gym

Nneka lost 50 pounds

November 26, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nneka lost 50 pounds. Clean eating, doing cardio and the Insanity program changed her life. She went from 205 lbs in July 2012 to 155 lbs in October 2012 and has kept the weight off for 2 years.

Nneka before and after

My motivation was realizing that I had gained over 30 lbs since I started college in 2009. I changed my eating habits completely by removing all excess sugars, soda, juice, fried and processed foods. My diet mainly consisted of egg whites, fresh vegetables and protein (turkey breast/baked chicken). I did the Insanity program as my form of working out and supplemented it with additional cardio sessions 5-7 times a week. At my heaviest, I was 205 pounds and my current weight is 155 pounds and I am “6,0” tall.

The best advice I have for anyone trying to lose weight is #1 get your diet under control before you start a workout regimen. It’s difficult to see results when you’re not eating properly. Point #2, diligence is key. In the past, I tried several diets and work out regimens but they always included “off days” and “cheat meals”. When I started insanity, I made a permanent lifestyle change and I stopped purchasing foods that I shouldn’t eat and made sure to stick to my diet and workout regimen even during vacations and going out to dinner.

Instagram: @Nneka_Meshelle

Sheena lost 87 pounds

November 21, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 10 Comments

Update: More than 2 years later, Sheena is still going strong.

Before & now #LittleBlackDress 💙 I’m not done yet #TransformationTuesday

A post shared by 📷 Sheenas Lifestyle Change 👆 (@determined2satisfied) on Apr 4, 2017 at 10:24am PDT

Instagram: @determined2satisfied

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Sheena lost 87.2 pounds. After years of starting and quoting diets she decided to recommit to her goals and was inspired by the stories of others online to change her life. She has chronicled her inspiring journey on Instagram and now she’s sharing with us about how she lost the weight…

Sheena before and after

START Determined: END Satisfied! It started off about wanting to lose 100 pounds before I graduated with my MBA but it is so much more than that. I’ve learned that the only way be successful losing weight is to make it a LIFESTYLE change. No crazy DIETS just eating better, working out and staying motivated. It took me a long time and many failed attempts but I’m more determined than ever and enjoying this journey. It’s crazy how much can change in such a short period of time. One decision to lose weight has the power to change your entire life. People ask me how I started and how did I lose the weight?

My story sounds like so many others, I’ve been overweight my who life. I don’t really remember a time which I wasn’t the chubby/big/fat whatever you want to label it girl. As a child I got made fun of a little but not really to my face. It was more of me feeling others got chosen over me because of my weight. I’ve always had a lot of friends and even though I would have preferred to be smaller I still loved myself. My weight issues probably bothered me more inside then I let it show to the world. I tried so many DIETS and QUIT that eventually I embraced the cute big girl look. I went to college, worked, partied and traveled. I usually didn’t let my weight stop me. I tried some more DIETS during and after college but quit those too. I had my son in 2011 and I believe I was back to weighing the same 225 pounds soon after, so I can’t use the “I gained weight with the baby” excuse. Lol

When 2013 came around, I weighed in at 248 pounds and I knew if I didn’t do something soon I might hit 300 pounds. I followed an account on Instagram for months with such inspirational post (@mbfitsupportsu ) I found a whole world of people on Instagram documenting their weight loss journeys. I watched real people, shrink in a matter of months. I watched them post recipes, workouts, tips and motivational quotes. It was December 2013 and my Fall semester of Graduate school was coming to an end. I remember how much trouble I was having earlier that semester and thinking wow you really turned it around at the end. Then I asked myself why is it that no matter how hard school gets, I complete it. I might cry, be mad or whatever, but the work gets done no matter how crazy work or life gets. I told myself that I needed to look at going to the gym as school and eating right as my homework. If all those regular girls on Instagram can do it then why couldn’t I? Finally after almost a year of watching other people transform their bodies I opened up my own Instagram journey account @sheenafitzai, now @startdetermined__endsatisfied. On December 11th 2013, I weighed in at 255.6 pounds.

