Black Weight Loss Success

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

Join Our Email List:
We respect your email privacy
You are here: Home / Archives for diet and exercise

diet and exercise

Shatia lost 20 pounds

by 2 Comments

Mother of 5 Shatia has lost 20 pounds since January 2014.  She decided that it was time to give herself some extra attention and change her lifestyle.  Check out here before and after photos:

ShatiaApr14

“My name is Shatia and I’m a 31 year old mom of five. On January 1, 2014, I decided to focus more on myself because I’ve spent so many years mainly catering to the needs of my husband and my children. I was finally ready to take care of me. So, I followed the Bikini Body Mommy’s 90 Day Challenge on YouTube.  I also attended a cardio workout bootcamp every Saturday morning. I also started drinking only water Monday-Saturday and eating a lot healthier. On Sundays I always had “sunday dinner” and wine. LOL, that was my cheat day. I went from 187 pounds to 167 pounds in 90 days. My journey is not over but I’m a lot closer to reaching my goals.”

Instagram: @BEAUTIFUL_MOM_OF5

Sample of the Bikini Body Mom 90 Day Challenge

Saalihah lost 91 pounds

by 8 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story: Saalihah lost 91 pounds.  She worked hard to change her life to avoid chronic health issues and develop a healthy lifestyle.  Read all about her 2 year weight loss journey below:

Saalihah weight loss story

What was your motivation?
“My motivation was first myself. I realize I have to live in this body on a daily basis and I got sick and tired of being sick and tired literally and figuratively. I often denied that I could have any medical problems because there isn’t a history of health related issues in my family. I also assumed that because I was young nothing could happen to me. Not me! No way! In 2011 I was encouraged to check my blood pressure and results were pre-hypertensive. At that moment I had a nervous feeling about my future and silently, to myself, I knew I had to change. Suddenly, along with knowing the results of a simple blood pressure test, I began have chest pains that weren’t explainable. I didn’t want to go to the doctors and be told something that would frighten me any further, so when my birthday came on December 2011 I made a commitment to myself to change my life for the better. I never looked back.”

How did you change your eating habits?
“I changed my eating habits by counting my calories. At first, I used a food journal where I wrote every bite, lick and taste. I then moved onto Myfitnesspal where I kept a daily log consistency, documenting all food eaten and any workouts I would do. My stopped eating anything white, increased my fiber intake to at least 25 grams per day and consumed a decent amount of protein and healthy fats. My water intake increased and my sodium decreased. I read labels (which kept me the stores longer) to avoid buying foods with high fructose corn syrup, MSG and trans fat (also goes one known name as hydrogenated cottonseed oil or palm oil, often found in the ingredients). Choosing more vegetables and fruit over refined sugary foods.”

What did your workout routines look like?
“My workouts were of a variety, from kickboxing, strength training, walking, aerobics, HIIT, kettle bell workouts, and running. I embraced running seriously in 2013 and have done several races which included completing 3 half marathons. My dedication to exercise is so serious that I have over 150 workouts videos saved in my Youtube playlist to-date. Most of the time my workouts would be done in the morning before 9am. I started off with working out 3-4 days per week and then moved to 5 days per week consistently. As I lost weight my health improved and I wasn’t getting sick as much, thus allowing me to stay on top of my workouts.”

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
“My heaviest starting weight in 2006 was 247 lbs but in 2011 my starting weight was 236 lbs. My current weight is 145 lbs.”

How long did your transformation take?
“It took me 2 years.”

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
“My advice to others is focus on what’s most important in your life that and “living well” should be at the top of the list. If we aren’t taking care of or loving ourselves, how can we give the best to others? Learn to put yourself first and know that YOU matter above all. Stay consistent, even if your steps are small the point is to never give up. When obstacles cross your path knock them out with a plan of action. Focus on smalls goals such as “I want to lose my first 5lbs”. Write down your goals and share your journey with others. This keeps you accountable. Finally, be determined, remain patient, understand life will try to trip you up but always bounce back and remember your ultimate goal. I am proud to say, I am a black woman losing weight!”

Chelsea lost 45 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Featured Weight Loss Story: Chelsea lost 45 pounds.  This petite college Junior started her weight loss journey in 2012 and is now 10 pounds away from her goal.  Slow and steady wins the race!!  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Chelsea's weight loss story

“Hello, my name is Chelsea Watson. I am 21 years old and a Junior at Berea College. I started my weight lost journey on September 24, 2012. On that faithful day, I weighed-in at 198 pounds at 5’2″. Now, I weight 155 pounds! When I started I wore a size XL shirt and a size 13 to 15 pants. Now, I wear a size Small shirt and a size 7 to 9 pants.

