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Tamara lost over 230 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tamara lost over 230 pounds.  She found a weight loss program, online tools and mobile apps to help her stay on track with her goals and see results. She has extensively documented her journey on Instagram and is inspiring others (20,000+ followers). Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Tamara before and after

I’ve been overweight/dealt with food addiction my whole life. One day in 2011, while being depressed and deciding to give up on life, I realized that I no longer wanted to die. I then signed up with Weight Watchers, weighing over 430 pounds. I counted points, completed 3 months of the program and lost approx. 35 lbs. I really didn’t like at the quality of food, just the point system. I cut out soda and white bread and added more fruits and veggies. After three months, I signed up for My Fitness Pal and logged my calories. At that time, I slowly cut back on fried foods and my favorite cookies. I decided that this was for life and I wasn’t going to rush this time. I slowly changed my diet, my lifestyle, along with doing whatever exercises I could at the gym or outside. I must say that the road to living has not been easy, but it has been worth it!! I no longer have high blood pressure, diabetes and joint pains. Above all, I’m taking my life back, and I want you to know that it is possible. YES, there are days, perhaps weeks, where we find ourselves off track; but I encourage you to keep fighting and stay positive. I realized along the way that I AM worthy of living a healthy life. And, guess what? You are worthy, too, so let’s live a positive and healthy lifestyle together!!! Instagram: @gettingmylifebacknow 

This journey was not a diet but a lifestyle change so that I understood how I got the weight off. I knew I had to continue to do it for life. Lean meats, complex carbs and green veggies were my go to foods for the most part. My favorite snacks were Greek yogurt or almonds.  I had treats here and there. I even tried cheat days/meals but that method didn’t work for me because I’m a recovering food addict. Moderation was/is key for me, so if I wanted a treat here and there I made sure it fit within my calorie range and that I worked out that day. I slowly cleaned up my diet and eliminated most processed foods. Ultimately in 2013, I eliminated meat all together and now eat a plant based diet. I do not label myself vegan or vegetarian I just choose to eat foods that my body loves. I now consume a gallon of water a day.  I must say I didn’t use to drink water at all and when I added water into my regimen the scale started to change drastically. I had treats within moderation and in 2013 I literally cut out my weekend alcoholic beverages because it was stalling my weight loss..

When I was 400+ lbs I rarely worked out. I would maybe walk 2 times a week and slowly added more time and days. For the most of journey I was what you would call a cardio queen. I would do 60 min cardio on treadmill or elliptical, five days a week.  In 2012, I became real serious in the gym with the weights which transformed my body. I highly recommend women to lift weights if they want to sculpt their bodies because weights do the body good. I would do 30 min cardio and 30 min weights. I highly recommend the app JEFIT for the people rant can’t afford a trainer but would like to figure out a weight lifting plan. When working out at home, I would use Fitness Blender or Tiffany Rothe videos on YouTube. I currently workout 5-6 days a week and do mostly weights with 30-45 min cardio most days.  My weight fluctuates a lot ranging from 197 – 203 pounds give or take (height is 5’11”. (weight lifting does that)  My goal is continue to decrease my Body fat percentage.
Tamara weight loss

Nikki lost 103 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nikki lost 103 pounds. Tired of feeling invisible and dealing with low self esteem, she decided that enough was enough.  She embraced healthy eating habits and worked out with DVDs at home to transform her body.  Here is her story:

Nikki weight loss story

When I started my weight loss journey, I was 266 pounds at 5’6″. I was uncomfortable in my skin, had low self esteem, and avoided mirrors as much as I could. I prided myself on my intelligence and accomplishments since I felt that was all I was good at. One day. I woke up and realized I had enough. No more making excuses and being treated like I was invisible. After finally making up my mind to change my life, on January 2012 I started to change my diet. I cut out sodas and all the fattening foods I was eating. Since at the time we didn’t have a grocery store close by, I was mainly ordering out every day. When I first began working out, I was doing Zumba, then moved on to Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, and I am currently doing Piyo. I would work out at home 6 days a week. I would also have one rest day and one treat meal a week. My current weight (and maintenance weight) is 163 pounds and I have been maintaining it since March 29, 2013. My transformation took 14 months, and I am currently working on toning and building lean muscle. I am now a beachbody coach, returned to school for nutrition science, and will be receiving my bachelors degree in 2016. If I could give someone advice on losing weight, I would say to take it a day at a time. Don’t focus on how much you have to lose because you will feel overwhelmed or like it is impossible. Set small goes for yourself, and cross them off your list as you go! I am documenting my weight loss journey on instagram so please follow me at nikki_c85! Stay blessed!

