Black Weight Loss Success

The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.

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LaKesha lost 45 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: LaKesha lost 45 pounds by eating clean and exercising.

lakesha lost 45 pounds

Hi,my name Is Kesha. I started my weight loss journey August 2012. My little sister Nicole Jones had lost alot of weight, and just seeing how good she look’d and how healthy she was INSPIRED me. She shared with me the tools i needed to lose weight instead of maintaining the weight I had. I’ve changed my eating habits, to “clean eating” & I exercise. In this collage my weight loss is 45 lbs.My journey is far from over, I have 70 more I would like to lose. However, I am excited about my current loss.This is NOT a diet to me, it’s my new way of LIFE. Thank you for allowing me to share ♥

Update:  LaKesha posted a video about her feature.  🙂

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

Nina lost 48 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Nina lost 48 pounds and is my newest weight loss HERO.  She battled colon cancer and serious health issues to emerge with greater health and pounds lost.  She is a survivor!  If you have a ton of excuses as to why you can’t lose weight, you need to read this story for inspiration.

Read her amazing story:

“30+ years with Progressive Systemic Sclerosis- the drs say Im supposed to be crippled by now. Survived colon cancer and an abusive husband . . .you CAN get fit if you want to. Oh and I run even with chronic asthma! C’mon ladies, with prayer and hard work its possible.

I was already a decent eater WHEN I ate.  I had a colectomy so eating has been a challenge, but I was malnourished from not eating regularly and eating late at night when I did eat. So the 1st change was to eat several times a day. Then I cut out white sugar. Except when I eat out, I only use Agave nectar especially in tea or even fruit (not juice) in recipes and NO soda – that took care of 12 lbs almost immediately. When I’m extra busy, I substitute a smoothie for a meal so its portable. The rest is exercise. I work out 7 days a week. I walk/run 4-5 days totally 25-35 miles a week. I do strength training and core exercises at home and throw in Zumba and yoga for fun whenever my schedule permits. I’m now doing a 5K (always for charity) about once a month and my goals are: 20lbs more, added strength training and to complete a 10K. Im only 5’1″ and had been 212 lbs. Im about 164 now and would like to be at or near 145. Because the PSS can cause wasting I need to be muscle heavy to keep up my joint and muscle strength and I need to keep the fat away from my upper belly because of my chronic asthma, lung sclerosis and pulmonary hypertension . . .oh yeah, I have less than 60% lung capacity on the right side – walking a flight of steps can be brutal some days so running has been the most surprising achievement ever !

I want to Thank You for this page/group where everyone is SO positive and encouraging. I would have NEVER posted a picture of my whole body before now and before reading all the testimonies.”

Trina lost 50 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Trina lost 50 pounds by changing her eating habits and making healthier choices.  Check out her Facebook page, “Curvy, Confident, and FIT“.

Trina lost 50 pounds

Hi my name is Trina and I just want to sahre my journey with you all:-) My before picture was taken in September of 2011 at 230lbs. I didn’t start my journey until January of 2012 When I knew without a doubt I was ready for my change! My after picture (middle photo) was taken in June of 2012. In less than six months I was down to my goal weight 180 lbs. I told to ya’ll I was ready!! I prayed long and hard about this change and I knew it was gonna happen:) I began slowly changing my eating habits and started making more healthier choices. I basically started eating “cleaner” 90% percent of the time:-) Lean meats, whole-grain and fruit and veggies. I also got myself back in the gym and stayed consistent. I do everywork out and machine there is along with weighting lifting and running. I lost 50lbs of excess baggage!! I had to work from the inside out removing some deep insecurities I had been suppressing for years! I began to truly love myself and started taking care of my temple. My mind was finally freed from all that bondage! God has truly given me the strength do ALL things!! I feel great! My whole mind, body and spirit has changed and this is about a lifestyle change!! My transformation after nine months of eating clean and amping up my workouts (third photo). I’ve always loved my shape but had the desire to be fit as well!! It’s a balancing act but with self-love and dedication it can be done!! I’m currently 178 (52lbs gone!) and have no desire to loose anymore weight. My goal now is to tone, trim and lift:-)

Carmen lost 92 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Carmen lost 92.5 pounds with the help of Black Girls Run.  Here’s what Carmen had to say about her weight loss journey:

“I am a wife and mother of 8 children. I work full time and in school for my Masters in Nurse Midwifery. Why am I saying all of this? Because many people think they don’t have “time” to workout/live healthy. But my Grandfather always said “there’s no excuse” so I adopted that philosophy into my life. I was scared of the possibilities of what could happen to my health internally so I went on a journey to change my life. My highest weight ever was 309. I started focusing on changing myself through diet and exercise and as of march this year began my ultimate lifestyle change when I became a vegan. I also juice from time to time and focus on eating clean 90/10. I have lost 95.2 lbs & 70 inches. I have little more to get to my goal weight. I workout 5 days a week with a combination of running/spinning, weights and yoga. I am a part of a local Black Girls Run group which inspires women all over the country to change their lives by focusing on their health. I most recently completed my first 15k and look forward to becoming a triathlete next year. When I first started I couldn’t last 5 minutes at 3.5 on a treadmill. I strive to show others if I can do it, they can too! Anything is possible!”

carmenweightloss2

Gigi lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured success story: Gigi lost 50 pounds using Myfitnesspal to manage her daily calories and exercising.  She says, “By HIS grace, I am healing.”

gigi weight loss

Here’s what she had to say…
“50 Pounds since June! Using myfitnesspal to track calories. It has been a life changing experience! Would love to share with anyone I can help! We are in this together!

At 306 pounds and 5′ 2 I could only walk for 10 min on the tread mill at 1.5 miles and hour. I was embarrassed but determined. It hurt my back to go any longer. I would add a few minutes to each session to build my stamina. That was in June. Now I’m happy to report that I’ve added strength training to include squats. My knees no longer hurt. I can walk at an incline at 4.5 miles an hour for 30 minutes. I go to the gym three times a week. Limited because of my job but I walk at home for 30 minutes. Don’t know how far. I gauge it by the minutes. Here is a better pic. I have 90 more to go but am confident that I will get there with the help of God and His mercy.”

Carmen lost 80 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story:  Carmen lost 80 pounds with the help of a personal trainer.

carmen weight loss

Here’s what she had to say…
“My story…..Just as I began to pray to God about my weight, He sent an angel by the name of Terry Starks, professional trainer/nutritionist/natural body builder and God fearing….WOW…What did I have to lose? Everything was done through facebook at a cost that I couldn’t believe. I actually thought it was too good to be true. The first five weeks I lost 25 pounds. I was completely sold after that. I have lost a total of 80 pounds by using his meal plans and excercising. I feel great physically, mentally and spiritually! I’m so grateful to God for giving me the strength to do it, and for my friend telling me about him. My goal is to lose about 60 more pounds. I know that I can do it if I STAY FOCUSED (his favorite words)! This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. I wish everyone much success!

Den-Ray lost 157 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Den-Ray lost 157 pounds by walking and using MyFitnessPal.com.  So many of the BWLW Ladies use MFP, so it’s great to hear about a major success story coming out of it’s use.  Check out what she had to say:

den-ray before and after photo

“I started by walking with my next door neighbor 3 times a week, my only goal was to make it a mile which took me half an hour. I lost about 50 lbs this way, just walking and not eating so much. My only rules were not to eat unless I was hungry and to stop eating when I was full. My neighbor soon reached her goal and stopped walking with me, I kept going because I liked the results. She was always encouraging and introduced me to myfitnesspal.com. The website helped me track calories without having to do heavy math. I started by trying to eat fewer than 2000 calories and soon moved down to 1200 calories a day. I lost about 75lbs this way but hit a plateau. So, on the advice of a doctor, I increased my exercise to 5 days a week, at least an hour, and began consuming 1500 calories a day. This was much easier to follow and I now eat around 1500 calories when I exercise and 1200 calories when I’m not exercising. I have 58 more pounds to lose to hit a healthy weight, but I know I can make it.”  Check out her Facebook Group.

Crystal lost 22 pounds

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Today’s featured success story: Crystal lost 22 pounds.  She says, “I’ve lost 22 pounds so far! I do Xbox Kinect Dance Central for at least an hour, 3 days a week. I walk every Tuesday from 4 to 8 miles. I also downloaded a mobile app called Loseit and it calculates the calories you eat and tracks your exercise. I love it!!!”

Great job, Crystal!!

Crystal Weight loss

What should Black Women Losing Weight’s December Challenge be?

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Update 11/28: The DECEMBER CHALLENGE goals are now available.  Thank you so much for voting in the poll.  Click here for the details!

Hey Ladies, It’s almost time for us to vote on our challenge for December.  Later this week, I will post the poll for you to weigh-in on and tell us what you think we should be doing for our challenge.  First, I’d like to get some feedback from you this weekend to factor into the choices we vote on.  What are your thoughts?

Thanks, Ladies!!