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Tsitsi lost 75 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tsitsi lost 75 pounds over the course of 2 years after giving birth to her 2nd baby.  This should give some hope to ladies out there who are still dealing with baby weight, months or years after the birth.  Here is her story:

“Hi im Tsitsi!  I’m a mom to 2 preschoolers, 31 years old and lost 75lbs /34kg!!  After my 6 week post natal checkup,  l was shocked how the scale recorded the 200s (227 pounds) when l had already delivered my 2nd baby (a 7 pounder). l couldn’t fit anything in my closet months after the birth as l kept eating unhealthy.  In denial about my weight and my “I just had a baby” excuse! Finally l read about the 10 000 steps a day challenge and with only $10 for the cost of a pedometer, l started my weight loss journey. l realised l couldnt jump or run yet but l walked, power walked actually, and aimed for 10 000 steps! I lost 10lbs and was motivated to continue. My diet was low carb, high protein.  For carbs, I did 60% veggie, 40% fruit.  I drank 64oz water minimum.  l did buy a juicer after my coworker advised me.  How l adored her green juices! Waking up an hour before family gave me time to tackle Taebo by Billy Blanks, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, crunches, triceps dips and more. I liked how my body was toning and melting fat.  Eventually my friend asked me to try Insanity and April to May 2013 I did. I got past the plateau.  I got 4 inches off tummy, 9 pounds fell off and l felt great!. Today I’m 152 pounds, very confident, workout 5 days and run 10ks 3 days a week.  I also do weightlifting, Zumba, Core Conditioning, T25 and I’m planning another round of Insanity then P90x.  l will have abs that show by the time my son turns 3 in April. It’s been 2 years of slow and steady work but l did it.  I credit eating clean mostly.  On days l feel low, Zumba and Playing Tennis does it for me. Thank You for reading!!”

Tsitsi post baby weight loss

Keiasha lost 30 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Keiasha!  This teen sista lost 30 pounds after being told at 17 that she had high cholesterol.  Also, prom was on the way and she wanted to fit info her dress.  She has started her healthy lifestyle much earlier than some of us did and I applaud her!  We can all learn from this young lady.  Here is what she shared about her journey:

What was your motivation?

It was a rough challenge. I always wanted to loose weight but I just loved to eat. I went to the doctors and I was told that I had high cholesterol. At age 17, that is not good at all. I started to not eat as much junk as I was. I did good for a few weeks but then I started back to my bad eating habits. I wasn’t being healthy at all. I play volleyball and I started to notice that I was getting out of breath a lot and it was affecting my playing skills. The big issue was prom was coming around and I couldn’t fit into my dress. I didn’t like the way it had fit at all. All of my friends prom dressed fit but mine did not. I didn’t want to get a whole new dress because I actually really liked my dressed. So, I decided to work out and change my lifestyle. This motivated me to loose the weight because I actually had a goal that I really wanted to achieve. After I started work out and do all the things I was suppose to do, prom came around and my prom dressed for perfectly, but that didn’t stop me from continuing to work harder.

How did you change your eating habits?

I love to eat! Since I know that eating habits are important I still ate what I wanted but in moderation. For example, instead of having 3 slices a pizza, fries and a soda, I would have 1 slice of pizza, a little salad on the side and a bottle of water. In the past, I always would snack on chips, cakes, or candy. I replaced all that with fruit, nuts, and 100 calorie snacks. My dinner was light, I would have literally a hand full of food. If it’s too much to fit in the palm of my hands then it’s way too much to eat. My breakfast consisted of oatmeal, cereal, and egg whites. I love bacon, so instead I would have 1 slice of turkey bacon with egg whites and toasted wheat bread some mornings. I will always have a day out of the week where I would treat myself to something I want to eat, such as a little chocolate bar. That was only on a Fridays.

What did your workout routines look like?

My workout routines were in the mornings. I would walk or jog the trail. I would do 15 minutes of cardio, and then do 10 minutes of Abs and legs. I also did the “Insanity” workout by Shaun T. That helped out a lot. There was a little break in my workout for 2 months only because I was loosing so much weight when I started that my prom dress was getting to loose. I believe if I didn’t take off the 2 months I would have more results. Mostly cardio and interval training were my workouts. I never went to the gym all this was done at home.

What was your starting weight? My staring weight was 185 pounds.

What is your current weight? My current weight is 155 pounds.

