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Update: Diona lost 170 pounds

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Featured Weight Loss Success Story: Since we first featured Diona, she has lost an additional 31 pounds.  Today is a special day for this AKA Soror and we wanted to post an update of her progress so we asked her some questions about how she has maintained her weight loss and health gains.  Here is what she shared.

Diona weight loss story

“Hello! I’m excited for you to do an update to my story. I was hoping you could do it Wednesday (May 28), as it’s my birthday and my fifth year since my cancer diagnosis. Over the course of several years, I have lost 170 pounds total. My highest weight was 368 pounds and I’m currently 198 pounds.

I’ve maintained my weight loss by continuing to workout with my personal trainer 4 times per week and by making healthy choices. I’ve built a resistance to bad foods. Now, things I used to enjoy physically make me sick. I did hit a plateau. So, I stopped weight training for one month and did cardio only. I also cooked everything I ate for 60 days. I ate all organic and watched labels for sugar, corn syrup, etcetera. I even made salad dressing from scratch. This allowed me to lose an additional 31 pounds and go from a size 14 to a size 10.

Diona weight loss storyThe biggest struggle is still patience. It’s been one year since I started on this journey and I am still not happy. Instead of realizing how much I’ve done, I still see cellulite and side rolls.  My biggest victory is the number of people that have told me I’ve inspired them to change. It’s one thing to make positive changes in my own life, but when making yourself better inspires others to do better, that’s victorious.”

Check out more photos from her journey on Instagram: @winter_time_cold

Read our original post about her weight loss for more information on how she lost the weight.

 

Kimberly lost 37 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Kimberly lost 37 pounds.  He story shows that sometimes doing the emotional work of dealing with your issues and problems in your life is just as important as diet and exercise.  Here is what she shared with us:

Kimberly before and after

I was always thin from childhood all the way up to my teen years, but after having a child in my teens I began to pick up weight, almost 100 pounds. After that I continued to pack on the pounds. I tried a number of things to lose weight; seeing countless diet doctors, trying diet fads, joining weight loss centers, and numerous diet pills. It was not until 2011, after losing my job, that I really came to the realization that I was huge and that weight was threatening my life. I read an article that stated being overweight can cause cancer cells and other diseases to activate. I also found out that I was depressed and had not let go of some personal issues dealing with family and relationships. After dealing with many of my issues I came to a personal realization that if I don’t do something now life is going to pass me by.

I decided to start my weight loss journey in December 2012 and I have had some pitfalls along the way but I keep getting back up with my gloves on ready to fight. My heaviest was 315 pounds and now I am 278 pounds and still going. I accomplished this with exercise and dedication. I am now changing my eating habits to work harder at achieving my short term goal of 23 more pounds. I’m so excited.  I also entered a Bikini challenge at a local gym in January, that challenges me to do my best. Ladies remember you can do it!

Kimberly weight loss

 

Morgan lost 101 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Instagram diva Morgan is a survivor!  She lost 101 pounds after gaining weight dealing with Lymphoma at 18 years old.  Read her touching story and find out how she worked for her health and wellness victory.

morgan weight loss

“Hello my name is Morgan and I live in Greensboro NC. I have lost 101 pounds over a two year time frame. I started off by doing the Atkins diet and then started doing my research on clean eating. Limitingcarbs and eating basically meat, veggies and complex carbs has helped me alot. I work out 5 days a week. I do not eat fast food at all. I cook all of my food and I meal prep on Sundays for the week. I mainly eat fish, turkey, and chicken. My advice is to stay consistent! That is the biggest key!

My inspiration to lose weight was because in 2005 when I was 18 I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was a horrible time in my life where I was depressed and would eat anything in site. Even after chemotherapy and once I was back healthy I would drink alcohol and eat fast food on a daily basis. Overtime I grew bigger and bigger. One day, I woke up and realized that God gave me a 2nd chance that I am not taking advantage of. I wanted to become a better person mentally and physically. I started off by going to the gym 45 mins a day walking on the treadmill. I tried the elliptical when I first started but couldn’t do anymore than 2 mins at that time. Overtime, I worked myself up to a hour 5 days a week at the gym and walking on the treadmill for a hour day and also being able to do elliptical for 45 mins straight. I also do weight machines 3 times a week. You can find more out about my journey by following me on Instagram. My username is Onenonlymo.”

