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Tafara lost 60 pounds

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Tafara has lost 60 pounds total, down from 207 pounds.  We featured her back in Dec 2012 when she was down 51 pounds.  She has maintained her weight loss and is now training for a figure competition, so you know she is getting lean.  Check out her original feature to find out how she lost the weight.

tafara weight loss

Update:”Some time back, I was featured on your page. Here is an update of what I have been up to.  I now weigh 67kg (147 pounds). I am more toned, full of energy and am preparing to do my first figure competition. I am also training to be a Personal Trainer and Studying for a diploma in Weight Loss Consultancy. Here is my latest pictures.

Through your inspiration I founded a group, “Weightloss Naturally“. I was so inspired by stories of determination, perseverance, struggling and finally VICTORY of women doing all sorts to stay healthy. I have had many people writing to me and wanting to know how I did it and my passion is to get more people to do what I did. Diet and exercise is my passion now and I talk to people on everyday to get them to take a look at their health and make a PERMANENT change. I have had positive feedback so far and it makes my heart swell with joy that I can help other people too.”

Photo from original post – 51 pounds down!

tafara2014fbUpdate Photos:

Tafara Weight Loss

Tafara weight loss story

 

Taneeka lost 90 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story: Taneeka lost 90 pounds.  She embraced a plant-based, vegan diet.  Her story shows that you have to constantly make adjustments when you are trying to maintain your weight loss after reaching your goal.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Taneeka weight loss

“Hey, I love your page. I lost 90 pounds last year and I’ve gone up and down for the last couple of months. I decided this month to shake up my diet by going back vegan.

I have been big my entire life. I was called all types of names in school, so My grandmother put me on the SlimFast diet when I was in the 5th grade, but it didn’t help. It made me a closet eater. So instead of losing weight, I gained weight. When I was 16, I went on a strict diet and walked a mile everyday. I lost a lot of weight but I gained it all back and more by the time I was 19 years old. When I was 23, I had an emergency hysterectomy and I became extremely depressed. Food became my friend. At age 32 I weighed 350 pounds. I knew I had to do something and quick.

In Dec 2012, I purchased Dr. Joel Furmans book “Eat To Live” and I went vegan. I went vegan for 6 weeks and started working out 4 days a week. I haven’t drank soda nor juice in over 10 years. I started eating meat only 3 days a week. I do not eat red meat. I lost 90 pounds by July 2013. My weight has fluctuated by about 5 lbs over the last 6 months. I decided this month to go back vegan and workout more vigorously. I will be incorporating more weights. I currently weigh 259 pounds.”

Taneeka weight loss Taneeka before and after

Olevia lost 112 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Proud mom of 7, Olevia lost 112 pounds and has a testimony to share about not just losing weight but how God brought her out of an abusive relationship and food addiction.  She wants to help other women through telling her transformation story.  Check it out!

Olevia weight loss

“It is amazing where a bad relationship and low self esteem can take a person to and what mental and emotional abuse can do to someone.  However, what is even more amazing is what the power of PRAYER, FAITH, BELIEVING IN GOD & One’s self can get you. Yes, a few years ago I was a Broken woman, a woman who’s husband cheated, lied and use mental and emotional abuse to control her. I allowed Satan to come in my home and make me feel that GOD didn’t LOVE me. I was a emotional eater. Food was my addiction and yes that was my sin as well.

In 2011, I weighed 278 pounds but I didn’t see myself as having a weight issue. I didn’t realize it until I was at my heaviest and weighed 282 pounds. I will never forget July 20,2012. I went home to a family friend’s wedding and a picture was taken of me. When I saw it, I cried so bad because in spite of and due to bad marriage I was in, I had let myself go. I am a mother of 7 kids (5 girls & 2 boys). I didn’t want to die due to my health and weight. I knew that I needed to change not just for my kids but to save my own life.

