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Nadine lost 81 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nadine lost 81 pounds.  This proud mom and hair stylist has the full support of her husband and children and that has equaled major motivation for her.  She shared with us about her weight loss journey…
nadineoct14blog
After having 3 C-sections and working constantly, I looked at myself one day and decided to get on the scale. What I saw next embarrassed me and then quickly turned from embarrassment to me being intensely scared. I saw 307 pounds looking at me in the mirror. I cried about it for days to be honest, until one day when my husband told me enough was enough. He told me that I had to do this for not only my children but for myself. I work out 5 days a week sometimes 2x a day and I eat mostly fruits, veggies and lean meats.  My best advice would be have fun along your journey and keep God really close.
What inspired me: Honestly what inspired me first was my children and my husband. Watching them go outside to throw the football or go swimming. I did not want to go with them because I had no energy. Then one day my husband forced me to go with them. When I did I was so tired and so overwhelmed. To be brutally honest, I was disgusted with myself. I was missing out on so much of what life had to offer me including a life with my family.  What has kept me motivated has been my Husband and my sons. They are my biggest fans. Then comes my coworkers and my clients at the salon where I am a stylist. I also motivate myself because I know that my story can motivate other women to know that they can do it. It’s simple, just start.
Changing my eating habits: I had to change everything as far as my eating habits were concerned. No more sodas, sweet teas or sugary drinks. I replaced all those drinks with water or unsweetened tea or coffee. I replaced chips or candy with healthier snacks. Instead of a snicker bar, I had a fiber one bar. Instead of ice cream, I have frozen yogurt. Instead of chips, I had a natures valley bar. I bring my lunch everyday with all healthy snacks. For me, unhealthy snacks are not an option. Sunday is my cheat day where I pick 1 meal and replace it with whatever I want. It is all about portion control.
Working out: I work out 5 days a week in the morning after I take my sons to school and before my first appointment. I do 30 minutes of heavy cardio with jogging/walking intervals or stair climbers. In the evening, my husband and I work out doing a lot of core exercises. As a matter a fact, I am training to do a 5k on October 18th for breast cancer. Never would have thought that would be the case for me.
My journey started in June of 2014. I have lost a total of 81 lbs and counting. I still have about 35 more pounds to go but I am geared up and ready to go. (height: 5’7″) Life will be great in a size 10. Now I wear about a size 14 in jeans but my dress size ranges from a 14 to a 10. I can’t wait to get to a size 10 in jeans. I see it coming and I am so grateful for the button that switched in my head.
 Instagram: @ohsooojazzy

Vanessa lost 69 pounds

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Update Aug 2015: “I’m at my first major goal of 100 lbs and have about 80 more to go. I started working with a personal trainer 2x a week and on 3 other days on my own. At the beginning of this year, I decided to go off on my own to continue my journey. I continue to incorporate strength training and cardio in my fitness routine. I try to have lots of variety to keep myself motivated. It is a tough road, but it’s so life changing and worth every struggle! I’m now working with Allen Conditioning and I’m in the process of obtaining certification to be a group fitness instructor and health/nutrition specialist. You can come join me on my journey, I’m on Instagram @nessisgettingfit and @allenconditioning_”

vanessa before and after

Oct 2014: Weight Loss Story of the Day: Vanessa lost 69 pounds and is still going strong towards her goal of losing 100 pounds. This proud mom of 2 found a weight loss plan that worked for her and she is Working It!!  Check out what she shared with us about her journey…

vanessa before and after

My name is Vanessa, single mom of 2 beautiful girls. I have lost 69 lbs going from a size 30w to a size 18-20w I’m still a work in progress, but I’m only 31 pounds from my first major goal of 100 pounds gone. I love seeing all the success stories your page posts on Facebook, and thought I might as well share mine also.

I have been overweight for most of my life, always the chunky kid or the plus size girl. I’m 34 years old and at the beginning of this year something snapped in me and just I said that’s it. This is going to be my year.

