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Mashea lost 65 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Mashea lost 65 pounds in approx. 5 months with healthy eating and lots of exercise.  She was motivated by a diagnosis of diabetes to totally change her eating and exercise habits.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

mashes weight loss

I started my journey in February 2015. I began by changing my eating habits. I also started working out 3 to 4 times a week. My motivation was that I was diagnosed Diabetes. I didn’t take it seriously until I lost a family member that was my age.

I changed my eating by cutting out fast food, junk foods, fried food and I stopped drinking everything but water. Also, I started in taking more fruits and veggies and eating 6 small meals a day. I drink a gallon on water if not more each day.

I use to make up every excuse you could thing of for why I couldn’t work out. Then I found a track with a park right next to it. My kids and I would go there and they would play as I walked or ran 3-4 miles, 3-4 times a week.

My starting weight was 325 pounds I am now down to 260 pounds. I’m still working to get an additional 60 lbs off of me. I’m 5’9″ tall. I’ve started my journey this year so it’s been less than 6 months.

My advice to others is you can do anything that you put your heart and mind too. Yes, it gets hard at times but I keep pushing myself not only for me but for my children and my family. My Instagram is @weewee_31

mashes before and after mashea before and after

Darla lost 140 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Darla lost 140 pounds.  After gaining a significant amount of pregnancy weight she became depressed and prayed for answers.  Answers came and she’s been rocking with a healthy and fit lifestyle for over 3 years.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

darla before and after

I love your page. You are inspiring me to keep up with my weight loss journey. It took me 3 1/2 years to lose 140 lbs. When the doctors told me to lose the weight or I would have diabetes, I decided that I had to change my lifestyle. So, through healthy eating and exercise I have kept the weight off.

When I started my journey three years ago, I was at a horrible time in my life where I’d gotten real big after having my baby. I gained over 100 lbs and that was the biggest I have ever been in my life. I fell into a deep depression. I prayed to GOD and asked him for help. Then my church announced that they were having Zumba classes and I knew that my prayers were answered.

I changed my eating habits by saying no to bread, pastas, rice and sodas. I ate more fruit, veggies and drank a lot of water. I’ve been doing Zumba for three years now to tighten my body. Also, I now go to a fit camp and Planet Fitness. I workout 5 days a week.

I was 310 pounds and now I weight 170 pounds (my height is 5’4″). I’m not done yet. My advice is to have patience and not rush the weight off. When it comes off slow it stays off. Also, it is called a lifestyle change and not a diet. That’s where people mess up. I encourage everyone who is struggling and tell them that they can do it. It takes a lot willpower but they can conquer their struggles because it is all in the mind. Thank you for letting me tell my story. I hope this helps others!

Darla weight loss

Alexis lost 24 pounds

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Update 2017: Alexis wrote in to share how she’s kept the pounds off over the last 2 years. This busy teacher and mom of two is still making time to workout and eat clean.

Alexis before and after

I am currently weigh 145 pounds and the last 2 years have been about maintaining. Although, I am not as lean as I was when I was first featured back in 2015, I feel  just as strong… if not stronger. I’m satisfied with the progress I’ve made over these few years. I workout 6 days a week and eat clean about 80% of the time. When I started, this was all supposed to be a quick fix but 4 years later, I’ve made it a lifestyle. I work full time and have two young children, but I still make time for me.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that you have to love yourself at every stage of the journey. For me, that has been the hardest part. The advice that I would share about keeping the weight off: Make it a lifestyle, not just a season in your life. Being consistent is a big part of being successful. Don’t always use the scale as a tool to measure progress because sometimes it can be discouraging. Take pictures, measurements, or have goal outfits. Do the work and you will see the results.

