black weight loss success

Cheronisi lost 80 pounds

March 28, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 2 Comments

Weight Loss Transformation: Cheronisi lost 80 pounds. She changed her lifestyle by eating clean, doing cardio and drinking LOTS of water. Here is what she shared with us:

“My motivation was having high blood pressure and the headaches & medicine that can’t along with it. I changed my eating habits by using less salt. I don’t eat fast food. I have low carb foods, along with incorporating more fruits and vegetables. I did an hour of cardio 3-4 times a week. Consisting of the elliptical, treadmill, and taking walks. My transformation took overall 6-8 months but my began dropping weight within weeks of my diet and exercise changes. The advice I would give to others is it doesn’t happen overnight and remember never to compare yourself to others because your doing it for yourself. Results are different for everyone find what you enjoy and stick to it. I’ve reached a plateau most recently but I continue to stay positive and motivated.”

Courtnea T lost 30 pounds

March 28, 2014 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Healthy Hair blogger Courtnea T wrote us to share her 30 pound weight loss. This 5’1″ diva found a weight loss program that worked for her and dropped those pounds. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

courtnea weight loss

What Was Your Motivation? – “My motivation was that I was tired of being unhappy with my size. I’d been sick of my size for a while, but it was until I moved after my college graduation that I decided to do something about it. As I was getting settled into my new place Jennifer Hudson flashed across my screen in one of the new Weight Watchers commercials. I’m a huge Jennifer Hudson fan and I figured if she could do it I might as well give Weight Watchers a try. It honestly was the best decision of my life. I proved to myself once and for all that I could achieve my weight loss goals and take control of my eating habits once and for all. I also gained a better understanding of portion control and how to make better food choices.”

How Did You Change Your Eating Habits? – “I started by making small changes, such as less juice and more water. More fruits and veggies and less chips and candy. I eventually worked my way up to rarely having sugary drinks and red meat once every 2-3 weeks or so. In addition I began using a food scale to follow the actual recommended portions on food labels. However, in the midst of my changes I learned that it was okay to indulge every now and then. Currently I try to eat clean (lots of veggies, whole grains, chicken, turkey, etc).”

What do you do to workout? – “My workout routine varies because I do get bored easily. I enjoy HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Zumba, Strength training, bike riding, walking/jogging. Depending on the weather and my mood I will do any of the above. Currently I’m really enjoying strength training mixed with cardio. I’m loving the definition and tone that I’m getting from that combination! Regardless of what type of workout I do I try to exercise between 4-5 days a week.”

Starting weight/Current weight – “My starting weight was 173 lbs (I’m only 5’1”) and I now weigh 143 lbs. It took me about 6-8 months because I hit plateaus, struggled at times, etc. However, I’ve maintained my weight loss for 3 years now!”

Your advice to others – “My best advice would be to never give up on yourself. I’d gotten to a point where I had accepted my weight even though I wasn’t happy with it. I’d convinced myself that I couldn’t lose more than 5-10 lbs because that’s all I’d managed in the past. Even after starting my weight loss journey there were a couple of times where I really struggled and thought ‘maybe this is it’. I promise that if you keep pushing past bad days, weeks, etc you will prevail and achieve your goals!”

Check out her blog: courtnea2001.blogspot.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Courtnea2001

Shana lost 75 pounds

March 27, 2014 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Shana lost 75 pounds. After gaining weight during her second pregnancy she decided to take steps to exercise more and change her eating habits. She advises us to connect with others who are trying to get healthy in order to stay on track. Check out what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Shana weight loss

Before: 215lbs
After: 140 lbs
“While pregnant with my second child, I gained over 60 pounds. That was the heaviest I had been my entire life. To help fight the weight loss battle, I hired a personal trainer 6 weeks after giving birth. My personal trainer gave me a nutritional plan, made me keep a daily eating journal, and gave me a workout plan. Along with that, I joined a running club. My changing my portion sizes, exercising, and drinking more water, I was able to lose over 70 pounds. I am now smaller than my high school weight, and healthier!

I ate smaller portions of food and more often. The combination of meals that works for me is breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, treat. I kept my daily caloric intake at 1200 calories or less. I also limited my carb intake and increased my protein. I did some form of cardio exercise everyday: walking, jogging, elliptical machines and I do kickboxing once a week. I would advise others to join a group to encourage you to stay on track. Also, I use Spark people for healthy recipe alternatives and to track my calories.”

