Black Weight Loss Success

The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.

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Ajima Jackson

Natalie lost 112 pounds

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Update 2015: “It has been 2 years and I have kept my weight off. I did gain 30lbs last year, but I quickly turned it around. The BWLW Facebook page has helped me and kept me focused. I was able to lose the 30 pounds I gained plus and 11 lbs. Today, I weigh 174 pounds.” That’s a total of 123 pounds gone. Instagram: @new_natalie

natalie before and after

Today’s weight loss before and after story:  Natalie lost 112 pounds by embracing regular exercise and changing her eating habits.  Here is what she shared with us:

Natalie weight lossI went from 297 pounds to 185 pounds. I did it all on my own and would love to share my story. Started my journey on 9/20/2011.  What motivated my journey was trying on clothes and being almost out of a size 24 pants, about to be a size 26 pants.  I cried in the dressing room and all the way home. I then threw out all my bad food and began my new life that day. I only baked or grill my meats.  I only eat chicken or turkey meat.  Water or tea are my only drinks. I eat lot’s of fruits and vegetables. I learned how to turn my favorite meals into healthy meals. For instance, I love pizza and now I can make it healthy by using 100 calorie whole wheat pita and low fat cheese, chicken and all the vegetables I can fit on it.  That would be considered a treat for me.

I love the gym now, it’s my stress reliever. I started off not really being able to do anything in the gym before feeling like I was going to pass out. I set little goals for myself.  When I started I was running and one minute and 30 seconds in I was ready to stop. Each week I went up a minute and now I am able to run 4 miles on the street.  In the beginning, I worked out twice a day for an hour or two per session. I used every machine in the gym and sometimes I would freestyle routines or watch YouTube to pick up tips. I always set little goals and my first goal was to get into a size 22.  Once I did that, I kept going down in size until I reached my goal of a size 13/14. My goal weight is 175 pounds. I cried many nights and prayed for the strength from God to help me through this. I have empowered my little sister to lose 46lbs this year and have helped some friends as well. I love telling my story, because may help one person who feels like I did.  It may help them know that they too can do it.  It was a long road and is still a long road, but I will never gave up and never will.

Natalie weight loss before and after

Karen lost 30 pounds

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Let show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Karen who has lost 30 pounds.  She was motivated by a diagnosis of diabetes.  Here is what she shared with us:

I changed my eating habits.  I stopped eating pork.  Now I eat chicken, fish and less beef.  I also eat a lot of vegetables and have cut down on sweets.  I don’t drink soda, only water or sweet tea.  I walk 2 – 3 miles, 3 days a week and I workout two days a week.  In addition, I trained myself to eat small portions so now I get full fast with less food. My motivation was my doctor telling me I have diabetes and I might have to take insulin.  She said that  if I lose the weight, I can over come diabetes. Being overweight, you start having high blood pressure and diabetes.  I didn’t want that for myself.  I’m 41 years old and I feel that the older you get the harder it’s is to get the weight off. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen and for having a page for us.  When I see your page, it encourages me even more.

Karen weight loss before and after

Janeisha lost 90 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Janeisha who has lost 90 pounds with Roux en-Y gastric bypass surgery.  Here is what she shared with us”

I am a 35 year old wife and mother of 2 girls ages 11 and 15 years old. I’ve been obese for the majority of my adult life.  Over the last few years, my quality of life had declined and my health was failing fast. I decided to have RNY weight loss surgery on September 25, 2012.  Since then, I’ve started eating right, walking and running every day. I don’t have  soda or sugary drinks.  I have lost 90 pounds and counting!!!  I have realized that surgery is just a tool and that in order to be successful I had to change my lifestyle. I thank God for a chance to take my life back!

My motivation was my children and husband. I have an amazing family and with severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure and diabetes, my quality of life was fading away.  I walk and run 6 days a week outside and I am currently training to run my first 5K with Size Healthy trainer Nataisha Ramirez

Janeisha weight loss surgery

Elisa lost 80 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  BWLW Online Community member Elisa lost 80 pounds by eliminating junk food, portion control, and working out.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hello BWLW Community, I am so happy to be a part of a community where there is so much positive support. Thank you for this opportunity.

My Motivation

My motivation came from the desire and need to see my son grow up.  I was tired of being tired and wanted a change.  I knew in order for me to be healthy I needed to start somewhere. I began my journey the summer of 2011.  I was going to the gym but wasn’t seeing any results, so I decided cancel my membership and focus on me.  I knew that going to the gym and eating the same foods was counterproductive.  I always knew that I needed to lose weight but it wasn’t until I was emotionally ready that I was able to be committed to this journey.

