Black Weight Loss Success

The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.

Join Our Email List:
We respect your email privacy
You are here: Home / Archives for overweight

overweight

Shela lost 115 pounds

by 2 Comments

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Shela lost 115 pounds. Not only did she lose the weight, but this proud mom has kept the weight off for 8 years.  We applaud her for taking action to change her lifestyle. Here is what she shared with us…

shela before and after

After having my son in 2004, I gained over 100 pounds. I went from being this skinny little thing at the height of 5’5″ tall to weighing 315 pounds. In 2007, I was going through a divorce and didn’t realize I just wasn’t myself. Also, one day my son asked me to go down the slide with him while, we were playing in the park and I could not do that.

So, at the beginning of 2007, I decided to join LA Fitness. I changed my way of eating. I stopped drinking soda by replacing it with a lot of water. I also started to eat a lot of vegetables like kale, spinach, dandelion, broccoli and carrots. In the morning, before breakfast, I would hit the gym and do cardio for 30 minutes and lifting weight for 45 minutes. I would go to the gym six days a week. Afterward, my breakfast included wheat oatmeal with flaxseed. Two hours later I’d have mixed nuts or yogurt and then a salad and salmon for lunch. My dinner included vegetables, bake sweet potatoes and chicken. Keep in mind that I did not eat past 7 PM.

In 11 months, I lost a total of 115 pounds by changing the way I ate and doing a lot of exercising (Down 160 lbs from a high of 315 lbs with pregnancy weight). That brought my weight down to 155 pounds. 8 years later, I still managed to keep the weight off by staying committed to exercising and eating right. This is NOT a diet, but it is a life-changing event for me. Guess what? I did it without any PILLS or SURGERY.

shela weight loss
In the first before and after pictures, I’m at my biggest, 315 pounds. However this picture is around 260 pounds.

Monique lost 41 pounds

by 1 Comment

Update 2016: It’s been a little over a year since we shared Monique’s story. She’s not only stayed on track but she’s lost 10 more pounds and gained lean muscle. Check out her update.

“I’m down to 169 pounds, but I’ve basically stopped looking at the scale since I’ve began stacking on muscle. Although the scale has not changed much, those inches are definitely still coming off. Here is my before and my updated progress photo. I pray to continue inspiring women to be the best version of themselves that they can!” – @mosfitness.journey

monique weight loss

Aug 2015 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Monique lost 41 pounds this year. After the results of a doctor’s visit revealed that she was facing high cholesterol, rising blood pressure and pre-diabetes, she knew that she had to take action.  Being a researcher by training, she took the time to figure out what would work for her in terms of eating and exercise.  Her hard work has certainly paid off.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

monique before and after

After visiting my primary care physician last year for a physical, she went over the numbers from my blood work, as well as my overall health score. My cholesterol numbers were creeping up, my blood pressure was through the roof, and she told me that I was borderline diabetic. The most ridiculous diagnosis that was on the paperwork she handed me was that one of my chronic conditions was “obesity”. I sat in my car and cried. I remember growing up with family members who had Ziploc bags full of medications to get them through a day. I refused to allow my inability to commit to lifestyle changes cause me to poison my body with meds for the rest of my life.

My motivation became wanting to see a healthier me, to come off of my hypertension medication and most of all create a positive lifestyle that my three daughters could emulate. Also, many of the people I started my original journey with (I started and stopped tons of times over the last 5 years) were hitting their goals and looking fabulous, whileI was still stuck in a size 18/16 and still running from cameras and refusing to buy clothes. After my physical I thought to myself; “I could’ve hit my goal 10 times by now if I would just stick with it!” The success of others inspired me to make the necessary changes and to push past my comfort zones.

I changed how I ate very slowly. I’m a researcher by training so I utilized my gift to do some much needed research before embarking on my journey. I listed out what foods I needed to eliminate, to add in, and those I needed to modify. It was a painstaking process but I stuck with it. I removed sugar very slowly as I have a really bad sweet tooth and I didn’t want to binge or rebound. I then removed fried foods, processed foods, sauces, breads, sugary drinks and simple carbs. I added in lean animal protein, complex carbs, sprouted grain breads (Ezekiel), lots of fruits and veggies and tons of water!

