Update Nov 2017: Jasmine lost 13 more pounds for a total of 78 pounds gone. “After losing my initial 78 pounds, I became certified as a personal trainer. I recently taught my fitness bootcamp called Thee Confident Curvy Experience!”
Oct 2016: Transformation of the Day: Jasmine lost 65 pounds and has gone from a size 26 to a size 12. This Alpha Kappa Alpha soror didn’t let depression and emotional eating beat her. Check out how she lost the weight.
Over the past 6 months, starting on February 1st, 2016, I’ve lost 65 pounds through hard work, a meal plan and the help of my trainer. I was told by my therapist that I was depressed and it reflected in my eating habits. For example, I had 10 tubs of ice cream in my freezer at one point in time. That led me to make the decision that it was time for a change. Now, I run 5Ks and exercise daily!
What inspired me to keep going even when I wanted to give up is that I realized I’m not trash. Therefore, I refuse to put trash in my body, because you only get one! My eating habits were changed with a meal plan that my trainer gave me. This plan included meals that had no dairy, no salt, no sugar and limited carbs.
Initially, I worked out twice per week with my trainer doing HIIT, weight training and core workouts. Currently, I do HIIT workouts twice weekly with weight training and run daily 3-6 miles per day.
My starting weight was 303 pounds and I wore a size 26. Currently, I weigh 238 pounds and wear a size 12. I am 5’9″. My advice for others who want to lose weight is BE PATIENT. Every day, choose to change something small because progress is a process!
Instagram: @3ohThree
Monique lost 85 pounds
Transformation of the Day: Monique lost 85 pounds in 9 months. This mom of 3 wanted to be healthier for her family and improve her health after some setbacks. She was inspired by her husband’s love, a popular author who wrote about her journey and a great online support group. Check out the steps she took to release the weight.
I started at 315 pounds at 5’11”. I now weigh 230 pounds and I’m loving myself. I love my lifestyle change and the healthy foods that I now eat. I’ve even gotten my husband and children to eat healthier. I started my journey in January 2016. I am still transforming, but I lost 85 pounds in the past 9 months. I went from a size 24W to a Juniors size 16.
My motivation for my life change was/is my family. I wanted to be healthy for my husband Brian and our three boys. I had a lot of medical setbacks that developed once I had my children. My blood pressure skyrocketed once to the point where I could have had a stroke. I knew something had to be done.
My inspiration when I had set backs were my husband, author Jasinda Wilder and a wonderful group of ladies on Facebook. They all held me accountable for my actions and best of all, did not put me down when I had setbacks. They built me up. They were able to help me choose healthier options for food and we cheered each other on when we had small and large successes. I never changed my eating habits “cold turkey.” I changed my eating habits by taking away a couple of items at a time until all of the unhealthy items were not eaten anymore. I started to eat non-processed, natural foods with less sugar.
I followed the lifestyle change laid out in the book, “Big Girls Do It Running” by Jasinda Wilder. I started going to the gym three times a week. I would go to workout classes and weight train. Some days, I would go on walks in my neighborhood with my family. Also, I walk constantly as a teacher.
Some advice I have for those trying to loose weight is this: Never try to lose weight quickly. The weight will return just as fast. Quick fixes seem to never work. Have a great support system. Also, find healthy alternatives to the foods that you like. You can easily change a couple of ingredients in your favorite recipe that will make it healthier for you. Fast food is the devil. Things that you think are healthy are 9 times out of 10 not as healthy as you think. Always check the nutrition label. Keep pushing on, even when that scale doesn’t move. Praise yourself for the mini changes (pants are looser, feeling better than I did before, sleeping better, etc.). Last but not least, set long term and short term goals and try your best to stick to them.
Ronique lost 35 pounds
Transformation of the Day: Ronique lost 35 pounds. She began her journey at the end of April and her motivation was her young son. Cutting carbs, meal planning and exercising are some of the things she added to her life to get these results. Check out her story.
My name is Ronique. I am a single parent of one amazing two year old boy. The motivation for everything I do is him and I knew I wanted to have more energy to keep up with him. I have struggled with weight loss all my adult life. I always felt attractive but I was never 100 percent happy with the way I looked.
