Before and After Photos

Transformation of the Day: Erika lost 166 pounds. She didn’t have a plan or a specific motivation in mind, but she knew that she was sick and tired of being unhealthy. Her transformation took patience, research, and consistency. Check out her story.

When did you start your journey?
I started my journey on August 24, 2017. I haven’t had any weight loss surgery of any kind. I lost more than 150 pounds naturally by counting calories and working out daily.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I really didn’t have any specific motivation. I just woke up one day and decided I was sick of being so big and so unhealthy. What stopped me from giving was the results I started to see.

How did you change your eating habits?
I didn’t have a specific diet plan. In fact, I had no idea what I was doing. I used the MyFitnessPal app and stopped eating fast food. I did a lot of research about healthy eating on Google as well.

What did your workout routine look like?
I started out doing cardio only. Then, I moved on to adding some weight training to my routine 2 days a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 365 pounds, and my current weight is 199 pounds. I’m 5’5″.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned was about consistency. Consistency was the key to my success.

What advice would you share with other people who want to lose weight?
My advice would be to start consistently! Don’t be distracted by plateaus. Focus on your goal.

Instagram: @Where_is_waldo877

Transformation of the Day: Natasha lost 95 pounds/44kg. Our sister from Australia was the “big girl” of the group since the age of five. She leaned on her faith for strength and learned to stop comparing herself to others. Cutting carbs and working out a home worked for her.

What was your motivation?
I have always been the ‘big girl,’ since the age of five. As I grew up I would get this comment, ‘At least you have a pretty face.’ Mind you, my decision to live a healthier lifestyle was not influenced by people. It was more so about me taking the time within myself to find out how I wanted to live as I was entering into womanhood. I want to be fit. I do not want to create limitations for myself as I had been doing so in the past. I was basically existing but not really living. Now, I choose to love myself as I am and as I become.

What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
My relationship with God. My faith is of central importance to me, and that has been a pivotal part of my fitness journey. Many times I’ve wanted to quit, and that was always as a result of me comparing myself to other people. My insecurities would flare up, and I would find myself going the opposite direction. I always have to check myself. I have to refocus and remind myself that I’m not doing this for anyone but for me. It is still not easy at times, but for good habits to come into fruition in one’s life, persistence is vital… regardless of feelings. I am intentional about not living my life being led by emotions. Instead, I choose to act in faith and take steps forward towards the goal set before me.

How did you change your eating habits?
Carbs! Bread, in particular, has always been my weakness as I don’t possess much of a sweet tooth. For me, it was simple in the sense that all I had to reduce was my carb intake.

I stopped eating bread for months, and now I can do without it. Also, I used to be addicted to soft drinks, so I had to remove them from my diet completely. Since I started my journey, I have not had one soft drink. I try to eat small meals throughout the day and always have breakfast, which is not easy for me. I also avoid eating late at night. I drink at least 1.5 liters of water, and that has helped a lot. Ultimately I try to focus on nurturing my body with the food I eat, and that has helped me build a healthier relationship with food.

What did your workout routine look like?
One of my strengths is I enjoy exercising. I find it to be a stress reliever. At the beginning stages, I worked out three times a week. With time, I have gradually increased that time to one hour and thirty minutes of exercise four/five times a week. I go for a walk early in the morning for at least an hour before I head to work. I also try to do thirty minutes of cardio or strength training at home. I was going to the gym at one stage but found that it was a waste of money because I was unable to commit to going as frequently as I would like, so I have been exercising at home.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I started at 140kgs/308 pounds, and my current weight is 96.9kgs/213 pounds. My ultimate goal is 85kgs/187 pounds as I think that would be ideal, manageable and comfortable for me (but secretly I would like to get to 80kgs/176 pounds) My height is 5’7″.

How long did your transformation take?
I started at the end of November 2017, and I’m still on the journey. I am not yet at my goal, but I’m so thankful to God that I am no longer where I used to be. I WILL never go back there again! This journey has not been easy, but I’ve come to understand that it all begins with the mind, and from there action is required. There is no quick fix.

