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Before and After Photos

Chakira lost 40 pounds

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Featured weight loss success story: Chakira lost 40 pounds. This petite diva wants to motivate others with her story.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Chakira weight loss story

“I started working out in 2012 because I had gotten out of a bad relationship in 2011. He would spoiled me with food but would never go to the gym with me. I gained so much weight. I decided to start going to the gym in 2012. I would workout 3 times a week, but I would never see results because I was still eating bad foods. February 2013, I went on this big shopping spree buying size 13 and x large shirts. The week after that I said I’m going to make a change.  I refuse to be wearing a size 13. My motivation was my current boyfriend.  I’m 23 and he is 44 and shaped like the rock while I’m out of shape. I changed my diet by eating fish, chicken, and turkey. I only drink water.  I also steam my veggies and eat  fruits. I stopped partying a lot and stopped drinking.

I workout twice a day. I went to the gym by myself because I was determined to motivate others with my story. I started my journey February 25, 2013 and I could see a difference by April 2nd.  However, I saw my abs by memorial day weekend 2013. I still maintain a good diet by doing food prep and I lift weights everyday. The kind of exercise I did to lose the weight was treadmill, elliptical, and 200 ab exercises daily. My starting weight was 147 pounds and I got down to 107 pounds.  Now I’m 112 with muscle weight.  The advice I give to others is to motivate yourself and to make the  changes needed to make your bodies healthy”

Chakira weight loss photos

Meka lost 59 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Meka lost 59 pounds and has shared her journey on Instagram.  She lost weight to improve her health and be there for her family.  Here is what she shared about losing the pounds:

Meka weight loss photos

“My motivation to lose weight was for my health and my family. I started at at 209 pounds.  My weight held me down and had me in a slump for awhile.  I changed my eating habits by giving up processed foods and focusing on eating protein and veggies. My workout routine: I go hard on my cardio days and I walk or run 3-4 miles. I also lift weights.

My current weight is 150 pounds. My before photo is about 4 months into my weight loss journey.  It has taken me over a year to get where I am today, and I’m not done yet.  Toning and tightening up my body is my main priority right now.  My advice to others is to take baby steps and set up realistic goals. Many times we set up goals that are not attainable in one month.  We have to be real when it comes to weight loss.  It’s a slow and steady process, not something that happens over night! I will be 40 years old next year, and I WILL be in the BEST shape of my LIFE!  Follow me on Instagram: mekagetfit LETS get fit together!”

Follow BWLW on Instagram: blackwomenlosingweight

Torri lost 41 pounds

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Featured weight loss success story: Torrie lost 41 pounds with Zumba, Weight Watchers, walking and working out with a trainer.  She was willing to put in the work to push past a plateau.  Here is what she shared with us:

Torrie weight loss photos

“My name is Torrie and I’m 36 years old. My weight struggle started after I had my first and only son. I gained over 30 pounds while pregnant, on top of weight I had gained already before pregnancy.  My total weight was 233 pounds. This was the biggest I had ever been. I was in graduate school, working full-time, plus overtime with a newborn and got so comfortable that I did not even realize how much weight I gained. I was tired of not having anything to wear because my clothes were too small and I was tired of spending all of my money on plus size clothes (because they can be a little more expensive). In Spring 2012, decided to join Weight Watchers and later incorporated Zumba classes. I lost about 10 pounds which put me at 221 pounds. I continued with my Weight Watchers program and Zumba but I noticed that I was no longer losing. I got so frustrated and stopped going to Zumba and did not rejoin Weight Watchers; I hit a Plateau!

