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Tara lost 116 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tara lost 116 pounds.  After being diagnosed with high blood pressure in her twenties, she was determined to beat obesity and change her lifestyle for greater wellness.  Here is what she shared with us…

tara before and after

About 4 years ago, I was morbidly obese and full of excuses. I lived for Reese’s cups and Sonic slushes. One summer, my blood pressure randomly spiked. My doctor, of course, linked this to my weight, and tried to assure me that I was genetically inclined to have high blood pressure. However, I was determined to prove differently. One thing I knew for sure was that genetics didn’t cause obesity. I knew that genetics didn’t inhibit my ability to exercise. Today, I’ve lost 116 pounds, and my blood pressure has been steadily normal for about 2 1/2 years. I workout religiously and I still follow a very strict eating lifestyle. Oreos and pizza are manufactured in abundance, but you only get one life! That’s my motto!

I started my journey weighing in at 314 lbs, 5’6″ tall, carrying the majority of my weight on my stomach. Yea, picture that! Reality set in after finding out that I had high blood pressure at the age of 25. I knew I had to change my life quickly.

I started to treat food as a necessity, opposed to a priority. I decided not to let food control my life. I dropped the Sprites, Reese’s cups and Sonic Slushes (my favorite) cold turkey. I can’t explain where that willpower came from. To this day, looking back, it still blows my mind. Weekly, I prepare all of my meals, which consist of lean meats, veggies and brown rice or a small portion of a baked sweet potato. I’ve drank only water for about 4 years now. Seriously, that’s all my body craves. My snacks consist of raw nuts, almond butter with rice cakes, Quest bars, and protein shakes. I’ve found that when I meal prep, I’m less likely to make poor decisions. However, when I do eat out. I usually opt for grilled chicken and salads without cheese and fruits. I love the unwich (sandwich wrapped in lettuce) from Jimmy Johns too. I’m accountable for everything that I eat. Meaning that I log and track everything that I consume. Awareness is key!

My weekly workouts consist of Weight training and 2-3 hours of cardio. Outside of the gym, I usually run 3-4 miles around my neighborhood at least 2-3 days a week.

My advice to others wanting to lose weight, get in shape or just improve your overall health is to work for what you expect! Success comes to those who work their butts off every single day. Remember, pizza and Oreos are produced in abundance, but you’re only given one life. Live your best life!

Instagram: @Reduced_fat

Sleep Apnea: Can Being Overweight Affect Your Sleep?

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Sleep apnea is shockingly common in American adults, with nearly 22 million suffering from the disorder according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. Another very prevalent health issue among Americans is obesity. The CDC reports that approximately one third of Americans are overweight.

Unfortunately these two conditions can often occur simultaneously. Obstructive sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea that can develop in those who are overweight or obese. In fact, more than half of people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea have a weight problem.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

sleep apnea overweightObstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is characterized as being a disorder in which a person stops breathing for 10+ seconds repeatedly while asleep. This happens when the throat muscles relax and collapse. The throat and tongue muscles naturally relax during sleep but those who are overweight or obese have extra soft tissues in this area.

Additional Risk Factors of OSA

Being overweight and/or obese is one of the biggest risk factors for OSA. However there are additional factors, such as:

  • Having hypertension
  • Having a narrow airway
  • Having diabetes
  • Being between the ages of 18 and 60
  • Being a smoker
  • Drinking alcohol often

Also, though men are more apt to developing OSA, it is still very common in women.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea can present itself in a number of different ways. Here are just a few different symptoms of OSA:

  • Very loud snoring at night
  • Waking up suddenly at night feeling breathless
  • Waking up with a sore throat and/or dry mouth
  • Not feeling rested after an appropriate number of hours of sleep
  • Insomnia

Typically OSA symptoms occur together. For example, your partner may have been commenting about your very loud snoring at night and you also find yourself waking up randomly at night feeling out of breath. Perhaps in the morning you have a headache and feel like you got hardly any sleep at all.  Many times a loved one or spouse will actually notice that you stop breathing in your sleep and point it out to you.

If you feel like you may experience some of these issues, it is very, very important to consult your doctor as soon as possible. OSA is a very serious disorder.

Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea isn’t simply a sleep disorder. OSA is linked to many other health problems, either as precursor to another illness or as a symptom.

Daytime drowsiness is one of the most common dangers. This might seem like an annoyance but much like the experience of those with insomnia, consistent daytime drowsiness impairs your function which can lead to accidents. Consistently feeling like you aren’t rested also increases stress and can cause depression.

Where OSA can cause fatal problems is when it begins to affect your heart health. In a study featured on health.harvard.edu, an astounding 1 in 7 individuals with OSA had some type of heart trouble whether a stroke or heart attack, had to have bypass surgery or had died from cardiac disease within 10 years. Though participants were given treatment options, very few followed through.

Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are a few different treatment options for sleep apnea. Generally treatment is successful when it is combined with a weight loss regimen or other lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking.

  • Positive Airway Pressure Devices- Treatment of Moderate to Severe OSA

These devices are some of the most popular for treating sleep apnea. These devices look much like a face mask and work by delivering a pressured flow of air into the throat. There are 3 different types of positive airway pressure devices: CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), VPAP (variable positive airway pressure) and BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure).

  • Oral Equipment/Mouth Guards- Treatment of Mild OSA

Oral devices look very much like the mouth guard a boxer or football player wears. This device pushes the lower jaw forward slightly which helps the airway to open. This device doesn’t work for everyone and tends to be more suited for people with a very mild case of OSA or loud snoring.

  • Upper Airway Stimulation Devices- Alternative for Those Unable to Use CPAP

When a person has moderate to severe OSA and can’t get relief from a CPAP or other positive airway pressure devices then this device is ideal. This treatment is called Inspire UAS Therapy. It was only introduced in 2014 but has proven to be very effective.

In some instances, surgery is required if the OSA is very severe and possibly life threatening. In other cases, where OSA is very, very mild, taking a nasal decongestant before bed or just sleeping on your side rather than your back can provide relief.  Losing weight is a part of some treatment plans as well. I’ve heard from many ladies who we’ve featured about how their sleep apnea was lessened after losing pounds. Don’t try to self diagnose. Talk to a doctor or specialist about your specific condition and the options that will work for you.

Resources on OSA:

Mayo Clinic OSA Basics

American Sleep Apnea Association OSA Test

Tammy lost 47 pounds

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Update Dec 2015 – Tammy wrote in to let us know that she’s lost 29 more pounds since April for a total of 76 pounds gone.

Just wanted to give an update on my journey. I have finally made my goal weight. Now, I’m just working on tightening and toning my body. It’s hard to lose and maintain weight, but I have made it to 171 pounds and I am happy here. I just need to continue to eat right and exercise on a regular basis. Your blog really helps a lot of women including me. Keep up the great work.

tammy before and after

April 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tammy lost 47 pounds. She was determined to lose the weight before her 40th birthday.  She shared her before and after photos and some notes from her story with us.

tammy before and after

My name is Tammy and I have been battling my weight all my life. I was determined that I was not going into my 40th birthday overweight. Smaller portions, walking and no more late eating is how I started this journey. I have a ways to go until I reach my goal but I know I can make it. One day at a time.

What was your motivation?
I was motivated by not wanting to turn 40 years old and be overweight. I also suffer from high blood pressure and very much wanted to resolve that for myself. I’ve dealt with my weight all of my life and when I started to have health issues I knew that I didn’t want to be overweight any longer.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started eating smaller portions, walking regulary and cut out eating late. I went to a nutritionist for a few months to help get eating habits together.

What did your workout routines look like?
I began my journey by walking for 30 minutes a day. Now I am working out 3 to 4 times a week and I really enjoy it.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
247 pounds was my starting weight. I am currently 200 pounds and still going.  My height is 5’3″.

How long did your transformation take?
I started in September of 2014.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
You have to start somewhere. Nothing is easy or overnight.

Instagram: @BABYGIRL976

 

Sharon lost 113 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Sharon lost 113 pounds, down from 308 lbs at 5’4″.  After a wakeup call at the doctor’s office, she wanted to avoid any serious weight-related illnesses and live a healthy lifestyle. She shared with us about what steps she’s taken to change her life.