In the beginning, I stuck to a Beachbody program that was a hybrid of P90X and TurboFire (to all that are familiar). It gave a good mix of workouts for every part of the body. We have an excellent gym at the college where I work that is free of charge. Each semester they offer 4 weeks of free one on one personal training so I jumped on board with that as well. I had an excellent trainer who also is a student at the college. I took the workouts we did and continued to do them even after the 4 weeks were up. The school’s gym also offers many weekly group fitness classes such as Women on Weights, Belly, Butt, and Thighs (my personal favorite), Fitness Boxing and something called Anything Goes, where pretty much…anything goes!!! I also added on swimming, running and a lot of HIIT workouts from home. After much research, I’ve now been able to create my own workouts which are an excellent mix of HIIT training, cardio, strength training, running, swimming, etc. I change them bi-weekly so that my body does not have time to adapt and at least 2 days a week I do two a days.

I stand at an average height of 5’5”. My starting weight was 220 pounds, wearing a size 18 pant and size 16 dress, depending on the designer. My weight fluctuates on a daily basis but hovers around 179 pounds. I’m currently in a size 12 pant and size 10 dress. So, I’ve lost somewhere around 41 lbs. I no longer using weight as my gauge as there are way too many parameters that affect our weight on a daily/monthly basis. I have moved to using measurements, clothing fit, and how I feel. These three things are much more accurate for measuring progress. My fitness journey began January 2015 and I’m still in progress. My goal size is a 9 as it puts me at a healthy weight and size. However, I’m not against going lower. At this point, it is more about how I feel than how I look.

It has taken me some time to really begin to love myself, every curve, dimple and dip. I use to think I had to look perfect like celebrities and models; but honestly, I had to realize that there is no one perfect body…just my own perfectly imperfect self. My goal is to become a personal and group fitness trainer to help others fight their own battle. I ultimately want to focus on training women over 40 as I’ve realized that it is much harder to lose weight in my 40’s than it ever was in my 20’s and early 30’s!

My advice to others is to not give up! Even on your worst days…don’t give up!! I have been fighting this war for many years and I finally was able to put all the pieces together to be successful. The first thing is to get your mind right, remove stressors and plan…plan…plan. Schedule your workouts like you schedule an appointment and don’t let anything or anyone interrupt that appointment. Plan and prepare all of your meals for the week. The easiest way to derail weight loss is to not have all of the tools in place to help you be successful. Find partners that will hold you accountable as well as workout with you. Also, don’t be afraid of trying new things. There is an endless amount of programs out there that will fit your time constraints as well as your fitness level and preferences. Lastly, run your race. Don’t compare your middle to someone else’s end. Write down and post your goals and make them realistic to what you wish to accomplish on a monthly basis.

Please follow my journey to better health on Instagram @mosfitness.journey. My hope is to inspire as many I can to a better way of life!

Tiffany lost 110 pounds

by 8 Comments

Update May 2016 – Tiffany lost over 100 pounds and has maintained her weight loss long term. This month she appeared on the Dr. Oz show.

tiffany update weight loss

“I just wanted to update you on my progress but first thank you for all of the incredible work you do! You’re dedication to sharing these transformations is amazing! Your page keeps me motivated and accountable to keeping the weight off daily! So encouraging! You shared my weight loss story on your page months back. I got so much encouraging feedback from many of the women who have liked your page. It feels good to be able to inspire and motivate, while at the same time holding myself accountable. I have continued to maintain my weight, even though it has certainly been a challenge. I was, and still am an emotional eater, but through the dedication and daily motivation from pages like yours, I have done it. Since you have shared my story, I have had the honor of sharing my weightloss story in amazing ways! I was on the Today Show in the Joy Fit Club Segment with Joy Bauer. Just recently, I was able to share my story on the Dr. Oz Show (video)! I am so thankful for pages like yours and people like you who inspire and motivate with real life stories!”