Nikki before and after

Michele lost 120 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Michele lost 120 pounds.  Starting at over 300 pounds and taking meds for health issuers from sleep apnea to diabetes, Michele knew that it was time for a true lifestyle change.  She has transformed her body, her health and her life.  Read her success story:

Michele before and after

My name is Michele Legette. I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and I weighed 306 lbs when I started on this weight loss journey in May 2012. I wanted to live a quality life as well as a quantity life. I had been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, hyper cholesterol and sleep apnea. I was not able to play with my grandchildren without getting out of breath. I knew I needed to lose weight but it seemed like it was impossible because I did not know where to begin. When I would see people that I knew from my past they would not identify me by name. They would say “God, you got fat”. That sent me in reverse.

Well, in May 2012 I began exercising. At first I worked with a personal trainer for seven months, twice a week and my workouts consisted of mostly Cross fit activities. On my own, I did cardio exercises for an hour, seven days a week. I knew that I did not want surgery, diet pills, etc. MY question was if I stopped eating certain foods, what would happen when I started eating them again? I wondered what would happen if I took pills and then stopped taking them? Therefore, I opted for lifestyle change instead. I ate baked and broiled lean protein, vegetables and nuts. If I wanted something fried, I ate it in moderation but it was not all the time. I ate enough to get the taste of the food, so I was eating 1 piece of some foods to get rid of the cravings.

My transformation took 17 months and I lost 120 pounds.  I am no longer on medication with the help of God. Now, I do strength training, cardiovascular exercises, Cross fit routines and a lot of bodyweight exercises. I’m also running intervals.  I am now a personal trainer as well as a motivational speaker. It is my endeavor to inspire and encourage as many people as possible to take their life back and live life more abundantly. My advice to others is to take it one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. It is not impossible and you can do it. Failure is when you fall down and choose not to get up. Success is when you fall down but choose to get up and try again. It has been 25 months since I stared my weight loss journey. I am a work in progress and enjoying my new lease on life. We Got This!

Anyika-Monique lost 71 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Anyika-Monique Hunt lost 71 pounds.  She decided that enough was enough after getting sick and that she wanted to be there to raise her son. She reached her weight loss goal and is now inspiring others, including her young son and her mom (we featured her mom’s story last week), to get healthy and lose weight.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:
A Hunt weight loss

My story: I’m a busy, single mommy of one child that got sick. I was having chest pain and blackouts and decided that enough was enough and that my son needed me around! It was time to get healthy. My starting weight was 190 pounds plus. I have lost a total of 71 pounds.  Exercise wise, I did it by doing Zumba, Body Bombat, Spin, sticking to a meal plan, and being consistent. No shots, no pills and no short cuts. I got down to 119 pounds. It took me 4 months of hard work to get the first 50 pounds off and over the last 5 years I have kept the weight off, toned up and I’m now at 125 pounds. However, I’m not done yet. I’m still working on toning my body and staying healthy. My lifestyle has rubbed of on my son and he has lost some with and is now rocking a six pack. At 13 years old, he has gained so much confidence. In the beginning, I cut out a lot of oil, salt and fried food. I started eating smaller portions and eating 6 meals a day. I am now living a vegetarian/raw vegan lifestyle. I juice and workout daily. I’m embarking on a 100 day healthy challenge. I’m waist training as well. It’s very exciting. My number one goal is to help my community. I teach Zumba fitness in Las Vegas and I host a special fit club for women and men in my community. That includes Zumba, toning, nutrition counseling, and the hosting of monthly topics.  I wanted to lose weight and couldn’t find help so I educated myself and met my goals!! Now I can be a helping hand to others.

