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Joanna lost 67 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Joanna.  She has lost 67 pounds and credits Water, Walking and Willpower as the keys to her success!

“Hi, I am a 35 year old mother of 3 teenagers. 10 months ago I decided to reclaim my life, literally one step at a time. My 3 W’s are what have gotten me here: Water, Walking and Willpower.  No diets, no surgery, no pills, just me learning to love me.  One pound at a time!  I’m down 67 pounds.  Still not at my goal but I’m not where I was, and to me that’s all that matters.

I stopped drinking soda and stopped over eating. I’ve struggled my entire life with being an emotional eater so when I decided to take my life back I exchanged my emotional eating with walking. When I’m upset or sad, I put my music on and walk until I feel better. Its been a struggle but its worth every pound lost and the self esteem I’ve gained. Walking is the only exercise I’ve done. No gym membership, no trainer.  Just me and a pair of Air Max, which I walked the tread off them in 5 months. Be blessed, Ladies!”

Updated  7/2013: Joanna is now down 75 pounds!  She wrote us to say, “Just a little update…75lbs down.  Got a little stuck lately, BUT I’M still pressing on….the finish line is so close I can taste it!”

Joanna weight loss before and after

Original photo:

joanna weight loss before and after

Updated: Princess lost 60 pounds

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Today’s featured success story: Princess lost 60 pounds by eating clean and working out 5 days per week.  Her story should give hope to women who are dealing with post-baby weight and weight that comes with dealing with the stress of life.  Here is what she shared (check out the update below):

“I haven’t attained my goal, YET. I’m getting there, though. My weight issue started the same as many mothers. I had my first child 2 years ago. I weighed in at 175 lbs prior to pregnancy and I lived in the gym. I gained 40 lbs during the pregnancy. I lost most of it during the hospital stay and shortly after. However, with the stress of having a new life, mixed with unhealthy eating, I blew up to 265 – 270 lbs in a year’s time!!

I’ve been consistently working on my weight loss a little under a year, with glitches here and there. I’m currently down to 209lbs!!! My goal is to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I eat clean. I also blend/juice daily and workout 5 days a week.

I took control because I wanted my life back! Being overweight is so uncomfortable. It made my body ache. It also made me lazy and unmotivated. I was active prior to pregnancy and it went out the window with the weight gain. I’m getting back to it.

I want to be healthy for my family. I want to get back to looking and feeling good about my appearance. My Mother always said, “When you look good, you feel good!” I’m working hard to get back to that place.”

princess weight loss story
Updated Nov 2013:  “A few months back, I told you all my pregnancy and post pregnancy weight gain story. At the time I was down by 60 pounds. Well, I stuck to it. To date, I’m now down another 20lbs and countless inches! My update is to inspire my Black Queens to stay focused and determined to reach their goals. Yes, you may fall off from time to time. The key is to get back up and restart your journey! Clean eating, strength training, cardio and spinning have all helped me lose the majority of the weight. I’m so driven to make this a lifestyle change because I want to be healthy for my family and live a life without health complications that I can control by staying active and eating well. Continue on that journey, Ladies!”
Princess weight loss photos

Updated: Carmen lost 130 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Nov 2016: I have maintained my weight by eating small portions. I’m also very active and I love to walk. On this journey, I have learned not to go back to old habits. I stay away from the scale these days. I don’t focus on how much weight I’m lost. Instead, I just focus on my lifestyle change and I don’t beat myself up.
Instagram: @angelcarm

Carmen

June 2016: I’m 4 years out from having gastric bypass surgery. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and kept the weight off for more than 3 years. I’m still eating small portions and staying active.

carmen before and after
June 2016

Dec 2015: Carmen has lost at total of 130 pounds with gastric bypass surgery and hard work. We’ve been following her story since March 2013 and she’d released 65 pounds at that time. More than 2 years later, we asked her what she’s been doing to maintain her weight loss. She says, “To maintain my weight loss I still drink protein shakes, drink water, eat small portions and continue to stay active. Also, my faith has brought me thru.”

carmen before and after

April 2014: Carmen wrote in to let us know that she is still going strong with her weight loss and has lost 65 more pounds, for a total of 130 pounds lost after weight loss surgery.  She says: “I would love share my story. I was battling with diabetes for 12 years. It took my faith in God to make a change in my life. I lost a total of 130 pounds with in 12 years. I had my ups and downs but my faith in God kept me going.”

