Black Weight Loss Success

The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.

Join Our Email List:
We respect your email privacy
You are here: Home / Archives for losing weight

losing weight

Tiffany lost 46 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Story: Tiffany lost 46 pounds. 1 1/2 years ago she decided to start her fitness and weight loss journey. Despite ups and downs, she’s remained focused and is now training to become a certified personal trainer. Check out what she shared with us about how she changed her life.

tiffany before and after

On September 27, 2014, I weighed 215 pounds. I decided to change my life and get fit. I started off by just walking and watching what I ate. No greasy food and I limited my intake on carbs. Then, I turned to social media to help keep me motivated and to learn more about working out. Through the ups and downs, I remained focused for the most part during my fitness journey. I have joined a gym and I workout 5 times a week. I do cycling, strength training, cross fit and a lot of body circuit work.

On my 30th birthday, I bought the outfit on the right to go to Puerto Rico. Needless to say it wouldn’t even go pass my lower thighs (wish I would of thought to take pics). I tried that baby on today, 1 1/2 years later, and IT FITS! I currently weigh 169 pounds at 5’7″ tall.

My advice for others: Never give up on your goals. It will take time, but the time will be worth it at the end!

Today, I’m the founder and owner of “Unique Inches“. I am sharing my story and helping others reach their goal with accountability and coaching, while studying for my Personal Trainer cert with NFPT.

I was inspired by other successful stories from individuals across the country. I got up and motivated myself to take steps toward becoming a better me! I have come a long way this past year, but I am so proud of who I am becoming. I know the struggles. Iv’e lived with doubts and insecurity. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! If I want that body, then I’ll be darn… I WILL HAVE THAT BODY with my very own Unique Inches! I know that my story will help others to get their FIT on! Don’t let doubts run you away from having the Unique Inches you desire.

Instagram: @Twin_Royce

tiffany weight loss story

Elease lost 63 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Mom on a Mission: Elease lost 63 pounds. This mom of 4 made time to change her lifestyle while working full time and being an entrepreneur. She sought out a weight loss program, changed her eating habits and too up walking to lose the pounds. Check out her story.

Elease before and after

On my birthday, New Years Eve 2014, I got on the scale and weighed 293 pounds. That was more then what I weighed when I gave birth to my twins. I was devastated. That is when I decided that I was tired of being sick and tired.

I started my journey by making small changes to my diet and purchasing a Fitbit. I saw minimal results. On March 13, 2015, I went in for a consult at the center for medical weight loss. The thing that stuck in my mind the most was when the doctor said, “If you had cancer, you would treat it aggressively.” I opted for the most aggressive program they had; total meal replacement and an appetite suppressant. I also started working out. I did two 6 week rounds of the program. I drank the shakes for 6 weeks and then took a 2 week break, followed by another 6 weeks of shakes.

I changed my eating habits. I ate smaller portions and ate more veggies. I found vegetables I liked and stopped drinking soda pop. I also stopped eating food in the middle of the night. For exercise, I began walking every day for about 30 minutes and worked up to an hour. I would do squats and lunges at the park while my kids played.

I still continue with weekly weigh-ins and making better food choices. To date, I have lost 63.5 pounds. I’m 5’2″ tall. It took me about 9 months to lose the weight.

Advice I would give to others: Take your health seriously. Find things that work for you and if they stop working try somethings else. The weight won’t come off overnight, so be patient. Also, water is your friend.

I always hear that being healthy is expensive, and I say, “So is being overweight.” Make your choice. Nothing is easy, but it is worth it. I was able to make these changes while being a single mother of 4 (ages at the time: 8, 5 and 2 year old twins), working full time and being business owner.

Jonika lost 63 pounds

by 2 Comments

Transformation of the Day: Jonika lost 63 pounds. This proud mom knew that her children would be influenced by her bad habits. She was also experiencing health issues and didn’t like what she saw starring back at her in the mirror. Determined to love her body again and live a healthy lifestyle, she took action. Check out her story.

jonika weight loss story

My name is Jonika D. So, far I have lost a total of 63 pounds, give or take a few (as my weight fluctuates). I started my journey at 254 pounds and I’d gotten down to 191 pounds. Currently, I’m usually between 195/200 pounds. Technically, at 5′ 7″, I’m “supposed” to be at 175 lbs, so that’s my next goal. That’s only so that I’ll be able to comfortably sculpt and tone my body without worrying about the scale.

