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Before and After Photos

Nina lost 80 pounds

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I have been on vacation for the past few days in Miami and have fully reaped the benefits of my labor. I was going to wear 1pc swimsuits but I said screw it. Miami is getting this mommy tummy AND these tiger stripes. I’m going to be completely honest with you in that I have not been going to the gym like I’ve wanted to the past 2 months… and I mean once or twice every couple of weeks. BUT I’ve been keeping my diet in check… never skipping breakfast and eating small meals every 2-3 hours along with drinking lots of water. What you eat will do more for you than you think. Going to gym just assists in what you’re doing in the kitchen. Here’s to taking it one day at a time in living healthier. #healthyliving #teamfit #fitness #fitspo #fitspiration #southbeach

A post shared by Nina Hibbler-Webster (@lifestylechangewithnina) on

Update 2016: “It’s #transformationtuesday so I’ll share this before and after of me. Once upon a time, I felt reluctant to share my story along with any kind of “before” photos, bu one day I woke up and was feeling a constant nudge from God. I made the decision to finally share in hopes to motivate and inspire someone. That nudge from God was for a reason. I didn’t realize how many people would be inspired by my story. I don’t have many before photos because I hated taking pictures then. After 2 babies, losing the weight was extremely difficult, but I made up my mind that I needed to connect with God on a deeper level in order to achieve what I knew needed to be done. No more excuses because they’re so easy to do. At the end of the day, I’m the only one responsible for how I live, eat, speak, etc. So I took control and got it done. Was it easy? Of course it wasn’t. I will say it is one of the most rewarding personal journeys to date. I lost a total of 80lbs. I post all of my health and fitness related posts at @lifestylechangewithnina I’ve set new fitness goals for myself and am motivated by others who do the same.“

March 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Nina lost 80 pounds.  After experiencing significant weight gain during two pregnancies, she sought out help from a nutritionist. Using a custom eating plan and exercising regularly worked for her. This mom of 2 is a model, actress and vocalist. Check out her story.

nina before and after

I’ve always been an athletic person, slim and in shape. I had my first child in 2010 and I gained about 70 lbs (weighing 250 pounds). Within a year’s time, I managed to lose 60 of those 70 pounds. The funny thing is that before I got pregnant, I was already trying to drop 10 lbs (weighing 180 lbs at the time).

I got pregnant and had my 2nd child in 2012. With my 2nd pregnancy, I had planned not to gain a lot of weight and to do better. However, I was put on bed rest around week 22 and still ended up gaining weight. That put me at 235 pounds after my baby was born. Dealing with post-partum depression and two small kids made it very, VERY tough. A year went by and I had only lost 25 pounds. This was so disappointing! I was so depressed about it. I mean I would literally cry in the shower because I was so disgusted with myself. I would pray during those shower crying spells because I just felt lost. I just prayed for guidance. God was let me know that I had the power to change things.

One day, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired with myself. I was fully ready to commit myself to change. My mind was made up. I knew that to be successful, I would need help because at that time I was mentally drained. I was still partially depressed and dealing with the stresses of motherhood. I went to a weight loss facility and spoke at great lengths with a nutritionist. It was an eye opener for me. I realized I was doing so many things wrong that I thought were right.

She put me on a 1500 calorie/day diet. I start drinking more water, taking in more protein and cutting the multitude of carbs I was consuming. The first week on my diet, I lost 8 lbs! After that, I consistently lost 1-2 pounds per week. With each week’s weigh in I was more encouraged to continue on.

The before photo shows me before at about 215 pounds and the after photo shows me at about 155 pounds, my smallest weight since college. After baby #2, that brings my weight loss total to 80 pounds!

Today, my eating habits have completely changed and I workout regularly. I eat 5 times a day and workout at least 3-4 times a week. The things that were once difficult to do (eating habits, working out, drinking water, etc) are now second nature. So, if you’re in the middle of your journey or just starting, I just want to encourage you to push through. You are the best project you’ll ever work on and you will always get to wear your reward!

www.ninahibblerwebster.com
Instagram: @theninaexperience

Francesca lost 67 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Francesca lost 67 pounds and transformed her body with strength training and good nutrition.  She is now a figure competitor and personal trainer.  She shared with us about how she changed her lifestyle and got super fit.

