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after weight loss

Karla lost 73 pounds

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Karla weight loss storyKarla lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  Let’s show her some love for sharing her story.  Here is what she shared with us:

I have lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  I did it all natural by cutting back on the foods I needed to & walking.  I still want to lose 30 pounds more.   I was 273 on the pic with the purple shirt. I’m 200 pounds now.  My goal weight is 170-180 pounds.

My motivation was my kids and wanting to be here for them.  I had to get healthy. I changed my eating habits by not eating after 6pm unless it was fruit.  Every morning at 5:45 am I walk 5 or 6 miles. I drink a Kellogg breakfast shake at 8am.  For lunch, I have subway or a small salad I made at home.  Then, I would eat a regular dinner (example: 1 chicken wing, mac & cheese and string beans).  I don’t have bread unless it was wheat.  No drinking soda, only water, natural fruit juices, or cranberry juice.  I also eat a lot of fruit.  If I go out to eat, I order off the kids menu and I always get water with my meal.  Also, some mornings I eat Kellogg cereal with slim milk.  For exercise, I walk 6 days a week for a total of 5 to 6 miles. My goal is to lose a total of 100 pounds in a year.  My year will be up on September 15th.

Karla weight loss success

Loose Skin after Weight Loss: Why It Happens and What to Do about It

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loose skin after weight lossFor many people, the joy of watching the number on the scale and the size of their clothing go down gets overshadowed by the presence of loose skin. Not only can your skin get loose and saggy after extreme weight loss, your body can maintain the same shape it had before your weight loss efforts. The image in the mirror, while smaller, appears to change little all the while your skin loses shape and elasticity. Fortunately there are ways you can combat loose skin while dieting.

Why Do People Have Loose Skin after Weight Loss?

Your skin is an amazing organ with the ability to expand and contract along with your growth spurts and changing body. This ability is called elasticity and it is at the heart of the factors that contribute to loose skin. You see, once elasticity is gone, your skin loses its ability to shrink back – much like a worn out rubber band that refuses to recoil. Following are just a few things that can affect your skin’s elasticity:

  • Obesity – If you are considered obese, your skin has stretched considerably. Those who need to lose 100 lbs. or more in order to reach their goal weight can expect some lose skin.
  • Time – the amount of time you have been overweight also has some bearing on how loose your skin will be once you lose the weight. The longer your skin remains in a stretched-out position, the harder it will be for it to snap back.
  • Age – As we age, we lose elasticity – it’s what causes wrinkles. Younger skin has more ability to shrink back after weight loss than older skin.

So, some of these factors can not be affected that much.  This is why many people have to have surgery after losing large amounts of weight.  It’s just a fact.  However, you should never let loose skin stop you from losing weight.  Being obese or overweight and dealing with weight related health issues is not worth the vanity.  Your health is more important than some loose skin.

How to Minimize Loose Skin during Weight Loss

As mentioned before, there are several things you can do to minimize loose skin during weight loss. While you may not be able to avoid loose skin altogether, you can surely improve your skin’s ability to retract.

  1. Lose weight slowly – Sustaining a gradual weight loss of approximately 1-2 pounds per week will go a long way in preventing loose skin. You see, it takes time for your skin to contract. When you lose weight quickly, your skin has no time to catch up.
  2. Consume plenty of protein and good fats – Your skin, hair, and nails are made up of protein. Eat plenty of it to alleviate loose skin.  Collagen is a protein that is related to this in the body.  The issue is that if you aren’t eating right and your body starts to cannibalize the protein in your body…it could eat up or hinder the production of collagen that you need for skin elasticity.  It’s also important to include healthy oils in your diet to keep the skin flexible and as healthy as possible.
  3. Get a weekly or monthly massage –  Massages improve circulation to the skin and helps skin retract. Getting a massage also helps alleviate cellulite – another unsightly issue that occurs during weight loss.
  4. Take a multivitamin or monitor the vitamins you are eating – For good skin health, you need vitamin C, E, A, B-complex and K.  Iron, selenium and zinc are also minerals you’d want to get the recommended amount of.
  5. Don’t be afraid of weights – Weight training will help to reshape and redefine the body.  Muscle also burns fat at rest.  Adding some muscle definition and muscle tone will help to redefine your body so that it doesn’t appear that you have just deflated.