When I first started, I made small changes. A normal day drinking wise for me before my journey started would be maybe some OJ in the morning, a bottle of grape soda for lunch and maybe some coffee with lots of sugar and milk. I didn’t really drink a lot during the day but whatever I did drink something it wasn’t water. So when I started my journey I decided to drink WATER only. I stopped eating out as much and changed what I ordered when I did eat out. I could eat out more than once a day, usually I would order something for lunch at work and buy something for dinner. Vegetables and fruits weren’t really part of my diet, so I started eating more vegetable and fruits. Making a green smoothie in the morning made it easier for me to get my servings of veggies/fruit in.

I worked out at home and used guest passes at different gyms before I actually joined Synergy. I would go to the gym walk a mile and go home. Doesn’t sound like much now but it was a lot for me at the time. So many times in the past I joined a gym or workout program then never went back. I wanted to commit to working out before joining anything this time. The more I went, the harder I pushed myself. In the beginning of my journey, I mostly went on the Elliptical and Treadmill but also did 30 day challenges I found online that focused on different parts of the body. An example would be a 30 day squat challenge or plank challenge. I also tried different classes at the gym, like PoundFit, Zumba, Kickboxing basically anything they offered. I even went to a Cross Fit class, swimming classes at a different gym and bootcamp classes. Anything to keep me motivated. I tried to do something everyday even if it was only 20 minutes. I also took walks on my lunch breaks. I posted pictures and documented my journey on Instagram for motivation and support.

My last weigh-in was 11-14-14 at 168.4 pounds. I am down 87.2 pounds and fighting to hit 100 pounds by my year mark by December 11 2014 (I’m 5’1″). Now I’m proving myself wrong. If I can do this, I’m telling you so can you. Make this Lifestyle change a priority and the results will come.

My advice: This journey is 100% mental; you should embrace the journey. Commit to a Lifestyle Change not a DIET. Take it slow and do your research. Just because someone does it one way doesn’t mean that’s how you have to. Take the things you see and make them work for you. Meal prep things that work for you; meals you will eat. Keep an open mind and try new things. Start cooking your own meals and find ways to make the unhealthy meals healthier. Be reasonable when setting goals. Don’t compare your day 1 with someones day 300. You are amazing and if you put your mind to it you can do it :). I used to make a lot of excuses, I used to say the one thing I couldn’t do was lose weight .

RECAP:
Embrace the journey #thinkpositive
Try to change the way you think!!
Do your own research!!
Find out what works for you!!!
Use all your resources. (IG, YouTube, Pinterest, MyFitnessPal, countless apps)
Change things slowly!
Don’t be too hard on yourself!!
Take lots of pictures/videos.
Make goals other than losing pounds.
Believe you can do this!!
When in doubt, Drink more WATER!
Wake up with Determination & go to bed with SATISFACTION!

Keeshy lost over 85 pounds

November 19, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 2 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Keeshy lost over 85 pounds. She changed the way she ate and committed herself to exercising 5 days a week. Going from a size 19 to a size 4/6, she is keeping the faith and staying consistent with her efforts to change her lifestyle.

Keeshy before and after

I lost over 85 pounds in less than a year just by simply changing my eating habits and going to the gym 5 days a week. It all started with the disgust I had when looking in the mirror and the embarrassment of buying size 3x in tops and size 19’s in bottoms. With me being only 5 feet tall that was quite a lot. I must say that I am now happier than ever, more energetic and still on my healthy journey to greatness.

I started out doing cardio and outdoor aerobics which was a very slow beginning but my speed eventually picked up. I am currently a full time gym member. I workout 5 times a week. My workouts consist of a mix of fasted cardio, core class, strength training weight lifting and I have healthy eating habits. I cut out bad carbs, sweets, foods that where extremely high in fat, and anything that was fried. My meals are packed with proteins, plenty of fruits, veggies and lots of fiber. I’m allowing myself one cheat meal a week.

Now, I weigh 145 pounds and I’m wearing size small in tops and 4-6 in bottoms! It’s an extremely tough journey but every time I fall down I get a flashback of how I used to feel and pick myself right back up. I keep reminding myself of how I don’t want to ever go back to that unhappy place in my life AGAIN. With prayer I carry on and stand Strong. I feel good and I am HAPPY. God is GOOD. It’s hard but it’s Worth it. All you have to do is keep the faith, stay consistent with prayer and tell yourself You CAN DO IT!!!

