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Updated: Courtney lost 53 pounds

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Update Nov 2015 – (read about how she did it below) “I want to give an update on my journey. I’m now 53 lbs down since January 1, 2015 and I’m so proud of myself for not giving up this time. I’ve gone from 234 pounds to now 181 pounds. Now, I have a goal to lose 31 more and I’ll definitely do it.”

Courtney weight loss update

Update July 2015: “Hi, I just wanted to share my update with you guys. I’m now 50 lbs down and feeling even more motivated than before. I still have 37 lbs I want to lose so I’ll be sending you another update in the future. Instagram: @transforming_mybody“

courtney weight loss

Weight Loss Story: Courtney lost 32 pounds. She didn’t want to be put on insulin for diabetes and a wake up call from her doctor was the perfect motivation.  Here is what she shared with us about how she lost the weight…

Courtney before and after

Hi my name is Courtney and I’m from Alabama! I want to share my weight loss journey with everyone, because I’m so proud of myself for actually believing I could do it.  I decided to lose weight after going to the doctor in December 2014 and listening to my doctor tell me he’s going to prescribe me insulin for my diabetes if I didn’t lose weight and get healthy. That scared the crap out of me because I watched my mom take insulin shots all my life. That’s not what I wanted.

On January 1, 2015 I made the decision to get up off of my couch and get healthy. I weighed in at 234 lbs and I’m now 202 lbs. I eat clean, no sodas, a gallon of water a day, no white foods, no juices and no bread. I also stopped eating late at light.  For exercise, I joined boot camp classes twice a week and I’m now enrolled at Planet Fitness. My goal weight is 160 pounds and I know I will get there with my continued dedication and motivation. Thank you for such an inspiring page.

Darla lost 140 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Darla lost 140 pounds.  After gaining a significant amount of pregnancy weight she became depressed and prayed for answers.  Answers came and she’s been rocking with a healthy and fit lifestyle for over 3 years.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

darla before and after

I love your page. You are inspiring me to keep up with my weight loss journey. It took me 3 1/2 years to lose 140 lbs. When the doctors told me to lose the weight or I would have diabetes, I decided that I had to change my lifestyle. So, through healthy eating and exercise I have kept the weight off.

When I started my journey three years ago, I was at a horrible time in my life where I’d gotten real big after having my baby. I gained over 100 lbs and that was the biggest I have ever been in my life. I fell into a deep depression. I prayed to GOD and asked him for help. Then my church announced that they were having Zumba classes and I knew that my prayers were answered.

I changed my eating habits by saying no to bread, pastas, rice and sodas. I ate more fruit, veggies and drank a lot of water. I’ve been doing Zumba for three years now to tighten my body. Also, I now go to a fit camp and Planet Fitness. I workout 5 days a week.

I was 310 pounds and now I weight 170 pounds (my height is 5’4″). I’m not done yet. My advice is to have patience and not rush the weight off. When it comes off slow it stays off. Also, it is called a lifestyle change and not a diet. That’s where people mess up. I encourage everyone who is struggling and tell them that they can do it. It takes a lot willpower but they can conquer their struggles because it is all in the mind. Thank you for letting me tell my story. I hope this helps others!

Darla weight loss

Aurielle lost 62 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Aurielle lost 62 pounds in 9 months.  After years of being overweight and dealing with knee and hip pain, she was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  She shared with us about how she took action to lose the pounds…

Aurielle before and after

Hello my name is Aurielle and I would like to share my story. I still am loosing weight and I am not at my goal weight yet, but I would like to inspire someone who is wants to loose weight without having surgery. I would really love to help inspire others, because I have been overweight for many years. 15 to be exact and I am now getting closer and closer to my goal weight. So far, I have lost 62 pounds in 9 months.

The biggest thing I did was join a gym and get a personal trainer. He tweaked my eating habits and told me to cut out all processed food. No McDonald’s, Taco Bell, frozen meals or any foods that are basically already made to eat. I see that trainer two times a week and on the other days I swim (a lot) and run/walk.

My starting weight was 303.5 pounds and now I weigh 241 pounds. My goal is to get down to 145 pounds. My height is 5’5″ tall.

My advice to anyone who wants to loose weight is once you hit that wall of, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” nothing will stop you from achieving your goals. Me personally, I knew that weight loss surgery was not for me. I was large but not to the point that I had medical problems. I just wanted to feel like myself again and have confidence. I used to dance and I was very flexible as a kid. I had gotten to the point where just bending over hurt me.

Now I feel wonderful and don’t I have the back knee or hip pains. I don’t have any pain at all unless I’m working out my muscles and they are sore, but I love that. I can run again. I can walk up steps and not feel like I’m about to die. I love how my body feels now.