What advice would you like to share?
Trust your journey. Surround yourself with people who can encourage you but don’t be dependent that. Be your own cheerleader. Choosing to lose weight and care for yourself was never for others. Be inspired by others, BUT do not compare yourself to anyone.

Since losing the weight, I’ve had mixed reviews, but ultimately I know this lifestyle change has enabled me to embrace life and to live instead of merely existing.

Instagram: @nataziooo

Transformation of the Day: Yoeshikoe has gone from a 3X to a medium. She didn’t track pounds because she didn’t want the numbers on the scale to discourage her. Tired of fatigue, sleep apnea, anxiety and shortness of breath, she committed a lifestyle change which included becoming a pescatarian. Check out her story.

I was tired of the shortness of breath, fatigue, and insomnia. I kept telling myself that something had to change and I knew it was my weight. I kept putting it off because I’d already been down the weight loss road on many occasions. I realized that if I was going to make a change, it would have to start in my mind first. It took a while, but I told myself that once I got to that mental place I knew I would do it.

I started my journey in June 2018. On the 3rd of July, 2018, I was preparing my meats and dishes for the holiday cookout I was having the next day, and something just hit me out of nowhere! Right then, I said, “No More Meat for Me!”

I immediately began to do my research and adopted a new Pescatarian Lifestyle. I’ve completely cut soda out of my diet. It’s all water for me. My sugars and carb intake is very minimal. I no longer look at food the same way, and the cravings are gone.

My routine workout started with walking 30 minutes each day. After a week, I committed myself to no less than an hour each day. Now, I walk/jog 4 or more miles every day, even on my rest days because I can’t sit still. For the next three months, I’ll be lifting weights in the gym as well.

This process really isn’t a weight loss journey. It’s a lifestyle change. I love this journey of creating a new lifestyle. It has given me my life back. I feel good. I’m very active, and I sleep well at night. No more anxiety, insomnia, or sleep apnea. The constipation is gone, and the weight is shedding. I’m proud of myself, and I’m proud to share my journey. All it takes is one minute at a time.

I was wearing a size 3X, and now I’m able to wear a size medium in tops and bottoms. My height is 5’9″. I didn’t know my actual weight before I started my journey and I still don’t know my exact weight. I didn’t want the scale to dictate my success and interrupt my daily, happy moods. So I just listen to my body, and how I look and feel.

My biggest lesson I learned is that setting lifestyle goals for myself is not a punishment, but an opportunity to get in touch with myself, to nurture myself, and to do right by myself. I’ve learned that drinking water is the core of a healthy lifestyle and that it represents life.

My advice to other women is to treat food like a relationship. Only eat foods that are good for you, and that will make you feel good about yourself. Eat foods that won’t leave you feeling guilty the next day. Don’t allow certain foods to control you and take away your ability to live a long, healthy, and prosperous life.

Instagram @yoshicreerthewriter

Transformation of the Day: Ashley lost 58 pounds. She wanted to improve her overall health, get rid of knee and back pain, and get her self-confidence back. Working with a nutritionist and personal trainer gave her the knowledge and support she needed. Making healthier choices and trusting the process was key.

Age: 29
Height: 5’7
Starting weight: 267.8lbs
Current weight: 209.2lbs
Total weight loss: 58.6lbs
Starting Dress Size: 18
Current Dress Size: 12
Representing: Illinois

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even during the tough times?
My motivation to lose weight was to improve my overall health. I began having constant back and knee pain. I went for a routine check-up and my doctor associated the pain with my weight. She stated that if I lost weight, my pain/soreness would begin to go away. When I heard her advice, I realized that I had to start making changes. Not just because my doctor said so, but because I was too young to be immobile.