I have done almost everything from Diet Pills, LA Weight Loss, Metabolic Weight Loss, Quick weight Loss…you name it.  I have even tried not eating. I learned about food control and portion sizes and how important water and proper rest is for you. I started exercising after I had food intake under control. I found out that you can’t do one without the other, so I started walking a few days out the week. Then a good friend suggested we join a gym.  I joined 24 hour Fitness and that gave me life. I was shy, so I went late at night when no one was there and I cried, but I didn’t stop. Now, I have fallen off my weight loss journey many of times but I always pick it back up. I am happy with me now. I recently joined the gym again and now with a lot more help I do Herbalife as well now to help me with my weight loss. I learned that food can be just as bad as a drug addiction if you don’t educate yourself. You can tear your body down and tear your life apart with food addiction. I try to go to the gym at least 3 days out the week. Also, I am about to start lifting weights. It is a battle. I have lost 112 lbs in 3 1/2 years. My current weight is 170 pounds. I don’t have a goal weight.  I just want to be able to NOT shop in plus sizes clothes again.

There is something about the POWER OF PRAYER. When you believe and have faith there is NOTHING GOD WONT DELIVER YOU THROUGH. I say this because someone out there is living my old LIFE.  You want out of that relationship but you are scared to go.  You think you’re the only one with weight issues and you feel no one will understand.  I am here to share part of my TESTIMONY to tell you that if you give it all to GOD and believe in him know that HE WILL DELIVER YOU THROUGH. YOU CAN MAKE IT.  I always told myself THAT I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME.

I just hope my story helps someone to NOT GIVE UP. ALLOW GOD TO GUIDE YOU TO HELP YOU AND KNOW THAT PUSHING AND BELIEVING IN WHAT THE LORD SAYS WILL SEE YOU TO YOUR GOAL. MY JOURNEY CONTINUES!!”

Instagram: @oleviahall72

Meka lost 51 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Meka lost 51 pounds. This petite diva changed her lifestyle after a lifetime of dealing the social and physical effects of being overweight at 5’2″.  I think many other ladies will see themselves in her story.  Check it out.

Meka weight loss

“Hey there!! I have been following your page for ages. I think it is awesome to see all these women who have made such great life changes because I know first hand that it is HARD to do. I am proud to say that I have lost 51 pounds the good old fashioned way! In the photos on the left, I weighed in at 249. I am super excited to say that as of last week I weigh 198.3 pounds. That’s a weight I haven’t been since 6th grade! It taken me 7 months to lose the weight.

Honestly, I spent the first 4 months just eating less and working out when I felt like it. Being a fulltime student, along with working, it was tough to stick to anything strict. When the weight was not melting off like I knew it could, I just had to kick it into gear! For the past 3 months, I have vowed to give this my all, so I began to do my research. I am a FIRM believer in research when it comes to what you should eat for weight loss.

I began eating 4-5 times a day, incorporating veggies, fruits, lean protein and green smoothies into my diet. I drink 5 bottles of water daily (religiously). I’ve also been working out for an hour 6 days a week doing the infamous INSANITY program. Shaun T is a BEAST and I am loving it! (I am in the 1st week of month 2 of this program, as of today).

Also, I must say that prayer and meditation has been a factor as well. Becoming closer to the Lord and seeking him for guidance and strength has gotten this former food addict where she is today. The past two and a half months have honestly been when I’ve seen the most changes.

My motivation to drop weight was the fact that I have been overweight all of my life and got tired of it holding me back. I did not go to my high school prom and developed social anxiety. I was too young and too short to be the size 22 that I was. I got tired of being ‘the fat one’ and I knew this shy, overweight, lazy body was hiding an outgoing, beautiful, soon to be athlete underneath. I am determined to draw her out!

I want to tell anyone who is thinking about losing weight to STOP thinking about it. Stop thinking about it and DO it. You have no idea what your body is capable of. If you have to take small steps, DO IT! You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run! My journey is still ongoing. I hope to lose another 50 pounds to fit my small, 5’2″ frame. I am only 21 years old and I am thankful to have had my wake up call now and not a decade from now. Thank you guys so much for listening!”

Instagram: @funsizedcutiee

Meka weight loss

Tequilla lost 75 pounds

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Tequilla lost 75 pounds.  Since starting her journey in January 2013 she has embraced eating clean and put together a home workout routine that works for her.  She shared with us about her journey and provided a sample of her daily meals:

Tequilla before and after

“Hi, my name is Tequilla and I am a black woman losing weight. I decided to lose weight because I want to join the U.S. Navy and there is a weight requirement that must be met.  My starting weight was 247 lbs and I was wearing a size 48 men jeans. I’m now 172 pounds. I started my journey January 1, 2013.  My goal weight is 155 pounds and I’m hoping to reach there by the Summer of 2014.

