Black Weight Loss Success

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Pamela lost 55 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Instagram Diva Pamela lost 55 pounds.  She not only changed her body, but also the way she felt about herself.  She took 2 years to transform her lifestyle and got great results.  Check out what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Pamela before and after weight loss

“My motivation to lose weight was when my husband and I went through a separation. Once we decided to work things out, I realized I really didn’t love myself anymore. I didn’t like a lot of things about myself and I began working on each of them one by one, starting with weight.

I changed my eating habits by cutting down my portions, and eliminating sweet drinks. I began to eat my meals on salad plates and after every bite, I’d put the fork down. I ate a lot less this way.  My workout routine was walking 3 miles 5 days a week. I did this for a year. Then, I began running 15 miles a week. When I started lifting, that’s when I really noticed my body change and tone.

My starting weight was 220 pounds and my current weight is 165 pounds.  My complete transformation took 2 years. I have maintained the weight loss, built lean muscle and keep a very active lifestyle.

My advice for anyone looking to lose weight is to start with one thing you are ready change. Eating less, walking, drinking water…whichever you chose, stick with it until it is habit. Then, pick something else to start working on. Don’t overwhelm yourself with doing it all at once.  All of this is how those habits have stayed with me and are a part of my everyday life.”

Instagram: @Runswithhips

Tenisha lost 68 pounds

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Before and After of the Day: Tenisha lost 68 pounds after a divorce.  She has seen improvement in a number of health issues she suffered from.  This sister even grew her own food!  Now that is a lifestyle change!  Here is what she shared with us:

Tenisha weight loss story

“Hi my name is Tenisha Baker. I started my weight loss journey in January 2012.  I did it for health reasons and to look and feel better. I had just came out of a nineteen year marriage.  I found out that he cheated on me with a co-worker and didn’t want to be married anymore, but he wanted me to stay for financial reasons.  Needless to say I left with my six children and hoped for the better.

Before my transformation I had many health problems. I was severely asthmatic and always on steroids.  I was hyper allergic to almost everything.  I suffered with IBS, Alopecia areata, CHRONIC UTI, vitamin D deficiency, and more.

After leaving my husband, I started eating right.  I began growing my own vegetables in a garden and ate from it.  I grew cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, spinach and different types of lettuce. I also embraced exercising at home.  I spent $0.00 dollars at a gym because I could not afford it or find the time to get there and still be a mom. I also ran in my neighborhood.

I’m excited to say that I am 68 pounds lighter with all medical problems disappearing except the alopecia.  I’m happy, beautiful and healthy by my and my doctors standards. My doctor has also asked me to talk to her patients too.  Women should never give up on themselves.  Put all of your excuses away. [Btw, I’m now in love too…]”

Ruby lost 130 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Ruby lost 130 pounds.  Her proud daughter Tosha wrote to us to share her mom’s story.  She said, ” I am so excited for her story to be shared with other women! Especially with being 51 and slamming!!”  Here are the details of her transformation:

ruby before and after
Updated photos: October 2014

What was your motivation?
I had been overweight since having my last child over 25 years ago. Granted at the time I started I was not my heaviest but I was definitely at the point where enough, was enough! I had undergone knee surgery about five years ago and the weight just started piling up on me after that. At 50 years old I decided enough was enough and I was going to get my body back! And that is what I did.

How did you change your eating habits?
I would drink to nutritious and calorie dense, low glycemic meal replacement shakes twice a day (Isagenix products) and enjoy a healthy 400-600 calorie meal a day long with two to three snacks. I drink one-two gallons of water a day and stopped eating after 7. I also I PRAYED PRAYED PRAYED to God for strength to endure and put my best foot forward everyday! There is not a day I don’t pray but I started praying for my health and weight loss goals as well. With Jesus anything is possible!

ruby before and afterWhat did your workout routines look like?
Honestly, maybe like a lot of you, my first month I only walked 3 times! You know how it is, struggling to find the time and really pushing yourself to change your ways and renewing your mind with the word and speaking the possible into your life as you can and will have control over your body! After the first month I starting walking to and from my salon. That is 2.10 miles. I then started adding squats, lunges, crunches, pushups, and leg lifts. I started walking up to 4-5 miles a day for 5-7 days a week. That started to add up to 48-50 miles a month. Now 8 months later I have started going to the gym to help release these last pounds by doing the elliptical and weight training.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight on April 13, 2013 was 322 pounds. By November 13, 2013 I was down 101 pounds. I am now on January 18, 2013 I weigh 192 and I am still working to release more weight. I would love to be to my pre-child weight of 115 pounds!