Francesca figure competitor

My motivation to lose weight started when I could no longer fit into my size 13 jeans. I was clothes shopping and I grabbed a few items to hit the change room with. I was really disappointed when I couldn’t get this jeans above my knees. It meant that I had to move into the “plus-size” category, and that my weight was getting out of control. It took me weeks to even initiate some sort of change in my lifestyle. Once I started, I had steady momentum to get me from 192lbs to 125lbs, and I competed in my first bodybuilding competition, where I took home first place.

Food was a huge part of my weight loss success story. I spent years eating fast food, sugary drinks and I also smoked cigarettes. I slowly started cutting out the junk food and made healthier choices. Once that became easier to manage, I began tracking my calories and saw the fat melting off. It was great!

My inital weight loss came from lifting more weights. I had always played sports, but the more weights I lifted the stronger I felt and the more fat I burned. I also trained different muscle groups each day so I could train more thoroughly. My favourite exercise is deadlifts and also sprints on the treadmill or on a track outdoors.

My advice to those who want to lose weight would be to not give up and to be consistent with your training and eating. It can be discouraging at times but the body needs time to adapt to being efficient at burning fat and building muscle. Everyone can do it, you just have to want it bad enough and believe that you deserve the best.

Instagram: @francescamckenzie

Wannie lost 76 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hairstyling Diva Wannie lost 76 pounds by changing her eating habits in putting in a lot of exercise time.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

wannie weight loss

I just got tired of being overweight and didn’t want the health problems that come with it. I cut a lot of carbs and stayed conscience of my intake of food. I ate more fruits and veggies. I also drank plenty of water and tea, but no juices or soda.  I started off working out 1 hour a day, everyday. Then, I eventually increased my workout time. I did a lot of cardio exercise, like dancing, running, workout videos and games. At my highest weight I was 296 lbs. I’m currently at 220 pounds and still working on it. I’m 5″ 7″ tall.

In 6 months, I lost 76 pounds. What inspired me when I wanted to quit is how far I had come and all the hard work and sacrifices I made. I’ve come to close to my goal to simply give up now. I slowed up at one point but I will never quit. Now, I’m focused again on finishing the job. My advice to others: Don’t give up.  Know that each day matters. Make the best choices, and again DONT GIVE UP!!

wannie before and after

Update: RamaziYah lost 46 pounds

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Update March 2015 –  RamaziYah shared her story with us back in 2012.  She recently wrote to us to give us an update to her amazing weight loss transformation.  Despite some ups and downs, she’s lost a total of 46 pounds, fought a battle with blood pressure and continued to work on her health.  Here is what she shared with us…

ramaziyah before and after

Hi, My name is RamaziYah and I was featured on your website back in December of 2012. Since being featured on your website I have continued to struggle with my weight constantly going up and down. I had been working out, then stopping and then back on it again.

In August of 2014, I went to the doctor for a daily check up and when the doctor checked my blood pressure. It was extremely high…around 178/102. I really didn’t understand the numbers but it clearly was the reason for the constant headaches I was having. The doctor was really up front with me, looked me in my eyes and said, “If you don’t take control of your blood pressure you won’t live to see your kids grow up and get married,etc.” It took everything in me to hold back my tears. She wanted to put me on blood pressure medication but I refused it. I had to sign a waiver saying that I refused the treatment. They then rescheduled my appointment for the following week.

I came home and cried my eyes out. I believe this was also the cause of the constant weight gain I was having due to my salt intake. Immediately, I made changes to my eating by eating more fruits and fresh vegetables. I cut back totally on my salt intake and when I went back to the doctor for them to re-check my blood pressure. She was amazed and asked me how I did it. I told her that I totally cut back on my salt and had been working out. She told me to keep on doing what I was doing.

My blood pressure went down to 124/86…A big difference. I have lost more weight and dropped inches. It’s still a struggle but I no longer have headaches like I used to. My weight is now 149 pounds, down from 195 pounds. My first initial goal weight was 150, but if I can get to 145 pounds I will be good. I will continue to tone more too.

If any woman out there is struggling with their weight I would tell them, “Don’t give up. Watch your salt!!!” Please watch the salt, Ladies. We don’t realize how much salt we eat in these packaged foods. If you cut back on what you eat and on your salt intake while working out, you will see a big difference in you weight and get closer to your goal. I give all praises to my father Yah. Thanks ladies!

