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Audrey lost 47 pounds

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Weight loss story of the Day: Audrey lost 47 pounds.  She credits making changes to her eating and drinking habits as a major factor in her weight loss journey.  Here is what she shared with us:

“Hello, My name is Audrey and it took my about 1 year and 3 months to go from 207 pounds to 160 pounds. I worked out 5 days a week starting off. I stopped drinking juice and pop totally. I only drink water, green tea, and milk. I still eat pretty much the same food, I just cut back on portion size and minimized how many sweets I eat.

I was motivated to start cause I never really reached over 200 pounds., only during pregnancy. I also have asthma so I knew if I lost some of the weight that would help tremendously. I started gaining weight after going through a lot of things going on in my personal life with eating and drinking (alcohol). I first lost 17 pounds just buy cutting juice out of my diet cold turkey. After seeing the results it pushed me even more to try going to the gym. I would go at least 4-5 days a week doing at least 1 hour of cardio and weight lifting, abdominal exercises, etc. I stopped eating after 7/8 pm, stopped eating fried foods, eating more fruits, vegetables, & eat more lower calorie foods/snacks. After of months doing this I just made it a way of life. I don’t go to the gym as much now but to maintain my weight I still don’t over eat and at least walk on my lunch break while at work on days I don’t go to the gym.”

Audrey weight loss story

Pros and Cons of Liquid Diets

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liquid dietsIt can be hard to tell what to think about liquid diets. They are both promoted as one of the best ways to rapidly lose weight and criticized for the very same reason. There are two basic types of liquid diets available; store bought and medically supervised. Each of them has their pros and cons. Deciding which will be best for you requires that you understand why a liquid diet works, and how it can backfire as well.

What is a liquid diet?

A liquid diet is a way of radically reducing caloric intake by only consuming foods in a liquid form. This can take the appearance of using powdered or pre-mixed shakes, pureeing foods or restricting your food intake to soups and store bought/prescribed drinks. Due to the lack of solid shape foods, liquid diets mostly reduce calories through eliminating processed carbohydrates, meat and fiber sources.

How well do they work?

The results for a liquid diet are nearly the same whether you are choosing a store bought, over the counter system or using a medically supervised program. With both, there is rapid weight loss due to the sudden caloric restriction. Major weight loss occurs within the first 3 months of a liquid weight loss diet program and then will reach a plateau where the loss is not as great. This is why doctors often prescribed a medically supervised liquid weight loss diet before surgery or to help those who are morbidly obese quickly leave dangerous levels of obesity before assuming a more controlled regular program of diet and exercise. The problem with all liquid diets, store bought or medically supervised, is that there can be a rebound effect. Liquid diets can place the body into a starvation mode which forces the body to transform stored fat into ketones which it can then use as fuel to provide glucose for metabolic activity. If your body experiences starvation mode for too long, it slows the metabolism down. This means that you can stop losing weight even while on a liquid diet. Many people also rapidly regain the lost weight when they go off the diet because it is too restrictive and the body will generate cravings and appetite to promote consumption of food to avoid starvation again.

Pros and cons of medically supervised liquid diets

A medically supervised liquid diet means that you are working with your doctor and nutritionist to make sure that you are getting the right amount of nutrients to sustain your health. Your doctor will also monitor any associated conditions you may have and keep a close watch on your blood sugar levels. Even with a medically supervised liquid diet there is a high risk of malnutrition. In the long term, liquid diets of any kind cannot provide the body with all the carbohydrates, fats and proteins it needs to function well. The main bonus of a medically supervised liquid diet is you have professionals making sure you are getting what you need and who can let you know when it is time to stop. The major drawback of a medically supervised diet is the cost. You can expect to pay quite a bit for the visits and diet supplies. Not all insurances will cover these programs.

