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Ajima Jackson

Tange lost 57 pounds

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Tange wrote to us about her weight loss journey.  She lost 57 pounds by changing her eating habits and exercising 5-6 days per week. Here is what she wrote us to say:

Hello, My name is Tange.  I’m a 35 year old nurse who has completely dedicated herself 100% to not only lose the weight but to change my overall lifestyle. I was previously featured on your Facebook page and I have since then lost 37 additional pounds for a total of 57 lbs. My journey began because I just really got tired of being overweight. I didn’t like how I looked and felt at my highest weight which was 220 lbs. Dealing with hypertension, I knew that I had to make the changes.  I had to do it not only for looks but for my health. I completely changed my eating habits, cutting out all fried foods, and switching to all turkey and chicken. Cut out all white flour and switched to whole wheat. In Nov 2012 is when i really made the lifestyle change and began preparing food for the week on Sunday so that i could always have healthy foods on hand. I eat plenty fruits and vegetables and drink water no soda. I also exercise 5-6 days/week doing combinations of weight training, zumba, spinning, walking 5 miles, hiking, and just about anything to stay active. Recently completed the Insanity 9 week challenge. I have found a passion for working out and living an active and healthy lifestyle. Currently at 163 pounds, my sister-law started a facebook page for the sole purposes of inspiring others who are taking on this life long journey to live a healthy lifestyle. It can be done u just have to retrain your mind and know that its not easy but it is worth it. There will be periods when the scale is not going to budge. For me it didnt budge for two whole months but I was getting slimmer. I no longer focus on a number, I focus on maintaining good health for years to come. Its worth it ladies, keep going 🙂

Tange weight loss journey

Denise lost 65 pounds

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Update Aug 2014: Denise sent in an update! She’s lost 15 more pounds for a total of 80 pounds. She says, “I’m trying to lose 100 lbs total. I’m watching what I eat, counting calories, cutting out soda, eating less breads and exercising. I feel so much better. Though I still have diabetes, I no longer have to take the medicine for it. I love the way my clothes fit now and they are less expensive.”

Denise Update 80 pounds

Denise lost 65 pounds in about 8 months.  She is working towards not having type 2 diabetes and her goal of losing 100 pounds total.  She shared some details of how she did it with us:

“Hi, I’m Denise. My motivation to lose weight honestly was a health reason. I’m a type 2 diabetic. I really got tired of being sick and barely being able to breathe. I also have a cousin that was battling with her weight as well.  She loss 100 pounds and is now a personal trainer.  We work out together.   Also inspiring was seeing all the motivating before & after pictures on your page.  I was 313 pounds.  Since then I’ve lost the weight and I’m down to 248 pounds and still counting.  I feel great.  I’m almost at my goal of 100 pounds lost.  I’m eating healthy and exercising.  I  stopped snacking late at night. No fried foods, no drinks, no sweets. I  count calories using My Fitness Pal which has helped a lot.  I’ve still got a way to go but I’m loving myself.  I can’t wait until my doctor says my diabetes are gone.”

Denise lost 65 pounds

 

Top Myths About Detoxing

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There are a few myths about detoxifying which can cause confusion.  Here is some info on top myths:

“We are all toxic!” 

detox mythsWhile it is true that there is more pollution entering our bodies now than in any point in history, this does not automatically mean that all people are suffering from toxin overload. If you may not be “toxic” if you…

  • Are a healthy, active person who always eat homemade, small meals with only organic ingredients and minimal saturated fats and starches
  • Drink only spring water
  • Live in rural areas away from EMF radiation,

If you fit this profile, you probably do not need an intense detoxification protocol. The body’s natural cleansing process can handle the small amounts of toxins that are part of a healthy lifestyle. For most modern people, especially those living in urban environments and/or who have made poor eating choices, detoxes can help us discover the difference between surviving and thriving.

 “All you have to do is fast and you’ll lose tons of weight!”