Update: Shanta lost 112 pounds

March 26, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 11 Comments

We featured Shanta’s weight loss story back in October 2012 when she was down 60 pounds. She has now lost an additional 52 pounds for a total of 112 pounds GONE! We are so proud of her. Check out her update:

“Hello, I have an update for you. I have officially lost 112 pounds since my last update. My non-scale victory is that I got in a size 10 dress and I’m so happy. Here are a few updated pictures. I have been doing the same thing I was doing before, working out and eating healthy. With God’s help, I’m working on becoming a boot camp instructor, and a personal trainer.” – Instagram: @naturalgirl32

Check out the original post from 2012 for more info on how Shanta lost the weight.

Before and After Photos from 2012

Venisa lost 100 pounds

March 26, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 12 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Venisa lost 100 pounds after the wakeup call of being diagnosed with many serious medical issues. She decided to take her health back and change her life. Now she is helping and inspiring others…like us. Here is her story:

Venisa weight loss

I am writing to tell my story of how I lost my 100lbs in about a year and a half. I didn’t realize that I was obese especially after suffering a pulmonary embolism in 2009. I was at the 305 lb mark but had no idea as I didn’t get on scales. I was at the my ob/gyn in May/June 2012. I was told that I had miscarried, had HPV, endometriosis and was a bit heavy for my height of 5’7 and that I should try Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. (She was trying to be nice and put things politely.) I then find a new physician (due to new medical insurance) that tells me I also need to lose weight and that the blood work showed that I had high cholesterol, was borderline diabetic and that I also suffer from Thalessemia Minor. It was a bit of a wake up call.

I started walking only a couple blocks at first (as I was winded from walking too far, and then it became that I was walking miles without realizing it. I would walk during my lunch hour and then when I got home after work. I had also stopped eating many processed excluding certain salad dressings, spaghetti sauces, brown rice and whole grain pastas. I cut back on the junk food. I would allow myself treats twice a week, like frozen yogurt or a piece of dark chocolate or skittles. My doctor taught me that if I deprive my body of what it wants, it will think it’s starving and the weight won’t go anywhere. Within the first 2 months, I had lost 35 pounds. I stayed on track and had 1 cheat meal a week which consisted of eating out and having mexican food or bbq. Within the first year, I was down about 75-80lbs just from watching what I was eating and walking.

It is now March 2014 and I weigh in around 200-205 depending on my weight lifting or cardio. I now go by my measurements as I lose inches faster than weight now that I lift heavier weights. I have run 3-5ks, 1-10k and will do A.M. training for a 1/2 marathon this August/September. I have a membership at 24hr fitness and take their body pump classes, as well as turbo kick to switch up my routine. Our bodies get used to the workouts after 6 weeks so if we stick to the same regime, we’ll plateau with our weight loss. I have done a weight loss challenge with my friends and family to help motivate them to lose the weight and exercise and give them my knowledge. I’m even helping my mom who has a bad back and shoulder to lose her weight and control her diabetes. I’m even contemplating going back to school to become a certified personal trainer.

Our health is the one thing we have. Just because our history didn’t know what the future would bring, we can still educate ourselves. Read labels, do research, and do your best. I didn’t lose my weight overnight and I’m still pushing forward to lose this remaining weight. Believe in yourself and you can do anything. Mind over matter is how I’ll always see it. I also have a great support system, my doctors, my mom, and my friends.

Venisa

Venisa before and after

Lanitra lost 46 pounds

March 17, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 2 Comments

Weight Loss Story: Lanitra lost 46 pounds. She cites the help and support from a friend who was into fitness as a major motivational factor in her success. Here is what she shared about how she lost the weight:

Lanitra weight loss

“My name is Lanitra Wilson and my weight loss journey began about two years ago. I have struggled for years with my weight and I could not find the motivation nor the best plan that worked for me. I truly believe that in life we meet people who will have a lasting effect on our lives. I met a good friend who was totally into fitness and who actually believed that I could loose the weight that I had been carrying for years. Just having someone believe in me and push me when I couldn’t push myself gave me the strength to start my journey. I was also motivated by the fact that I have a 16 year old daughter in which I want to be around to see become a young woman and have a family of her own.

I began working out at the gym initially up to 3 times per week then I was able to increase the number of days to 5 and I actually began enjoying it. My workout consisted of doing intervals on the treadmill and total body weight lifting. As time progressed I concentrated more on cardio and completed about 50 minutes a day and then incorporated light weights. I also began changing my eating habits by cutting out fast food and incorporating salmon, fruits, vegetables and drinking plenty of water.

I still have more pounds to shed but I wanted to share my journey with other women to let them know that they can do this. My highest weight was 271 pounds and I’m currently down to 225 pounds and counting.”