I also have a blog post where I go into very detail about my journey…

Instagram: @zumbawithahunt
Facebook.com/homewithahunt
Zumba website: www.ahunt.zumba.com

Anyika-Monique Hunt

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hannah lost 56 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hannah lost 56 pounds.  This proud and petite single mom tried many methods to lose weight and had an unfortunate experience trying on clothes that was the last straw, opening the door for her to start her weight loss journey.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hannah weight loss

Hello My name is Hannah Ngae (aka Noni). I was born in Kenya. I moved to this country when I was a little girl at 16 yrs old. Now, I’m a proud single mom of a two year old boy named Jordan.  A year ago, I weighed 199 lbs at only 5’2″ feet tall.  Today, I weight 143 lbs. I have lost 56 pounds. Before, I was depressed and stressed out. I tried all sorts of diets and pills but nothing seemed to work. In May of 2013, that’s when my life changed. I went to the store and tried on like 10 dresses and pants but nothing seemed to fit. I looked at myself in the changing room mirror and decided enough is enough. I won’t lie to you, I shed tears. I decided to give up everything and get committed with one goal. I always put God first in everything I do. I prayed and asked God to guide and walk with me during the start of my weight loss journey. May 1, 2013 I gave up sugar and white carbs. I started drinking lots of water and green smoothies. I started noticing a changes as my skin became smooth and soft. My stomach started disappearing as well. I was so exited because my friends started noticing my progress too. In that first month, I lost 8 pounds. I continued till I joined a gym on Nov 5th.

Magic started happening. I met a good friend who we became close. She trained me. We could spend hours at the gym. I did cardio mostly which made me shed all the weight. Elliptical is my best friend. It has flattened my tummy toned my bum and thighs.
I have left fast foods alone and I now make my own healthy meals. I always measure and weigh my foods regardless. I don’t do processed foods or fruits, I would rather spend millions buying fresh foods. I don’t eat rice now. I use quinoa instead, which I love. I take 5 meals a day, under 1200 calories total. I workout 7 or 6 days a week and sometimes go in at 4 am.  I do cardio for 30 minutes, stretch 15 minutes, lift weights and do another 15 minute of Cardio.

My Transformation has taken 1 year, and I’m not done yet. I’m just getting started. I have set a goal to loose 15 more pounds before August 15. Loosing weight has becoming Addicting to me and I’m so proud of how far I have come being that I’m a mom, student and also an employee.

Your health is one of the most important things in your life, and you really need to make time for it. I was too busy with things that ultimately didn’t matter to take care of myself, and I ended up being Obese. To change your weight you need to change many aspects of your life so that you can lean more towards healthy living. A big part of that is emotional well being and motivation. Recognize when you are eating out of habit not hunger. Learn to tell the difference between feelings satisfied and feeling stuffed. Get support from a partner or friend.  I advise every one to focus on what you want your life to look like not just your body. Never Give Up! It’s the easiest thing to do and then it becomes hard to regain the strength to loose all the weight over again.

Instagram: @NoniJordan

hannah before and after

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Angela lost 35 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Angela lost 35 pounds.  Motivated by the loss of her father and wanting to live a long life for her young children, Angela committed to being consistent with her weight loss efforts.  Consistency is KEY. Here is what she shared with us:

Angela2July14blog

“HELLO!!! My name is Angela Greer and I am one year into my healthy life journey. I’ve lost 35lbs since July 2013. I started my healthy life journey last July (left pic) after a trip to Essence Festival with my husband. The pic on the right is one year later!!! Honestly I can’t believe that was me!!! (I thought I was doing it down there! Lol!) I am inspired daily by so many, but none more than losing my Dad to health issues. (Love you Daddy). I was determined to honor his memory by changing my lifestyle, being a healthy example for my two babies (4 & 2 years old), and ending our family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

My transformation happened with consistently working out – doing Cardio and Weight Training. Ladies, don’t be afraid of weights. It leans, trims, and tightens…not bulks! Look at my pics! I also tried to eat clean. NO secret diet, magic pill or drink. Just consistently working hard!