Carmen before and afterCarmen weight loss story

Original Post – March 2013
Let’s show some BWLW love to Carmen who lost 65 pounds with weight loss surgery.  She feels that it is the best decision that she has ever made. 

She wrote to us at the end of February saying…

“I lost my weight by having weight loss surgery 9 months ago. I have lost 65 pounds.  It was the best decision that I have ever made.  To God be the glory!  I been dealing with diabetes for about 12 years.  What woke me up was realizing that I needed to make a change in my life.  My doctor told me that I was heading towards dialysis if I didnt do something about my weight. I give GOD the glory for being with me every step of the way.  If you have question please feel free send a message GOD bless.”

carmen weight loss surgery

Towanna lost 68 pounds

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Success Story Update: Towanna gave us an update on her weight loss and she is still going strong. This 53 year old grandma of 2 went from a size 24 to a size 10 in the past.  She’s faced a medical setback but is encouraged about losing more weight and staying healthy.  Everyone has ups and downs, but it’s how you deal with them that will determine your ultimate success.  Here is what she had to say about her journey…

Towanna before and after

I was featured in 2013, but I’m still on this amazing journey. I eat healthy and walk everyday. I’m off of all medications. My goal is to loose 25 more pounds.

I had a set back due to arthritis in both knees and I’m at a size 14, but I don’t let that stop me. I’ve learned with weight loss that you have to focus on healthy eating and exercise. I also have learned not to put a time limit on when to lose weight.

The adjustment I’ve made since 2013 is riding the stationary bike instead of using the treadmill, because of the arthritis. I walk everyday. I start each morning with a green smoothie, followed by a healthy lunch and dinner. I would tell everyone to take little steps in the beginning, then do more each day.

~Original Post ~

Today’s weight loss success story: Towanna lost 68 pounds.  She is in it for the long haul and has been losing weight by making small changes over time.

My name is Towanna. I’m a 51. I’m a grandmother of 2. I’m still on this amazing journey. I am not giving up!! My heaviest was 245 pounds.  In the 2nd pic  I’m 190 pounds and in the last pic I’m 177 pounds.   I have 20 more pounds to go.  Started my journey Aug 2009.  I went from a size 24 to a 10. I walked and used the treadmill for exercise. I gave up sugar and soda. I recently gained 17 pounds back, but I’m not giving up. Prayer, meditation and journaling keeps me Focused.

Towanna weight loss

Kashina lost 100 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Kashina lost 100 pounds with low carb eating, clean eating and exercise.  She now runs more than 4 miles per day.

“I started my lifestyle change back in December 2011.  I was around 270 maybe even 280 pounds. I’m not sure because I didn’t have a scale at the time.  It had been a year since I had my baby and I hadn’t lost anything but my baby bump.  I had no energy and my husband was pretty much doing everything around the house because it was just so much work to get off my big butt!  I was miserable and hated my reflection in the mirror.  One day my husband picked up a book and an old picture of me from when we first started dating fell out of it.  I was at least 80 pounds thinner in that picture and that very day I decided I needed to get back to that size.

I’ve never been “skinny”, I’m 5’9″ and have a very large bone structure.  I’m often mistaken for a Pacific Islander.  My original diet plan was to get on a high protein, low carb diet and not to buy a scale for a while.  I didn’t want to get stuck on a number.  I know that weighing yourself daily can either encourage or discourage you.  I felt that it might discourage me because I had a lot of weight to lose and wanted to lose it fast.  To guage my progress I had a size 14 pants in the closet (I was wearing a 20), and I would try them on periodically to see how they fit.  At first I couldn’t get them past my thighs.   It took about 6 months of eating low carb for me to feel that I had got back to the size I was before the baby.  Once I was there, I realized how overweight I still was. I still hadn’t stepped on a scale, and when I did I was still over 220lbs which I knew I didn’t want to be.

Kashina weight loss success

I started to get more energy and started doing a lot more around the house.  I then decided that I needed to exercise.  I started riding an exercise bike, but couldn’t really keep up with it because it hurt my butt and couldn’t really keep my baby away from the spinning wheel, so I decided I would start running.  My first day I ran around my block which when I mapped it was .75 miles.  I felt I could go further so I mapped out a mile and started running that daily.  It started getting easier. Now I’m up to 4 miles a day.  I just ran in my first 8K race 2 weeks ago and I was so happy that I had the stamina to run the full race without walking.

