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how to lose 100 pounds

Ledeatra lost 100 pounds

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Zeta Phi Beta Soror Ledeatra lost a little over 100 pounds.  She credits working out with her personal trainer and completely cleaning up her eating habits as the major factors in her journey.  Here story is today’s weight loss success story of the day.

Ledeatra weight loss story

I lost 100 lbs in 6 and half months. My motivation was that I was just plain sick and tired of being overweight. Once the new year started I contacted a personal trainer who I saw a high school classmate use.

Eating habits: I ate lean meats such as chicken (ground, breast, tenderloins) ground turkey, salmon, low sodium tuna packets.  For carbs, I mainly had green veggies such as spinach, broccoli, zucchini, asparagus. For breakfast I would mainly have Herbalife meal replacement shakes. I try to avoid any thing high in sodium, sugar or carbs.

My Workouts: 6 days a week, I workout with a trainer. We do everything from weights, jogging, treadmill, lunges, pushups, etc. I do lots of full body exercise.

Starting weight: 257.6 pounds
Current weight: 156.8 pounds

My progress so far has taken 6.5 months. My biggest advice is do not give up. I had days that the scale didn’t move or when it even went up. I had sick days and days I did not want to get out of bed but I did. For me, having a personal trainer is the difference because he has pushed me more than I thought possible. Lastly, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Just because something says low fat or low Cal does not mean it is healthy or will make u lose weight.

Instagram: @ladywatson11

Ledeatra lost 100 pounds

Nikki lost 103 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nikki lost 103 pounds. Tired of feeling invisible and dealing with low self esteem, she decided that enough was enough.  She embraced healthy eating habits and worked out with DVDs at home to transform her body.  Here is her story:

Nikki weight loss story

When I started my weight loss journey, I was 266 pounds at 5’6″. I was uncomfortable in my skin, had low self esteem, and avoided mirrors as much as I could. I prided myself on my intelligence and accomplishments since I felt that was all I was good at. One day. I woke up and realized I had enough. No more making excuses and being treated like I was invisible. After finally making up my mind to change my life, on January 2012 I started to change my diet. I cut out sodas and all the fattening foods I was eating. Since at the time we didn’t have a grocery store close by, I was mainly ordering out every day. When I first began working out, I was doing Zumba, then moved on to Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, and I am currently doing Piyo. I would work out at home 6 days a week. I would also have one rest day and one treat meal a week. My current weight (and maintenance weight) is 163 pounds and I have been maintaining it since March 29, 2013. My transformation took 14 months, and I am currently working on toning and building lean muscle. I am now a beachbody coach, returned to school for nutrition science, and will be receiving my bachelors degree in 2016. If I could give someone advice on losing weight, I would say to take it a day at a time. Don’t focus on how much you have to lose because you will feel overwhelmed or like it is impossible. Set small goes for yourself, and cross them off your list as you go! I am documenting my weight loss journey on instagram so please follow me at nikki_c85! Stay blessed!

Nikki before and after

Update: April lost 105 pounds

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Update Dec 2015 – April wrote in to let us know that she has maintained her 100+ pound weight loss for more than a year and is now a certified personal trainer. “Since losing 100lbs I’ve managed to maintain my weight loss by consistently eating the proper food and working out regularly. I do allow myself to have 1-2 cheat meals throughout the week. I’ve continued working out 5-6 days a week. I only do cardio 2 times a week. I lift weights, heavy weights. for the most part.

Many people have been inspired by my story, so I became a NASM certified personal trainer. The reason I decided to become a trainer is that my love for fitness has grown. I’m also motivated by knowing that I’ve been blessed to be so successful with losing weight. That’s why I want to help others who have weight issues and those struggling to believe they can do it. I do provide online training and in person training. I’m located in Northern Virginia about 45 minutes outside of Washington DC. Any questions: email me at aprilalexanderpr@gmail.com.” Read our original post on April from 2014 to learn more about her weight loss journey.
april before and after update
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We featured April’s story back in April 2014 and now, 3 months later, she’s lost 14 more pounds for a total of 105 lbs gone. Check out her update and new after photo below:

7/14/14 – “I wanted to give an update on my weight loss. I have lost 105 pounds to date. I’ve changed up my routine a bit by incorporating heavier weights, TRX, and plyometrics workout. I’ve managed to keep a clean diet with eating 6 times day, every 3 hours. Many people ask me what’s my ideal goal weight. I don’t have a goal weight, because when you begin to lift weights the scale fluctuates because it can’t determine muscle verses fat.  As you build muscle you will lose inches and maybe not as many pounds. My tips for those that are struggling with their weight loss journey be consistent even when the scale isn’t moving or you can’t see the change in your body. Eventually you will see the results. Remember success doesn’t happen overnight it’s a process.” Instagram: @iamaprilstyles  Updated: @Apryl.Alexander

April lost 100 pounds
Updated Photo –  105 pounds gone
April Apr 14
April at 91 pounds down

Zoleka lost 125 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Zoleka lost 125 pounds. This 6 foot tall beauty decided at 35 years old and 350 pounds that she wanted to get to greater health and deal with her chronic health issues before reaching 40 years old.  Here is what she she shared about her weight loss journey:

zoleka weight loss story

What was your motivation?
My Motivation was to be 40 and fabulous, and at 35 I was extremely overweight, borderline diabetic, and had high blood pressure. I refuse to go into my 40’s on meds with breathing problems so I adopted a healthy lifestyle.