I began my fitness journey when I got tired of disguising my body. I was always uncomfortable and I had begun to have phantom health issues. I experienced unexplained dizziness, poor circulation, and swelling or “water weight”, just to name a few. I also never liked to look at myself in pictures, or the mirror. I didn’t recognize the person looking back at me. I also realized my children were watching, and my bad habits were rubbing off on them. I couldn’t let them down.

I tried the weight loss pills and powders, but nothing worked like good old fashioned hard work. I had tried working out on my own a few times and successfully losing weight, but that was it. No muscle tone, no strength, and the second I ate anything I wasn’t supposed to, I’d gain some of the weight back. I became delusional. My clothes still “fit” so I never let myself believe that I had gotten as big as I was… until I woke up to the reality.

In March of 2014, I decided to commit to getting active. I did what I knew how to on my own for a couple of months. My kids pushed me to go to the gym (they loved the kids club), so that part was easy. However, I couldn’t push myself (and sometimes still can’t), so I enlisted the help of a friend who had been studying to become a personal trainer. I set a weight loss goal of 54 pounds, which would put me at 200 pounds. We worked 3 times a week for 3 months and I had toned by body but hadn’t lost any weight. My friend suggested that I cut down my portion sizes and incorporate more lean meats and fresh veggies into my diet. By this time, it was July 2014. With the changes, I lost 14 pounds in 2 weeks. I won’t pretend that it was easy to lose the remaining 40 pounds to get to my first goal. As anyone who does weight training can attest, lifting and losing can be difficult. Oh, the temptations! In the end, I reached my goal at the end of July, 2015.

In addition to weight training, I also picked up Zumba, hip hop classes and boot camps when available. I also went kayaking once, and can’t wait to go back.
Anything to stay active.

The advice I would give to someone trying to lose weight is change you eating habits first. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. If you don’t think you can eat that way for the rest of your life (with variations of course), then don’t eat that way. Find an eating style that works for you. Also, have fun with your workouts! If you don’t have friends to start with you, be open to meeting some where you workout. I’ve met so many awesome people that keep me motivated on this journey.

Instagram: @workit_jd_workit

jonika before and after

Bree lost 47 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Update January 2018: Check out this update from Bree. She’s lost more than 60 pounds.

Bree before and after

I’ve lost a total of 60+ pounds since 2013. I currently weigh 159 pounds and I started at 220 pounds. My heigh is 5’4″. My weight fluctuates all the time, (within 10 pounds) but I’ve managed to keep most of the weigh off for about a year (and some change) by eating vegetables and exercising regularly.

I started the journey as a staunch Vegan. Then, over the course of a year, I reintroduced dairy and fish back into my diet (though sparingly).

I was unhappy with my body when I was heavier, but if I could go back, I wouldn’t hate myself as much as I did. I would tell myself that I was beautiful more and embrace my thickness (not so much my unhealthiness, but my beauty, ya know?) Needless to say, it’s much easier to like myself now because it is more about how I think I look and less about how I think other people think I look.

The most important thing that I’ve taken away from this whole journey is to make sure that I eat foods that allow me to have regular bowel movements everyday. It’s the less glamorous side of weight loss, but it’s the truth… and I’m all the more healthy for it.

Instagram: @the.high.one

Weight Loss Journey: Bree lost 47 pounds. She focused on high intensity interval training and converted to a Vegan lifestyle to get great results. Now she is sharing her story to motivate and inspire others. Check out what she shared with us about her journey.

bree weight loss story

My name is Bree and I’m 5 feet and 4 inches tall. I’ve lost a total of 45+ pounds in the last 2 years and I’m still losing! The before photos are from December of 2013 when I weighed in at 210 pounds. The after photo is from February of 2016 at 163 pounds.

I graduated college in the summer of 2013, and it wasn’t until I left school that I really saw how my health had plummeted over the course of 4 years. I had developed a severe case of eczema, and every time I looked in the mirror I saw the boogie woman. Feeling like an utter loser, a complete failure and a stranger to beauty, I was determined to make a change. I bought a Black Girl’s Workout Too! DVD for a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout program and exercised with my buddy 4-5 times a week. I began living a Vegan lifestyle for spiritual awareness. It wasn’t really that hard for me to make the switch because I love vegetables and animals. I started by just cutting out meat. Once I got in the groove of eating meat free, I cut out the cheese and later on down the road, the gluten. My skin loved me for it.

If I had to choose one aspect of my health/weight loss journey that made the most difference, I would say that being vegan and gluten-free take the cake. Due to my diet changes, my eczema has dissipated with only minor flair ups. I’m more confident when showing my naked legs and arms. I also drink tons of water these days, and I’m not afraid to eat a plate full of vegetables (after all, I am vegan, ha ha!).

