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Ajima Jackson

Victoria has lost 25 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Victoria has lost 25 pounds.  She is participating in a challenge sponsored by Genghis Grill.  She started in February and she has made amazing progress.

“Just wanted to update on my progress (challenge: eat Genghis Grill for 60 days) no sodas, lots of water and exercise. Me on day 40 🙂

Eating: Breakfast oatmeal with fruit. Lunch pasta with tuna/chicken. Dinner grilled fish with broccoli and pineapples or chicken fajita WITHOUT tortilla.  I ate breakfast and dinner at home, Genghis Grill for lunch before heading to the gym. Snacked on carrots, celery, or apples throughout the day if I got hungry.

Exercise: Zumba two-three times a week (my instructor is hardcore), Treadmill 1-2 times a week, At home kickboxing 1-2 days a week.

Cheat day every 8 days. No red meat, only whole grains. ONLY WATER. I recently began replacing my lunch with Naked Green Machine. My motivation: I refuse to buy any more “plus size” clothes,so I have to lose the weight to fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes (which I CAN NOW).   I was still wearing maternity clothes when my son was over a year old. Also, the Genghis Grill competition is awarding $10,000 to the person who has highest percent weight loss in 60 days (I’m in 14th place out of 100). Even though I won’t win, the fact that I fit into my clothes again makes me a winner anyway.”

Victoria weight loss

Tamika lost 147 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some love to Tamika who lost 147 pounds with weight loss surgery.  She wrote us saying…

“I’m Tamika I lost 147.8 pounds after having vertical sleeve gastrectomy. My surgery was Dec. 2011 and I was 348 pounds at the time.  I am currently 200.2 pounds. I have found a new love for Zumba.  I go five to six times a week.  I also have a personal trainer that I see twice a week.  I take exercise classes including kettle bell, kickboxing, aqua Zumba and spin.   I use the elliptical machine and do strength training as well. My goal for 2013 is to lose my last 27 pounds.”

Tamika weight loss

Tamberlyn lost 68 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Tamberlyn lost 68 pounds by making simple diet changes and walking.

She says: “I lost weight by not eating anything after 8 pm and I cut out a lot of bread and starches. I cut out all sodas and I drink more water.  Also, I walk for exercise three times a week.  My starting weight was 343 pounds and now I weigh 262 pounds. I wore a size 28w and now I wear a size 18w.”

tamberlyn weight loss

Angela lost 110 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Angela who has lost 110 pounds with Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery.  She says:

“I had Gastric Sleeve on Nov 18, 2011! My highest and last weigh in before surgery was exactly 260 lbs! I was a type II Diabetic as well! Since having the Gastric Sleeve and working out, I have lost 110 lbs.  I am  no longer taking medicine for Diabetes!  I started out eating only 1500 calories daily, after losing around 50 lbs.  My doctor increased my daily calorie limits to 1700, which is what I still go by.  Exercise wise, I do a lot of cardio exercise daily.  I thank God everyday for keeping me!! I feel great!!

angela gastric sleeve

Elaine lost 42 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Elaine lost 42 pounds and has gone from a size 20 to a size 14.  She credits God, changing her eating habits, juicing, and exercise for her transformation.  She says:

Elaine weight lossMy Journey was not an easy one. I had so many trials going on at one time. My family was affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, In 2006 my son (who never been in trouble) was facing charges of 10 yrs.  He was charged with Guilt by Association in Oklahoma City and I didn’t have the finances to get an attorney (He was cleared of all Charges).  By 2008, I was going thru a divorce. So long story short ” Life Happened”.

I remember crying after looking in the mirror one day and asking myself “How did you let yourself get like this”.  I was 242lbs, and had severe high blood pressure of 200/144.  I have always been a fighter, and it was time to fight!  From my hospital bed, I surrendered my life to God and asked Him to save me and restore me. After I was discharged from the hospital, I knew If I wanted to live I had to change some things in my life. I was a good mother, my kids deserved to enjoy me at my best. They are my true motivation!!!

I seeked help thru counseling, because I realized I was eating every issue that I was going through. After 2 months of counseling, I was ready to do whatever I had to do to start loving myself again and with God’s Grace, I could save my life.

I started researching for list of nutrients that were healthy and would be most beneficial for my body in order to heal from all the toxic and bad food that I fed to myself. I made a list to eliminated all junk foods and drinks, labeling them “Non Factor Foods”, because they were not serving a purpose in my temple. The lifestyle changes I made was more like the foods listed in the Daniel Fast , but I added olive oil, coconut oil, whole wheat bread and Oatmeal with some pecans.  I ate 50% less sugar to keep from depriving myself. I also purchased Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home – 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk at Home Videos. After 3 weeks of dedication, walking everyday 1 mile and increasing my miles…the weight started falling off. I later upgraded to Shaun T Rockin Body videos and I also started juicing between meals. And 42lbs later…Here I am. God is Good and I give Him all the glory. My heart, mind, body and soul have been restored and I just want to help, inspire and encourage as many people as I can.

Chanelle lost 52 pounds

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Today’s weight loss story:  Chanelle lost 52 pounds by watching what she ate and exercising regularly.

