Let Freedom Ring! - Day 1

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holiday. This year on my blog I have decided to spend this week leading up to Independence Day honoring the freedom we can have in regards to our weight loss journeys.

Also, don't forget your chance to be included in this week of freedom by entering your comment on this post. I'll accept comments through Wednesday.

And now....(drum roll please) ... meet Lori and see what she has to share on subject of freedom:

I feel very honored that Leah has asked me for a guest post on her blog! My name is Lori and I host the blog "Finding Radiance" where I journal life after losing 100+ pounds and what I do to keep it off (and hopefully take off a little more :D) Leah asked to write about what losing weight has given me freedom from in honor of Independence Day. There are lots of things, like freedom from Lane Bryant, freedom from teasing, freedom from obesity-related health problems, etc. However, I wanted to mention a freedom that I *gained* from losing weight. This is the freedom of movement. When I was at my heaviest (250 pounds), I was able to move around and do things, and I thought I was somewhat strong. However, doing stuff just tired me out. Carrying around 100 extra pounds is a lot of extra work that a body has to do just to function each and every day. I really never wanted to admit how tiring it was to try to exercise or even just walk around the mall. Being active was just not something I enjoyed. At all. Part of that was because I had an all-or-nothing mentality, so I figured if I was going to exercise, I may as well go out and run! Big mistake. I hated it because I expected too much of myself right out of the box. I then started with simple Walk Away The Pounds videos. Listening to Leslie talk about the importance being just to keep moving, not to be like everybody else, really sank in, finally. I realized it was okay to go slow and then try to improve each time. As the weight came off, I began challenging myself to more and more active things. I began lifting weights (which I love), and building strength allowed me to do more and more. I then got a bike (which I adore!) and started riding small rides each day. Over the last couple of years, I have really increased my bike mileage and I have a goal of a single day 100-mile ride this summer. The old Lori never would have even wanted to do that. Now I look forward to it. I am in my early 40s and in better shape than at any time of my life. I'm not quite at what I think my weight goal could be, but I am so pleased at the types of movements I can do now. When I bike, I feel like I can fly! Obesity was a cage on the inner athlete that I never knew was there. Being active was not anything I ever wanted to do or thought I would even want to do. Losing the weight opened my eyes to a whole new me. Independence Day celebrates the freedom of our great country. Let it be inspiration to free yourself to do whatever it is that you want to do. You might be pretty surprised at what you are truly capable of when you give yourself a chance. ~ Lori