Sheila lost 39 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sheila lost 39 pounds. Determined not to let a family history of obesity and illness affect her future, she embraced regular exercise and changed her eating habits to lose the pounds.  Here is what she shared with us about how she did it…

sheila before and after

Hi, my name is Sheila and I am 43 years old. In March of 2014, I had finally had enough. I had become sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had tried time and time again to lose weight but always gave up. After seeing first-hand the effects of obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, which both run rampant in my family, I finally was scared straight into making changes in my life. At 5’3″ tall and 202 pounds, I started working out with a trainer 3 days a week, doing strength training and very little aerobic exercise.  Then, after 6 weeks my trainer dropped me out of the blue. The scale hadn’t moved but I lost a few inches.

I wanted badly to quit at that point but looking back at my family’s health issues I decided to pick up the ball myself. I begin increasing my aerobic activity to 45 minutes three times a week and then up to 5 days a week, mostly walking on the treadmill. I dropped all the fast food I was eating and started cooking and eating more healthy food by incorporating more salads and fresh vegetables into my meal plan. I also added more protein and that helped me with food cravings. Exactly one year later, I’m now happy to report that I weigh 163 pounds. While I am still 33 pounds from my goal, but I am proud of myself. Trust me, if I could do it anyone can. Thank you for letting me share.

sheila weight loss Sheila

Lean and Strong: Gayna lost over 50 pounds

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When I began my journey it was NEVER about physical weight initially. It was about the emotional weight that I’d been carrying for so many years, which was the primary cause of the physical weight. Far too often in my life I’ve begged for relationships (all kinds) that were not for me. I was looking to fill a void that no one could give me except for me. I had to learn to 💜 and care for myself. I had to learn that it wasn’t another persons responsibility. . The process for me has been HEALING in every since of the word. The healing isn’t always easy because the past was hurtful….tears, anger, blame, and low self-esteem. I cried, screamed, cursed, threw objects, and even walked away from the process…..returned after I calmed down. . The moral of this post is, you must get extremely uncomfortable, vulnerable, honest with yourself, and transparent. Then and only then will the #HealingFromTheInsideOut truly begin. . There’s NO room for; •FEAR •EXCUSES •LAZINESS •PROCRASTINATION When it comes to Living a Healthy Lifestyle! . #TransparentTuesday #TransformationTuesday #TestimonialTuesday #TrustTheProcessToProgress

A post shared by FITnatic LIFEstyle (Gayna) (@fitnatic_lifestyle) on

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Gayna lost over 50 pounds and gained lots of muscle.  I’m excited to share her story because she’s one of the people I love to follow on Instagram.  She is a fit mom who has transformed her body and is preparing for her first figure competition this summer.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

gayna before and after

About Me: I’m a 39 year old mother who began her journey in August of 2012 on her own. Fast forward, May of 2014, I hired a trainer to help me pursue my goal of becoming a bodybuilder and looking forward to my first competition in 2015.

gayna weight lossSay hello to the woman on the left, County Thick (aka) Home Grown. Here’s what you don’t know, I had 2 layers of tights on up underneath these white leggings sucking AND holding it in. Oh, and I dare eat a bite of food in fear of EXPANDING (EXPOSING) what I really had going on. In a nutshell, I was FALSE ADVERTISEMENT and an excellent chameleon of hiding my FAT. Not to mention, I would take laxatives regularly thinking it would help me lose fat and make my stomach smaller…I was all messed up.

Now meet the woman on the right, FIT SEXY SHAPESHIFTER. A happier and healthier woman who is dedicated to herself like never before. I no longer have to hide from myself (mentally, physically, and emotionally). Sure, my breasts and hips have gotten smaller, but the reality is it was all body FAT and I’ve gotten rid of it. What you should pay attention to is the fact that I’m LEANER (getting leaner) and more youthful looking. You have to give up something in order to gain something. I’ve gained a new GAYNA that is continuously surprising herself daily. It’s not just about food. This is about the MENTAL part of living a healthier lifestyle.

When I began my journey in 2012 I was 200+ pounds. Currently, I weigh 148 pounds (height: 5’7″).

How did you change your eating habits?

I changed my eating habits by changing my relationship with food. I realized that food is for living and not living to eat. I had to do this in baby steps which is what worked for me. I began by cutting back unhealthy food options. Example; instead of drinking 2 sodas per day, I drank one. Instead of 2 cups of rice I ate one. I created a free account on www.myfitnesspal.com (web/mobile availability), which you enter your personal information and it calculates what your nutritional intake should be. I also incorporated using a food scale and measuring cups to ensure that I stay on track with my personal nutritional goals.