Janet lost 90 pounds

March 16, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 7 Comments

Today’s Weight Loss Success Story: Janet lost 90 pounds. She gives God all the glory. She wants us to know that getting healthy is a “process” and that she makes a conscious decision each day to stay on track with her goals. She shared with us the details of her journey. Check it out:

Janet before and after

“I’am a firm believer that with God ALL things are possible to him that believes! In 2003, I was at my highest weight ever! I was 250 plus pounds. I stopped weighing myself because I did not want to know my exact weight. I was to embarrassed to know.

You ask what was my motivation? Life and my health was motivation. I wanted to live I did not want to die because of hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. Those two diseases runs in my family. I was married and at the time I had two small children. I wanted to live and be here for my family! My excuses were running thin. I kept telling myself I will start a diet tomorrow, I will start tomorrow etc. My tomorrow never came until I was ready to face my today! I had to get real with my self. I was at my lowest. My clothing was a size 22/24. I was experiencing mild heart palpitations, shortness of breathing walking up the stairs, and my body ached! Weight hurts and it’s heavy!!

I began to pray and ask The Lord to help me. I did not want to stay the way I was. I needed to change. My help came immediately. I changed my food portion sizes. I stopped eating out on a large dinner plates. I changed to dessert plate and ate at home. You can not pile as much food on a dessert plate like a dinner plate. Changing my plate size assisted me in controlling my portion size.

Next, my eating habits had to change even more! I went from unhealthy eating to healthy eating. Cut out fried foods, and I no longer eat beef, or pork. I only eat fish, turkey and chicken. Veggies became a large portion on my plate. Also, I no longer eat bread, which was contributing to my weight gain. For making sandwiches, I got creative and would use lattice, tomatoes, or Spinach as my bread. It’s very healthy too!

All I drink is water I can’t stress enough that water was critical and has helped my skin to become healthier. By drinking more water, my inside was being flushed out which enabled me to continue this process. Now, I may have a soda during family events but to be totally honest I drink so much water that drinking a soda is like drinking plain sugar. Also, smoothies are the best (fruit and veggie smoothies).

Currently I weigh 160 pounds and I’m a size 10. I have NEVER wore a size 10 before. BWLW Ladies, this is truly a lifestyle change! I did not loose this weight overnight, nor did I gain it overnight. It is continual process. It took me a year to really start eating right, cutting out all that junk food and start putting action into plan.

After I started to eat right the weight started to come off. I did a little at a time I did not want to become overwhelm myself or get discouraged. So, for example, I started walking. From walking, I went to running and from running to swimming. All along the way, I kept saying to myself “It’s a process.”.

Then I stared exercising during commercial breaks, doing 50 jumping jacks every commercial break. Then, I’d add in 20 push ups then crunches. The cycles continues to add another exercise. This got my family moving as well. It’s a process that I have to continue. I have not arrived. I make a conscious decision daily to stay fit and healthy.

The advice I would love to give to my sisters who are struggling with their weight: I have been there, where they are, and I know what it feels like to be overweight and not feel good about yourself. I know the silent frustrations they are experiencing especially wanting to wear the stylish clothes that don’t come in their size. Feeling like a failure because their weight is so out of control.

I want them to know that it starts with the decision to change and get healthy and fit. I will tell my sisters that all things are possible to him that believes! Believe in yourself, believe you are worthy to face your weight and believe that it can change and it will change! I would take them step by step through the process to prevent them from becoming overwhelm and discourage. Also it is critical for my sisters to know and to remember weight loss is different for everyone. If I can help one it was worth sharing my story!”

My motto Is “If I Can YOU Can”
I’m on social media
Jpharrison@hotmail.com
FB: Janet Harrison
Twitter: pd2md
Instagram: pd2md

Alana lost 65 pounds

March 15, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Proud mom Alana lost 65 pounds. She credits Zumba and eating more healthy food. She is now a Zumba instructor and helps others to dance off the pounds. Here is her story:

“My journey has been an up and down battle dealing with my weight. Not that I couldn’t lose it but maintaining was the hardest part. I would lose the weight, and then I gain it back. We all know the story… I am currently a licensed Zumba Instructor and Zumba has been the biggest solution to my weight lost. I loved working out but being a single mom I was not able to get to the gym as often or to do anything outside work and motherhood; especially having a newborn. I was so tired that the weight sneaked up on me. How many know that it takes that one snapshot (picture) to say, “I need to do something about this”? This is a HOTTT Mess. (LOL) My eating habits were horrible. It was not the fact that I ate unhealthy foods but wasn’t eating enough. Yes, you can gain weight by eating only one meal a day to where your body starts to hold on to the fat. Not good… this makes it difficult to lose weight.