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

Keeshy weight loss

Sarang lost 196 pounds

November 17, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 15 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Sarang lost 196 pounds. This amazing mom of 5 was dealing with Graves Disease, Hypothyroidism and Sleep Apnea when she decided to change her life. She has not only transformed herself, but she’s also helping others to reach their weight loss and fitness goals. Check out her awesome story…

Sarang before and after

My name is Sarang and I was asked by one of my close friends to submit my story. I’m a mother of 5 and I realized very quickly that I needed to regain control of my life when I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and then Hypothyroidism. That was nine years ago and that news was combined with having sleep apnea. I found myself sleeping with a Cpap machine every night because I would just stop breathing in my sleep. The exhaustion from the apnea and the effects of hypothyroidism combined were almost too much for me to handle on a daily basis. I couldn’t remember what it was like to have a normal day where I didn’t feel tired, sluggish or depressed. I was not eating healthy at all nor was I really working out. I gained weight at a steady pace between pregnancies and watched it happen. I was told that I could potentially come off of the Cpap machine if I lost weight however I knew that the thyroid disease would be a life long impairment, but one I am now glad to say I have successfully overcome. I knew back then that in order to prolong my life for the sake of my children that I needed to really put my foot down and turn all of my good intentions for myself into definite actions. On a lighter note, another motivating force was my then three year old that could out sprint me.

I have a group of close sisters from my Islamic community that were monumental with getting me to join the gym. We would all hold each other accountable for fulfilling our daily workout regiments and we would all go to the gym TOGETHER and do group exercise classes and create weight loss challenges just amongst our small group. I will forever be grateful to these sisters for being there for me at this critical time.

Four years ago, I was down from 400+ to 380 pounds. I had lost weight up to this point by doing workouts by myself in my living room with Taebo Basic and Walk Away the Pounds DVDs. These were great workouts for me when I was at my heaviest because they weren’t so hard on my bad knees. I’d also learned to change my eating habits with the Weight Watchers program. At the local gym that I was a member of, I found a workout program that I came to love and still do to this day…ZUMBA. I loved it so much that I became a PLUS SIZE instructor at 341 lbs! With my certification I started teaching private classes in my home garage and when we outgrew that space I found myself teaching zumba at the ZROOM in Arlington Tx. I changed my eating habits and was introduced to the Herbalife program. With it I replaced two of my meals each day with a nutritional protein shake. I tend to go meatless most of the time and I snack in between meals and shakes. Water water water!! I get it all in. This change in my eating habits and the increase with my Zumba classes attributed to the bulk of my weight loss within the past two years.

It’s taken me about 4 good long hard years of consistently eating better and working out to get to where I am today. It starts with prayer first is what I always tell my ladies when they ask how I did it. Pray for the Patience and the strength. Once you have it in your MIND that you are going to SUCCEED…it’s downhill from there. Surround yourself by like minded people, my visual transformation took place in front of my friends that came out to workout with me in class. My ladies have watched me loose over a hundred pounds, and now I find myself in a position to give back to my ladies and testify to the struggle, excitement, success and achievements we have all now made thru-out this journey. My passion is to help my ladies by becoming comfortable with themselves and embracing the beauty of who they are as mothers, sisters, wives and daughters and encourage and empower each other as WOMEN. I’m 5’9″ and at my heaviest I was 425 pounds. I kept that number to myself for a very long time. I just weighed in at 229 pounds last night.

I have now joined forces with a two other awesome instructors and the BOMB DJ Selektress and formed a fitness group here in the DFW area called XP GyalZ (XperiAnce GyalZ) and we specialize in an Afrobeats-Caribbean form of dance workout. My love for reggae, dancehall and soca music goes back 20 plus years and I’ve combined my passions for the music and the workout into one. We have our Master classes at various popular reggae venues in the metro area like Heroes Grill in Dallas and Jamaica Gates in Arlington, so please come out and join us in a class if you are in the area! You can also find XP GyalZ on Facebook. I’ve personally dedicated all of my routines to all my “Fluffy Gyalz” aka. my big mammas. I want you all to know that IT CAN BE DONE! Thanks for reading and I wish you all the success on your individual missions.