In addition to these tips, it’s vital to remain hydrated. All of your body’s organs, including your skin, need water in order to function properly. If you stay hydrated, lose weight slowly, follow a balance diet, and make efforts to increase your skin circulation, you can greatly diminish the amount of loose skin you will have after you lose all the weight. In cases of extreme weight loss, however, it often becomes necessary to surgically remove excess skin when it becomes apparent that it isn’t going to bounce back into shape.

Wendy lost 53 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Wendy lost 53 pounds with the loss of her mom as her inspiration to get fit.  Here is what she shared with us:

In 2009 I was 218lbs wearing a size 18. What started this journey was I kept getting depressed every time I went to buy clothes and had to grab three sizes and none of them fit. So my best friend and I decided that this was the breaking point. We changed our eating habits and hit the gym hard. This was not easy by a long shot. We started packing our food to take to work and kept motivating each other so we could remain focused. I started a blog called Inspiring My Sisters to help motivate my friends and together we were making things happen and seeing results. Within the first 9 months, I was wearing a size 8/10

I was like damn all this hard work has paid off! Well, I got to cozy and slacked off some and my clothes started to feel snug again. This was the hard part at keeping the weight off. My mother loved when I was on my grind and she died this past July from lung cancer.  I promised myself that I would keep my weight off because that is what she loved. So 3 weeks after she died I got back in the gym and started grinding!! She became my motivation. I lost 14lbs in 3 weeks and never looked back!!!

I feel so good now. This is not a diet it’s a lifestyle. I pack snack bags to keep with me when I feel the urge to get off track. I still pack my food to work. It’s hard but I know my mother is proud of me so that is what keeps me focused.

When I’m at the gym I do a little of everything from cardio legs arms weights and abs. I go running around the lake. I roller skate and swim when I’m not in the gym.  When I found your page I knew I had to share my story!!!  After hard work and dedication I’m down to a size 8, 165 pounds and loving life.

Wendy weight loss story

Beth lost 62 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Beth.  She lost 62 pounds by making healthy food choices, running and she is now a Zumba instructor.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hi!! My name is Beth Jones. I am 48 years old.  About 16 months ago, I decided to take full control of my life. I began making healthy food choices and exercising 5-6 days a week.  This has helped me to lose 62 pounds and go from a size 20 to a size 10. I became a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats seafood only…no other meat) in 2011.  I try to stay away from fried foods and sweets. I drink protein smoothies daily to add more protein to my diet. I joined the Savannah Pacers, a running club in my city, and have completed 2 5k runs, a 10k, and a 1/2 marathon so far. Zumba also helped me so much that I am now a Zumba fitness instructor!!  Also, I co-founded a health and fitness club at my middle school where I teach 8th grade math. I feel fabulous and strong and healthy and want to continue to help others find their personal best too!

Beth Zumba Instructors

Jamilah lost 61 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Jamilah lost 61 pounds by eating clean, drinking green smoothies and working out regularly.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Jamilah and my motivation to lose weight was inspired by my children and myself. I woke up one day (March 17, 2010), and realized I was not the person staring back at me in the mirror.  I was 210 pounds, wearing a size 16, and just over 5 feet tall.  I didn’t like my reflection, and rather than wait until health issues began to surface, I prayed for God to give me a spirit of determination and discipline. In 2009, I did a lot of talking about what I was going to do, but it wasn’t until 2010, that I actually start putting those ideas into actions. I completely cut out pork, beef, bread, soda, and fried foods, and transitioned to boneless skinless chicken, turkey, lamb, and seafood. Fresh /organic veggies and fruits, and a whole lot of water were also added to my diet. I began making smoothies (1-2x a day) to substitute for meals. Kale, almond milk, 1/2 banana, and blueberries..start my mornings off most days :). L.A Fitness became my second home as I was in the gym 5-6x a week, mostly doing cardio (i.e., treadmill, stairmaster, and precor). I spent, at minimum, an hour each day when I worked out. Last July, of 2012, I invested in a personal trainer, which elevated me to another level, in terms of working out. I kept the personal trainer for 6 months, and as of January, 2013, I have been continuing to eat healthy, and stay active at least 3-4 times a week. Today I weigh 149 pounds,(which fluctuates between 148-151) and I am happier than I ever thought possible. It may have taken me longer to get here (as I didn’t take any shortcuts), but I enjoyed the journey, and thank God for keeping me encouraged, inspired, and motivated every step of the way. Stay encouraged. 🙂