Sharon weight loss story

I began my weight loss journey after going for a routine check up, learning that I weighed 308 lbs and being categorized as “morbidly obese”! I cried like a baby! At 5’4″ tall and suffering from pain in my back and knees, I knew that I needed to do something. There was also the fact that my weight made me a candidate for health issues such as hypertension, high cholesterol and heart disease.

In April of 2013, I begin to change my eating habits and incorporate exercise in my life. My doctor also provided me with a 1200 calorie eating plan that was very helpful. As of today, I weigh 195 pounds. I haven’t seen a number like that in over 25 yrs! I’ll be celebrating my 49th birthday next month and am in the BEST shape I’ve been in since high school (1984 graduate!!!) I continue to eat healthy, which for me is mostly proteins, fruits, veggies, and lots of water. I exercise regularly, whether I’m doing workouts at home or in the office, or going to the gym. I also make sure that I also get plenty of rest.

My goal is to get to 185 pounds, as well as tone my muscles. I know that this is a life long journey. As long as I continue to do the work, as well as with the support and encouragement I’ve received, I will reach my goal!

sharon before and after

Lorna lost 106 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Lorna lost 106 pounds in 6 months.  Motivated by a diabetes diagnosis and wanting to live a long life for her child, Lorna is on a journey to lose over 200 pounds total.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey…

lorna before and after

My weight loss journey started on August 2014. I was diagnosed with diabetes and it really scared me. I’m a 38 year old mom of a 8 year old and I wasn’t going to allow food to separate me from my daughter early. My starting weight was 461 pounds.

I started walking about a mile a day and eventually made it to 4-5 miles a day with the help of my sister, friends and family. Also, I just started doing Zumba twice a week.  I stopped eating fast food! My daughter and I still eat out but only at places that have fresh food, like Subway, Waba Grill, El Polo Loco, etc. I still watch my portion sizes, and get kids meals.

To date, I have lost 106 pounds in 6 months with healthy eating and exercising 5 to 6 days a week. I’m not at my goal which is 235 pounds (don’t want to be skinny just healthy). My diabetes and high blood pressure are now reversed and that is best part.

I also joined a phenomenal support group of women on Facebook that want to lose 100 lbs in 2015. Several of the women already have lost that much weight before joining the group in January 2015. I love reading your stories on Facebook as well and I have found so many women to relate to. It truly is a blessing to the black weight loss community.

Instagram: @Sassybosslady726

lorna weight loss

Shayla lost 57 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Shayla lost 57 pounds since July 2014.  Not wanting to face a family history of illness, she decided to change her lifestyle.  She shared with us about how much she gained as a person and how much her life has changed during her weight loss journey.

shayla before and after

A few things contributed and are contributing to keep me motivated to lose weight. My father had a kidney transplant, has diabetes and high blood pressure. With me being 312 pounds at the time with no health issues, other than my weight, I did not want to acquire any illnesses. I knew I was overweight, but I didn’t know or didn’t want to admit that I was over 300 pounds. My fathers health concerns turned a light on for me.

My inspiration comes from with in. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s an honest truth. My progress continually pushes me. Not just seeing the number go down in the scale, but not being winded going up a flight of stairs, or walking small small distances. Being able to get into clothes I haven’t been able to fit into on over five years and them being too big. That feeling is Amazing.

shaylaI changed my eating habits by making sure I ate breakfast. That truly sets the tone for my appetite and how I eat for the day. I eat healthier snacks. However, I’m not so far gone that I don’t get a hankering for chips, or chocolate or something deep fried. I’ve just taught myself how to eat those things and not to eat the entire bag of chips or bucket of chicken. If I want that crunchy, salty fix, I would try for a better alternative, like kale chips or fresh veggies in a light Italian or balsamic dressing. If I Have to have a chip I would make sure I’d get a serving or half a serving of them. Put the chips on a sandwich bag, and when they are gone, their gone. For my chocolate fixes, I would have a chocolate protein shake made with dark chocolate almond milk. DELISH!!! For my day to day meals. I make sure I eat plenty of green veggies and proteins. I minimize my carb intake, but I’m not eliminating them completely. WATER, WATER, WATER!!! Drink it!!