I started my weight loss journey because I was tired of being unhealthy and feeling terrible. My journey started with Shaun T’s Insanity workout video and that really inspired me to continue. Now, I go to the gym 4-6 times a week doing various activities ranging from running on the treadmill for 3 to 12 miles or weight-lifting. It is currently training season for my 5th half marathon.

My eating and drinking habits changed over time too. I started drinking water (yes, I said it I STARTED DRINKING WATER) to the point now that’s all I drink. I incorporated vegetables in my diet.  For example, for every lunch I like to eat a huge spinach salad with turkey. Also, I’m a huge fan of egg whites!

Losing weight is tough so it’s important to have a strong mindset. Before I started, it took me a long time just to accomplish this step. Due to my mental strength, I able to push through the tough workout and achieve my plan to lose weight!”

Instagram: @chelw327

Andrea lost 52 pounds

by 3 Comments

Today’s Weight Loss Success Story: Andrea lost 52 pounds. She was motivated by wanting to set a good example for her family and to motivate others to live a healthy lifestyle.  Her story is a great example of how making practical, straight forward changes can bring serious results.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Andrea's weight loss story

What is your motivation?
My motivation is to live a healthy lifestyle that will be a good example for my children and motivate others to begin their journey to good health.

How did you change your eating habits?
The first change I made to my eating habits was to make at least 80% of my diet life giving foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables. “If it doesn’t rot or sprout you might want to throw it out.” I love the local farmers market because I believe that God designed our bodies to eat seasonally. So, whatever is at the farmers market is most likely what my body needs for that season. I also primarily stay on the outer perimeter of the grocery store when shopping. I also try my best to pre-prepare all of my meals and added green drinks to my diet.

Andrea's weight lossWhat did your workout routines look like?
I walk 1.5 miles at 4:30am 5 days a week. I do a spin class once or twice a week. I do 30 minutes of calisthenics and weight training 3 to 4 days a week. I also believe that weight loss happens from the inside out. So for me I use my faith in Jesus to address issues that might trigger emotional eating habits. I also attend a mind body and soul groups at my church. I have also completed 2 Half Marathons!

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I am at the midpoint in my journey and have about 75 more pounds to go to get to my goal weight. When I first weighted in, I was at 278 pounds now I am at 226 pounds. At the end of my journey I will have lost 120 pounds. My goal is to get this done by the end of my calendar year.

How long did your transformation take?
I have been on this journey for two years. My weight loss has been slow and steady because this time I didn’t want to do any fad dieting. Every time I have done fad dieting I loose a massive amount of weight only to put it back on plus more. This is the first time that I have lost weight and not put it all back on.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
“Recently I became inspired to help others that are where I started and doing this helps me move forward to my final goal.  I encourage people to look at weight loss as a change of lifestyle instead of diet and make realistic changes over time that will last for the rest of their life. I believe that small changes over a long period of time make a big difference. Above all to not just look at what you’re eating but also take a close look at what’s eating you. I realize I am only at the midpoint of my journey and many others have completed theirs it would be an honor if my story was shared now and I can check back in when I have me my goal. I feel like this would be a great accountability opportunity. To Him be all the glory.”

Check her out on Twitter: @ADJOSEPHS

Update: Felicia lost 67 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Update: We featured Felicia’s story on December 20, 2013.  She has lost an additional 14 lbs and only 4 lbs away from her goal weight. That’s a total weight loss of 67 pounds.Felicia weight loss story
“So much has happened since my original story posted and I had no idea how much of an inspiration I was for other people. I have successfully completed a round of Shaun T’s T25 Beachbody program, as well as became a licensed ZUMBA instructor! I am currently down to 139 pounds (original weight: 206 pounds) and that number on the scale no longer matters to me. I am HAPPY!!!!!! I have received so many positive emails, messages and comments and this website here remains my number one favorite. Thank you for all that you do with highlighting the success of our beautiful black women.”