“Hi, my name is Chanelle. I’m a single mom of twin boys and a daughter.  If u look at the old pics on my profile, you’ll see that I have gone from 260 pounds to 208 pounds By Myself!  I work out and watch what I eat.   No soda and no sugar!!!!  I also work out and do toning exercises.  I have serious self control!!!  These photos show the results of changing bad eating habits and working out regularly…and I’m going to lose ten more lbs!!

Will power and depression prompted my changes on this journey. I started working out Aug 2011 just for fun and too see what would happen.  I realized that I didn’t want junk food after all that hard work.  By Aug 2012, I’d lost 52 pounds.  I go to the YMCA  and I do classes (body combat, step interval, and every now and then a spinning class) and I keep toned with regular cardio and weights..and a lil prayer helped too!!”

Chanelle weight loss

Aimee lost 35 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Aimee lost 35 pounds and has gone from a size 12 to a size 6 in six months.  She is a pastoral counselor, author and Christian self-Help expert.

“I was thin my entire life until I started to have children. I’d lose most of the weight but a little would always remain. Everytime a child came, the bigger I got. Being from New Orleans, where BIG is considered to be sexy, I had no idea that my weight was a problem. I had always been teased for being so skinny and then after moving to Texas, I completely ignored my physical health. Here in Texas, a size 12-14 is the norm. I never lacked self confidence, so I hadn’t realized that I wasn’t looking like myself anymore.

Every once in a while, my family members would playfully tease me but I let every word they said roll off of my back, until I met an old friend. They were really surprised at how big I had become. They made a “BIG” deal about it and it really hurt my feelings. I ignored what they said until I started having trouble finding things to wear.  Shopping became a chore and I was really embarrassed that I couldn’t wear the pretty dresses that I loved because they didn’t look right on me.

Aimee weight loss

So I tried to lose weight to be able to look good again but I failed… even though I went to the gym everyday. What was I doing wrong? I didn’t want to change my diet. I still ate the same things and the same amounts. I maintained my water weight and never lost a pound. I actually gained weight! I was so discouraged. So then, I tried to change my diet but it didn’t work for long. I didn’t know what to do. I was just copying what I saw others do but I wasn’t really ready.

So New Years of 2012 came along and I made the resolution to lose wieght like years before but this time I was serious. Why? Two years ago my aunt died from complications due to obesity. Also, my mom had gotten diagnosed with diabetes and I knew that I was at risk. Even though I LOVED tasty food… I had to decide that my health was more important. I mentally prepared for making this physical and spiritual change but a month into it, I hadn’t really done anything.

That’s when I had THE MOMENT. I was coming upstairs with my family when I passed a window and caught my reflection. I thought “Is that me”? That’s when I snapped into action and ever since, my life has totally changed. I thought that I had confidence before but now my confidence is at an all time high… I have fun shopping… energy for my family… I reduced my health risks and I feel great. Most of all, my guilt is gone!

I never thought I’d be disciplined enough to lose weight like this. But I stopped trivializing it because I realize that I have a future and a family to think about. I also realized that my body is worth so much more than how I had been treating it and I should take better care of it as a way to show honor to God.

The doctor and others told me that one of my major mistakes was only doing cardio and using light weights. (What I saw most other women doing) I needed to start really lifting and for longer periods of time. I also needed to do more exercises that involved moving my whole body.  Since belly fat is my biggest problem, I thought that doing a bunch of crunches would make it right but what I found out was that you can build up your muscles on the inside but you’ll never see them until you burn the fat off of your stomach first.  I learned that thigh exercises are actually the exercises that burn belly fat off. So I’m doing that now, and will re-incorporate crunches later. I do core exercises to strengthen my tummy and it is DRASTICALLY slimming down.  Also, sweating a lot does not determine how much you lose and the most you need to stay on the treadmill or bike is for 20 mins.

Avoid foods high in sodium… they make you retain water. Saunas only make you lose water weight but you gain it again when you drink water. You also have to drink a LOT of water. It’s important for reducing hunger and keeping you from retaining water. The more water you drink, the less you retain.

You may have to work out more often and for longer periods of time, each time being sure to do strength training. Experts say that it burns fat faster than anything else. Being disciplined enough to eat healthily is the hardest part. You can do this!

Side note: Make sure that you check with your doctor before starting a new exercise regimine. Also, find out what your heart rate should be for your age and weight. Each day I do 20 mins on the bike. The entire time I am at or above where my heart rate should be. This is very important. I didn’t start off like that but worked up to it.”

Check out her website: aimeecolbert.com

Kemba went from a size 22 to a size 14

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Today’s featured success story: Kemba went from wearing a size 22 to a size 14.

“I went from a size 22 to a 14 and counting.  I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost so far but I did it naturally. For me, my weight lost started mentally.  Once I decided I was going to lose weight I was ready. I have an oatmeal shake for breakfast most mornings. I took meat out of my diet.   I eat small portions and exercise three times a week.   My last meal for the day is at 8pm.  Sometimes I wanted to give up but I had GREAT support system.  Good luck on your journey!!! It can be done…1 pound at a time.”