Detoxes are an excellent way to kick-start a weight loss regime, but they are not the final answer. Experts indicate that usually people only maintain weight loss after a cleanse ends when they continue to exercise regularly and limit caloric intake. Detoxing, and especially fasting, can trigger a sense of depravation that can cause overeating after the cleanse if one is not vigilant. Many people have even gained weight after a detox because their bodies were not nutritionally supported well enough during the cleanse, or they did not eat right and exercise regularly afterward. A healthy lifestyle that includes eating appropriate amounts of organic food (and foods that are not highly processed) and exercising vigorously is the safest and most effective long-term detox strategy. Detoxing is a great supplement or kick-start to a weight loss plan, but should not be relied on as the only solution.

“People on a detox only drink water.”

detox waterSome religious and spiritual practices include periods of water fasting to purify the mind, but this is not a sustainable way to stimulate detox for weight loss long term.  I’m not saying that people don’t report benefits from water fasting, because it is known to help, but the reasons and time frames are varied.  Too varied for me to recommend it in connection with weight loss.  There are several ways to effectively detoxify the body, and many are quite gradual and gentle. Some include periods of fasting on vegetable juice, but even eating a careful diet (raw fruits and veggies for example) can be a helpful detox. If you haven’t done your research, water fasts should only be practiced by healthy adults under the supervision of a doctor or qualified health care professional or within a spiritual context..

“You have to buy Product XYZ to detox effectively.”

Most effective detoxes include food, liquids, and herbal supplements that can be purchased at many health food stores and online retailers. While it can be helpful to have the support of a nutritionist or cleanse specialist, no special proprietary formula (a.k.a. who knows what is in it) is necessary. Some diet pills and powders can actually be harmful because of the questionable chemicals they contain and lack of any regulation.

Renee lost 40 pounds

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Our featured weight loss journey of the day: 50 year old diva Renee lost 40 pounds. This 5’4″ beauty fought her blood pressure down and lost the weight with walking, running and eventually became a vegetarian.  Read more about her story:

My name is Renee. I found your page on Facebook and love it. I’m look at it every day for motivation, tips, etc. I share a lot of your challenges, recipes, post, etc. I love all the stories and I would love to tell mine. April 12, 2012, I started a new job and I had to get new uniforms. I was shocked when I was measured for a size 12 and found that I weighed in at 180 lbs. Mind you, I’m only 5’4. I had to take a DOT physical for work and instead of being passed for two years, I was only passed for 3 months because my blood pressure was too high. My feelings were hurt and I knew I had to do something. Going to the doctor for medicine to control my blood pressure was not an option.

April 15, 2012, I started walking five miles every day.  I cut out fast food, sodas, red meat and pretty much anything white.  I also started drinking healthy smoothies. By August, I was in a size 10 and weighing around 157/160. I had lost 20lbs. I was breaking ground (yaaay). I started running 2.5  miles every day (outside in Las Vegas triple digit temp), lifting 5, 15 and 20 lb dumb bells and doing crunches.  Then I cut out chicken and was only eating fish and veggies.  I drank a lot of water, water, water too.  By December (whoop!), I was down to 140 lbs and wearing a size 7. In March (2013), I took on your 15 day No Meat Challenge and never looked back. I’m a vegetarian now. I joined a gym, too. I run, squat, lift, etc. Being healthy and fit is now my lifestyle. I’ve been at it for almost a year and a half now. I’ll be 50 years old in on Aug. 12th and I’m feeling amazing!!! My blood pressure is great, 117 over 75!! No health issues. I lost 40lbs and have no plans of ever finding them again!  Plus, my knees don’t even hurt anymore.  The before pic was taken March 2012… after pic (black and white) was taken May 2013… pic in yellow taken July 2013.  Thank you for allowing me to tell my story and success. And, thanks again for your page and support.

Renee's weight loss

Shayla lost 40 pounds

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Shayla lost 40 pounds with workout DVDs and changing her eating habits.  She realized that even though she was working out, she didn’t start to really lose weight until she cleaned up her eating habits.  Here is what she shared:

A few years back, I was at a job I hated, didn’t like the way that I looked, I was single, and overall depressed. I refused to go to the doctor to get on medication for my depression but knew that I needed things to change before it got worst. I might have looked like everything was fine on the outside but I was miserable on the inside. It was in God’s hands to place me at a job that I would love and be happy & content with. It was also up to God when he would deliver my soulmate to me. Realizing that there was only so much I could do with all the things I felt were wrong in my life, I decided to focus on the one thing that I knew I had control over.  That it was my weight.