My advice to anyone looking to lose weight is to be patient with yourself. Egypt wasn’t built in a day *wink wink*.

You can find me on Instagram @__breet.

I also am documenting my weight loss and hair growth journey on my YouTube channel.

Karen lost 98 pounds

by 1 Comment

Battling for Her Health: Karen lost 98 pounds. She’s battled her weight since she was 10 years old. She’s also battled a number of serious illnesses, including kidney disease, potential renal failure, high blood pressure and PCOS. This proud mom keeps fighting and has found ways to improve her health and quality of life. Check out her story…

karen weight loss story

My name is Karen. I have struggled with my weight since I was 10 years old. At 13 years old, I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and high blood pressure. From there, I gained large amounts of weight and didn’t know why. In 1998, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In 2008, the PCOS was so bad that the doctors told me that I could die. I weighed 276 pounds. They recommended gastric bypass as a last resort, because studies showed it could reset my body. The results were amazing! I lost 105 pounds, and my symptoms were gone.

I began gaining weight rapidly in March of 2014. I started getting really sick. In July 2014, went to the hospital, found out that I had renal failure and was admitted. For the next 7 days, I was tested for everything you can think of. I learned that I have is FSGS, an incurable kidney disease. I was devastated to find out 5 days later that my twins had it also. My PCOS symptoms returned as well.

In August 2014, I was on Facebook and found Wiltrina Jones. I followed her for a month and after failing to find help elsewhere, I took a chance. That day was the day my journey started. I followed her meal and exercise plans. I had some ups and down since then, but now I am 28 pounds from my goal. I am smaller than I was with the bypass surgery. I even have muscles and see a hourglass shape. I’m proof that you can take control and improve your health. I am still working on my goal to hit my ideal BMI at 150 pounds.

When I started with Coach Wiltrina in Sept of 2014, I weighed 220 pounds. My health was not stable when I started my weight loss journey. At the time, my kidneys were only functioning at 30%. They were failing and my doctor told me that I need to consider the donors list.

I didn’t know what to do. I was lost on how to bridge the gap of PCOS and FSGS [Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is the leading cause of kidney failure in adults.] I decided to take a chance on me and go for it with the IUTBU program. I learned how to eat and balance my portions. I stopped eating salt, sugar, and fried foods. I ate more veggies and 60 oz of protein was all I could have. I did Coach Wiltrina’s exercise plan, that consists of cardio and weights 3-6 days a week. I also joined her transformation contest for that extra challenge.

Now, I weigh 178 pounds, so I lost 98 pounds total. My current kidney function is at a 2 as of Jan of 2016. Normal is my goal and that is a 1. Though I am at stage 3 for kidney disease, I am no longer on the side of renal failure. Prior to when I started with coach Trina, I was at very bad at a 16. I also had serve edema. Now, I am off the donors list and showing improvement day after day.  I am doing so good that my doctor Hi-5s me now. It took 10 months to get from a size 18 to a 10.

My advice to anyone dealing with multiple, serious diseases: Don’t ever allow what the diagnosis is to keep you from trying to improve your quality of life. Choose your life and health, no matter how bad it looks. We all have the ability to create our best life and live it. I chose to prove that my doctors reports would not be the end of Karen. Though my thoughts and habits have evolved throughout my journey, one reason WHY still remains as my number 1. That WHY is that I have to do what I have to do to show my sons, who also have kidney disease, that it is possible to get better and live a healthy lifestyle.

Instagram: @ms.blake68 (IG name no longer active)

Coach Wiltrina on FB

karen before and after

Charity lost 47 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Story: Charity lost 47 pounds after struggling with her weight for a number of years. As a mom, she wanted to have the energy to play with her kids. She embraced clean eating and worked out regularly to lose the pounds. Now, she is sharing her progress to inspire others.

charity weight loss

Hi! My name is Charity and I have been struggling with my weight for years! When I reached my heaviest weight at 313 pounds, I knew then that something had to change, but surgery wasn’t an option! I struggled to play with my children outside, or walk around for long periods of time. I’m 5’3″ tall and now I weigh 266 pounds. I’ve been on my journey for a year now and I’m steady pushing to lose 60 more lbs! I post about my journey daily to inspire others!

Eating Habits: I changed my eating habits by cutting out fast foods, food that is high in carbs and fatty foods. I started cutting down my portion sizes, eating clean, and making sure I don’t eat after 6pm.

Exercise: I started doing at least 30 min cardio during my workouts. I slowly worked my way up to 2 hours in the gym, at least 3 times a week. Now, I do Crossfit bootcamp 4-5 days a week for an intense workout.