Instagram: @lex_ercising

2015: Transformation of the Day: Alexis lost 24 pounds and lots of inches, going from a size 10/12 to a size 4/6.  This proud mom and educator embraced clean eating, running, weight training and interval training. She was inspired by the stories of others to start her journey and now she is an inspiration.  Here is what she shared with us…

alexis before and after

I’m a wife and mother of two. I work full-time as a high school math teacher. I started my weight loss/healthier lifestyle in July of 2013. I started by walking/jogging  3 miles everyday until I could run the full 3 miles. I trained for a half marathon, ran that and slowly started to incorporate other fitness routines into my daily life.  I’m very busy but I’ve found time for me. Overall, it’s been beneficial for my family as a whole, especially my children. Overall I’ve lost 24 pounds and countless inches. Thank you.

My motivation started as just simply wanting to lose weight because I was uncomfortable in my own skin. As time went on, I’d have to say my motivation was my children. I wanted to be healthy for them and also show them the importance of being healthy. Surprisingly,  I was inspired by the some of the instagram pages where I was seeing ordinary people/moms just like me who had transformed their lives and bodies just by eating healthy and exercising. I thought , if they could do it, so could I.

I started to track calories using the My Fitness Pal app. I eat clean about 80% of the time, meaning fruits, vegetables, and very little processed food. I bought the fitness blender meal plan 2 years ago which helped me stay on track and also gave me so many meal ideas that I still use till this day. In the beginning, I would do at least 3 miles a day running as long as I could and also walking. I did this until I could run a full 3 miles. Eventually, I trained and did a half marathon. I wasn’t  happy with the results I was getting from running so I started incorporating interval training and finally added in weight training. That’s when I got the real results. I do all of my workouts at home. In the two years that I’ve been doing this I have never been to a gym, used pills, wraps or shakes .

My starting weight in July of 2013 was 162 pounds and I currently weigh 138 pounds (I am 5’2″ tall). I started at a size 10/12 and can now wear 4/6.

My advice for others who want to lose weight is once you start be persistent and consistent. Workout even when you don’t want to. Know that, you may not see instant results but they are coming. Trust the process. If you put the work in you will see the pay off. Don’t starve or deprive yourself of foods you love. Moderation is key. If I can do it with two kids (3 and 5 years old), a husband, and a full time job, so can you. No excuses :).

Instagram: @pink_fitness3

alexis transformation story

Sharda lost 102 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Sharda lost 102 pounds. After a serious wake up call at the doctor’s office she took action by seeking help, changing her eating habits and exercising regularly.  She shared with us all about how she did it…

sharda before and after

One day, I became ill and decided to get a check up. My doctor put me on the scale and I was shocked when the number stated that I was 245 pounds. I immediately jumped off and said to my doctor that his scale was broken! To top it off, he told me I have the same health condition that my mother had “Hypertension”. My heart raced and I felt light headed when he said this condition will kill you and that people don’t know that this is one of the leading causes for heart attacks. He called it the silent killer and I chuckled because I kept whispering to myself, ” I need to find another darn doctor, he is crazy!” He prescribed me medication and told me I need to diet and exercise. I rolled my eyes and said, “Whatever you say, Doc.”, knowing that I was going to do it. He gave me a look of concern and said, “I know you will do what u want, but at the rate you are going you will end up like your mother.” The door slammed and it felt like a punch in the face. I cried all the way home and decided to break up with my new best friend called “food”.

I started with fad diets such as HCG, Atkins, Cabbage detox, and many other things to make you lose weight fast! That is exactly what happened. Then my body took a plateau, I started to gain and I became depressed. So, I changed my eating habits by following the Weight Watchers method. I watched my calorie intake and ate my last meal before 6pm. I wasn’t to fond of vegetables, however my body reacted well to all the green ones. I took out some of the dairy in my diet and added avocados and spinach to all of my meals.

Since I was not active before, I had to start with walking for 30 minutes after dinner. Then, I joined the local gym and used the treadmill for an hour for 3 times a week. After losing my first 60 lbs, I decided to see a trainer and learn how to use the machines in the gym correctly. I met a woman who was a personal trainer and she asked me about life balance. She asked me if I was going to diet for the rest of your life? Gaylynn showed me through exercise, taking the correct supplements (I only use Advocare nutritional plans), and eating food from the food pyramid that I would lose weight and keep it off! She showed me how to use the equipment in the gym. The weight started to fall off and I began to gain lean muscle. I now workout 5 times a week and allow the weekends for spending time with family and friends.