How did you change your eating habits?
Per my doctor’s instructions I eliminated bread, sugar, and sodas. I am currently doing 3 to 4 days a week meatless along with juicing, which replaces either one or two meals a day.  For my non-meatless days, I eat either fish or chicken.  My salads consists of spinach or a spinach and arugula mix with array of vegetables (no iceberg or romaine). For dessert I have granola,  fresh fruit and almonds with Greek yogurt. My Beverages? WATER!!!

What did your workout routines look like?
Just cardio at first then gradually moving to working out 5 days a week. Now, my workouts consist of 5 days of a mix of cardio/weight training/squats.

What was your starting weight? 350 pounds. My height is 6 feet.

What is your current weight? 225 pounds

How long did your transformation take? 3 years

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
Adopt a healthy lifestyle! You will be able to be more consistent with it and your changes will last a lifetime!  I am a business owner and community activist. I am currently on a 60 day challenge in a group I started with business women to spread the word on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. My goal is to lose another 20 lbs.

Instagram: @brownsugaenterprisesllc

Zoleka weight loss success story

Lesa lost 123 with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Lesa who has lost 123 pounds.  She decided to have gastric sleeve weight loss surgery after dealing with a number of chronic health conditions affected by being overweight.  After dealing with the loss of her closest relatives and having to be put in a medically induced coma, she realized that she had to be here to support and love her children.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Lesa weight loss surgery

I’ve always been overweight, as far as I can remember. It was “cute” when I was a chubby toddler and never shed any of the extra pounds. I grew up in an “overweight” family. I was raised by typical Black Country fed, homegrown, soul food grandparents. My mom was the type of woman who loved being a voluptuous woman and I inherited that gene.

I loved being voluptuous, plus sized, etc. it wasn’t until I realized that as I older, I got bigger. My entire adult life I was 300+ but by the time I was 37, I was up to 390 lbs.  Now with health problems, single parenting, losing close family members and juggling too much that I started having severe health problems; namely Sleep Apnea, Congestive Heart failure, low immune system, and Pulmonary Hypertension (which caused me to go into respiratory distress October 2010).

After being in a medically induced coma for 21 days I woke from the coma and my first thought was “Who took care of my babies?”  They already lost my mom and grandparents and were on the verge of losing me!!  My mom passed away at the age of 45 years old and it was heartbreaking to me and my children.  She had a multitude of health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, & CHF that if she lost weight she might still be alive today.  I was finally diagnosed with Tracheal Stenosis after being hospitalized three times. Then, I had to have an emergency tracheostomy February, 2011. I was told by numerous doctors that I would have the trach for the rest of my life due to extensive scarring to my trachea from the intubation.

One of the medical specialists that told me that I would have my trach removed in December of 2012. My trachea healed. I discovered that Medicare paid for gastric surgery and in May 1, 2013 I had my first consultation. Initially, in 2009, I planned to get the Lap Band (I’m glad that things didn’t work out for me to get it). I researched the gastric sleeve and found people that had the surgery.  After months of planning I had my surgery October 31, 2013.

Weight Loss Surgery is a tool, not a miracle cure for obesity. It is our responsibility to make the right choices.  I sometimes start to eat things like I’m a trance.  Not realizing what I was doing until I’m in mid bite.  I’ve discovered that my comfort food and drinks aren’t so comforting.  Now, I love veggies, fruits and WATER. Lots and lots of water.  I do not get caught up in the scales. This is the one thing that I cannot stress enough. It is not good emotionally if you get all of your sense of achievement from the scale. I just keep in mind that this is a Marathon and NOT a sprint. My workout routine is walking. I walk everywhere and climb stairs.  Imagine me, a person who loves to shop having to use the motorized cart in Walmart or having to sit down while shopping at the mall…or flat out not going to the mall at all!  Imagine not wanting to go anywhere because your fat is basically insulation and you are constantly hot!  Now, I have energy and don’t mind cooking, cleaning, walking or climbing the stairs.

I’m still in transition and I’m only 9 months post-surgery and have lost 123 lbs. and my current weight is 267.  Initially, I wanted to be 225 lbs. or a size 18/20, however my ultimate goal is to just be healthy.  I recommend joining a support group as I seem to be having identity issues post-surgery.  I’ve always been comfortable being plus sized that now that I’ve lost weight I can’t identify with the person I see in the mirror.  Daily what I am thankful for is that I’m not plagued with health issues and I’m going to be around to be a parent to my daughters!

Lesa weight loss surgery