Body pain, my clothes not fitting as they should, negative comments from others, and a decline in my self-confidence all aided in my motivation to begin losing weight. As I saw an increase in my clothing size, I felt a decrease in my self-esteem. I reached a 3X in clothing and an all-time low in how I viewed myself. There were times when I would look in the mirror, and not recognize myself due to the weight gain. This devastated me. Instead of feeling sorry for myself (like I usually would), I decided to re-frame my thoughts and change my lifestyle.

My upcoming 30th birthday also inspired me. I made a vow to myself not to bring any baggage from my 20s into my 30s, and this included the weight!

How did you change your eating habits?
I initially changed my eating habits by working with NutritionistGuru from Fitness on Fire. She provided a list of foods that were most beneficial to my lifestyle change. With the tools she gave me, I learned how to use portion control, substitute foods for more healthier options, and how to co-exist with all the fatty foods I used to eat. I stopped drinking pop and sugary juices and began drinking more water. I stopped eating sugary junk foods (which were my weakness) and started eating more fruits.

Selecting healthier choices in a world full of non-healthy options was definitely hard for me at the beginning. Making sure that I meal prepped and asked others around me to hold me accountable were the main things that kept me on the right path.

What did your workouts consist of?
My workouts consisted of doing resistance training for 75-90 minutes, 5 to 6 times a week. I used the workout routine given to me by my online trainer, King of the Fire from the Fitness on Fire Online Training Program.

How long did your transformation take?
I began my transformation in April 2018. From then until now, I’ve lost 58lbs. I started seeing weight loss in July, which was 3 months into the program. It was around that time when my clothes began fitting looser.

I’ve never been in a workout program like Fitness on Fire before. It is the first workout program I’ve ever participated in. Prior to this program, I would try changing my eating habits and working out on my own but would always fail or lack consistency. Looking back, the reasons for my failed weight loss attempts was due to the lack of accountability and support. This program provides both. Holding yourself accountable and relying on someone for support was definitely needed on my journey.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
The only thing that is getting in the way of your weight loss is you! Find the courage to love yourself enough to want to change… Change for the betterment of you, your health, and your life. Do not begin this journey wanting to change for others or an image. Trust the process and keep pushing.

Instagram: @realashleyo

Transformation of the Day: Sandrine lost 33 pounds/15kg. Body shaming from her family made her self-conscious. She decided to focus on improving her health and changing her relationship with food. It took a while for her to find the right eating and exercise routine, but she didn’t give up and didn’t make excuses. Check out her story.

Hello, my name is Sandrine. I’m 27 years old, and I’m from lovely Martinique (French West Indies). Here is my story:

I’ve never cared about what I looked like or what I ate until people in my family started to body shame me. I became really self-conscious. I realized I was becoming unhealthy when I looked at my pictures, and when I couldn’t fit in my clothes anymore. I’m 5’8″, and my peak weight was 92kg/202 pounds in September 2016. I got down to 87kg/191 pounds in 2017.

After moving to the UK in 2014, I often bought loads of junk food and ate all of it with absolutely no hunger. A friend told me about Lise Bourbeau‘s work on the relationship between emotions and what we eat. I started to listen to her conferences while walking to work. I learned that I was binge eating because of my loneliness. I decided to cut out meat and alcohol for a year. I also went for a run 3 to 4 times a week… but ultimately I didn’t get any results.

When I came back to Martinique in October 2017, I didn’t go back to eating meat and drinking alcohol but kept the same unhealthy habits. After working out for months and still getting no results, I decided to commit to a nutritionist. She made me realize that I was eating way too much fruit, nuts, fat, and carbs, so I reduced my intake a lot. I literally only eat vegetables with eggs, meat or fish, and I only have alcohol on the weekend. If I have a cheat meal, I don’t have carbs for the three following days. I also do intermittent fasting at least four times a week and drink half a gallon of water a day.

I currently weigh 77kg/169 pounds. My next and last goal is 73kg/160 pounds.

Motivation: I became motivated when I read this quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger: “You can have results or excuses. Not both!” At that moment “No Excuse” became my motto and my favorite hashtag. I set realistic goals that I
wanted to reach in a specific time frame. I promised myself that I’d never let excuses get in the way of my results. I also read success stories on BWLW’s website that keep me going.

