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eating habits

Krystle lost 115 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Krystle lost 115 pounds.  She credits changing her eating habis and eating 1300 calories per day.

“I did it the natural way.  No surgery! I took the before picture in May 2012 and the after picture in February 2013 with a total weight loss of 115 pounds!  I just had to make the decision not eat the things I ate before.  I changed my diet to 1300 calories a day. Trust me, it wasn’t easy but I had to dedicate myself to making healthier choices. I think my biggest motivation was my kids and trying to prove to myself that I can do it without the surgery.  Dedication! That’s the secret.”

Krystle weight loss success

Elaine lost 42 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Elaine lost 42 pounds and has gone from a size 20 to a size 14.  She credits God, changing her eating habits, juicing, and exercise for her transformation.  She says:

Elaine weight lossMy Journey was not an easy one. I had so many trials going on at one time. My family was affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, In 2006 my son (who never been in trouble) was facing charges of 10 yrs.  He was charged with Guilt by Association in Oklahoma City and I didn’t have the finances to get an attorney (He was cleared of all Charges).  By 2008, I was going thru a divorce. So long story short ” Life Happened”.

I remember crying after looking in the mirror one day and asking myself “How did you let yourself get like this”.  I was 242lbs, and had severe high blood pressure of 200/144.  I have always been a fighter, and it was time to fight!  From my hospital bed, I surrendered my life to God and asked Him to save me and restore me. After I was discharged from the hospital, I knew If I wanted to live I had to change some things in my life. I was a good mother, my kids deserved to enjoy me at my best. They are my true motivation!!!

I seeked help thru counseling, because I realized I was eating every issue that I was going through. After 2 months of counseling, I was ready to do whatever I had to do to start loving myself again and with God’s Grace, I could save my life.

I started researching for list of nutrients that were healthy and would be most beneficial for my body in order to heal from all the toxic and bad food that I fed to myself. I made a list to eliminated all junk foods and drinks, labeling them “Non Factor Foods”, because they were not serving a purpose in my temple. The lifestyle changes I made was more like the foods listed in the Daniel Fast , but I added olive oil, coconut oil, whole wheat bread and Oatmeal with some pecans.  I ate 50% less sugar to keep from depriving myself. I also purchased Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home – 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk at Home Videos. After 3 weeks of dedication, walking everyday 1 mile and increasing my miles…the weight started falling off. I later upgraded to Shaun T Rockin Body videos and I also started juicing between meals. And 42lbs later…Here I am. God is Good and I give Him all the glory. My heart, mind, body and soul have been restored and I just want to help, inspire and encourage as many people as I can.

Stephanie lost 30 pounds

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Today’s weight loss story:  Stephanie lost 30 pounds.  She did it by changing her eating habits, doing workout programs (P90x, Zumba, Turbo Fire) and running.

“My name is Stephanie and I started my weight loss program on November 2012. Starting weight was 230 pounds. I’m currently down 30 pounds by doing P90x, Zumba, Turbo Fire and running. I’m not done by far and cant wait to see more changes. In terms of eating to lose weight, I changed my eating habits by eating more veggies, fruits and lots of water.  I also completely cut out fried foods and started to bake more food.  I also switched from hamburger meat to turkey.  Thank you to my Family and Friends who have been by my side on this exciting new journey.. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!! MOTIVATION!!!!! :)”

Stephanie weight loss

Nikkia lost 52 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Nikkia lost 52 pounds by using MyFitnessPal and embracing plant-based eating.

“My name is Nikkia and I have been on a weight loss yoyo. A couple years ago, I joined Weight Watchers and started going to meetings and such. I would do good for a couple months and maybe lose 20 pounds but then i would fall back into old ways. During this time I became vegetarian and it seemed like I gained even more weight because I migrated to cheese more.  Even though I worked out some I blew up to a size 18 and 256 pounds. I knew I had to do something.  My coworker told me about an app called MyFitnessPal. It helps you track calories and workout activity.  It was the best thing ever and it works for me. Now I am at 204 pounds and have lost a total of 52 pounds so far and counting! I am now as of 2 weeks ago a full blown vegan, so we shall see where that takes me.”

nickmar13

Shekeena lost over 100 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Shekeena lost over 100 pounds by working out, eating clean and drinking WATER!

