Black Weight Loss Success

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before weight loss

Arlevia lost 202 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Arlevia lost 202 pounds.

“I’m so excited to share that I’ve lost a total of 202 lbs since 2008 when I began my serious quest for health & weight loss. I was weighing in at 377 lbs. I went to what some call an extreme. I became a vegetarian/pescatarian (No meat; I only eat select fish & shellfish). I stopped drinking sodas & began walking 3 miles every morning. I also asked my doctor diet pills for the 1st time in my life. I lost 70 lbs in the 1st year; was down to about 307. I gained back about 39 lbs after stopping the diet pills & continuing my exercise routine. I became so disgusted with the process because I went up to walking 4 miles 2x’s a day & nothing happened in a 1 & 1/2 year span. My weight stayed at 345 lbs, no matter what I did. I refused to ask 4 more diet pills because of how they made me feel & the negative effect of gaining back more than half the weight the 1st time. I was tired of not getting results, so I consulted a nutritionist. I began by cutting out all beverages with natural sugar. I don’t drink anything with more than 15 calories in it. I eat from a saucer instead of a regular size plate. I began by increasing my protein intake, exercising 90 minutes daily, drinking 64-72 oz of water daily, & eat 3 small meals & 3 healthy snacks (protein smoothie or protein bar daily). I’m now at 175 lbs, which is the smallest I’ve ever been.arlevia weight loss pics

Glorie lost over 30 pounds

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Update: Glorie lost another 10 pounds.  Check out her update below.

Today’s featured weight loss success story: Our international BWLW Member, Glorie, wrote us to tell us about her weight release journey.  She says, “Hi there! my name is Glorie and I am in Tanzania-East Africa. Your updates inspired me a lot to change my image and in less than 5 months I have lost over 30 pounds and still going!  I started eanting healthy and enrolled in a gym. So,  here is my before and after pics to share with every other black women around the world! We are doing this! Its time to be healthy!”

Glorie weight loss

“I started eating healthy by avoiding junk foods that I used to eat. As you know here in Africa the most common foods are rice, ugali (maize flour) which are rich caboyhrates and red meat is used in almost all of our daily dishes. I was on a diet program that allowed me to eat healthy and not to exceed 600 calories per day for the first 9 days. Thereafter, I joined a gym and I was working out 5 days a week in aerobics classes and drinking lots of water. For now am on a strict diet, that i have developed myself whereby it rotates raw foods and juices for 1 week each.  I have also found out that drinking cinnamon tea mixed with honey also helps in shedding the pounds off. I now do strength training where I concentrate on my thighs and tummy as thats where I carry most of my weight. I am truly inspired by your page and it gives me hope and alot of tips when am slacking or giving hope. So be assured that this is all over the WORLD!  Even in Africa, we’re losing the weight too.  Thank you alot and never stop what you are doing.  Be blessed.”

Update May 17, 2013 –

Hello there!  It’s Gloria Ojare all the way from Tanzania-East Africa. Again I have made some tremendous efforts and YAY…I am down 40 pounds now!!! Yay! Yay! I am so thankful to God and again so proud of myself; I just can’t imagine if I had never made up my mind to get healthy what would have happened or how would I be now. To me this is my new lifestyle. I have managed to pull off the extra 10 pounds since I last shared with ya’ll. This time I had to change my regimen. Every morning I took warm water mixed with cinnamon, lemon juice and ginger powder. I also continued to exercise but this time I skip rope at least 30-45mins every 4days. I also completely cut all sugary stuffs and limited my carbohydrates intake by adopting the STANLEY DIET.  I kept on going no matter what or how I felt and so far I am ecstatic of my transformation. I speak to every woman trying to loose weight..DONT EVER GIVE UP!  Stay ON and be consistence surely you shall see result in you and your general health. I thank everyone whose photo has been posted because whenever I look at them I smile and I say WOW..it can be done…it can be done. 9th July,2013 will mark 1year since I started my weight release journey!

Glorie weight loss before and after

Latese lost 134 pounds in 2 years

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Update May 2016: It’s been 2 1/2  yrs and Latese is still maintaining her success. She’s lost 162 pounds.

