I celebrated July 4th, Independence Day by going for a bike ride this year. A major big deal for me, because it had been a couple of years since I had been on a bike.
You see, the bike that my husband bought as a gift for me, was accidentally left out in the rain–by yours truly. I was so sad. My Old Faithful was the perfect height and size and fit and even color. I just loved it so much.
Over the past few years, Angel must have offered to replace the bike at least 10 times, but, being the hard head I am, I resisted every opportunity to replace my dearly departed.
Finally a couple of months ago, I broke down and bought another bike so that I could begin enjoying bike riding again. As soon as I got home, I was off and flying down the street, remembering how wonderful it was to feel the wind in my hair and to feel as free as a bird. But then reality came crashing down on me when I had to call upon my legs to give me the strength necessary to climb a small hill near my house. Actually I wouldn’t even call it a hill. It was more like a slope. It took all the strength and fight that I had. My legs felt as though they would break under the pressure. That day I frightened myself, as I listened to my labored breathing and felt the tension in my chest. I knew that my body was crying out for more activity. Unable to continue any further under the diminished power of my weakened legs, I dismounted my bike and began the walk of shame towards my house.
Being an incredibly proud woman, it was mortifying to admit to my family that I just didn’t have the strength in my legs to ride the bike home. I knew this was pretty serious, because back in the day, I used to run that route all the time and never even broke a sweat. That day when I came home my legs were shaking like jello, I was covered in perspiration, and breathlessly gasping for air.
Despite the fact that I knew my body needed more activity, not less in order to strengthen my heart, I resisted getting back up on that damned bike. I didn’t want to go through that pain again, and be reminded of how weak I was. Then recently one of the members of my Lovin’ the Skin You’re In Facebook group shared an inspiring story that completely flipped my head around.
JJ Jonassen is an actor and dancer in Hollywood, California. As a 350 pound woman, most people would think that she wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell at finding work in the performing arts . But JJ proved that anything is possible with enough passion and faith in oneself. She found work as a dancer in two dance troupes. In her biography video, she says, “I just want to be an example to children and women and men everywhere that you can be larger but you can be vital and active and you can do the things that you want to do.”
After watching her video, and being inspired, I wanted to know more about her. When I asked her to share something that she was most proud of doing, she sent a link to an article that touched my soul. The article described her longing to learn how to perform aerial acts and her willingness to even consider losing weight to accomplish this goal. 
When she learned that it was possible to suspend herself in mid-air with the support of a silk harness, she decided to risk failure and face her fear. By the end of reading the article, I was in tears, cheering for her having accomplished a life-long dream.
It was that story that inspired me to pull my bike out of the garage and brave the hill again. As you can see in my video, I was faced with a challenge that in the past would have made me want to run and hide. As I got off my bike, realizing that I had to be more gentle with myself, a man about 30 years older than me came speeding by as he shouted in a mocking tone, “There’s No Resting. You Have to Keep Going.” I replied. No. That doesn’t work for me anymore.” It felt good to take a stand and honor my needs.
Now in these short videos I am offering myself as your guide and inspiration to lovin’ the skin you’re in. As I walk along the path, and learn to love and accept myself more, I encourage you to do the same for yourself.
I’d like to invite you to join me next week for a free call teaching you the process of tapping into more self acceptance. For more information and an opportunity to connect with other inspiring women like JJ and myself, come join my Lovin’ the Skin You’re IN FB group. I’d love to see you there.
Check out this short video: One Step At A Time
Andrea Amador, The Juicy Woman, Lovin’ the Skin You’re In, body image, self-esteem, confidence,