I started doing Weight Watchers for the 3rd or 4th time to get my eating habits in order.  At the same time, my friend who was seeing a personal trainer at the time, said I should meet him. So, I joined one of their sessions, and he kicked my butt! He gave me another session for free and I was hooked from that day forward. I now work out 5 days a week, sometimes more, for at least 1 hr. Two of those days are personal training sessions, the other 3 are cardio days.

After one month of training, I left Weight Watchers and gave my trainer control of my diet. I am mostly on a low carb, high protein plan now. Any carbs I do eat are whole grains only. I started with my trainer in March 2014 and was 354 pounds at 5’6″, my highest weight ever, I am now down 69 lbs and counting. My goal is to no longer be in plus sizes, I’m not sure how much more weight I’ll need to lose to get there.  However, I’m well on my way and loving every minute of it.

My advice to others is DONT QUIT! Sometimes you will have one or two or even three weeks with nothing lost on the scale, but JUST KEEP GOING! You will see your results eventually! Track your inches also, because sometimes when the scale isn’t changing the measurements will. Stay tuned! This mama of 2 is currently in progress to become a fit bada**!  Good luck to you all on your journey!

vanessa weight loss story

Marcella lost 116 pounds with gastric bypass

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Marcella lost 116 pounds with the help of weight loss surgery.  Despite the negative comments and opinions of others, she decided that surgery was going to be lifesaving as well as life changing for her.  Check out what she shared about her journey and her progress photos…

Hello my name is Marcella. My weight loss journey began on January 31,2011, which I call my new birth date. I was told that if I didn’t get the gastric bypass weight loss surgery I would die. I wasn’t going to get it because I was listening to all the negative comments and people’s opinions. Then, I did my own research and realized that my health was truly at risk, so I decided to have the surgery.  Now, after 3 years of eating healthy and going to the gym 4-5 times a week, I’m 184 lbs today.  That’s down from 300 pounds. I’ve gone from 12 bottles of medicine to only taking a multi-vitamin and no other pills. GOD IS GOOD.

During my time of prepping for surgery, I was facing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, as well as arthritis on my knees and lower back.  I had to get injections and couldn’t walk up the stairs without losing my breath. I had to take meds for the high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other ailments, equalling 12 pills a day.

After I received the gastric bypass procedure,  I suddenly had to change my eating habits. No more greasy, food. If I want fried food, I oven fry it.  I batter it just like I’m going to fry it and just put it in the oven so it comes out so crispy. I bake everything and I don’t eat sugar sweets. I will also go to the bakery and order no sugar added cake and cookies if I want sweets (you know that time of the month makes us crave) or I’ll bake my own.  After surgery, I’m also dedicated to exercising. You cannot start then stop, you have to make it a part of your life. I go workout every morning at 5am before work. In the morning, I eat whole wheat pancakes and add protein whey in my mix. I have them with no sugar added syrup and a cup of vitamin water. Then, I’m out the door for work.  For lunch, I’ll snack on fruit, veggies and eat a wrap. I can’t never eat it all cause my stomach so small.

My advice: If you want to eat at a fast food place, they all have a diet menu so stay on it. Everyone has a cheat day, so if your going to do it, don’t over do it.

Instagram: @YUPP_THATISHER

Marcella gastric bypass weight loss surgery Marcella before and after

Star lost 41 pounds

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Success Story of the Day: Star lost 41 pounds, going from a size 16 to a size 10.  She used a time tested online weight loss program to help her get on track and found ways to get active as well.  Here is what this proud mom of 2 shared with us about her journey…

star weight loss

My name Star. I am 35 and a mother of two. I decided to start my weight loss and lifestyle change in February 2014 for life. I have always been on a roller coaster ride with my weight since adulthood. Up and down was my middle name.

What really motivated me to lose weight was my unhappiness with myself. I have always been into fashion and I could not wear some of the clothes I love. I also was very tired and lazy. I went from being a very social and outgoing person being a hermit crab. I also was very active growing up, with cheerleading, tennis and track. I realized this just isn’t Star, so I changed my life.