Morgan before and after

 

Obesity in Black America

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One in 5 people die from weight related illnesses and complications.  In many recent studies, Black Americans have the dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of obesity in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To be considered obese, you must have a body mass index* of 30 or higher. To be considered morbidly obese your body mass index must only hit the BMI of 35 with health complications, or have been measured at 40 for at least five years.

Obesity in Black America There are many theories of why the Black American community has such high rates of obesity, none of which have been conclusively proven as true. It is generally accepted that the cause is a combination of culture and genetics. Complicating the issue is that Black Americans don’t simply suffer from just a Black American culture that promotes obesity (there’s a debate on that), they are influenced (as all Americans are ) by the general American culture which also promotes a lack of activity and poor diet.  That leads to obesity across ALL racial categories. Here are just some of the major complications that you risk by remaining obese or seriously overweight. Losing weight radically reduces risk of death or health complications from each of these conditions.

I feel that it’s time that we face the health issues below and start to educate ourselves and our communities about the risks and how to turn these trends around!  Let me know what you think in the comments section.  Should we consider the studies that come out a call for action or is it all just more “bad news” about Black People?

Type II Diabetes

Black Americans are prone to type II diabetes, an acquired form of diabetes related to obesity. While this type of diabetes is on the rise in the US across the entire population, it is becoming more prevalent among Black Americans under the age of 25. Diet and exercise that lead to a return to a healthy weight and normal blood sugar levels can quickly remove the need for managing type II diabetes with medication and therapies for many people.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure and obesity go hand in hand. While the American culture emphasizes treating high blood pressure with medication, rather than emphasizing prevention – the Black community is at a disadvantage as many of the current medications have not been rigorously examined for their benefits on the genetic profiles of Black adults. While this imbalance in clinical trials is slowly being corrected, thinking you can rely on a medication to control your high blood pressure may not be realistic for everyone.  Having open communication with your doctor and other medical professionals is key to finding the right therapy that works for you.

Mortality

1 in 5 Americans die from weight related illnesses. Being obese, or even just overweight, can decrease your life span by increasing the strain on your heart and inviting in life threatening conditions that could be avoided. Due to high obesity rates, some Black Americans face shorter lifespans (Some studies show that this increases our mortality rate when compared to other racial groups in the US).

Weight-related Illness and Complications

More Black Americans are being diagnosed with weight related illnesses from diabetes to joint pain to pulmonary and breathing disorders than ever before. Excess weight can have an effect on the efficiency of your lungs and other vital organs as well as depressing your immune system and metabolism. It is also thought that being overweight can complicate your recovery from surgeries and other illnesses as fat acts as fast absorbing neutralizer for many medications and antibiotics.

Stroke

Obesity comes with high blood pressure and is also commonly associated with heart disease and poor cholesterol health. When you combine these elements together, there is a radically increased risk for stroke. Having a stroke can happen at any age. Being obese increases your risk of stroke and can also complicate your recovery from one.

Arthritis

Extra weight increases pressure on your joints and can act to reduce circulation. All of this can combine to an increase in mobility issues and arthritis. In many cases, the normal medications used to relieve arthritis pain are not as effective in patients who are obese as their weight is not taken into account with the dosage. If weight is taken into account, there is a secondary issue of potential toxicity or dependence due to the high medication dose.

Cancer

Recent studies have conclusively linked belly fat to an increased risk of breast cancer. It isn’t belly fat that is specifically the issue, it is the particular fat cell type called an estrogen receptor cell which is most common in the stomach area. Older studies have long shown a direct link between being obese and an increased risk of the following cancers: esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, endometrium, kidney, thyroid and gallbladder.