Sarang weight loss story

Ebony lost 30 pounds

November 16, 2014 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Update July 2015: I have been on my fitness journey for two years now. I’ve been maintaining my weight loss by continuing to eating clean and by working out at least five times a week. I have been so blown away by my progress that I decided to start Naturalqueenfitness! A movement based out of long beach and los angeles. I get women together to get fit the fun and natural way! I want for them to represent as the fitness queens that they are! Together we inspire, motivate, and empower! We do different meetups from zumba to twerk class. This lifestyle is for life! I have lost 30 pounds and feel fitness has changed me overall. Mentally and physically. I am so grateful to have found fitness and im loving my journey!!!
For schedule: www.meetup.com/natural-queen-fitness

Update Feb 2015 – Ebony’s lost a few more pounds since Nov 2014: “I’ve been on my journey for a year and a half now. Starting weight: 201lbs, current weight: 170lbs. I owe it to consistency, clean eating, working out 5-6 days a week and lots of water! Thank u for sharing my story!!”

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ebony lost 27 pounds and learned the most important rule of weight loss: You can’t expect to lose weight without changing your eating habits. Her motivation was that she wanted to avoid a family history of illness and be here to see generations to come. She is still on her journey, but wanted to share her success…

Ebony before and after

Hello my name is Ebony and I started my fitness journey in August of 2012. My motivation for wanting to workout and get healthy was my family history of diseases. Everything from diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney failure. I did not want that to be my story. I plan on being here for a long time to see my daughter grow and to maybe one day see my granchildren and great grandchildren grow. On top of the fact that I was over 200 lbs. It was then that I said I’m going to make a change.

In the beginning, it wasn’t the exercise I had a problem with, it was eating clean. I would workout and still eat anything that I wanted. I lost the first ten pounds fast but then noticed a plateau. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t losing weight anymore and then I looked at the way I ate. You cannot expect to lose weight and still eat any way you want. So, I had to switch up my eating habits. I cut out all junk foods and processed foods. I stopped eating out and cooked more. I started eating more fruits and vegetables, incorporated green smoothies into my diet and cut out all sodas and juices. I drink strictly water with all meals as well.

I workout 5-6 days a week for at least an hour or more depending on what I’m doing. I like to switch up my workouts so I don’t get bored with the same thing. I hike, bike, walk, run, stairs, as well as workout in the gym with weights and fitness classes. Anything to get my workout in!

My starting weight was 201 lbs and my current weight is 174 lbs. I am 5’7″. I still not where I wanna be but I’m getting there! The advice I would give to others who are trying to lose weight would be to do it naturally! No supplements, no waist trainers, etc. Just clean eating and exercise really works!! Also, drink lots of water!! Water is so important and one of the keys to losng weight. Drink at least half of your body weight. Lastly…dont give up!! You can do it!! Thanks for sharing my story!!
Please follow my fitness page and see my journey! @Naturalqueenfitness

Ebony weight loss journey

8 Time Saving Workout Tips

November 4, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

One of the most common excuses you hear when it comes to not exercising is, “I just don’t have the time”. In reality, the average person has enough time to get some exercise during the week. In fact, the typical American spends around 3 hours a day in front of a television…so there is free time available to be turned into workout time for most people. If you’re committed to improving your health through exercise but are a super busy person, don’t fret. There are a few different tips and tricks you can use to not only find more time to exercise but also to help your workout go by more quickly.

Opt Out of a Gym and Work Out at Home

Probably one of the most common tips would be to avoid the gym altogether and workout at home. With the huge number of DVDs and online resources for at-home workouts, regardless of what you’re interested in you’ll be able to find something that will be just as challenging as any class. Going to a gym has many benefits but saving you time may not be one of them. By the Way, you can also save some money with this tip.

If You Choose to Workout at a Gym, Go When It Isn’t Busy

Some people enjoy the whole atmosphere of a gym or maybe they participate in some training, weight lifting for example, that they don’t have the equipment for at home. If this is you, try to hit the gym at times when it isn’t likely to be busy. Depending on your work schedule, you could go during lunch or even at night. If your gym really is just plain busy, you might want to try another one.

Stretch Before Heading to the Gym

Here is one tip that many people don’t consider. We all know warming up is important and shouldn’t be skipped. Stretching and warming up before going into the gym means you can get straight to the machines. This is especially helpful if you frequent a particularly busy gym. Parking a block or two away from your gym also can kick start your warm up time if you walk briskly.