In April of 2013, my job decided to have a free 6-week weight lost challenge using Weight Watchers. I decided to rejoin. My starting weight was 221.8 pounds at my first weight in. I got frustrated in the beginning because I gained 1.3 pounds which put me at 223.1. After talking with a few high school alum that work out a lot they informed me that I needed to do more than just Zumba to push that plateau. I decided to join a gym and get a trainer. I would work out in the morning everyday, Monday thru Thursday and some Saturdays for an hour doing nothing but cardio machines (Treadmills, Elliptical, Stepper, and Bike).  I worked out with my trainer once a week doing weights. By the end of my 6 weeks Weight Watchers challenge, I was down to 217 pounds. I decided that I would not rejoin Weight Watchers but to keep track of my food on my own. My eating habits consist of lots of salads, fruit, and veggies. I ate in small portions, elimitated pop, junk and fried food from my diet. I continued to go to the gym and workout with my trainer faithfully. I started walking on my breaks at work for 15 to 20 minutes a day, as well as going to the track and walk. I keep track of my walking using the MapMyWalk app. I also did some bike riding when I could. I just tried to get as much cardio in as possible. On September 21, 2013, I attended my first real walk with the American Lung Association: Fight For Air 5K Run/Walk, with a few High School Alumni. It was a very exciting experience for me and I really enjoyed it. I took me close to 8 months but as of today my current weight is 192. The biggest advice I would give is to lost weight for you and not for anyone else. You are your own motivation.”

LaTia lost 36 pounds

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Featured weight loss story:  Proud mom LaTia lost 36 pounds and is down 6 pants sizes.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

LaTia weight loss photos

“My name is LaTia and I’m 25 years old. I started my weight loss journey back in April 2013. My motivation to lose weight was when I stepped on the scale and saw 221 pounds!!!! That was more than my pregnancy weight!  WOWZERS. I had to fix it!!!!  At 24 years old, I knew for sure that I needed to get that weight OFF!  So… I changed everything! From eating times, to portions, to water intake (gallon a day).  Now, I’m down to 185 pounds and 6 pants sizes! It can be done! I’m changing my life forever!!

I exercised about 5 days a week and sometimes twice a day. I did cardio for about an hour and then weight lifting for about 45 minutes. I noticed that as I slowed down on cardio and did more weights my body toned very nicely. I incorporated lots of protein!!! Fish, salmon and chicken. Not much pork or red meat. I also ate lots of veggies and occasionally brown rice.  It took about 6 months to get down 36 pounds. Getting healthy was the best decision I’ve ever made! My advice to others is to stay focused no matter how many times you mess up NEVER STOP PUSHING! Surround yourself with positive people who also desire to be healthy and take it one day at a time. Ask God to be your strength! He never fails us.”

Telondia lost the weight at the YMCA

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Telondia wrote in to share how she’s lost 16 with a great group weight loss program at her local YMCA in Waterbury, CT.  Here’s what she shared about her transformation so far:

“I am 23, been having weight issues for the past 3 years and finally wanted to get the weight off, but it hasn’t been easy. Time and time again I would say I’m gonna do it and then failed, so for the past month and a half I’ve joined a group at the ymca called Brass City Melt Down.  It’s a 10 week weight loss program and I have been doing a lot of cardio, strength workouts and weekly challenges to help my team get points. This program only cost $45, so I knew that I wasn’t going to waste my money lol. In this week’s standing our team is in 4th place out of 13. My eating habits have changed from always eating McDonald’s, Wendy’s and just a lot of fast food in general.  Now, I’m eating more salads, fruits, vegetables and I make fruit and vegetables smoothies as a snack. Instead of chips, I’ll have a granola bar or smoothie.

My advice to someone would be don’t doubt yourself because when you least expect it, it will all happen for you.  When the time is right and it will become something that you will enjoy doing because you will feel so much better about yourself. Once you see the pounds coming off it motivates you more.”

Telondia weight loss story

Joy lost 21 pounds

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Today’s weight loss story: Joy lost 21 pounds and fought off high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  She knows that slow and steady wins the race and you can see your health improved just with a loss of 20 pounds.  Here is what she shared with us:

Joy weight loss photos

“I began taking my weight loss seriously in January 2013. I have always been physically fit, but various life crisis caused me to loose control of my eating habits.  My eating and health declined after loosing my father and brother seven months apart in 2009. I gained a lot of weight. My blood pressure was high and my cholesterol level was extremely high as well.

I knew that my family has a history of diabetes of high blood pressure. I loss my mother in 1991 at age 50 to complications of diabetes. In 2009, I lost my my father at age 67 due to complications of high blood pressure and a stoke and my brother at age 44 due to complications of diabetes and high blood pressure. When I saw myself getting into a size 16, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

My Transformation Plan:  January 2013: My beginning weigh-in was 181 lbs.  I began to use more sensible portion control when it came to eating. I eat six meals a day. I incorporate a lot of fruits and veggies into my eating plan along with fish and chicken.  Also, I exercise 5 times a week for 1 hour and a half. I incorporate all times of exercises.