Jamilah weight loss story

Twin sisters Sheri and Terri lost the weight together

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I love it when family members lose the weight together.  Twin sisters Sheri and Terri decided that enough was enough and changed their eating habits to lose weight.  Sheri lost 56 pounds.  Terri lost 28 pounds. Here is what they shared with us:

Hello, our names are Sheri and Terri and we are twin sisters. We had been sruggling with our weight for years. We were severely depressed and hopeless. One day, we decided to relase what had us bound (depression) and said enough is enough. I (Terri) went from 8 meds a day to just 2.  My sister Sheri, who was once known as the bigger twin, is now the smaller twin…only by 10 pounds LoL.  Our goal is to hit our 100 pounds lost mark by October 2013. Sheri went from 275 pounds to 219 pounds and Terri went from 257 pounds to 229 pounds. We didn’t do any diets or surgeries.  We just ate healthy foods only; green and orange veggies, good for you fruit, plenty of water only, as well as no junk food or fast food. God is Good.

Terri Sheri Twins Weight Loss Story

Val lost more than 350 pounds

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Update 3/12: Val is now down a total of 370 pounds and was recently featured on Good Morning America.  More info on that…

Today’s featured weight loss success story: Val lost more than 350 pounds without surgery.  She began with Weight Watchers and later learned to change her eating habits and exercise.  Her story is so inspiring and I’m so glad she shared it with us.  Here is what she shared with us:

Val_McLeod_newbook
Update 5/9/14 – Check out Val’s New Book – The Weight is Over

“Most commonly, when we hear about someone’s successful weight loss, we rightly focus on how they did it. While I enjoy sharing my weight loss process, I also like to reveal ‘why’ I lost more than 350 pounds. To me, when making major life improvements ~ motives are just as important as methodology.

From a child, I was extremely overweight. I would have been an ideal student for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Get Fit initiative. Childhood obesity caused me to experience deep emotional pain and I learned to console my internal hurt with my Consoler-in-Chief ~ food. I never saw food as something that was hurtful me. To the contrary… food was always there to soothe and satisfy me.

Throughout my teen and college years, I continued to gain weight. Since I was very tall (6’ ft.) with a large body frame, I did not appear to weigh as much as I did. Even though, my physical presentation was quite overwhelming. In spite of my size, I wanted people to look beyond my physical appearance to see the wonderful person underneath all of the fat.

In early adulthood I began to experience physical challenges that were directly related to my weight. The excessive poundage began to take its toll on my joints and legs. Sometimes it would seem as if my knees were going to break. My ankles would swell and a varicose vein eventually ruptured in my right leg. The initial stages of several other health challenges that could have turned into major medical problems also began to emerge.

Food, my lifelong friend, had betrayed me. The very thing that had been my source of solace was making me sick. Ultimately my weight ballooned to nearly 600 pounds. I was forced to a point of decision. My choice was: Accept responsibility for my well-being or face a life filled with frustration, unfulfillment and extreme health challenges.

While in the hospital preparing for a surgical procedure, I needed to be weighed. I was too heavy for any of the hospital scales. Without asking me how I felt about it, the decision was made to take me outside to the loading dock to weigh me on the freight scale.

I wanted to die!

The hospital staff talked about me like I was not there or was an object. I felt like a piece of freight. After weighing me, on the way to surgery, they announced through their circuit radio system that they had a 600 pound woman heading to the surgical room…and they needed every available man to help transfer me to the operating table.