Read our original post from December to find out how she lost the weight.  Check Felicia out on Instagram: @she_did_that313

Felicia Weight Loss

Original Photo (Dec 2013)

Felicia weight loss blog

 

Gwen lost 91 pounds

by 4 Comments

Featured Weight Loss Story of the Day: Gwen lost 91 pounds.  This proud mom decided that she was too young to feel out of shape and made a promise to herself that she kept.  Find out what she did to lose the weight:

Gwen's weight loss story

I am a 36 year old mother of four, I work full time and I recently finished a college degree. Needless to say, I was really busy and ate what was fast and covenant. During an office trip to New Orleans the summer of 2012, I really could not enjoy myself sightseeing with my co-workers. With all the walking we were doing, I could only think about how bad my body hurt. At the time, I was 34 years old and felt that I was way too young to be this out of shape. I had tried many times to lose weight but never really stuck with it. This time I made a promise to myself to really give it my all. So in March of 2013, I decided to cut out all fast & fried food, sodas, sweets, beef, & pork. I started eating baked chicken, fish, lots of veggies and fruit. I joined a gym and gradually worked myself up to 45 minutes of cardio and 30-45 minutes of strength training 4-5 days a week. My starting weight was a whopping 320 pounds.  Now it’s March 2014 and I am currently 229 pounds. This makes my total weight loss 91 lbs. I have gone from a size 28 to a size 16/18. I still want to lose another 50-60 lbs. My advice to others is to just try for real and take it one day, one pound at a time.

Shay lost 52 pounds

by 4 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story: Shay lost 52 pounds.  This proud mom worked hard to change her diet and shed the pounds.  She is now addicted to working out.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

weight loss before and after

I basically just began to see my friends change in their weight and they began to motivate me because I saw that they were working out.  I started out eating right and doing random workouts. Now, I’m addicted to working out about 5 times a week and doing a lot of meal prep.

I changed my eating habits on a 90 day challenge with Smart Ones Weight Watchers meals. I was eating the breakfast sandwiches they make and the meals for lunch and dinner.  For any sweet tooth, I ate a snack that was 100 calories or less. I had mostly fruits for dessert or Smart Ones desserts. I was on a 1200 calorie diet in the first 3 months and I lost 25 lbs. I started drinking smoothies and using them for meal replacement. Now, I’m juicing and I purchased an Omega Juicer. I love it.”

I started at 235 pounds on April 1 2013 and dropped down to 183 pounds at my lowest so far. I stopped doing so much cardio because I wanted to see more form and started lifting.  Now, I’ve gained about 18 lbs back in muscle weight but I see a big difference now in my figure.

I would run about 4/5 miles, 5 times a wk (sometimes 7 days if I had the time). I joined the gym on August 26, 2013 when school started, because I was no longer able to allow my child to ride her bike with me while I ran because school was in.

My advice to others: If you want something and you want it bad then the key is to come up with a plan stick with that plan. Stay consistent. If you fall, get back up and start again. It’s never too late and it doesn’t happen overnight. 

Instagram: @1getfit_or_2getfat

Shay's weight loss story

 

LaToya lost 137 pounds

by 5 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: LaToya lost 137 pounds and today is her “fitiversary”.  She really embraced healthy eating and regular exercise, creating her own weight loss and exercise plan by learning what works for her.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

weight loss story

Hello, Ladies. I have pondered whether or not to submit to any of these beautiful inspirational pages, but hearing the word inspiring of inspirational referred to my journey thus far I decided part one was ready to be shared. I am Toya and 32 years old, but have lived life as a “big girl” since birth popping out at just over 9 pounds. So why now? Better question, why not now? At thirty-two, I am happily married, with a Master’s degree, plenty of supportive friends and family members, but most importantly, it was time for me to start taking care of me. There are no sudden medical issues or anything like that, I truly woke up one morning and felt it was time for a change. I decided to use that time and energy on me so I could do some of those things that were taken off or slowly fell off my list of adventures like sky diving, parasailing, horse back riding, and zip lining.

My mental transformation journey began on March 15, 2013 (my mother’s birthday) and the first two weeks I kept a log of what I ate on myfitnesspal.com. I got to see what I ate and how it affected me.  I also learned how a little exercise can really make a difference. After two weeks of birthday celebrating for my husband and myself, I decided that on April 7, 2013 I would detox. The detox I chose to do is found in the book, Lose Weight Without Dieting or Exercising by J. J. Smith (jjsmithonline.com). Her method is called the DEM (Detox, Eat, and Move method). She made this weight loss thing make more sense by emphasizing that exercise is everywhere and eating is fun especially when done right.