I started at a local recreation center that had a membership for the city residents for only $5 a month. Who can beat that?!  The only problem was that the workout facility was really small. Like teeny, tiny. However, they had two ellipticals, two treadmills, one stationary bike, a stair stepper and a weightlifting machine. That was it!  I used it all to my advantage and began going there religiously. I started losing weight but after awhile I hit a plateau and needed to challenge my body more so I joined 24 Hour Fitness. It was hard for me at first because I had anxiety and didn’t like being around large crowds. I liked the fact that they had group workout classes and that what I started doing a few times a weeks. After awhile I was losing the weight that I wanted.  Within 8 months, I lost about 40 pounds. That was great and all, but I wasn’t completely doing it the right way. See, you never heard me mention anything about eating right. That’s because I didn’t really. I wanted a quick fix and so instead of eating right, I just ate less. I would have chocolate milk for dinner. Not with my dinner, but AS my dinner. I wanted to be skinny! The thought of being healthy or fit never crossed my mind. I did pretty much anything and everything to get SKINNY. Diet pills, cleansing, barely eating, going to the gym multiple times a day.  I had reached my goal of skinny.

It didn’t last long. As soon as I stopped doing all of the drastic things I was doing to lose weight, it all came back and I had put on even more weight than before. I had gotten up to 220 lbs (it might have been higher but I refused to step on the scale after that).  This was the heaviest weight I had ever been, including during my pregnancy with my son who’s now 12. I met the man of my dreams (my now husband) and got comfortable. We’re foodies, we like to eat and that’s exactly what we did. I was back to being unhappy about my weight and had zero motivation to get rid of it.

Last March, we purchased the P90X dvds to do with my now husband.  We lasted about 3 weeks and then gave up. I figured I would just be content with being fat & happy, but that’s not who I was. Not that I’ve always been skinny, but I’ve been pretty slim and active for the most part. I didn’t feel like I was being true to who I really was. I couldn’t wear any of the clothes in my closet and I started to become depressed again. In April of last year, I bought a Groupon deal for a 4 week bootcamp and bought one for my cousin who had just had a baby to go with me. We could be accountability partners. We did great when we were doing the workouts but never really made a change in our eating habits and didn’t workout outside of the bootcamp which was 3 days a week. Then in July, my boyfriend at the time proposed to me and we decided to have a destination wedding. That for sure should have been my motivation but it still wasn’t enough to get me to workout.

It wasn’t until January of this year that I was introduced to Insanity and decided to give it a try. The first month was the hardest thing I had ever done. By the time the second month came around, I still wasn’t seeing that much changes in my weight and decided that I need to get serious with my eating. That’s when things started to happen. When I committed to working out AND eating better everything changed.  I couldn’t afford a gym membership when I started working out and working out in the comfort of my own home with workout DVDs makes me push harder. I’m not worried about other people staring at me. In the past year I have lost 40 pounds and 27 of those pounds have been since January of this year since I’ve been consistent with eating right & working out daily.

shayla weight loss story

What was your motivation?

I have a husband & child to live and be healthy for but my ultimate motivation is myself self-esteem. I feel like I’m living again! I no longer have depression and can honestly say that I have confidence in myself for the first time.

How did you change your eating habits?

I don’t diet. I’ve made a lifestyle change. I eliminated soda, beer and fast foods.  Also, I chose to grill and bake my meats while adding fresh fruits & vegetables to my diet daily. I drink lots of water and I also replace one meal a day with a protein shake.

What did your workout routines look like?

My workouts vary. I’m currently doing Turbofire DVDs and I also, jog, swim aerobics, play tennis and do weight training with light weight and resistance bands.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?

My starting weight was 220 and I currently weigh 180.

