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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sabrina lost 45 pounds

May 17, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 4 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sabrina lost 45 pounds. She found a weight loss program that worked for her and worked it. This proud mom also included her kids when working out for more motivation. Read her story below.

Sabrina before and after

“I was slowly letting myself go. I was so wrapped up in everyone else I didn’t realize I had packed on so many pounds. My friend told me about a Beachbody program that uses martial arts to help shape your body. I was interested because I’m a ninja at heart. I bought Les Mills Combat and kind of half way did it. I wasn’t motivated. Then one night I put the DVD in and my boys joined me. I felt like I had to push harder because I wanted to set a good example. I didn’t really lose any weight during round one because I wasn’t dedicated to the program or the nutrition guide. I finished and was like I really want a t-shirt but I want to earn it. I started over and committed to the program and the nutrition guide. I added their nutritional shakes to my routine and worked out with the boys. I found myself pushing harder and really reshaping my body. Finally, I stepped on the scale and didn’t quickly get off. That’s when I found out that in 120 days I’d gone from 215 pounds down to 170.

Sabrina weight loss Working out with the kids really helped me step up my game but also finding a challenge group full of people doing the same workout as me helped me stay accountable. I recommend getting into a group of people with similar goals who are doing similar things on their journey and being an active member. It really helps you and others stay on track. I loved getting fighting fit so much I decided to pay it forward and become a coach myself.”

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Yolanda lost 76 pounds

May 12, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Yolanda lost 76 pounds. This proud mom of 2 is working to break the chains of obesity in her family. Read her story to find out how she did it.

“Hello, my name is Yolanda McGee. I wanted to submit my information to motivate others and let them know that if I can do it, they can too. My motivation was and still is that I am breaking the chain of obesity in my family! I was at a family reunion and looked around and decided from that moment…NO MORE! At first, my eating habits did not change but after I worked out, not too much was changing. I knew I had to incorporate better eating habits. I started eating chicken breasts, ground turkey, fish, fruits, veggies and nuts. I will have an occasional treat but not all the time. My current workout routine is 3 days a week of weight training and 3 days a week of cardio. On the 7th day…I REST! My starting weight was 230 pounds! My current weight is 154 pounds! I has taken me about 7 years to lose the weight! I got married, had 2 babies and I’m still a work in progress. I have developed muscle, stamina and strength. My advise for others is to push and work even when you don’t feel like it; even when you are not seeing change; even if you are tired! You never know who you are inspiring! All of this would not be possible if the Lord had not given me the strength!”

Instagram: @yomcgee

Yolanda weight loss

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ericka lost 35 pounds

May 7, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 6 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ericka lost 35 pounds. This proud mom had a harder time with post-baby weight with her second child. She embraced low carb eating and got serious about losing the pounds. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Ericka weight loss story

“My motivation was me. I wanted to do something for me. We as women are always there for everyone else and we put ourselves on the back burner. I felt I had pushed myself so far back that I no longer existed. So, I decided that I wanted to take control of my life, starting with my weight.

I changed my eating habits. I cut back on carbs and sugar and I don’t eat after 7:30 pm. I usually try to eat no carbs every other day. Even on the days when I do eat carbs, I skip the carbs on one meal. I workout for an hour 3-4 times a week. I do 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes strength training. Sometimes more cardio and less strength. My starting weight was 200 pounds and I’m now 165 pounds. It took me a little over a year to lose the weight (15 months to be exact). This is actually my normal weight but I had a baby. For some reason this process was harder and took longer then with my first child.

I started and gave up so many times, but for the last 5 months I’ve been going strong. I think it’s more so because I said I was ready. My advice would be stay focused and really ask yourself “Are you ready?” Find out how serious you are about this journey because that’s what it is…a journey that hopefully would turn into a life style. If your looking for a quick fix, it’s not going to work. It will be hard but soooooo worth it in the end.”

Ericka before and after

Diedre lost 57 pounds

May 5, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 6 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Diedre lost 57 pounds. This 5″5″ mother of 3 embraced healthy eating and committed to regular exercise to change her lifestyle. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

“My name is Diedre Wiggins. I’m a 41 year old mother of three. My weight loss journey started in October of 2010. My starting weight was 267 pounds and I am only 5 foot, 5 inches tall. When I begin my journey, I was only walking and counting calories. Later, I started working out with weights and going to exercise classes. I began clean eating and changing a lot of my eating habits. Now, I’m gluten free and dairy free.

It has been a long journey and I’m still going. My lowest weight was 185 pounds and my current weight is 210 pounds. My goal weight is 150 pounds.