Now, please know that in the past I did the FenPhen thing, no carbs, low carbs, Atkins, South Beach, Lose 21 pounds in 21 days thing (Martha Vineyard diet — too strict for me but did work). I read Fat Smash, Extreme Fat Smash, another Dr. Ian book, and the South Beach diet. I started exercising daily eventually joined a gym (four months in for weight training and aerobic classes…i.e. Abs sculpt, core and more, boot camp, Foxylicious, kickboxing, and spinning (almost)). Actually started working out twice a day — AM workout before work (yup, usually late to work) and PM workout right after work before dinner, sitting down, etc.  I learned to play tennis, went bowling with My best friend regularly, and did numerous workout tapes consisting of; Hip Hop Abs (1& 2), Core Pilates (can’t do this one yet..still finding my core), Sizzling Salsa, Yoga Booty Ballet, a kick boxing tape, Zumba, P90X (not yet tried), Asylum (not yet tried) Insanity (one month completed), Taebo, Turbo Fire, Bellydancing, Core Rythms, T25 (not yet tried), Billy Blanks Jr. workout tape, Jazzercise Burlesque, and possibly a few more that I often rotate.  I also went walking at the park.

From my start date to now (a year later), I am down 137 pounds. I have at least another 100 to go but I am SO happy with my progress. I am much healthier in my food choices (although food was not my biggest enemy) such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, turkey, water mostly, lean cuts of meat, cooking at home, fruits and vegetables. I also do the six or seven times a day eating thing. My current workout routine is still five to seven days a week of classes, DVDs and strength training found from Pinterest or other supportive networks.  I am in week 5 of T25 beta for a.m. workout, and gym or tennis for evening workout.  I’m also completing Hoopnotica (have three classes left on my group on) and will start the Flat Belly challenge (JJ Smith’s newest book) tomorrow.

Ladies, this journey is definitely hard but doable. Realize why you want to do it, and start small towards that. For me, it was parasailing on my next cruise and now I can due to losing the weight. Feel free to check my blog http://bringingsassycaramelback.blogspot.com to keep up with my craziness and best of luck on your transformation journeys.

LaToya's weight loss story LaToya's weight loss story

 

Tomeka lost 40 pounds

by 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tomeka lost 40 pounds.  Finding herself in a place where many life challenges were closing in all at once, Tomeka decided to take charge of her health and happiness.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey.

Tomeka weight loss

I wanted to submit my story in hopes of inspiring someone. I started my journey in May 2013 weighing 244 pounds. I was taking 2 medications for high blood pressure. I was also depressed all the time. My life and my marriage was going downhill fast. I was tired of being unhappy. So, I made a choice. I had to make some changes fast. I went to the goodwill and I bought a cheap treadmill and some weights. I begin walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day and doing a little weight training. I then cut out sodas, fast food and red meat. Later, I got comfortable with the changes my body made and quickly fell off the weight loss wagon for a months. I realized that I had come too far to just give up. I’ve since then I’ve lost 40 pounds. I’ve stopped weighing myself because I was addicted to the scale. I am now only taking 1 of my meds at a much lower dosage and I should be completely off soon. My advice to anyone would be to research and see what will work for you. You may fail but just keep going its so worth it. Start slow with small changes and just go for it. Instagram @tomeka_levette to follow my journey.

Tomeka before and after

 

Jenise lost 28 pounds

by 3 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story: Jenise lost 28 pounds and gained a new perspective on her mental and physical well being.  She has some real wisdom to share and especially wants to inspire petite ladies and those who are middle-aged.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Jenise weight loss

Since July 1, 2013, I’ve lost 28 lbs. by committing to 90% clean eating and 6 days a week of cardio and strength training. This was just Release #1 for me; I have another 20-30lbs. to lose. I’d like to inspire other short, middle-aged women like myself to get off the couch and move!

MOTIVATION:
My motivation to get healthy is a three-fold process I’ve penned for myself as The Trilogy: mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I’d observed that I was settling for mediocrity in all areas of my life and had allowed the desires of others to consume me. I decided to give myself permission to put myself at the top of my to-do list, set some boundaries, and start to be the change I wished everyone else would make.

EATING HABITS ADJUSTMENT:
I was stubborn for the first 4 months and thought I could out-exercise a bad diet. Previously, I’d skip meals and eat too much at dinner. I then accepted that I had to change my eating habits and began preparing 90% clean meals of lean meats, veggies, and fruit. I eliminated sugar and salt and eat 5-6 small meals on a 2-3 hour schedule.

WORKOUT:
I started working out by walking short distances, doing the plank, and other core exercises. As my endurance increased, I started jogging and strength training for 45-60 minutes, six days a week.

STARTING & CURRENT WEIGHT:
July 1, 2013 = 194
March 31, 2014 = 166

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE:
8 months

ADVICE:
My advice would be to: give yourself permission to put yourself first, be as good to yourself as you are to others, and identify and correct WHY you overeat (i.e., emotional triggers).

Check her out on Instagram: @genuinejenise

Jenise weight loss