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Candince lost 75 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Candince lost 75 pounds.  She was at risk of being obese and suffering health problems related to weight so she made the decision to invest in her health.  Here is what she shared with us:

“I just wanted to share my story. My journey started back in 2012. After being told by my physician that I was obese, as well as in danger of diabetes and high blood pressure, I knew I needed to stop wishing for a healthier me and start working for it. It was a wakeup call at 238 pounds (size 18). I couldn’t fit anything in my closet and was in the worst shape.

I lost 75 pounds in less than a year by exercising 6 times a week.  I also hired a personal training for strength training 2 times a week. I used working out as a way to combat stress and made it a priority. Not even work prevented me from exercising because jobs come and go but I only have ONE ME!! I threw out all processed foods and learned to eat clean! Once I quit making excuses for myself the change happened. Best decision I could have ever made. At 163 pounds my body thanks me everyday!

My advice would be to throw away the scale, surround yourself with positive people who help keep you encouraged and understand that losing even one pound is a HUGE milestone!!”

Candince weight loss photos

Aleisha lost 134 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sonia sent in her sister’s transformation story.  Aleisha lost 134 pounds.  Sonia says that her sister is an inspiration to others.  Here is what she shared with us:

Aleisha before and after

“This is my sister Aleisha Jordan-Alston. She had a lot of different health issues but decided to make a change when she was told that she would not be around to raise her 5 children if she didn’t lose weight. She not only lost weight but continues to motivate others to do the same. I hope you can feature her on your page. She deserves it. I’m so proud of my sister.

About 2 1/2 years ago her doctor told her very matter of factly that if she did not lose weight that she would be dead in 5 years and to prepare herself and her 5 children. She argued with him back and forth all the while being embarrassed, shocked and enraged. By the end of the appointment he was a little more compassionate about it.  He told her that if she worked hard, he believed that she could do it but he also honestly felt that if she didn’t make a change she would die in 5 years or less. She didn’t want her to children to grow up without her (all under 16 at the time).  She also wanted to prove to her doctor that she could do it.  This is what motivated her to lose weight. She was having a problem sticking to the traditional workouts so she started walking with me and some of our friends which made it seem more like something fun to do instead of working out. She also loves dancing and included that in her workout schedule. A different doctor put her on a strict changes to her diet which she followed religiously. She changed how often she ate (every 3 to 4 hours) to the portion sizes. She cut out fast food, stopped using a lot of salt and stopped eating fried foods. She also doubled her vegetables (which she hardly ate before losing weight), cut out beef and pork and started eating mostly chicken, turkey and fish. Of course she drinks water constantly. Her total weight loss is 134 pounds. She started at 289 pounds in March 2012 and she’s only 4’11”. Her current weight is 155 pounds. She does treat herself every now and then to her chips, cookies, etc but once she got used to not eating them she knew she could make it. She says she’s so happy that she made this lifestyle change and I’m a proud big sister.”

Tiffany lost 57 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Tiffany.  She lost 57 pounds with prayer, eating clean and exercise.  She still on her weight loss journey but she was inspired to share her journey so far.  Here is what she shared with us:

Tiffany before and after photos

“Sister Ajima, It is such an inspiration to me to see the many testimonies of our sisters taking on the challenge of being healthy and fit after being obese. I too understand the struggle. It is no easy feat, when you have to reprogram yourself and how you view food and health. I thank you for such a page as this as well as the many testimonies shared in the news feeds. I have struggled with my weight my entire life and tried to live a life being content with being obese. This April, I decided after reaching my maximum weight of 330 pounds it was time for God to truly transform me. Today I am 273 pounds and I still have a ways to go. Thank you again. This page is apart of what keeps me motivated and inspired.