Ladies trust me there are still days that I want to go in to a fast food restaurant and get their value meal and super size it. However, I learned self-control and I chose to live healthier life. I am now 143 pounds and it took 3 years to lose over 100 lbs but it was worth the journey. Remember that you can still love food,  just make better choices. Try new healthy recipes to see what you like and try some type of exercise at least 3 times week to stay active.

Instagram: @Sunshyneloves27

Morgan lost 53 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation: Morgan lost 53 pounds. She was inspired by her mother’s weight loss success and wanting to walk across the stage at her graduation more fit and healthier. Here is what she shared with us about how she did it…

morgan before and after

My name is Morgan Donathan. I am s 26 year old from Nassau, Bahamas. The motivation for my weight loss came from my mother’s weight loss, along with my college graduation. I wanted to truly love and care for myself as I deserved to. I saw my mother lose and keep her weight off and it truly motivated me to want to do the same for myself.  This came along with the fact that, after longer than I expected, I would be walking across the graduation stage with my B.Sc. Psychology. In the beginning, I didn’t change anything with my eating, but I was working out 4 days a week doing Cardio Kick and Pilates. I then cut out a lot of carbs and sugars. I ate protein, mainly chicken breasts, vegetables/salads and I drank only water. I took  my sugars from the fruits I ate, which were strawberries, blueberries and grapefruits.

My starting weight was 224  pounds and I am currently 171 pounds at 5’6″ tall. This process took about a year and a half. If I can do it, so can you. It’s not easy and many, many days you’ll feel like giving up, not working out or eating comfort food.  However, the pay off for doing the things you need to do is so worth it. You will feel so much better and healthier. My Instagram is @morgiethemermaid.

Jul lost 47 pounds

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Update Oct 2019: Jul lost 60 pounds. She initially shared her story with us back in 2015 and she is still going strong.

Jul before and after

God is good! I have maintained my weight since the last update. My greatest tip is water intake. I can not overemphasize drinking water. Also, I like slices of cucumbers mixed with pineapples.

Don’t ever forget to use portion control. I eat a small meal every 3 hours and drink water in-between. Sometimes, I snack on almonds, pears, or green apples.

The advice I can give to my sisters who are struggling with their weight is that losing weight must start with your mind and spirit. It took me years to realize this. You must change your habits and always remember that when your body is hungry, it wants nutrients, NOT calories. – @officialjulzebulon

April 2015  – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jul Zebulon lost 47 pounds.  She experienced weight gain from emotional eating after the loss of her father, followed by pregnancy weight gain.  Her story should serve as inspiration for women facing weight loss after pregnancy.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

jul before and after

Life is a blessing, but sometimes situations hit us very hard and the only option we have is junk food. During my pregnancy, I was eating everything my eyes saw. Dark chocolate, white chocolate, pink chocolate, whatever chocolates…lol. A day without McDonald felt like I was in prison. Then I lost my Dad and everything went from bad to worst. Junk food became my best friend. I went from 165 pounds to 235 pounds very fast. Adding weight can happen very fast but losing it is a bitch. After that, I gave birth to my baby C-section on 12.26.14. I was resting in my hospital bed, still in a horrible pain, I looked at myself and didn’t like what I saw. I made a promise to myself that now the baby is out I had to take care of myself. I didn’t know how it was going to happen but I had to start somewhere.

Few days later I was discharged. I came back home, changed my eating habits and controlled my cravings. I stopped eating bread, white rice, fried plantain, chips,…etc and I eat 3 hours before bedtime. I made healthy food choices like beans, avocados, greens, more fruits, grapefruit, almonds, and more water intake. I don’t have any specific YouTube videos, I just watch any workout video and do some dancing. I also purchased a treadmill, so I normally workout at home like 30-45mins. My favorite form of exercise is dancing, because I sweat and I don’t feel bored. I also joined some groups on Facebook for motivation.