Keiasha weight loss story

Shayla lost 40 pounds

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Shayla lost 40 pounds with workout DVDs and changing her eating habits.  She realized that even though she was working out, she didn’t start to really lose weight until she cleaned up her eating habits.  Here is what she shared:

A few years back, I was at a job I hated, didn’t like the way that I looked, I was single, and overall depressed. I refused to go to the doctor to get on medication for my depression but knew that I needed things to change before it got worst. I might have looked like everything was fine on the outside but I was miserable on the inside. It was in God’s hands to place me at a job that I would love and be happy & content with. It was also up to God when he would deliver my soulmate to me. Realizing that there was only so much I could do with all the things I felt were wrong in my life, I decided to focus on the one thing that I knew I had control over.  That it was my weight.

I started at a local recreation center that had a membership for the city residents for only $5 a month. Who can beat that?!  The only problem was that the workout facility was really small. Like teeny, tiny. However, they had two ellipticals, two treadmills, one stationary bike, a stair stepper and a weightlifting machine. That was it!  I used it all to my advantage and began going there religiously. I started losing weight but after awhile I hit a plateau and needed to challenge my body more so I joined 24 Hour Fitness. It was hard for me at first because I had anxiety and didn’t like being around large crowds. I liked the fact that they had group workout classes and that what I started doing a few times a weeks. After awhile I was losing the weight that I wanted.  Within 8 months, I lost about 40 pounds. That was great and all, but I wasn’t completely doing it the right way. See, you never heard me mention anything about eating right. That’s because I didn’t really. I wanted a quick fix and so instead of eating right, I just ate less. I would have chocolate milk for dinner. Not with my dinner, but AS my dinner. I wanted to be skinny! The thought of being healthy or fit never crossed my mind. I did pretty much anything and everything to get SKINNY. Diet pills, cleansing, barely eating, going to the gym multiple times a day.  I had reached my goal of skinny.

It didn’t last long. As soon as I stopped doing all of the drastic things I was doing to lose weight, it all came back and I had put on even more weight than before. I had gotten up to 220 lbs (it might have been higher but I refused to step on the scale after that).  This was the heaviest weight I had ever been, including during my pregnancy with my son who’s now 12. I met the man of my dreams (my now husband) and got comfortable. We’re foodies, we like to eat and that’s exactly what we did. I was back to being unhappy about my weight and had zero motivation to get rid of it.

Last March, we purchased the P90X dvds to do with my now husband.  We lasted about 3 weeks and then gave up. I figured I would just be content with being fat & happy, but that’s not who I was. Not that I’ve always been skinny, but I’ve been pretty slim and active for the most part. I didn’t feel like I was being true to who I really was. I couldn’t wear any of the clothes in my closet and I started to become depressed again. In April of last year, I bought a Groupon deal for a 4 week bootcamp and bought one for my cousin who had just had a baby to go with me. We could be accountability partners. We did great when we were doing the workouts but never really made a change in our eating habits and didn’t workout outside of the bootcamp which was 3 days a week. Then in July, my boyfriend at the time proposed to me and we decided to have a destination wedding. That for sure should have been my motivation but it still wasn’t enough to get me to workout.

It wasn’t until January of this year that I was introduced to Insanity and decided to give it a try. The first month was the hardest thing I had ever done. By the time the second month came around, I still wasn’t seeing that much changes in my weight and decided that I need to get serious with my eating. That’s when things started to happen. When I committed to working out AND eating better everything changed.  I couldn’t afford a gym membership when I started working out and working out in the comfort of my own home with workout DVDs makes me push harder. I’m not worried about other people staring at me. In the past year I have lost 40 pounds and 27 of those pounds have been since January of this year since I’ve been consistent with eating right & working out daily.

shayla weight loss story

What was your motivation?

I have a husband & child to live and be healthy for but my ultimate motivation is myself self-esteem. I feel like I’m living again! I no longer have depression and can honestly say that I have confidence in myself for the first time.

How did you change your eating habits?

I don’t diet. I’ve made a lifestyle change. I eliminated soda, beer and fast foods.  Also, I chose to grill and bake my meats while adding fresh fruits & vegetables to my diet daily. I drink lots of water and I also replace one meal a day with a protein shake.

What did your workout routines look like?

My workouts vary. I’m currently doing Turbofire DVDs and I also, jog, swim aerobics, play tennis and do weight training with light weight and resistance bands.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?

My starting weight was 220 and I currently weigh 180.

How long did your transformation take?

I first began working out in March of 2012 and I’m still a work in progress, so as of now it’s been 16 months.