I got back on Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time but this time online only. I started to research and become more open minded about my food choices. I started making my own smoothies with fresh fruit. I put down the chips, stated eating nuts and stopped drinking soda. I will have sparkling water if I crave some fizz, but I drink a lot of water too.

I also started working out and fell in love with Zumba and lifting weights. I also do spin classes to “Turn Up” my work outs. I go for leisure swims on my off days. So, about 5 days a week I’m very active.

My advice for others is to take it one day at a time. Set a goal but don’t set a time limit because you will be more likely to become discouraged. Start off looking for group exercise because you will meet new friends with a common goal and be held accountable for showing up. If you can’t join a gym, ask someone in your community that walks or rides a bike if you can tag a long sometimes.

I started at 226 lbs. and a size 16 at 5’7″. Now I’m 185 lbs and a size 10. I have lost a total of 41 pounds. I still have more weight to lose, but I thought I’d share for those who could use my story as a motivation tool to start losing!

star's weight loss journey

Paula lost 155 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Paula is determined not to see 400 pounds again.  She’s lost 155 pounds. After she didn’t find lasting success with weight loss surgery, she changed her eating habits and started running to release the pounds.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss transformation…

Paula weight loss transformation

My name is Paula Banks and I have been on my weight loss journey seems like my entire life…LOL. My highest weight was a whopping 400lbs! Yes, that was my life. I couldn’t do much of anything, or wear a regular pair of pants (sweat pants were my life) So, in 2003 I had weight loss surgery with the gastric bypass procedure.  Oh, I thought my life would be forever changed. I lost over 100 pounds, and I was feeling great, but once again I got comfortable. The scale started moving back up and before I knew it, I was up to 300 lbs. The survey was a tool that I didn’t truly utilize, and I missed out on that opportunity to really lose the weight.

Thus after surgery I began dieting, going up and down, eating, not eating, working out and not working out. It just became a bad cycle. I did manage to lose 50 pounds but I still wasn’t really committed to the journey until recently. In the past 2 years, I have become a runner. I have ran several 5K’s, & 8K’s and I recently just finished my first Half Marathon on August 31st of this year. I workout at least 5-6 times a week, Running, HIIT and the Arc Trainer. I also weight train at least 3-4 times a week. Aside from working out, I started eating healthier, watching my carb, protein and fat intake, and I drink at least a Gallon of water daily. I have given up bread for the most part as well as sugar laden foods, lots of processed foods and my ultimate favorite food…Potato Chips lol. Healthy Meals for me are low in carbs and high in protein, such as Taco Salad, Baked Fish, Eggs, Homemade Protein bowls (no rice) and lots of veggies!

Trust me, I have failed a thousand times between 400 pounds and where I am today, and TRUST I still fall (and it’s usually potato chips that gets me tripping). However, the one thing I never have done is give up on myself, because if I had I would not be the person you see in these pictures today. Keep PUSHING LADIES.

Check out more photos from her journey on Instagram: @paulabanks

Kim lost 115 pounds

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Update: Kim lost 170 pounds over the course of 7 years.

Featured Weight Loss Success Story: Kim lost 115 pounds.  After being told that she had to lose weight in order to survive a much needed knee surgery, Kim made the decision to change her life. She did her research to find a way of eating that worked for her and took her fitness to a new level. As a result, her diabetes improved. Check out what she shared with us…

kim sugarfreeoreo weight loss

A year ago my doctor told me my knee was beyond repair and that I needed an artificial one if I was ever going to walk without pain again. He also told me that due to my morbid obesity he wouldn’t operate on me unless I lost weight, because I might die on the operating table if he did. I made a decision at that moment to change my life and take back control of it. I changed the way I ate and started to exercise. In the beginning I could barely finish a Richard Simmons video or bike one mile without being in pain and out of breath, but I kept at it. Over the course of the last year, not only have I increased my fitness level (per the surgery) but I’ve also lost 115 pounds (I am 5’10”). It took a lot of hard work, self control, trial and error, patting myself on the back and being my own cheerleader to accomplish this. I’ve since been able to get my new knee and am quickly rehabbing it and getting back into shape. I’ve gotten my diabetes under control and only take one third of the insulin I was taking a year ago. My blood sugar levels read as if I’m not a diabetic. I’m not done on my weightloss journey, but I am reflecting on how far I’ve come. I changed my life, I feel a new, I took control, and I am committed.