How long did your transformation take?

I first began working out in March of 2012 and I’m still a work in progress, so as of now it’s been 16 months.

Thank you so much for allowing normal woman like me to share our stories. I love the website, the challenges, the advice and I’m a big fan of the Facebook page. Keep up the good work 🙂

LaShawn lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: LaShawn lost 50 pounds.  She went from a size 18 to a size 8 by eating smaller portions and working out regularly.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is La Shawn and I just wanted to share my story in the hopes that it might inspire other sisters to begin their own weight loss journey. I also want to testify to how even small consistent efforts can yield significant results.  I just want encourage others to not be discouraged about where they may be now and that they can achieve results by starting out with small , consistent efforts over time.

In 2010 (the picture on the left), I weighed over 200 pounds and decided that I wanted to make a change. I started by using a smaller plate at home and sharing a plate with my fiancee when we went out to eat.  Also, more specifically regarding diet, I incorporated eating chicken and tuna and I cut out fast food. I also increased my water intake.

For exercise, I started out riding a stationery bike for 30 minutes a day three times a week. I later added Stairmaster, weights and kettlebell exercises. This routine enabled me to go from a size 18 in 2010 down a size 8 at this present time.

I started out at 218 in 2010 and lost 50 pounds from then to now. My motivation was as I said above that I just decided it was time to make a change and start taking care me and ALWAYS being there for everyone else and putting myself last.  Thank you so much for allowing me to share 🙂

LaShawn weight loss story

Karla lost 73 pounds

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Karla weight loss storyKarla lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  Let’s show her some love for sharing her story.  Here is what she shared with us:

I have lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  I did it all natural by cutting back on the foods I needed to & walking.  I still want to lose 30 pounds more.   I was 273 on the pic with the purple shirt. I’m 200 pounds now.  My goal weight is 170-180 pounds.

My motivation was my kids and wanting to be here for them.  I had to get healthy. I changed my eating habits by not eating after 6pm unless it was fruit.  Every morning at 5:45 am I walk 5 or 6 miles. I drink a Kellogg breakfast shake at 8am.  For lunch, I have subway or a small salad I made at home.  Then, I would eat a regular dinner (example: 1 chicken wing, mac & cheese and string beans).  I don’t have bread unless it was wheat.  No drinking soda, only water, natural fruit juices, or cranberry juice.  I also eat a lot of fruit.  If I go out to eat, I order off the kids menu and I always get water with my meal.  Also, some mornings I eat Kellogg cereal with slim milk.  For exercise, I walk 6 days a week for a total of 5 to 6 miles. My goal is to lose a total of 100 pounds in a year.  My year will be up on September 15th.

Karla weight loss success

6 Reasons Why Quick Weight Loss Isn’t Healthy

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Although doctors and scientist have reiterated time and again that healthy weight loss takes time, crash diets and fads promising rapid weight loss continue to ensnare those looking for a quick fix. From celebrity diet fads to fat-burning pills, people are looking for an effortless way to take off the pounds fast. Unfortunately, such methods rarely work, and some also pose several health risks. While you may be able to lose weight quickly, the price might just be too high to pay.

diet plansHealth Risks and Negative Side Effects of Rapid Weight Loss

Losing weight too quickly can cause the body to go into shock and ultimately cause serious health conditions. Not only do many extreme dieting methods cause severe fatigue, dehydration, malnutrition and weakness in the short term, it can also cause long term effects. Following are 6 reasons why you should avoid rapid weight loss:

  1. Losing weight quickly requires extreme efforts such as consuming starvation-level calories and following intense exercise regimens. Not only are such extreme efforts hazardous to the body, they are impossible to maintain long term.  You are not going to drink cabbage soup everyday for the rest of your life, right?  True weight loss takes a lifestyle commitment. It’s just simply impossible to follow a “eat only these 7 things” style diet for the rest of your life or to exercise non-stop indefinitely.  Your weight loss plan should be realistic.
  2. Once you give up on your extreme diet – and you will – you will put the pounds back on plus some.  This is what happens in the long term for most people.  This is called the yo-yo effect, and it’s often associated with rapid weight loss plans. You see, extreme diets cause your body to go into starvation mode – a mode where your body uses fewer calories, thus your metabolism slows down. Once you start eating again, it takes your body a while to start using those calories again. In the amount of time it takes your body to adjust your metabolism, you will regain the weight you lost plus additional pounds.
  3. Rapid weight loss places undue stress on the body, heart, and immune system. Low-calorie, low-nutrient diets can also result in mineral deficiencies, fluid imbalances, cardiac arrhythmia, muscle cramps, and bone-mass loss.
  4. Losing too much weight too quickly is just uncomfortable and not very pretty. Side effects associated with extreme, rapid weight loss include headaches, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, hair loss, muscle loss, loose skin and menstrual irregularities.
  5. Several medical conditions are caused by rapid weight loss including gallstones. In fact, gallstones occur in as many as 25-percent of people who take weight off too quickly. Dehydration and malnutrition are also not uncommon as are fainting spells. In rare cases, severe electrolyte imbalances can put your life in danger.
  6. Following a fad diet slows your metabolism, pushing your body into starvation mode. Not only does starvation mode result in rapid weight gain after you give up dieting as mentioned above, it also causes your body to break down muscle to use as energy. This means that much of the weight lost during a fad diet is likely a combination of muscle and fat.

For the best results, a balanced, moderate diet and exercise is recommended. If you reduce your food intake by about 250-500 calories per day and increase your activity level, you will achieve a sustainable weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. per week.  Not only is this amount of weight loss healthy, it’s easy to maintain for the long term.  Of course, this is the case for most people.  I’m not taking into account health issues and those who have more than 100 pounds to lose.  In that case, a healthy diet may be more limited or less limited depending on your health needs.  You really should speak with a doctor and a nutritionist to really understand what works for you as an individual.  Education is key and there are a lot of great resources online that can show you want a healthy balanced diet really is.  Do your research and don’t fall for the weight loss fads and schemes.

Loose Skin after Weight Loss: Why It Happens and What to Do about It

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loose skin after weight lossFor many people, the joy of watching the number on the scale and the size of their clothing go down gets overshadowed by the presence of loose skin. Not only can your skin get loose and saggy after extreme weight loss, your body can maintain the same shape it had before your weight loss efforts. The image in the mirror, while smaller, appears to change little all the while your skin loses shape and elasticity. Fortunately there are ways you can combat loose skin while dieting.

Why Do People Have Loose Skin after Weight Loss?

Your skin is an amazing organ with the ability to expand and contract along with your growth spurts and changing body. This ability is called elasticity and it is at the heart of the factors that contribute to loose skin. You see, once elasticity is gone, your skin loses its ability to shrink back – much like a worn out rubber band that refuses to recoil. Following are just a few things that can affect your skin’s elasticity:

  • Obesity – If you are considered obese, your skin has stretched considerably. Those who need to lose 100 lbs. or more in order to reach their goal weight can expect some lose skin.
  • Time – the amount of time you have been overweight also has some bearing on how loose your skin will be once you lose the weight. The longer your skin remains in a stretched-out position, the harder it will be for it to snap back.
  • Age – As we age, we lose elasticity – it’s what causes wrinkles. Younger skin has more ability to shrink back after weight loss than older skin.

So, some of these factors can not be affected that much.  This is why many people have to have surgery after losing large amounts of weight.  It’s just a fact.  However, you should never let loose skin stop you from losing weight.  Being obese or overweight and dealing with weight related health issues is not worth the vanity.  Your health is more important than some loose skin.

How to Minimize Loose Skin during Weight Loss

As mentioned before, there are several things you can do to minimize loose skin during weight loss. While you may not be able to avoid loose skin altogether, you can surely improve your skin’s ability to retract.