I am working on a personal goal to hit 269 pounds. I had the intentions of submitting my a brief testimony and pictures once the scales revealed 269 lbs; however I’ve had a conviction to do so now. God is Good! I prayed and asked God for a complete transformation of myself, body, mind, and spirit. We are now in December 2013, and I am now 273 and my journey still continues. I have struggled with my weight my entire life I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t FAT! I tried years of dieting and periods of time just being content; however in this new ” Season’ of my life God has said it is now Time, and to be honest I trust and believe Him. I started my journey with a fast, then with juicing for a few weeks. Then, I went to eating cleaner; no red meats, cut the sugars, reduced the breads and increased the fruits & vegetables. My exercising started with walking a mile then I began walking for 5 miles at least 4 times a week. I am now coming out of a period of about a month where I have just maintained. Now I’m working out on my treadmill and trying to get use to the Insanity DVD workouts. My,goal is to lose 100 pounds in 2014.”

Check out her Facebook page.

4 Things to know about Bariatric Surgery and Insurance

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

How much will it cost on average?

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

Obesity in Black America

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One in 5 people die from weight related illnesses and complications.  In many recent studies, Black Americans have the dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of obesity in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To be considered obese, you must have a body mass index* of 30 or higher. To be considered morbidly obese your body mass index must only hit the BMI of 35 with health complications, or have been measured at 40 for at least five years.

Obesity in Black America There are many theories of why the Black American community has such high rates of obesity, none of which have been conclusively proven as true. It is generally accepted that the cause is a combination of culture and genetics. Complicating the issue is that Black Americans don’t simply suffer from just a Black American culture that promotes obesity (there’s a debate on that), they are influenced (as all Americans are ) by the general American culture which also promotes a lack of activity and poor diet.  That leads to obesity across ALL racial categories. Here are just some of the major complications that you risk by remaining obese or seriously overweight. Losing weight radically reduces risk of death or health complications from each of these conditions.

I feel that it’s time that we face the health issues below and start to educate ourselves and our communities about the risks and how to turn these trends around!  Let me know what you think in the comments section.  Should we consider the studies that come out a call for action or is it all just more “bad news” about Black People?

Type II Diabetes

Black Americans are prone to type II diabetes, an acquired form of diabetes related to obesity. While this type of diabetes is on the rise in the US across the entire population, it is becoming more prevalent among Black Americans under the age of 25. Diet and exercise that lead to a return to a healthy weight and normal blood sugar levels can quickly remove the need for managing type II diabetes with medication and therapies for many people.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure and obesity go hand in hand. While the American culture emphasizes treating high blood pressure with medication, rather than emphasizing prevention – the Black community is at a disadvantage as many of the current medications have not been rigorously examined for their benefits on the genetic profiles of Black adults. While this imbalance in clinical trials is slowly being corrected, thinking you can rely on a medication to control your high blood pressure may not be realistic for everyone.  Having open communication with your doctor and other medical professionals is key to finding the right therapy that works for you.

Mortality

1 in 5 Americans die from weight related illnesses. Being obese, or even just overweight, can decrease your life span by increasing the strain on your heart and inviting in life threatening conditions that could be avoided. Due to high obesity rates, some Black Americans face shorter lifespans (Some studies show that this increases our mortality rate when compared to other racial groups in the US).

Weight-related Illness and Complications

More Black Americans are being diagnosed with weight related illnesses from diabetes to joint pain to pulmonary and breathing disorders than ever before. Excess weight can have an effect on the efficiency of your lungs and other vital organs as well as depressing your immune system and metabolism. It is also thought that being overweight can complicate your recovery from surgeries and other illnesses as fat acts as fast absorbing neutralizer for many medications and antibiotics.

Stroke

Obesity comes with high blood pressure and is also commonly associated with heart disease and poor cholesterol health. When you combine these elements together, there is a radically increased risk for stroke. Having a stroke can happen at any age. Being obese increases your risk of stroke and can also complicate your recovery from one.

Arthritis

Extra weight increases pressure on your joints and can act to reduce circulation. All of this can combine to an increase in mobility issues and arthritis. In many cases, the normal medications used to relieve arthritis pain are not as effective in patients who are obese as their weight is not taken into account with the dosage. If weight is taken into account, there is a secondary issue of potential toxicity or dependence due to the high medication dose.