My journey began in April 2016. I started with just cutting carbs and drinking a lot of water. After I cut back on carbs, I slowly introduced the good ones back in. I do a lot of meal planning. I do meal prep on Sundays and I have a cheat day also. No junk food and no pork. I eat lot of fruits, veggies and nuts. I also love making smoothies with spinach and/or kale.
After changing my eating habits, I started going to either the gym or the track 5 times a week. I mainly do a lot of cardio. I love taking classes, like Zumba. The track is my best friend because I can take my son with me. I would love to start doing some weight training soon.
Eventually, the weight and inches started to fall off. Since April, I have lost a total of 35 pounds. I started at 252 pounds and now I weigh 217 pounds. I am 5’3″. I started at a size 20 and now I’m comfortably wearing a 16. I’m not done. My goal is to maybe lose another 20 to 25 pounds by Thanksgiving and or get down to a size 12
I no longer look at the scale. Just look at how I look in my clothes. I love how I feel and that’s
what drives me to continue. My advice for others is just try to stay focused and when you get tired of the meal plans and dieting, at least try to stay active. Then, get right back on track.Instagram: @njl1127_res821
Rachel lost 37 pounds
Rachel lost 37 pounds this year. This mom has 3 daughters to live for. Knee pain and high blood pressure are two of the main factors that led her to change her life. Check out her progress.
I started my journey on January 4, 2016. I have 3 beautiful daughters to live for and I was extreme overweight for my height of 5’1″. My weight caused my knees to bother me very badly and my blood pressure stayed high. During a visit, my doctor talked to me about having knee surgery because of the weight. I walked out of my doctor’s office and told them, “I’m taking my health back.” With Gods help, I did just that.
I began a calorie counting diet and I logged all my food in an app called “Lose It“. I eliminated pop and juice and now I only drink water! I eliminated junk food and fried food. I eat Fit n Active products and Special K as well as mainly baked or grilled food. For snacks, I eat 100 calorie or under 100 calorie snack bars! For exercise, I workout on the treadmill 3-5days a week for 30 minutes per session.
In the beginning, I weighed 212 pounds. I now weigh 175 pounds. I’ve lost 37 lbs. My goal weight is to reach 150 pounds, so I am 25 pounds away (from the goal my Doctor gave me). My other goal is also to get off the blood pressure medication that I’m on. The high blood pressure came from my last pregnancy. I’m 35 years old and I’m too young to be on blood pressure pills. I have to watch watching my sodium intake.
Samantha lost 76 pounds
Transformation of the Day: Samantha lost 76 pounds. She considered having weight loss surgery in the past, but instead decided that she could release the weight on her own. More than a year later, her hard work has paid off with great results. Check out what she did.
I decided that I wanted to have weight loss surgery. I even went to the doctor for the consultation. I sat there listening to everything that I needed to know. All the do’s and the don’t”s. I realized that it was going to be a complete lifestyle change for me.
So, after listening to the doctor and doing my own research, I decided to try to lose the weight on my own instead. I started my journey in June of 2015.
I stopped eating out 3 meals a day. I also stopped drinking sodas and gave up sweets, breads, fried foods, and pork. The healthy foods that I started eating included more baked chicken, fish, more salad and a lot of spinach. That’s big for me because I’m not really a veggie person. I did the 10 green smoothie cleanse (one time) as well.
For exercise, I started walking three times a week. Along with my walking, I worked out on the treadmill and exercise bike.
My motivation to lose the weight was my grandson. I wanted to be healthy for him. My husband of twenty-six years is my biggest supporter on this journey.
I am 5’6 “. My heaviest weight was 341 pounds. I currently weigh 265 pounds. I want to drop another 75 pounds by this time next year.
My advice for others is take it one day at a time. Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad day. Make it a lifestyle change not a diet.
