Black Weight Loss Success

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

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Mona lost 120 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Mona lost 120 pounds and her story is one of my absolute favorite success stories.  She threw out all her junk food, became alcohol free, and is now a vegetarian.  She first shared with us back in July 2012 and she has continued to maintain her amazing weight loss.  I asked her to send us an update so that I could feature her on the blog.  She says,

“It has been almost three years since I began my journey in this new life. I still exercise regularly and I love the vegetarian lifestyle. At times I look at old pictures of myself and cannot believe I allowed me to NEGLECT me in such a horrible way. I treated my body like a trash can and tried to cover up my disgust and pain with liquor and more food. But I decided that I needed to respect myself by way of changing the way I live, the way I think, even the way I love. Now I am alcohol free, meat free, sugar free, fat free, and foolishness free and could not be happier.”

Back in July she wrote us to say…

“In the spring of 2010 I hit the bottom-out trifecta, I crashed physically, mentally, and spiritually at the same time. And it was at this time that I decided to change the way I lived my life which involved changing the way I defined food and how I determined my self worth. Immediately after I said out loud that I was not going to live another day in that body, I got on the treadmill and I could not complete 5 minutes, but I got back on it the first thing the next morning. I cleaned out my pantry, throwing away all of the cream filled snack cakes, cookies, buttery crackers, pop tarts, potato chips, candy, etc and I replace them with fresh fruit. I got rid of all the high calorie frozen entrees, ice cream, etc. My new diet consisted of fresh fruit, vegetables, baked poultry and seafood, and whole grain foods. Plus, I eliminated fast foods, fried foods, and later alcohol (18 months sober). In the beginning I exercised twice a day which was mostly at least on hour of cardio. After about 6 months, I went to the gym twice a day 3 days a week and once a day the remaining days. A year later I reduced my workout to once a day, but I integrated weight training. Today I am a sober vegetarian that exercises everyday for at least 45 minutes to an hour.”

Mona weight loss

LaTasha lost 54 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: LaTasha lost 54 pounds by working out and using Weight Watchers.  She wrote us to say…

“Here is my story: I decided to embark on a healthy living journey back in 2011. I make better eating choices (using Weight Watchers) and I work out 5 times a week. I knew dieting wasn’t for me because I needed life long changes. Below is my pic of progress. Although my weight is fluctuating now because I am toning more, I have lost 54 lbs!

I had to make a lifestyle change. Why? I went to get a physical and the doctor was seriously SHOCKED that I didn’t have any illnesses…no diabetes, high blood pressure, nothing. I’ve seen what these illnesses have done to my family. There is too much in life I can’t control, eating better…I can control that.

I decided to research some healthier options of living (notice I didn’t say DIET). I stumbled upon Weight Watchers…a program where I can eat the same foods I always ate, but in better portions and better contents within. This journey I have been on has changed my life. It really is a mental shift. You see, dieting…doing temporary things to lose weight can lead to temporary results, but eating healthier, making a true lifestyle change is where the longevity of weight loss resides.

So what do I do? I go to the gym 5 days a week for at least an hour and I stick to the plan of Weight Watchers. I eat between 5-6 times a day, small portion meals. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2-3 small snacks in between. What is important to remember is if you starve your body, only eating a couple of times of day, your body will hold on to the food thus making it more difficult to lose. But eating more often (quality meals:fruit, veggies, protein, etc.), your body will learn to release that food essentially building your metabolism a bit. I have now lost 54lbs since I began my journey…and counting!!!!

Latasha weight loss

 

 

Tasha lost 60 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Tasha lost 60 pounds by running and learning to “eat to live instead of living to eat”.

Here is what Tasha shared with us:

“I started on December 27, 2011. I was tired all the time and I wanted to be able to walk a flight of stairs without losing my breath. On 12/27/11, I weighed in at 240 lbs. Today I weigh 180 lbs. I lost the weight by changing my relationship with food. I stopped looking at for for comfort or pleasure. Instead I looked at as a means of survival. I basically learned to eat to live instead of living to eat. This doesn’t mean I didn’t fall off the wagon. I learned that when I fell off, I had to suck it up and get back on. I also started going to the gym daily. My goal has always been to be a runner. I ran my first 5k in August and I will run another in January. I work everyday to keep the weight off and to lose more weight because my journey is not over. My ultimate goal is to run a marathon. Your Facebook page has given me so much encouragement. Whenever I thought I couldn’t do it, I looked at the pictures of the women who did. Thank you.”