I love working out at home. I workout 4 times a week.  My workouts consist of running stairs, high knees, burpees, jumping rope, 2 mile walk/run, and sprinting.  As far as my eating habits, I stopped eating fast food and cut back on processed foods. I currently eat 5 small meals a day (3 full meals and 2 snacks). For example;

  • breakfast: oatmeal, half grapefruit, and a cup of green tea
  • snack 1: greek yogurt
  • lunch: tuna salad with spinach
  • snack 2: serving of almonds
  • dinner: grilled chicken, broccoli, baked sweet potato and plenty of water.

To be successful you need to change your life. You need to take control of the bad habits you have turned into an unhealthy life. You need to be excited about it too. You also have to believe that you can do it. Dreams turn into reality very quickly when you work hard.”

Instagram: @Kash1224

Transformation: Jessica-Marie lost 50 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jessica-Marie lost 50 pounds and has transformed her body.  She is now training for her first bodybuilding competition.  I’m so glad she shared her story and we also want to thank her for her service in the military! Read about what she did:

Jessica-Marie weight loss transformation

“I’m from an athletic family. I started running track at an early age, thus I’ve always had a passion for fitness. After joining the military, I had such a severe build up of calluses on the soles of my feet that they caused pain when I walked. I eventually had foot surgery and could not work out for months! Oh the agony! The scale started tipping at 200 lbs (which is my heaviest). So, I just stopped stepping on it. It was depressing to gain 60+ pounds. However, I’ve been determined to loose the weight and keep the weight off and now I am training for my first bodybuilding competition.

Jessica-Marie weight loss

Everyone needs to know that starving yourself is not the answer. I eat 4-6 meals a day of specific portioned sizes. I added more vegetables, fruits and other nutritional foods to what regularly eat to fuel my body. I limited the amount of carbs, fried foods, and desserts that I eat. My secret to fat loss is High intensity interval training (HIIT). Short, sweet and intense.

I would like to motivate and encourage other people on their fitness journey and let them know that Anything is possible!  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)”

Jessica-Marie weight loss transformation

 

Amanda lost 28 pounds

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Amanda has dropped 28 pounds on her weight loss journey.  After getting after facing down depression and giving up she has recommitted to her health and weight loss goals.  Here is her story:

“My journey started 2 years ago when I hired my first personal trainer. He struggled with me because I never changed my eating habits and never successfully lost weight. My breaking point came 2 years later after high blood pressure caused my doctor to place me on the Mirena IUD. I gained a whooping 20lbs. At 300 lbs, I grew very depressed and I gave up. I stopped working out with my trainer and stayed to myself… Away from family and friends. I didn’t want people to see me that large.

On December 30th, 2013, I stepped on my bathroom scale and I reached 313 pounds. I refused to get any bigger. I started back with my personal trainer who challenged me not to quit and to give it my all. I workout with him 3 days a week doing strength training along with cardio. I do hour long cardio sessions on my own for the other 4 days. Yes, I workout EVERY SINGLE DAY!! As for my diet, I started eating smaller portions and raw vegetables with every meal. I’m slowly preparing myself to become vegan! I don’t eat any carbs or sweets! When I craved sweets, I simply ate fruit. Today, I am happy to say that I weigh 285 pounds!!! That’s 28 lbs in 59 days!! I’m so proud of myself!! I’m doing it!!! I would like to encourage others to keep at it and challenge yourself! Working out without changing you’re diet will not yield good results.”

Amanda weight loss story

 

Update: Rene’ lost 53 pounds

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Weight Loss Story Update: Rene’ wrote to us to share that she has lost MORE weight.  She is now down to 53 pounds.  When we featured her back in November 2013, she has lost 36 pounds total.  We are so proud of her!

“Hi, I have an update!! I have loss a total of 53 pounds& surpassed my goal weight!! I set a goal when I started this journey but I weighed in and now I’ve passed the goal. I’m continuing my journey of clean eating & exercise to tone and maintain my current weight. My favorite workouts are Zumba and running. My goal is to run a 5k this Summer. I thank BWLW for all the challenges & success stories! Blessings!!”

Check out her original weight loss story post for more info on how she lost the weight.

Updated Photo:

Rene' weight loss success story

Original Photos at 36 pounds lost

Rene weight loss success

Kelsey lost 71 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Kelsey lost 71 pounds.  She changed her habits to become a healthier person and to avoid a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes. She wants to encourage you and let you know that losing weight is possible for YOU.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Kelsey before and after weight loss

“Hi, my name is Kelsey. On March 5th, 2013, I decided that I was going to do something to better myself & acquired a YMCA membership with the hopes of becoming a healthier me. On March 6th, 2013, I completed my first workout which began this journey. I distinctly remember how tough it was.  Weighing in at 275 pounds, the treadmill was not my friend. So much so that the amount of weight I had on me gave me joint issues when using the treadmill. I would jump around to elliptical machines to lessen the joint impacts…that is until I could tolerate the treadmill again. My workout routine as I lost weight eventually moved to 45 minutes to an hour of cardio, which was usually a run/walk interval along with 15 minutes of strengthening (abs/arms) afterwards.

I changed my eating habits, cutting out fast foods COMPLETELY for the first 3 months (I now eat at them OCCASIONALLY, very rarely still), cut back on fried foods, snacked on veggies, & cut back on breads/sweets. I ate a lot more fish, salads with grilled chicken or steak, snacked on baby carrots, and just cooked more of my food overall.

My starting weight on March 6, 2013 was 275 pounds…today March 5, 2014, I’m down to 204 pounds. I feel soooo much better, mentally & physically/. I can move around easier & have tons more confidence. I didn’t know until now how much my weight was holding me back from trying new things & meeting new people. I was like a turtle who stayed in their shell before. My motivation to change stemmed from not wanting to rely of blood pressure medications and diabetic medications like my elders. I knew these health issues ran in my family and I KNEW I was heading towards the same route with the way my eating habits were. I mean I was very close to 300 lbs at my heaviest, being 283 at one point.

I want to tell all of those who are struggling or playing with the idea of losing weight and becoming a healthier person…YOU CAN DO IT!! This coming from a 24 year old woman who had failed COUNTLESS times with losing weight. You just have to WANT IT!! You have to tell yourself “it’s not going to be easy but it will be worth it”. It doesn’t happen overnight. You have to know its a work in process even when u aren’t seeing the results u want. There will be days that you fall off the wagon, but don’t let that keep u down, GET BACK ON!!  I know this is so cliche…but seriously, IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN! I’m still working towards my goal weight of 175-180pounds. God bless!”

Instagram: @Kelsey_89

Louise lost 70 pounds

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Update from Louise –  Nov 2015: “Happy November! I was featured last year when I lost all of my weight. I started lifting weights since then and I’ve completely changed my body yet again. I became a Certified Fitness Trainer and I am the founder of Lulu Plus You Fitness. Facebook: Lulu Plus You Fitness Instagram: @lulugetsfit_2 and @lpyfitness”

louise before and after

Mar 2014 – Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Louise lost 70 pounds.  She did research and found the way of eating and exercising that allowed her to create a new healthy lifestyle and lose pounds.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Louise before and after

“I just got tired of being overweight. I was always tired and getting sick, and it was all because of my weight. In February 2013, I decided that I was going to start changing my life. I worked out 5 days a week, in the beginning. I started researching what I should eat when trying to lose weight and that is how I changed my diet. Now, I eat clean, meaning no processed foods, no fast foods, and only lean meat, fruits and veggies and lots of water. I started out doing lots of cardio. I would be in the gym 2 to 3 hours a day. When the weight started coming off, I started doing weight training a couple times a week. Now, I workout 5 days a week. I do circuit training, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and lots of weight lifting. I have lost 70 lbs so far. I’ve gone from 232 pounds to 162 pounds. My advice is to look at weight loss as a lifestyle change not something you have to do. Looking at it as something you have to do will get you discouraged when you don’t see results and then you will give up. A lifestyle change is permanent so you’ll know that no matter what happens, the weight will come off and it is not something that you will constantly think about.”

Instagram @lulugetsfit_2
Health page on Facebook: I am beautifully fit