  1. Lose weight slowly – Sustaining a gradual weight loss of approximately 1-2 pounds per week will go a long way in preventing loose skin. You see, it takes time for your skin to contract. When you lose weight quickly, your skin has no time to catch up.
  2. Consume plenty of protein and good fats – Your skin, hair, and nails are made up of protein. Eat plenty of it to alleviate loose skin.  Collagen is a protein that is related to this in the body.  The issue is that if you aren’t eating right and your body starts to cannibalize the protein in your body…it could eat up or hinder the production of collagen that you need for skin elasticity.  It’s also important to include healthy oils in your diet to keep the skin flexible and as healthy as possible.
  3. Get a weekly or monthly massage –  Massages improve circulation to the skin and helps skin retract. Getting a massage also helps alleviate cellulite – another unsightly issue that occurs during weight loss.
  4. Take a multivitamin or monitor the vitamins you are eating – For good skin health, you need vitamin C, E, A, B-complex and K.  Iron, selenium and zinc are also minerals you’d want to get the recommended amount of.
  5. Don’t be afraid of weights – Weight training will help to reshape and redefine the body.  Muscle also burns fat at rest.  Adding some muscle definition and muscle tone will help to redefine your body so that it doesn’t appear that you have just deflated.

In addition to these tips, it’s vital to remain hydrated. All of your body’s organs, including your skin, need water in order to function properly. If you stay hydrated, lose weight slowly, follow a balance diet, and make efforts to increase your skin circulation, you can greatly diminish the amount of loose skin you will have after you lose all the weight. In cases of extreme weight loss, however, it often becomes necessary to surgically remove excess skin when it becomes apparent that it isn’t going to bounce back into shape.

5 Benefits of Adult Weight Loss Camps

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Adult weight loss camps and weight loss resorts are designed to give overweight adults all the tools they need to transform their life and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Typically, adults sign up for a certain number of days or weeks, pack their bags, and call the resort home for the duration of their treatment.  You may be familiar with the Biggest Loser resorts, like the one in Utah, or Pritikin Longevity Center in Florida.  Camps normally employ nutrition experts, personal trainers, counselors, and nurses in an effort to create a well-balanced program that puts campers on the path to sustained weight loss and weight management.

resortzumba5 Benefits of Weight Loss Resorts

Although not everyone is successful at a weight loss camp, these camps have helped countless individuals realize their weight loss goals. Since many require a controlled environment in order to establish healthy habits and make a positive lifestyle change, weight loss camps have proved to be invaluable.

  1. Helps you establish realistic goals. Many people set unrealistic expectations of themselves, causing them to give up too early when they don’t get the results they expect. Experts at a weight loss camp will help you set realistic goals according to your body type, lifestyle, and eating habits.
  2. Promotes healthy weight loss. With so many fad diets out there and contradictory information, it can be difficult to figure out the healthiest way to lose weight. When you attend a weight loss camp, you have a host of experts including physical trainers and nutritionists at your disposal. They will help you dispel the hype and establish a healthy weight loss regimen.
  3. Gives you a head start on a healthy lifestyle. It can be difficult to make a lifestyle change through sheer willpower. Residing at a resort for a few weeks allows you to adopt a new lifestyle in a controlled atmosphere. You won’t have to worry about backsliding, the counselors won’t let you.
  4. Addresses emotional triggers. Many times, overeating and binging are caused by underlying emotional triggers. If not addressed, these triggers will continue to wreak havoc on your weight loss attempts. Not only do camp counselors help you with your eating issues, they help you overcome emotional issues as well. When you uncover emotional triggers and learn how to counteract them, you will be much more successful with your weight loss endeavors.
  5. Educates you about nutrition. Nutrition experts will not only educate you about nutrition, they will help you establish a realistic meal plan and give you the information you need to continue making wise food choices in the future.

Adult weight loss camps pose many benefits for those who wish to jump start their weight loss efforts. However, they can be expensive, which is why many people decide to forgo the experience. Although weight loss camps are not cheap, the information you get from attending camp can prove to be invaluable. In addition to helping you establish a healthy lifestyle, a weight loss camp will provide you with the necessary tools you need to continue to make wise, healthy decisions regarding your weight, diet, and activity level.

Here is a list of weight loss resorts from the Travel Channel.