Thank you so much for allowing normal woman like me to share our stories. I love the website, the challenges, the advice and I’m a big fan of the Facebook page. Keep up the good work 🙂

Angelique lost 50 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Angelique who lost 50 pounds.  This 5’1″ wife and mom was able to improve her health and weight by changing her eating habits, using MyFitnessPal and exercising with workout DVDs.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

My name is Angelique and I am a mother and a wife. Back in February 2011, I looked at myself in the mirror and had an “ah ha” moment. I cried so long and so hard. I decided at the weight of 215 pounds, my heightest ever, that it was time for a change. I am only 5’1 tall and that much weight on my frame was not flattering. I went to see my doctor and she advised me that I was prediabetic, had high cholesterol, and was at risk for other chronic illnesses. I decided enough was enough! I did my research and on July 27,2011, I decided to embark on my journey to wellness. I cut out all sweets, fried foods, minimized my pork and beef intake.  I also stopped eating processed foods, got rid of the sodas, started eating more fruit, increased my water and got moving! I started juicing and drinking smoothies. I am happy to say, as of now, I am down 50 pounds and I have a goal to lose 30 more. My children and my husband are my big motivators. They push me when I feel like I want to stop. I use My fitness pal, C25K, Insanity, Hip Hop Abs, and I love Jillian Michaels DVD’s. I try to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio everyday. I eat as clean as possible. You can do it, I have, never give up! My dream is to be a runner and it’s going to happen!

Angelique weight loss story

Tiffany lost 50 pounds

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We received a great weight loss story from Tiffany.  She lost 50 pounds by eating clean and working out at home with things like weights and Beachbody’s Insanity DVDs.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Tiffany! When I was two months shy of 30, I went to my younger sister’s college graduation and afterward I saw a picture of myself. I really could not believe that I had put on so much weight! My children were 1 and 3 years old, so I knew I had some “baby weight,” but I had no idea how much! I weighed 196 pounds at 5’3, but I deluded myself into thinking I was not “fat” because I hadn’t hit 200 pounds, even though I was probably only 2 value meals away! At that moment, I vowed to lose 50 pounds by my 31st birthday. The foundation of my entire success has been my mantra of “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13.

I joined Weight Watchers and learned how to control portions and make healthier choices. After I’d lost my first 25 pounds, I noticed that I just looked like a smaller version of my flabby self. After more research, I learned more about clean eating and started to follow the 80/20 rule, which is eat good foods about 80% of the time and then feel no guilt about having what I wanted the other 20%.

My initial exercise involved purchasing a used double jogger and walking 5 days per week. Then, I began challenging myself to jog and each month I increased distance and speed. I eventually met a trainer who was willing to come to my house one hour every 6 weeks because that was all I could afford! But, I maximized my results by using that one hour training as the guideline for lifting my husband’s old weights at home! I never paid a cent to a gym membership! As I got stronger and stronger, I decided to tackle Beach Body’s INSANITY with Shaun T! I felt like such a CHAMP and the changes in my body were phenomenal!

By my 31st birthday, I hadn’t lost 50 pounds, but I’d lost 40! I was able to take off the last 10 over the course of a few more months after my birthday. As a result of my year and a half commitment and my belief that God had better for me, I eventually made it to the status of Lifetime Weight Watcher Member and earned all of their awards along the way! Had anyone told me just two years ago that I would not only be fit, but be a weight loss resource to others, I would have laughed heartily! My best weight loss advice is:

1. Set a goal and start. A goal gives you direction. Even if you don’t hit it on time, you know you are MOVING in the right direction.

2. Celebrate sucesses like losing 0.2 pounds, or maintaining. Ounces add up to pounds just like pennies add up to dollars.

3. But, the most valuable lesson I learned was that anything that we commit to God turns our right! God was MY power source. Find yours!

Tiffany weight loss before and after

Nakia lost 43 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story:  Nakia lost 43 pounds with regular exercise, the Insanity program and by eliminating a number of things from her diet.   Here is what she shared with us:

Hi! Tomorrow is my one year anniversary and I would like to share my journey on your page.

I started my “get fit” lifestyle change journey on July 2, 2012. I was blessed to see a picture of Nakeisha of Fit 4 Life Sisters’s transformation and it motivated me instantly. I started that day with eliminating soda, sweets, fried and processed foods from my diet. I only drink water daily anywhere from 80-100 ozs. I began Insanity and was able to complete the first 6 weeks. I later joined the gym where I started the Arc trainer and treadmill. I eventually added weights for toning and running on the treadmill. This year I have accomplished finishing the whole Insanity program and I am now able to run at least 4 miles outdoors in 45 minutes. I’m 43 pounds down and feeling FITABULOUS!! My beginning weight was 220 pounds I am currently 177 pounds. My goal weight is to be between 155-160 lbs!! Yes, I am still under construction and will be for the rest of my life as this is a lifestyle change and not a temporary progress. Keep your head up sisters and keep pressing forward we all can accomplish our goals and dreams!!! I am a FIT4LIFESISTER!!!

