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Fabian lost 86 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Fabian.  She lost 86 pounds after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  She is an overcomer!! [MS is an issue that is dear to my heart because my father had it.]

“My name is Fabian B. Crawford and back in 2011 I was over 256 pounds at 5’3. I decided to lose weight when I received life changing news.  I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was a dark time in my life where I was depressed and sick. I woke up early one morning and I decided it was time for a change.  I was overcomer with a firm belief in God, so this could not possibly be my life. I worked out three times a week by just walking at first and I even had to battle my own body in order to begin jogging. I replaced carbs with whole wheat products, fatty meats with lean meats, and sweets with natural sugars. I used Calorie Counter in order to keep track of my eating habits. Today I enjoy an 86 pound weight loss and I weigh currently 170 lbs and I’m continuing to lose weight.  It took a total of two years in order to lose the weight. I have continued to maintain my weight loss without gaining even one pound back. I never considered my changes a diet, but a lifestyle change. I started a blog in order to help others and to promote a healthy lifestyle. Just make small changes slowly until you make it to your goal weight.”

Check out Fabian’s blog urbanmschick.com

Fabian weight loss photos

Karen lost 60 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Karen.  She lost 60 pounds after dealing with years of tremendous loss and sleep apnea. Here is what she shared about improving her health and losing the pounds:

Karen weight loss diet

“Hello my name is Karen. I am 47 years old. My weight loss is a testament of God’s Grace and Mercy. My weight gain began my sophomore year in college and gradually progressed through the years. I had several storms in my life which caused me to be depressed. My brother was murdered at the age of 25, my childhood friend died soon after. My closest friend in college died of sleep apnea. My father died in 2000 and I lost my grandmother in 2010. My grandmother was with us until the age of 107. She was the rock of the family. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. People say just think they had a long life or it was their time. Knowing all of this does not take the pain away. Even though we move forward their still in our hearts. I was in an emotional roller coaster relationship that was not healthy for me. I begin to stress eat and before I knew it I had gained quite a bit of weight.

Because of God’s Grace and Mercy I knew that changes needed to take place in my life and that meant I had to be willing to make those changes. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and menopause in my early 40’s. I had gone to several doctors and no one could really diagnose what was wrong with me. I was frustrated. About four years ago I had gone to an urologist and he suggested that I go through a sleep study for sleep apnea. I was in denial. I said, no. I did not listen. However, I continued to have the same symptoms only by this time I was sleeping all day after coming home from work. My mother would send my sisters to my house to check on me. I would become so angry because they were interrupting my sleep. I now know that I could have slept on and not awakened. I was transferred on my job. This sent me back into a state of depression and I began to eat foods that made me feel good such as ice cream, cookies, and hamburgers from McDonalds, Taco Bell and Popeye’s. This hurt because I was happy where I was working I had been there for fifteen years. It was difficult for me to accept this change. I tried a new doctor and when I told him my symptoms he immediately suggested that I had sleep apnea and suggested that I be tested to validate the diagnoses. In February of this year I went through the sleep apnea clinic and was diagnosed in April. I knew that my weight was a contributing factor to my condition. All I could think about was that my friend had died from sleep apnea 25 years ago. He had given up and I had to fight for him in my mind.

I was overweight I needed to change my eating habits and lose weight. My doctor put me on a 1200 calorie diet. I lost 20 pounds in two months. I walked ten miles a day even though I was supposed to walk for 30 minutes. I wanted it! The third month I only lost 3 pounds. I decided to go on the HCG diet. It takes discipline as with any diet however, this was a weight loss tool that worked for me. It is a low calorie diet. It consists of fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, shrimp, and lean hamburger meat just to name a few. I have lost 60 pounds and I am continuing my weight loss journey. I want to lose another 40 pounds. I am no longer on blood pressure medication. It is because of God’s grace that I am still here. I know that I have a purpose to fulfill in this life’s journey. I awaken every morning reading two of Steve Maraboli’s inspirational quotes: “Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!”. And the other quote: “When you rise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love –then make that day count!”. We are faced with many obstacles in life however; it is up to us to make that change. We are going to make mistakes in this life. We are human. Just start again and just do not give up. Remember God’s grace and mercy will carry one through. I am a living witness that he will help you on your journey. Don’t give up keep moving forward! It is through change that I have grown. I end with this quote Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication.