Aug 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tiffany lost 110 pounds. After battling her weight for years, she reached a point where enough was enough. She focused on learning all about healthy eating, portion control and exercise.  Now, she is a personal trainer, fitness instructor and author.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

tiffany before and after

I had struggled with my weight my entire life. Once I got married, I weighed about 180 pounds. After about 3 years of marriage my weight skyrocketed to 250 pounds. I think I just started letting myself go. I ate whatever I wanted and was not active at all. I just kept making excuses for myself and ignoring the changes I was seeing in the mirror. I had not weighed myself in years. Then, they built a new fitness center in my community and my husband wanted to join. I joined too, but not because I wanted to. I just didn’t want to be left out of what he was doing. I decided to buy a scale. When I finally had enough courage to step on, I was shocked to see my weight. 250lbs! I was considered morbidly obese. How did this happen? I was mortified, depressed and so disappointed in myself. I decided that day to make a change.

tiffanyI slowly started to work out and instantly cut my calorie intake. After the 1st week I had lost 5 pounds! This was so motivating to me and I just kept going. Little by little I became more determined as I saw more progress. I constantly did research on how to burn calories and eat right. Eventually, I had lost 110 pounds! It took me about 8 months. I was very focused! My weight loss success story was featured in Oxygen Magazine. I wanted to help others who had struggled with their weight as well, so I became a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. I love inspiring others with my story and hope to encourage anyone who feels like they cannot do it.


Tiffany’s Book

I changed my eating habits pretty much immediately. I instantly cut my calories down to about 1,000 a day, which I would not recommend. This was before I had done any research. Now, I would say only go down to about 1200 per day. Never the less, I got educated about the calories in food. I had never payed any attention to that before. I downloaded the MyFitnessPal App and literally logged my calories everyday! Every morsel of food was accounted for. When I look back on how I used to eat before my change, I realized I was consuming about 4,000 calories per day. No wonder I was overweight. The main trick that I learned was calories in, calories, out. I found out that as long as I burned more calories than I ate, I could still lose weight and eat whatever I wanted in the proper proportions. I learned all about serving sizes, ate about 1200 calories per day and had 1 cheat meal per week. When I hit a plateau, I actually took my calories up to about 1500 per day, and was able to continue losing. My go to fitness product now is definitely the Fit Bit! It helps me stay on track with calories I’ve burned per day and I still log my food in the app!

www.100lbslater.com

Twitter: @100lbslater

IG: @100lbslaterdotcom

tiffany weight loss

Patrice lost 103 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Patrice lost 103 pounds. After dealing with pain and depression that she faced due to the loss of a child and sexual violence in her past, this strong mom has risen up and changed her life.  We are so happy that she shared her story with us…

patrice before and after

I started out at 279 pounds. I had the early signs of diabetes, amongst other health issues. Now, I weigh 176 pounds. Today, I eat cleaner, use My Fitness Pal for accountability, work out regularly, and drink plenty of water. I started this journey to become healthier for my kids. The weight loss was a pleasant side effect.

I struggled with depression that stemmed from rape, molestation and the loss a child. I wasn’t a big eater, but I ate the wrong things and drank too much. I made no effort to live a healthy lifestyle. After finding peace with my past, I learned to appreciate what I had. I couldn’t fathom being taken away from my kids. I’m all that they have. So, after struggling with the complications of obesity, I prayed for the strength to be a better example for my kids. After trying fad diets, I decided to focus and learn how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Now, I use My Fitness Pal to monitor and record what I eat. My daily goal is less than 20 grams of carbs, 1100 calories, and 60 – 80 grams of protein.  I work out 3-4 times /week. I alternate between some Julian Michaels’s workout DVDs, Black Women Workout Too DVDs, and cardio/weight training at the gym.

My advice: Many of times, being overweight is only a symptom of the true problem. Tackle that problem first and then correct the symptom. For me, I was harboring old emotions. Once I learned to deal with those, I changed my lifestyle and the weight just came off. Be persistent, and do it one decision, one meal and one pound at a time.

Instagram: @PearliClark

patrice weight loss

Can Diabetes Hinder Weight Loss?

by 1 Comment

diabetes weight lossIn America alone, roughly 30 million people have diabetes according to a 2014 CDC report. That estimate includes diagnosed or not. Did you know that it’s estimated that 30% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed? Diabetes is a terrible disease that claims close to 3.5 million lives every based on United Nations Health Agency statistics. It’s also a disease on the rise, especially among young people. Needless to say, diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be addressed.

While many conditions such as blurry vision, numbness and excessive fatigue are symptoms of both types of diabetes (type 1 and 2), there is one particular health concern that has been tied to diabetes. Obesity.

Which Came First?

Does obesity cause diabetes? Does diabetes cause obesity?