Instagram: @sbrand1990
Jennifer lost 35 pounds
Jennifer lost 35 pounds. In the past, fitness wasn’t something she had to work at. That all changed after her second pregnancy. After her mom was diagnosed with ALS and the family moved to another state, she was faced with stress and depression. This strong mom found herself in a rut and took action to take her life back. Check out her story.
As a dancer/cheerleader, fitness was never something I had to work at. I had always been active and at a healthy weight and body type. I have always been active, but not overly aware of my nutrition. I was also an off and on dieter, usually when I had something to look good for or a big event coming up. Basically, going to the gym and eating fairly well was working for me… and then babies happened. After having my first baby, I worked part-time as a dance teacher and found time to workout 3 times a week through a mom and me bootcamp. I was able get back to my pre-pregnancy weight within 6 months. I was so confident that this would happen again with my second pregnancy, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My lifestyle was completely different after my second son, I returned to work within 10 weeks, couldn’t find the time to work-out and was eating fast food daily. When my second son was about 5 months, my mom was diagnosed with ALS causing an emergency move from Virginia to Georgia. Stress, lack of time and slight-depression caused me to gain a lot of weight. I became best friends with yoga pants, leggings and over-sized shirts. I completely lost confidence in myself. I dove into taking care of my mom and children while completely letting my health fall to the side. There were days when I would eat excessively and then days when I didn’t touch anything but chocolate.
In April 2015, I had enough of wearing the same 2 outfits in my closet and decided to make a change. I started of small; eating better and exercising 30 minutes a day (mainly jogging with the stroller and doing Shawn T’s Asylum Abs). I was seeing results but needed more accountability and better nutrition guidance. That’s when Beachbody’s programs and challenge groups completely changed my life. There was something about knowing and seeing other women with similar struggles as me, but still making the commitment each day to do something for themselves that motivated me in ways I never thought possible.
Challenge groups became something I look forward to checking into each day. Staying at home had taken me out of the community and away from the adult interaction that I really thrive on. This was giving me a new way to interact with other people! I had become a challenge group regular and began to see myself as someone who could do more than just post. Coaching became the next step for me and has been my biggest motivator!
Eating Habits: I began eating clean, no processed food or sugar and cut out soft drinks (which was very hard for me). In fall of 2015, I began following the Piyo workout program and in January I added portion control containers and Shakeology to my diet. I workout 6 days a week with an active rest day. I started at about 165 pounds and I currently weigh 130 pounds.
Recently, I decided to up my game. I focused more on my strength and pushing myself past where I’m comfortable. I’ve also started training to audition for American Ninja Warrior with my husband. Without Beachbody programs and the challenge group forum, I would NEVER have had the confidence to even think about doing something like that. This year has been a year of changes, some that really knocked me down and I honestly thought I would just stay down. I am proud to say, I found a way back up.
My advice to anyone trying to lose weigh is Don’t get discouraged. You see all these great transformations out there, but they came with a lot of hard work. Keep going and throw away the scale! The moment I stopped focusing on the number and focused on how I felt instead, the happier I was and the more I kept pushing.
Instagram: @thefitadventuresofjenn
Abi lost 16 pounds
Abi lost 16 pounds. She began her journey a few months ago and is celebrating her progress. Taking action by using portion control, group exercise and drinking lots of water are just some of the tools she used.
My name is Abi and to be honest I don’t really have a story. I just knew a change needed to be made. I got married last year and gradually started gaining ‘happy weight’. It got to a point where people kept asking if I was expecting…which I wasn’t. I just felt unfit and unhealthy, though my husband never made me to feel that way. I put on that added weight over the course of 9-10 months.
Then, one day, I was trying on something and it did not fit. It wasn’t too tight, it just point blank did not fit. Truth be told it wasn’t the first time either. However, it was this skirt, that in that past had a particularly comfortable fit, that gave me my light bulb moment.
I started in May, but started taking it seriously in July. For me, starting was the hardest part, as I’d always had an excuse. Tomorrow was my favorite excuse, closely followed by “I’m married now and my hubby loves me regardless. Who am I trying to impress anyway?” Instead of making excuses, I just kept going even when I didn’t want to. I had to keep going to make progress, so I did.