I’m still a work in progress but so far I’m 47 lbs lighter 3 1/2months (height: 5’5″). My goal weight is 160 lbs and I must achieve it before my baby turns 6 months old. 47 pounds in 3 months might sound wired but yes, I did it and it’s true. I’m working my butt off everyday lol.

My advice for those that wants to lose weight: stop procrastinating. If you truly want to lose weight, focus on it. Cut off sodas, bags of chips, pizza etc, and learn how to say NO to junk foods. Don’t say you want to lose weight yet everyday you’re chilling on the couch snacking on the wrong foods. Make a healthy grocery list and always stick to it. When you feel like giving up, always reach out to people that understand your struggle. Being a SEXY mom isn’t only for celebrities. With dedication, commitment, and discipline, you can achieve anything.

jul weight loss

jul zebulon before and after
April 2018: Jul is still going strong.

Update 2017 – We shared Jul’s story a year ago and she’s sent in a great update.  She’s had some ups and downs, but she hasn’t given up. Now, she’s down a total of 60 pounds.

jul before and after

Since the last time you shared my story, I have struggled back and forth with my weight, but I finally regained my confidence and self esteem. I figured out that my biggest enemy was my eating habits. So, I stayed away from fast food and starchy food (Pizza, McDonald’s, rice, etc). I increased my protein shakes. I bought a protein shake powder, B12, Zinc and Biotin from GNC store. These things has helped me significantly with achieving my weight loss. The B12 supplement is my No. 1 because it’s gives me energy. I see myself getting skinnier and skinnier every day. I am still dealing with my Dad’s death, but it’s a process that only time will heal.

jul weight loss storyMy goal weight is still 160 pounds. I don’t want to be too skinny, my body is not meant to be tiny. I want to be moderate, elegant, and beautiful. I’m concentrating on losing fat, not lean muscle. I receive so many compliments and everyone wants to know the secret to my success. My advice for other people is to stay away from that “quick fix” stuff. (I.E. slimming tea, herbal medicine, pills, etc.) If you can control what you eat, you will lose weight fast, safe and effectively.

I have lost 60 lbs in total. I am still a work in progress. Sometimes I lose, when I think of my Dad’s death, I end up gaining but so far it’s been steady. I can’t complain because I know that God is great! People can follow me on Instagram: @JUL_ZEBULON or Facebook: LadyJul Zebulon for more weight loss info.

Cherrie lost 53 pounds and helped her family lose weight too

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Cherrie lost 53 pounds.  Her daughter, who has Lupus,  lost 28 pounds and improved her health. She made her weight loss journey a family affair and her household has lost a total of 168 pounds together.  Find out how they did it…

Cherrie before and after

My name is Cherrie Eubanks. Last May, I was at an unhealthy weight of 223 at 5’4″ tall. At the time, my now ex-husband decided he no longer wanted to be married and walked out. On that day, 10 months ago, I decided to take my life back. I started with clean eating and I cut out all drinks except for water. I was previously drinking 4-5 Dr. Peppers a day and skipping meals. I began exercising several times a week.

By September, I lost 20 pounds but plateaued and could no longer lose any weight. I was introduced to team Beachbody and started the 21 Day Fix program, including shakeology replacement shakes for breakfast and dinner. I started eating six small meals a day, mastered portion sizes and incorporated more fruits and veggies daily. My workouts increased to daily and because I was enjoying the workouts and my kids started to join me.  I began working out twice a day.

By January of 2015, I had lost 53 pounds. My motivation was my life and my daughter life.  She is 15 years old and suffers from Lupus. She was 5 feet tall and weighed 126 pounds due to daily steroid use. She was in pain daily and I knew as a nurse that her diet and weight had a major impact on how she felt. So, I changed my household’s eating habits to clean eating and removed processed foods, foods containing high contents of sugar/fat, and sodas. As I said, my daughter began exercising with me as well and she lost 28 pounds.  She is now 98 pounds. Today, we both feel better and look better. Since this was a household change, my total household, to include my mom and son, lost weight as a team.  The total lost for all of us is 186 pounds. My advice is invest and believe in yourself. Don’t make excuses. I post daily motivations, recipes, health facts/tips, and or workouts at Fit_Fab_Refined_4Life on Facebook.

cherrie weight loss

Tyria lost 90 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tyria lost 90 pounds. This proud mom of 3 went from a size 20 to a size 12 by making practical changes.  She wanted to get healthy for her family and avoid the negative effects of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

tyria before and after

Hello, I would like to share my story. I’m 34 years old and I’ve struggled with my weight since having my oldest son in 2000. I just couldn’t seem to stay motivated, being so busy working and being a dedicated mother. In 2012, I finally started to lose weight by simply walking a lot and drinking water. I lost 40 pounds in 6 months.