Read more about her weight loss journey in the post from 2012.

ramaziyah weight loss

Stareka lost 116 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Stareka lost 116 pounds.  Over the course of a year, this proud mom took steps to change her eating habits and embrace regular exercise.  Here is what she shared with us about what she did to lose the weight…

stareka before and after

My motivation came from my 11 year old daughter. She is very athletic and I never wanted to be the “lazy parent”. I decided to become more active and lose this weight so that I can keep up with her. She’s into gymnastics, so it’s very important to me to stay in shape so I can participate in the sport with her. Also, Instagram provided a lot of motivation for weight loss as well, providing multiple examples of successful weight loss stories that don’t include drastic measures taken to lose the weight. 

I changed my eating habits very slowly. First, I stopped eating late, then I reduced my bread intake, and lastly I cut off all sodas. I had to take it one challenge at a time. Each month I had a goal of what I was going to cut off and add in as a healthier eating option. 

Exercise: I started off by walking. Then, I downloaded the Nike app to start running and to boost my cardio. That app is amazing, by the way. I also became best friends with the elliptical machine and made sure that I did at least 3 miles on it four times a week when I did go to the gym.

Now, I workout at home doing cardio, working out with my 5 pound hula hoop, and doing other indoor workouts. When the weather warms back up, I’ll be outside working out. It’s more refreshing and I feel more energized outdoors. I love using Buffy the Body’s free workouts on YouTube for ladies that want to keep their curves.

My starting weight was 310 pounds and my current weight is 194 pounds.  I’m  5’4″ tall. My transformation took about one full year. I’m still losing and plan on focusing on toning soon. 

My advice to others: Motivate YOURSELF! Don’t lose weight for other people, do it because you care about YOUR life, YOUR body and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I put together an e-Book on what I did to lose my weight the healthy way without surgery, pills, or crazy fad diet. I’m all about helping others and becoming more active in the fitness world its a amazing feeling. 

Instagram:@lavishvixxen
Twitter @Lavishvixenn

stareka weight loss

Bianca lost 55 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation Story: Bianca lost 55 pounds.  She defeated poor health and depression by embracing exercise and clean eating.  I love her motto: “Train your mind, your body will follow.”  She shared with us about her weight loss journey…

bianca before and after

Hi, I’m currently down 55 pounds after pulling myself out of a depression. My poor health is almost claimed my life. Now, I fight back by bettering my fitness and promoting health and wellness. My motto is “Train your mind, your body will follow.”

I changed my eating habits. I decided that enough was enough and went completely cold turkey from fast food, junk food, fried foods and soda pop.  Cold turkey worked best for me. I couldn’t ease my way into it. Once I let those foods go I was forced to think outside of the box, picking up more fruits, veggies and cooking at home more! I studied the art of eating clean and I really haven’t looked back. 

Workouts: I lived to Kickbox! That was my life.  I joined a group fitness kickboxing class about two miles from home. When the 45 Min class no longer challenged me. I began running to class and back home. Giving me 4 miles and extra cardio. 

Somewhere in 2012, I signed up to run my first Half Marathon, The Detroit International to Canada and back. Once I began training for that,I learned a lot about myself and began looking for other ways to challenge my endurance. Since then I have competed and trained doing CrossFit. I love bodybuilding and I’ve even competed in strong man/woman lifting events. This year I have a goal of completing my first triathlon and increasing my flexibility through yoga. 

My starting weight was 215 pounds at a size Size 12-14. I believe I was heavier then that but I stayed far away from the scale for a solid year.  My current weight ranges from 150-160 depending on the day or my training program. Standing at 5’2″, I am now a healthy size 4. I’ve never ever been a size 4, not even in high school. 

I would say that my transformation took place over a 2 year period. The first year I was doing it all wrong. 
I was working out, but still eating the wrong things. The second year I was fed up with only having lost 15-20 lbs and being stuck at a very serious 190 lb plateau.  The second year, after hearing the phrase “Eat clean” and adapting to that lifestyle, I began shedding weight!  

I had a consistent first year with exercise and was I guess you could say addicted to Working out. I would run my marathon training miles in the mornings about 5x a week and go strength train (Workouts I found online mostly) at nights when I was off of work or out of class. 

My advice: Rock bottom builds champions. My Rock bottom was a flight of stairs that sat me down to breathe for 5 mins. You’ve got to want it, but that doesn’t typically happen to you’re fed Up! Work at it every day. I let people know all the time….. It’s your mind that they have to train!  