Eating habits: A friend of mine, also on her own journey, said to me, “Abi, you know you love food, nice food, and so do I, but how about you half whatever portions you would normally have. That way you still get to enjoy the food you like.” I also made a decision to stop using the excuse that I don’t like water and started drinking it whether I liked it or not. I now enjoy water because of the benefits I’ve seen, not just in my weight but skin, hair and nails.
Exercise habits: I’ve never been an enthusiastic gym goer, so I had to make myself go. At times, even now, it’s still a fight. I have to keep fighting because of the results I want to achieve. This is not just about weight, but health. I would always go to the gym mainly in the evenings, as that’s when most of the high impact classes are held. Also, I get to catch up with my gym buddies then, which makes the process that more enjoyable.
I workout at least 4 times a week. I do things that keep me interested. I’m a magnet to classes. I feel encouraged working with other people who want similar things. I’m not the girl that can go into the gym and enjoy working out time after time alone. For me, making workout friends has been such an encouragement.
At my heaviest, I weighed 208 pounds at 5’8″ tall. Now, I weigh 192 pounds with a ways to go, but I’m so grateful for the journey. I have not looked back so far and it’s been 5 months since I’ve taken my gym time and fitness more seriously. I still have a way to go, but I’m grateful for my journey thus far. My general wellbeing is so much greater now. I feel more positive.
My advice for others is that baby steps are still steps. Just never stop. Change is inevitable if we keep trying.
Instagram: @missaculturedhosts
Latoya lost 69 pounds
Transformation of the day: Latoya lost 69 pounds. Falling in love with green smoothies, changing her eating habits and exercising changed her life. She is a widow and mother of six who says if she can do it, everyone can. Check out her story.
My motivation to lose weight was when I moved to Atlanta three years ago with my six children. I noticed a lot of African Americans in Atlanta were fit and active. I started looking at myself and my children. I knew it was time for a change. I joined the YMCA and started taking boot camp classes. I also started walking mountain trials in my community.
I lost 10 pounds in four weeks. I was happy, but I wanted better results. One day one of my friends kept tagging me in a Green Smoothie video from author JJ Smith. I would watch her video and think, “Naw this can’t work for me.” My friend kept tagging me and I finally watched it again. I was amazed how beautiful JJ Smith looked after doing her own program. I went into prayer. I knew I could not do this on my own. I was a widow with six children. I asked God to give me the strength to do the 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse.
My first cleanse was a great success. I lost 14 pounds in 10 days. My stomach was flat and I had a ton of energy. The smoothies programmed my body to crave healthier foods. I stopped eating fast food, sweets, sodas, juice, and alcohol. Instead, I ate healthy lean meals. I worked out in the gym 4 to 5 day’s a week and waist trained. I did boot camp classes with cardio and weight
training.I continued doing everything. I made it my lifestyle. Every time I cleansed, I had great weight loss results. After five months of doing the Green Smoothie Cleanse, I lost 69 pounds. My starting weight I was 250 pounds. I am 5’8 1/2″ tall and my finishing weight was 181 pounds. I currently weight 190 pounds.
I started my journey 8/2015 and I feel amazing. I thank God for giving me the strength and courage. Without him, it was not possible. My children also inspired me. I wanted to set an example for them and to show them that eating healthy and working out is a great thing. I also changed my children’s eating habits and they had great results too.
My goal now is to inspire others. I did this with six children. I believe anyone can do this. There are no excuses. You have to want it.
Instagram: @toyaabron
Vanessa lost 80 pounds
Transformation of the Day: Vanessa lost 80 pounds. She reached a point where she didn’t like the woman staring back at her in the mirror. Emotional eating became habit and she felt that she was losing her identity. She learned to love herself more and accept herself. Check out what steps she took to turn it all around.
I’ve lost 80 pounds and hope to encourage others. I didn’t like the woman on the left. That woman I barely knew. I looked in the mirror and would often cry because I felt like I had no hope, no way out. I hated that girl I looked up at. I fed my fears and emotions with anything that I could get a hold of, which was often sweets and fast food. That girl could barely walk up a flight of steps without getting winded, and I lost my since of identity. I would have paid a million dollars to try to find that next pill or potion that was going to get me from where I was to where I wanted to be. I tried a lot of things, but none of it worked.