Workout Routine: I work out every day. At first, I didn’t want to get a gym membership because of all the money I would waste as I get bored quite easily. So, I try to vary my activities throughout the week by mixing weight lifting, hiking, swimming, walking and running in nature. I also take a dance and an aerobics class once a week. I aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, but it’s more likely 1 hour to 2 hours. I generally use Spotebi programs on a mat with my own equipment. I also bought a Fitbit Flex 2 to keep track of my activities.

Biggest Lesson: During this process, I’ve learned that the only person who counts on my journey is me. If I’m the one making excuses, I am the one facing the consequences and getting no results. I also learned if I can do a 10k run one day and I do a 9k the day after, I should still be proud of myself.

Advice: If you’re at the beginning or middle of your journey, going for a 30-minute workout is better than finding an excuse not to do anything. Don’t let other people’s negativity impact your work and don’t beat yourself up! Be strong. Be proud.

Instagram: @cendreens_journey

 

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A post shared by 🚶🏾‍♀️Cendreen’s journey 🏃🏾‍♀️ (@cendreens_journey) on Aug 6, 2018 at 5:08pm PDT

Transformation of the Day: Tamar lost 118 pounds. Her motivation was her daughter, whom she never wanted to put in the position to have to care for her due to her unhealthy choices. After 1 year and 6 months of eating healthy food and walking, this 42-year-old feels fantastic.

What was your motivation?
My name is Tamar, and I’m from Charleston, SC. What motivated me to lose weight was my 9-year-old daughter, and my will to live for her. I’ve watched episodes of My 600 Lb Life, and I don’t ever want my daughter to be put in a position to have to take care of me because my eating is out of control. Also, I was diagnosed with hypertension and pre-diabetes.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating fast food, fried foods, sweets, and sodas. I increased my water intake from about 16 ounces a day to between 100-200 ounces a day. I’ve incorporated a lot more veggies and fruit into my eating routine. I read labels and count my calories, sugars, sodium, and fats obsessively!

What does your workout routine look like?
For exercise, I walk a lot, and I run behind my daughter.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 363 pounds in 2017. In 1 year and 6 months, I’ve lost 118 pounds. I’m 5’10″, 42 years old and I feel amazing. My biggest cheerleader, my Grammy, left me back in June. I’m glad she got to see me at my new weight before she died… 245 pounds!

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that weight loss is not only a physical journey, but it’s also a mental journey as well. I see how much better I look and feel now, and I refuse to look like the girl on the left again!

What advice would you share with people who want to lose weight?
My advice to anyone trying to lose weight: Start the journey that you feel is best for you. Some people have surgery. Some are forced to get on medication like I was. Your journey may be nothing like mine, and that’s ok. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you.

Instagram: @just.tamar

Transformation of the Day: Chudney lost 52 pounds. 17 years after the birth of her daughter, she’d convinced herself that she was still carrying baby weight. Her wakeup call came when a trip to the ER revealed the toll that smoking and her unhealthy eating habits had taken on her body. With help from her coach, she has greatly improved her health and fitness.

For the longest time, I convinced myself that I was carrying around “baby fat,” even though I had my daughter over 17 years ago. It was easier to say baby fat rather than admit that I was overweight, and wasn’t taking care of myself or my body.

I drank plenty of alcohol, smoked, ate fried foods… you name it.  I reached my limit in the spring of 2017 when I went to the ER for a horrendous toothache. I almost managed to forget I was in pain when I weighed in at a whopping 208 pounds. (I’m  5’3). My blood pressure was over 180!! Rather than letting them put me on medication for my blood pressure (which they strongly advocated), I decided to see if I could do something on my own about my health without the help of pills.

