Black Weight Loss Success

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Mignon lost 76 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Mignon has lost 76 pounds since January 2014.  This proud mom of 2 embraced regular exercise, started eating clean and counting calories to improve her health and lose the pounds.

mignon before and after

I went to the doctor in October 2013 and was told that I was borderline diabetic and on the verge of having high blood pressure. I had always been heavy. I was not comfortable in my own skin, had low self esteem and low self worth. I ate my feelings and at 36 years old I still wasn’t happy.

I have a husband who loves me unconditionally and two beautiful children but there was still something missing. I decided that I had to change. It wasn’t until Jan 25, 2014 that I decided that enough was enough. I wanted to stop talking about being fat and not doing anything about it. I REALLY wanted to be happy and reclaim my health. I joined the gym that following Saturday and the rest is history.

Even though weight watchers is a good program, I did that before and it had lost its effect on me so I needed something different. I installed the my fitness pal app on my phone and began tracking every single piece of food I put in my mouth. It was my accountability partner. I went to the gym and participated in a zumba class every Saturday. I also went to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday morning before work. It was still winter time and I remember those mornings were COLD but I was DETERMINED to stay consistent. I knew me and I knew that this was the best way for me to see results and begin to feel good about myself. The weight just began to fall off. I was so amazed…Lil ol’ me! I would let life pass me by but not anymore.

I tried different foods, I completely stopped going out to fast foods places and I minimized going out to eat like places like Panera Bread. I started eating clean and it was so tasty. I wanted to learn all that I could to get the most out of my weight loss journey. I am happy to say that I have lost a total of 76 pds in 9 months. I started out weighing 262 pounds and I am now down to 186 pounds at 5’7″ tall. I plan on staying on this journey because it’s not about a fad diet, it’s about a lifestyle change.

I want to help and encourage other women the same way others have encouraged me along the way. It’s not easy, but my #1 piece of advice is to be consistent with your healthy eating AND exercise. Also I want to tell you Ladies that you are worth it. It’s okay to take time to get your health in order. Everyone wants a piece of your attention but if you pay attention to YOU, I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Shatoya lost 128 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Shatoya lost 128 pounds with weight loss surgery and hard work.  She learned how to change her eating habits to fit her needs, started walking for exercise and make the choice to live a healthier life.  Here is what she shared about her journey…

Shatoya before and after

I started my weight loss journey in 2013 when I made the decision to get weight loss surgery. Some people may think this was an easy answer however it wasn’t. I had to push myself that much harder to loss the weight. Yes, I am unable to eat a lot of food but I still can eat all the foods I want to, like candy, cookies and all the junk food I want (in smaller portions). However, I had to change my mindset overall and my eating habits, which I did. Now, I eat much better and a lot less. Today, in 2014, I have lost over 100 lbs. I have not hit my goal yet but I will get there. So, I say keep at it you can do it no matter how hard it gets you can make it. No matter how much weight you want to lose keep going don’t stop.

What was your motivation?
I got tired of being unable to play with my nieces and nephew and when my niece was born she was unable to sit on my lap. I was tired of being unable to walk a block without stopping and catching my breath. I started to research weight loss surgery.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetable and smaller portions. I stopped eating a lot of junk food. I also stopped piling my plate up with food and forcing myself to eat.

What did your workout routines look like?
I started to visit the gym three times of week for an hour.  I walked on the treadmill and also I walked during my lunch break and on the days I did not visit the gym.

What was your starting weight? 378 pounds
What is your current weight? 250 pounds

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is to stay with it. It will be hard, but it can be done. Stay determined and focus.

Naajma lost 110 pounds with surgery and hard work

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Naajma lost 110 pounds!  She had the gastric sleeve weight loss procedure, but she wants you to know that surgery is not a quick and easy fix.  She’s had to work out hard and change her eating habits.  Read more about her transformation…

naajma weight loss surgery

Hello, my name is Naajma. I’m a 27 yr old mom of 2 and I have lost 110 lbs. The picture on the left was in January 2013 and I was at 338 lbs. I decided I couldn’t live like this anymore. I spoke with my friend who had decided to undergo gastric sleeve surgery. I know surgery is taboo for a lot of people but I needed a boost. I found that in addition to the surgery I needed to work out religiously and eat healthy choices in order to lose weight. Surgery Is NOT An Easy fix. You will not lose weight if you don’t live a healthy lifestyle. I tried it, lol! I hope to get to my goal weight of 198 pounds soon (height: 5’7″)!

My motivation was my children. I wanted to run and play with them. I couldn’t keep saying mommy was tired. I’ve seen so many women without excuses take control of their lives physically, and I knew it was time for me to do the same. Before surgery, I cut all sodas, juices, etc. With that, I dropped 20 lbs in the 2 weeks prior by that alone. After having the gastric sleeve surgery, I focused on eating protein rich foods. At the height of my weight loss, I worked out 4 or 5 times a week. Running on the track is my favorite form of exercise. I also do squats and lift hand weights while catching my favorite TV shows. Lol. My advice to any other ladies who are on the path of losing weight is to not give up. It takes dedication and willpower but it can be done! I have started a Facebook group called Black girls get sleeved too. It is dedicated to black women who have had weight loss surgery or are thinking about it.

Instagram: @dimplesonblast

naajma before and after

Quiana lost 75 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Quiana has lost 75 pounds since April. She credits her success to finding a great support group, leaning on God, working out hard and changing her eating habits. Read more about her journey…

Quiana before and after

Hello, my name is Quiana Harris and I began my journey in April of this year. I decided to take back control of my life and it is the best decision I have made. To date I have lost 75 lbs and I still have 100 more to lose. I know there is no way I could have done this without God and my Fit Nation family.

My motivation is that I want to live a long healthy life. I want to be around for a long time for the important people in my life. I had made so many excuses before and now with me losing 70+ lbs I know I have no more room for excuses. I choose to live and not die. My highest weight ever (and I have never told anyone this) was 368 pounds and now I’m 293 pounds. I now know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I used Herbalife products to help me jumpstart my journey. I have also switched to low carbs. My eating it’s not all the way where it should be, but I’m human. I still have cheat days but I am no where near how I use be. I started working out with Fit Nation in May of this year 2014 and I have never been around a group of positive and motivating people in my life. I started my journey in April, and by May I had lost 15 lbs. With the help of Toye Bogard, the founder and CEO of Biggest Loser Memphis, is how I lost the rest of my weight and I’m still going to work because I have another 100 lbs I need to lose. From April of this year until October I lost the weight and what I can say is that it’s not easy but it is necessary. With persistence and hard work you can achieve anything and I’m a witness to that.

Instagram: @qdharris

Quiana weight loss story

Big Congrats: Devona lost 473 pounds!

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Amazing Transformation: We got an update from Devona. She is still losing weight!

Update 10/14: “I just want to say that I love your pages, on both Facebook and Instagram. I read those amazing women’s stories everyday. I wanted to give you an update of my progress. As I mentioned before, I started at 730 lbs. After weight loss surgery and a lot of hard work through exercise and diet, I am now 257 lbs. This has been a lifestyle change for me. It’s also a daily struggle, but I am determined to beat obesity. I want to encourage everyone one, whether they have to lose 15 pounds or 500 pounds it can be done with hard work and determination. If I can help and motivate just one person, I have done my job. I am living proof! Thanks again for all you do.”

Devona before and after

Read more about her journey and how she lost the weight:

Devona weight loss Devona lost 300 pounds

 

Denise lost 34 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Denise lost 34 pounds. After years of insecurity, depression, negative comments from others and fearing that her weight would contribute to illness, Denise decided that it was time to change!!  She is still on her weight loss journey, but she wanted to share her progress with us…

Denise weight loss story

Hi my name is Denise (IG: lovedeealways) and I’d like to share my progress thus far. Feelings of depression and insecurities consumed me for many years. I listened to all the mean hurtful, hateful things people said about my size instead of embracing the beautiful person I knew I was. I decided to change my life not only because I wanted to feel more secure but because I wanted to be healthy. I’ve seen people in my family live their lives on medication due to diabetes, high blood pressure etc. I’m excited to continue this journey! I’m down 34 lbs, with aspirations to lose another 51 lbs.

I’ve always struggled with my weight since I was a little girl. I went back and forth with fad diets, diet pills and even trying to starve myself. I lost weight and as I started to gain it went out of control. I hated taking pictures, hated looking in the mirror or going out. Yes, I’m a introverted person BUT some of it was attributed to my weight. I was once told “You are a beautiful girl but the first thing people are going to see if that you are FAT.” Surprisingly that wasn’t my breaking point because I’ve heard so many horrible things before. My real breaking point was when I found out someone had the nastiest things to say about me and it really hurt me because I never knew the person thought or felt this way. Not that I cared so much about this person BUT it did hurt. At that point I felt the need to prove a point! Besides, I wasn’t happy with myself anyway. I felt beautiful on the inside, however no matter what people told me I didn’t feel the same on the outside.

I started off by cutting out one unhealthy thing every week. Then, I tried to stop eating processed sugar by eating less of it and instead eating more fruit to supplement the sweet. I pushed myself to wake up early every morning to workout (mainly cardo at the time). Slowly but surly the weight started to decrease. I went from 235 lbs to 201 lbs. I’ve fallen and have got back up again. It’s all a process and to stay motivated I make sure to follow a lot of other people on the same path as me. I also think about my health. I don’t want to follow the in the foot steps of my parents and be on medication for the rest of my life.

denise before and after

Erica lost more than 55 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Erica lost 55+ pounds.  After finding motivation and results with a workplace weight loss contest, she found herself giving up when it was done.  She checked herself, regained her motivation and has been on her weight loss journey for a year and a half.  Check out what she shared with us about how she lost the weight…

erica before and after

I have been overweight all my life so it was something I just accepted. I thought that’s the way it was going to be, until I started a new job and entered their Biggest Loser competition. I was totally in it for the money, but once I saw the difference in my body physically and mentally I had to keep going ! So, here I am 50+ pounds lighter and 50 times happier

In the beginning I was purely motivated by the money from the contest. After the contest ended I kind of lost motivation. However, once I realized how badly the “unhealthy” food I was eating was altering my mood and physical appearance I kicked myself in my butt and regained motivation. I changed my eating habits drastically when I first started. Very limited eating of processed foods and I had lots of chicken and salads. As my journey continues, I have learned TONS of new information on eating along the way and I am not as restrictive as before.  That being said, I still only eat little processed food and lean meats.

I do A LOT of cardio but now I am incorporating strength training and I love it. I do the gym early in the morning before work and it makes my day so much better ! I do about an hour of cardio and 30 minutes of weights a day.

My starting weight I was tipping the scale at 315+ pounds, right now I am roughly 260 pounds give or take. My ultimate goal is to get to 160 pounds! (I am 5’6″). I have been on this journey for about a year and a half, although there were a couple months after the biggest loser that I just quit :(.

MY ADVICE : DO NOT QUIT ! This is by far one the hardest things I have had to do. After living so unhealthy my entire life, it is not easy to break those terrible habits. I still struggle but seeing positive changes makes my choices a lot easier. ALSO, don’t hate yourself if you do break down and “cheat” or miss a workout here or there. It’s okay. Enjoy that meal then get up and get back to it! It’s just a bad day…not a bad life !

 

Jodie lost 72 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jodie has lost 72 pounds since December 2013.  Facing a diagnosis of high blood pressure and diabetes, she decided it was time to take back her health and change her lifestyle.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey…

Jodie before and after

In December 2013, I began to just feel different so I decided to go to see a doctor. I found out I had high blood pressure and diabetes. I have a son and a daughter. In addition, my son has sickle cell disease. I really want to live so that I can continue to take care of them.

I was a junk food and soda freak. I prayed and prayed, asking God to just guide me to eating better. I started drinking tons and tons of water, eating fruits and veggies and getting up to go walking. I just did whatever I could to keep moving.  I had to pray, get up and stay active. I also started reading up on exercises and finding different stories on YouTube of people making changes and CHOOSING TO LIVE. I didn’t go to the gym…just started by working out at home.

I started out weighing 320 pounds and now weigh 248 pounds (I’m 5’11”).  It didn’t happen overnight. Everyday I try to give my full 100% but there are also days when I give 200%. I will not lose this fight because it gets easier when you put in effort.

My Advice: You will love the results and reactions people give you. I didn’t want to be skinny because I always have been a plus size woman. However, I did want to be at a healthy. Weight has never gotten in the way of me doing anything, but when my health became an issue I had to decide that I wanted to be here for my kids.  I’m still working hard.

Jodie weight loss story

Michelle lost 85 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Michelle lost 85 pounds with Gastric Bypass weight loss surgery.  She wrestled with the decision over the course of a few years.  After having surgery and changing her lifestyle with healthy habits, she is happy with the results.  Here is what she shared with us…

Michelle before and after weight loss

My name is Michelle Kyle Gough. I reached my health goals by having weight loss surgery. It has really been a journey for me. After seeing a photo of me at kings dominion in the summer of 2009, I was disgusted with the way I looked and I knew that something had to be done! It was a roller coaster ride for year trying to lose weight. Then, I wanted to have weight loss sugary in 2010, but I was afraid after attending the seminar.

In 2011, I changed the way I ate and joined curves at 262 lbs. I went down to 230 pounds. Then I got Sick and had to have surgery in June of 2011.  After the surgery I couldn’t exercise for 6 weeks and I lost my motivation a few months.

Later, I started the process again and considered having weight loss surgery again. I joined the gym, watched what I ate and I prayed to God to give me the courage and the strength to go through the entire process. With the love and support of my family I would do it. I didn’t tell many people about it because I didn’t want the negativity from others to discourage me.

On November 4th 2013, my Gastric Bypass surgery day, I weighted in at 242 lbs! So far, I haven’t had any complications and for that I thank God. I’m now down to 157 lbs! I feel great and I don’t need my CPAP machine (for sleep apnea) or GERD Medicine. It’s still a journey. I still go to the gym 4-5 times a week for an hour or more and my husband goes with me. My only regret is that I didn’t make the decision back in 2010 to have surgery.  My advice to others is find what works for you and stick with it. Stay positive and encourage yourself. Don’t look for others to do it, because everyone that claims to support you won’t in the end (you’ll find that out on your journey). Surround yourself with positive people and most of all love yourself!!

Fighting PCOS: Kiah lost 55 pounds

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kiah before and afterUpdate: We featured Kiah‘s amazing story a year ago. She’s maintained her weight loss and dropped 8 more pounds. “I am down a total of 55lbs and have about 50 more to lose. I’m off my medication and losing weight naturally with PCOS. I’ve lost more inches than anything! I’m also teaming up with doctors kiah pcosand specialists to spread awareness about PCOS in hopes of finding a cure. The biggest changes that have helped me lose weight and keep it off is my willingness to keep working out. Even when I don’t always make the healthiest choices, getting adequate exercise is vital for continued success. I still don’t drink sodas and do my best to stay away from processed and chemical based foods. I continue to workout out at least 3 times weekly for 45-60 minutes. Here are some new before and after photos that I hope inspire more women. Thank you again for sharing my story. It is most definitely a journey. Steady wins the race!”

I want women with PCOS to know this….Fact: Women with #PCOS who exercise 30 minutes a day can lower insulin levels and take inches off their waist. A recent study has shown that PCOS women did not see weight-loss on the scale, but lab testing showed improvement in insulin sensitivity and waist size. I am proof that you can still become healthier and smaller even when the scale doesn’t move. I’m down 5 dress sizes and my PCOS symptoms have reduced significantly.  For more information on the importance of exercise for PCOS go to www.pcosnutrition.com

Here are some new before and after photos that I hope inspire more women. Thank you again for sharing my story. It is most definitely a journey. Steady wins the race!” www.facebook.com/AjourneyIdeserve

kiah weight loss story

Oct 2014 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Kiah lost 47 pounds.  She was diagnosed with PCOS and experienced a number of symptoms including weight gain. She has worked to get her PCOS under control and change her life.  Here is more info about her journey…

Kiah weight loss story

I have always struggled with my weight. I’ve gone from the college athlete playing basketball on a daily basis to an emotional eater adding unhealthy weight. My fitness and health experiences are broad spectrum. Recently,I was diagnosed with PCOS. I gained 95 pounds and went up 9 dress sizes in 11 months, losing a bit of myself in the process.  I felt so alone and lost due to excessive facial hair, rapid weight gain, heart complications, and mood swings. I am currently on Metformin for PCOS, however that alone was still not enough to get the “old me” back. I had to fight for her and even though I did not always know how I would succeed, I was certain that I was going to succeed. Today, I am happy to say that I have lost 47 lbs and counting! Changing my eating habits and working out is a must for me to win against PCOS. I am sharing my journey to healthy living in hopes of helping my friends and family.

We all know it begins with a choice, a commitment to oneself to break bad habits and embrace good ones. We also know that the choice must be made daily, hourly; from 5 am alarm clocks to turning away carrot cake and doughnuts at work. My commitment is not just about losing weight, but starting a new lifestyle that includes better food, more activity, more joy, feeling healthy and happy. I am committed to caring for me because I deserve a joyful life.

My initial weight loss commitment was a struggle. I would exercise hard before going to work. I was feeling like I had accomplished a great deal only to see little to no weight loss (my starting weight for this journey was 265 lbs.). Weeks went by and only a few pounds to show for all my effort. Needless to say, I was discouraged feeling like perhaps the whole idea and effort put forth was pointless. I knew something wasn’t right as I had lost weight before using the tools that I had gained from all those years in athletics, yet I had no answers. Fortunately, I gained health insurance (finally) and made an appointment to see a doctor. I was diagnosed with PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; a disease in which women’s hormones are imbalanced causing unwanted changes in the way women look. Overtime, it can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes, due to weight gain. I am now on medication for the PCOS and with my doctor’s blessing I’ve recommitted to my goals.

I exercise at least 4 days a week and eat healthy foods once foreign to me – eggplant, brussel sprouts, and asparagus; in additional to healthier meats, no soda, more water, and no meals after 8 pm.  I also chose to commit to the Dr. Oz two week cleanse diet during my journey with great success – 11.7 lbs. in ten days.

It has taken me about 8 months to lose 47 lbs. Its a journey my friends and I hope other women are inspired by mine. This is my journey. Everyone deserves to be healthy and happy…inspiration comes from a myriad of sources. Perhaps my successes, struggles, insights and support will inspire others. For workouts, motivation, and inspiration go to www.facebook.com/AjourneyIdeserve

Instagram: @ajourneyideserve

Kiah before and after