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Tambra lost 33 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Tambra.  This proud army wife and mom of 3 shared with us how she lost 33 pounds with exercise, juicing and changing her eating habits.  Here is what she shared:

“Hello, My name is Tambra. I’m a 29 year old stay at home Army wife and mother of three. I’ve been struggling with weight issues since I had my first son in 2006. I got up to 190 pounds and maintained 180 pounds for five years. I gave birth twice within a span of eleven months to my youngest children.  Soon after having my one year old daughter, my husband got deployed.

I decided that it was time for a change. I didn’t want my daughter to grow up thinking that it was okay to be unhealthy.  I was also tired of feeling out of shape and sluggish all the time. I now workout five days a week, doing weight lifting and cardio.  I’ve changed my eating habits and I work out with a personal trainer three times a week.

I went from eating 3 very large meals a day. I would fry food several times a week and I was addicted to sugar. I changed to eating 4-5 small meals a day and I rarely (if ever) eat fried food. Every couple of weeks, I juice for a few days and that helps to reset my body.

I haven’t seen my husband in close to a year. He will be home in December 2013. When he left, ten months ago, I was 190 pounds , today I weigh in at 157 pounds. I still have a ways to go, but I have decided to make this a total lifestyle change and not just a temporary fix.”

Tambra weight loss story

Tameka lost 129 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tameka lost 129 pounds.  This proud mom of 2 lost the weight after creating her own custom weight loss plan by combining all the things she knew how to lose the pounds.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Hi, my name is Tameka. I started putting on weight after I had my first kid, right out of high school. I gained 70 lbs with the first pregnancy and 50 lbs with the second. At the age of 27, I weighed 205 pounds and was telling myself that it was baby weight. Even though my youngest child was now 8 yrs old, I was using my kids as an excuse for being overweight. After falling in love and getting married, I gained almost 100 lbs. I tried several times during the course of my life to lose weight and just could not. I just was not happy with how I looked and felt. During the course of of my marriage me trying to lose weight even caused arguments between me and my husband. In 2010, after 2 yrs of being married, we called it quits.  I filed for divorce and began my weight loss journey.

In Aug 2010, I weighed in at 297 pounds. I started going to Weight Watchers and began to work out with my sister Mesha. I felt confident after the first week, telling everyone I was gonna do it FINALLY lose all that weight. Well, I actually got laughed at by my sisters. They would say things like, “YEAH RIGHT WE HAVE ALL HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE”. Thanks to them, that really motivated me to not only prove them wrong but prove to myself that I can do. After a month, I decided stop going to Weight Watchers and do it on my own. I blended together all the things that I have learned about losing weight. Took everything I learned from all the diets I have tried. Put it all in to action. I still ate the Weight Watchers meals. I worked out and I would make sure on every 3rd day I would have a LOAD UP DAY. Which really helped alot. That day was dedicated to eating a whole pizza if I chose to. I also worked out 5 times a week. I found that working out before I actually went to work really helped. Morning workouts gave me the energy I need to get through the day.  Also when you get off work you are toooo tired to go workout and more likely to just go home.

More than 3 years later and I have maintained my 129 lbs weight loss.  I now weigh 168 lbs. I changed my eating habits completely. I slowed down on the fried foods. Only on load up days would I have it. I started eating 6 small meals a day. (Ex: 7am breakfast, snack at 10am, lunch at noon, snack at 3pm, dinner at 6pm and very light snack at 8 pm) I ate foods that were high in fiber to help with the hunger and desire to eat. I aso became an pescatarian (Which is practically a vegetarian but I do eat seafood). When working out I do 45 mins of cardio (Cycle class or Cardio machines) and 15 mins strength training (loose weights).

Tameka weight loss photos

Natasha lost 30 pounds by eating clean and exercising

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Natasha wrote to us to share her weight loss journey.  This proud mom has released 30 pounds by eating clean, counting calories and exercising.  Read all about how she did it:

“Hi!  This is my first attempt at losing weight naturally and I’m succeeding. Thus far, I have released 30 pounds by eating clean and exercising. I consume a high protein diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I also track marco-nutrients and count calories. I never eat below 1300 calories a day! I try to consume 1600 to 1750 calories of clean, wholesome foods. When I started eating good, I started losing weight and building muscle. Some of my favorite exercises are HIIT (high intensity interval training), sprinting, sand-bell training and anything strength related. I also joined Black Girls Run and found a jogging partner. In addition, I am active with my daughter at the playground. If I’m not playing with or chasing her, I doing cross training. I’ve got 20 more pounds to go until I reach my goal by my 33rd Birthday in January 2014. It really is a lifestyle and I’m enjoying every moment of MY journey. Best weight loss advice I have is to respect your goal and trust the process and make it your own. Do what you love but just commit to do it. Persistence pays off. Just keep going! Thanks so much for sharing! Xoxo Tasha”