Cancer

Recent studies have conclusively linked belly fat to an increased risk of breast cancer. It isn’t belly fat that is specifically the issue, it is the particular fat cell type called an estrogen receptor cell which is most common in the stomach area. Older studies have long shown a direct link between being obese and an increased risk of the following cancers: esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, endometrium, kidney, thyroid and gallbladder.

*Note: I know that many people dispute the validity of BMI in determining health, but it is the measure accepted by the medical profession at this time.  I also realize that the info I’m talking about in this article is based on research and studies that many may not agree with.  Many time the reaction I hear about info like this is that it stereotypes us or that “they” are saying that we are all fat and unhealthy.  My intention is to bring forward some info to make us all think about how obesity and weight-related illness is affecting our community.  We can look around our families, co-workers, friends and the whole of America and see that weight and poor eating is affecting the health of many.  It’s time that we stop dismissing the stats that DO on some level correspond with what we are seeing.  I’m not saying that every study is accurate…but every stat and study is not wrong.

Find out more

Dr. Tyeese Gaines – How obesity has become a part of black culture

The Office of Minority Health – Obesity and African Americans

US News – Blacks have highest obesity rates in US

National Cancer Institute – Obesity and Cancer

Rikki lost 138 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Rikki.  She lost 138 pounds (115 of the pounds over the course of a year).  Here is what she shared with us:

Rikki weight loss photos

“I went to the doctor about 2 years ago and he called me the word “obese”. That word made me sick. I tipped the scale at 377 pounds. I decided that it was finally time for me to give up my candy and my chips. I started off with by walking 3 houses down, and every two days I increased by distance by 2 more houses. I cut out pork and red meat.  Then, I started to keep a food diary. Every time I looked at the scale it motivated me to continue. I am now 239 pounds and still have a ways to go. As long as I am blessed to be able to move my body, I will continue my everyday routine. If I can do this, anyone can. My next doctor’s appointment is to have my loose skin removed. After that, I will have a before picture and after picture of my body. I hope my story has helped someone out here who is going through the struggle of changing their eating habits and their daily routine to one that is more healthy.”

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

Naledi lost 89 pounds

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Nov 2016 – Naledi has kept off over 80 pounds for over 3 years and is now focused on toning, weight training and HIIT. She’s also sharing her nutrition knowledge online to inspire others. Check out her update and what she has shared with us over the years about her transformation.

Just reaching out to give you my update and the joys of living healthy. I have manage to keep of my weight for 3 years now and it’s been a living testimony. I’m focused on toning now and doing a lot of Les Mills weight training and HIIT. I’ve created a Facebook group were I post my daily meals, from breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and meal replacement alternatives. No short cuts or fad diets. Just authentic home cooked meals that I create daily to share my passion and help the community as a whole. – Naledi (aka. Ledi Tangs) 

naledi before and after

Feb 2016 – It’s been 3 years since we featured Naledi’s weight loss journey. She’s kept off the 89.9 pounds and is working on toning and definition with weight training and Les Mills classes.

Hello, I’m back with an update. You featured my weight loss journey in 2013 and I want to share what I have been up to. I started weight lifting with the goal of developing more shape and definition. I’ve been doing Les Mills classes 2-3 times a week now. It’s been such a rewarding journey and so pleased to share with friends here on the BWLW group to motivate someone. I do Body Pump, which involves weight lifting and attacking every part of your body. I also do Body Attack, which is a cardio class of 1 hour of intense exercise (similar to Insanity). You literally burn 400-500 calories if you give it your best. My pecs are progressing massively. It’s been 7 months since I started the classes. I have maintained my weight but my dress size has dropped from an 8 to a 6. I am living a dream and I’m more confident. I hope this inspires a sister out there.