According to a news story featured in Harvard Gazette, around 30% of people who are overweight or obese have some type of diabetes and 85% of diabetics are overweight or obese. Obesity numbers are rising along with diabetes numbers.

Figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that we live in a nation where skinny and normal-weight people are actually in the minority. A third of us are overweight, and another third are so overweight we’re obese. Government figures show obesity rates rising steadily from roughly 13 percent in the 1960s to 34 percent in 2007-2008, with numbers flattening out in recent years.

Diabetes cases have risen along with obesity, with prevalence doubling in the past 20 years. Today, 11 percent of adults over age 20 are diabetic, and HSPH Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology Frank Hu said he expects the numbers to keep rising.

While not all diabetics are overweight and the majority of people who are overweight aren’t diabetic, there is obviously a case to be made that obesity could be a serious risk factor. [Just an aside: I also want to be sure to note that rapid weight loss can be a symptom of diabetes, especially at the onset. More info on that.]

Which comes first? This is actually a tricky question to answer because studies still don’t give clear conclusions. Based on most research it is generally agreed upon that while being overweight or obese doesn’t mean you’ll get diabetes, it certainly increase your risk greatly. On the other hand you can be within an ideal weight range for your body and still acquire the disease. If that latter occurs, after getting diabetes for whatever reason (perhaps genetics) you could then start gaining weight because of it.  This has a lot to do with the connection between insulin and fat storage.

Why Does Diabetes Hinder Weight Loss for Some People?

While it isn’t impossible to lose weight if you are diabetic, many people with the disease find it to be very difficult. Here are just a few examples of how diabetes make weight loss more difficult:

  • You Have Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is actually fairly common in people with Type 1 diabetes. Simply put, when your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones hypothyroidism occurs. Common symptoms include fatigue and generally feeling sluggish as well as weight gain. Those with hypothyroidism often have a more difficult time losing weight, which is especially exacerbated if they have diabetes. A change in diet will help but medication may be needed. This is definitely a medical condition that you have to speak with your doctor about for guidance. (more info)

  • You are Stressed

Stress is surprisingly damaging to both mind and body. Too much stress can cause weight gain via the hormone cortisol and make it difficult to lose the weight. Cortisol is released in your body during periods of stress as a means of survival. It can make you feel hungry and even reclusive or sedentary. It is a given that someone with diabetes could easily become stressed. However, many people are dealing with high stress situations in their day to day life these days, from work to family issues. It is extremely important to do things that will relieve stress, like exercising, getting enough sleep and practicing prayer/meditation. You may even want to see a counselor/therapis if you feel like you can’t get your stress under control.

  • You are on Weight Medications that Cause Weight Fluctuations

A side effect of some diabetes-related medications include weight gain. If you suspect this is your problem, research your medications or talk to your doctor. One of the most common ways weight gain is caused by medication occurs when someone injects too much insulin. Medication can also lead people to overeat when they have low blood sugar due to the meds. Always take the correct dosage of medication and keep a journal of how much you eat when you begin taking medication.

  • You are Frequently Hypoglycemic

One of the most common causes of weight loss difficulty associated with diabetes involves hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, which is low blood glucose, is a common side effect of diabetes. What happens in this situation is that your blood sugar drops. Typically, you might eat something sweet to bring it up. However, instead of eating a small amount of food and then checking your blood sugar level again, you may instead overeat which can lead to weight gain over time. Prevent hypoglycemia-induced weight gain by monitoring your blood sugar, eating balanced meals and taking your medication properly.

  • You aren’t Sleeping Well

Sleep is vitally important for overall health yet it’s often ignored. Rarely do people get 8 full hours of restful sleep in a quiet room with no lights. People with diabetes may find it difficult to get enough sleep, especially if they are overweight or obese. This is even worsened if they have a sleeping disorder, like sleep apnea. Ensure that your bedroom is a quiet, relaxing place and try to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Naps during the day may help you if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before.

If you are struggling to lose weight and have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, visit your doctor to learn more about your options. Speaking with a nutritionist or dietician can also be helpful. Seeking help is especially important if you suddenly gain a lot of weight or are working hard at losing weight for a month or two with no success. While diabetes can make weight loss tricky, it is completely doable and necessary for your health.  Many people lose weight while dealing with serious health issues like diabetes, and you can too.