I pretty much cut out all processed foods but I do eat them every once in a while, like crackers and potato chips a few of my favorites. (Processed foods: They often come in a box or a jar, are can be high in added sugars, low in fiber and whole grains, processed with sodium, high in fat or include trans fat and lots of saturated fat.) I began eating more whole foods (foods that are as close to their natural form as possible.) I now eat:

Lean protein (skinless chicken breasts, fish, turkey, sirloin steak
Complex carbohydrate (Ezekiel bread, quinoa, brown rice, sweet or red potato)
Healthy fat (avocado, coconut oil, almonds)
Fibrous dark green leafy vegetables (romaine, kale, spinach)

What do your workout routines look like?

I am currently in preparation for my first bodybuilding show this summer as a figure competitor. I have a personal trainer whom I meet with 3 times per week and who always has his eye on me the other 3-4 days when I am in the gym to do my “homework” when I am not with him.

My current training schedule is 6-7 days per week. There are some mornings that I perform fasted cardio (working out before having first meal) at 4am, followed by strength training in the evening after I get off work. If I do not perform fasted cardio I will complete my cardio in the evening before or after strength training by using one of the following machines: Arc Trainer, Elliptical, Stairmaster, Treadmill.

When it comes to strength training I work no more than 2 body parts at a time. I don’t necessarily have a set day on what body part I work as it depends on how I am feeling and what my trainer wants me to do. What I can tell you is that no workout is ever the same. It is intense and I am always left sore for about a week (lol), but I no pain no gain 🙂

Typical Schedule:

Sunday – Cardio & Legs (sometimes cardio only)
Monday – Cardio & Upper Body
Tuesday – Training Session (Back, Shoulders, Biceps/Triceps or Legs)
Wednesday – Cardio & Upper Body
Thursday – Training Session (Legs)
Friday – Cardio & Upper Body (sometimes a rest day)

Facebook: Fitnatic Lifestyle
Instagram: @Fitnatic_Lifestyle

Gayna Gains

gayna

Michaela lost 80 pounds

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Update: I was featured in May (about 3 months ago) and I just wanted to send in an update to let you know that I have lost an additional 21 pounds for a total of 101 pounds gone.

michaela weight loss update

 

May 2015: Weight Loss Story: Michaela lost 80 pounds in 8 months. After gaining a significant amount of baby weight and not having lost it year later, she decided that it was time to change for her own happiness.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

Michaela before and after

Hi, my name is Michaela. I gained 120 pounds during my pregnancy 5 years ago and I could never get the weight off.  That was until one day i looked in the mirror and realized that I had to look from within and be happy with what I saw before I could be happy with my body. My motivation and inspiration has been my son. I wanted to be able to keep up with him easily. He is very active. I’ve lost 80 pounds in 8 months and never felt better (height: 5’11”).

On my weight loss journey, I continued to eat all of my favorite foods, including fried chicken and pasta, but I learned that moderation is key. I cut my portion sizes in half and started filling up on veggies first at meal time.  In terms of exercise, I did a lot of cardio. I work security on a night shift, so I often ran while conducting tours, so I worked out for about 1 hour, 5 days a week. My advice to other people is to be realistic and follow an eating plan that you can stick to for more than a week. Don’t focus so much on a number, but focus on how you feel

Facebook: michaelakinard

Alexis lost 24 pounds

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Update 2017: Alexis wrote in to share how she’s kept the pounds off over the last 2 years. This busy teacher and mom of two is still making time to workout and eat clean.

Alexis before and after

I am currently weigh 145 pounds and the last 2 years have been about maintaining. Although, I am not as lean as I was when I was first featured back in 2015, I feel  just as strong… if not stronger. I’m satisfied with the progress I’ve made over these few years. I workout 6 days a week and eat clean about 80% of the time. When I started, this was all supposed to be a quick fix but 4 years later, I’ve made it a lifestyle. I work full time and have two young children, but I still make time for me.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that you have to love yourself at every stage of the journey. For me, that has been the hardest part. The advice that I would share about keeping the weight off: Make it a lifestyle, not just a season in your life. Being consistent is a big part of being successful. Don’t always use the scale as a tool to measure progress because sometimes it can be discouraging. Take pictures, measurements, or have goal outfits. Do the work and you will see the results.

