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Consha lost 150 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Consha lost 150 pounds.  After battling with being overweight most of her life, this young lady made the changes necessary to see lose the pounds and get fit. Here is what she shared with us…

Consha before and after

Hi! I’m Consha and I’m 25 years old. I’ve pretty much been obese all my life but it got out of hand during my 9th grade year in High School. That’s when I found out I was 300 pounds. From there I decided to lose weight but emotional eating took control during that time.

My Mom was my inspiration.  Also, studying to become a Nurse and interacting with people at work explaining the risks of their overall health is was my motivation and STILL is.

Changing my eating habits took some time. I put myself on a 4/3 ratio where I’d eat what I wanted for 4 days and healthy the other 3 days.  Now, I’m down to one cheat day.  I gave up rice, bread, beef  and  pork.  I have 5 small meals per day and protein shakes after workouts. I trained with a personal trainer 3 days a week and ran on the 4th day.

I started my weight loss journey at 350 pounds. I am now 200 pounds at 5″6″ tall.  It has taken me about a year and 4 months to get this far.

To others I say, you’re the FIRST example of how the world is supposed to love you, so be the BEST example ever. Pray, Be Consistent, Eyes Forward, and Believe in yourself is my advice to others. I don’t have a fancy story, JESUS simply keeps me.

Instagram: @IamConshay inactive

Consha lost 150 pounds

Nikiel lost 102 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Nikiel lost 102 pounds.  As a nurse she’s witnessed how being overweight can affect your health and she wanted to be there to see her kids grow and thrive for years to come, so she made a change.  Read all about her journey…

Nikiel before and after

My journey started over 9 years ago. Now I’m down 102 pounds!!!!! I’m 5’7″ tall and my current weight is 178 pounds. I can remember getting up to at least 280 pounds. I had always been overweight and dealt with low self-esteem. My career in the medical field as a nurse exposed me to the realities of physical difficulties and illnesses that come as a result of being overweight. Many patients were suffering from conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Even my family members were suffering from heart disease and I saw myself potentially becoming a statistic, so I decided to make a change. That’s what motivated me and wanting to see my children grow up is what inspired me.

My eating habits changed little by little. I mainly cut calories by keeping those cookies and chips to a minimum and eating baked chicken and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables. I was following a plan cutting calories Monday thru Friday leaving the weekend to have a cheat meal or two because that is what worked best for me at the time. I initially lost about 70 pounds following that routine as well as doing TAE BO and the The Firm DVDs for women. However, the biggest obstacle was gaining about 50+ pounds back when I got pregnant with my last child over 6 years ago.

It seems like it took forever to loose the weight but I went back to my roots where I started from and added some new things I had learned on the way. Over a year ago I introduced running into my routine by joining a local running group. This move helped me to lose an additional 30 pounds and that has been great. After losing the weight there is definitely a sense of accomplishment that I felt and looked better but my real accomplishment comes from the fact that I have encouraged others. My goal is to lose about 20 more pounds, tone up more and become a personal health coach.

My advice to those who want to lose weight would be to just start small and work your way up.  Do not beat yourself up when you have a bad day because the next day is the first day of the rest of your life. Keep positive people around you and remain positive yourself.  Find out what works for you and have fun. Always remember that it is a lifestyle change and not simply a “diet”.

Instagram: @purplelady_curvyslim

Nikiel weight loss story

LaTonya lost 51 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: LaTonya lost 51 pounds.  Watching weight related illness affect her family members, she decided that she was in control of her health and made up her mind to change her life.  This proud nurse is an inspiration. Check out her story.

LaTonya weight loss

My name is LaTonya Glaze. I decided to lose weight because I want to be healthy. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity run in my family. My Maternal Grandmother died from complications related to diabetes when she was 61 years old; that was 11 years ago. She also had high blood pressure. All of my father’s aunts & uncles were very obese. They all weigh 300+ pounds. I want more out of life than trying to manage ailments that we have so much control over by the decisions we make.

