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Carlee lost 70 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Carlee lost 70 pounds.  After fighting the pounds all her life, she turned to things many things to lose weight, even a eating disorder.  Eventually she found that eating right and exercise were truly the way to reach her health and weight loss goals.  Here is what she shared with us:

“I was big all my life. Doctors told me it was impossible for me to get as small as I wanted to be.  They said that it was in my genes to big…genetics. I hated who I was but it wasnt until I chose to love who I was, whether the weight was shed or not, that it worked and now I am 70 pounds lighter.

At my highest weight I was 220 pounds. I never thought I’d be any smaller. I thought bulimia was the cure, which was not good at all.  Eventually, I went away to school and decided I’d come back a new person. I cut out all fried foods, pork and snacks. I drank plenty of water as well.  Cardio became my best friend along with bicycle crunches.  Here I am almost two years later at 150 pounds.  My advice is to love you, first and foremost, and to find what works for you.  It is about you, not everyone else. Be healthy and dont resort to quick fixes.  You are worth it!”

Carlee weight loss photos

Yvonne lost 43 pounds

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Update May 2016 – It’s been almost 3 years since we shared Yvonne’s story. She gained many pounds back over the years, but a year ago she made the decision to change her life again. She’s lost a total of 70 pounds.

yvonne before and after

“I was featured once before on your site in 2013. Basically, I’d gone on a diet and began exercising, which led to losing 43 pounds. My reason for wanting to lose the weight at the time was to be able to fit into my clothes again. Shortly after being featured, I went back to all my old eating habits. Needless to say, all my weight returned and then some. My blood pressure also began to elevate. I was tired and drained all the time. I really didn’t even want to go to the doctor’s for my yearly physical. Finally, I got up the nerve to go, and suprisingly I was given a clean bill of health. I made up in my mind that day to take charge of my health. As of May,  it’s been a year since I re-started my journey. I have lost a little over 70 lbs. I refuse to look back!”

yvonne weight loss story

Oct 2013 – Since April 2013, Yvonne has lost 43 pounds after years of yo-you dieting.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

“I’m on a journey to a healthier me. I will be 43 years old in November. For the past 12 years, I have been a yo- yo dieter. I never wanted to put in the time to exercise and always wanted a quick fix. In April 2013, the elevator at my job was down and I had to walk up the steps. I felt like I was going to pass out half way up and I was totally disgusted with myself when I got to the top of stairs. To top it off, I had to teach on the heart that afternoon. I kept hearing my own words that day. I said, ” The heart is a little bigger than an adult fist and it pumps five liters of blood through the body every 8 seconds.” I knew my heart had to be having difficulty doing such a job and I had not done any cardio in years to help strengthen it. I started exercising consistently from that day forward! I could barely walk a mile, now I run 3 miles a day, 4 times a week. I cut out sodas, chips and junk food and I have lost 43 pounds. I have 40 pounds to go. My starting weight was 250 pounds. (It even hurt to type that) I feel great and everyday I’m excited to be on this journey (a lifelong journey)! The following photos are from April, August and September!”

Yvonne weight loss success story

Megan lost weight in a workplace weight loss contest

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Megan wrote in to share with us how a weight loss contest at work helped her to lose 13 pounds in about a month.  She shared with us how she did it:

Megan weight loss story

“Hello BWLW!!  Here’s a quick story about myself. Up until the age of 21, I’ve maitained a solid 150 frame. It wasn’t until the birth of my daughter in 2003, is where I began putting on pounds. The funny thing is I stayed in between 150-160 pounds for many many years. Moving forward to the present, July 1st this year and at my heaviest, I weighted 176 pounds. I was floored as to the amount of weight I’ve been carrying around it showed. My knees and back hurt, I was tired all the time, I had no energy to do anything. I knew I had to make a change and fast, I just didn’t know where to start. One day while sitting at my desk at work, an employee came up with the idea to host a “Biggest Loser” challenge (July 24th-Septemeber 24th) for any employee who wanted to joined. I thought about and brushed it off. It wasn’t until the last day for signing up that I said to myself “What’s the worst that can happen” so I entered the contest. Initially, it was all about the money and prizes one can win when losing the most weight but after a week of “detoxing” my body. I could care less about the contest and if I won because I felt great! The best I felt in a very long time. I started my weight loss journey 7/24/2013 and in that first week I went cold turkey! I came home, tossed everything out my fridge that was considered a bad food and replaced it with boneless/skinless chicken, fish, fruits and veggies. The first week was hard but I stuck with it and lost 7 pounds!! I was ecstatic! This was the motivation to keep me going. Two weeks later, I shed additional pounds! The weight is coming off slowly but surely due to hard work and dedication. After almost one full month and I went from 176 down to 163 pounds! I’m not a member of a gym yet but in the meantime, I stick to my routine of a 30 minute workout in the morning before work and after work, I do a hour routine of cardio and walking or jogging. I also maintain eating healthy, portion control and drinking plenty of water. I also take pointers from you guys, BWLW which have been a life saver for me. I still have a ways to go in my journey but I’m so happy to have embraced this lifestyle! Thank you BWLW!!”

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

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

Joellé lost 79 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Joellé lost 79 pounds in about 8 months by leaving fast food alone, working out for 2 hours per session, and changing her way of thinking about things like food.  She was motivated by the loss of a dear friend.  Here is her story:

“Hello, My name is Joellé and I’ve recently lost 79 pounds since Febuary. After the loss of my close friend/roommate back in 2011, I was devasted & dug deep into a terrible state of depression. Food became my comfort, and nothing could stop me. I used make-up, clothing, shoes…. The works… Just to cover up how terrible I felt about myself. I would eat McDonalds almost everyday.  I would also Eat am ENTIRE pie of Little Caesars pizza by myself, and wouldn’t even feel guilty. It wasn’t until I weighed myself after seeing a unflattering picture of myself that I realized how big I’d actually got. Weighing in at 270 pounds my energy was at a zero. I could barely walk down the street without being out of breath and worst of all I was thoroughly unsatisfied with myself. Fed up with the way my life was heading, I took a vow to make a change in 2013. I changed my eating habits, exercised regularly & changed my way of thinking. I eliminated all processed food.  I only stick to chicken and fish.  I increased my water intake. I haven’t had fast food in 8 months and I’m so thankful I made that decision to change. My workout routine varies… however it’s usually 1hour cardio, 1hour weight training. If i’m unable to get to the gym, I use free workout videos on Youtube as a full body workout. My motivation comes from many things.  My biggest motivation however is my late friend Kayla. I do it all in her memory, knowing she would be so proud of me & my accomplishments. My motto is “Work hard, Stay humble… God will do the rest” I’m so grateful and thankful… He’s truly working on me!”

See more of her transformation photos on Instagram: JoJoeyJoe

Joelle weight loss photos

Debbie lost 70 pounds

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Update 6/2014: Debbie lost 7 more pounds – “I started my weight loss journey April 10, 2013. I have lost 77 pounds and I’m still going strong. The passing of both of my parents just 15 months apart and a couple of health scares made me realize how important getting healthy was for me and my children. Thanks to TaeBo, cutting out sodas, junk food and portion control, I now know how it feels to he healthy. My blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose dropped along with my weight.”

Debbie before and after

Starting weight 220 pounds – Current weight 143 pounds – From size 18-20 to size 8-10

9/12/13 – Today’s featured weight loss success story: Debbie lost 70 pounds in 5 months.  She was motivated by the loss of a loved one.  Here is what she shared about her journey:

I’ve had a weight loss of 70 pounds through adopting a healthy diet and changing my eating habits.  My motivation came from losing my mom from a heart attack.  That’s when I knew I had to change for myself and my children.  My lifestyle change began on April 10,2013, so it’s been a little more than 5 amazing months.

As far as eating habits I cut out ALL sodas, fruit juices and junk foods. I drink water all day.  Also I mainly portion control.  I also cut out ALL sodas and drink water all day. If I want some flavor, I add crystal light. No junk foods and I have portion control.

My workouts consist of an hour of cardio or an hour of power walking or jogging five times a week. I’ve been doing TaeBo 5 times a week, now I’ve added power walking/ jogging.  Each day I do an hour long workout.