Instagram: @lex_ercising

2015: Transformation of the Day: Alexis lost 24 pounds and lots of inches, going from a size 10/12 to a size 4/6.  This proud mom and educator embraced clean eating, running, weight training and interval training. She was inspired by the stories of others to start her journey and now she is an inspiration.  Here is what she shared with us…

alexis before and after

I’m a wife and mother of two. I work full-time as a high school math teacher. I started my weight loss/healthier lifestyle in July of 2013. I started by walking/jogging  3 miles everyday until I could run the full 3 miles. I trained for a half marathon, ran that and slowly started to incorporate other fitness routines into my daily life.  I’m very busy but I’ve found time for me. Overall, it’s been beneficial for my family as a whole, especially my children. Overall I’ve lost 24 pounds and countless inches. Thank you.

My motivation started as just simply wanting to lose weight because I was uncomfortable in my own skin. As time went on, I’d have to say my motivation was my children. I wanted to be healthy for them and also show them the importance of being healthy. Surprisingly,  I was inspired by the some of the instagram pages where I was seeing ordinary people/moms just like me who had transformed their lives and bodies just by eating healthy and exercising. I thought , if they could do it, so could I.

I started to track calories using the My Fitness Pal app. I eat clean about 80% of the time, meaning fruits, vegetables, and very little processed food. I bought the fitness blender meal plan 2 years ago which helped me stay on track and also gave me so many meal ideas that I still use till this day. In the beginning, I would do at least 3 miles a day running as long as I could and also walking. I did this until I could run a full 3 miles. Eventually, I trained and did a half marathon. I wasn’t  happy with the results I was getting from running so I started incorporating interval training and finally added in weight training. That’s when I got the real results. I do all of my workouts at home. In the two years that I’ve been doing this I have never been to a gym, used pills, wraps or shakes .

My starting weight in July of 2013 was 162 pounds and I currently weigh 138 pounds (I am 5’2″ tall). I started at a size 10/12 and can now wear 4/6.

My advice for others who want to lose weight is once you start be persistent and consistent. Workout even when you don’t want to. Know that, you may not see instant results but they are coming. Trust the process. If you put the work in you will see the pay off. Don’t starve or deprive yourself of foods you love. Moderation is key. If I can do it with two kids (3 and 5 years old), a husband, and a full time job, so can you. No excuses :).

Instagram: @pink_fitness3

alexis transformation story

Fay lost 50 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Fay lost 50.4 pounds. She lost 75 inches overall, 13.5 inches off her waist and dropped 6 dress sizes. Fay was extremely dedicated to her weight loss journey because her health was at stake. She had some great help on her journey as well.  Here is what she shared with us…

fay before and after

What was your motivation?
My name is Fay and I’m a mother of 3 children. In 2013, I had reached my highest weight of 233.4 lbs. I was feeling very unhealthy and at times I felt like I was going to have a stroke. I went to the doctor for a physical and my fears were confirmed my blood pressure was 150/100. He told me if I lost at least 10 lbs he thought my blood pressure would go down. Otherwise I would have to start taking medication to control it. My other motivation was my youngest son, I wanted to be able to run and play with him without feeling out of breath. At 233 pounds, it was a chore just to walk up the stairs. Now, everyday my son and I race from the parking lot to the school front door and it makes me feel great that I can keep up with him.

What inspired you?
For a few months prior to my doctors appointment I saw a page on Facebook called Fitness on Fire. It had videos and pictures of everyday people that were losing weight on this program and they all seemed so happy with their progress. I decided to give this program I try. I figured it was my last chance to get this right and I was determined that I would not fail.

How did you change your eating habits?
I followed the guidance of my online nutritionist, NutritionistGuru. She showed me how to eat the foods that I love but the healthy way. She taught about balance and also how to understand nutrition. She is on Facebook and is the nutritionist for Fitness on Fire Online Training. I stopped eating fast food, junk food and stopped choosing the wrong restaurants. I started to eat more protein, vegetables, fruits and drink lots of water

What did your workout routines look like?
I followed the plan designed for me by my online trainer. He had me doing a lot of endurance training while my nutritionist monitored what I ate. I got up every morning at 4:00 am for 6 days a week. My workouts consisted of cardio and weight training and following a plan designed to target problem areas, while focusing on endurance and strength training.

What was your starting weight?
233.4 pounds

What is your current weight?
183 pounds (height: 5’2″) My transformation took approximately 9 months.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is if you are looking to start your transformation journey or you are presently on your journey, don’t look at how far you have to go. Take it one day at a time and one pound at a time. My nutritionist always says it took time to put on the weight and you can’t expect the weight to come off overnight. Consistency and patience are the keys to this journey . No matter how small the change is that you see, it means that your are one step closer to your transformation.