Dianah lost 113 pounds

by 3 Comments

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Dianah lost 113 pounds by making simple, straightforward changes to her diet and exercising regularly, at home and in the gym.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

dianah before and after

I found my motivation to lose weight during a visit to the gym with my cousin. I got on a scale there and saw how much I weighed. I really was embarrassed and I wanted to change that number. I started out on my journey by cutting out junk food, soda pop, chips, etc. I also stopped eating meat eventually. My meals started to include more veggies and whole grains. For my workouts, I rotate between using the Insanity program at home and going to the gym. Cardio and weight training are my go to exercises. I workout four times a week because of work.

I started my weight loss journey on June 2, 2014. My starting weight was 386 pounds and my current weight is 273.6 pounds. I’m 6’0″ tall. Honestly, the scale helped to motivate me. Even when I’d stop looking at it for a week or two, I’ll always lose 2-3 pounds! My advice for people who want to lose weight is, don’t give up on yourself. Your life matters even if you don’t think so!

Instagram: @Prissy.kitty

dianah weight loss

Update: Deborah lost 113 pounds

by 3 Comments

Update: Deborah is still going strong and celebrating her 3 year “Fitversary”.

Update June 2015: When we originally featured Deborah’s story in Sept 2014, she’d lost 80 pounds. She wrote in recently to let us know that she down 33 more pounds for a total of 113 gone.  Check out her new before and after photos.

Deborah weight loss

My name is Deborah Harvin, I’ve lost 113+ pounds on my way to my goal of 120 pounds GONE. I began my journey on 1/24/14. At the time, I weighed 280 pounds (5’8″ tall), was wearing a 3XXL SHIRT and wore size 24, tight pants. Today, I wear a junior’s size small shirt and size 4 pants. I reached half my original size in 7 months, having lost 100 lbs on 12/13/14 (11 days shy of 11 months).

I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Not physically sick but tired, run down and lethargic. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, I attended our Centennial Celebration in D.C., and was uncomfortable at many of the events because of my size and limited, fashionable choices. I’ve carried this extra weight over 25+ years and it got worse after each child, life event, etc. I had no illnesses associated with being obese and I realized that was a blessing. I worked to keep it that way for me and my children.

I’ve been a single mother of 3 for nine years, operate my own business, and have tried everything over the years to lose weight. Seemingly on a perpetual diet. I stumbled across Wiltrina Jones: I Use To Be U on FB  and watched her and her clients for about a year. My thinking was, “Wow, she looks like me, is shaped like me and she did it, so it’s possible. On January 24, 2014, I finally decided to try her customized meal plans. In July 2014, I won IUTBU‘s first $1000, 12 week body transformation contest.

deborah weight lossCustomized meal plans have given me my life back. I eat real food, such as lean meats like chicken breast and seafood. I also buy, cook and enjoy lots of veggies. No shakes, pills, etc on my journey. I have learned to meal prep, use portion control, and understand my body’s signals. This allows me to eat for the body I want.

I work out 5 days a week and began going to the gym about a month into my journey. Once there, immediately began lifting weights because I was fearful of the loose skin. My Coach, Wiltrina, always says,”Keep the weights in your hands”. I do half cardio and half weight lifting during my workout, lifting heavy. Free weights are my go to. No matter what method you use, discipline, prayer, hard work, sweat, a few tears, and focus have to be part of the journey. If I can do it, I believe that anyone can, but you have to get out of your own way!

Instagram: @debduncanharvin
Wiltrina, Deborah’s Trainer: www.iusetobeu.com

Charmaine lost over 170 pounds

by 9 Comments

Charmaine

Update: – Shout out to Charmaine! Check her out on the Dr. Oz show today sharing her story. She’s lost over 220 pounds.

July 2015 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Charmaine lost over 170 pounds. Her wakeup call was not being able to fit into any clothing in plus-sized stores at over 470 lbs. Walking for miles each day and changing her eating habits have been key to her amazing transformation. Here is what she shared with us about how she did it.

charmaine weight loss

I am not yet at my goal weight, but I have lost well over 170 or more pounds. I plan to reach my goal weight by the end of the year. I am doing it the old fashioned way: LOTS of exercise, mainly walking, smaller portions..basically watching everything I eat. It takes a LOT of determination, but I am worth it. I have lost anywhere from 170 lbs to 185 lbs. I don’t know for sure, because I could not find a scale to calculate my weight, when I was my heaviest. I do know that when I first found a scale that captured my weight, it said 473 pounds. That was AFTER I had been dieting for around three months.