The first thing I did was make up my mind and allow the change to take place in my heart. What was May 2013 and I was 220 pounds. I started keeping a food diary so that I could become more aware of what I was eating. I also started drinking water like it was going out of style. In fact, that’s about the only thing I drink. If I feel like I need something with flavor, I add Crystal Light to my water or drink a diet soda, but that’s not often. I do not eat anything fried, I do not eat pork, and I do not eat sweets. I eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, and grilled/baked/broiled lean meats. If I feel like I need a snack, I eat healthy popcorn, almonds (dry roasted), rice cake, or something low calorie. As far as working out, I get a great work out 5 days per week at work. I am a nurse and I literally hit the door running once I get to work, and it’s like that until I leave. We had a Health & Wellness Coach come to our job and determined that our activity level is considered moderate to fast paced based on the work we do. I am currently down to 169 pounds and I would like to lose 9 more pounds.

For those trying to lose: the change definitely starts in your heart and mind. Do it for no other reason than yourself. It takes discipline, dedication, and determination. While it is not easy, it certainly is possible & attainable. There are no “cheats” with weight loss. It truly is a life style change and adjustments will need to be made to your diet and exercise regimen. These changes will put you on the path to a healthier you and you’ll absolutely feel a lot better not carrying extra weight around or feeling weighed down by eating the wrong foods! I pray each of you will have strength on this life long journey!

Angela lost 98 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Angela lost 98.6 pounds.  After being told she was morbidly obese, this proud nurse made the decision to reach 40 years old as healthy and happy as possible.  Read her story and find out how she lost the weight:

Angela weight loss

Name: Angel
Age: 41
Starting weight: 280
Current weight: 181.4
Transformation time: 20 months and still Under Construction!

My journey started in April 2012. I was at my doctor’s office, tipped the scale at 280 pounds and was told that I was morbidly obese! I was 39 years old and did not want to go into my 40’s overweight. I decided right then that I needed to do something. My doctor offered weight loss pills and injections for me but as a Registered Nurse, I knew some of the negative side effects and preferred more natural means. The next thing I did was PRAY.  I sincerely asked God to help me.  He gave me the scripture 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that though may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.”  I asked Him to show me the plan that would work best for me.  The following week I joined Weight Watchers.  I committed to following the plan for 3 months (whether I lost a pound or not).  The plan helped me change my bad eating habits (fried foods, sweet tea and breads) into a balanced diet of fruit, veggies, whole grains, baked meats and WATER!  In those 3 months, I lost almost 20 lbs.  This inspired me to keep going.  In July 2012, I joined the local gym and began to walk just 30minutes, 3-5 days per week.  By the end of 2012, I had lost 50 lbs.  During 2013, I continued to follow the Weight Watchers plan on my own (I stopped going to regular meetings) and increased my walking to 60 minutes.  My weight on 12/31/13 was 181.4! And still losing…

This journey has been one of much prayer and perseverance. Although my journey is slower in pace, this pace has caused me to adopt a totally new lifestyle.  I no longer have emotional binges.  Under stress, I don’t eat pizza; I put in overtime at the gym.  I don’t just celebrate with cakes, pies and ice cream, I celebrate by purchasing a new, smaller outfit or jewelry.

When people ask me how my life is different after losing almost 100 lbs, I think of several things.  (1) I feel so much better!  It feels so good to do things like walking upstairs without getting winded. (2) Sometimes my patients ask if I am a new nurse (some don’t recognize me). (3) Sitting in a chair and not having to pray that it doesn’t break. (4) NO LONGER SHOPPING IN THE PLUS SIZE!  (5) One thing that I have not done in years is enjoying an amusement park and being able to fit on various rides…I plan to this summer.

My advice:  NEVER GIVE UP!  It’s a journey not a destination.  My journey so far has taken 20 months.  Yours might be shorter or longer, you may have ups & downs, losses & gains but if you fall down, get back up.  It’s not always easy but it sure is worth it!