When I started working out on July 1st I started with Curves. I ended up there by unknowingly signing up for a case study. I was obligated to work out 4 days a week for 30 minutes a day. I coupled that with my regular gym membership that I had been on hiatus from for who knows how long . I would go to the gym in the morning and do 35 minutes on the elliptical and weights. I would alternate the days between upper body and lowers body. Then I would do the 30 minute circuit training with Curves. If I didn’t make the gym, I made sure I walked for at least 30 minutes. After my 30 day case study with Curves ended, I had lost 16 pounds. I was still very active at the gym, but spending more time on the elliptical. Each week to two weeks, I did five more minutes than before and added a little more weight.

My starting weight was 312 pounds. As of today I weight 255 pounds. I am 5’10” tall. I lost 45 pounds between July 1, 2014 – November 1,2014. I did take a small break for about four weeks (that long of a break is not recommended ). I will never take that long of a break again.

My advise is to never stop!!! Don’t get overly discouraged, don’t lose hope, inspiration or motivation. KEEP PUSHING. We all get tired and frustrated because it may seem your work and effort don’t reflect on the scale. I assure you, you will be amazed at what you gain. You gain stamina, flexibility, courage, discipline and a better sense of self. It’s a true confidence builder. I did it alone. No quick pills, shakes or gimmicks. Nothing can give you the feeling or honor of knowing you worked your ass off, and accomplished something so difficult, by yourself.

Update: Erica lost over 60 pounds and kept it off

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Update: Erica lost over 60 pounds and has maintained her weight loss.  She is now a figure competitor and lifestyle coach helping others to live fit and healthy lives.  We featured her story last year and now she’s given us an update…

Erica before and after

I was 150lbs (Height: 5’2″) for a very long time until I had a terrible ankle injury; this injury resulted in 5 screws and 1 plate. During recovery time, I gained approximately 25lbs. I was in physical therapy for 6 months and it took me almost 8 months to walk again without any assistance. My Orthopedic Surgeon explained to me that I may not be able to participate in any strenuous activities for the rest of my life, because how bad the bones were broken in the ankle. That was my wakeup call! I knew I needed to take control of my life; I started to eat healthier and work out like a mad woman! My weight loss journey began in June 2010 at 174 pounds.

I returned for my 2 year orthopedic checkup on Jan 2011: 45 lbs lighter, ran a half marathon (13.1 miles), and completed multiple Beachbody fitness programs. I successfully achieved final goal weight of 114lbs in May 2012!

I have always been pretty active, but I had a lot of work to do to improve my eating habits. MyFitnessPal was a great tool for me at the beginning of my journey in tracking foods I was consuming throughout the day. The first month of logging foods really shocked me. I didn’t know I consumed so many carbs and sugar components. I started researching ideas on how to eat better without completely omitting things I love: cake/pizza/breads. For example, home-made pizzas loaded with veggies instead of meats, soda cakes topped with fresh berries and whipped cream. I had to tweak recipes and minimize portion sizes, but overall I didn’t take away too many items and I didn’t deprive. In addition, planning was a key factor in my success. I planned every meal for the week and documented my progress. I left little room for errors or excuses.

As I learned how to control portion sizes and balance ALL nutritional components, I began to be less scrutinizing on planning meals. The biggest nutrition trick which helped me turn my body into a fat-burning furnace was eating every 2 hours totaling to 6 small meals a day. My body is still trained like this even while maintaining current weight. I never let my body get hungry.

Recently, I began training for my first bodybuilding bikini competition. It took me 6 months to take my body from “skinny fat” phase to a sculpted stage-ready body. After competing in competition and placing 2nd Place in both novice and open bikini classes, I decided to do another show 3 weeks later! I also placed 2nd in open bikini class during the Nov 1st 2014 SNBF body Competition. In 2015, I am stepping my game up; adding 15lbs of lean mass to compete as a Figure Competitor. My aspiration is to become a Pro Figure Athlete with SNBF then move on to compete in NPC shows. Long-term goal is to become IFBB Pro Figure Athlete. I have a lot of work to do and I am ready for the challenge!!

In the past, I worked in corporate life as a Purchasing Agent in Supply Chain. I was miserable and all I thought about was how I can help “Attack Obesity One Person and One Household at a Time”. In Feb 2013, I created a Facebook Group page to help others achieve their health and fitness goals using some of the very same principles I’ve used in my journey. This group started off with 39 people and as of Jan 2015 there are over 4000 followers on my fan page. I share daily tips, tricks, and monthly MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT challenges. I live, breathe, and think about nutrition and fitness.