My motivation:
I had outgrown all the clothes in the stores. Even a size 32 would not fit. In the before photo below, I had actually lost around 40 or so pounds. Those jeans were a size 32 and when I brought them, I could not fit them. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I am 5’10” tall and can now squeeze into some size 18 jeans if they have a little stretch to them.  Mostly, I am wearing size 20 jeans now and some XL tops. Size 1X fits ok too, depending on how it is cut. No more 4x and 5x for me. Goal wise, I am aiming for a size 12 or 14.

What made me change my eating habits:
Health was my main reason for changing in my eating habits. I had and still have high blood pressure and diabetes. Both of these conditions have improved dramatically since the weight loss. Secondly, I felt trapped inside my body. I was about to hit 500 pounds. I was afraid I would die and never get to see what I looked like beneath all the blubber. Thirdly, I had outgrown all of the clothes in the plus sized stores. The day when I brought a size 32-34 jeans and they only came halfway up my thighs, I knew it was time to take action! Otherwise, I would have had to sew sheets together to wear!

How did I change my eating habits?
I have always had a sweet tooth and I was addicted to carbs. I began to cut WAY back on carbs and sweets. I found other alternatives such as yogurt covered raisins, graham crackers, sugar free candy, etc. Cakes, pies, ice cream..those were the norm for me on a DAILY basis. Now, I am almost petrified of that junk, but I do allow myself a cheat day every now and then. On those days, I have something sweet or salty and then I jump right back on track.

I stopped frying food and started broiling, stewing and baking my food. I cut salt almost completely out of my diet. A box of salt lasts me 2 years at home. If I eat bread, it’s one slice or two slices of 40 calorie bread. I don’t eat late. I used to eat a double quarter pounder with cheese at midnight along with a large order of fries and a shake and then go to sleep. I stopped eating pork in 1989 and all but stopped eating red meat as well. The ONLY pork I will have maybe once or twice a year, is pepperoni if I have pizza. I love tuna, egg whites, lots of vegetables and fruit occasionally because I am diabetic. Portion control is the main thing. I only eat a little bit of this and that. It is hard, because the “old me” still loves macaroni and cheese, but if I do indulge, believe me, it’s just a bite or two. I am strict about that.

What did you have to stop eating?
I stopped eating white bread also and cut back drastically on carbs. I used to eat French fries EVERY day. Now it’s once every three or four months, and I only have a few. I poach my fish now, instead of frying it. I have all but cut out fast food places and carry outs. I try to cook at home as much as possible. Ice cream has been replaced with yogurt or low fat frozen yogurt. With cakes and pies, if I splurge I buy a single slice, instead of bringing the whole thing home. If I buy chips, they are no-salt or baked and I count out ten or so. I eat vegetables ever day or my life now and love making vegetable and fruit smoothies at home.

My workout routine:
WALKING! I walk at LEAST 2-3 miles per day. At one time, I was walking 4 miles per day. It does the trick. I keep my sneakers on. I also do aerobics sometimes. A show that came on years ago called the 20 Minute Workout, is my favorite. The transmission on m car died 2 years ago and that was the best thing that ever happened to me.

My weight:
Right now, I am right at the 300 pound mark and headed for 220 pounds. For my height, that will look like 140 pounds. At my heaviest, I was between 473 lbs and 500 lbs. My transformation has been gradual, with the most weight loss happening in the past two years.

My advice for others:
NO piece of cake or slab of ribs is worth dying over. No entire pack of oreos is worth losing your eyesight or limbs to diabetes or being ridiculed when you go in public. I could not use turnstyles in stores or fit on amusement park rides. I had to take taxis everywhere before I brought my first car, because I took up almost two seats on the metro. You simply have to make your mind up. You don’t NEED surgery or weight loss clubs, but they do help. Once you make you make your mind up, you can do ANYTHING. If I can do it, you can do it

Facebook: Charmaine.Dieng
Podcast: Keeping it real with Charmaine

charmaine before and after

Sherri lost 70 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sherri lost 70 pounds. This mom of two gained more than 100 pounds during the span of her pregnancies. After being hospitalized and having surgery for Congestive Heart Failure, she took action to change her life. Here is what she shared with us about losing the weight.

sherri before and after

This journey has not been an easy one and I still have a long way to go.  My name is Sherri.  I am 34 years old and I’m married with two sons.  I have always been a big girl, but after my first son was born I gained almost 100 lbs.  When I became pregnant with my second son, I was 340 lbs.  I gained about forty more pounds during my 2nd pregnancy in 2007.  During my second pregnancy, I started have tightness in my chest, shortness of breath and was diagnosed with asthma.