My Eating Habits

I realized my weakness was rice and junk food candy, ice cream and soda. When I started my journey, I began eliminating junk food especially soda. I started drinking water with lemon and hot tea in the mornings and eating fruits, vegetables. Portion control helped me lose the weight. Over the course of 2 years I managed to lose 80 pounds now weighing 245 pounds. I had to come to terms, and be honest with myself about what I was putting in my body.  I found that denial is real, especially when battling weight loss.  Once I got over the denial part I let it go. Food for me now is not for comfort.  I eat when I’m hungry and if I want a sweet snack I will get a small piece. I have tried going cold turkey in the past and I would end up eating more than I needed. I eat 3 meals a day with lunch being my heaviest. Dinner is usually fruit or something light depending on what I ate earlier in the day.

Workout Routine

I began walking a few blocks in my neighborhood and increased my duration it each time I went. I began walking 3 blocks and later began walking around the park.  In the past I would take the short cut around, but as I continued I was able to complete the entire walk around the park. I also workout at home using some of the routines I learned while going to the gym.  When I was going to class I would get off the train stop furthest from my school and walk back.  I am looking forward to getting back in the gym now that I have control over what goes in my body.

I feel confident that I will reach my goal weight one day at a time!!

ElisaJune13

SeBrina lost 140 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to SeBrina who lost 140 pounds with Gastric Bypass, changing her eating habits and working out.  She doesn’t consider surgery a quick fix and realizes that she has to work at being healthy everyday.  Here is what she shared with us:

Sebrina weight lossI gained my weight due to depression and I used food as a support system especially when no one was there. Ten years later, I was over 100 pounds heavier and had numerous of health problems. I was tired of being sick physically and mentally. I knew the weight was keeping me me down both ways as well. So, I researched getting the gastric bypass weight loss surgery done.  I found out my insurance paid for it in full. It took me a year to do what I had to do to get approved, but it happened. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. No quick fixes here!   It was the best decision for me in the end.  It very hard because I never would have known what my journey was really going to be until I went through it myself. I finally accepted my new lifestyle and said goodbye to my bad habits. I got up, ate healthy and worked out 3 – 5 days a week. I did both strength training and cardio. I was careful about not putting too much pressure on myself because I never wanted to hate what I was doing to get healthy. I worked hard everyday to both eat right and workout. I also had to also change my thinking patterns because that is what controlled my eating habits. I used working out as a stress reliever and it has helped me to be more positive. It still is an everyday struggle but I work day to day (sometimes minute to minute) to continue working hard.

Gastric Bypass was my choice. It saved my life….it saved my soul!

Sebrina weight loss surgery

Demetria lost 45 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after: Demetria lost 45 pounds by cutting out highly processed food, fatty foods, salt and sugar.  She also worked with a personal trainer and began to exercise regularly.   Here is what she shared with us:

I am getting healthy by cutting back on the high fatty foods, by avoiding foods in cans, foods that have salt and sugar in the first 4 ingredients and by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I say “getting healthy”, because I didn’t have a number of pounds in my head that I wanted to lose, I just wanted to be healthy and get to a healthy weight! I started going to fitness classes last year and hired a personal trainer at the University in our town (less expensive than a professional in a gym and the students really work hard). I now workout with 4-5 times per week and run 3-4 times per week.  I ran my first 5K this past December. The advice I would give others is “DO NOT GIVE UP!”  It took me years to get to this point! The point to where I feel like something is missing if I don’t work out. It really is a stress reliever. I have lost 45lbs and over 2ft from my body and still going! The picture I attached is called “I got this” because my trainer would always say “You got this!” It was like she knew just when to say it! So now that is my motto, I GOT THIS!!

Demetria weight loss before and after

Tara lost 63 pounds

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Today’s weight loss before and after story: Tara lost 63.8 pounds with walking, Weight Watchers and focusing on the vision God gave her for her health.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hello Black Women Losing Weight, I just want to share.  I would like to say that no matter what, never give up on your dreams and God’s purpose and plans for your life. My motivation was I had been over weight practically all my life.  I started this weight loss journey on September 6, 2010 by walking three days a week.  I did it without portion control or any additives.  I just worked out and obeyed the voice of God.  As of April 2013, I’d lost 50 lbs.  I also started ZUMBA 9 months ago

Later in April, I knew that I had not arrived to the vision God had for me, so therefore I joined Weight Watchers.  Since then, which has only been 6 weeks, I have lost an additional 13.8 pounds.  That makes a grand total of 63.8 pounds.   I Run/Walk 4 days a week and got to Zumba class one day a week, 5 days a week.  I started ZUMBA 9 months ago.  Although I need to loose a bit more, I’m so grateful about where I have come. If I can do it, you can too. At some point in time I had to take Goliath down and take off his head. Remember this, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH GIVES ME STRENGTH!”

Tara weight loss story

Michelle lost 45 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after:  Michelle lost 45 pounds by changing her eating habits and working out consistently.   Here is what she shared with us:

My motivation to lose weight came about 14 months ago when it became extremely painful for me to walk. My inner thighs were so large that they would rub up against each other when I walked, which caused an unbearable chaffing. So ,I started walking with my feet father apart so my thighs wouldn’t rub together, which caused pain in my lower back. I knew it was time for a change.

I changed my eating habits by drinking a meal-replacement shake every morning as my breakfast. I also made the transition from fried to baked and steamed foods, as well as drinking at least a half gallon of water daily. My biggest transition was completely cutting out McDonald’s, a place that I used to eat at three times a week.

I started working out four times a week after work and then bumped it up to six days a week, gradually increasing from 30 minutes to one hour and 30 minute workouts. I did everything from working on the elliptical to biking and pumping weights. I’m proud to say that I can now run for an hour non stop on the treadmill and I have participated in many 5k’s.

My starting weight was 200 pounds and my current weight is 155 pounds. It took about 14 months to make this transition.

michelle before and after weight loss

Jonarra lost 61 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Jonarra who lost 61 pounds.  Here is what she shared with me:

My motivation to lose weight was my health.  I also got tired of not being able to dress nice.  I would go to my hometown and people I grew up with didn’t recognize me. I felt ugly.   Then, I saw the Insanity commercials on television and was very impressed with it. Got the DVDs and worked it out.  20 minutes warm up, 25 minutes pure cardio.  In term of my eating habits; I ate healthy Special K cereal, drank plenty of water, baked many foods, ate a lot of fruits, etc. The picture on the left I was 203 pounds. After insanity, I’m 142 pounds!!!!!

Jonarra weight loss before and after

How to Eat Right, Exercise and Get Sleep When You Work Late

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Night shift is not only brutal on an individual’s sleep schedule, but also on their eating habits. Working late or doing an overnighter completely changes an individual’s normal routine, and has them on a schedule that to most people is foreign. Though they have to live by a unique schedule, individuals that work nights can still live a healthy lifestyle.

nurseOn night shift it is easy to grab snacks at the vending machine or bring a frozen meal, but individuals should choose to pack their own dinner with fresh food. Packaged food is filled with chemicals and is more of a science lab experiment than real food. Individuals should change up the dinners they bring and choose new healthy recipes to try for variety.  Variety can help you to avoid temptation. There are plenty of easy recipes you can find for free online to whip up that are made with fresh, healthy ingredients. Fresh foods will leave you feeling satisfied and provide you with the energy required for your responsibilities during their night shift.

Being on night shift leaves many individuals tempted to grab an energy drink or coffee. The spike in caffeine or sugar will give them a sudden burst of energy that results in a rapid crash. This will leave the individual feeling sluggish and tired again quickly. Instead of relying on caffeine and sugar for a pickup, individuals should opt to eat healthy foods that provide slow-released energy. Some great replacements for these caffeine beverages are berries, citrus fruit and avocado. These foods won’t cause you to crash during your shift.

Night shift messes with an individual’s sleep schedule and often leaves them with getting little sleep between shifts. Most individuals return home to a family that is just waking up, and they are expected to try to sleep with a busy household. Aside from members of the family being awake, an individual may deal with the bedroom not being dark enough from the sun. Individuals who work the night shift should invest in blackout curtains and an eye mask to ensure they get a sound sleep during the day. Sleep plays a vital role in an individual’s health, and it is important they receive the proper amount of sleep between their shifts.

Being on a different schedule does not give an individual an excuse not to exercise. It is important that they fit in 30 minutes of exercise daily. By not exercising and having a lack of sleep, an individual will quickly notice weight gain and their overall health being jeopardized. If an individual does not have time to go to the gym, they should opt to workout outside or purchase workout DVDs. Many workout videos will provide a full-body workout in 30 minutes. Exercise will keep a person’s body and mind healthy, and help them maintain healthy habits.

A person can still lead a healthy lifestyle while working nightshift. It is important they keep up their healthy habits, and that they not let the late shift be an excuse to live an unhealthy lifestyle.