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Sabrina lost 60 pounds

by 14 Comments

Today’s weight loss success story: Sabrina lost 60 pounds!  She is another Zumba lover who changed her eating habits and got it Moving!  She says:

I love your page and I wanted to share my story as well. The picture of me in the pink is about a year after I had my 3 year old, and around the same time my marriage started falling apart. Two years later @ 30, I am down almost 60lbs, single and I feel better then ever. I am a Zumba Queen and I watch and count every piece of food that goes in my body.

I begin by changing the way I ate. Cut back on fried foods and fast foods. I am a sucker for chocolate so I only eat it in moderation. Or instead of grabbing a Reece’s I go for the special dark chocolate with fewer calories. I also downloaded the myfitnesspal app and logged in everything I ate.  During lunch breaks instead of going to fast food restaurants me and a couple of co workers would take that hour and do Zumba. We had a projector set up in the warehouse and we would gather people and work out. Now, I work somewhere else but during lunch I go to the nearest park and walk for at least 30 mins grab a salad or sandwich and head back to work. The mapmywalk app is great. It lets me know the pace and how many calories I burn when walking. Also, on Tuesdays and Thursdays me and my sons go to a rec center and I do Zumba there. It’s hard, but luckily I have great people around to keep me motivated and on the right track.  Love your page, keep up the motivation.”

Sabrina weight loss

Mia lost 129 pounds

by 25 Comments

Today’s weight loss success story: Mia lost 129 pounds with Zumba and becoming a vegetarian.  She is now a Zumba instructor.

“My name is Mia and I’m 41 years old. I’ve struggled with my weight all my life. In April 2011, I made a choice to change my life (mentally, physically and spiritually). I started doing Zumba and FELL in love.  This is from the girl that HATED working out. After a a month of Zumba 3 to 4 times week, I started seeing results. By then I was HOOKED on Zumba and started taking classes 5-6 times a week. Since then, I’ve lost 129 pounds, am now vegatarian (the girl that LOVED fried chicken:), became certified to teach Zumba, and now teach a Zumba class every Saturday and Wednesday. If I can do it, ANYONE can… #itsachoice

I was a junk food eater, fast foods, lots of chips… I decided to change that. I stopped eating all the junk, cut out red meat and pork from my diet. My diet consisted of lean chicken breast, lean fish, TONS of leafy veggies, fruits, grains and water (only). After eating like that for months, I decided to give up meat all together, which turned out to be the BEST thing. The weight REALLY started to come off then.”

Mia weight loss

Patricia lost 45 pounds

by 26 Comments

Today’s weight loss success story:  Patricia lost 45 pounds with the help of Zumba.  She says:

“I started my weight loss journey almost a year ago by eating healthy and by joining Zumba! It was the best decision that I could of made and has changed my life forever! I’ve lost 45 pounds, went from size 16 to size 8 in 6 months!! I’m also off of high blood pressure medication after taking it for 8 years.  I took sugar out of my diet and lowered my daily carb intake.  I never thought that I would be able to work off the weight but I did.  If I can do it, anyone of you can! Best of luck ladies!”

Patricia weight loss

LaTasha lost 62 pounds

by 28 Comments

Today’s weight loss success story: LaTasha lost 62 pounds.

“After having 3 kids (9yr old, 7yr old and 3 yr old) I just couldn’t get my weight back under control. I needed a change so I began my weight loss journey January 1 2012 and never looked back! I’ve lost 62lbs so far. I workout 5 to 6 days a wk, I eat less and try to make better food choices. I used to hate working out, now feel bad when I miss a day. I can’t afford a gym membership or a trainer so I do it on my own. My weight loss secret is simply hard work and dedication.

As far as eating habits, there is almost nothing I tell myself I can’t have because that will make me want it more! So moderation is the key for me, no more downing a big bag of Munchos in one sitting. I just try to eat less and added more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I only drink water but when I need some flavor I add lemon or a pack of Crystal Light. I can’t afford a gym membership/trainer so I workout at home using dvds (such as Jillian Michaels and Billy Blanks), kettlebells, stability ball. When the weather is warm I try to jog on a track at the local high school. But my favorite thing to do lately is Wii Zumba Fitness Core. It’s sooo much fun!”

Latasha weight loss

Kimberly lost 60 pounds

by 16 Comments

Today’s featured success story: Kimberly lost 60 pounds post-baby with juicing, Zumba and the Daniel Fast.  Her story is another example that adding more fruits and veggies and cleaning up your diet can lead to rapid results.

