More time has passed in this weight loss journey. I think this is my 6th year? I still have my rose.
Funny that I am not all that focused on the time passing. This last year was a little harder for me. More the last 6 months, really, particularly with work stress and the never ending house closing. However, there are some things that have stayed constant all this time. Exercise is really a daily part of my life. Not always all out exercise. Sometimes simple walking. Other times 30-40 mile bike rides. It’s just what I do now. I have gotten a little lax with food, which has always been and probably always will be my biggest sticking point.
Obligatory what I used to look like photos:
I was thinking about pictures and decided against doing the ‘get myself gussied up’ and pose picture and show pictures of me being me. The real me!
I am even willing to post a picture of me from behind – a shot I had no idea was being taken. In the past, I would never have put up a picture like this, but this is me and I don’t hide. I am not a supermodel, but I am pretty super 😀
Losing weight and keeping it off is hard. I have a lot of support through the ups and downs of trying to maintain or when I have to get back into losing mode. I have that support offline as well as very much here with the blog, which I thank you all so, so much for. When I named my blog, I didn’t want to give it a ‘weight loss’ kind of name because I realized that the journey doesn’t start and end with the scale. It’s the whole package of how you live your life. How you live your life and enjoy your life – despite where you are on the scale.
Here to keeping on.
You’re amazing! Thank you for sharing your journey, I can’t begin to tell you how much reading your words have helped me.
You’re welcome – thank *you* for reading!
You are a supermodel. A super model of how to be a healthy woman. Congrats!
Thank you, Kim!
You look fantastic!!
This August is my anniversary too and I think it’s 6 years too!
Thanks fellow maintainer!
So happy Weve gotten to meet and hang out several times and with your mom too. You’re such a sweet kind person and you’ve done a terrific job being a wonderful inspiration. I felt like I could have wrote your post, so true that it’s the food that gets us at times but you continue to be a great example of how to make maintenance look easy.
I am glad we got together as well Dawn – people don’t believe you can become friends with someone you never met, but that’s just not true. 😀
Happy weight loss anniversary! And, I loved your current pictures. You look fantastic.
Thank you Kitty 😀
You’ve done an incredible job of keeping off the pounds Lori. Unlike myself…..ahem……. You have no idea how much you inspire me. Hugs! deb
I haven’t kept them all off, but I have made permanent changes. I think that is more important.
What great celebratory photos!! Your honesty is always an encouragement to me. “Losing weight and keeping it off is hard.” Amen, sistah! But totally worthy, right?
Remind me of it being worthy the next time I want pie 😀
Congratulations on another year! You are keeping it real, which I love.
Thank you Shelley – you are a keeping it real inspiration to me.
Congrats, Laurie! You are truly an inspiration in the way that you have lost and maintained that loss. I love reading your gentle but very effective blog. You have a bit of everything: home, fitness, exercise, eating plans, weight loss, maintenance, and I must not forget Pixie. Enjoy your special anniversary. You look fabulous!
We can never forget Pixie 😀
Congrats girlfriend! You are a daily inspiration to me and I love reading all your posts.
You look fantastic!
Thank you Fran!
I love this so much. I love everything about it – you’re real and honest and tell it like it is. I swear you and I must be sisters in another world. I am working on it, but food remains so much more of a struggle for me than exercise. And you ARE super. Super Lori! I’m still hoping that we can work out a face to face meeting in 2014!!
We will meet up for sure. I don’t know when John will be going out to CT again, but regardless we will make a trip just because 😀
Super Lori 2014! Love it. Are you going to take your rose bush with you when you move to Casa Radiance?
Yes – I hope to take the bush with me. If it looks like the move will happen in winter, this fall I might dig the bush up and put in it a pot so I can still take it.
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are really great Lori!!!
Thank you, Jody.
Lori, thanks so much for maintaining such an encouraging blog. Due to health issues, my weight can go up or down by as much as 20 lbs in a few weeks. But I keep plugging along, much in part due to the constant encouragement found here.My motto is “if Lori can do it, then so can I”. Congrats on your obviously successful lifestyle change. 🙂
I think anyone can do it. It’s just hard and it’s never going to be a perfect journey.
You are amazing!!
Thanks!
Love the “un-gussied”, real Lori pictures, because that’s what your weight loss and continuing maintenance has allowed you to do – be a real person who does real things! I love your blog, it’s like a cool drink for my eyes when I open it up and see What’s Blooming, or Pixie pictures, or projects, recipes and way too much snow the last couple of years! I like how you share your eats – simple, healthy food eaten consistently is an affirmation that what I am working on is going to pay off for me as well. Congrats on your 6 years, Lori!
Yes, way too much snow indeed. But, its’ the trade off for beautiful summer and fall!
Yes, you ARE super! (And you look great too!) Congrats on another year down!
Thank you Cammy!
Congratulations and happy weight loss anniversary, Lori. You look GREAT!!!
Thank you!
Six years. SIX YEARS! Congratulations, that is fabulous. And heartening, so so heartening. I wanna be a maintainer like you when I grow up. Ummm … I guess I mean when I grow less.
I haven’t grown up yet, though 😀
It is amazing how good we feel about ourselves when we know and live the truth about who we are. And no, I am not a supermodel either, but never should we aspire to their world. It was also nice to meet you at the race back in April, and then saying “hi” a few times as I jogged/walked down the street. I never thought about the name of your blog not being anything to do with weight loss. I am so touched by your blog, it offers such sound, real advice and life circumstances. Thank you, Lori and keep it up.
Thanks Linda! You inspire me to with your dedication to running!
Congratulations to my ah-mazing daughter on 6 years of Radiance….but this is nothing new. You were always a ray of radiance in my life!
Thanks mom 😀
I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time but don’t believe I’ve ever commented. I love your honesty and your whole approach to living life to the fullest! I’m an avid cyclist too and really enjoy reading about and seeing pictures of your many excursions! Thank you for sharing your experiences!
You look amazing and radiant – the name of your blog suits you!!
And, I love the new look over here – hope it’s not just me being late to catch on.
You went looking for radiance and you have certainly found it…you look beautiful. I don’t know how it is that I’ve not come across your blog until now, but I’m so glad I found it. I’m a fellow blogger trying to find my way in this journey. I am so encouraged by your success!
I love seeing your pictures and reading about your down to earth approach to living a healthy, active life. Congratulations on six years of consistency!
You’ve done fantastic with changing your fitness and eating habits. A really good motivator and inspiration to others.
This was my favorite part of this post: “I am not a supermodel, but I am pretty super :D” YOU ARE SUPER!! Great job – you inspire me every day. 😀
You are a TRUE inspiration in every sense of the word Lori!!!!