you can ride in one hour per day, per week. Give yourself that goal and you'll succeed. You have to tell yourself that you'll succeed mentally and physically you will succeed. Success is consistent. In fact, part of the weight loss diet is quitting the bad habits too (i.e. cigarettes, beer, caffeine, sugar...).

4. Upper body strength.

Anyone who uses their bike for exercise will tell you that your muscles will be bulkier after riding for quite some time. In fact, this is not the only part of your body that cycling works out. You can lose muscle by not working out your arms or upper part of your body. Strengthening your upper part of your body is going to help "dearly" because of the position you'll be in when riding your bike in various environments. These environments will be flat ground or bike trails. For starters, flat ground will have various areas that you may need to turn sharply. This will require you to have quick reflexes. With bike trails, you run into obstacles like roots, pot holes, hills, rocks, small boulders, and much more. Therefore, by strengthening your upper-torso, you'll be able to maneuver around these.

With that said, you'll have to go around quickly or "bunny hop" over these obstacles. It's going to require you to pick up your bike and that will take your upper strength. You'll need to work out your arms and even your stomach muscles by doing sit-ups for this. Thus, you'll be losing weight when doing this goal. But, you'll be fit and tone while doing these upper body strength exercises making you lose weight all together. The main reason for the upper body training is because you lose muscle volume since cycling is more of a leg sport, but don't forget your upper part of your body since you'll need it for those quick-thinking reflexes that can cost you an injury. Commit to 20 minutes a day on this part of your weight lose training regimen.

5. Refuel to recover.

Recover your body when you ride your bike. In fact, you must do so because of the way you heal your body during recovery. If you refuel your body with plenty of carbs, then you'll lose weight easier because you'll replenish and be able to ride the next time you go out for miles. Plenty of carbohydrates is not the only way to refuel either. If you don't eat right as well as drink plenty of fluids, you're going to feel weak. In fact, you'll even get sick. Therefore, recover by refueling with carbs to recover for your next cycling venture.

6. Water hydration.

To ride during the summer is to lose weight. But, you need to ride with enough liquids in your body so you don't get dehydrated. Make sure drink enough water before you go out on a bike ride. If you take a bottle of water, you may need to stop to refill it every so often. Be ready with a bottle of water when going on your cycling venture. When it's empty, make sure you stop to refill it every so often and losing weight with your hybrid bike.

7. Formal planning helps.

When you plan your workouts around your weight loss and your hybrid bike, you may need help if your still considered a beginner. Especially if you ride the best hybrid bike since you'll be cycling with losing weight in mind. There's cyclist who have used nutritionist to help them. For one, you can work a "meal plan" and not go to extreme when it comes to being on a diet. In fact, go on the internet and search for those forums who are on the same path as you. Get that virtual support bike team on your side and you'll be successful in losing weight with your bike.

8. Faith will get you out there!

Exercise can raise the stake for you if you have enough faith and motivation. In order to get that energy level up there, you have to motivate yourself if you don't have a trainer beside you. If you are the type of person who needs that motivational kick, you may need a pep talk to your own self. Therefore, yell at the mirror if you have to, but to lose weight with your bike, you must have faith and motivation to do it. You will lose weight as long as you get on that bike and ride 20 - 30 minutes a day. Then gradually ride longer week by week. Just get out there and ride!

9. Don't stuff yourself!

When you eat, attempt the impossible for some people. In other words, before you feel like taking that other bite and you know you're full already, STOP eating immediately. Don't overstuff yourself with food to feel it's going to help you gain muscles. Reducing 500 calories daily will help you lose weight and to do this it may mean to skip a meal every now and then. This will help you lose weight with your bike. Remember one pound a week is all you need to do to lose weight and get that goal overall.

10. Short rides

If you must, you can lose weight still if you ride hard and fast on a short ride. This short ride doesn't have to be 30 minutes because it'll take you longer to gain that goal you need to lose weight overall. Try doing 40 minutes per day for a week for four weeks and see what happens. Make sure you log your rides and times on a spiral or journal so you can keep track of this.

Make losing weight fun by cycling!

One of the greatest things about riding a bike for exercise is you get to be outside and enjoy the air. Venturing off when you ride is great but being able to breathe some fresh air if you live near the coast or near an open environment where there's not too much traffic is even better. Either way, just getting out there and riding for about 40 minutes to an hour per day every other day will help you lose weight in no time. Be prepared to change some things in your life. In fact, know that you have to change some things in your life to change yourself, such as your weight. It's part of the change and be realistic when setting your goals. Otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for failure. Remember to have faith and motivate yourself every day that you'll get on that hybrid bike (or regular bike) and get out there and ride!