Angela before and after Angela before photo Angela before after

Andrea lost 65 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Andrea lost 65 pounds.  This proud mom and nurse designed her own weight loss plan after doing her research and finding out what would work for her.  She hopes that her story encourages someone as many of the BWLW success stories have given her inspiration.  Here is what she shared with us about how she lost the weight:

Andrea weight loss success story

“I just want to be an inspiration to someone else, just like those who’s stories you have posted before! I will never forget scrolling on my Facebook timeline and seeing success stories from full figured women like myself.

After having two babies one year apart and coping with the stress of finishing nursing school, I decided I make a change in December of 2012 after graduation. I didn’t opt to follow a planned diet or workout by the book. I simply sat down and re-evaluated my habits.

I made a list of all the foods that were obviously bad for me. I was consuming 3 times the sugar recommended daily! I knew there was time for a change. To start my journey, I did a 10 day detox to flush my system from all parasites that slowed down digestion and my metabolism. After the flush, I began a “self made” diet that consisted of 64-90 oz of water a day, lots of fruits and vegetables, white meat only, baked everything and no sweets or soda. I didn’t have bread unless it was whole wheat, and ate nothing after 7pm. The key to weight loss is not starving yourself. So many of us think that not eating is what helps when it’s actually the eating the speeds the metabolism to burn more fat! So, I definitely took heed to consuming small frequent meals a day.

I didn’t begin working out right away, because I wanted to make sure my body was in good condition to handle the change. I hadn’t worked out for over 10 years since I played basketball in high school! However, when I did began to work out I started out with 2 miles a day at a local track and slowly progressed to adding a mile a week. After I reached my goal of 5 miles a day, I started spacing my day and doing walk/jogging every other day. I am not at my goal yet but working toward it daily but I am proud to say I am 65 pounds lighter then when I first began. It feels great!!

The key to losing weight is becoming familiar with your body and what works for you. Do your research and stay committed to working towards a better you! I came up with a phrase to remind myself daily that I’m 3D – I Don’t Diet, I Discipline. Hope my story can help someone else!!”

Instagram: @gr08one
Twitter: @thegr08one

Tiffany lost 79 pounds

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Featured Weight Loss Success Story: Tiffany lost 79 pounds.  This proud nurse was battling fibromyalgia and created a weight loss plan for herself that worked with her needs.  Here is what she shared about her 8 month journey:Tiffany weight loss photos

“My motivation to lose weight was the pain caused by fibromyalgia coupled with my graduation from nursing school. I started eating more and set my phone for a meal reminder every three hours at first until I built up my metabolism. Medications had erased my appetite. I did the Insanity DVD until I pulled a groin muscle, then I followed that with Hip Hop Abs. I am way too self conscious to go to a gym. When I hit my first plateau, I started taking a weight loss supplement. I went from 234 pounds in the first picture to 155 pounds in the second. I currently work out 3 times a week, mostly cardio, because weight training is actually harder for me with the fibromyalgia. My transformation took eight months and now it’s all about maintenance. I eat clean and do not drink soda. I allow for cheat hours, not days. I also eat the majority of my food in the am, my most active time of the day. My biggest piece of advice is to get a group of friends who understand your journey. For me, it was a young lady named Charmaine Legrone and the ladies of Project Body Back. When I wanted to quit, they held me up. Sometimes just one person saying good work pushes you that much further. I was blessed with hundreds. Thank you and I hope my story helps someone. I’m @tchunt80 on Twitter and instagram.  Thank you.”