Instagram: @biancahopes

bianca weight loss

10 Years: Myya lost 100 pounds and has kept it off

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10 Year Weight Loss Transformation Anniversary: BWLW Diva and Wellness Coach Myya Mixon lost 100 pounds and kept it off !!  She was the first BWLW member that was featured in People Magazine. She is celebrating 10 years of releasing the weight.  I asked her to share the insights and lessons she’s learned and tell us about how she is helping other reach their goals.

Check out our original post on Myya’s weight loss journey from 2013 more info on how she did it.

myya nixon before and after

 

As I celebrate the 10 year anniversary of my weight loss and healthy lifestyle commitment, there are 3 tips that I would like to share with others who may be getting started or those who need motivation to get and stay on track.

First, set small manageable goals. Smaller goals are easier to reach than larger goals. Instead focusing on losing 100 lbs, I would focus on losing 5-8 lbs by the end of the month. I would also set non-scale victories such as, my clothes will fit more loosely by the end of the month, rather than always focusing on the number on the scale as an indication of success. As you get closer to your goal it will not be as easy for you to lose weight. Once you reach your goal, your focus will change to maintenance rather than weight loss, which is why focusing on non-scale victories is important. When you set goals you can reach easily, it makes you feel successful and that success will help you to stay motivated, to keep going and ultimately enable you reach your larger goals.

The second lesson I learned about losing weight is finding /creating a nutrition and exercise plan that I enjoy and that helps me reach my goals. It was very important to me that I did not feel deprived and I wanted my food to taste good. Therefore, I focused on finding healthier methods of cooking the foods that I loved but paying close attention the preparation and portions. I eventually was able to create my own nutrition plan which is what allowed me to lose over 100lbs and keep it off.

With regard to exercise, I looked for exercise methods that I enjoyed. Exercise should not feel like a chore. Exercise, like nutrition, is a requirement of long-term weight loss. My exercise regiment was and is a combination of cardio and weight training! I enjoy step aerobics, spinning and kickboxing for my cardio. I combine this routine with strength training (lifting weights), 5 days a week. If you plan to stay committed to a healthy lifestyle you should stick to things that you love!

The final lesson I learned is to strive for progress not perfection. We are not perfect creatures. Most people will never see their body as perfect. As I started to reach my goal, I focused on the fact that I was making progress and that I was successful at reaching the goals I had set along the way. I reminded myself that each day that I stuck to my goal I was closer to reaching my long-term goal. THAT is progress. I focused on being the best MYYA I could be, not trying to look perfect. I focused on improving my image and health, rather than trying to have legs, abs or a butt like someone else. You will always be you, and you will never be them, so you should refrain from comparing yourself to others. Instead you should focus on being the healthiest person you can be. Realize that weight loss and weight management is a lifestyle that is always progressing. It is not something that you should think of as having an end. It is forever. Therefore you have to keep going in order for your progress to continue.

Making the decision to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle is a huge task. I found that most people have every intention to commit to changing their lifestyle but they either do not know how to do it or at some point lack the motivation to keep going. I experienced this myself and I developed various methods to deal with this. This is why my company, www.myyamixon.com was created. Myyamixon.com is a 100% online health and wellness company that focuses on weight loss and weight management. I offer customized weight loss plans, 1 on 1 coaching, an ongoing support. I eliminate the guess work; calorie counting and frustration about what to eat to lose weight. My program’s focus is on eating real foods in order to have long-term weight loss success.

www.myyamixon.com
Instagram: @thebarbeedoll

Myya weight loss transformation

 

Liza lost 27 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Liza lost 27 pounds.  After years of sugar addiction and unhealthy eating, she decided to change her lifestyle and embrace healthy eating.  This Blogger is now ready to slip into that wedding dress this summer and has shared her journey online to inspire others.  Check out her story and video…

liza before and after

Hi, I wanted to share my weight loss success! I lost 27 lbs in 3 months after years of struggling with a sugar addiction. During my 3 month weight loss journey, I did not have sugar or meat. My motivation came from my relationship with God. I knew that i needed to be healthier because I was heavily addicted to sugar but just could not get it together. Through prayer, he changed the way I saw myself, he changed the way I took care of myself and as a result I started this journey. My faith also helped me to keep at it.