Pros and cons of store bought liquid diets

Store bought liquid diets can often provide as much vitamin, mineral and nutritional content as any liquid provided in a medically supervised program. By carefully reading the nutrition information on the package, you can make sure that you are getting the best value for your money. These diets are significantly cheaper than a medically supervised one. The major drawback of a store bought diet is that they may also contain high levels of sugar and other preservatives that are not healthy for you. Some of these drinks are just sugar, synthetic vitamins and protein powder. You also lack the behavioral, one on one support that you would get in a medically supervised program, as well as any monitoring of any associated medical conditions.

Which should you choose?

Due to the cons of liquid diets, I would not recommend them for most people unless they were doing is for a medical reason.  The incidence of gaining the weight back once you start eating solids again is too great for me to suggest it for the average person wanting to lose weight long term.  I would instead suggest a juice fast or smoothie fast for 7-28 days with the understanding that you are detoxing the body and that you’d have to have go on from there to clean eating, low carb eating, low fat vegan eating or make some other substantial change in your lifestyle when it comes to eating to see long term weight loss.

The only way to know which liquid diet is right for you is to talk to your doctor. This form of rapid weight loss dieting may not be beneficial for everyone. Your doctor can help monitor your health if you choose to go on a store bought liquid diet, or they can provide recommendations to a nutritionist for a medically supervised program.

Debra lost 50 pounds

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debra before and after

Update Jan 2017:  I was featured the end of November and I am still at it. I’ve still been doing the meal plan with Terry Starks and working out at LB’s Circuit Training. It’s been 16 weeks now and here’s what I’m looking like.

I have lost 21 pounds… woohoo! I started the plan with Terry at 142 pounds and I now weigh 121 pounds. Since November of 2016, I have lost 7 pounds but dropped over 10 inches. I try not to focus too much on the number on the scale, because that can discourage you. I focus more on how my clothes are fitting and how I look in the mirror.

My words of advice would be to change things up. I thought I had the answers. I was meal prepping and working out, but yet my body wasn’t changing. It wasn’t until I reached out to Terry Starks and tried his plan that I got the true change I desired. Even though I was meal prepping, my food choices were not getting me where I wanted to be. I was so afraid of paying money for a plan that wouldn’t work, but I did my research and it is paying off. I haven’t been this small in my adult years and it has taken me to another level in my fitness. To see all hardwork I am putting in at LB’s paying off is amazing. Our health takes some investing… time and money! We are worth every cent we put into it!

Nov 2016 – Debra not only has maintained her success, but she’s continued to transform her body. Now she’s working with the Diet Doctor, Terry Starks and getting amazing results. We shared her story more than 3 years ago and how she’s sharing an update.

debra before and after
The pic on the left is what my body looked like when I started Terry’s plan. The pic on the right was after 7 weeks on his plan. Completely transformed.

I actually injured myself when I ran a half marathon in September of 2015. So, my workouts had to change. Having to change from my “go to” workout of running was extremely challenging. I continued to meal prep, but I wasn’t really losing any weight. My body had plateaued. Feeling frustrated with no results, I found a gym here in Toledo called LB’s Circuit Training and started working out there. I started to see some changes but my body structure wasn’t changing the way I wanted it to.

Then I remembered Terry Starks helped a few people I knew and I thought, “What do I have to lose.” Changing my meal plan and prep with the help of Terry has completely transformed my body. I am losing body fat while gaining muscle. I now combine Terry’s meal plan and LB’s Circuit Training and my results have been unbelievable to me in such a short time.

What I have learned most on this journey is that if you want change to happen, you have to change! You have to be willing to change up things, despite how uncomfortable it may be. We get so use to the way things are, that change is difficult and no one wants to do it. We must realize that it’s a must if you want to get to that next level of fitness. Remember 80/20… 80% is what you eat and 20% is exercise. You will never be able to out work a bad diet. Your body will not change without changing your eating habits. I haven’t been this lean since my early 20’s and using Terry Starks meal plan has made the difference. Body fat down and lean muscle mass up. Instagram: @liloleme_dee

debra weight loss

2013 – We featured Debra’s story back in February (more information in the original post) and she recently sent in an update to let us know that she is down a total of 50 pounds.  She has also embraced strength training. Here is what she had to say and her updated photos:

Debra weight loss story

“I was featured earlier part of this year and I am still going strong. I love your daily posting of progress pictures and it continues to keep me encouraged. I have found a new love and that is weight training. I am not a heavy lifter but I have found that my body is responding well to the new training. I have lost an additional 10 pounds since my feature and I am not done yet. I am wanting to build more muscle. I use to be afraid that I would look all bulking from weight lifting, however, I have found that is the furthest from the truth. Weight training has changed my life and my body. Still a work in progress and loving every minute of it. Two years of slow and steady weight loss!!!”

Debra weight loss photos Debra weight loss photos

4 Things to know about Bariatric Surgery and Insurance

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Bariatric surgery has become recognized as the safest and most efficient way for someone who is morbidly obese to lose weight fast. For some people, the length of time it would take to lose weight using diet and exercise alone may not help them to avoid severe medical complications due to obesity. It may also be unwise for some people to exercise until significant weight has been lost to reduce stress on the joints and heart. Affording bariatric surgery has just gotten trickier, not easier over the years. Here are 4 things you need to know about Bariatric surgery and insurance.

How much will it cost on average?

insurance benefitsWhile the three main types of procedures are all priced differently, the overall average cost of any type of bariatric surgery will be about $42,000. The surgery itself can cost from 8 to over 16 thousand dollars, but that is just for the surgery. Bariatric surgery is a term used to refer to the process of preparing for the surgery and the recovery.  As a process, this can include extensive testing, therapy in some cases, in-patient recovery, out-patient recovery and follow up procedures. Unlike many surgeries that rely on one type of specialist and a generic support team; Bariatric surgery uses a specialized Bariatric team during the entire process and the whole procedure. This is why it is one of the most expensive procedures.

Lekeia lost 82 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Lekeia lost 82 pounds.  This proud army wife and mom learned how to count calories and exercised regularly to get results.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Lekeia weight loss story

“Hi, my name is Lekeia Washington. I’m a 29 year old Army wife and mother of 2. I’m currently 5’1 tall and I weigh 128 pounds. I got tired of being overweight so I decided to do something about it. I went to a website called www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calculators/calories-required/ and I started counting calories. I’ve lost a total of 82 pounds.

I started my weight loss journey after I had my second child in 2009. At that time, I weighed a total of 210 pounds. I was able to lose 50 pounds in 3 months.  How? I only counted calories and exercised 5 days a week. Counting calories helped me to make better decisions about the foods I ate. After I lost the first 50 pounds and taught myself to eat healthy, I lost the rest of the weight over a period of 2 years. I maintain my weight of 128 lbs by working out and eating healthy. I no longer count calories. I  have changed my eating habits and I feel great. My motivation to lose weight was the fact that I didn’t like the way I looked and instead of complaining about it I changed it. The results I saw motivated me even more. My advice to other women who want to lose weight is to just do it. You will feel great afterwards. It’s amazing to look in the mirror with satisfaction.”

Lekeia before and after photos

Nika lost 79 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Nika lost 79 pounds.  She focused on counting calories and regular exercise to lose the pounds.  Here is what she shared with us”

Nika weight loss photos

“My starting weight was 247 pounds. I’m down to 168 pounds. It was a long road that has required me to finally address the issue at hand! I moved to another city to make more money, so of course I because comfortable with eating out 3-4 nights a week. I had no exercise in my daily routine what so ever. I would eat early or late, it didn’t matter. I didn’t even have to be hungry to eat, I ate just because. One day I decided to weigh myself and the number on the scale really surprised me. I knew I gained weight but I didn’t know how much because I stayed away from the scale for this very reason. I went into a major depression. The first week I lost 7 pounds because I barely ate. From then on I vowed to myself never to see that number again if I could help It. It took over two years for me to reach this point. I now workout At least 5 times a week. I try not to eat after 7 pm. I really don’t diet, I’m just conscious of the calories I eat. I do cheat at times, but I have to work harder when I do.”