To change my eating habits I did a lot of research online about what a good caloric intake would be good for me and help me meet my goals. I also read a lot about differnt types of eating plans and tried to find one that would work for my busy lifestyle and diabetic limitations. Once I settled on a low carb, 1200 calorie diet, I picked a date that I would start my program. To get ready, I food shopped and got everything I would need for the week in order to stick to my plan. Then I looked around for recipes and the like. That Monday, I committed myself to my new way of eating and have stuck to it ever since. I also gave up soda, lattes, and alcohol, figuring the extra calories were not doing me any good. This was 13 months ago.

When I first started my program, for exercise I did Richard Simmons videos in my garage. I was not confident enough yet to go to the gym, and my activity level was so low that even finishing one of his videos was a challenge. After I’d lost about 40 pounds, I added in bike riding. This was huge for me because in the past everytime I’d tried to ride a bike, I couldnt even make it a mile. After losing some of the weight and getting my fitness level up with the videos, my first ride I did seven miles. The next one I did 15. After that I did 25 miles and was able to sustain doing rides of that length. After about 65 pounds gone, I started going to the gym and working out with a trainer. I was preparing for my knee surgery and needed to get my leg muscles as strong as possible for the recovery. We worked out together once a week for three months. After my surgery, I had to stop exercising for three months. I just recently started back up again and did a month of nothing but the exercise bike. Two weeks ago, I added in riding a real bike and this week I added strength training back.

My best advice for others is just sharing the things that worked for me. Accountability and positive reenforcement have been critical to my success. I use an app (My Fitness Pal) to log my food and exercise. This way I know how to plan out my day so that I don’t go over my calories. It also helps me make better food choices by seeing caloric values and being able to pick the lesser calorie foods. The app was probably the most important tool I had. I also told all my friends I was going to work on changing my life. I told them my goals and asked them to make sure when we did social things that they were not centered around food. Lastly, because I have a lot of weight to lose, I made smaller reachable goals to track my progress. Instead of saying I have to lose 150 pounds, I said my first goal is 1o pounds, my second is 20, my third is 35 and so on. At each goal I treated myself to things like a mani/pedi, a new piece of exercise equipment, or new clothes. I also celebrated non scale goals, like being able to fit in seats I couldn’t fit into before, being able to buy clothes in the straight size section instead of plus size and every time I tightened my belt up a notch. All these things were victories and I made sure to share them and pat myself on the back for them. I’ve lost 115 pounds so far, and want to lose another 45-50. I feel very confident I can make it happen.

Instagram: @sugarfreeoreo

Tamara lost 107 pounds

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Today’s Weight Loss Success Story: Tamara lost 107 pounds. After facing the reality that she hadn’t prioritized her health and was dealing with the consequences, Tamara took steps to change her life and her health. Not only has she reached her goals, but she now works with others as a weight loss and fitness expert. I think you will really get a lot out of what she has shared with us.

fitnesstamara

What was your motivation? What inspired you?

I wish I could say that I made the decision to become healthy and fit all on my own, but the reality is I needed a little help. My wakeup call came when I went to the doctor in Dec. 2007 for a physical. My blood pressure was up…again. My doctor warned me that deprioritizing my health could have grave consequences. I was 100 pounds overweight, working 50-60 hours a week and had the nerve to be applying for grad school. He made it clear that blood pressure medication or worse was in my future if I didn’t change. It was painful to hear but I knew he was right and in January of 2008 I began my transformation.