“I have learned self discipline and that we can be our own worst enemies. My children drive me and I will do anything to be around them as long as I can. Meal prep and planning is time consuming, but it keeps you accountable.” Her starting weight was 302 pounds and her current weight is 140 pounds (height? 5’5″)”

tete

September 2013 Update:  “It’s me checking in.  Since I last shared with you all I have lost 8 more pounds.  I have not gained back the weight in 2 years.  Overall, I’ve lost 134 pounds total.”

Original Post:

Latese lost 95 pounds.  She says, “I have been on my journey since about Dec of 2011 but kicked it into high gear during May of 2012.  I’m now down about 95 pounds.  I still have a ways to go, but I am sticking to keeping my protein on high and having little to no carbs.  I am strictly a water drinker and I am doing boot camp.  Five days per week,  I walk/run for 2-3 miles”

Latese’s Facebook page

weight loss before and after

Updated Photo:

Latese weight loss

Datasha lost 103 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Datasha lost 103 pounds by exercising and changing old eating habits.

Datasha lost 100 pounds

Here is what she had to say:

“Enough was just enough for me. I wanted a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix. For the most part, I’ve always been successful in just about everything I’ve decided to do. However, the weight seemed to have control, literally. I found myself doing extra to compensate for the weight gain. Until I said, Okay something has to give. Get control of yourself, and that’s when I considered Gastric bypass.

After going to the orientation, I was like whoaaaa, that’s pretty evasive surgery. I was under 35 years old and had never had surgery of any kind. However, I had to do something and continued in the process of the six-month weight management requirement, which included visiting a nutritionist once a month for six months. I promised myself and God that I would try to lose the weight without the surgery during the six month time period.

Needless to say I was scared straight! I started to do little by little, I’d never been on any kind of exercise program, and diets – you could forget it. I ate what I wanted to eat and when I wanted to eat it (late night snacking is the worst). But this time was life or death for me…. I meant business—I took back CONTROL over that area of my life. One step at a time…. I started exercising; I began to cut back on how much I ate and lessened my Pepsi intake day by day. Week after week, my old bad eating habits and lack of exercise changed gradually. And yes the results begin to roll in. Every month during my visits with the nutritionist she’d say “you’ve lost more weight?!?!?! And finally she mentioned that if I lost a few more pounds I would no longer be eligible for surgery. Well, I didn’t have Gastric Bypass and have lost over 100 pounds (103 to be exact) and counting….. YOU can too! To God be all the GLORY !”

Learn more about her journey at www.bodybytosha.com

Joetta lost 40 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Joetta lost 40 pounds by going vegan.  She is a proud military spouse who’s husband is currently deployed.  Here is what she had to say:

“I have lost 40lbs since march. I started at 204 now im 163.5.  It was my goal to reach my preferred weight as a gift to myself and my husband who is currently deployed. I wanted to give him a new wife, inside and out. There is no better feeling than, being confident. My problem was food. I became a vegan, no fast food no junk food, only fruits, grains, and vegetables. I sometimes eat fish or seafood.

Joetta weight loss story

Updated: Rochelle lost 85 pounds with gastric bypass

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Check out Rochelle’s weight loss story.

She says, “I had gastric bypass in April 2012. I was weighing 345 now I’m down to 260. I have a long way to go I maintain by not eating slider foods & waiting an hour after I eat to drink.  Everyday is a struggle but I look @ where I was & I don’t want to go back there I love me some me.  This was the best thing I could have done for myself.  I feel good.  I was a size 28. I’m down to a 18. I maintain by eating right & exercise”

Update June 2013 –  It’s been a year and I’ve lost a total of 125 pounds through weight loss surgery. I started out at 350 pounds and now I’m 215 pounds. It has been a long journey. I had to have my mind made up that I wanted a lifestyle change. I have seen so many people have the surgery and gain all the weight back (and sometimes even more of their weight back than when they started). Before the surgery, I started to exercise, cut out fried foods, cut out pork & drink lots of water.  Now, after the surgery, I continue to do the same thing. Some days are better than others but I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF!

Rochelle weight loss surgery
Updated Photo

Darnette has lost more than 70 pounds!