  • Mon: Five mile walk
  • Tue: Strength training upper body
  • Wed: Spinning Class
  • Thursday: Strength Training lower body
  • Friday: One hour of Pilates

November 2013: Down 21 pounds. Now I weigh in at 160 pounds.

I feel great & have more energy!! Every time I exercised, I thought of my family members and how young they were when they passed. I thought of my own high blood pressure issues and the doctor telling me that I need to take care of myself. I committed myself to being healthy and staying fit!! I hope this motivate someone else to keep trying and don’t give up.”

Ashisha lost 65 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Ashisha lost 65 pounds in 7 months.  She lost the weight by working out at home and changing her eating habits.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

“Hi, My name is Ashisha. During my weight loss journey, I’ve lost a total of 65 pounds. I’ve always been slim, but over the last 5-6 years I gained weight. Reaching a high of 190 lbs as seen on the pic on the left, I decided that I was not going to reach 200 pounds.  I started on Sept. 2012 and 7 months later, in April 2013, I reached my 50 pound goal. Today, I weigh 125.5 pounds.  That’s a total of almost 65 lbs. I changed my eating habits and started eating healthier. I limited breads & pastas, chose baked meats vs. fried, drank lots of water  vs. sodas or juices.  I also added more green veggies & fresh fruit to my diet,  but no sweets. I limited my calorie intake to 1500-2000 calories a day, including what I ate  and drank. I walked on the treadmill at home 6 days a week for 30-45 min, as well as did jumping jacks, crunches, used 3 lb dumbbells for my arms and did leg lifts 6 days a week. I even tried planks but never mastered them. My kids, husband, and other weight loss success stories I would read about were my motivation during times of tears and wanting to give up. If I could do it, anyone can. I would tell anyone if they want to do it; DO IT and don’t look back.  Get yourself a good support group and just do it. I look at old pics and thought “there’s no way I was that big”. I love it when I see people that haven’t seen me since my weight loss and they don’t recognize me at first.” Check her out on Instagram: @hishaw

Ashisha weight loss success story

Rene lost 36 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Rene’.  She’s lost 36 pounds in 5 months.  She has changed her lifestyle to avoid high blood pressure.  Doing a raw vegan detox and exercising were part of her journey.  Here is more info:

“My name is Rene’ and my journey to lose weight began June 2013. From June-Oct,  I have loss 36 pounds and counting!! I have a history of high blood pressure and stroke in my family. My doctor told me I was “lucky” not to be on any medicines as a black female with my family history. He said to continue living medication free I needed to lose weight. A good friend/coworker did a complete lifestyle change and she was a big inspiration to me. I started with a 10 day raw food detox. Since the detox, I decided to remove red meat, fried foods, & pork from my diet. I never considered this a diet, it was a lifestyle change to healthy living!! My husband, children, sister and friends have been a HUGE support in my new healthy lifestyle!!!

Exercise wise, I started out walking because that’s all I felt I could do. Now, I go to the gym 2-3 times a week. My advice to others is: no matter where you start, just start. If you fall off, get back up. If the weight doesn’t move as fast as you would like, don’t get discouraged!! And by all means, don’t be a scale watcher. You may lose pounds but there are times when you’re losing inches. NEVER call it a diet because if you choose to have a “small” treat you can do it guilt free!! Thank you for allowing to share! Blessings to you!!”

Rene weight loss success

Sheila lost 43 pounds

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Featured weight loss story of the day: Sheila lost 43 pounds in 6 months.  She embraced regular exercise and made healthy changes to her eating to make getting healthy and lifestyle change her focus.  She also got help for chronic pain.  Here is what she shared with us:

Sheila weight loss story

 

What was your motivation?
My main motivation was to get healthy and maintain good health.

How did you change your eating habits?
I loaded up on complex carbohydrates and limited my intake of simple carbohydrates. I stopped eating processed foods and began eating more whole wheat/grains, legumes and vegetables. I only drank water and I stopped drinking sodas and beverages that had high fructose corn syrup. I only use extra virgin olive oil when preparing my meals. I stopped eating red meat, mainly because my acupuncturist said it’s very harsh on our digestive system.