How long did your transformation take?
My transition is ongoing. My first 100 pounds and 145 inches all over my body took 7 months and I lost an additional 29 more pounds over the last 3 months.

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is to stay focused and determined. Try to cut out all of the sugar, breads, sauces, dressings, spreads. When you go out to eat get those things on the side and eat lots of green veggies, berries, apples, and pears which are not as high in sugar as other fruits. A good rule of thumb is if it is white (rice, bread, flour) don’t eat it and find the healthy alternative. The most important is to MOVE!

Ruby lost 100 pounds
January 2014

Jaianne lost 76 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Jaianne lost 76 pounds.  She changed her eating habits and worked out at home to change her lifestyle to one that was healthier.  Read her story:

Jaianne before and after

“Hello my name is Jaianne. I started my weight loss journey in May of 2013. My trigger for wanting to change was when I got out my car and had a hard time breathing. I knew that could not be good for my life and I had to make some major changes. I started off with my eating habits and then I started working out. I am currently down 76 pounds since May. My starting weight was a whopping 257 pounds and I am now 181 pounds. I am not where I want to be as yet but will continue to push through. This lifestyle has changed my life and I could never go back to the junk food. I do not go to a gym. I do all my workouts from home. I work out any where from 4-6 times a week. I no longer eat fast food.  I eat tons of veggies and fruits. It’s definitely not an easy journey. You have to remain strong and know that when you put the work in, changes will follow. Many times I cried, looked in the mirror and was upset at myself but it’s important to know you are amazing. Once you lose the weight there is no turning back. It’s gone forever.”

Candince lost 75 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Candince lost 75 pounds.  She was at risk of being obese and suffering health problems related to weight so she made the decision to invest in her health.  Here is what she shared with us:

“I just wanted to share my story. My journey started back in 2012. After being told by my physician that I was obese, as well as in danger of diabetes and high blood pressure, I knew I needed to stop wishing for a healthier me and start working for it. It was a wakeup call at 238 pounds (size 18). I couldn’t fit anything in my closet and was in the worst shape.

I lost 75 pounds in less than a year by exercising 6 times a week.  I also hired a personal training for strength training 2 times a week. I used working out as a way to combat stress and made it a priority. Not even work prevented me from exercising because jobs come and go but I only have ONE ME!! I threw out all processed foods and learned to eat clean! Once I quit making excuses for myself the change happened. Best decision I could have ever made. At 163 pounds my body thanks me everyday!

My advice would be to throw away the scale, surround yourself with positive people who help keep you encouraged and understand that losing even one pound is a HUGE milestone!!”

Candince weight loss photos

Angela lost 132 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Angela.  She lost 132 pounds and she did it the old fashioned way, by changing her eating habits and exercising.  Here is what she shared with us about her amazing weight loss journey:

Angela lost 100 pounds

“Hello! I first want to wish everyone a prosperous New Year! I want to share my weight loss story. The picture on the left (below) was taken during my senior year in high in 2004. I was 332 pounds when I graduated. The picture on the right was from this past summer (2013). I have been blessed to lose 132 pounds since 2004. It took awhile to lose the weight and to be serious. I lost weight in college, but eventually put it back on after graduating. It took the death of a dear friend and the doctors telling me about the many health risks I was in store for within the next year for me to become serious about my weight loss. I had to change my lifestyle to one that was healthier. I decided to join Weight Watchers and join the gym. I also began to join Zumba classes. I eliminated fried & fast foods, as well as  sodas.  All of this contributed to me becoming a healthier me. I pray that my (and all of the ladies who have posted weight loss testimonies) will encourage and inspire those who are struggling with weight loss and health. 2014 is YOUR year!”