naledi before and after

Nov 2103 – Today’s weight loss success story: Our sista from the United Kingdom Naledi lost 39kg and went from a size 22 to a size 8.  That’s 89.9 pounds!  She did it by eating right and exercising to avoid the risk of diabetes.  Here is what she shared with us:

Naledi weight loss story uk

“My story begins like this… I gained weight via not eating properly and not exercising. Started feeling unwell and went to see my doctor. My family has a history of diabetes and have lost all my beloved ones from my father’s side including my Dad who passed away in 2004 due to the disease. I was affected by the death of my father and when I went for the check up to see if I was prone to the disease fortunately the result was negative. I weighed 102 kg (224.8 pounds) by that time in 2011 and was told by my doctor that I was overweight, obese and prone to having a heart attack if I did not reduce my weight (regardless of being diabetes free). My dress size was 22. I now weigh 63kg (138.8 pounds) and wear a size 8.  I started my weight loss journey from March 2011 to October 2012. Since then never looked back and have maintained my weight till today.

Motivation: I was shaken and started feeling tired when I was at work.  I could hardly use the stairs and dependant on the lift (elevator) all the time. I was referred to a dietitian to discuss healthy eating options before any medication was given to me to see if I was willing and determined to lose the weight. I valued my life and wanted to live and not die young. I was upset that food made me like this and that sooner or later my whole life will come to a close due to food and not looking after myself. I went home depressed and just the thought of it all.  I knew that I would have to develop self control and change the way I look at food because what it was doing to me had such a terrible effect. I waited for the appointment date and went to my first visit to start putting a plan in place in terms of what to eat, what not to eat,  exercise, etc. Upon living the hospital, I just told myself that I will conquer and defeat the food battle. I started by doing my own research into what has helped other people in a similar situation as I was. It was not an easy journey in the beginning to cut down on bread, cakes, portion sizes… let alone the bad habits in general that lead to weight gain. I Started my own diet of consuming not more than 1,500 calories a day. I was drinking 2 litres of water and no more drinks with acid. Fortunately, I had no issues with alcohol because I never drake at all.

Naledi weight loss
Update Apr: 2014 – Naledi sent in this photo to let us know she is still maintaining her weight loss!

I joined the gym and started with the treadmill just to get my heart rate up and my body used to exercising slow but sure. I ate alot of vegetables, salad,fruit and cut down all starch foods completely. I also became very creative and made my own made home smoothies of which I had most of the time for lunch. My favourite was the green smoothie that consisted of kale, spinach, melon, apple, pear, few leaves of spinach, 2 x tablespoon natural yoghurt and 1/4 cup water just to give my smoothies flavour. I detoxed using lemon and fresh pepper mint leaves soaked in water. I also ate small portions of food, stopped snacking and started eating at the right times. I was also getting enough sleep and snacking a lot on nuts. I ate white meat more than I did with red meat. I replaced red meat with a lot of roasted peanuts without salt. No milk or sugar in my tea. I started drinking herbal teas and hot water with lemon before and after every meal. I stopped eating heavy meals if i got home after 7pm. Will power and determination made my life so easy. I started feeling more lighter each day and introduced other exercises; bicycle ride, spinning classes twice a week, swimming, power walking and started out door jogging.

I made this a lifestyle more than a punishment and my results were so positive that within 6 months of healthy eating, exercising and commitment, I lost 30kg. I was so pleased and kept pushing. My weight was lost in 3 stages as per the pictures. My dress size dropped to 14 and lastly size 8 which took me 1 year and 7 months to get to my target weight. I am now into horse riding, which is one of my favourite hobbies almost every weekend. I do a lot of outdoor jogging, zumba class once a week and presently lift weights to build my six pack. With the right attitude no gimmicks, no eating behind closed doors, not quitting and perseverance, you can do it and achieve whatever you want in life. Whenever you feel like giving up, ask yourself the reason that you started the journey and why you want to add more years to your life. I did it and am very positive that you can do it without surgery but willpower and become a conqueror. They say “No pain, no gain.” Once you are on top of the game nothing will beat that spirit of being a goal getter. Never, never give up. The harder you work, the better the results are. A key fact is to keep up with healthy eating and exercise. Make it a lifestyle rather than a diet. By so doing you are looking at it in a more positive way rather than feeling deprived of certain foods. Moderation is the key.  All the best in your journey.  I’m more than happy to motivate others in any way possible with regards to sharing meal ideas, what other shakes I made or ways that could make one change their life.”