I have lost and gained this weight several times in the past 4 years, but I finally think I found the right eating plan. I believe that I can stick to clean eating along with doing DVD workouts from Shaun T and Fitness Blender (on YouTube). I work out on a regular basis, at least five to six times a week. I think I finally figured it out and hopefully this weight to stay off. I still have a ways to go and I will keep you updated.

You can find me on Instagram @diedre_goddess
YouTube: Diedregoddess
Facebook @diedre.reline.

DiedreMay142

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Khadijah lost 46 pounds

May 2, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 13 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Khadijah lost 46 pounds. She changed her eating habits so that she could have more energy to exercise. Then she kicked her workouts up to full speed and lost the pounds. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

“When I started my journey I weighted 268 pounds. At this weight I began to notice a lack of energy and increased laziness. I was always the girl to love sports and weight lifting. However, I knew to be a little better than I was, some of the weight had to disappear. Being a better me and living longer than my mom and grandma served as great motivation for me. It also helps a lot that I have a super energetic one year old niece.

I went from eating junk and gunk to being a lean, mean, protein machine. From candy and fast food with lots of grease to eggs, chicken and tons of greens. It is safe to say lettuce is now my favorite food. I knew with extra work on my nutrition that my energy levels would increase and I was back at the weights in no time. I also began running one to two miles every day and going to the gym 3x a week to lift weight and work on abs.

After all of this hard work (about 3 months worth), I can proudly say that I now weigh 222 pounds. 46 pounds gone and at least 30 lbs more to go.Never give up in yourself. If you do others will began to give up on you too. It’s not easy at first because it’s different, but we are made to overcome the challenges that are put in front of us. We determine our destiny. So, Come on ladies! Eat clean and start your transformation. And remember that abs are made in the kitchen. “

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jamila lost 42 pounds

May 1, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jamila lost 42 pounds. This mother of 3 from Oakland, CA realized that after 2 years she still hadn’t lost the baby weight from her last pregnancy. She got serious about exercise and changed her daily eating habits to reach her goals. Read her story below to find out what steps she took to transform her body:

Jamila before and after

“Greetings! My name is Jamila and I am a 32 year old mother of three from Oakland, CA. I would like to submit my weight loss story to the page because there is a huge problem with obesity here in Oakland. I am so happy so see more and more Black women out here making changes for a healthier lifestyle. I was motivated to lose weight after giving birth to my last baby, whom weighed 11 pounds! After 2 years, I still could not lose the weight and finally I decided that enough was enough. Due to finances. I could only work out with a trainer two days a week. I recorded these workouts on my phone to help me remember the techniques and exercises. I also supplemented with kickboxing and yoga. I recently began with another trainer who introduced me to heavier lifting as well as interval sprints, which help so much. I alternate between heavy and light arm leg and core days. I also do lots of jumping rope, which has helped my endurance for the sprints.

My diet changed in many ways. I cut out all breads and processed foods and stuck to only oatmeal, fruit, egg whites, turkey patties, brown and black rice, wild fish, and any vegetables I wanted. If I had to have a ‘cheat’ ,meal, I made sure it only was a serving size of my daughters toddler bowls. I also drank my weight in ounces of water daily and green tea, which helped with my stubborn belly fat. My starting weight was 220 pounds and my current weight is 178 pounds. Each picture was taken 3 months apart over a nine month period.

My advice to others is to take charge today! Don’t wait another moment to get healthy. There are so many sistas battling food addictions and weight struggles and it is killing so many of us. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and as long as you have the support and are willing, Anything is possible! If you can think it, you can do it. Hopefully my story can be used as a testimony to show that Black women are strong and resilient and can overcome and achieve anything. I see it everyday with the women featured on this page.”

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sonya lost 28 pounds

April 29, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sonya lost 28 pounds. This mother of two created her own weight loss plan to lose the weight. She worked out, embraced eating in moderation and used a mobile app to lose the pounds. Find out more about her journey below:

Sonya before and after

“My name is Sonya Brown. I’m 27 years old and the mother of two children. My motivation to change came simply from not liking what I saw in the mirror. Before, my eating habits consisted of pretty much whatever I wanted without limits and absolutely no exercise. In 2011, I weighed 185 lbs. I started to become more aware of what I ate. I cut out fruit drinks and sodas. From 2012-mid-2013, I weighed 178lbs. It was then that I decided to start working out. I failed after trying to do at home workouts and follow diet plans. In November 2013, I began walking in the park. I wouldn’t join a gym until I stuck to this workout for at least a month. After a month I joined a gym; doing mostly cardio (30 minutes a day) and some strength training. I still ate what I wanted within moderation. I cut out sodas and fruit juices. I started eating more fruits, more vegetables and used the My Fitness Pal app to track calories. It took me 6 months to lose 28 lbs. I’m still in the process of losing. My goal is to reach a healthy BMI and maintain my weight loss. My advice to others is to find what works for you. I had to create my own weight loss plan.”

