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Before and After Photos

BWLW Member Wiltrina’s Weight Loss Featured in Huff Post

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wiltrina before and after

2012: Congrats to BWLW Member Wiltrina for being featured in the Huffington Post!! She has lost more than 200 pounds and is training for a fitness competition! Her current weight is 165 and she is still losing. Her website is www.iusetobeu.com.  She is also on Facebook.


She tells the HuffPost, “Today I eat clean. I eat six to seven small meals a day, of things like protein shakes, baked chicken breast, broccoli, tilapia, sweet potatos and more. I work out six days a week. I do daily cardio running or the Stairmaster. I focus on different body parts daily for strength, like triceps, biceps, back, legs, abs, glutes, deltoids, etc. I love to work out; it’s my life. I get asked constantly how I lost the weight and I listen to so many stories. I tell them I truly understand I use to be you. I let them know it’s not easy but that it is definitely worth it. It’s not about how fast it comes off, but about getting healthy and changing your lifestyle. Today, I’m getting my body ready for a fitness competition. Everyone seems to not remember me 200 pounds heavier, but I do. I love me today.”You Go, Wiltrina!!! Connect with her on our online community.
Update Feb 2014: Wiltrina has continued to lose weight and inspire others. You can also find her on Facebook: facebook.com/IUseToBeU and facebook.com/PHITnessatl (she has partnered with another BWLW member, Myya Mixon)
Wiltrina weight loss

Update 2015: We first featured Wiltrina back in Sept 2012 (see below) and we’ve continued to keep up with her story. She’s an awesome weight loss coach and she has a transformation contest coming up! “I have a transformation challenge where I have helped my clients lose over 20,000 pounds. The next one starts in August 2015. Thanks for all you do.”  Reach out to her for more info.
Facebook: Wiltrina Jones – Check out photos of past challenge winners
Instagram: @fitandtransformedwiltrina
www.iusetobeu.com

iusetobeu
A contestant from one of Wiltrina’s Transformation Contests.

Pamela’s 1 year transformation in pictures – 70 lbs gone

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BWLW Online Community Member Pamela, posted these amazing photos of her 1 year journey of losing 70 lbs and gaining so much more!

She says, “This weekend will mark my 1 year BGR/Fit-iversary. A year ago I decided to focus on me. After spending my 40th birthday in the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath, I decided I had to do something. My only goal was to just feel better. Thanks to my girl Shelia, I started out with Black Girls RUN! a week after my birthday. That first Saturday I thought I was going to DIE! LOL We did both Main and Acosta bridges! But I continued to come out to BGR 3 days a week. I then picked up Zumba, Boot Camp or whatever groupon/coupon deal I could find. At first I did not change my eating habits. I would exercise 3-4 days a week but I still ate whatever I wanted. I dropped about 20lbs doing this. February 2012 I decided to do a juice fast. I stopped eating and juiced only for about a week. I then incorporated eating 5-6 small meals daily. I eliminated beef, pork and most wheat from my diet while adding in more veggies and fruit. I keep track of my calories eaten and burned through My Fitness Pal. I now exercise 6 days a week and I have lost 70lbs. Consistency is my key. I never gave up. I did not make excuses why I couldn’t exercise. Over the past year I have not stopped. I cannot stop….I WILL NOT STOP. Why???? Because I am worth it! ♥” You are an inspiration, Pamela!!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Connect with the BWLW community at www.blackwomenlosingweight.com.

Tracey transformed her life with weight loss surgery and healthy lifestyle changes

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BWLW Online Community Tracey E.’s before and after photos are very popular in our community.

She says,

“My inital lost of 100 pounds was changing my diet and exercising.  I had to lose that weight the before they would consider surgery and then it took a little time for my insurance to apporive it and all the other technicalities I had to go through to get approval for the bariatric doctor to do the surgery.  I had tried for years and went through the big weight lost only to gain it all back plus.  I was frustrated and my mother was asking my general practitioner to please recommend me for something because she and my dad were worried that I would pass before either of them.  I had not other issues except diabeties and the excessive weight but that would eventually lead to the other problems of high blood pressure and other complications that diabeities could cause.  I had been diabetic for over 20 years.  I was finally approved for weight loss surgery in October/November 2008 and had my surgery 4 days before Christmas.

I had gastric bypass surgery.  It has almost been 4 years and the doctor told me that after 18 months I would continue to lose but not as rapid.  At almost 2 years I decided I would crank up my exercise routine which was nothing more at the time them trying to walk more than normal.  Parking my car a little farther in the lot.  Walking to the other building to eat in the cafeteria instead of my desk.  I moved up to water aerobics 3 times a week and now I have added a little weight lifting for toning and walking about an extra miles everyday.  I still have issues with learning to walk correctly and I have pain in my knees if I walk too much but my muscles are getting stronger and that issue has almost been alleviated.

I have lost over 220 pounds total.  I know I am not where I need to be and I am at a serious plateau right now, in fact I have gained a little back.  I did get rid of all my medications and now I am taking lots of vitamins and I must eat a lot of protein so I still have a challenge because I must eat better and eat the right things.  So weight loss surgery does not make it much easier.  You can still gain your weight back with one slip or eating the wrong foods.  I am finding thatout each time I reach a plateau.  I just have an internal tool that help me control my weight.  It still can be defeated and you have to have the right mindset to accomplish this.

Once I saw the result, I was determined that I would never go back.  I have changed my whole attitude and I am reminded everyday that I have done a good job and I look so much better.  I never thought I looked so bad until I saw I could lose the weight and I could look a lot better.  I learned a lesson from just thee weight loss.  We learn to live with where we are and then we just stop trying and live how we have become.  May not make any sense but until you succedd in losing the weight and feel how different you are you will never understand where you been and how you can accomplish your goals.  Never give up no matter what.  As I have said my struggle was not to lose the weight but to maintain what I have accomplished and that will be a lifelong struggle.  I did not gain the weight over night and I knew I would not lose the weight over night but the losing is not the issue.  The keeping it off is my real goal!

Let me stop here since I could go on forever but I just want to emphasis that just becuse I had weight loss surgery doesn’t make my struggle any easier that anyone else losing weight.  Since I am almost 55 and have been overweight my entire life, I did not want to let my weight issues take over my life anymore.  I tried the weight loss from the very beginning but it was not working and as I got older it worked even less.  So there is my stroy in a nutshell but it is not the end.  Thanks for all your encouragement because also without it and from many others, I probably would not have gotten as far as I have today.  Thanks for all you have done for ladies like us.  You are such an inspiration.  Keep up the good work!.”

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Tracey!

Tina has lost 130 Pounds!

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BWLW Facebook member Tina has lost 130 pounds!!! Show her some love for sharing her transformation story with us.

She says, “Due to being an intorvert and going through some things as a child, I became an emotional eater. Even though frailty is not a family trait, I was an overweight child, who became an obese teenager and adult. Throughout the years, I obsessed about losing weight, through logical and radical means. I, not intentionally, realized it’s about life changes. I let my body talk to me. My body lets me know it craves fruits and veggies, and not a lot of carbs. or soda I gave up fried foods, with the exception of boneless buffalo wings. lol. About 5 yrs ago, just by giving up bread and limiting fried foods, I lost 50lbs in a semester, going from a size 28 to 24. Since last July, I’ve lost maybe another 80lbs. I feel great!! I am still a work in progress, but I am so elated by the progress that has been made. To anyone that feels discouraged, start small. The small things add up over time. Even if you, in your eyes, backslide, no need to punish yourself. As long as you’re here breathing, you can always get back on track. I went from only being able to walk for 12 mins to be able to walk/jog for 2hrs. Keep pushing and keep smiling. Thank you BWLW for your site and testimonials. You are changing people’s lives.” Thank you, Tina for helping us to inspire others to release the weight!

For more great photos, visit out online community at blackwomenlosingweight.com

Angel has lost 50 pounds!

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Angel has gone from 230 to 180 and is still working toward her goal of 150!

She says, “I started in 2010 I wt 230 wasn’t motivated at all till I started taking pictures of myself and I would be disappointed…at that moment I decided to jo

in a gym…I exercise six days a week doing a lot of classes such as spinning boot camp and step aerobics…I also had a trainer that help me tone up two days a week…I stop drinking soda eating out ate six to seven small meals a day….I lost the weight slow took me a year to lose fifty pounds…but I maintained till now…now I’m setting myself a new goal and want to get to a wt of 150…there was no surgery diet pills or fad diets just strict discipline and motivation….” Yay!! Thank you so much for sharing your transformation, Angel!