Angela before and after

What is Lupus: The Basics

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“African-American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. African-American women tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than white women.” – womenshealth.gov

Note: Let me just note at the beginning of this article that there is much to learn about Lupus and the research has not bore out all of the answers about how people develop the disease and how it affect the body.  What I want to present is an overview of what is known, but I acknowledge that every person’s experience is not the same.

nurseI believe that Lupus is something we should ALL know about in the Black Community. Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and begins to attack normal tissue as if it were an infection to be destroyed. While anyone can be diagnosed with lupus at any time, young black women are more than three times as likely as whites to develop the disease. To put that in perspective, this means that 1 in 250 black women between the ages of 15 and 44 are could develop a form of this painful disease. Fortunately, there have been great strides made in the treatment of lupus and while there is no cure, with proper medication you can live a satisfying and full life.

Common symptoms

While the rate of diagnosis for young black women is high, the awful truth is that the path to a correct diagnosis of lupus can be a long and difficult journey. The common symptoms of lupus are easily mistaken for other diseases, like cancer or MS, especially if they are just showing up. It isn’t until there is a history of symptoms present that a doctor may even suspect lupus. This can be very troubling and causes a lot of confusion. The most common symptoms can include;

  • Rash or color splotches on the nose and cheeks that are red in color
  • Swollen, painful joints
  • Unexplained fever
  • Breathing causes unexplained, sharp chest pains
  • Hair loss
  • Extremities such as fingers and toes turn purple with cold
  • Similar purple discoloration in extremities when under stress
  • Unusual sun sensitivity
  • Low blood cell count

[More info on symptoms]

While all of these symptoms taken together would seem like it would be easy to make a diagnosis, the truth is that most people with lupus appear healthy and the symptoms are intermittent at first. Lupus can often be experienced in waves, with a period of high symptoms followed by a period when there are none present. One clue that researchers are beginning to track down is that while these symptoms could be attributable to other diseases, most are unusual in young black women. There is a strong chance that lupus is inherited so doctors will ask about family history (inheriting lupus is suspected but not absolutely proven).

Three different types of lupus

Generally, there are three different types of lupus, not all of which share the same grouping of symptoms but may display all of them too. The first is the most severe; systemic lupus erythematosus is a form of lupus that affects the joints of the body and different parts of the body including the skin. The second type, discoid lupus, is limited to the skin and the last type, drug-induced lupus, is exactly what it sounds like a form of allergic reaction to a medication you are taking.

How lupus is treated

The good news is that drug-induced lupus will likely disappear once you stop taking the medicine, but some symptoms could be on going. For most people, it is a matter of simply finding a replacement medicine if you have a chronic condition that the medication that caused the induced lupus is treating. This can take some trial and error. It can also be complicated if you are on multiple medications as you will have to figure out which one is causing the lupus. Do not stop taking any medication on your own if you think it is causing your lupus, stopping medication of any type should only be done with a doctor’s approval and supervision. For lupus that affects the skin, there are many ointments and creams that are now available that can help to relieve the rashes and other symptoms associated with discoid lupus. Treating systemic lupus is more involved as you will have to work with your physician to find a pain relief medication that can also reduce any swelling without causing any disruptive side effects in your life. Treatment varies from individual to individual, so these scenarios may not be the case for all people.  If you suspect that you are suffering from lupus, TALK to a DOCTOR (I’m not a medical professional.  This article is based only on my personal research…not medical expertise)!

How did I get lupus?

No one knows for sure why lupus develops. It is heavily suspected that genes play a role as there is suggestion that lupus can be inherited. However, there isn’t enough evidence to prove that hypothesis so no scientist can explain why one person in a family would develop lupus and two other complete generations not have any symptomology. One benefit from all the research and attention lupus is receiving is it marks a turn in the nature of scientific investigation that is focused on and inclusive of minority health issues. Lupus may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for many who will benefit from the new approach to addressing disorders and disease within minority population that had been missing from health research for too long.