Natasha weight loss story

Tiffany lost 115 pounds

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Today’s weight loss journey:  Tiffany lost 115 pounds.  At 24 years old, she knew that being 293 pounds was not a healthy weight for her.  She embraced exercise, gave up the negative foods and created an eating plan that worked for her.  Here is what she wrote to us about losing the weight:

“Hi, I’m Tiffany and my weight loss journey began in March of 2011. I was at my annual checkup and was having problems with my blood pressure. When I got on the scale, I was shocked to see I weighed 293 pounds. Being only 24 at the time, I knew that was completely unhealthy. I decided to take control of my life that day. I started exercising 6 days a week and my rest day was Sunday. I would power walk 3 miles at the track in the mornings and go to the gym at night. I also did workout tapes. Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds is my favorite!! I  also do Zumba 3 times a week. I just wanted to stay active.

I gave up fast foods as well as fried foods and sodas. I haven’t had a soda in almost 2 years and I don’t miss them. I also put myself on an eating schedule. I drank lots and lots of water. It took me a year and 6 months to reach my current weight of 178 lbs (115 pound weight loss). I found it helpful to keep track of your progress.  That way, you can see how far you are from your goal. I only weighed myself once a month. My weight loss motivation was all the successful weight loss I was seeing around me. I knew that if I took it one day at a time I would reach my goal of being a better me. I thank God everyday for giving me the strength to lose this weight and the discipline to maintain my current weight. I would tell others who are on their journey to never give up and always stay focused on your goals.”

Tiffany weight loss photos

Liz lost 70 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Liz.  She lost 70 pounds and fought off having to take insulin for her diabetes.  She was willing to make life changes to get healthy!  Here is what she shared with us:

“My name is Liz Hayes.  I have lost a total of 70 lbs within a year all on my own.  I needed to make a change in my life.  Being a diabetic and being told that I might have to go on insulin was shocking.  So, I began my journey on September 11, 2012.  I started by using the “My fitness Pal app” which is totally free.  I weighted 298 pounds. I weight 228 pounds now.

First, I cut out all things white, like flour, sugar, and salt, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc. I also cut out starchy veggies, like corn, peas and beans.  I stopped eating bread also, both whole grain and white.  I did away with sodas and began to drink more water. I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.  I stopped eating red meats completely.  Now I eat only turkey, chicken and  fish.  Most of my days, I start out with a boiled egg, turkey bacon or sausage, Greek yogurt and a cup of coffee.  For lunch, I would eat a large veggie salad and water…then workout at the gym on the treadmill for 1 hour.  I walk 3 miles a day, 7 days a week.  Supper would be a bag of stream broccoli with garlic and “I can’t believe it’s not butter” spray.

I feel much better now than ever and I don’t mind walking.  I am not lazy and tied anymore. Life is great and my blood work is excellent!

 Liz weight loss story

Arletta lost 64 pounds

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Featured weight loss success story of the day: Arletta wrote in to us to share her journey to lose 64 pounds.  This 5’8″ beauty wanted to love what she saw in the mirror and get healthy.  Looks like she DID that!!  Here is her story:

Arletta weight loss story

“Hi my name is Arletta.  My mtarting weight was 282 pounds and I was wearing a size 22-24.  My current weight is 218 pounds and I’m wearing a size 14. I hated to see myself in the mirror. When I weighed 282 pounds, I would never look in the mirror.  If I happened to pass one and saw myself, I was in disgust and I told myself I looked horrible. I did not have low self esteem or didn’t care about what anybody else thought but I was just unhappy with what my body looked like. I would get invited to go on trips out of town with my girlfriends but I would decline the offer because I’m was too embarrassed.  I knew that we would have to share the hotel room and bathroom therefore I would have to change in front of them. Thankfully, I did not have any health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure but if I kept eating the way I was eating I was sure to acquire either one or both.

I changed my eating habits. I started drinking diet drinks instead of the ones full of sugar.  I was exercising, going to boot camp fitness classes, cutting out bread, eating sensible portions meals, riding my bike 2 miles a day week and allowing myself 1 cheat day on the weekend eating anything that I wanted. My weight dropped down to 198 pounds. Eventually I stopped exercising and eating sensibly and my weight went up to 231 pounds. Since June 2013, I have been riding my bike 2 miles a day and eating healthier meals, weighing in at 218. Being 5’8″, I would only like to lose an additional 25 pounds. I am a work in progress.  I was then and I am now.  My goal is to keep it off. Ladies don’t give up! Oh yeah, the mirror and I are quite fond of each now!”