Kemba weight loss

Kena lost 118 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Blogger Kena lost 118 pounds.  Check out her weight loss blog  www.fat2phat2fit.blogspot.com.  Here is her weight loss story:

My issues with food started in my childhood. I was a picky eater that was addicted to junk food. In hindsight, I can see that the behaviors I displayed back then set me up for failure as an adult. I never cared much about ‘meals’, but present a dessert, a bag of Cheez Doodles or a package of cheap, hard, cream filled sandwich cookies (preferably lemon) to me and I was in heaven. I could survive on processed, high carbohydrate foods without giving protein, fiber or vitamins a second thought. My mother baked and cooked most of our meals from scratch. I thought ‘homemade’ was so old fashioned. I didn’t want baked macaroni and cheese, give me the processed Kraft macaroni and cheese! You know, the throwback kind in the skinny box that came with cheese powder and was a neon orange color. She made us eat shredded wheat, raisin bran and cornflakes. The day my father brought home Pop Tarts you’d think he’d been found guilty of child abuse. My mother wanted us to eat healthfully and prepared nutritious meals. As a child, I wanted no parts of that. I carried those behaviors into my teen and adult years. Needless to say those high carb, fast food and processed food habits landed me on the door step of 300lbs. My journey has been going on for about a decade now. I’ve hit several plateaus along the way. Fortunately I never put the weight back on. Once i lost it, I lost it. I just got ‘stuck’, or my effort level wasn’t enough to produce actual results. I commend those that can lose 100+ lbs in a year. It took me nearly ten years to lose 120 lbs, but I am more than thankful for the journey and the knowledge I’ve learned along the way. I’m only about 25-30 lbs from my goal weight/size. Whichever comes first!

Kena weight loss blogger

One of my favorite quotes is from G. I. Joe. “Knowing is Half the Battle”. You can’t successfully overcome any issue without fully understanding what is causing it. Being REAL with yourself about your workouts, what you’re eating and drinking is the bottom line. Track your food intake until you get this weight loss thing down pat. Stop worrying about your hair, what other people think or how expensive your sneakers and athletic wear is. Educate yourself, there are too many free, reliable resources found on the internet to be ignorant about health and nutrition.

I’ve used Weight Watchers, appetite suppressants, protein meal replacement shakes, as tools in my journey. These were just TOOLS. I had to put in the work. Having a support system is great. But someone else should not determine how well you progress on your weightloss/health journey. At the very least you should invest in:

A gym membership, (there are a few nationwide franchises that offer $10/monthly memberships, There may be a planet fitness franchise in your area) OR Fitness DVDS (collagevideo.com is an EXCELLENT online source) OR Create your own gym at home (kettle bells, jump rope, resistance bands, etc are great if you don’t have a lot of room)

Also: a heart rate monitor, a good pair of sneakers, a good sports bra all are essential. (When I couldn’t afford a good sports bra, I wore two cheap ones at a time)  .

Find a Zumba class, or fitness boot camp in your area to help add variety to your regimen.I don’t skip breakfast, skipping breakfast sets your day up for failure. Other than my protein shakes I choose not to drink my calories. Soda, tea, alcoholic beverages, and juice consumption are limited. Try diluting your favorite juice blend with a flavored club soda or sparkling water. Fruit infused water is another of my favorites. A crockpot is soooo old school but comes in handy. You can prepare healthy meals for yourself or your family with a little bit of prep work. Soups, stews, chili and other one pot meals are right at your fingertips.

I watch my carbohydrate intake. You don’t have to follow a low carb lifestyle, but limit the white: sugar, breads,potatoes and rice. Fruit and veggies are great NATURAL snacks. I enjoy eating and making kale chips and sweet potato chips.

Don’t eat what you don’t like. You’ll only be miserable trying to follow a ‘diet’ comprised of foods that you don’t enjoy. This is all about a lifestyle change that you can LIVE with.

Don’t worry about how you look to others when you start your fitness journey. Just do you. Don’t let self doubt hinder your success. Don’t allow the “I Can’ts” keep you from being the person that you want. I was fortunate to have a great trainer that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I cried when I was mad at him for pushing me. I cried when he pushed me to success. I would have never believed that I could run a 5K or do a wall sit for 12 minutes. I’m not the ‘face’ of fitness. (And you don’t have to be either). The full hips and thighs on my ‘pear’ shape isn’t the status quo for fitness. And I’m perfectly OK with that. I am recreating the ‘face’ of fitness. This curvy, pear shaped African American woman is strong and determined and that is all that should matter.

I’m also trying my hand at blogging. Check my ‘baby’ blog out at www.fat2phat2fit.blogspot.com

Ladies, Weight loss blogging is a great way to share your story, share your struggles and share your success with others who are losing weight.  I’ve created a quick guide to setting up your weight loss blog.  Check it out.

Check-in for Week 3 – March Challenge

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It’s time to Check-in for week 3 of our March Weight Release Challenge.  Visit our online community, www.blackwomenlosingweight.com (post a status there or a blog post) or leave a comment below and let us know how you did with the Challenge Goals this week.

check-in march challenge