Tiffany before and after

Monique lost 171 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Weight reduction surgery worked for Monique.  This proud nurse lost 171 pounds with gastric bypass, changing her eating habits and working out regularly.  Here is what she shared with us about how the surgery changed her life:

Monique weight loss surgery

“Hello, My name is Monique Wendt and I had gastric bypass surgery a year and 2 months ago! Having this surgery changed my life FOREVER! I started out at 350lbs and I’m now down to 179 pounds which puts me at a total of 171 pounds gone FOREVER. I decided I had to do something when I was in nursing school. It’s a lot harder being on the hospital floor carrying all that weight around and not moving as well as others. So, I said enough is enough. I knew I was going to be finishing nursing school in October so I scheduled my surgery for the end of that month.

Having this surgery has changed my life FOREVER! I am able to workout 2 times a day, 5 days a week I HAD to change my eating habits and love the way I eat now. I am VERY big on veggies, and I find fun and awesome ways to use them in new dishes. I made the decision to have gastric bypass because it was hard for me to workout properly due to the fact of having feet problems due to negligence from a foot surgery.

Now that I have lost the weight, even though my walking isn’t the best, it’s A LOT easier for me to workout not having the extra weight. If someone asked me If I would do it all over again I would have to say YES! I feel soooo much better and I am sooo much happier!”

Shovann lost 89 pounds

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Updated photos for 2015: Instagram: @womenfourwellnessShovann update
June 2014: Congrats to Shovann on her 1 year weight loss anniversary!  She has maintained her weight loss and looks great.  Read her story below.

Shovann before and after

Apr 2014:  Shovann wrote in to say, “I’m now down 89 pounds. I’ve gone from a size 22 to a size 9/10.”  She lost 24 pounds since Dec 2013 when we first shared her story.  Check out her updated photos (See the photos below) and read about how she lost the weight:

Original Post
Today’s weight loss success story: Shovann lost 63 pounds.  This proud Nurse was motivated by seeing the weight-related illnesses affecting her patients and wanting to live a healthier lifestyle.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

“My Name is Shovann Staton. I’m a 34 year old Nurse that was inspired to loose weight after topping the scale at 253 pounds and wearing a 2x top and size 22 in pants. I felt like I lost who I was and I thought how can I save lives and not my own?  What Motivated me was that I decided to live Healthy and after seeing more younger patients with Diabetes, Heart Disease and Hypertension. I felt it was a great time to take my life in a better direction.

With that being said I’ve lost a total thus far of 63 pounds and I’m now wearing size 12 pants and large tops. I am looking forward to weight training in the next few weeks. My diet consist of 125g of protein and no more than 50 carbs daily.  I also drink 2 Liters of Water a day. Faith and prayer have taken me far. I started this Regime 6/16/13 and look forward to my new lifestyle. Healthy living is not a get slim quick scheme, It’s a way of life. My advice: Keep healthy snacks on hand and pack your meals daily. Don’t get discouraged. Even if you mess up, acknowledge your faults and pick up the pieces. Enjoy at least 30-45 min of cardio daily, eat healthy clean and watch that fat vanish…”

Facebook: WomenFourWellness

Shovann weight loss

 

Ada lost 115 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Ada lost 115 pounds.  This proud nurse gained and lost weight over a number of years and suffered from sleeping and breathing issues.  She came up with a plan that worked for her and lost the weight.  Here is what she shared with us:

“Hi, my name is Ada Lee and I have lost a total of 115 pounds since 2009, and 77 of those pounds since July 3rd of this year. My starting weight was 378 pounds. I was embarrassed and my self esteem was very low. I had trouble sleeping and my breathing was so bad that I had to sleep upright at night. I was in college studying nursing and it was very stressful.  All I wanted to do was eat and study, and that is when I gained 40 pounds in 11 months. I knew I had to do something, after I graduated nursing school and became a nurse, I knew I had to do something. I started walking and exercising, and ate only protein and vegetables.  That is when I noticed the weight coming off. I lost a total of 62 pounds in 2010, but once I moved to another state I gained 35 of those pounds back, enjoying the new surroundings and all the different foods too. I was adjusting to the city life. I then decided that I was tired of being in a size 3x-4x so i started eating a low calorie, low carb, no sugar diet right after my birthday in June.  I also started walking 6-8 miles, 3 times a week which has led me to lose 77 pounds! I am now an x-large and I love the NEW ME! I have not quite met my goal yet and I am still working to lose 40 more pounds. Losing weight takes a lot of discipline, especially if you are use to eating a lot of sugary foods but it is worth giving up those foods and enjoying your New Look. Stay encouraged, stay positive and stay focused. My instagram name is queenlee601