How did you change your eating habits? What did you stop or start eating?

I learned about the importance of good nutrition the hard way. I took my doctor’s advice and began exercising. After working out hard for 4 weeks, I stepped on the scale and was horrified to see that I lost zero pounds! The “see I told you this wouldn’t work” voice kicked in and I considered quitting, but then my mind flashed back to that day in the doctor’s office. I had to figure out a way to make this work, my future was at risk. I decided to go back to the drawing board to figure out what that was missing.

Tamara weight lossI did some research and learned that I didn’t lose any weight because I was still eating poorly. I decided to eat 5 small meals a day, increase my fruit and vegetable intake, and drink 64 oz. of water per day. There was just one problem – I was addicted to sugar! Cookies, cakes, sodas – you name it, I loved it! I decided going cold turkey was too much and allowed myself one 12 oz. soda and one 100-150 calorie treat per day and one “treat day” per week. Eventually my taste buds changed; now soda and sweets are occasional indulgences. I am a witness, you CAN change and you don’t have to give up everything. You just have to know your number – how much you can eat and reach your goal – and stick to it.

What did your workout routines look like?

Initially, I hated exercise and was intimidated by the gym. I decided to start out with a dance based workout that I could do at home – Hip Hops Abs. I worked out 5-6 days a week and my workouts averaged about 30 minutes. I eventually started craving the endorphin rush and began to look forward to my workouts. I incorporated a new workout routine every 60-90 days to keep from getting bored and to continue to raise my level of fitness. Six years later, I have over 25 different at home workout programs in my collection and I rotate them frequently. I also became a certified fitness instructor in 2012 and now create workouts for myself and my clients.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?

My highest weight was 265 pounds. Today my weight fluctuates between 155-158 pounds.

What is your height?             

5’9”

How long did your transformation take?

I love it when I am asked this question because it allows me to share a reality of life: You don’t always get it right the first time. I weighed in at 265 pounds in 2006 after trying unsuccessfully to lose weight for 6 years. I lost 40 pounds in 2006 but gained 10 lbs. of it back. I decided that a size 18/20 was the smallest I could ever hope to be until that fateful day in the doctor’s office. After losing nothing in my first month, I lost 70 pounds in 10 months and have kept it off since.

The key for me was getting clear on my why. In the past, my motivation to lose weight was superficial – I wanted to look good for a wedding or fit back into a certain size. This time it was about preserving my quality of life. My mom and her siblings were on blood pressure medication and my grandfather (RIP) had a pacemaker. I didn’t want that to be my story and every time I thought about quitting, that is what snapped me out of it. Now I tell my clients that one of the major keys to success is defining a compelling and emotionally charged why. My mantra: “if it isn’t strong enough to make you cry, you haven’t gone deep enough.”

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?

Take it one day at a time. Change takes time. Don’t burn yourself out by demanding too much too soon. Show yourself love and be patient. Realize this journey will have ups and downs. Get back up when you fall. Remember that God is concerned with everything that concerns you. Inviting Him into this journey will make all the difference. Lastly, get the right tools, resources and support. Purchase a heart rate monitor to see how many calories you’re really burning in that work out. Use an app like MyFitnessPal or Lose It! to track your food intake. Find people – in person or online – that share your interest in health & fitness and will be there to support you and hold you accountable. The 4 P’s – Patience, Persistence, People and Prayer – are the keys to success.

If you have trouble staying motivated, follow me on Twitter @FitnessTamara or like ‘Tamara Jackson Fitness Expert’ on Facebook for daily tips and inspiration, then check out my book 265 Point at Amazon.com. I am blessed because others have found healing in my story and learned from my mistakes. If you prefer a personal touch, go to my website at www.265point.com and fill out the ‘Connect with Tamara’ tab to set up your free consultation. You don’t have to take this journey alone. I am here to help.