Deeply humiliated, I remember feeling so insignificant and invisible. What I knew for sure is that I never wanted to feel that way again. Shame, criticism and condemnation do not inspire but this experience was my turning point – the moment when the course of my life had to change. For the first time I faced the realization that I wanted to get the weight off – for good….for me!

Val weight loss success

My weight loss journey has been long. I have not always been consistent with doing the right things along the way. There have been many cycles of losing, gaining then losing again. I had to admit that my issues were not just physical; it was necessary for me to face some hard truths. Issues that I never dealt with because I anesthetized myself with food needed to be addressee. I also acknowledged the hypocrisy of trying to help others while willfully doing such harm to myself. It was time to confront the hurt of being misunderstood and rejected. I could no longer allow past pain to destroy my future. No longer would I forfeit my power for self-growth and development. After confronting my toxic connection with food, I began to establish healthier ways of dealing with challenging life issues.

Then I asked myself the most critical question: WHY?
Why wasn’t I fully enjoying the abundant life I deeply desired?
Why was I choosing to struggle with something that I could surrender?

Deep within ~ me always believed that God had a better and more fulfilling life for me. I knew I was valuable, abundant & loved.

I wanted to have a surgical weight loss procedure but was advised by my doctor that I was too large to undergo the surgery. He referred me to a dietitian who instructed me to go Weight Watchers for support and a more structured eating plan. I lost my first 100 pounds with Weight Watchers. I was ecstatic! Even though I still weighed around 485 pounds, I was now able to purchase clothes from a retail store. It had been years since was able to do that. I bought a size 28 pair of black stretch jeans. I had to lose another 20 pounds for them to fit comfortably and when I was able to zip my first jeans, you could not tell me I was one of the finest women in the world.

In addition to eating much smaller amounts of food, staying away from daily consumption of high fat, high carb food choices, I began to walk every day. Initially, I could barely walk a block without feeling exhausted but as I persevered, I progressed. My walks gradually increased to 3 – 4 miles, five or six days a week. I actually love working out. It feels good to sweat. And it’s so rewarding to get down to a new size. I now wear a size 14 top and 16/18 skirt/pants. {My goal is to be a size 12 – 14}

Additionally, one of the most important things I began to do is saturating my environment with positive messages. Daily faith-building affirmations became my indulgence. I would also set small, incremental weight goals for myself. I never thought about the fact that I had a mountain of weight to lose. I would say that I have to lose 5 or 10 pounds. And pound-by- pound and inch-by-inch ~ the weight came off and I gradually reached the milestone loss.

I also learned how to mute the voices (internal and external) that were destructive to my emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being. Learning to love myself for who God created me to be was pivotal. Love is absolute but we often learn to love (even ourselves) very progressively. I found that as I lost more and more weight, I felt better ~ physically, mentally and spiritually.”

There is an amazing power that comes with completing things. While I had lost an enormous amount of weight, I became satisfied and stagnate and regained about 45 pounds. I had approximately 57 pounds that I needed to shed. I decided that 2013 would be my year to finish strong. As a woman of faith, I’ve firmly believe that God is always willing to help us to accomplish that which aligns with His Will, purpose and providential plan for our lives. And I know He wants me to prosper in every area of my life, including my fitness.

Being a professional empowerment speaker, I recognize that my image needs to match my message. I’d had a really hard time getting rid of excess abdominal and upper arm fat. I was again at the point of considering surgical remedies. While promoting my recently published success empowerment book, GOD sent me a real solution to achieve the fitness level I have long desired. In the past 2 months not only has my weekly weight loss resumed, my entire body structure is changing. I actually have curves and a real waistline. I’m excited for the phenomenal personal results and I totally thrilled to share my keys to success through this global forum and especially with the faith community.