Sonya before and after

Helen lost 83 pounds

April 22, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 5 Comments

Featured Weight Loss Success Story: Helen lost 83 pounds. This proud mom of 4 took a natural approach to weight loss and embraced plant-based eating to lose the pounds. Read more about her journey below:

Helen before and after

“I’m a 40 year old single mother of 4 beautiful, spoiled (sometimes get on my nerves) children. Their ages are 2, 7, 9 and 13 years of age. Over the years, I have lost weight and gained weight 4 times! This time it is different because I did it the healthy, natural way. No pills, no powders, no replacing meals, no soup diets, no injections etc. Nope! I got up off my butt and started to workout. I was Sweating EVERYDAY. I also changed my lifestyle and became vegetarian. I started eating plant-based foods and incorporated superfoods in my daily diet. I started reading and educating myself on foods and healthy habits. I healed myself from dissapointments and stress. I removed all the negative people in my life and started living for me! I track my daily prpgress on Instagram to hold myself accountable. I’m healthy and happy now! I’ve lost a total of 83 lbs in 2 years! There’s no stopping. I’m a work in progress. Be Blessed!”

Check her out on Instagram: @h2naturalbeauty

Helen weight loss story

Robin lost 34 pounds

April 21, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 5 Comments

Update Feb 2017: It’s 3 years later and Robin is still on a mission. Check out her update.

Still at it!! I gained 40 pounds in my 30’s due to an unhappy marriage, loss of loved ones and a sedentary lifestyle. I lost 35 pounds and gained 10 pounds back. I am in the process of TAKING IT OFF by running 3-4 times a week, juicing and watching my portion sizes! Also, I’m drinking 8 glasses of water and limiting carbs after 6 pm. 40’s are FABULOUS!

2014: Weight Loss Story of the Day: Robin lost 34 pounds. This proud mom of 3 faced weight gain after the loss of the loved one from turning to food for comfort. She was able to embrace healthy eating and running to lose the pounds. Read her story:

“I put on weight after losing my sister suddenly in July 2011. I was working out but was eating way too many carbs and processed foods for comfort. The irony is that as I was ‘comforting” myself, I was becoming more and more uncomfortable physically. I made small changes to my diet, ate smaller portions and increased my physical activity. I discovered juicing–and it has made the difference. I substitute just one meal a day for green juice–usually cucumber, apple, lemon, spinach and ginger. Before, I never ate fruits and vegetables and my body was suffering.

I decided to run 12 5K’s in the year 2012. I dedicated this challenge to my sister’s memory. I completed all 12 races and lost 30 pounds in that 12 month period. I have fallen in love with running. It helps me clear my mind and get in touch with myself daily. I’m running 3-4 days a week. I am also working on increasing my strength training, because at 44 years young I know how important it is for bone density and overall health. I love sweets, especially cupcakes. I don’t deny myself any food–but everything is consumed in moderation.

I started at 178 pounds and I currently weigh 144 pounds. It took a year of consistency. I have 3 kids, ages 16, 13 and 4. I want to be active and energetic with them for decades to come. I am headed in the right direction!”

Tiffany lost 75 pounds

April 20, 2014 by Ajima Jackson 5 Comments

Tiffany lost 75 pounds. Like any other moms, she still had a lot of baby weight to lose years after giving birth to her son. She has decided to take charge of her health and fitness and lose the pounds. Read her story:

“I love this page ! It’s so inspiring to see women taking control of their health and fitness. The picture on the left is of me December 2013- two years after giving birth to my son. Going in to deliver him, I was 296 lbs! Two years later, I had only gotten down to 267 pounds (the pic on the left) and that weight loss was because I breastfed the first 9 months. I began actively taking charge of my weight on January 1, 2014 and I weighed in at 252 pounds. I am now 221 lbs, down a total of 75 pounds since November 2011, and a total of 31 pounds since starting my weight loss journey on January 1, 2014! My plan is to get down to 200 solid and fit pounds by June 2014 and this group of women motivate me to make it happen.

I changed my eating habits by taking in 1200 calories a day, eating 5-6 CLEAN meals a day, and limiting my carb intake. I drink a little over one gallon of water a day and I ONLY drink water ! When I started my journey on January 1, 2014, I only worked out from home using a cardio trampoline, 5 lb dumbbells, a Walking For Weight Loss DVD, and body challenges that I would see posted on the internet and Facebook. I joined the gym March 17, 2014 and now I incorporate the treadmill and stationary bike for interval training and floor machines for abs, arms and legs. Whether at home or the gym, I workout for a minimum of 40 minutes each session, 5-7 days a week, and I NEVER miss a Monday.”

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