Keita lost 100 pounds and is still going

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Featured story of the day: Keita lost 100 pounds and is still on a mission to lose more.  She changed her eating habits, counted calories, and exercised regularly.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hi! I want to share my story. In August 2012 I ruptured a disk in my back and needed surgery. I was told that weigh loss would help me possibly avoid surgery. I’ve lost 100 pounds since November 2012 with a lot of prayer, healthy choices and daily exercise. I cut my calories down to 1200 a day and I go to the gym 5 days a week. I spend 35 mins on the elliptical and 25 mins on different weight machines. God told me it was time and that if I did what I could, he would do the rest. 10 months later, here I am. My starting weight was around 374 pounds.  My current weight is 270 pounds.

I stopped eating fast food, used Pam cooking spray instead of butter and switched to diet sodas.  I also made sure that I ate 5 serving of veggies and at least 2 servings of lean protein per day and cut out majority of the bread.  If I do eat bread, it’s the Sara Lee 45 cal a slice honey wheat.  My biggest thing was counting calories. I used Myfitnesspal to track all my food and exercise.

Keita weight loss story

 

Maleka and her husband Eric lost a combined 300 pounds together!

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Weight loss success story of the day: Maleka and her husband Eric lost a combined 300 pounds together!  After suffering tremendous loss, including Hurricane Katrina and it’s aftermath, this New Orleans couple took their health and wellness into their own hands.  Here is what they shared with us about their victory and how they have been lead to help others (video below as well):

eric maleka betterchoices

“Our weight loss journey began in 2006…

My husband and I are from New Orleans. If you know New Orleans, then you know the essence of New Orleans…FOOD! We absolutely LOVE TO EAT!! At no time prior to or after Hurricane Katrina did we realize our eating habits and weight were out of control. We did not have any diagnosed health issues, we never saw ourselves as being unhealthy or being obese. It’s funny how we walk around unaware of our true selves. It wasn’t until after a life changing experience in 2006, that we decided to change our life.

After coming down with a sore throat, my husband went the doctor’s office. Of course with any typical doctor’s visit, they need to take the basic vitals. At the point in which they needed to take my husbands weight, the medical scale could not read it. The nurses made sly remarks about the scale; they couldn’t figure out why the scale was not working…so they gathered other nurses and to my husband’s surprise, he became the butt of their jokes. He heard them laughing at him. The truth is, my husband’s weight exceeded what the medical scale could measure. At that moment, he weighed 400 lbs!

When he came home, I could see how terribly angry he was. I asked him to tell me what happened. He proceeded to tell me about his experience. He was angry. To my surprise, he was not angry with the nurses, he was angry with himself for allowing his weight to get out of control.

I, myself, weighed in at 276 lbs! I recall the day I asked Eric what was HE going to do about it. In the beginning, I resisted the idea of change. I knew change was needed but I was afraid. I was afraid of the unknown; afraid of change because I did not know what that change was going to look like. The first thing I thought about was all the things we could no longer have.

My husband sat me down and told me “If you don’t take time out for you, then who will? You take time out for me, the kids, your clients, family, & everybody else…you are the only person who can make time for you.” He told me he wanted us to take this journey together. He wanted us to be healthy and be around for our boys.  He wanted us to live healthier.

That was my “A-HA” moment! That day, we got a few things we would need to begin working out at home. I found a few exercise DVD’s and we mapped out a walking route. We started reading so many books on health, nutrition, and exercise. We faithfully tuned in to Dr. Oz on the Oprah Show and watched Celebrity Fit Club. We learned and reinforced so many things! We found healthier ways to fix our favorite foods, we committed to working out 5-6 days a week. Usually, we would do 30 minutes of cardio before bringing the boys to school and we would walk 2.5 miles. Eventually, we began running those 2.5 miles, incorporating strength training, pilates, & outside activity with our boys. Yard work became a new perspective on fitness…a great way to exercise without the traditional concept of working out.

As a couple, we cherished our workout time together. It truly strengthened our relationship. It had been such a rough time because Eric had recently lost his mother to colon cancer. We lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, and while our families returned to their homes, we remained relocated for 2 years.