God has entrusted me with an incredible life story. I am a living testimony that no matter what challenges we face in life, we are empowered to be over-comers. At my goal weight, I will have shed nearly 400 lbs! Through God’s amazing grace and great faithfulness, I have accomplished much and I know that much, much more is required of me. Above all, I earnestly look forward to every opportunity to support, facilitate and celebrate the success of women, men and children

Check her out online: www.shaped4success.com 

Mia lost 31 pounds

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Mia lost 31 pounds with a low carb diet and the help of a good friend.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hello my name is Mia and I would like to share my story.  I started my transformation in February 2012. I’ll never forget going to Miami with my girlfriends for a birthday celebration. After the trip, I remember looking at pictures we had taken and I was so unhappy with what I saw. I needed to do something to get this weight off. One of my girlfriends suggested we all go on a diet at the same time.  She showed us what to eat and how much we should eat.  This required eating a lot of meat, something that I didn’t care for. However, in order to get the weight down I buckled down and did it. For the first week I only ate a very low carb diet consisting of meat (chicken, fish, turkey and shrimp) along with 5 calorie drinks. After that first two weeks I weighted myself. I went from 161lbs to 150lbs and I was so proud that I had achieved that.  I continued with my new eating habits and added vegetables and fruits. Within months, I was down from 161lbs to 130.  I have been able to maintain my weight loss and I must say that it feels great.  I hope that my story will help encourage others to stick to their plans. It may be a struggle at first, but don’t give up! Your goal is one less snack or fast food meal away! Stay encouraged, have faith in yourself and believe your goal can be reached.

Mia weight loss low carb

Taneisha lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story:  Taneisha lost 50 pounds by working out, joining a local running group and changing her eating habits.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Taneisha and I’m holding it down in Detroit, MI.  Too make a long story short, I realized that I gained too much weight. I wasn’t sick and didn’t have any type of health scare. However, I am was always a healthy young lady and I am now. In February 2012, my job decided to do the Biggest Loser Challenge.  Once I weighed in, I was like noooooo way. I did not realize I weighed so much. I weighed in at 258 pounds. I am a pretty tall girl at 5′ 11″, so my weight does not show. It was at that point, that I decided I needed to change. I completely went cold turkey. I stopped eating red meat, pork, fried foods, fast food, pop, and juice. I only ate chicken, turkey, and seafood, and drank ONLY water. I created my own workout routine, and would work out 5-6 days a week. I also started working out at my local gym. I would hit the local high school track, where I would walk/run. Then I joined this group in Detroit called Run This Town Detroit. You can look it up on Facebook. It’s a networking workout group, that would meet up downtown Detroit(twice/week) and would give you the opportunity to not only workout with a group (200 plus people), but gave you a chance to network with a group of professionals. I like variety and am the type of person that gets bored real easy, so to just hit the gym and the track wasn’t enough for me lol. So, in addition, I tried kickboxing, cycling, and Zumba. I eventually lost 50 pounds and went down sizes (from 18 to loose 14). That took about 7 months. My goal is to lose 30 additional pounds, and maybe one or two dress sizes. This journey has NOT been easy. But, it has made me a lot more food conscious. I am aware of what I eat and how much of it I consume. I do NOT keep myself from eating what I want, however, I am more conscious of it. Moderation is the key!!!! To this day, I am continuing to challenge and push myself. Through this journey, I have motivated and encouraged so many people. If i’m able to encourage just one person from this post, I feel like I have made some type of difference. FYI: I won the Biggest Loser Challenge at my job  😉

Taneisha weight loss story

Mia lost 54 pounds

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Mia lost 54 pounds by eating right and exercising! Let’s show her some Black Women Losing Weight Love.  Here is what she shared with us about how she did it:

Hi my name is Mia and I am a huge fan off your page. I recently lost 54 pounds and I feel really awesome!  I did it with dieting and exercise! I want to lose 80 more pounds and I’m working hard to achieve my goal.

I was motivated by my two boys who are 5 and 2 years old. I want to be a healthy mom for them. I cut out eating junk food and started to eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal. I also increased my water intake too. I started doing an hour of walking at least 4 times a week.  After a while, I started doing a full body workout at the gym at least 2 times a week (out of my 4 day workout schedule).  I started at 325 lbs now I weigh 271 lbs. I started my mission October 2012 and through continued diet and exercise I’d like to lose 70 more pounds. Thank u so much!!

Mia weight loss story