Tamara fitness and weight loss expert

Natalie went from a size 18/20 to a 10/12

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Update Dec 2015: More than a year later Coach Natalie is still going strong, despite a recent car accident that hindered her from working out while she recovered. A testimony to healthy eating habits, she didn’t gain a single pound.  We asked this amazing mom of 5 to update us on her progress. (You can also read more about how she lost the weight below)

“To be perfectly honest, I haven’t lost a single pound since that feature in 2014. I did however lose an additional pant size and it was awesome. I completely let go of the thought of a “magic number” and how that would bring me a sense of accomplishment. Forget the scale! My body was moving and looking fantastic.

I say “was” because I am now recovering for a car accident and I am not able to workout just yet. I am however excited to report that even though I am not as firm, I have not put on a single pound. Nutrition is king, and I see that now even more than I already did. This car accident was a blessing. I got to be put in the same position of a lot of my clients. Not at their physical best but desperately needing a start they can stick with. This accident has grown my passion and creativity for nutrition. I’m able to serve my clients better. I feel more than confident that my consistency with nutrition is helping me heal and keep my size down despite not exercising.”

Check out her blog for more about her inspirational story: http://teamwitnessfitness.blogspot.com

coach natalie update

Sept 2014 – Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Coach Natalie went from a size 18/20 to a 10/12.  This proud mom focused on fat loss and getting healthy instead of just pounds.  She has shared a lot about her journey and her mindset about losing weight.  I really love her perspective.  Check out what she shared…

Coach Natalie

What was your motivation? What inspired you?
What motivates me changes as I change. I started this journey motivated by the thought that I needed to do my best to be healthy for my children. I want to be in their photos as they grow, for them to have memories of us playing together and to just feel good. You have to take care of mama so that mama can take care of baby.  I continue to keep motivating myself with non-scale victories (like getting into jeans that don’t fit). As of right now my major motivation is my missions trip to Guatemala. I’m going with my oldest set of twins to help build a home for a widow and work with orphans. I want to be an asset on this trip. I want to have the strength to do whatever is needed in that home. The thought of serving in that capacity is what currently motivates me.

How did you change your eating habits? What did you stop or start eating?
I started this fat-loss journey with the thought that I could workout enough to cancel out my food choices. I refused, I mean I REFUSED to change my eating. When I first started, I was in group fitness classes 4 hrs out of the day and at first I saw results but that was short lived. You really can not out work a bad diet. I tried, oh I tried that method for a while without success. I didn’t really start focusing on my nutrition until a year and a half into my journey, and I wish I would have started sooner. It took a friend making herself available as an accountability partner and placing me in a small online group to start that gradual change. It was then that I stopped having my meals handed to me through a window. That’s when I stopped buying faux food that belonged on a shelf and started buying real food that didn’t last longer than a week in the fridge.


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I use a great eating guide that helps me get in my healthy fats, carbs, proteins, veggies, and fruits. I REFUSE to diet, I rather maintain a healthy diet regularly.  If eating is something you struggle with I suggest you pick up Taste For Truth by Barb Raveling. It’s a great 30 day bible study that I have dove into more than once.

What did your workout routines look like?
I now workout once a day. My workouts range from 15mins to an hour and a half long it really just depends on what I am doing that day. 70% of my workouts are at home dvd series. I use Turbofire, Insanity, T25, 21 Day Fix, PiYo, Body Pump, Body Combat and so on. I have collected quite a few in the last 3 years but I use them, enjoy them and share them with others. I also enjoy lifting heavy and when machines are involved I do that at a gym.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
Weight can be a lot of things so while I have lost weight I focus on my journey being a fat loss journey. I encourage my clients to think of their journey that way too. The last time I unhappily weighed myself was 237lbs amd wore a size 18/20 pant. I have two sets of twins and a singleton, and even while I was pregnant with my big healthy babies I didn’t weigh that much. I am just 2 months shy of hitting 3 years since I started this lifestyle change. I’m 5’9″ and have lost 23% of my body fat since I started, I now where a size 10-12 pant but depending on the brand that can go up (we women know how that goes). I recognize weight as a method to measure success in this journey but I don’t make a HUGE fuss about it. I celebrate my growing strength, power, endurance, speed, flexibility, mobility, health… the list goes on. I say screw a 3 digit number. All that number does is aid me in fueling this machine of a body. Seriously though, I track my weight for the sole purpose of adjusting my eating to meet my body’s growing needs.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is to focus on losing the right weight, which is fat. There is no need to do hours and hours of cardio. You may burn some fat that way but, you can also burn through your muscle. Burning through muscle makes for loose skin, and we don’t want that. Build muscles that burn fat and then properly fuel those muscles you are building with real food. Eat big, clean but big.