As of July 2007, just shy of one year, Eric lost over 150lbs and I lost half my size, losing 138lbs! Fast forward to today, 7 years later, and we have not only maintained our new lifestyle but we are teaching, motivating, and empowering others to make BetterChoices and change their own lives.

In 2011, we were thrilled to be 2 of 100 guests appearing on Oprah’s Weight Loss Finale Show! It was an amazing experience and everyone who participated was truly a reflection of what is possible when you make up your mind to change your life! We had no idea how that moment would change the course of our lives into something so much bigger than ourselves. After the show, we were bombarded with questions. We spent a lot of time providing answers, offering tips, support, and motivation. The more we offered, the more we spoke, the more we told our story, the more people would email and want to connect with us.

That same year, we officially launched BetterChoices. We created BetterChoices with a very specific mission: to teach, motivate, and inspire individuals, couples and families to change their lives, one betterchoice at a time. What we learned was our 300 lbs weight loss was not a reflection of a diet or quick fix. It was a result of making betterchoices which empowered us to create a healthier LIFEstyle. BetterChoices is about change. Change is easy. It’s the choice to change that makes us uncomforatble. Our goal is to help you understand the “how” & “why” the “what” you already know makes sense. Our website, www.betterchoices.co is an online resource offering healthy lifestyle tips, food facts, motivation, videos, recipes, various health & fitness blogs, and so much more.

Fast forward to present day, we have published our first cookbook! Let’s Cook! The BetterChoices Healthy Lifestyle Cookbook is a healthy lifestyle guide created to teach individuals and families on how enjoy the foods you love and learn how to prepare them healthy. In addition, we provide a how-to guide that teaches you how to jumpstart the process of creating a new, healthier lifestyle. It’s called helping you to reconstruct your normal. These small tipping points, simple things we’ve learned over the years, which empowered us to change our lives, lose over 300lbs, & enjoy the foods we love for over 8 years & counting!!!

As we look back, it amazes us that my husband wore a size 60/4XL & at my heaviest, I wore size 22/24W…It has been an amazing journey! They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, for us, our picture is worth AT LEAST 300lbs!!!!”

Thanks so much for allowing us to share!
Visit us at www.betterchoices.co
Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/Instagram/Pinterest: betterchoicesco

Muriel lost 36 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Muriel.  She lost the weight by working out via DVD with Jillian Michaels and changing her eating habits.  She wrote in to share her story with us:

“Hi my name is Muriel Merritt. I would love to share my story. I started May 1, 2013 on my weight loss journey. In the beginning, I weighed 220 pounds.  Now, I’m 184 pounds. So far, I have lost 36 pounds.

My motivation to lose weight was the encouragement of friends and family. Also, I wanted to do something special for me for my birthday (11/28/13). I had to change my eating habits if I wanted the weight to come off. I work in a grocery store, so I stopped going to the bakery and Deli for snack time.  Instead, I started to utilize the Produce Department. I used Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred workout DVD and in the first month and lost 13 pounds. It consisted of three 6 min circuits; strength training, cardio, and abs. This DVD started the transformation of my body and changed my life. My transformation took 4 months. I started my weight loss journey 5/1/13 and lost the weight by 9/1/13. This is only the beginning.”

Muriel weight loss photos

 

Belinda lost 65 pounds

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Featured weight loss success story: Belinda lost 65 pounds.  She embraced running, vegetarianism and juicing as part of her weight loss and health plan.  Here is what she shared with us:

“A few years before my before picture was taken, I visited my doctor for a regular check up and she said ” If you do not lose weight now, by age 40 you will be a diabetic.”  I heard her but I was not really listening.  My aha moment happened in a dressing room when I could not fit my normal size 14.  I broke down crying. The first thing I did when I got home that evening was get on the scale.  I was 205 pounds and standing at only 5’4″ tall.  OH MY GOD. I made up in my mind that I would not let that number on the scale control me and that I would begin to make life changing decisions and I did.  I started my journey in 2009.  I started walking a mile a day, then two miles, then three for a few months, then I added running. By 2011, I was running up to 3 miles a day, 5 days a week.  Then in 2012, I decided to become a vegetarian, so I have been eating a plant based diet along with drinking green smoothies. In 2013, I found out about juicing, so I bought the Jack Lalanne juicer.  Now, I drink at least two juices a day? My weight in the before photo was 205 pounds.  My current weight is 140 pounds. It took a few years for me to lose the weight slow and steady I would say. I was motivated to get healthy because I was tired of being tired. My advice to anyone that is struggling with losing weight is to join a support group or get a partner to commit to this life change with you. My motto: ‘Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip’ – Arnold H. Glasgow”

Belinda weight loss photos