Norma has lost 20 pounds by juice fasting

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Let’s celebrate 20 pounds down since 7/31 with Norma.  She looks amazing.
She says, “I currently lost a total of 20lbs so far, my starting weight was 173 on 7/31 when I started the “FAT SICK AND NEARLY DEAD” juice fast by joe cross and I have 8lbs left to go to get to my goal weight of 145lbs. I walk for an 1 hour a day or more except weekends and I do some exercises at home such as squats, light weights, jumping jacks and push ups. I have been a vegetarian for about 5 years now and by doing this juice fast I will transition myself to a vegan/ raw food lifestyle.” I believe in the power of raw food too, Norma. Congrats!
For more great before and after photos, visit www.blackwomenlosingweight.com

Chéf Florine lost 53 pounds over 6 years.

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Chef Florine is sharing her transition from 2006 to 2012.  Slow and steady wins the race, right Sistas?!?!

She says, ” I started off at 270 now i weigh 217. I had a regular diet. Of course more like a lifestyle change. Eating habits changed and also working out as well. No gimmick diet either lol. I went from eating whatever to counting calories on the hour everyday. lol it was a huge challenge but i was determined. Im 217 today and i cant even remember the last time i weight this much. I used to work out everyday but now i workout at least 3-4 times a week. I go to the gym or i stay home and work on my insanity workout. This was life changing for me because everything i was used to doing i flipped and did the opposite… and thank you so much for replying i appreciate it. Anyway this story of mine could help others would be heart-touching!” You are touching hearts, Ms Chef!!!!! Thank you for sharing with us.

For more great before and afters, visit www.blackwomenlosingweight.com

Courtney lost 210 pounds over 5 years!

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I’m so happy to share Courtney’s story with you, Ladies. She lost 210 pounds over 5 years.

She says,”Hi Ladies, I decided to share my journey for those that have been in this battle for a long time and are possibly feeling discouraged. My before pictures are from March 2001. I was 23 years old, 400+ lbs and facing death by obesity. I chose Weight Watchers as my weapon in the battle and managed to lose 210 lbs in 5 years. The road got rocky after my initial success and I spent the next few years fighting a rebound gain and spinning my wheels.

Fast forward to May 2012. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis) and it turned my world upside down. After research and recommendations, I decided to experiment with the Paleo diet and see if it made a difference with my pain level and joint inflammation. My “experiment” has turned into a new way of life. I have lost 47 lbs in the last 4 months and more importantly, my pain has decreased tremendously. I still have a few bad days with RA, but life has definitely improved. Embracing the concept of whole foods and eliminating processed junk has been a godsend. I stay active with spin class, outdoor cycling and regular visits with my friend Gym. 🙂 I am also blessed with a support system that keeps me on track and offers unwavering encouragement.

So…what am I trying to say? STICK WITH IT. Even if I never lose another pound from today, going back to my “before” is simply not an option. Embrace a lifestyle change and love yourself now…don’t wait to reach your goal weight/size to appreciate your hard work. :)” AMAZING job, Courtney!!

Niecy is down 33 pounds and Loving it!

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Let’s celebrate 33 pounds down with Niecey!

She says, “I am submitting my pic to show my progress. I started Weight Watchers last year but due to my crazy schedule I have managed to lose 33lbs total. However I have lost more inches then anything. I have lost 8.5 inches in my waist; 4.5 inches in bust; and 6 inches off my thights. I try to walk at letast 2 days a week and swim 2 to 3days a week. I also have a support system with close friends and family. The picture of me in the gray shirt is my before I started WW picture. The orange is my progess as of August 1, 2012” So proud of you, Niecey. Keep up the good work!!

Toi has gone from 235 to 190!

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Much Love to BWLW online community member Toi T. She has gone from 235 to 190 with eating and exercise!

She says, “I started my weight loss journey feb 3, 2012 @ that time I weighed in at 235 pounds ! I am now at the current weight of 190 pounds and my goal weight is 150 or less by the summer of next year !!! My motivation for losing the weight is I got tired of other people talking about me and killing my self esteem in my face , asking me if I was pregnant and I haven’t had a baby in almost eight years and that was just the beginning !!! I take up to nine classes a week cardio combined with strength training, try to eat as heathy as possible , drink lots of water and snack on health treats !!! If I can do it anyone can do it and I am trying motivate everyone that reads this to try it and keep going until you succeed !!!! love you all” Much love to you too, Toi.