Kimberly weight loss feb

Here is what she had to say about her weight loss journey:
“I have lost 60lbs so far. I started out juicing for 3 weeks then began eating salads, fish and fruit. No sugar or starches, only whole grains.  I’m currently on a 21 day fast called the Daniel Fast which is basically  just fruits and veggies. As far as my workout I do Zumba for cardio and resistance workouts with resistance bands.  I also do pushups crunches for my abs.  My journey took about 6 months.
A lot of people have had negative things to say the 1st time I lost weight, well guess what Im doing again!!! The SAME way ..Clean healthy eating and exercising & In That Order. Theses pix are embarrassing but I can care less because I know where God has brought me from.  I only hope to be motivation to someone else! #thatisall #motivated #blessed”

Renate lost 41 pounds

by 6 Comments

Another Zumba success story!  Renate lost 41 pounds.  She says:

“Hi BWLW, I’m proud of my accomplishment of losing 41 lbs! I have 70 lbs to go and I’m well on my way! Zumba and protein shakes are helping me a great deal. I struggle with fast food but I’m not as bad as I use to be. The first pic I took in June 2012.  I started my journey on 8/13/12. It has been work and I love it!! Just wanted to share my story because I’m proud of me.”

renate weight loss

Malikah lost 138 pounds

by 14 Comments

Today’s featured weight loss success story: Malikah lost 138 pounds by eating right and exercising.  She is proof that consistency and hard work will PAY OFF if you stick with it.

Malikah weight loss

Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

“My weight loss journey started Jan 2011. I decided to start making better food choices and start losing weight because I was turning 30 and I didnt want to go into my 30’s being over weight. I’ve been over weight my entire life. And I didnt want to start the next chapter of my life being overweight. I also wanted to be able to shop at regular stores, I don’t want to go into the stores and have to ask if they carry plus size. My goal is to one day get to 174. I have an extremely long way to go but the important part is that I’m on my way to a better me. I’m currently down 138lbs. I’m doing weight watchers, zumba, hitting the gym every chance I get. I also started running with BGR (blackgirlsrun.com). When I can’t make it to the gym or Zumba, I workout at home on the Wii or do workout DVDs (either the biggest loser cardio max or walk away the pounds). My goal this year is to do the broad street run, thats the longest 10 miler ever.  I also want to run a half marathon. Now I’m looking good and feeling good. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me. I’m just trying to make my way to fit and fabulous.

Gerlande lost 65 pounds

by 12 Comments

Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Gerlande lost 65 pounds going from 235 lbs to 170 lbs.  Zumba was a big part of her weight loss success and she is now a Zumba instructor.

Gerlande lost 65 pounds

I asked her what she did in terms of eating and exercise and this is what she shared with me:

“I started July 20th 2011. An ad for Zumba on the television got me off the couch and in the gym. I did Zumba for 6 days a week, then worked with a trainer for about 3 months doing everything: cardio machines and exercise (running, jogging), core training ( using medicine balls, band) and also did weight lifting (using dumbbell, barbell, doing dead lift,presses, squats lunges and all).  I continue to do the same today. I’m currently a Zumba instructor in the 757 and still do a full body workout : cardio to warm up, cores & weight lifting besides zumba 6 days per week.  I had to eliminate alot of bad eating habits and closely select the best healthy food.  I eat breakfast, 2/3 hours later, snack on fresh fruits, eat lunch ( heavier portion, snack again 2/3 hours later.  One more snack before the gym and workout.  I try not to eat dinner after 9 pm.  I drink alot of water more than 2 liter a day.  That’s the story of my healthy weight loss journey.”

February Challenge – Eat Clean/Food Diary

For the month of February the Black Women Losing Weight sisterhood will focus on and commit to 3 main GOALS:

  • We will commit to “Eating Clean”.
  • We will keep a food diary of EVERYTHING we eat for 3 WEEKS – Feb 4 – 24, 2013
  • We will commit to exercising 5 days per week for a minimum of 45 minutes per day.

february goalsThis month is all about really looking at the food we are putting in our mouths and being able to make food choices that work in favor of our weight loss and health goals, not against them.  People tell me all the time about how they are working out consistently and not losing weight.  They tell me about how they have added green smoothies and more fresh fruits/veggies to their diet but they have not dropped pounds.  Most of the time, the issue is that they have not stopped eating highly processed foods, sugary foods and food that is full of trans-fats.  This month we will work to clean up our eating habits and make sure that our exercise efforts are not hindered by our diet.

How do you join the challenge? – You are committing to actually DO what is outlined in the challenge goals above and to check-in on our online community (as a blog post or status message on your profile) or on our Facbook page EVERY WEEKEND.

  • WE do this to keep one another accountable to our collective commitment.  
  • We also do this to get support from others and give encouragement to those who are on this journey to health and wellness with us.

What is Eating Clean?

When you eat clean you will be eating unprocessed, whole foods that are prepared or cooked in ways that don’t add extra chemicals and toxins.  We are talking  about fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, meat substitutes like tofu, soy, whole grains, lots of water, healthy dairy and fresh juice.  We will avoid fried food, fast food, junk food, bleached white flour, artificial ingredients, soda, commercial juice and sugary drinks, processed sugar (white sugar, corn syrup), and foods with preservatives, toxins, dyes, saturated fat, and trans fat.