What did your workout routines look like?
My workout routines consisted of 60 minutes of Zumba® 3-4 days a week.

What was your starting weight?
My starting weight was 209 lbs.

What is your current weight?
My current weight is 166 lbs.

How long did your transformation take?
My transformation took 6 Months.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Firstly, get healthy and lose the weight for yourself and begin when you are absolutely ready.
It will be difficult but DON’T GIVE UP!  Lastly and more importantly, do not consider it as a diet, rather consider it as a lifestyle change.

My weight loss story:
My story began about three years ago.  I worked from home eight to nine hours a day; five days a week.  I started to experience pain in my right shoulder/arm. Initially, it started as a dull, aching pain which was more of a discomfort to me. It then progressively developed into a sharp, painful, shooting and debilitating sensation to the point where my husband and I thought it would benefit me to seek treatment from a physical therapist/chiropractor. I found a local Spine and Rehabilitation center that provided Chiropractic/Physical Therapy treatments. I made an appointment and I was advised to come twice a week for several months. They did a comprehensive analysis of my neck, electrical stimulation and “spinal manipulations”.  Unfortunately, I did not get relief from any of these treatments, so I felt I had to try some type of exercise that would not only give me the relief I desperately needed but one that would effectively help me lose a considerable amount of weight.  I had heard of dance fitness program called Zumba® and how much fun, effective and exhilarating it was. I found a local studio that offered Zumba® which was very convenient and affordable. My goal was to get healthy because I truly believed my weight and lack of exercise was the cause of my pain and suffering. Toward the end of 2009, I began Zumba® and I went 3-4 times a week. The classes lasted an hour and I felt energized after every class! I purchased a scale and maintained a spreadsheet where I kept a log of my exercises and everything I consumed (food/beverages). I made a promise to myself that I would lose at least 40 lbs by my Birthday, October 21, 2011. In April of 2010, I weighed in at 209 lbs (size 16) and by my Birthday (as promised) I lost 40 lbs and weighed in at 169 lbs (size 10). In the process of losing the unwanted weight by doing Zumba®, the debilitating pain I felt in my right shoulder/arm was GONE! I have been able to maintain my weight loss and I am working on losing an additional 8-10 lbs. Amazingly, I am still pain free! I thank my husband for his tremendous support and I thank God for giving me the strength, the willpower and the belief I needed to have in myself which gave  me the confidence necessary to successfully execute and complete the goal I set for myself.  And finally, a big thanks to the amazing and wonderful Zumba® instructors who continue to inspire me!

 

 

Toshi lost 80 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Toshi wrote to us to shared her weight loss story.  She lost 80 pounds after having gastric sleeve weight loss surgery back in December 2012.  Here is what she had to say:

“Hello My name is Toshi. I would like to share my weight loss story. Back in December 2012, I was tired of being the big girl with the pretty face. I have been battling with weight problems since 1996. I did so many fad diets and took pills until I had reached my heaviest weight of 255 pounds. That’s when I decided that enough was enough. I was blessed to be able to join a healthy lifestyle program through Kaiser. This program is required in order to qualify for the weight reduction surgeries they offer. After successfully completing the 3 month course, I had the gastric sleeve surgery on December 19, 2012.

Today, I have learned to eat smaller meals more often and incorporate exercise in my life. I actually changed my eating habits by eating more frequently. I eat 5 to 6 small meals a day. My meals consist of high protein and vegetables with “good” starch. I eat proteins like chicken and fish. I also cook my food by baking and grilling. I have little to no fried foods. I also feel that my success is due to the fact that I had to make it a lifestyle and not a “at the moment” decision. As for exercise, I keep it real simple. I’m walking 2 to 3 miles a day. I also love dancing on the weekends and Zumba class every once in awhile.

I am currently down to 175 pounds from 255 pounds. I hope to reach my goal weight of 155 pounds by the first half of 2014. This will be pure success for me because my 30 year high school reunion is right around the corner. I will be close to the same size I was in high school when I reach that goal. I just want women out there to know that there are weight loss surgery success stories out there. I am living proof.”

Toshi weight loss success story