Well, I started dating and long story short, I conceived my 3 child. During the pregnancy, I gained a lot of weight. I went from 231 pounds to 280 pounds. I had post partum high blood pressure which scared me and my cholesterol was up to 299. I decided to lose weight for myself and my 3 children.

I was off the medication in 2 months and my cholesterol was back down to 199 in 3 months. I worked hard. I would put my daughter in the stroller and do a brisk walk for 3 miles a day. I joined spin class 2 times a week and yoga once a week. I also ate small portion meals and lots of fruit, veggies and smoothies.  I also cut back on heavy carbs, like rice and pasta, and sugar, because I loves sweets. I drink 6 to 8 bottles of water a day. I only had one cheat day a week and that was light snacks. It takes a lots of dedication and discipline. In one year, I went from 280 pounds to 190 pounds. I was a size 20 and now I’m a size 12.

I have so much energy now. I play basketball with my boys and can run behind my daughter. It’s a daily struggle but it’s a struggle that I’m happy with. I’m healthy and happy and that is what matters. A lot of black women suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease and we can change that by eating healthy, exercising and cutting back on sugars and fried food. I now train a few women in my area to eat right and work out. I hope that my weight loss story can help someone else.

Instagram: @thiccbeauty

tyria weight loss

Latrice lost 123 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Latrice lost 123 pounds.  The death of a loved one and the end of a relationship led to emotional eating and weight gain.  At 320 pounds, she decided that enough was enough and worked to change her lifestyle.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

Latrice weight loss

I started my weight loss journey do to depression from losing my mom in 2008. I was eating the pain away. Also, my break up from my children’s father turned me into a compulsive eater, finding myself reaching 315 pounds. I had a baby in 2012 and just got tired of not being able to find clothes or paying more money for them. Plus, I needed something to take my mind off the hurt of my mother and break up.

So, I started going to the gym 5 times a week and I was bored so I decided to do some exercise classes.  I did Zumba, Insanity, BodyPump and Spin class and found a new addiction. When I’m angry, I head to the gym and work it out. I also bought clothes smaller and tore the tags off so I wouldn’t take them back and I had to work to  get in them.

I eat lean ground turkey now. I also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. No bread and if I have rice it is brown rice in small portions. I bake my foods and eat a lot of chicken, fish, oatmeal, eggs and tones of water. Grapefruit is part of my way to burn fat and I eat at least 2 a day. I’m currently 197 pounds and wearing a size 14/15. I was 320 pounds wearing a size 24/26 (I’m 5’11”)

If I can do it anyone can. No surgery no pills, just God and a strong mind got me here. I want to get into a size 12 and I’ll be happy I love my curves, so I just want to tone. Stop the sodas, juices, greasy foods and in a couple weeks you can see the difference. Thank you for listening to my story. God bless everyone! We are all beautiful and made differently!!

Ebony lost 131 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Ebony lost 131 pounds. She went from a size 28 to a size 8 with clean eating, exercise, strength training and a great support system.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey.
Ebony before and after

My weight loss journey started after a visit I had with my doctor. It was a physical examination. and all my vitals were good. However, I am 5’11” in height and was weighing in at about 320 pounds. Not good. I was 28 years old at the time, three months short of my 29 birthday. I was embarrassed. I had gained all the weight back that I had loss with a trainer. I went to Atlanta to visit my sister and lost all forms of discipline that I had gained with Maia (my trainer). My doctor said,”Ebony, you really need to loose the weight. You lost 30 lbs the last time I saw you. What happened?” I explained that I fell in love with food again. There was the Golden Corral, The Waffle House…omg.  My doctor said, “You have so much life in you. You’re young. You have a son and you have a career as a preschool teacher. You’re ankles are swollen and you’re headed in the direction of being unhealthy…diabetes, hypertension, heart attack…and now you mention your lack of breathing when you go to sleep. It might be sleep apnea. Honey, the list can go on. I think you need to go to these overeaters anonymous classes that we have here.”