Advice: Regardless of what anyone else says, you can do it! It takes time and dedication. It’s a struggle, BUT YOU CAN DO IT! Don’t get discouraged, just keep pushing!

Instagram: @pr3tti_spoiled_brat

Renée lost 51 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Transformation Tuesday Awesomeness: Renée lost 51 pounds. She was newlywed and recently diagnosed with sleep apnea at the start of her journey. Being prescribed a CPAP machine to help her breathe overnight was her wakeup call. She and her hubby embraced clean eating and she worked out hard to get results. Check out what she shared with about her journey.

renee weight loss story

My journey started on May 15, 2015. I had been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP machine to breathe. I was still a newlywed and the idea of sleeping in that mask was unsexy! I woke up that morning with a horrible migraine that lasted half of the day and decided my body needed a detox.

My husband and I went to the grocery store and bought every fruit and veggie we could think of. My goal at first was to eat clean. I focused on only eating things from the earth, no processed foods. I increased my water to 120 ounces each day. After about 2 weeks of these dietary changes, I added physical movement.

When I first started exercising, my goal was just to be consistent, even if it was only for 20 minutes. I had to workout at least 6 days each week. By the end of the 6 weeks, I’d lost 17 lbs. Over time, my endurance got better and I averaged 60-90 minutes each day. I have since added weight training, hip hop dance, Zumba, HIIT workouts, and Tabata. I change my workouts regularly to keep from getting bored.

I started this journey at 291 pounds and today I weigh 240 (I feel smaller though, so I think it’s the heavy weight lifting!). My ultimate goal is to lose 60 more pounds before the end of 2016! Oh, and I no longer need that unsexy CPAP machine!. Yeahh!

My advice for anyone looking to get healthier is just to start. The first thing I would suggest is increasing your water intake. That makes you crave sugar less and keeps you hydrated. Many times, we mistake being thirsty for hunger. Next, focus on cleaning up your diet. 80% of losing weight is what we eat. Lastly, lift weights! Heavy weight lifting will not make you bulky, it actually makes your body look tighter and leaner!

Instagram: @mrsgale914

renee before and after

Cre lost 85 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Transformation of the Day: Cre lost 85 pounds. After the birth of her child, she found herself overeating, being lazy and dealing with a lot of stress and emotions. When a cousin uploaded an unflattering photo of her to social media, that was her wakeup call. She could no longer stand being tired all the time and limited by her weight gain. It was time for a change. Here is how she took action…

Cre weight loss

My name is Cre. Before gaining any weight my average weight was around 140-150 pounds max at a height of 5’4″. I had a child, began to overeat and became extremely lazy. Not to mention all of the emotions and stress I was going through at the time. I ended up at a total of 260 pounds! My wake up call was when I saw a picture (above) of myself that my cousin uploaded on social media where I had food in my hand! It got to the point where I was always feeling tired and I was unable to do certain things without stopping and that was the last straw.

weight loss success storyAfter that, I tried everything to lose the weight. From skipping meals to even trying to eat nothing but water and bread (or crackers), but nothing worked!  My good friend finally introduced me to Herbalife Nutrition. I also decided to get more active and eat better. I completely cut out fried foods and pork. Pork is highly limited with my diet and has been since 2013. The digestive system of the pig alone should convince others to do the same. I avoid white bread, white rice, fast food meals, pasta, salty foods and most sweets and candy. Of course, the urge is there to eat certain things, but I rarely let that interfere with my routine. I try to be reasonable with myself and allow at least one cheat meal every other week but only if the cravings exist.

When I first started my journey, I did nothing but cardio. I practically lived on the treadmill and cycling bike at least 1-2hours a day. Once I lost most of my weight, I noticed that the weight started coming off in the wrong areas, so I added in weight lifting and strength training. Today, I balance out cardio and weight lifting to tone the body and build muscle. I try to train a different area of the body each day with light reps for the minor areas. I run 15-30 minutes before and after my workouts to get an even balance with weight lifting on full body days. Leg days are my absolute favorite days and I’m incorporating in weighted routines to continue to strengthen my core and slim the waist line. Instagram is the best place ever to get new exercise routines!

I ended up losing a total of 85 pounds within eight months to a year with the changes I made. I’m currently rocking 175 lbs and most don’t believe I weigh that much.