No I’m NOT perfect and I have many things to work on, but I just wanted to show you that a “normal” person that has a super busy life can make a change and live a healthier life. I’m a busy Mommy so I don’t have “time, I make it! You can do it!  Thank you for your encouragement and positive vibes sent through your posts! It continuously keeps me motivated! I appreciate you!
Xoxoxo~ Ang #transformation #FitLifeForever #Whosthatgirl #SexyAngela #twokidswho #stillworkingonmyawesome”

Instagram: @mzangiebaby

Update: Darlene lost 86 pounds and became a figure competitor

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Update July 2014: Darlene lost 86 pounds and became a figure competitor. We featured her story back in December when she was down 70 pounds.  She is down 16 more pounds but she also built tons of muscle during her weight loss journey. Read her update and find out more about her amazing transformation and her recent WINS!

Darlene weight loss story

“I participated in my first figures competition last week placing 1st overall in Tall Novice.  I also placed 3rd in Masters and Open Class. I have lost 86 pounds in total and plan to compete again this October. I want to let all women know that if you set your mind straight and stay focused you CAN reach your goals. At 47, I am in the best shape of my life! Feeling Amazing!!!

When I reached my goal weight of 145-150 pounds, I realized that there was something more I could do on my fitness endeavor. I have many friends who competed in bodybuilding, figures and bikini competitions. I attended some of their shows and would always say, “You’ll NEVER catch me up on a stage in a bikini and heels!” Or, “I just want the body, but not the stage!” I used to see the competitions as pageantry in nature, but the true reality is that I felt like that was a goal too far for me to reach at my age. I had sagging skin and stretch marks from having two sons. So, after attending a friend’s show, I asked myself, “Darlene, do you want to do this?, or have you convinced yourself that you can’t do this?” I believe it was the later of the two. I consulted with friends who were competitors, asked tons of questions and did my research. I decided to go for it on Feb 23, 2014, but hadn’t fully committed (financially). I started eating clean, chicken, fish, turkey, egg whites, green veggies and good carbs (sweet potatoes, brown rice and oatmeal). I strength trained 5-6 days a week with lots a cardio to lower my body fat. At the time it was 26%. Over the weeks, I got stronger and gained the confidence I needed to commit. I registered for the show! A good friend of mine helped me with poses and wardrobe. The routine was my invention-I’m from New Orleans-dance is what we do! LOL I took that stage on Jun 28,2 014, after 18 weeks of preparation, with a full time traveling job, two sons, a dog, juggling it all while on a mission. I chose Kelly Price’s song “It’s My Time, because it really was time for ME! I wanted to be an inspiration to all women and motivate anyone who feels as if they are constantly hitting the reset button. I shined up there, and before the awards were handed out. I was already a winner!!!”

Read more about Darlene’s weight loss journey…

Darlene weight loss story

 

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Natalie lost 50 pounds

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Update Dec 2015: Natalie is now down to 180 lbs, for a total of 85 lbs gone. Check out her updated before and afters and read about how she lost the weight.  Instagram: @natalie_thefitmami

natalie before and after
Updated Before and After 2015

July 2014 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Natalie lost 50 pounds. This blogger and proud mom was motivated to be there for her child and to get off several medications.  She ate clean, exercised and got RESULTS.  Check out her weight loss story and find out more about how she was able change her life.

Natalie hungry hungry housewife

What was your motivation?
Becoming healthy for my 10 month old. I also wanted to get off of blood pressure and cholesterol medicines.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started by throwing out all of the processed foods in my house and started fresh. I try to eat as clean as possible with minimal processed foods. I shopped the outskirts of the grocery store; fresh fruits/veggies, meat, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, almonds. I also ate every three hours in small portions. Meal then snack etc. I found ways to tweak my favorite recipes by substituting fattening ingredients for nutritious ones. I also drank protein shakes for breakfast and late night snack.