Naledi weight loss photos

Is Belly Fat Different Than Other Body Fat?

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belly fatMany people don’t realize that belly fat, also known as visceral fat, is actually different than the rest of your body. The belly fat has been linked to risk for a number of different types of things, from insulin issues, metabolism issues, heart disease, increased cancer risk, and increased type 2 diabetes risk. Even if you’re not overweight, the fat that is in your abdomen can cause a lot of issues.

The body has three different types of fat in it. Check them out:

  • Triglycerides circulate in your bloodstream. It makes up about 95 percent of the fat within your body.
  • Subcutaneous fat, which is the layer that lies directly below the skin’s surface, between the skin and the abdominal wall.
  • Visceral fat is the kind located deep within your belly.

It’s not so much what is in the visceral fat that causes the problem; it’s where the fat is located. It is actually found beneath your stomach muscles, which means that they’re the closest thing to your internal organs. Because of this placement, your internal organs start to use it for energy because it’s more efficient than getting energy from your skin fat. Your body acts much like you do; efficiency is key.  If you have an option between two places to get the same exact thing, you’re going to go to the place that is closer.

So, why is this dangerous? In old times, people assumed that fat was just stored energy, but it’s actually much more active than that. All fat cells continually secrete hormones and chemicals; these hormones and chemicals are healthy if you’re at a normal weight, they actually do good things, like regulate insulin, help to regulate appetite by allowing you to feel satisfied after eating, and even help burn stored fat. Essentially, this fat acts how fat is supposed to act. The fat does standard metabolic functions and is absolutely nothing that you have to worry about. That’s why it’s unhealthy to be without fat; you can actually starve yourself or, at the very least, get ill, if you have no fat on your body at all.

Where the problem comes in is when you are overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese, your body has more fat cells, and those cells are much larger than they should be. These larger cells, as you would expect, work harder and secrete more hormones and chemicals than you need. Essentially, you’re getting “too much of a good thing,” which is when it becomes a very bad thing. The chemicals that come out of your fat cells start to impact your health over time. These chemicals play a huge role in diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and even certain cancers.

Alright, so why does belly fat get the short end of the stick? Don’t all fats do this? Absolutely not! Visceral fat cells actually produce more of those chemicals to start with, so if you’ve got a lot of fat in your stomach region, those chemicals are actually being produced at toxic levels. As I mentioned above, those toxins are getting into your internal organs because the visceral fat is where your internal organs are getting their “energy” from. So basically, by having the excess stomach fat, you’re actually poisoning yourself in a way in terms of what the fat is leaching into your body. That is incredibly scary.

This is why good health is important. Exercise and diet are incredibly important parts of keeping you healthy. If you’ve noticed that you have an excess of belly fat, make sure to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The great thing is that belly fat responds well to time tested weight loss methods of eating and exercise. You doctor or health care professional can help you to get on a eating and fitness plan that can help you lose weight in that region so that you don’t continue to cause damage to your body.

Body Refined shares how Flo lost 71 pounds

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Personal Trainer Kurt Dixon of Body Refined, Inc in MD wrote to us to share another success story (We featured his client Michele back in June). His client Flo lost 71 pounds and he interviewed her about her journey.

“I was turning 30 in a matter of months and wanted to go into that new age of life looking and feeling better about myself.”

Say Hi to Flo! She started her journey to healthier, fit life last November. In this before and after picture, Flo is wearing the same exact dress. With all the changes she has made to her body and continues to do, she had the dress tailored to fit her new body.