I remember being on Facebook one day and coming across the Black Women Losing Weight page. Your page was featuring Ebony Cornish, a life coach who lost over fifty pounds. Her story stood out to me, so I decided to look her up and drop her a message. That was one of the best decisions I had ever made! I joined Ebony’s Fit and Fab Bootcamp which taught me how to choose healthier eating options, and do 30-minute workouts daily. I trusted the process and eventually saw results, both mentally and physically. I started in May 2017, and within 6 months I lost 52 pounds (down to 156 pounds).

My daily food regimen included eating lots of veggies, fruit, and protein throughout the day. I drank a minimum of a gallon of water each day. I also made sure to get in at least a 30-minute workout (Beachbody workout) which helped my waist go from 42 inches to 30 inches. This routine worked very well for me because it was a lifestyle change. I didn’t want to engage in any fads or trending diets. I needed something that I can see myself doing for the long haul.

I will admit that it took a while to adjust to the change, but I was excited to see all of the positive outcomes which came to pass. I am healthier now. My blood pressure went down from 181 to 124. I stopped smoking, and my muffin top is gone.

I also took lots and lots of pictures so that anytime I started second guessing myself, I could look at the photos and see all of my hard earned accomplishments (scale based as well as non-scale victories). This helped me to push forward, not backward.

What I would say to the women out there who are struggling is don’t put so much pressure on yourselves. We are human, and from time to time we are going to mess up. When you fall, dust yourself off and get back up, because you’re not out of the race yet. Also, please stop putting your weight loss journey on a timer. These things take time, patience, and dedication. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet your goal in the timeframe you’ve put upon yourself. Remember, it’s a lifestyle change.

Lastly, your journey is just that… YOURS! No comparing your results to others. Put in the work so you can reap the rewards!

Sidenote: After the weight loss, I managed to get pregnant at 41 years old. Using the tools I learned, I only gained 20 pounds, and managed to snap back to 157 pounds!

Rosa lost 69 pounds/31kg. She found that releasing the weight was more a mental fight than a physical one. Cutting starch, red meat and sugar worked for her. Check out her journey.

If you believe those who say that it’s impossible, then you have already lost.

Losing weight is a mental fight because the hardest thing to do is accept that we HAVE TO change. It’s easy to refute what people think about you because no matter how you feel in your skin there will always be someone who thinks bad of you. However, there’s nothing worse than the judgment one has of oneself. There’s nothing worse than hating your reflection. So, you have to change for yourself.

I decided to change because my appearance didn’t match my personality. Losing weight has been a mental fight more than a physical one. It showed me aspects of my personality I didn’t know. This fight made me more confident, more mature and stronger.

I started my journey in April 2018 and reached my goal in September 2018. My starting weight was 98 kg/216 pounds. And now I weight 67kg/147 pounds.

My diet:

• No starchy food.
• No more sugar.
• No red meat in the evening.
• I only ate starchy food at lunchtime.
• I ate smaller portions.
• I also workout 3-4 times a week: cardio, weight lifting, and cross training.

Ask yourself every day if you are the best version of yourself (physically and spiritually). If not, it’s not too late to change. It’s NEVER impossible. I hope my experiment will motivate other people to find the best of them!

Instagram: @rowsa.g

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From 216lbs(98kg) to 143lbs(65kg) If you believe those who say that it’s « impossible » then you have already lost. Losing weight is a mental fight because the hardest thing to do is accept that we HAVE TO change! It’s easy to refute what people think because no matter how you feel in your skin there will always be someone to think bad of you. But there’s nothing worse than the judgment one has of oneself. Nothing worse than hating your own reflection. So you have to change for yourself! I decided to change because my appearance didn’t match my personality. Losing weight has been a mental fight more than a physical one. It showed me aspects of my personality I didn’t know. This fight made me more confident, more mature and stronger. Ask yourself everyday if you are the best version of yourself (physically and spiritually). If not, it’s not too late to change. It’s NEVER impossible. #fitness #fitnesstransformation #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #beforeafter #fitfortheculture #blackfitness #ebonyfitness #fitnessgirl #melaninfitness

A post shared by Rosa ⬇️66lbs In 5 Months (@rowsa.g) on Feb 18, 2019 at 9:47am PST

Update: Lalla has lost more than 70 pounds/34kg and 6 dress sizes. The scale is a source of anxiety for her, so she tracks her progress in kilometers, not kilograms. She has become an avid runner, running over 2500km/1553.4 miles in the 10 months since she started.