In Jan 2014, I resigned from corporate life to pursue my passion on a full-time basis. I am so glad I experienced that ankle injury because it allowed me to find myself in many ways. I didn’t know how ambitious I was until I lost the weight and also this path has allowed me to meet so many people so that I can help them achieve their goals and be Fit4Lifel!!!

IG: @erica_stepteau
FB: EricaStepteaufitness

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

Tasha lost 47 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tasha lost 47 pounds. She believes that it’s important to change your lifestyle to be healthier, not just to look better. Check out what she shared with us about embracing healthy eating and exercise…

tasha before and after

What motivated me to lose weight was that I didn’t want to see myself going through what my aunt has been going through with her obesity. I didn’t want to have any weight loss surgery, because I wanted to lose the weight myself. My inspiration is the men and women I see when on groups like Black Women Losing Weight. Their transformations are incredible and I decided to become my own inspiration.

My eating habits were good and bad. One week, I would eat veggies, protein and drink almond milk and the next week I eat pizza, ice cream and lemonheads. Now, it’s mostly veggies, protein (I love chicken) and almond milk. Now, I can’t eat pizza and ice cream because for some reason I can’t keep it down. I just eased myself from it little by little. I don’t eat fast food. I pack my lunch and I would have slim fast with almond milk and a fruit. I drink Water, water and more water. The bathroom knows me by name…lol. I’m not a sweets person. I’m not into chocolate. I feel if you like a certain unhealthy food, find a healthier substitute. Just cutting things you used to eat off totally will cause you to binge out later and I did that a lot.

My workout routine: I mostly walk/jog, I love to dance so I joined a Zumba and Caribbean dance class in my neighborhood. I also do weight training and yoga at home or with my best friend. I love learning new stuff, especially with weights. I’ve joined planet fitness and go about three times a week because of work. If I can’t go, I’ll workout at home for about 30 to 45 mind from the moves I learn from workouts this page and other like it. So, I workout 5 times a week. I do dancing on Mondays and Wednesdays and the gym on Saturday, Sunday and Thursday. My rest days are Tuesdays and Fridays and I will still do moves for my midsection on those days.

My starting weight in the July picture was 345 pounds. My weight at the end of the year is 298 pounds.  I’m 5ft 8in tall. I don’t think I’ve transformed yet because my body is still under construction. My advice to others is be sure you wanna change your lifestyle for better health, not to just look good. Do it for yourself, be your own inspiration.

Instagram: @kindgirlinthehalls

Tasha dec jan progress
Lost another 5 pounds and 4 more inches. I don’t see it, but the cute guy at the gym does. lol. Happy face

 

Quon lost 101 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Quon lost 101 pounds in 9 months.  After having a wakeup call via a workplace video, she decided that it was time to change her lifestyle with healthy eating and exercise.  Learn more about her weight loss journey…

Quon before and after

Hello, my name is Quon Cason. I am a 39 year old mother of two and my motivation for losing weight was to become healthy and to prevent obesity related illnesses. Even more importantly, I wanted to feel good about my myself. What initially jumpstarted my journey was when a co-worker filmed me at a company event. I watched the video and I was flabbergasted when I saw how out of control my weight had gotten. Yes, I knew I was overweight. However, to see myself in the video and not recognize that woman and realize how out of control I had gotten FLOORED ME!

From that day forward, I went cold turkey on eating junk food like processed foods, soda, fast food and all the other crap I loved and was clearly addicted to. I started juicing, eating clean and working out at least 4 days a week. My workouts consist of cardio, strength training and HIIT (high intensity interval training). My starting weight was 297 pounds and my current weight is 196 pounds. I would like to lose 10 to 15 more pounds.

I have so much more energy, and when people see me their reaction is priceless. The best response is when I am not recognized at all. I must admit that I am proud of myself for sticking to my plan and accomplishing my initial goal of 100 lbs gone in 9 months!! I hope to inspire others. I am the walking billboard for “If I can do it, so can you”, because Lord knows I have failed so many times before.

Quon weight loss story