*Note: I know that many people dispute the validity of BMI in determining health, but it is the measure accepted by the medical profession at this time.  I also realize that the info I’m talking about in this article is based on research and studies that many may not agree with.  Many time the reaction I hear about info like this is that it stereotypes us or that “they” are saying that we are all fat and unhealthy.  My intention is to bring forward some info to make us all think about how obesity and weight-related illness is affecting our community.  We can look around our families, co-workers, friends and the whole of America and see that weight and poor eating is affecting the health of many.  It’s time that we stop dismissing the stats that DO on some level correspond with what we are seeing.  I’m not saying that every study is accurate…but every stat and study is not wrong.

Find out more

Dr. Tyeese Gaines – How obesity has become a part of black culture

The Office of Minority Health – Obesity and African Americans

US News – Blacks have highest obesity rates in US

National Cancer Institute – Obesity and Cancer

Is Belly Fat Different Than Other Body Fat?

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belly fatMany people don’t realize that belly fat, also known as visceral fat, is actually different than the rest of your body. The belly fat has been linked to risk for a number of different types of things, from insulin issues, metabolism issues, heart disease, increased cancer risk, and increased type 2 diabetes risk. Even if you’re not overweight, the fat that is in your abdomen can cause a lot of issues.

The body has three different types of fat in it. Check them out:

  • Triglycerides circulate in your bloodstream. It makes up about 95 percent of the fat within your body.
  • Subcutaneous fat, which is the layer that lies directly below the skin’s surface, between the skin and the abdominal wall.
  • Visceral fat is the kind located deep within your belly.

It’s not so much what is in the visceral fat that causes the problem; it’s where the fat is located. It is actually found beneath your stomach muscles, which means that they’re the closest thing to your internal organs. Because of this placement, your internal organs start to use it for energy because it’s more efficient than getting energy from your skin fat. Your body acts much like you do; efficiency is key.  If you have an option between two places to get the same exact thing, you’re going to go to the place that is closer.

So, why is this dangerous? In old times, people assumed that fat was just stored energy, but it’s actually much more active than that. All fat cells continually secrete hormones and chemicals; these hormones and chemicals are healthy if you’re at a normal weight, they actually do good things, like regulate insulin, help to regulate appetite by allowing you to feel satisfied after eating, and even help burn stored fat. Essentially, this fat acts how fat is supposed to act. The fat does standard metabolic functions and is absolutely nothing that you have to worry about. That’s why it’s unhealthy to be without fat; you can actually starve yourself or, at the very least, get ill, if you have no fat on your body at all.

Where the problem comes in is when you are overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese, your body has more fat cells, and those cells are much larger than they should be. These larger cells, as you would expect, work harder and secrete more hormones and chemicals than you need. Essentially, you’re getting “too much of a good thing,” which is when it becomes a very bad thing. The chemicals that come out of your fat cells start to impact your health over time. These chemicals play a huge role in diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and even certain cancers.

Alright, so why does belly fat get the short end of the stick? Don’t all fats do this? Absolutely not! Visceral fat cells actually produce more of those chemicals to start with, so if you’ve got a lot of fat in your stomach region, those chemicals are actually being produced at toxic levels. As I mentioned above, those toxins are getting into your internal organs because the visceral fat is where your internal organs are getting their “energy” from. So basically, by having the excess stomach fat, you’re actually poisoning yourself in a way in terms of what the fat is leaching into your body. That is incredibly scary.

This is why good health is important. Exercise and diet are incredibly important parts of keeping you healthy. If you’ve noticed that you have an excess of belly fat, make sure to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The great thing is that belly fat responds well to time tested weight loss methods of eating and exercise. You doctor or health care professional can help you to get on a eating and fitness plan that can help you lose weight in that region so that you don’t continue to cause damage to your body.

Lawanna lost 97 pounds

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Lawanna lost 97 pounds and is now a personal trainer and nutritionist.  She shared with us about the lifestyle changes she made to lose the pounds.  Check it out:

“Hey everyone!!  My name is Wanna. I just want to show everybody that it can be done. My weight loss journey has been a great learning experience.  I’ve lost almost 100 pounds and I’m still losing (just a little bit more).  I’ve gone from a size 20 to a size 8.  I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 14 years now, and have been a personal trainer/nutritionist for the past 2 years.  I eat 5-6 small meals a day.  I love to motivate and inspire others to join me in losing unwanted pounds.  If I can do it, so can you.