I had reached a point where I was exhausted. I had to do something, I had to get ME back. As scary as it was, there was no looking back. I didn’t want to go back to where I once was. It was hard work. I failed often but in my failing I got better. I learned more about myself. I learned how to accept my flaws, my hiccups and my hang ups. Over the course of the last 1 1/2 years, I have done multiple at home, exercise/weight loss programs to accomplish my 80 lbs weight loss.
Eating Habits: I made small little steps to change my eating habits. Started cooking more and eating less out. I joined a Beachbody challenge group for the 21 Day Fix program. It comes with a simple eating plan and I have followed it up until now. This program also incorporates a container system for meal planning. I cut out a lot of the processed foods and fast foods I was eating, and now cook at home. I do have an occasional treat meal, but not like I used to.
Exercise: I have used multiple, home based fitness programs, such as 21 day fix, Insanity Max 30 and Country Heat. I workout anywhere from 5-6 days a week, doing 30 minute a day workouts.
I started at 236.6 pounds and I currently weigh 156.4 pounds and I’m 5’4″. The advice I would give to other people who are trying to lose weight: Believe in yourself. You are capable. Never quit and take other people along with you to help with accountability. Put one foot in front of the other and never look back.
Instagram: @
bttrflyajani(inactive)
www.facebook.com/bttrflyajani1Meskerem lost 44 pounds
Meskerem lost 44 pounds. Our Ethiopian sista wrote in to share her success. Being diagnosed with pre-hypertension, she knew that she had to make some lifestyle changes. Healthy eating habits and working out on a regular basis really made the difference. Check out her journey.
Meskerem D. from Ethiopia
Age 28
Height: 5’5″
Starting weight: 180.4 pounds
Current weight (September 20, 2016) 136.4 poundsI started my weight loss journey six months back. I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension and it was a real wake up call. Through health eating habits and fitness training I’ve lost 44 pounds.
I crafted focused, measurable and sharp goal for 100 days and posted a tracking chart one in my bedroom and office. I review the chart every 4 weeks. It served as one motivation every time I woke up and felt tired. I looked at the chart and would say, “I have a goal to achieve for myself”. I joined and followed groups on social media, like BWLW, so every morning I read a story that indeed uplifts my spirit and inspires me to move on. My friends, family and colleagues’ encouraging and kind words were also a motivation to keep on going.
To achieve my goal, I joined fitness center six months ago. I began with swimming almost every day. Then, I began working out 4 days a week for one hour in the gym with a personal trainer. Initially, it was tough decision. I had to wake up early in the morning to go to the gym before office hours. Even tougher that ,I have to give up the things I liked for a while (like enjoying time with friends after office hours) to achieve my goal.
I got together with my personal trainer and we designed a diet plan. I was also expected to write down my daily food consumption in a monitoring table and review the progress every month. I kept up with a eating plan with less salt, carbs, fat and sweets (which I like the most). It is high in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Was it easy? No, it was a new process and new challenge. At times, you work hard in the gym but you don’t see results. It’s also hard to quit what you like. I had to ask why I put myself in such situation and there were times when I wanted to give up. But, the motivation, feedback and success stories I read kept me going ahead. Eventually, dieting and working out became like a habit or an addiction, for me. I even miss the gym while I am not there. The more I work out and see results come, I see my feelings grow to go for it more and more.
Today, though I am happy I’ve gotten here, I am not yet satisfied. My inner voice is asking me to go for it more. I look onward and forward for more achievements. I want to be better than yesterday.
My firsthand advice to all the women out there is that all you need is a willing heart, inner desire for a change and commitment. “When you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done.” If you want to lose weight and get fit, ACT Now! Set an ambitious goal that can be achieved in short period of time, like 100 days or less. Work hard and add up your commitment. Most importantly, enjoy the process and love what you do. Nothing is impossible. I did it and you can do it too!