Soon after my son’s birth, my symptoms worsened. I started to have swelling in my legs, thighs, hands and so on. I could not stand to walk from one end of a table to the next without feeling like I was about to die.  At night I could not lay flat, I had to sit straight up.  In Feb 2008, for my six week check I expressed all this to my OB doctor and he sent me straight to the Emergency Room.  When I arrived at the ER, they performed a MRI.   I had fluid around my heart and my heart was enlarged.  I was diagnosed  with Congestive Heart Failure and sent straight to ICU.  The next day I had a pericardial window procedure.  In the Operating Room, 1 liter of fluid was drained from around my heart.  I remained on ICU for 2 days with a tube in my chest for draining.  I was in the hospital for 2 weeks.

When I was discharged from the hospital, I was almost 40 lbs lighter.  My cardiologist put me on a 1200 calorie and low sodium diet.  I lost over 100 lbs in 5 months (225 lbs in 2008). I slowly lost my motivation and over the next 5 years and gained over half of the weight back back (weighing 316 lbs in 2014.)  As of now, I am trying make a healthy change and have lost 70lbs (height: 5’7″).  Like I said, this journey has not been easy one but I’m determined to get to a weight that is healthy for me.

1200 Calorie Diet: I counted the calories in everything I ate.  For breakfast I would have a 100 cal. Yogurt and some type of fruit. Sometimes I would skip lunch so I could have a pretty good dinner.  Or, I may have eaten some peanut butter crackers or 100 cal popcorn and a fruit. For dinner, I would have some type of baked or grilled meat, salad with low cal low fat Italian dressing, a baked potatoes with pepper and substitute salt with a little butter and sometimes another vegetable.. I could not have a lot of sodium, so I rarely ate any lean cuisines or healthy choice frozen dinners. For exercise, I mainly walked around my yard and rode my exercise bike.

My advice to others, is to never give up.  Yes, it is a struggle but it will be worth it in the end.

My instagram: @lavenderkisses81

sherri Sherri weight loss

Carla lost 60 pounds

by 1 Comment

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Carla lost 60 pounds.  This mom of 3 experienced significant weight gain during her pregnancies, going from a size 5 to a size 16. She found her passion for fitness and now she helps others to change their lives.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

carla weight loss

Prior to having children, I was always active. After my third child I went from a size 5 to a size 16. After having three children my weight increased up to 216 pounds. Being an emotional eater, the weight stayed on for years. Then one day my niece and I decided to start walking. People really underestimate the power of walking, but it works. In addition as I got stronger, I incorporated dance fitness. From there I became an instructor and started teaching classes. Later, I fell in love with indoor cycle. As I became stronger my confidence increased. I continued to mix in different workouts, from TRX Suspension Training to intense weight training. I also got certified to teach TRX and Cycle.  With all of this, I was still eating bad. Once I changed that, I was able to achieve the waist size you see before you.  I currently weigh 156 pounds at 5’5″ tall.

I opened a fitness center, and now I’m currently working on opening an active wear store front. My biggest love is weight training. I love how powerful it makes you feel. It took me a while to get my nutrition on point, but once I did my body transformed in a way I had never seen it do before. I allow my self one re-feed day per week, where I incorporate a cheat meal. It’s all about moderation not starvation. I allow my body two days a week to rest and deeply stretch & meditate with yoga. I just take it one day at a time because there will always be a 216 pound girl inside me. I will always love food, I just moderate it now. I encourage you all to do what works for you. Be active for at least 30-45 minutes each day. If I did it, so can you. It won’t be easy but you can do it.

Instagram: @cyclechic15
Twitter: @bodybycarla
www.hyperydefitness.com

carla before and after