I think my mouth dropped and I had an outer body experience as the word obesity popped out of her mouth. I was scared. She scared me. I was sad. I was mad and I tried to keep an optimistic view about this. “Ebony”, she says, “you lost the weight before but I don’t think you can do it again. You need help this time. Lets set up a schedule so you can take these classes.” So keeping a level headed mind I went out of the doctors office more determined then ever. I don’t like the doctors office, they always have bad news. I didn’t want to go anyway. I didn’t like to hear all that. I especially don’t like it when people tell me what I can and can not do. So, I waited until the new year was over and mapped out a plan.

This time around I had to be smart. I waited for the new gym goer people to leave this time around so I would not get discouraged. I also waited until Valentines day was over, because I knew I could not turn down the valentines my son or my students were to give me. On February 13, 2013 my journey began on the night shift. I only wanted to come to the gym at night because it was already difficult to face this place again and I was a naturally shy person. I didn’t know what I was doing and I just wanted to be successful without eyes watching.

Three months after I was back in the gym I noticed that I was keeping a consistent schedule but not losing a lot weight. I was still eating everything that I knew would not help me. On June 1, 2013, I joined Weight Watchers to help me establish proper eating habits and portion control. My first day on the point system was a learning experience. I ate a pancake and that, sorry to share, was all the points for the whole day. I learned a very valuable lesson and so that night I learned to careful plan what I would eat and how many points I would loose and the weight was dropping. I started to combine this with my workout schedule and it was on. I was now going to the gym Monday through Saturdays. As the weight was slowly dropping off I noticed that my confidence grew. I started to take a couple of classes. My favorites were latin heat and zumba.

More weight started to shed and I noticed that I was down a huge number of pounds than my initial date. I started to increase my time at the gym and started introducing myself to new people. I had met one friend who introduced me to the weights and the importance of lifting weights. I started to see that when you incorporate weights, nutrition and exercise you will begin to see major improvements on your weight loss journey.

By the next year, I was happy to announce my amazing loss of 100 lbs. I saw my doctor. By then I was another year old and I was 217 pounds. She was very impressed. I told her that I had listen and I did what I had to do because she hurt my feelings in such a way that it left an imprint in my heart. You would think she would be pleased. I wanted to get to 200 but I didn’t want that pressure on myself. She was happy but she still believed I could do more.

I decided to map out another plan. I met another group of people and they showed me so very valuable exercises that help me to shed those 17 lbs to get to 200. My milestone came when I had a plateau. My eating habbits had improved to where I was able to not count points anymore. I had cut back on sweets, fried foods and breads, but I still needed help. I wanted to finish what I started and my goal was to get to 175 pounds before my next doctors visit. I joined a challlege that I saw on Instagram. It was called Training for My Life by the infamous Donesha Bolden @training4mylife. With her help I not only learned how to form better nutritional methods for clean eating, but I learned how to incorporate new exercises that would not only challenge but strengthen my journey.

Here I stand today, two years later. I’m a testament of hard work, sacrifice and dedication, I can’t wait to see the look of amazement on my doctors face. Boom! I did it!  From 301.4 pounds  to 170 pounds. From size 28 to a skating figure size 8. My joy is always to be a helper. If I can help anyone who is in a journey or about to start one I would simply say, “Be encouraged! Your best is yet to come. Be strong be patient and fight for you life. You have nothing to lose and more to gain. Push pass comfort because your little by little results will come a lot more sooner than you think if you don’t give up and you don’t loose heart. Now rearrange that mental furniture to I Can!!!!!”
Instagram: @ejdeuce

Ebony weight loss