Right now, I weigh 180 and wear a size 10 pants.  I’ve lost 100 pounds, but I still want to lose about 25 to 30 more.  In addition to running I bought a weight bench a weight set and various other pieces of fitness equipment.  I try to work a different muscle group every day.  My goal has changed so much since I got started.  I went from just wanting to get back into my size 14 pants, to wanting to get as fit as I possible can.  I realized that I don’t just want to look good in clothes, I want to look good nude too!  That’s where the weight training comes in.  I really want to have nicely toned muscles.  I’ve had to adjust my eating to continue weight loss.  Now I don’t just eat low carb/high protein, but I eat clean which means no processed foods.  I also eat 5 or 6 small meals a day with 25-30g of protein in each meal.  I’m so much happier now that I’ve started to take care of my body and I realized that loving the skin you’re in doesn’t mean just accepting yourself the way you are, but loving yourself enough to do the very best you can for yourself which means feeding yourself the healthiest foods, exercising and getting enough rest.”

Kashina before and after

Updated: Trayce lost 137 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Trayce lost 100 pounds with clean eating and exercise.  This mom of 3 has been inspired to become a fitness instructor and wants to help other moms get healthy. (See her update below.  She is now down 137 pounds)

“I’ve lost 100 lbs through clean eating and exercise. Im a Celebrity Hairstylist who is now studying to be a fitness instructor. I love my new life! Im also a mom of 3 and a wife.

I totally changed my eating. I hired a nutritionist to teach me how to read labels and understand food better. I worked out 3 times a week in the beginning. Then, after 50 lbs off, I started going twice a day sometimes. My transformation has taken 2 years and I’m still going. My motivation has been wanting to be the best me I could. I lost the excuse of “its baby weight”. I’m 34.  At age 29-30 my husband use to have to push me out of bed and help me up the stairs because my back hurt so bad. I was in and out of the hospital with anxiety attacks. I was just too young to be that miserable. I was an athlete and model prior to my 3 kids (12,9,7).  I wanted my life back and I got it. Now I’m training to be a fitness instructor to help overweight moms. I love how GOD has used my journey to help others.”

Check out her Facebook page.

Trayce Madre weight loss story

Updated (Nov 2013) – Trayce is now down 137 pounds: “I did it again!!! People still cant believe that I’m doing it the real way! I’m now done. I’ve been on tv and my photos circulated everywhere. I need the right platform to help others which is why I keep coming back but I’m not half my weight. Praise god it can be done!”

Trayce weight loss story

Trayce Madre weight loss photos

Arlevia lost 202 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Arlevia lost 202 pounds.

“I’m so excited to share that I’ve lost a total of 202 lbs since 2008 when I began my serious quest for health & weight loss. I was weighing in at 377 lbs. I went to what some call an extreme. I became a vegetarian/pescatarian (No meat; I only eat select fish & shellfish). I stopped drinking sodas & began walking 3 miles every morning. I also asked my doctor diet pills for the 1st time in my life. I lost 70 lbs in the 1st year; was down to about 307. I gained back about 39 lbs after stopping the diet pills & continuing my exercise routine. I became so disgusted with the process because I went up to walking 4 miles 2x’s a day & nothing happened in a 1 & 1/2 year span. My weight stayed at 345 lbs, no matter what I did. I refused to ask 4 more diet pills because of how they made me feel & the negative effect of gaining back more than half the weight the 1st time. I was tired of not getting results, so I consulted a nutritionist. I began by cutting out all beverages with natural sugar. I don’t drink anything with more than 15 calories in it. I eat from a saucer instead of a regular size plate. I began by increasing my protein intake, exercising 90 minutes daily, drinking 64-72 oz of water daily, & eat 3 small meals & 3 healthy snacks (protein smoothie or protein bar daily). I’m now at 175 lbs, which is the smallest I’ve ever been.arlevia weight loss pics

Glorie lost over 30 pounds

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Update: Glorie lost another 10 pounds.  Check out her update below.

Today’s featured weight loss success story: Our international BWLW Member, Glorie, wrote us to tell us about her weight release journey.  She says, “Hi there! my name is Glorie and I am in Tanzania-East Africa. Your updates inspired me a lot to change my image and in less than 5 months I have lost over 30 pounds and still going!  I started eanting healthy and enrolled in a gym. So,  here is my before and after pics to share with every other black women around the world! We are doing this! Its time to be healthy!”