  • The first picture is of me at 378lbs
  • The second picture is in June 21st my birthday and I was 345lbs
  • The third is me 2 weeks ago at 267lbs”

Ada's weight loss photos

Martine lost 181 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Martine lost 181 pounds.  This proud nurse went from 321 pounds down to 140 by exploring all of the options available to her and seeking out professional advice from experts. A high protein, low carb lifestyle and much prayer worked for her as well as raw vegan eating.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey (video below):

Martine weight loss photos

“Hello, I love your site but I did not want to submit my story & photos until I had arrived to my goal… My friends however convinced me to submit my story. My name is Martine & I am a registered nurse. I’ve been overweight for most of my life, but yet was very active until I went to college. I was 18 & that year I gained about 60 lbs as I was not eating the healthy foods I normally ate at my parents’s house. Soon, in approximately a year’s time, I was morbidly obese & found myself being over 300 lbs. I was devastated, felt helpless but soon I decided to change my life. Over the next 10 yrs I studied health & tried every diet out there. I was gaining & losing all the time but at some point I actually did lose 100 lbs by doing a high protein no carb diet. I sustained that for 2 yrs until I went to nursing school. There I found myself stressed beyond measure and while I invested much in taking care of my health, my body resisted me.  Eventually I gave in, gaining approx 60 lbs. When I finished nursing school I was then stressed with passing the nursing board exam & gained another 20 pounds. Then I got stressed due to finding a job and moving to Texas and gained more weight, until I was over 300 pounds again.

At some point while I lived in Texas my health started crumbling and I knew it was a life or death moment. I had only 2 choices: fight or flight. I determined to seek out & use every intervention known to man. I began working hard & I sought specialist doctors & dietitians to help me out. I followed their plans. It was a major challenge and life style change. I was given a choreographed, very specific program on portions to eat, types of foods to eat, how to eat (ex: chewing time), how & when to drink, amounts of meals per day, higher in protein, lower in carbs. I also heavily focused on putting the right nutrition in my body. I followed the program hard core. I went from 321 pounds to 140 pounds in approx 13-16 months. That’s a total of about 180 lbs in a year & 1/2!!!!

Work outs: I did walking around my neighborhood and workplace lightly. This was not the focus in my program. At first, I had very little energies as I went from a super high calorie diet to low calories, from high carbs to almost no carbs. So, I did light activities. I also noticed that the more I worked out the less I lost & the more I refrained the more I lost. Something else I did is: I prayed A Lot. I am a Christian and for me there are times when I was met with discouragements or plateaus. I would pray & say “Lord please put me under x amount of lbs… or please give me another 5 lb loss.” As I lost weight, I rewarded myself every 3 months with a brand new wardrobe. I actually ate in restaurants w/ friends all the time, but I’d order healthy salmon. soups, or salads. Today, I am eating a raw fruits & vegetable diet, which has tremendously blessed my health. I also add 2 Premier protein shakes a day. I have tremendous amounts of energy, am alert, & am very optimistic. My advice to people wanting to lose weight is to first accept themselves & love themselves bc God loves them & has a great purpose in life for them.  I’d also suggest they seek out help. Don’t try to do it all by your selves. Join support groups. I lost weight with many of my friends, so I was not alone. I would advise to look into every program that can work. Depending on how heavy one is, no intervention is off limits as long as one is monitored by professionals. Be optimistic & celebrate every pound off. God bless.”

Martine weight loss story