My motivation is the fact that high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer run in my family.  Also, watching my clothes get too big motivates me as well.  The fact that I’m a personal trainer and nutritionist….it comes with the territory. I’ve been a vegetarian for 13 years, so my meals consist on fruit, veggies, whole grains and tons of water. I workout 5-6 days a week doing toning and about 40-60 minutes of cardio…sometimes twice a day.  I love the gym, but I prefer to be outside, so I hit the park sometimes just to change it up.  At my heaviest, I was 252 pounds.  I’m currently 155 pounds, down from a size 20.  My weight loss journey started in 2006.  I went from a size 20 to a size 16 in the first 3 months.  Then I dropped down to a 13/14 and stayed there until 2012.  I joined a gym after I finished getting my certification.  I went from a 13/14 to a 7/8 between March 2012 and now.  Also, P90X and The Biggest Loser were very instrumental on my weight loss journey”

Lawanna weight loss

Unconditional Love: Diamond lost 55 pounds

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Weight loss story of the Day: Diamond lost 55 pounds after the loss of her beloved husband.  Found herself dealing a number of health issues and weight gain while being a caregiver to her spouse.  She was able to fall in love with exercise, change her eating habits and lose weight. Here is her story:

“I started gaining a lot of weight taking care of my 28 year old husband who was battling stage four Cancer. I would eat whatever I could get my hands on. Unfortunately, my husband lost his battle with cancer and passed away. I felt as if my life ended with his.

Couple months after he passed, I went to a friends birthday dinner. She posted the photos from dinner on Facebook and I could not believe that was me in the pictures.  So, I decided enough is enough I have to get myself together mentally & physically. I went to gym but felt uncomfortable due to my weight. Late one night I was watching TV and I saw commercial for the Turbo Fire exercise DVD program. I became excited and ordered it.

Once I received Turbo Fire in the mail, I started working out with it that day. Within 7 days, I lost 12 pounds. I became obsessed.  I workout out 6 days a week sometimes twice a day. I gained the confidence to go to the gym and love to RUN. I started to feel alive again, laughing more, feeling great on the inside and looking fabulous on the outside.  Also, I changed my eating habits completely.  I stopped eating fried food, fast food, and start reading labels and counting calories.   I educated myself by purchasing cook books that taught me how to grocery shop, eat on a go, and cook dinner for my family healthy.  Eating clean over time became a habit. No longer have the desire to eat crappy food. My body actually reject it. I was over at my grandmother’s house and tried to eat one fried chicken leg and I instantly got sick and had to vomit. Lol

At my heaviest, I weighted 210 pounds. I’m now 155 pounds. I lost 55lbs within 6 months. I had high blood pressure, borderline diabetes, and other hormonal problems due to my weight. After I lost weight, all my medical problems went away.

My husband loved me unconditionally, and it was time I loved myself enough to be healthy.  That’s what motivated me on the days I didn’t feel like working out or when I was wanting to overindulge in unhealthy food.  My advice to others: We all know what to do.  We just have to do it. Excising one hour a day can change your entire life.

2 1/2 years later, I’m still in great shape, Loving Life and all the beautiful joy it has to offer.  Thanks for allowing me for the first time to tell it publicly. Hopefully it will encourage others.

Diamond weight loss story

Rachelle lost 27 pounds

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Breast Cancer Survivor Rachelle lost 27 pounds and 2 dress sizes by cutting calories, eating fat burning foods, using MyFitnessPal and walking.  Let’s show her some BWLW Love.  Here is what she shared with us:

First, I would like to say that I love your site and you are, in part, the reason I decided to start my weight loss journey. I am a Breast Cancer survivor.  After chemotherapy, I gained a lot of weight. This was mostly due to poor eating habits, but I also struggled with my self image. A week before my 36th birthday, I decided I was going to lose the 30 pounds I had put on once and for all. Everything was starting to fit tight and I refused to buy bigger clothes. I knew that dieting was not going to work.  I would have to make some life style changes if I wanted to shed the pounds and keep them off.  So, I said good bye to fast food, fried foods, sweets and soda. I did some research online and found 15 fat burning foods on Women’s Health Magazine’s site and incorporated them into my diet. I tried to include as many as possible in every meal and snack. I found that preparing my own food worked best for me because I knew exactly what I was eating. I cut my calorie intake to 1200 a day and started drinking 64 oz of water every day. I tracked my progress with the app MyFitnessPal. I did that for the first month and lost on average about 2 lbs. per week! I couldn’t believe it was really this simple. At the beginning of the 2nd month, I started walking twice a day on my 15 minute breaks at work. I walked a little under 2 miles per day. In 3 months I went from 220 lbs. to 193 lbs, down 27 lbs. and 2 pants sizes!