Nakia weight loss before and after

Shelby lost 100 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after:  My Sigma Gamma Rho soror Shelby lost 100 pounds with a low carb lifestyle and consistent exercise.  Here is what she shared with us:

Ladies, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all how inspiring you all are to me and to share my story! Over the years, I gained and lost A LOT of weight but, on 12/27/2002, I decided to try my hand at a low carb lifestyle and CONSISTENT exercise.  Thank God, those were the changes that allowed me to change FOR GOOD! I’ve been able to keep the excess weight off (pic on the left was taken in the summer of ’02 and the one on the right was at a sorority (ΣΓΡ) conference in April of this year) through continued commitment to my low carb lifestyle and MOVING MY BODY. Many of us are proof that we can do this for life, not just as a “quick fix” or for a special occasion.  I thank you all for being next to me on this journey!!

I lost 100 lbs (120 total but gained 20 after having thyroid surgery…boooo!) and my motivation was to improve my health and no longer feel like a prisoner in my body! High blood pressure, insulin resistance/pre-diabetes and asthma were controlling my life and I felt like someone much older than my actual age! For exercise, I’ve done everything from aerobics classes to Zumba to every DVD program you can imagine. At the moment, I’ll be wrapping up my first round of Insanity next week and I plan to start Les Mills Combat on June 2nd!!

Shelby weight loss before and after

Ashley lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before & after: Ashley lost 50 pounds by eating clean, working out 5 to 6 times per week.  She now encourages others on facebook and instagram.  Here is what she shared with us:

Ashley weight loss storyI have been following this page all year and the before and after pics have helped me to stay on my path to better health. Thank you soooo much for your posts!! I wanted to share my before and after pics. The left pic is from 2011 & the right is now. I’ve been battling with my weight loss ever since I was 10 years old.  Finally, I’m putting an end to my obesity roller coaster. I started off doing at home videos because I couldn’t make it to the gym with my kids, nor could I afford a trainer. I lost weight by eating clean, (no processed foods & occasionally I would have cheat meals or cocktails), working out 5-6x a week and praying to God for continued strength. I do various challenges with myself every 6-8 weeks to shock my body and today I just finished the Insanity DVDs.  YAAAAY! Im so happy because insanity is literally INSANE!

For motivation, I joined My fitness pal last year to keep track of the quanity and types of food I eat. What motivated me the most was starting a instagram page. I started posting pictures of myself and it helped me to stay accountable and on track. I still have a good 30-35 lbs to lose & Ive learned that patience and consistency are key ! My goal is a size 6 jeans.

If others are interested in seeing my progress or more pics they can go to facebook.com/watchmemelt2.  I also run a contest on Instagram every 8 weeks to help motivate women & reach their overall goals.

God Bless!

Ashley weight loss before and after

Crysta lost 80 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story:  Crysta lost 80 pounds by focusing on losing weight for herself and not for others.  Insanity, lots of cardio and changing her eating habits have been key to her weight loss journey.  Here is what she shared with us:

My motivation was to be healthy and be happy inside and out.  For too many years, I did not think about losing weight for myself but for others. I had to stop crying about my weight and change it. I cut out sweets and white bread. I eat a lot of protein and veggies. I only drink water tea and coffee, but on the weekends I may have a cheat day. Cardio, cardio, cardio is your friend. In the last two months I have been doing Insanity. It is hard work but you have to really want it and work hard; it really helps to have motivators and workout partners too.

Crysta weight loss before and after

 

Jonarra lost 61 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Jonarra who lost 61 pounds.  Here is what she shared with me:

My motivation to lose weight was my health.  I also got tired of not being able to dress nice.  I would go to my hometown and people I grew up with didn’t recognize me. I felt ugly.   Then, I saw the Insanity commercials on television and was very impressed with it. Got the DVDs and worked it out.  20 minutes warm up, 25 minutes pure cardio.  In term of my eating habits; I ate healthy Special K cereal, drank plenty of water, baked many foods, ate a lot of fruits, etc. The picture on the left I was 203 pounds. After insanity, I’m 142 pounds!!!!!

Jonarra weight loss before and after