I have completely kept the weight off since July of 2015. I now eat 5-6 times a day and workout 5-6 times a week. I love meal prepping and I’ve become more active by doing so. I have a shake for breakfast and eat a healthy serving of fruit, yogurt, granola, or vegetable packs as my following snack. The top foods that I eat for lunch and dinner preps are ground turkey, baked chicken, broccoli, black beans and grains and practically any vegetable steam pack I can find. Mrs. Dash is the perfect seasoning for flavor. I recently added brown rice bowls to my meals to try something a bit different. I try to eat every 2-3 hours to keep my energy high and mind focused. I drink as much water as I can through out the day and also add in teas and fruit & aloe detoxes for a regular digestive system.

I wouldn’t change this experience for anything. I love motivating others and telling them the good things about building healthier habits and how I started at my rock bottom. I share my story for other women who just can’t seem to find a solution that best fits them and their body types. I am not done yet. I have so much more toning to go and I am ready to take on 2016!  If I can do it, anyone can!

The main thing I try to tell others who want to lose weight is that you really have to want it for yourself. We all have to start somewhere but we all have to start. We have to want a change for ourselves and always push to be nothing but great. It’s in us to be great.

Instagram: @Cre_Mahone18
Cre's weight loss story

Karina lost 117 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Awesome Weight Loss Story: Our Brazilian sista Karina wrote in to share how she lost 117 pounds, down from 368 pounds. Great job!

karina before and after

karina brazil weight lossMy name is Karina Farias. My highest weight was 167 kilos (368 pounds) and currently weigh 114 kilos (251 pounds). I decided to change my life. I made the decision that I no longer wanted to be obese. That’s when I started to make an effort to learn more about nutrition, which helped me to drop 20 kilos (44 pounds) in six months.

I started eating more healthy food, like greens, cereals, skim milk. I also dark plenty of water. I did a one hour walk three times a week, which helped me a lot too. I passed from 134 kilos to 114 kilos. My goal is to reach 70 kilos (154 pounds) and I’m calling it. My motto is : I want to, I can, I can. I truly overcame and I’m very happy to share my story with others.

Sheila lost 151 pounds

by 8 Comments

Transformation of the Day: Sheila lost 151 pounds. This hard working mother of 3 battled diabetes for 20 years, along with high blood pressure and sleep apnea. At over 360 pounds, she set a goal to lose the weight, get off medication and improve the quality of life for herself and her family. She shared with us about what she’s done over the last 2 years to change her life.

sheila before and after

I had been battling diabetes for 20 years, along with high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I woke up one morning in 2013 and couldn’t get out of my bed without rolling on my side. Once I got up, I took a shower and I couldn’t reach my back… not even with my bath brush. I was so ashamed. I had to ask my 17 year old daughter to wash my back and that was so embarrassing. I weighed my self afterwards and saw that I weighed 317 pounds. I thought to myself, “No way!” So, I got online and signed up with the French Riviera Spa Fitness Center.

I was doing good, until August 2013. That is when my best friend, my brother, suddenly died. He was my motivation and he exercised EVERYDAY. So, I went back to unhealthy eating and I ate more than ever. In January 2014, like everyone else, I set a goal for the new year, but NOT A RESOLUTION. I weighed myself at the time and the scale read 361 pounds!

My motivation to change came as I looked at my twins, who were growing up so fast. I also looked at my 18 year old, who use to wash my back. She was about to graduate. I also was determined to get off all of my meds!

On day one, I changed my breakfast from 3 fluffy pancakes, 3 scrambled eggs, 3 sausages, and orange juice, to a small bowl of oatmeal with raisins, 1 boiled egg, 1 small banana and 1 bottle of water. I had a protein bar for a snack before lunch. No more Popeyes chicken for lunch. Holidays Deli has a Lean Light Lunch, which is a half sandwich turkey on wheat, small Ceasars salad, a small bowl of fruit, and 32 oz cup of water. I would also snack on granola bar or a peanut butter sandwich after lunch.

I left French Riviera Spa Fitness Center and kept hearing Planet Fitness ads. I decided to join and I love it! I went in for my 3 month follow up check up in March 2014 and weighed in at 340 lbs! I was down 21 lbs down from January! That’s when I made it my goal to workout in the time between going to both my jobs. I would focus on different body parts; my arms on Mondays, cardio Everyday, Tuesdays abs, Wednesday legs, Thursday butt and Friday FULL BODY.

I’m so thankful for the dedication and determination I’ve developed. I currently weigh 210 pounds and I’m aiming for 170 pounds. My height is 5’7″. It’s great that I’m almost at my goal and I’m OVER 40 years old. I pray that my story has helped another black woman whose life is similar to mine.

Thanks to my cousin Lakesha Cathey-Hughes for introducing me to your website. God bless.

Instagram: @Creamycupkakezz