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Today’s Featured Weight Loss Success Story comes from Darnette who has lost more than 70 pounds.  She has a supportive family.  How do I know?  Her sister Kope (another BWLW member) submitted her story to us!  Great Job, Darnette!
Darnette Before After
Here is what her sister told us about Darnette’s transformation:
Fitness Encouragement!  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Phil 4:13
9 months ago my sister, Darnette, set out on her weight loss journey.  She pressed through all of the obstacles before her and hit the gym almost everyday while completely changing her diet! She has lost 70+ pounds! I am super proud of her! The good news is, this is ONLY the beginning: This is a journey, not a destination.
My sister ate 5-6 small meals a day, which included things like green vegetables, lean meats like fish & chicken, brown rice and Greek yogurt. Instead of frying these meals, she started baking a lot of her food. She also allowed herself the occasional cheat day. It is very important to keep a FOOD LOG and count your calories. She keeps her calories under 1200 – 1500 per day.
I put together a “before and after” picture so you can see how far she’s come. She’s HOTT and SEXY!!! Oh and she’s taken too! She is married with 5 or 6 kids, or something like that. *Just kidd’in* So yeah! This is her journey, not her destination… Woot-Wooten!

Syree has gone from 328 to 191!

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Let’s show some love to Syree who has gone from 328 to 191 with the help of weight loss surgery!

She says, “I have met my goal! I am officially in the maintenance stage. I shared my story a little while ago. I had gastric bypass surgery on October 26, 2011. 3 weeks after surgery I began working out with a trainer. I worked out on average 2-4 hours a day. Some days more, working out twice a day. Since my journey started, I have done the Warrior Dash. This is a 5k obstacle course and I am now a licensed Zumba Instructor. 2 weeks before surgery, my high weight was 328 lbs. I wore a size 26. I now weigh 191 lbs and wear a size 12 (I’m 5’11”). I am an entirely different person and will never go back! I’m thankful for forums like this where I can share my story and hopefully inspire and give hope to others. We can do this ladies!!!!” Great job, Syree!!!

 

Shawna has lost 30 pounds!

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BWLW Facebook member Shawna has lost 30 pounds! She is determined to reach her weight loss goal!

She says, ” I started my journey about a year ago…no surgery I just changed my eating habits letting go of the white and switched to whole wheats…i use to eat only once or twice a day now i eat 5 to 6 times a day small portions.I stopped drinking soda and I started doin Insanity and Zumba..I lost a total of 30lbs and toned up a lot!” Great job, Shawna! For more great before and afters, visit www.blackwomenlosingweight.com

Tiffany has lost 55 pounds

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Let’s show Tiffany some BWLW love for sharing her 55 pound weight loss journey with us!!

She says, “Exactly one year ago in September, I began my healthier living journey. My breaking point was a photo posted to Facebook by a friend. Was that really me?! I kindly asked the friend to remove the photo and send it to me. That became my motivation! Also, because I am a doctoral student in Aging Research, it became quite clear to me that I couldn’t be very convincing preaching about “healthy aging” if I didn’t look the part. Most importantly, I decided that taking better care of my temple should be a priority. I believed that the same God who created the universe would help me conquer unhealthy habits. With that said, I joined a gym, downloaded the MyFitnessPal smartphone app, and got to work! One year later, I am 55 pounds lighter, I eat cleaner, and I exercise regularly. I enjoy preparing my meals in advance, reading nutrition labels, and purchasing my weekly produce from the Farmer’s Market. My favorite exercises are outdoor cycling, kettlebell pump, and running. I started training for my first 5K six weeks ago and I’ve already surpassed 5K distance in nonstop/continuous runs! People tell me I am an inspiration. I think to myself, “Me? An inspiration? Imagine that!” I’m frequently asked about the details of my “diet”, and I am quick to inform people that I am NOT on a diet. A diet implies a definitive end; it implies that I will get to a magic number and just toss my new habits to the wind. Quite the contrary! I changed my behaviors and beliefs about food and exercise for life. My body will decide my set point. With more weight loss ahead of me in Year 2, I am excited about getting into a 2-piece bathing suit on my 35th birthday! I’ll see you at the beach!” www.facebook.com/unc2000

Tiffany, Thank you for sharing your amazing transformation!!!