Sneak In Workouts In Your Office

A typical 40-hour workweek for most people involves a whole lot of sitting at a desk. Too much sitting has proven to lead to serious health problems and greatly decrease longevity. An office seems like an unlikely place to get a workout but don’t be fooled. Aside from going on a walk during your break, there are other ways to sneak in workouts.

Here is a link to 33 different ways to get your heart pumping when confined to an office. If you are worried about a bad reaction from your boss, here are a few ideas for more subtle ways to get some exercise. As a bonus, not only do these little in-office exercises cut down on your workout time but they also boost productivity at work.

Buy Workout Gear That Doubles as Casual Wear

Whether you have to run back to the office, have errands to run or promised to catch up with a friend at lunch, dingy sweatpants and your old holey t-shirt pretty much guarantee you’ll have to spend time changing your clothes in the locker room at your gym. Rather than dealing with this, invest is a great sports bra and some pants and shirts that look cute. Of course you’ll want to change your outfit if you get super sweaty, so this tip is great if you just got your heart pumping a bit and will be home in a few hours to shower anyways.

Keep an Organized Gym Bag

Locker rooms in gyms can be chaotic. Having an organized bag means you’ll know where everything is and you’ll save precious time searching through a duffel for something as simple as a headband. Make sure necessities like your perfume and deodorant are in an easily accessible pocket. If you have something to do after your workout you’ll want to have a makeup kit to either touchup or completely redo your face after you’ve showered.

Take a short shower depending on how hard you worked out.

Unless you are a clean freak or completed a seriously sweaty workout, you can really save time by taking shorter showers at the gym. An easy to moderate workout that gets you hot doesn’t usually require a full, long shower. Also, make sure you have a clinical strength deodorant, a great smelling fragrance and a dry shampoo if you are worried about sweaty hair.

Washing your hair can really be a time killer for women with relaxed hair as you can’t usually just wash and go very quickly. Instead put your hair up out of your face in a cute updo and use a headband. After the workout take it down and use some dry shampoo to freshen up your do (dry shampoo works for natural and relaxed hair).

Choose a More Intense (and Effective) Training Regimen

Sometimes the easiest and sometimes least obvious way to save time on workout out is to change how you are exercising. An hour on a treadmill might be effective, but there are shorter workouts that can be just as effective. That fast jogging on a treadmill could actually be ineffective compared to a high-intensity (HIIT) 20 or 30 minute workout.

High-intensity exercise regimens include supersets, circuit training and multitasking. Here are a few resources for workouts that are short on time but serious when it comes to results

Working out doesn’t require hours of your time every day. It’s recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week. Even for the busiest person that should be completely doable. Don’t forget that working out at home can really save time. If you haven’t tried it yet, invest in some equipment and give it a go. You just might prefer it over the gym.

Latania lost 66 pounds

October 10, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Latania lost 66 pounds. After being diagnosed with diabetes, she didn’t let the wake up call go to waste. She made up in her mind that it was time to change her lifestyle and be a healthy mom.

Latania before and after

I never thought that my weight was an issue. I went to the doctor for a regular appointment and was told that my blood sugar level was 200 plus. The doctor told me that I needed to be put on insulin. I begged the doctor to give me pills to control my blood sugar and promised that in three months I would drop some of my weight to improve my health. The thought of medicine makes me afraid and I want to be healthy for my children, so on that day in November of 2013 I decided to change my life.

I stopped eating junk foods and drinking soda pops. I bought a Nutribullet and used it daily. I also got a gym membership and worked out EVERYDAY!!! I did cardio for an hour and then a thirty minute workout on the weights. I had Nutribullet nutriblast smoothies for breakfast. Eventually, I started to see a change in me and I’m very proud of myself. I have inspired so many people and that is what helps me to keep it up, because I know someone out there is depending on my example!!! I was 297 pounds (almost 300 lbs) and now I’m 231 pounds at 5’7″. My advice to others is that every diet is not for everyone.