Every single time I did not feel like going running or wanted to just eat out of boredom or whatever other emotion, I reminded myself that I was given a spirit of love, power and of self-control. It definitely was not easy but it was so worth it. I feel so much healthier and am so motivated to stay fit as I am getting married this summer! My workouts consisted of running, salsa dancing and yoga. I ran 3-4 times with the Nike app for about 20-30 mins. My starting weight was: 164lbs/74kg and my weight now is 136lbs/62kg. My height is 5’7″.

My advice is that if I can do it, you can do it too. I used to eat big bags of chocolate daily. I used to hate running but I was able to overcome! Pray and believe that God is with you and that you can do anything you set your mind too! Be strong Sis.

My blog is thedutchnatural.com and I am sharing my weight loss journey on YouTube as well. Thanks for the inspiration. I love the BWLW page!  Instagram: @thedutchnatural

liza weight loss

Kimberly lost 100 pounds

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Update Oct 2015: Kimberly wrote in to share that she’s lost 5 more pounds. – “It’s been 1 year and 7 months since my weight loss. I have maintained my weight and actually loss 5 more pounds for a total weight loss of 105 pounds. Feel so blessed and I still workout. I have plenty of ladies that I have had the chance to inspire. That makes me feel blessed cause now they are working out and getting healthy too! I am a firm believer in hard work. Yes, I still run and yes I still eat food real FOOD! I still eat lots of yummy veggies and I DON’T DIET. I workout with awesome people. We fuss through our workouts, but we are working out and we don’t let excuses run our lives.”

March 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Kimberly lost 100 pounds.  This proud mom of 2 embraced running, changed her eating habits and burned lots of calories to reach her goal.  She’s gone from a size 18 to a size 6.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

kimberly before and after

Hello, My beautiful sisters! I am a 38 year old woman who weighed 235 lbs in the last year. I have two beautiful boys who have gave me my tiger stripes [stretch marks]. I used to have a 46F bras size, wear size 18 outfits and I stand at only 5’3″. We all know I am a short thing..LOL!! I decided to change my life from the inside out by eating better and cooking better.

It all started with an app called Couch to 5k (running training app). Water, water and more water is what I drank. I didn’t cut out sodas, just decided to drink one soda at lunch or for dinner. I’m eating more veggies and having protein shakes. Now, being a busy sports mom, I depend on Fresh and Easy.  For exercise, I do Zumba and other cardio workouts. I workout 4 times a week for an hour to hour and half.

We as woman need extra cardio to boost our metabolism! Cooking at home and running stairs is an absolute calorie and fat burner. Let me say this…I hate running but I see results. I know now weights are key to tighten and firm up what’s loose. I have to say I feel blessed that I have lost 100 lbs. I can’t believe I went from a size 18 to a size 6 in Juniors. I am feeling accomplished. People say I am crazy for working out so hard but I want to be able to run around with my Boys and keep up.

Instagram: @locinlife

3 Year Anniversary Update: Ida lost over 130 pounds

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We shared Ida’s amazing story back in 2013 and she wrote in this month to update us for her 3 year anniversary.  She is living with HIV, raising her amazing son and her story has inspired us in so many ways.  If you want to be inspired, keep reading…(she is dropping wisdom with these words)

Ida before and after

(Check out the original post from Oct 2013 for more info on how she did it.)

Good morning! I wanted to share that 3 years ago I started my journey. I went into weight loss surgery weighing 304 pounds. Today, 134 pounds later, I’m a healthy 170 pounds.

On March 13, 2012, my new journey began. God has kept me. HE has shown me favor and HE continues to be faithful. If I boast…it is in HIM! With a regimen of exercise such as walking, running, and swimming and healthier eating, I have plateaued. I have accepted that this will be forever a lifestyle adjustment.

My mindset had to change. Once I realized that I had an addiction to food, it was only then that I was able to do something about it. Gastric weight loss surgery was only a small part of the formula. The following components also played an important role:

Identification of the problem+ Acknowledgment+ Acceptance = Recovery & Success.

A great support system including family and friends has also made the journey manageable.
In conclusion, today I wake with JOY in my heart and PRAISE on my tongue. Why? Because GOD IS GOOD. I am proud to report that I am a healthy 170 pounds.

For those that remember my story…I was diagnosed HIV+ almost 15 years ago. I have been undetectable 13 of those 15 years. This weight loss process has only added many more healthy and prosperous years of abundant life!

304 is where GOD brought me from
3+0+4= 7 and is the number of completion
170 is where GOD is sustaining me
1+7+0= 8 and is the number of new beginnings.
It can be done…I am living proof.