I started taking Zumba as a student in 2012 and saw the weight drop off (Inches at first which is most important). I love to dance, so this was the best solution for me; dance-off the weight. Yes!!!! I also changed my eating habits and began drinking more water. Water does the body good, Ladies. I was so into my classes that I use to ad-lib on the steps to where my fellow Zumbians would say, “You should be teaching this class”. The thought came across my mind and one of my Zumba instructors mentioned that I should be teaching. I pushed that thought to the side for months until my sister said, “Go get your license”. In June of 2013, I became a licensed instructor and as of February 2014, I can say that I am 65 pounds lighter. I started doing Zumba 3 times a week and lifted weights to tone. I also wore wrist weights in my Zumba classes to tone my arms. Then, once I started teaching, I went from 3 days to 5 days a week. I got so into it that I started making videos for my students that couldn’t make it to class to do at home. Fitness shouldn’t only be done in the gym. If I didn’t go to the gym, I turned on the radio and danced around the house to where I got my daughter became involved in being healthy. Get your children involved in being healthy at an early age. Healthy children normally become weight conscious adults. Once you make your mind up that you want a change, it can happen. I did it and so can you.”
www.Facebook.com/AlanaLSanders
www.Facebook.com/GetPulsedFitness (Workout Videos)

Kim lost 151 pounds

March 14, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 8 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Kim lost 151 pounds. After years of yo-yo dieting, she found a healthy eating plan and an exercise routine that works for her. She gave us the full details of her journey. Check it out:

Kim weight loss story

:Hello, my name is Kim. My weight lost journey began back in 2010. I weighed 325 lbs and I was very uncomfortable. All my life my weight has fluctuated from me always going on fad diets and loosing 10 lbs, only to gain back 20 lbs! In 2010, I joined LA Weight Loss they showed me how to eat right, incorporate healthy foods (chicken, fish, turkey, and no salt). I also cut out junk foods. After going there for one year, I had lost 119 pounds the healthy way. I kept it off for over a year and then in 2012 I fell off the wagon and gained back 40 lbs. I was very unhappy with myself because I had gone back to my old habits of eating fast foods and junk foods. Well, the 40 lbs I gained turned out to being over 50 lbs. It’s like I kept gaining.

In Jan 2013, I was tired and very uncomfortable. I didn’t want to keep gaining and gaining weight. One day I was on-line and I stumbled across a guy by the name of Terry Starks (aka. The Diet Doctor). He has changed my life and taught me how to eat right. I started eating 5 small meals every 3 hours, mainly the same foods I ate when I went to LA weight loss. I eat plenty of fish, turkey, chicken and lots of veggies, along with fresh fruit, no junk foods or soda. I don’t eat shell fish cause it’s loaded with sodium which makes me retain fluid. I started exercising twice a day, mainly doing cardio. I have a treadmill and elliptical at home. I do 30 min every morning and again at night. I go to the gym sometimes because I get bored at home. When I go to the gym, I get on the Arc trainer. I just recently started back working out with a personal trainer to tone more and to loose another 20 pounds. In Jan 2013, I was over 260 pounds. I now weight 174 pounds! My goal weight is to be 155 pounds.

Loosing weight is a mind thing, a life style change. If your mind is not made up, you won’t loose a single pound. I struggle and pray that I won’t slip off and fall off the wagon ever again. My advice to everyone is Don’t give up if you slip up and fall off the wagon, like I’ve done in the past. Just jump back on that wagon. Everyday starts a new journey!!! Be Blessed”

Tafara lost 60 pounds

March 13, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 5 Comments

Tafara has lost 60 pounds total, down from 207 pounds. We featured her back in Dec 2012 when she was down 51 pounds. She has maintained her weight loss and is now training for a figure competition, so you know she is getting lean. Check out her original feature to find out how she lost the weight.

Update:”Some time back, I was featured on your page. Here is an update of what I have been up to. I now weigh 67kg (147 pounds). I am more toned, full of energy and am preparing to do my first figure competition. I am also training to be a Personal Trainer and Studying for a diploma in Weight Loss Consultancy. Here is my latest pictures.

Through your inspiration I founded a group, “Weightloss Naturally“. I was so inspired by stories of determination, perseverance, struggling and finally VICTORY of women doing all sorts to stay healthy. I have had many people writing to me and wanting to know how I did it and my passion is to get more people to do what I did. Diet and exercise is my passion now and I talk to people on everyday to get them to take a look at their health and make a PERMANENT change. I have had positive feedback so far and it makes my heart swell with joy that I can help other people too.”

Photo from original post – 51 pounds down!

Update Photos: