The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.
Today’s featured weight loss success story: Victoria lost 98 pounds.
Victoria says, “I started my diet in March of this year and I have lost 98lbs. I feel great n look great! For my diet I went to metabolic research weight loss center. I exercise 5 times weekly by attending a bootcamp, Zumba and going to the gym. My diet consist of low carbs and low portion size.”
Today’s featured success story: Deborah lost 20 pounds. She is a great example of why I tell people NOT to look down on their first 10, 20, or 30 pounds of weight loss. A few pounds can make a difference. Celebrate every pound released.
She says,
“I lost 20 pounds since march of 2012!!! Completely changed my eating habits, watching my portions sizes and working out to Zumba, p90x, walking and running!!!! I’m no where near done!! So much toning to do!!!! I’m just happy that I’m no where near where I use to be!”
Today’s featured weight loss success story: DeAngela lost 76 pounds going from 215 to 139 by changing her eating habits and exercising.
Here is what she said about her weight loss journey:
“If I can do it, you can do it too!!! From 215 lbs in April 2010 to 139 lbs now. Hey, with God ALL things are possible. No pills, no surgery, just pure change of eating habits & exercise. I started with small changes transitioning from fried to “mostly” baked & grilled foods & decreasing my intake of carbs. From there, I did a strict 6-month regimen of only seafood & veggies. During that time, I not only saw the weight coming off, but as I increased my cardio & added weights, I became leaner, decreasing my body fat percentage from 33 to 19.8%. Today, I still do some high intensity interval training, Zumba + other cardio (rope jumping, arc trainer, & some walking/jogging, & weights for lean muscle building. MyFitnessPal.com is a phenomenal tool to help u keep track of such things as calories, fat, sugar, protein, & carbs. I’ve been logging my food & exercise on that tool since March 1. As they say, “steady wins the race”, but ya gotta keep pushing….pushing beyond fear of failure, pushing past comfort zones, & pushing in spite of plateaus. With God ANYTHING & ALL THINGS are possible!”
Today’s featured success story: Amber lost 50 pounds by doing Zumba and changing her diet.
My starting weight was 206 and I’m now155 and a licensed Zumba fitness instructor! I lost weight doing Zumba, using portion control and by eliminating bread, white pasta, and sodas! That alone helped me shed 50 pounds.
Today’s featured weight loss success story: Jan lost 120 pounds by switching to a plant-based diet. Just another example that eating more fruits and veggies and less junk and processed food works!
She said,
“I lost 120 lbs from 310lbs to 190 lbs. since Janurary 2012 eating mostly plant based diet and green jucing. I had Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Congestive Heart Failure and Sleep Apnea. I exerecise 5 days a week with body pump, spin bike, zumba, and nike training training. I’m no longer taking any medications.”
Britney lost 105 pounds with weight loss surgery. Her journey was not easy, as she had complications and had to have a second surgery. Read what she has to say about her weight loss journey below.
“My success story: In April 2009 at 310lbs I had the Realize Band Weight Loss surgery and after a year the band had failed. I was so depressed and defeated because after battling with my weight all of my life I thoughts I had finally found something that would work & it didn’t. So I ended up gaining all of my weight back plus 30lbs within a years time. I had reached 340lbs. I went back to my bariatric Dr & he said I was able to get a conversion because of all the complications of my band. A conversion is when they take the Band out & convert you to the Gastric Bypass. So in April of this year I had the conversion to the Gastric Bypass and now in November I am down 105lbs. God is Good!!! I eat high protein foods, I do eat carbs I just don’t overload on them. I make sure I have a good amount of fiber in my diet as well. I exercise just with basic living. Park far away, take steps instead of elevators, I try to do Zumba twice a week with my busy schedule.”
Today’s featured weight loss story: Tiffany lost 125 pounds by working out with a friend.
Here is what she said about her weight loss:
“I wasn’t always overweight, but by the time I turned 21, my weight was out of control. When I turned 40 in March of 2010, aches and pains kicked in immediately! I knew I had to do something! Later that year in July, I began my umpteenth attempt at weight loss after being on vacation with a friend who, get this, HAD to workout! I thought she was nuts working out on vacation, but went around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in NYC with her anyway. I haven’t looked back since. I’m down from 284 to 159 in 2 1/2 years. My goal weight is between 145-150. I love this site. It’s very inspirational!”
Update 12/17/12 – More from Tiffany
“Thank you so much! I am truly touched by the response. Thank you for taking the time to encourage and congratulate me. For those who asked how I do it. Eating had always been the difficult part for me, so I started out working out. I did TONS of cardio. Elliptical, treadmill, Zumba, and other cardio classes at a fancy gym that was so expensive…I was forced to go. I lived there. Staying hours at a time. But I didn’t majorly change my diet. I went to a trainer every 3 months or so who said cut the eating and the excessive cardio. I slowly started making changes in my eating preparing 5 meals a day so I am never hungry. Lots of protein and veggies with less carbs. For example: Oatmeal and egg whites with veggies for breakfast. Banana or protein shake for snack. Chicken salad and apple slices for lunch. Half a protein bar for second snack. Salmon and veggies for dinner. Protein shake before bed (with almond milk). I still struggle with keeping a clean diet and that is why it is taking me as long as it has. Sometimes I lose 8 pounds in a week. Then nothing for 6 weeks. Other times it’s been a pound a week. I weighed myself daily. I took a ton of supplements for a while recommended by a trainer, but it was like 11 pills and got too be too much and too expensive. I trained for a 5k and have completed several know in a year’s time including a 10k. So now I run 2 or 3 times a week. I did yoga too. Iyengar, then Bikram then just heated Core Power Yoga. Great for recovering from all the cardio plus, the heat helps you shed. I got stronger and added weights alternating 2 and 3 times per week. I do interval training on a treadmill twice per week for 30 minutes. run 30 second, abs 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds and repeat. Back to food, I do no carb Monday when I remember, I juice every now and then, cleanse every now and then. Drink herbal Chinese dieter’s tea every now and then. I constantly try and switch it up taking bootcamp and crossfit style classes. I spend a lot of time and money on this. I used my fitness pal, stopped eating red meat last 5 months, only drink straight vodka when I drink to avoid all the sugary calories, bread goes straight to my belly to bloat it, so I try to avoid it. I workout 6 days per week 2 or 3 hours each time. My favorite class on the planet is called Drenched at BODY THEORY in North Hollywood. If you live in the Los Angeles, it’s a MUST. I have extra skin from the weight loss and I plan on getting removed once I reach my goal weight. I’ve already seen a doctor. If I had of loss the weight faster or didn’t incorporate weights, the hanging skin could have been much worse. It is half as bad as it could be if I didn’t lift weights, so…LIFT!!!. My inspiration comes from doing it, not the other way around. No matter how tired or lazy I feel, I would feel 10 times worse of I didn’t workout. It’s just a part of me now. Putting in the crucial rest days are even guilty days, but I know they are necessary for the real change to happen in my body. My plan is to get into fitness career wise once I achieve a look I can sell. So don’t give up and get started if you haven’t. Don’t wait until the new year, new week or new day…. It’s the next bite. I am happier, think better, sleep better(most nights), and feel better. Depending on where you start, it doesn’t have to take you 2.5 years to do it. Diet is 80%, so get that in order and you will be well on your way. My biggest set back has been being stricter about my workout than my diet. My best move has been weight lifting 3 days per week, running and keeping bread out of my diet. If I can help any of you in anyway, please feel free to inbox me or message me here if you can’t get through. I would love to be of help.”
Today’s featured weight loss success story: Jasmin lost 71 pound in 8 months by changing her eating habits and exercising.
Here is what she had to say about how she lost the weight:
“I started working out and changed the way I eat. I officially don’t eat meat but i do eat fish. I dont eat processed food. I drink water and hot green tea all of the time. I love FRESH fruit and veggies, and lots of black and red beans. In the beginning, I was only doing zumba, cycling, yoga and 30 min on the treadmill about 3 times a week. I just started going back HARD in the gym, so hopefully I start seeing al ot more toning. I can honestly say that a lot of the trainers have told me its good that i dropped weight young because of our skin’s elasticity. We tone up nice. Plus, working out gives you the clearest mind. You can feel like crying or having a bad day, the gym seems to make things better. PROMISE”
Today’s weight loss success story: Nakeisha lost 57 pounds and credits Zumba and Insanity as well as eating right and drinking water.
I asked she what she did in terms of eating right and exercise. She said, “I stopped eating fried food. I ate a lot of boiled and baked turkey, chicken and fish. No pasta. Only whole wheat. Nothing but water in terms of drinking. I do 3.7 miles every other day. Also Insanity and Zumba. Biggest thing: I Prayed for Strength”
Today’s weight loss success story: Nina lost 48 pounds and is my newest weight loss HERO. She battled colon cancer and serious health issues to emerge with greater health and pounds lost. She is a survivor! If you have a ton of excuses as to why you can’t lose weight, you need to read this story for inspiration.
Read her amazing story:
“30+ years with Progressive Systemic Sclerosis- the drs say Im supposed to be crippled by now. Survived colon cancer and an abusive husband . . .you CAN get fit if you want to. Oh and I run even with chronic asthma! C’mon ladies, with prayer and hard work its possible.
I was already a decent eater WHEN I ate. I had a colectomy so eating has been a challenge, but I was malnourished from not eating regularly and eating late at night when I did eat. So the 1st change was to eat several times a day. Then I cut out white sugar. Except when I eat out, I only use Agave nectar especially in tea or even fruit (not juice) in recipes and NO soda – that took care of 12 lbs almost immediately. When I’m extra busy, I substitute a smoothie for a meal so its portable. The rest is exercise. I work out 7 days a week. I walk/run 4-5 days totally 25-35 miles a week. I do strength training and core exercises at home and throw in Zumba and yoga for fun whenever my schedule permits. I’m now doing a 5K (always for charity) about once a month and my goals are: 20lbs more, added strength training and to complete a 10K. Im only 5’1″ and had been 212 lbs. Im about 164 now and would like to be at or near 145. Because the PSS can cause wasting I need to be muscle heavy to keep up my joint and muscle strength and I need to keep the fat away from my upper belly because of my chronic asthma, lung sclerosis and pulmonary hypertension . . .oh yeah, I have less than 60% lung capacity on the right side – walking a flight of steps can be brutal some days so running has been the most surprising achievement ever !
I want to Thank You for this page/group where everyone is SO positive and encouraging. I would have NEVER posted a picture of my whole body before now and before reading all the testimonies.”