What did your workout routines look like?
I did 30-45 min of cardio paired with weight training 6 times a week. I switched between Turbo Fire and running on treadmill for cardio.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 265 pounds. Current weight is 215 pounds.  My height is 5’7″.

How long did your transformation take?
7 months and I am still going! I have currently hit a plateau but that is not going to stop me. I have started doing fasted cardio to switch up my routine a little.

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
You really have to get fed up with being unhealthy. I have been struggling with weight since after college and each time I failed because my whole being wasn’t into it. You have got to want it as bad as you want to breathe! I listen to motivational compilations on YouTube while I workout also! Eating is #1 then exercising. Recently, found a free app on my cell phone called My Fitness Pal and it is really helpful in seeing how many calories I am eating.

I made a website with cool recipes I try and there is more info about my journey on the about section.

-Natalie Balderas
Website: www.hungryhungryhousewife.com

natalie weight loss story
updated before and after 2015

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Britany lost 30 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Britany lost 30.6 pounds.  She was motivated by seeing the health issues that her family members suffered from.  She has changed her eating habits and embraced regular exercise.  Here is her story:

Britany weight loss

Weight loss story: I started my journey in November 2013. I first started out by cutting out carbs for two weeks. During that two weeks, I lost a total of 8 lbs. Then sickness hit. I gained all the weight back except about 3 lbs. In January of 2014, my job started a weight loss wars challenge. I started working out like crazy but wasn’t getting any results like I wanted. Trainers I know explained that I wasn’t fueling my body properly and my body was storing fat. So with that advice, I revamped my eating habits. I started out by measuring out my food (including more protein) and including more fruits and veggies in my diet. Now, I eat 6 small meals a day. I stopped drinking juice and soda (although to get a sip every blue moon). I drink water and unsweet tea. I didn’t cut out all bad foods so when I want something bad, I’ll eat half instead of the whole plate. My workouts consist of Zumba, boxing, jogging/walking, spin, and bootcamp. My starting weight was 211.1 pounds and my current weight is 180.5 pounds (height: 5’6″). I still want to lose 15 more lbs to reach my goal weight of 165.

My motivation was seeing all the health related issues my family has such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis. Seeing what they have been going through, I decided to not allow those issues come into my life if I could do something to prevent it. My advice to those who are starting their journey is to continue pushing yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day so please don’t give up when it seems like you’re not making progress. Find others who want the same as you and you will continue being motivated and encouraged. Enclosed are my pictures from June of last year to July of this year.

Instagram: @britsuttles

Britany before and after photos

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Aliyah lost 66 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Aliyah lost 66 pounds.  Like many of us she gained a lot of weight in college and took steps after graduation to change her lifestyle, lose weight and reach her wellness goals.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey: msupshurJuly14blog My name is Aliyah, I’m 26 years old. I just realized how much weight I lost and I couldn’t be more proud of myself! I lost a total of 66 lbs over 18 months. After graduating college, I realized I had gained a freshmen 50+ instead of a freshmen 15. I did high intense cardio classes (Tae Bo, Insanity, Kickboxing & Step Interval) four times a week.  I also stopped eating after 8pm on weeknights. Although I wasn’t consistent through the entire 18 months, I am more than happy about my results thus far! I was 250 lbs and I now weigh 184 lbs (5’4″). My goal weight is 175 pounds!!! I can’t believe how close I am!!!!!!! My motivation: Well, someone asked if I had a baby since college since I had gained so much weight. I have no children so that was like my “end all to be all” moment. I HAD to make a change immediately!  I didn’t diet, I made a lifestyle change. I only made changes that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.

  • I stopped eating after 8pm
  • I love carbs so cutting them out was unrealistic. Instead, I eat whole wheat instead of white. Brown rice instead of white rice…etc..
  • Eating breakfast EVERYDAY!
  • Drinking water first thing in the morning. Drinking MORE water! 2 liters/day at LEAST!…and that’s on a bad day. On a normal day I’m shooting for 3 liters.

My advice to others would be to STAY CONSISTENT! Don’t stop. EVER!!!! This is a LIFESTYLE change!

Instagram @msupshur UpshurJuly2blog