For more information check out this fact sheet from The Lupus Foundation of America –  Lupus.org 

Desire lost 151 pounds with gastric bypass

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Desire lost 151 pounds with gastric bypass weight loss surgery.  She lost not only pounds but also suffered the loss of her home due to a fire.  Through it all she says that she gained a lot this year.  This is one lady who will not be discouraged or turned around.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Desire after gastric bypass

“My name is Desire Brandi Lofton and I would like to tell you how excited I am that I lost 151 pounds in 13 months. At my highest, I weighed 296 pounds. On December 10, 2012, I had gastric bypass surgery. It was one of the most difficult, painful, stressful, rewarding, honest, and enhancing journeys of my life in 34 years!! People told me I was taking the easy road.  They said I wouldn’t lose all the weight I wanted to and that it wasn’t hard. Nothing is further from the truth!! I have had to change my relationships with people, places and food. Most importantly, I changed my relationship with myself. I look back over this year and I lost a lot: a home to a fire, my dogs, all my belongings, my job, money, family members and friends and a whole person! However, I have gained so much wisdom!! I have learned to love this new me, love others and love God more for all that He has brought me through! People tell me I’m too thin now.  They say I am I sick or on drugs. No way! I love this new frame and new mindset. I will continue to work hard to keep it going. I tell others not to be discouraged; let the haters motivate you and push you to your goals. How you choose to get there is between you and God!”

Olivia lost 102 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Olivia lost 102 pounds with gastric bypass weight reduction surgery.  She went from a size 20 to a size 9.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Olivia weight loss surgery

Hi my name is Olivia and I would like to share my story and pics with you.  Back in 2009, I had weight lost surgery and I lost over 100 pounds as a result. I’m so happy I did it. I’m a diva now and enjoying life.

I changed my eating habits from fast food to only cooking healthy food.  I am going to the gym at work and drinking lots of protein shakes.  Fashion and looking sexy was my motivation.

I was a size 20 in pants and weighed 257 pounds.  Now, I’m a size 9 and weight 155 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery.  I saw results right away but after a year I was at my ideal size. My advice to other women is do what is right for you never let fear get in your way of a new and healthy happier life

As I think back on my life I’m must say that I am truly blessed. I use to sit in a corner crying at night because I couldn’t stop myself from eating.  God gave me the answer. He heard my cry. Today, not only I’m I a fashion diva but I am new inside and out.

Aleisha lost 134 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sonia sent in her sister’s transformation story.  Aleisha lost 134 pounds.  Sonia says that her sister is an inspiration to others.  Here is what she shared with us:

Aleisha before and after

“This is my sister Aleisha Jordan-Alston. She had a lot of different health issues but decided to make a change when she was told that she would not be around to raise her 5 children if she didn’t lose weight. She not only lost weight but continues to motivate others to do the same. I hope you can feature her on your page. She deserves it. I’m so proud of my sister.

About 2 1/2 years ago her doctor told her very matter of factly that if she did not lose weight that she would be dead in 5 years and to prepare herself and her 5 children. She argued with him back and forth all the while being embarrassed, shocked and enraged. By the end of the appointment he was a little more compassionate about it.  He told her that if she worked hard, he believed that she could do it but he also honestly felt that if she didn’t make a change she would die in 5 years or less. She didn’t want her to children to grow up without her (all under 16 at the time).  She also wanted to prove to her doctor that she could do it.  This is what motivated her to lose weight. She was having a problem sticking to the traditional workouts so she started walking with me and some of our friends which made it seem more like something fun to do instead of working out. She also loves dancing and included that in her workout schedule. A different doctor put her on a strict changes to her diet which she followed religiously. She changed how often she ate (every 3 to 4 hours) to the portion sizes. She cut out fast food, stopped using a lot of salt and stopped eating fried foods. She also doubled her vegetables (which she hardly ate before losing weight), cut out beef and pork and started eating mostly chicken, turkey and fish. Of course she drinks water constantly. Her total weight loss is 134 pounds. She started at 289 pounds in March 2012 and she’s only 4’11”. Her current weight is 155 pounds. She does treat herself every now and then to her chips, cookies, etc but once she got used to not eating them she knew she could make it. She says she’s so happy that she made this lifestyle change and I’m a proud big sister.”