How did you change your eating habits?

“I changed my eating habits by counting calories and being conscious of what I was consuming. I stopped the late night snacking. Now I consume more vegetables (trying to get full off of them). Salad and fruit has become my best friend.”

What do you do in terms of exercise?

“I go to zumba/hip hop fitness class or work out about 5 days a week, doing 20 minutes of cardio then hitting some weights.  Last but not least, I Do squats and lunges for the lower body. Even when I can’t make it to the gym or class, I go in my basement.  I pump up the music and work up a sweat by jumping rope, squats, weights for arms, lunges and planking for about 45 minutes.”

LaShunda lost 102 pounds

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Let’s show some love to LaShunda. She lost 102 pounds with weight reduction surgery, exercise and eating right.  I’m happy to share her weight loss story with you:

“Hello, this my story. I lost my Mom and without me knowing I gained over 95 lbs that took me over the 300 mark. Depression had sat in without me knowing it. I tried everything in the world and it did not work. My daughter  graduated in 2011 and after taking all the lovely pictures, I saw a different person. I went to True Results and got the Lap-Band® surgery . It is the best thing that I have done for myself in a long time.

Hit the gym 5 to 6 times a week along with zumba and eating right. Along with the assistance of the Lap-Band, I choose to cut soda’s, sugar drinks, bread, and most red meats. These items are the worst for me to digest. I also eat very small portions many times a day. Water is a very important part of my day. I try to drink half my body weight in just water. I now drink the cucumber, lime, lemon and mint detox, which is really good. My starting weight was 319 pounds and I am currently 217 pounds. I went from a size 28 to a size 12 . I have been serious for the last 2 years. I did not realize that I was that heavy. I went into a depression and did not know that I was there mourning the death of my mother. My advice to those that struggle is eat clean, move, drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest.”

LaShunda weight loss story

Crystal lost 30 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Crystal lost 30 pounds.  Her photos show that you don’t have to lose 100 pounds to transform your body.  Working our regularly, building muscle and eating clean are key.  Here is her story:

Crystal weight loss photos

What was your motivation?

“At first I wanted to lose weight because I was tired going up in sizes and not being able to wear my old clothes. After researching the health benefits of weight loss, I started to do it for my health. There are a lot of obesity related diseases that are common in my family and I refuse to be the next victim.”

How did you change your eating habits?

“At first I thought I could keep the same diet and just exercise…NOT TRUE. I had to cut out sugar, fast food, fried food, and learn how to eat clean. Now, I only eat lean protein, green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, and I drink a gallon of water a day. I try to eat about 5 small meals of day without snacking in between. I’ve been drinking Shakeology for about a year now, and that really helps me fight cravings for junk food and desserts. I’m also a green tea lover so I drink about 2 cups of tea a day.”

What did your workout routines look like?

“I get bored with workouts very easily so I like to switch up my routine. I lift weights 5 days a week, do cardio 2-3 days a week, and I rest one day week. I do home workout DVDs due to my busy schedule, but I also run outdoors to change the scenery from time to time.”

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
“I started out at 165 lbs and I’m currently 135 lbs.”

How long did your transformation take?
“My transformation took about 7 months. It could have taken less time if I would have changed my diet in the beginning. The first 2 months were mostly trial and error.”

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
Be patient. The results will come as long as you put in the hard work. It’s also important to challenge yourself. I always try to push myself to go a littler harder, to lift a litter heavier, to not take so many breaks when jogging. It will pay off in the end. Trust me!

Crystal weight loss story

Crystal lost 35 pounds

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Crystal wrote to us to share that she’s lost 35 pounds.  This proud mom of 3 lost the weight after being a food addict as a result of dealing with very hard and painful things in her past.  Here is her weight loss story:

Crystal weight loss photos

“I have been plus size (size 16W-18W) for a while now.  I have even advocated to ladies in my area to love themselves, no matter what size they are. I was in denial about my own size and even though my self esteem was always high, I just felt like crap physically.