Ashley lost 33 pounds

September 3, 2014 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Let’s show some BWLW love to Ashley (@oh.thats.ash on IG)! She fought off depression and the pain of a bad break to get to her lifestyle change. She’s lost 33 pounds since February 2014. Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Ashley weight loss photos

My 3 year weight loss journey… Since I can remember I’ve been plus size, I battled self esteem issues as a child and as a young adult. In college, I decided to sign up for Weight Watchers in 2011. I lost a 30 pounds, reaching 200 pounds. By Feb. 2014, I had gained it all back, plus 20 pounds. This means I was at my heaviest weight and the most depressed I’ve been in my entire life. While going through a rough break up on 2/17/14, I decided to take back my life. I began running with the Northwest Indiana Soul Sisters and Black Girls Run. Then I joined a challenge on Instagram called #PhreshandFit by Phasion. With these challenges I changed my diet and learned choosing healthier foods. I cut out pop, juice, red meat and sweets. My workouts consist of running, Hip Hop Cardio and going to the gym. I attempt to burn 1,000 calories 5 days a week.

Today, I continue my journey. I am currently 5’2 at 217 Ibs. That’s far from my goal of 175, but I’ve learned that weight loss is a mental challenge within yourself. You have to do what works for you and understand that slow progress is still progress. Every time, I read a FB comment or see a post from another woman losing weight I am inspired and motivated, because for once I don’t feel alone in the journey.

My advice to others, don’t wait on anybody else to start, get out there and get going. It’s about you, so love you and the skin you’re in. And remember… there are levels to this fit.

Tiffany lost 35 pounds

September 3, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 5 Comments

Tiffany has lost 35 pounds since March and she it today’s featured weight loss success story. This proud mom and student embraced running, got the help of a trainer and learned how to change her eating habits to avoid a family history of diabetes and heart problems. She is getting healthy for her and her children as well as inspiring others. Here is what she told us about her weight loss journey:

tiffany weight loss photos

Hello Everyone, I’m Tiffany and I am beyond thrilled and honored to be chosen to share my story!! This site has helped me believe that weight loss is possible and I hope to inspire others with my journey as well. I began my weight loss journey with real determination and a will to change in March 2014. At the time, I had moved to another state and was having curve balls thrown at me from different directions. I was told that I may become pre-diabetic which is not a shock to me as my father and grandparents have diabetes and heart problems. I wanted to break that chain and become healthy for myself and my children.

I am 5’3″ and started this journey weighing 219 pounds with a BMI of 38.8. I now weigh in at 184 and have lost a total of 35 pounds so far and now have a BMI of 32.6. With weight training, I have gained lean muscle and lost pounds of fat. I have also lost a total of 7 inches from my waist and plan to waist train soon. I am hoping to lose an additional 24 pounds to weigh in at 160 pounds. I love having curves so at that point would only like to continue weight training to tighten and tone my body.

What did I do to change my eating habits? I began to eat less carbs that are like rice and breads, and more whole carbs like fruits and vegetables. I love salads, so I started to incorporate more of them into my meals daily. I also began drinking a protein shake every day after my lunch workout at the gym. I had issues with my eating habits initially because I am one of the people that did not eat enough. I would eat only lunch and snacks and neglect breakfast and dinner at times. To cure this, I began to meal prep to make sure I had my breakfast, snacks, and lunch. I still have an occasional Twix or Snickers, which are my favorites, but I do this only as a treat and try my best not to overindulge.

What did I do in terms of exercise? I began running 1-2 miles every morning prior to work and saw a little weight dropping but was impatient and ready for real results. So, I hired a personal trainer in April 2014 and have noticed great results thus far. I work with my trainer weekly doing resistance training and heavy weight lifting. I recommend weight training along with cardio as you will see great results!! I love working my legs and glutes and the feel that doing so spurs on the weight loss in other areas. Currently, I run 1.7 miles to the gym, workout for about 30 to 45 minutes then run back to work. I do this during the weekdays and rest on the weekend or may jog on Saturday with my children. I also do P90X, synergistics, planks, mountain climbers, stair stepper, body weight exercises, and array of abdominal exercises to strengthen my core. I even use my kids as weights when working out at home! One of the best exercise moves I know is SQUATS!! I love doing squats, lunges, and step-ups as they are helping to tone my legs, thighs, and behind.