No gyms, no pills. Everything natural and just discipline. Also, I stopped weighing myself often and go by the way clothes fit. Went from a 20 to a 10-12! Believe me if I can do this all of you can!

My starting weight was 220 pounds.  My current weight is 150 pounds. I would like another 10 pounds more to reach my goal.

Debbie weight loss

 

Loretta lost 109 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Loretta lost 109 pounds.  She put together her own healthy, effective weight loss and exercise plan.  She has even helped a friend lose 43 pounds since April.  She’s proof that if you do your research and consistently follow a weight loss regime that works for you, weight loss will come.  Here is what she shared with us:

My motivation was that I wanted to LIVE.  I learned that everything that tastes good isn’t always good for you and that I was killing myself with food. I created a healthy meal plan for me that lays out my meals two weeks at a time. I changed my eating habits by eating small, healthy meals every two/three hours and drinking plenty water. My workout routine: I workout everyday for 45 minutes to an hour. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’m doing cardio exercise.  On Tuesday and Thursday, I’m doing muscle toning. On Saturdays, I run up 5 flights of stairs 4/5 times for cardio. My staring weight was 330 pounds and my current 221 pounds. Yea!!! I started this journey on August 2011, a month after losing my mother to lung cancer. I felt off track because I was depressed about the absence of my mother and sister. I got back on track in June 2012 and I haven’t look back. I still have 30 more lbs to go to reach my weight loss goal.  This hasn’t been a easy journey but I’m motivated to lose the weight for good. One of my close friends started working out with me on April 12, 2013 and she’s now 43 pounds lighter.

Loretta's weight loss story

Jonquil lost 59 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after: Nurse, college student and single mother Jonquil lost 59 pounds with diet and exercise. She knew that she needed to get healthy.  Here is what she shared with us:

Jonquil weight loss storyI was a fast food junkie and always on the go. My motivation came from a bet with my boyfriend. Whoever got to their goal the fastest won. I jumped on the bet right away because he and I are very competitive. I had to learn how to cook healthy foods and make them suitable to substitute fast food. I began to see change and so did my peers. I learned to love to eat healthy, especially on the go. I work out 5 days a week. I do 3 days of jogging and 2 days at the gym. My starting weight was 236 pounds and I am now 177 pounds. I’ve began my lifestyle change in November 2012. It’s been 8 months. I realized that dieting alone will not give me my permanent results, a lifestyle change was what I needed. I love working out now. The key to weightloss in my opinion is acknowledging your bad habits and knowing it will take time to adjust them. After I acknowledged my bad habits, I slowly learned to live without them. To this day, I fail and get back up, but I am successful with weight loss because I continue to get back up. I use weight training, whey protein, and cardio. I love my figure,  so I focus on squats and abdominal exercises, and jogging.  It works!  Eating habits: no fried foods, just baked and raw fruits and veggies. I suffer from acne and once I changed my diet, it has significantly decreased my acne.

Jonquil weight loss story

Angelique lost 50 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Angelique who lost 50 pounds.  This 5’1″ wife and mom was able to improve her health and weight by changing her eating habits, using MyFitnessPal and exercising with workout DVDs.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

My name is Angelique and I am a mother and a wife. Back in February 2011, I looked at myself in the mirror and had an “ah ha” moment. I cried so long and so hard. I decided at the weight of 215 pounds, my heightest ever, that it was time for a change. I am only 5’1 tall and that much weight on my frame was not flattering. I went to see my doctor and she advised me that I was prediabetic, had high cholesterol, and was at risk for other chronic illnesses. I decided enough was enough! I did my research and on July 27,2011, I decided to embark on my journey to wellness. I cut out all sweets, fried foods, minimized my pork and beef intake.  I also stopped eating processed foods, got rid of the sodas, started eating more fruit, increased my water and got moving! I started juicing and drinking smoothies. I am happy to say, as of now, I am down 50 pounds and I have a goal to lose 30 more. My children and my husband are my big motivators. They push me when I feel like I want to stop. I use My fitness pal, C25K, Insanity, Hip Hop Abs, and I love Jillian Michaels DVD’s. I try to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio everyday. I eat as clean as possible. You can do it, I have, never give up! My dream is to be a runner and it’s going to happen!

Angelique weight loss story