Black Weight Loss Success

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Ajima Jackson

Ty’Kiesha lost 58 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day! – Ty’Kiesha lost 58 pounds by joining her local Black Girls Run running group, strength training and eliminating negative foods from her eating.  Read more about how she did it:

I’ve lost 58 pounds and have 20 to go!!! I’m working harder every day!!! Maybe sharing my story will help someone.

My motivation came from several places. The fact that I was too tired play with my son or do things with him was one of them.  I was ashamed to go places where people would question my weight gain.  Also, my doctor was telling me that if I didn’t get it together, I would be faced with diseases that were in my family history. I kept hearing advertisements from the Micheal Baisden show about Black Girls Run . I was interested but knew I couldn’t run. I joined the BGR Facebook group for my area and lurked for months. Finally, one day it dawned on me that even though I felt I couldn’t run, I had to start somewhere. I started getting up daily to run with the 4:30 AM group. A few weeks later, I started to change my eating. I eliminated sodas, bread, chips and cakes, week by week. I would eliminate something one week and the next week something else. I’ve since added bootcamp for strength training. I’ve been working on my lifestyle change since August 2012. My starting weight was 236 pounds. Current weight is 178 pounds.  I’ve lost 58 pounds with hopes of loosing 20 more and lowering my BMI. I want show those with little or no hope that it is possible. I’ve struggled and fell a few times but through it all I’m still fighting. The key is never giving up.

TyKiesha weight loss story

Tamillia lost 110 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Tamillia lost 110 pounds with gastric bypass weight reduction surgery.  She is a truck driver by profession.  Being on the road means her workout options are limited, but she has been able to workout consistently and change her eating habits.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey so far:

My name is Tamillia. I began my weight loss journey last November with gastric bypass weight loss surgery.  My weight before surgery was 340 pounds.  At my last doctor visit, my weight was 230 pounds. My motivation was not to develop heart problems or high blood pressure since it runs on both sides of my family.  My other motivation is my daughter. I want to live a long life so that I can see her grow up.  I am 7 1/2 months post op. My goal weight is 170 pounds.

I continue to eat right and exercise when time permits because I am a truck driver and my schedule is full. My journey continues daily.  I walk at least 4 days a week for about 2 miles a day and I workout with some resistant bands daily as well.  After my surgery, I am eating small portions, protein shakes, and green vegetables.  I also eat grilled or baked chicken and fish.  Being a truck driver my exercising is limited to walking around my truck & trailer daily and doing resistant bands.

Tamillia weight loss success

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.