My advice to others: The best advice I can offer is to try not to get discouraged during this process. I have noticed that I have my ups and downs when it comes to my perception of my body and how I feel about doing better with my diet and/or exercise. I am learning not to take things so personal and go with the flow. I sometimes feel as though I am slacking when I need a rest day and start to feel down as if I am quitting on myself. I must realize that as much as I wear an “S on my chest” daily with being a mom, having a significant other, being an employee and a student; that I must chill out from time to time. I also must warn you bout something I call “fat girl syndrome.”

Now, this is a self proclaimed issue I have diagnosed myself with. There are days when I do not see what is actually present when I look at myself in the mirror. This was not a problem I had prior to starting this weight loss journey, if anything I was more comfortable than I am now. Now, I find myself finding problems that I want to be resolved immediately or in the very near future. Please know that patience is the key and a virtue that times I or you may not wish to exhibit. It is necessary to enjoy the process and the rewards of losing the weight the right way. Just know that no fad or crazy diet is going to give you long term results. Stay motivated and ask God to help you along the way. I know this works as I have just come out of a depressing period where I prayed for help because no one saw what I saw in the mirror nor understood where I was coming from.The only thing I could do is pray during this time. I wanted to be honest in this respect because many will only write about the joys of the results and none of the negative emotions you may encounter. Just keep your head up and know that this journey will be one of your best! Please follow me on Instagram @TreasuredTiffany for more information and photos during my journey. Thank you and God bless!

Tiffany before and after

Sheryl lost 134 pounds in 3 years

August 31, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 8 Comments

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Sheryl lost 134 pounds in 3 years. This petite beauty went from a size 22 to a size 8 with a serious commitment to exercise and health eating. Find out how she lost the weight…

Sheryl weight loss

Hello my name Sheryl Hampton. I lost 134 pounds in three years. I was diagnosed with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol. That’s three of the most deadly illness among Black people. My thoughts were it’s always been easy to take care of my family and friends. I said to myself “OH LORD!! How can I take care of me”. I tried a 2 week free trial at a local gym. (Snap Fitness). I was pleasantly surprised. I had gone for my check up and found out that I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I was Flabbergasted. So, I joined the gym. During my first year, I worked out 7 days a week, 2 times a day (5:30 AM every morning. 5:30 PM every evening). I used the treadmill and elliptical machine doing 60 minutes for each workout, morning and evening for the whole year. In my second year, I implemented Zumba class 2 times a week for 8 months while maintaining my routine from the first year. I changed my eating habits by cutting out fast foods, fried foods, pasta, white rice, white bread, sodas, ice cream, cookies, potato chips and by not eating late at night. My new eating habits consisted of eating brown rice, brown bread, plenty of veggies and salads. I also ate baked and grilled chicken, fish, turkey, tuna, fruit, and plenty of water. I did a lemon and water detox once a month for seven days.

I started to plateau for awhile. That’s when your body has gotten use of a routine. So, I started going to a Boot Camp session for 3 months. I started seeing results again. I had gone from a size 22 to a size 12 by the second year. For my Diabetes, I had gone from taking Insulin to taking a half pill once a day. My blood pressure was stable and I no longer required meds for Cholesterol. I approached my third year still maintaining my workout schedule from the first and second year. However, I started walking on the track 3 days a week while still working out at the gym and doing Zumba. I soon began running 6 miles a day. I was also doing the boot camp workout I learned, which consisted of 200 jumping jacks, Running in place for 2 minutes, 25 Squats with a ball, 50 Obliques, 50 Standing Crunches, 50 Butterfly Squats, 25 lunges each leg 25 and Heel toe.

This has been truly a change of lifestyle. I started at 271.8 pounds at a height of 5’1″. I now weigh 137 pounds. My dress size is an 8 today. I am still in the process of losing another 10 pounds and my goal is to be totally off of medicine. My advice to those who are trying to lose weight is that it can be done. Your dream can be reached. Take an inventory of your life ,the people who love you and the people you love for motivation. I am living a healthy, confident life now and I love it. It’s funny…I started out having pictures of Janet Jackson and Lisa Ray as my example. I had pictures of mega stars then and I now have pictures of me. I’m so glad Black Woman Losing weight has this platform for us to share our journeys. It has truly been a pleasure to know we are not alone.

Sheryl before and after

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