Here are some resources to guide you on the challenge:

Food Diary – Feb 4-24, 2013

For 3 weeks you will record everything you eat.  You can keep a journal for the whole month if you like.

Why?  Food is 70-80% of the weight loss equation.  You have to eat a healthy diet and commit to doing so as a lifestyle change to lose the weight for good.  Starving yourself or using quick fix solutions will work in the short term, but they can cause health issues in the long run and/or will lead to the pounds coming right back.

How do you keep a food diary?:  You can buy a 3-8 inch notebook and keep it in your bag to record your eating.  You could also create an online food diary instead.  How you want to record your food is your choice.  The key is to be consistent.

FREE TOOL TO USE FOR THIS CHALLENGE: I suggest that you use myfitnesspal.com (or as a mobile app) to easily track your eating DAILY.  We have a large group on MFP for Black Women Losing Weight members where you can connect with other Ladies who use the program.

  • You will keep track of what you eat and the amount of calories, fat, carbs, and sugar in what you are eating so that you understand what is really going into your diet.
  • You can find calorie counts on free sites like myfitnesspal.com and calorieking.com.

Exercise – 5 Days per week for 45 min per day

Be consistent with your exercise 5 days per week for a minimum of 45 min each day.  If you want to push yourself and do more, that is great, but let this goal be your baseline amount of exercise during February.  What you decide to do for exercise is your choice.  Walk, run, take a zumba class, dance around the house…you should do what you feel comfortable doing.   I will post videos and workout suggestions here on the blog during the month.

We can do this!  Please post your questions below.

February Challenge – Clean Eating / Food Diary Challenge

by 125 Comments

For the month of February the Black Women Losing Weight sisterhood will focus on and commit to 3 main GOALS:

  • We will commit to “Eating Clean”.
  • We will keep a food diary of EVERYTHING we eat for 3 WEEKS – Feb 4 – 24, 2013
  • We will commit to exercising 5 days per week for a minimum of 45 minutes per day.

february goalsThis month is all about really looking at the food we are putting in our mouths and being able to make food choices that work in favor of our weight loss and health goals, not against them.  People tell me all the time about how they are working out consistently and not losing weight.  They tell me about how they have added green smoothies and more fresh fruits/veggies to their diet but they have not dropped pounds.  Most of the time, the issue is that they have not stopped eating highly processed foods, sugary foods and food that is full of trans-fats.  This month we will work to clean up our eating habits and make sure that our exercise efforts are not hindered by our diet.

How do you join the challenge? – You are committing to actually DO what is outlined in the challenge goals above and to check-in on our online community (as a blog post or status message on your profile) or on our Facbook page EVERY WEEKEND.

  • WE do this to keep one another accountable to our collective commitment.  
  • We also do this to get support from others and give encouragement to those who are on this journey to health and wellness with us.

What is Eating Clean?

When you eat clean you will be eating unprocessed, whole foods that are prepared or cooked in ways that don’t add extra chemicals and toxins.  We are talking  about fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, meat substitutes like tofu, soy, whole grains, lots of water, healthy dairy and fresh juice.  We will avoid fried food, fast food, junk food, bleached white flour, artificial ingredients, soda, commercial juice and sugary drinks, processed sugar (white sugar, corn syrup), and foods with preservatives, toxins, dyes, saturated fat, and trans fat.  You will likely be cooking at lot of food at home, making green smoothies, eating salads, looking for healthy snack, and really realizing just how healthy you’ve really been eating.

Here are some resources to guide you on the challenge:

Food Diary – Feb 4-24, 2013

For 3 weeks you will record everything you eat.  You can keep a journal for the whole month if you like.

Why?  Food is 70-80% of the weight loss equation.  You have to eat a healthy diet and commit to doing so as a lifestyle change to lose the weight for good.  Starving yourself or using quick fix solutions will work in the short term, but they can cause health issues in the long run and/or will lead to the pounds coming right back.

How do you keep a food diary?:  You can buy a 3-8 inch notebook and keep it in your bag to record your eating.  You could also create an online food diary instead.  How you want to record your food is your choice.  The key is to be consistent.

FREE TOOL TO USE FOR THIS CHALLENGE: I suggest that you use myfitnesspal.com (or as a mobile app) to easily track your eating DAILY.  We have a large group on MFP for Black Women Losing Weight members where you can connect with other Ladies who use the program.

  • You will keep track of what you eat and the amount of calories, fat, carbs, and sugar in what you are eating so that you understand what is really going into your diet.
  • You can find calorie counts on free sites like myfitnesspal.com and calorieking.com.

Exercise – 5 Days per week for 45 min per day

Be consistent with your exercise 5 days per week for a minimum of 45 min each day.  If you want to push yourself and do more, that is great, but let this goal be your baseline amount of exercise during February.  What you decide to do for exercise is your choice.  Walk, run, take a zumba class, dance around the house…you should do what you feel comfortable doing.   I will post videos and workout suggestions here on the blog during the month.

We can do this!  Please post your questions below.