Rachelle weight loss story

Liver Health: Benefits of Milk Thistle

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milk thistleI recently posted an article all about how the liver is related to weight loss and a healthy metabolism.  Knowing whether you have a healthy liver is important to your weight loss efforts because of it’s role in breaking down fats and processing toxins.  One of the things I’ve always heard was good for liver health is Milk Thistle.  I wanted to do some research and give you more info on the benefits of this herb.

An alternative herbal supplement, milk thistle is a plant found in the Mediterranean region. When the leaves of this plant are crushed, a milky white liquid oozes out, hence the name milk thistle. Most of the benefits derived from this plant come from a chemical called silymarin which is extracted from the seeds. This active ingredient found in milk thistle herbal supplements is believed to combat a number of conditions affecting the liver including cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and liver poisoning.

Liver Benefits of Milk Thistle

Silymarin possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which are thought to help the liver repair itself and grow new cells. The following are some benefits associated with this supplement:

  • Cirrhosis – Numerous studies have shown that milk thistle can improve liver function and stave off death in cases of liver cirrhosis and liver damage due to alcoholism. However, some studies have been inconclusive, leaving most in the medical community yearning for more studies into the effectiveness of milk thistle.
  • Hepatitis – The anti-inflammatory properties of milk thistle have helped hepatitis patients – particularly those with hepatitis C – improve their liver function and reduce inflammation. In one study, slightly less than half of all participants were able to reduce their viral hepatitis to undetectable numbers.
  • Cancer – Laboratory studies with cancer cells have shown some promise. During research, it has been found that silymarin appears to prevent cancer cells from reproducing, shorten their lifespan, and reduce the blood supply to tumors. However, there have been no reputable human trials performed as to the effectiveness of milk thistle when it comes to treating cancer in the body.
  • Poisoning – The liver is a giant sponge, filtering hazards and toxins from the body. In cases of poisoning, the liver can become damaged, resulting in death. Silymarin has been used in cases of deathcap mushroom poisoning as an antidote. Studies in animals have shown that milk thistle can counteract the effect of this toxic mushroom if administered within just a few short minutes of ingestion. If administered within the first day, it can reduce the risk of liver damage and death.

Milk thistle has been shown to offer other benefits not related to the liver including menopause, high cholesterol, and diabetes. In most cases, however, the effectiveness of milk thistle has not been studied and researched effectively, resulting in mixed results. While medical trials and laboratory testing show a great deal of promise, more research is needed.

While the effectiveness of milk thistle might be debatable at this point, the safety of this alternative supplement is not. Salymarin has been found to be safe when taken as a daily supplement over a long period of time.  Consult with your doctor or health professional of choice before starting any regular use of an herb supplement like milk thistle.  You never know when you may have an allergic or adverse reaction to an herb or natural supplement or if it will react to other medications.  Better safe than sorry.

Renee lost 28 pounds

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Zumba Instructor Renee lost 28 pounds and has kept the weight off for 2 1/2 years.  Here is what she shared with us:

I’m Renee and married with 3 girls. I’m a Zumba instructor and took a look back at my photos from a decade ago and couldn’t believe the size I was. I lost 28 pounds and been maintaining for 2.5 years. It was important to be at a healthy weight because of the current diseases that are actively on the rise such as Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Cancer due to the type of foods we eat. Diabetes also runs in my family with age. I had to take a stand to break that cycle.

McDonalds was banned from our household for over 8 years. I teach my children to incorporate vegetables with every meal (including breakfast – except cold/hot cereals…lol).

A little more detail about me: rallen.zumba.com/

Renee weight loss before and after