‘Remember all things are possible for those who believe.’
— Gail Devers”

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

 

What is PCOS and how does it affect weight gain and weight loss?

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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been directly linked to the weight gain in some women. If you are following all of the right practices to lose weight and haven’t made progress, or are gaining weight even though you are exercising and have reduced your caloric intake, you may want to ask your doctor about being tested for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Understanding whether or not PCOS is affecting your body can help you to formulate a better plan to gain and manage a healthy weight.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrine disorder that leads to the growth of small cysts on the ovaries. It can have other effects in your life beyond just making managing a healthy weight difficult. PCOS has also been linked to menstrual and reproductive difficulties as well. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of all women will develop PCOS in their lifetime. Treatment can vary from prescription medication to control the endocrine and hormonal levels in the body to prevent cyst growth to surgery to remove the cysts.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

Unfortunately there aren’t very many striking symptoms to let you know that you have developed polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many women are unaware they have it until they begin to experience unexplained weight gain or have difficulty in losing weight. Some women may begin to experience painful menstruation or have erratic menstrual patterns. Only a doctor can diagnose PCOS.

Why does it interfere with weight management?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrine disorder. This means that the body is producing an imbalance in hormones. Hormones can have a huge effect on your ability to gain or lose weight. The fat around the belly and hips is much different than the fat stored elsewhere around the body. These are estrogen receptor fat cells, fed by estrogen and their presence has recently been linked to an increase in risk for certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. It you have PCOS, your body does not have the right hormone balance to support the processes to convert these fat cells to ketones that can then be consumed by the body. PCOS exists because of a very complicated reaction of the endocrine system to signals that the medical community is just barely beginning to understand. The specifics of how it works in each person varies, which is why treating it can be difficult.

What should I do?

If you have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or you suspect that you have it, talk to your doctor. With proper testing, you can receive a diagnosis. From there you and your doctor can discuss a variety of options. While surgery to remove a cyst may be indicated, the concern is that the endocrine system will just keep recreating the problem. Getting the endocrine system under control and balancing the hormones in the body may be your best way to prevent a recurrence and to get back on track to maintaining a healthy weight.

Different treatments

There are a variety of prescription drugs, including Metformin, that your doctor may try to help you get your PCOS under control. They can include everything from hormone therapy to endocrine support medications. There is much you can do to help yourself as well. Making sure that you are eating a balanced diet with the right vitamins and nutrients to support a woman’s endocrine system is essential. It is important to also make adjustments to your diet and supplements as you age to meet your body’s needs.

Certain types of “health foods” may not be the best idea for you to eat if you are trying to manage an endocrine reaction. Certain types of soy help the body to produce estrogen which may not help you with PCOS. A 2005 NIH study showed that a low carb diet could be helpful since insulin resistance is a common condition associated with PCOS.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age and is associated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. Because low carbohydrate diets have been shown to reduce insulin resistance, this pilot study investigated the six-month metabolic and endocrine effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) on overweight and obese women with PCOS…

In this pilot study, a LCKD led to significant improvement in weight, percent free testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and fasting insulin in women with obesity and PCOS over a 24 week period.” [source]

It is also a good idea to look for more information on any herbal supplements that you take as many are known to have specific hormonal effects that may not be clearly marked on the label as they are sold for a different purpose. The best thing you can do is to talk with your doctor. Bring a list of all the vitamins and supplements you take, along with a copy of your regular diet so you can work together to lessen the chance of PCOS occurring.

Candace lost 89 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Candace lost 89 pounds by changing her eating habits and walking.  She has kept the weight of since 2011.

My name is Candace and I’ve lost 89 pounds. I have been on a diet since 2010 and it has been a long journey for me but I am Thankful.  Well, I started on a diet after my granny passed away.  I was 269 pounds and I was at the end of my rope with my weight.  My daughter was only 5 and I wanted to be able to play and run with her.  I was diagnosed with hypertension while expecting and it never left.  I control this condition myself now.  I calorie count.  I walk regularly.  I dont eat after 7.  No sugar, no starches and no fried foods.  I have not gained a pound back since 2011. I am thankful but I am still workin at it.

Candace weight loss