Glorie weight loss

“I started eating healthy by avoiding junk foods that I used to eat. As you know here in Africa the most common foods are rice, ugali (maize flour) which are rich caboyhrates and red meat is used in almost all of our daily dishes. I was on a diet program that allowed me to eat healthy and not to exceed 600 calories per day for the first 9 days. Thereafter, I joined a gym and I was working out 5 days a week in aerobics classes and drinking lots of water. For now am on a strict diet, that i have developed myself whereby it rotates raw foods and juices for 1 week each.  I have also found out that drinking cinnamon tea mixed with honey also helps in shedding the pounds off. I now do strength training where I concentrate on my thighs and tummy as thats where I carry most of my weight. I am truly inspired by your page and it gives me hope and alot of tips when am slacking or giving hope. So be assured that this is all over the WORLD!  Even in Africa, we’re losing the weight too.  Thank you alot and never stop what you are doing.  Be blessed.”

Update May 17, 2013 –

Hello there!  It’s Gloria Ojare all the way from Tanzania-East Africa. Again I have made some tremendous efforts and YAY…I am down 40 pounds now!!! Yay! Yay! I am so thankful to God and again so proud of myself; I just can’t imagine if I had never made up my mind to get healthy what would have happened or how would I be now. To me this is my new lifestyle. I have managed to pull off the extra 10 pounds since I last shared with ya’ll. This time I had to change my regimen. Every morning I took warm water mixed with cinnamon, lemon juice and ginger powder. I also continued to exercise but this time I skip rope at least 30-45mins every 4days. I also completely cut all sugary stuffs and limited my carbohydrates intake by adopting the STANLEY DIET.  I kept on going no matter what or how I felt and so far I am ecstatic of my transformation. I speak to every woman trying to loose weight..DONT EVER GIVE UP!  Stay ON and be consistence surely you shall see result in you and your general health. I thank everyone whose photo has been posted because whenever I look at them I smile and I say WOW..it can be done…it can be done. 9th July,2013 will mark 1year since I started my weight release journey!

Glorie weight loss before and after

Latese lost 134 pounds in 2 years

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Update May 2016: It’s been 2 1/2  yrs and Latese is still maintaining her success. She’s lost 162 pounds.

“I have learned self discipline and that we can be our own worst enemies. My children drive me and I will do anything to be around them as long as I can. Meal prep and planning is time consuming, but it keeps you accountable.” Her starting weight was 302 pounds and her current weight is 140 pounds (height? 5’5″)”

tete

September 2013 Update:  “It’s me checking in.  Since I last shared with you all I have lost 8 more pounds.  I have not gained back the weight in 2 years.  Overall, I’ve lost 134 pounds total.”

Original Post:

Latese lost 95 pounds.  She says, “I have been on my journey since about Dec of 2011 but kicked it into high gear during May of 2012.  I’m now down about 95 pounds.  I still have a ways to go, but I am sticking to keeping my protein on high and having little to no carbs.  I am strictly a water drinker and I am doing boot camp.  Five days per week,  I walk/run for 2-3 miles”

Latese’s Facebook page

weight loss before and after

Updated Photo:

Latese weight loss

Datasha lost 103 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Datasha lost 103 pounds by exercising and changing old eating habits.

Datasha lost 100 pounds

Here is what she had to say:

“Enough was just enough for me. I wanted a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix. For the most part, I’ve always been successful in just about everything I’ve decided to do. However, the weight seemed to have control, literally. I found myself doing extra to compensate for the weight gain. Until I said, Okay something has to give. Get control of yourself, and that’s when I considered Gastric bypass.

After going to the orientation, I was like whoaaaa, that’s pretty evasive surgery. I was under 35 years old and had never had surgery of any kind. However, I had to do something and continued in the process of the six-month weight management requirement, which included visiting a nutritionist once a month for six months. I promised myself and God that I would try to lose the weight without the surgery during the six month time period.

Needless to say I was scared straight! I started to do little by little, I’d never been on any kind of exercise program, and diets – you could forget it. I ate what I wanted to eat and when I wanted to eat it (late night snacking is the worst). But this time was life or death for me…. I meant business—I took back CONTROL over that area of my life. One step at a time…. I started exercising; I began to cut back on how much I ate and lessened my Pepsi intake day by day. Week after week, my old bad eating habits and lack of exercise changed gradually. And yes the results begin to roll in. Every month during my visits with the nutritionist she’d say “you’ve lost more weight?!?!?! And finally she mentioned that if I lost a few more pounds I would no longer be eligible for surgery. Well, I didn’t have Gastric Bypass and have lost over 100 pounds (103 to be exact) and counting….. YOU can too! To God be all the GLORY !”

Learn more about her journey at www.bodybytosha.com