Flo Akadje Body Refined Inc

Her progress in just 10 months…

  • Weight: -71 Pounds
  • Body Fat: -21.9 %
  • BMI: -11.8 Points
  • Dress Size: -10 Sizes

What was your light bulb moment that made you decide to lose weight? Did you think you were overweight?

My “Aha moment” (as Oprah would say) was when I was visiting my mother at her house. She had lost weight for health reasons. Looking at her, I saw how good and healthy she looked, and it made me want to lose weight as well. In addition to that, I was turning 30 in a matter of months and wanted to go into that new age of life looking and feeling better about myself.  I knew I was overweight but I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. So rather than trying to change it, I just bought bigger clothes.

Have you always been overweight? If not, how long have you been overweight? When did you notice you started to gain weight?

I cannot really say whether or not I was over overweight because I never got on the scale. I never really cared about my weight. Maybe I was overweight and I did not know it. (I guess you are right again!!! Damn you Kurt!!) I never got on the scale to see how much I weighed. I was always the biggest of all my friends. But my weight gain started when I got to college. I think instead of the “freshmen 15”, I gained more than that. My weight just kept going up from there.

Does being overweight or obese run in the family?

Being overweight in my family was acceptable. For the most part, all of my family members were overweight.  Being overweight I think was a sign that you were living the good life.    

Was it a difficult journey? Are you satisfied w/ where you are now?

Not at first because I was really determined to get in better shape. But now as I get closer to my goal weight I find it difficult because I am so anxious to see more results.

What have you learned about being healthy?

Being healthy is a way of life.  You cannot lose weight then revert back to your old habits.  I have learned that if I want to stay healthy I definitely need to continue to eat healthy and stay active.

How did you end up working w/ Body Refined Inc? What has your experience been like working w/ Body Refined Inc?

I was going to the gym everyday faithfully when I was given the card for Body Refined.  I hesitated at first because I thought that I was doing fine and did not need help.  Unsatisfied with the lack of results, I finally decided to call the number on the card. My life has not been the same since I have been working with Body Refined.  I have a new outlook on life and what it takes to make the change to a healthier lifestyle. My overall experience has been incredible.    

What advice would you give someone who wants to lose weight?

Someone who wants to lose weight should first be serious about it. Don’t just say I want to lose weight. Begin the journey with purpose.  Meaning if your reason to lose weight is to be healthier or wear a bikini, put that in your mind and go for it.  Every time you find yourself thinking you cannot do it, remember your purpose.

How do you feel now vs how you felt when you were overweight?

I feel better about myself than I ever did in my entire life.  I was very shy growing up since I was always the biggest of everyone around me. I was never really confident in myself and my body. Now I am very open and confident in everything that I do.

What kind of support, if any, did you get from family and friends? And in contrast, did you experience any negativity from friends and family?

I set out on this journey somewhat alone. I really didn’t discuss it with anyone. I knew that I wanted to lose weight but I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want everyone to make suggestions as to what I should do. Now as I am closer to my goal weight, I keep hearing “don’t lose any more weight”. People don’t really know what a healthy body should be.

Have you ever tried to lose weight before? If so, what was the difference in what you did this time vs. other plans or programs you tried to follow?

I have tried to lose weight but not with a customized comprehensive plan as provided to me by Body Refined. My attempt to lose weight included supplements recommendations by family members or as seen on TV.  I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now. 

Would you recommend anyone to Body Refined Inc? If so, what would be the deciding factor on your decision to refer someone to BRI?

I would definitely recommend people to Body Refined but only if they are serious about a lifestyle change.

As of right now, what more do you want? Are you at your goal? If not, what is the ultimate goal for you?

I am not anywhere near my goal.  I want to take my body to where it has never been before. I don’t want to just have a flat stomach; I want to have definition all throughout my body. I want to be able wear shorts and maybe even a bikini.

You can check out Body Refined on Facebook.