Take lots of pictures. I along with my clients take the same 3 photos either weekly or bi-weekly as well as our measurements. The scale tends to lie about the progress you made and sometimes the mirror lies to us as well. Photos don’t lie, all of your progress will reflect in your pictures. I can’t tell you how many time I was surprised when putting two photos side by side, it’s so rewarding. The more your cover up in your photos the less results you see, so I suggest using the same swimsuit or sports bra and shorts every time you take photos.

Earlier this year I was featured in the awesome women’s fitness magazine Gorgo. Here is the link so that you can dive in a little deeper on getting to know me personally.

If you need any help with your eating, figuring out what exercise program works for you, are in need of prayer, or want to be informed when my new blog goes live please reach out via email MyCoachNatalie@gmail.com and use the subject line “BWLW”. I’m a virtual coach and would love to help you in anyway that I can. Feel free to follow me on FB: LikeMyCoachNatalie. My handles for Twitter & IG are @MyCoachNatalie

Natalie weight loss success

 

La Shon lost 41 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: La Shon has lost 41 pounds since March 2014.  What I love about her story is that her whole family is participating on this journey to lifestyle change and supporting her efforts.  She has seen her health improve and she has challenged herself to live her best life.  Check out what she shared with us:

La Shon Weight Loss Journey

Hello, my name is LaShon Driver and I am 39 years old. The day I begin my weight loss journey and my commitment to a healthier me was March 30. 2014 weighing 252. On that day, I decided to take back my life and health. I’ve always had weight issues but didn’t understand why. I’ve learned that to much of anything is not good for anyone. It is okay to have “junk food” but it needs to be done in moderation or rarely in my case. That’s when you begin to understand what fuels your body and good habits will follow.

I started by writing down things that I wanted to accomplish from being a healthier me. From that point, I committed to small challenges and goals. For example, the first 2 months I committed to only drinking water, no sweets, and having white carbs only twice in a week. I started having breakfast every morning, that being oatmeal, veggie omelet, or a fruit and veggie smoothie. I also incorporated exercise into my commitment by walking for 30 minutes at least 3 days a week. Just from those small challenges and goals, I now drink at least a gallon of water a day and I’m jogging (YES JOGGING) 40 minutes 5 days a week. I try to incorporate weight lifting twice a week but I really have not committed to it. This will be my 6 month challenge for myself. My meals consist of smoothies with protein powder for breakfast, fruits and veggies for snacks, lunch with baked chicken or turkey with some veggies and sometimes brown rice or wheat pasta, and smoothie for dinner with a salad or poultry. I’m not (past or present) a “big eater”, just in the past I was a “bad eater”.

My inspiration was my family and not having to take medicine for hypertension. I have 2 handsome sons, 2 beautiful daughters, and a wonderful husband who has supported me throughout my commitment. 99% of my exercise is done at home with them, because when I’m jogging in the neighborhood they are leading the way on their bikes. My husband provides me with weight training with his free weights. He has also jumped on the bandwagon with providing a better food choice for our family. In the past, our cabinets consisted of chips, cookies, and candy but now he is buying more fruits and vegetables. Every week he is bringing home a new fruit for us to try as a family. By being a healthier me, I’m able to concentrate on God’s purpose for my life.