This year, I was involved in a car accident, that left me with injuries to my back and my legs were constantly feeling numb. I accepted the fact that I am overweight, and tired of being sick and tired. That was when I decided I would do something about it after healing from the injuries.

After the accident, I had to do some deep soul searching, and in the meantime I read some really helpful material on how to deal with a painful past, and forgiving others. It was then that I realized that I had a food addiction, and I turned to food after dealing with a very hard situation in my life as a child.

Food was my drug of choice and I ate constantly, any and everything.

I have been so busy changing my lifestyle by eating healthy foods, and exercising, that I decided not to publish my online newspaper anymore (Cincinnati Defender). It took up too much of my time. I am a mother to three children ages 17, 8, and 7, plus I work a normal job in addition to being a publisher I had to decide between catering to the community, and catering to my health.

In three months, I lost 35lbs, no weight loss surgery. I changed what I ate and the portions I ate. I made better food choices, and increased my water intake from maybe 6 glasses a day to 2 gallons a day.  I exercised 4-5 times a week. I am still on this journey, and now encouraging others to do the same thing. Now, I have a total of about 45 more pounds to lose.”

Terri lost 58 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Terri lost 58 pounds.  This petite 5’2″ sista was able to improve her health after being diagnosed with kidney disease with the help of a supportive Facebook community.  She committed herself to wellness and weight loss!  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Terri weight loss photos

“Hello, I’m Terri Little, I am 48 years old. I am married with 2 grown sons and 1 daughter-in-law. I was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 32. At that time my Renal doctor told me that I would most likely have kidney failure in 10 years because both kidneys were affected. He also told me if I lose weight that it would help my kidneys. I tried every fad diet out there, I lost a few pounds here and there but always gained it back. My doctor prescribed steroids that I took for about 6 months. The weight gain and side effects were unbelievable! I gained 15 pounds. I gave up trying to lose weight.

In 2011, I made my usual New Years Resolution to lose weight. Surprisingly I lost 20 pounds. I was at my largest at that time, 190 pounds and I stand at 5’2. In April 2012, (weight 172 size 10), a friend of mine added me to a lifestyle weight loss group on Facebook, that was founded by a personal trainer on the east coast. At that same time my labs for my kidney test were not good, so I said to myself, I’m going to try the group out and see if I could really lose the weight naturally and really stick with it to improve my health. As being part of the group we were to post our meals and workouts and he would give us advice on eating healthy and different kinds of exercises. That is when my journey began. The group was so motivating! I would see others overweight/obese like myself working out, posting their healthy meals, pictures and videos. He would also give us challenges. One challenge in particular I enjoyed was July 2012 was to purchase in the dress size we wanted to be. I purchased a size 4. By the end of the challenge I was able to fit that dress!

How I lost the weight: First, I stopped eating processed foods, white flour, white sugar, white rice, no fried foods of any kind. I use agave nectar as my sweetener, I bake, grill, boiling, broiled and steam my meat and veggies. I gave up all red meat. I drink half my body weight in spring water daily and cups of organic green tea. I make all sort of smoothies. I love to cook and have been told I’m a great cook  I enjoy making over my dishes so they can be healthy. I workout at the gym and at home 5-6 times a week. I love my 3 pound hula hoop, it’s really helped trim my waistline. I do strength training, free weights, cables and band. Interval cardio training on elliptical and stationary bike (something I learned from personal training in lifestyle group).

By November 2012, I reached my goal of 132 lbs. I now weight 135-138 and I have lost over 50 lbs since 2011. I wear a 4 size, sml and extra sml. I am within normal weight range for my age and height. I’m happy to say my Renal doctor was right! I lost the weight my kidney function is normal! I no longer take any medications. I now see my Renal doctor once a year. For years, I saw him every 3 months. I am overjoyed for what I accomplished! With A LOT of Prayer, Self determination and motivations from others I reached my goal! I get emotional just thinking about it. Thankful!! I’m eating for Life literally! I always say it possible.”

Terri weight loss journey Terri weight loss story