Instagram: @brownsugar_ft

Fitness on Fire Training: www.facebook.com/fitnessonfirenewyork
Instagram: @king_of_the_fire @fitness_on_fire @NutritionistGuru

Barbara lost 44 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Barbara lost 44 pounds. She is the proud mom of Morgan, who’s story we featured last month. She credits prayer, walking for exercise and low carb eating as being key to her lifestyle change. At 54 years old, she’s living the healthy life and looks amazing! Check out what she shared with us about her journey…

barbara before and after

I’m 54 year old native of The Bahamas, and I currently live on the island of Nassau. I have two daughters that I wanted to be an example for. One of them was featured on your site in April, Morgan, who lost 53lbs.

What was your motivation?
I am only 5’4″ tall and had been near 200 or just over 200 lbs for closing in on ten years. I was afraid that my weight would continue to increase if I didn’t get a grip. My health was suffering (high blood pressure/diabetes) and I was feeling tired and listless all the time. I was also motivated by the prospect of finding someone to love. I wanted to present my best imagine, not just temporarily but for many years to barbara weddingcome. (Ironically I was got married in approx. one year after the weightloss! LOL) My starting weight was 214 pounds and my current weight is 170 pounds. My transformation took 8-9 months.

How did you change your eating habits? What did your workout routines look like?
MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING WAS PRAYER – Pray for discipline and guidance. TRUST ME, PRAYER WORKS!

1.Daily exercise. Nothing elaborate. I started by doing 30 mins of walking every morning on the treadmill, then 30 mins twice a day. Now, I do one hour of walking every morning. I walk between 3.5- 4 mph. THE KEY IS CONSISTENCY! Try not to miss a day.

Barbara's daughter Morgan lost 53 pounds.
Barbara’s daughter Morgan lost 53 pounds.

2. Drink lots of water!! (Up to 1/2 gallon/day). I drink lemon water upon arising. (1-2 lemons in 8 oz water. I usually drink this before my daily exercise) Try not to drink anything else but water. Sometimes I use low calorie soy or almond milk to mix a drink called GlucAffect up to three times a day, which is supposed to help regulate my blood sugar and help with weight loss. On rare occasions I drink 4-6 oz of juice, but no more than once daily.

3. Absolutely no added sugar, no bread, no rice, no potatoes and avoid all other starches. If you must eat starch do so in tiny amounts. Eat more protein to take away the hunger pangs. ie fish, chicken, turkey, beans, nut or other foods high in protein.

4. I ate ONLY fruit in the mornings, and a handful of almonds if hungry. (My fruit combo every morning is 1 grapefruit – 5-6 strawberries, 1 kiwi fruit, handful of blueberries.)

5. At lunchtime I ate a raw vegetable salad with protein (ie. tuna salad) or soup (lentil soup, split pea soup, black bean soup etc). NO crackers or bread. I only drank water with this meal.

6. Dinner – I tried not to eat anything at all after 6pm. If I did eat dinner, I ate a salad or soup again. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T SKIP MEALS! Skipping meals will only slow down the weight loss process. At the same time, do not overeat.

I also used a combination of black seed oil (1 tsp), cinnamon (1 tsp) and honey (1TBS) in a 1/4 glass of water 30 mins before eating anything in the morning and at nights before going to bed. Not sure if it works but its supposed to help with the weight loss process.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Pray for the motivation and the discipline. DO NOT give up if you fall back into old habits – get back up and try again! Remember that everything you do is a CHOICE! Do not let your body control your mind!

Check out Barbara’s Facebook group.
www.facebook.com/groups/myweightlosstips/

Nickey lost 60 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nickey lost 60 pounds, going from a size 20 to a size 10/12.  Her motivation was wanting to be there for her children for the long haul.  She shared with us about how she released the weight..

nickey before and after

Over the past four years I had gained so much weight.  I weighed 230 pounds and I’m 5’4″ tall.  My children where my motivation because I wanted to be around to raise them, so I was on my way to loosing weight.

I kept telling myself you are getting too big and unhealthy.  I started suffering from high blood pressure and I noticed that I had gained over 50 lbs.  I knew that I needed to do something about this weight.  I started walking  four laps around the track three time a week. On days that I couldn’t go to the track, I walked around by blocks. I didn’t just stop eating. I changed how much I was eating by eating certain foods in moderation and changing my portion sizes.  I also stopped eating a lot of fried foods. Instead, I grilled, baked, and broiled what I ate.  I did this for about six months and I lost 60 lbs. Now I’m down to 170 pounds. I went from wearing a size 20 to wearing a size 10/12 and I no longer have to take blood pressure medicine.