“Here’s my weight loss story: I’ve been over weight ALL my life. I’ve also tried every diet you can think of, but nothing worked. So I gave up on trying to lose the weight. One day I was sitting watching tv and my heart started beating really fast. That was the day I knew I had to do something, either get the weight off or die young. I go to the gym 6 days a week and twice a day Monday thru Friday. I eat clean meats ONLY, no sweets, fried foods, nor fast foods. It’s been a year since I’ve had pork and soda..WATER WATER WATER. Now I’ve lost OVER 100 pounds.  I don’t get on the scale I let my clothing do the talking.  Oh and I still have some more weight to get off, but I’m close.  NEVER give up if I can do it YOU can do it. GOD will help you see it thru.”

Shekeena

Question: Is Soul Food Making Black Folks Fat?

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soul foodHappy Day 8 of our March Challenge!!   Ladies, I’d love for your to weigh-in on what I know is a serious discussion in our community.  “Soul Food Junkies” recently aired on PBS and it has definitely spurred some conversation (video below) on this topic.

  • Is Soul Food a main component of our weight gain equation?
  • Why is soul food so important to us and is that a reason to defend it without question?
  • Should black people stop eating soul food?
  • Should we just cook our soul food in heathier ways?  What would those ways be?
  • Has soul food been demonized?
  • How can we both celebrate our food heritage and eat healthy?

 

I would love to know what the Black Women Losing Weight sisterhood thinks about these questions.

A note about the film:

“At least, this is the theory that drove Hurt’s documentary. His father, Jackie Hurt, was a soul food lover, and he was obese.  He died of pancreatic cancer in 2004 at the age of 63. His father’s death led the filmmaker to examine the significance of this black culinary tradition—and the consequences of it on our health. (Diet-related health statistics for black folks are frightening: 4 in 5 African-American women are overweight or obese, and African Americans in general are more than twice as likely as whites to die of diabetes.)” – blackhealthmatters.com

Crystal lost 62 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Crystal lost 62 pounds by working out and changing her diet.  She took up belly dancing and loves it.

I gained 75 pounds when I had my son almost 3 years ago.   Just over a year ago, I was almost 300 pounds and I knew that I had to do something about it!  So, I changed my eating habits (no soda,sugar,bread,etc) and started working out 3 times a week. I walked everyday and stopped eating after 7 pm. As of today I have lost 62 pounds!

I started in November of 2011. I started by going to a nutrionist and dietician who gave me some ideas for dieting. I cut out soda completely, not even diet and i only drank juice that was crystal light or sugar free koolaid. I only ate 300-400 calories per meal. No fried food, no fast food and no bread. I actually eat a lot of lunchables (crackers n meat kind), not to many calories and just the right portion size for me. I still drink coffee every morning but ive learned to have decaf and splenda. I walk on the treadmill for 45 mins a day and I do a full work out (sit ups, squats, push ups and belly dancing) 3 times a week. I found the belly dancing helps me a lot.”

Crystal weight loss journey

LaTasha lost 62 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: LaTasha lost 62 pounds.

“After having 3 kids (9yr old, 7yr old and 3 yr old) I just couldn’t get my weight back under control. I needed a change so I began my weight loss journey January 1 2012 and never looked back! I’ve lost 62lbs so far. I workout 5 to 6 days a wk, I eat less and try to make better food choices. I used to hate working out, now feel bad when I miss a day. I can’t afford a gym membership or a trainer so I do it on my own. My weight loss secret is simply hard work and dedication.

As far as eating habits, there is almost nothing I tell myself I can’t have because that will make me want it more! So moderation is the key for me, no more downing a big bag of Munchos in one sitting. I just try to eat less and added more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I only drink water but when I need some flavor I add lemon or a pack of Crystal Light. I can’t afford a gym membership/trainer so I workout at home using dvds (such as Jillian Michaels and Billy Blanks), kettlebells, stability ball. When the weather is warm I try to jog on a track at the local high school. But my favorite thing to do lately is Wii Zumba Fitness Core. It’s sooo much fun!”

Latasha weight loss

Devin lost 204 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Devin lost 204 pounds with the gastric sleeve.  She went from 443 lbs to 239 lbs and is still losing!!

She says, “I had the gastric sleeve surgery in April 2011.  I had to eat five small meals throughout the day.  I also cut out sodas and a lot of sweets. It’s all a mind control thing.  You have to be mentally prepared and focus on changing your bad habits.”

Devin weight loss surgery

Connie lost 120 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Connie lost 120 pounds.  She said,

“I started out with changing my eating habits (I stopped eating late night and no after hours snacking). Lowering my portions and changing what I ate. Then I started walking daily and now I run 3-4 times a week (3-4 miles) and the elliptical machine.  It took me two years to get the weight off and I’ve kept it off for almost 3 years now.”

Connie weight loss