Just a quick recap on my journey: I started in March 2018, and my
starting weight was 122kg (269lbs). As of August, I lost 34kg (75lbs)
and my weight was 88kg (194lbs) when you featured me on your social media platforms.

In August, I decided to stop weighing myself. In addition to the scale being the biggest trigger for my anxiety, I realized that this journey is not about a number. This journey is not a sprint to see how fast I get there. That is one of the lessons that becoming a runner has taught me.

Now, I measure my progress in kilometers, not kilograms (miles and
not pounds). In the ten months since I started, I have run over 2500km
(1553.4 miles). I also use clothes to track my progress. I’ve gone from
a size 44 (size 16) pants to a size 32 (size 4) pants, and from an XXXL top
to a medium.

I have continued with my intermittent fasting and become quite the runner. I ran an ultra marathon, as well as a few marathons and half marathons in the past five months since you featured me. My mental health has improved a lot, and I continue to be a great example for my 13-year-old daughter. Consistency, dedication, discipline, and the desire to be a better version of myself is what keeps me going. I look forward to my one-year anniversary mark in March, and I continue to keep showing up for myself. @Lalla.may

Transformation of the Day: Lalla lost 77 pounds/35kg. This mom just wanted to be a healthy example for her daughter. She was tired of trying and failing to release the weight, so this year she gave it her all. Intermittent fasting and running changed her life.

I turned 32 years old in February. I gained so much weight during the previous year. My confidence and self-esteem took a huge knock.

The turning point for me was when I stepped on the scale in March, and it read 122kg (269 pounds). This was the heaviest I’d ever been in my life. That very same day I decided to change my life. I was so tired of
always starting this journey only to give up after a while and gaining back all the weight. I was tired of failing myself.

My greatest motivation is my 13 year old daughter. I want to be a good example for her. I also wanted to be healthy and feel good about myself.

I cut out sugar entirely from my diet. I was addicted to junk and would usually binge. I started intermittent fasting in April. I needed some structure. I still practice intermittent fast to this day. I do the 16/8 split, with an eating window from 11am-7pm.

I started running in March, although at that time I was probably walking more than running, but I pushed myself. I was so desperate for change. I was always online checking out the stories of people who have managed to lose weight and are still going.

Intermittent fasting, running and eating healthy are the three things I did to make these changes in my life. The first few months were difficult, but I kept being consistent and I worked hard. Since March, I’ve run over 1300km (808miles). Running has truly saved my life. It calms and heals my soul.

I have lost just over 35kg (77 pounds) in 6 months. For me, this is only the beginning of what I can achieve. I am 1.67m tall, and my goal weight is 74kg (165 pounds).

I currently workout six days a week. My workouts consist of a lot of running. I also do HIIT workouts as well. I always do long runs (over half marathon) on Saturdays. I eat clean and allow a “cheat meal” on Saturday.

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to trust the process. Results are not going to happen overnight. I also learned that I need to be gentle with myself. Small victories count just as much as the huge milestones.

My advice to anyone who is at home thinking that they desperately want to change, but they don’t know how to would be to start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself or do a lot of things at one time. Small changes over time will lead to significant results. Dedication over motivation. You will not always wake up and be motivated, so always remember why you started.

The biggest thing is consistency. You need to be consistent, and always show up for yourself. Making excuses only does a disservice to you. Yes, losing weight is hard, but it is so rewarding… and not just because of the physical change. The emotional change that happens is monumental as well. Bad days will happen, but if you fall don’t stay down. Always rise.

Six months ago, my life was totally different from what it is today. I look at myself in the mirror, and I am so proud of how far I’ve come. I’m going to keep going. I will keep showing up for myself. I love the woman I am now.

Instagram: @lalla.may