When I begin my journey to a better me I weighed 252 pounds and as of July 30, 2014 I weighed 211 pounds. That is 41 lbs. down. I am no longer on blood pressure medicine and my attitude has changed tremendously. By March 30, 2015 I hope to reach my goal of 165 lbs. So, I’ll be back.

My advice to others who want to lose weight is first ask God for help. We ask God for help with financial issues, family issues, etc., so why not incorporate God into creating your purposeful life. Secondly, create challenges for yourself and know if you are not trying to complete them, you are only cheating yourself. Also, push yourself beyond your target. I will tell myself I’m only going to run 40 minutes but if I have a little more in me I’m pushing to 41 minutes or 15 more steps. Understand the battle is within and you have to pursue happiness within. Yes you will have those “Oops Days”, but that does not take away from your current progress. Finally have that support system that exercises with you (thanks Dena), helps with nutrition, or that just says “you are looking good”. Everyday will be a challenge, but creating your own challenge and completing it makes it more rewarding. God bless you all and I wish everyone much success.

Nataka lost 44 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Nataka has lost 44.5 pounds since the beginning of the year.  She was inspired by fitness and weight loss instagramers.  Counting macros and lifting heavy helped her to lose the weight.  Here is what she shared with us:

nataka
January 1, 2014 – July 31,2014

Hi, my name is Nataka. I am 36 years old and I’ve lost 44.5 pounds since the start of 2014.  My motivation came from following fitness pages on Instagram (@skipfitness, @taifitness, @anowaadjah, and @easybeingfat). Also, at our annual Christmas party last year I looked at a picture of myself and realized how much weight I had gained.  Holding my stomach made absolutely no difference in the picture.

My initial goal was to lose 20 lbs. I accomplished that goal. Then, I set another goal to get into a size 12 pants and I accomplished this one as well. I started following @skipfitness on Instagram last year around Thanksgiving. I ordered his nutritional and workout videos. The nutritional video really explained why I wasn’t losing weight no matter what I’d tried. He easily breaks down how to read food labels and how to count macros. The workout videos encouraged me to get my first gym membership. I had every excuse not to join a gym. His video told me exactly which machines to use.

I stopped eating fast food for lunch at work. I used to eat out everyday. I ordered Skip’s wife’s (BeBe) meal plan.  It was a four week plan that showed me how to count macros (carbs, fats, and proteins). Now, I measure all of my meals out. I eat 5 meals a day instead of two like I was doing before starting this journey.  I eat more vegetables (mostly as a snack). The biggest change is I stopped drinking sodas (sometimes 4-5 a day), juice, and alcohol.  I now drink at least a gallon of water a day.

My workout routine focuses mainly on lower body because I wanted to shape and tone my legs and thighs.  I started lifting weights at the gym.  In Skip’s workout video he says don’t be afraid to lift heavy.  I love the leg press, leg curls, squats, and leg lifts.  I just started doing cardio.  For the first six months, I lifted only. No cardio. Upper body workouts are my weak point.  I have been working on that as well, but just not nearly as much as lower body.   For days when I can not make it to the gym I have several workout videos that I complete at home.  My favorite at home video is Anowa’s full body curve down and powerhouse physiques.

My starting weight was 233 lbs.  My current weight is 188.5 lbs (5’9″). I really do not have a goal weight right now.  I just want to be healthy.   My advice to others wanting to lose weight is not to give up. Even if you have a bad day, the key is consistency. You didn’t gain it in a day, you won’t lose it all in a day.

Instagram: @Na_ta_ka

nataka before and after

In the picture, the first and third are my before pics. I was so embarrassed by the way I looked. The 2nd and 4th pictures were taken in July 2014. I am no longer embarrassed and I’m proud to post those pics.  My birthday was last month and I fell off track but I have quickly picked myself up and I’ve gotten back on track. It has not been easy but I keep on pushing.