Tasha weight loss

Connie lost 120 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Connie lost 120 pounds.  She said,

“I started out with changing my eating habits (I stopped eating late night and no after hours snacking). Lowering my portions and changing what I ate. Then I started walking daily and now I run 3-4 times a week (3-4 miles) and the elliptical machine.  It took me two years to get the weight off and I’ve kept it off for almost 3 years now.”

Connie weight loss

Donesha lost 59 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Donesha lost 59 pounds with the help of a personal trainer.

Donesha weight loss

Here is what she shared with us:

“My name is Donesha Bolden and I am a 33 year old teacher in the Atlanta area and I was asked to share my story with the Black Weight Loss Success Site by one of my high school classmates. I try to post daily inspiration to my friends on Facebook as I am on this journey to a healthy life. My media specialist encouraged me to share my story with the AJC newspaper in Atlanta and they accepted and published my story.

I stated out at 215 pounds in October 2011 and I started working with my trainer as well as doing Insanity within my home. I felt a sense of comfort at home with the insanity program because I could be myself while working out. I lost over 30 pounds doing the 60 day program and my trainer Tissilli Rogers helped me keep everything TIGHT. I have since been working with Tissilli on my goal weight of 160 and I reached that weight in December 2012. I am currently 156 pounds with a total loss of 59 pounds. Tissili wants me to weigh 150 pounds so I am currently working on her goal for me. I go to the gym 5 days a week at 5:00am and run two miles, squats, leg press and abs. I am currently enrolled in Tissilli’s “Show Ready” group where we train at a high level with weights and cardio. That class takes place on Tue/Thur at 6:00 pm. On the weekends I take part in Tissilli’s Tred and Shed class as well as her Buns Buster Class. I have a new found love for running and I am preparing for my first race soon. I realized that it was time to get healthy and that is and always be my goal. I no longer eat for taste I now eat for my health. I can truly say that I am addicted to working out. I pray my story is an inspiration to someone who doesn’t think they can make It happen because with dedication, will power and ambition anything is possible.”

Donesha lost 59 pounds

Laydee lost 35 pounds

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Laydee lost 35 pounds.  She says, “I lost 35lbs by reducing my carbs intake and with plenty of walking.  My starting weight was 258 pounds. My present weight is 223 pounds. I started my weight loss in aug 2012. For breakfast I would have homemade juice, 3 veggies and 1 fruit.  A yogurt. Then, lunch would be my heaviest meal of the day. I would eat my carbs for lunch…plenty of salad.  No soda or store bought juices.  Just water with lemon.  Dinner would consist of chicken, fish or turkey with steamed veggies or salad!! I walked a lot.  Now I’m considering joining a gym.  I need to lose 25 more.”

Laydee weight loss

Curvy Confident & Fit: Trina lost 52 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Trina lost over 52 pounds and has abs for days!  She is the founder of Curvy, Confident and Fit, a great Facebook community for fitness and weight loss.

Trina lost 52 pounds

I asked her to share her weight loss journey with us:

“Hello everyone!! I wanted to share my weight loss story and more with you ladies!!

This before picture is of me two weeks after giving birth to my son by c-section four years ago and my after picture is me after changing my eating habits and working out for the lasts 13 months!!  I started Jan 2012 weighing 230 and reached my goal of 180 Jun 2012. Lost a couple more since but focusing more on inches and toning:-).

I began my journey On January 2, 2012 by the grace of God with a new mind and determination!! I had always been somewhat into fitness but I could never control my eating habits!! Through prayer and God’s strength, He gave me the self-control that I needed and I immeditaley was easily able to cut out all the chips, cake, cookies, sodas, fried and sugary foods, etc and started eating more lean meats only baked, fruits, veggies, whole-grains, legumes, and also I cut out the sodas and juices! I was able to loose 50 pounds and go from my starting weight of 230 to my goal weight of 180 in the first 6 months! Once the weight came off I focus more on the toning. I cut out all the long cardio session and started doing more short intensifed workouts and focus more on toning and shaping my body. I basically use anywhere from 10-30 lbs dumbbells and do exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts, should pressess, dips, etc. Nothing fancy:-) My cardio consist of running and spinning most of the time but always at a high intensity level as well:-) I work my core three days a week and do a variety of exercises like front and side planks, bridges, jackknives, flutter kicks, reverse crunches and the supermans to target the lower back, etc. I can tell you ladies to maintain yor midsection you MUST get your eating habits right at least 90% of the time. There are times when I notice a difference in my midsection, I don’t care how hard I worked for that week, if my eating was really off my stomach was off 🙂 Anyway ladies just wanted to share and let you all know it is possible to get your body back!!

Fabiola lost 93 pounds

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Fabiola lost 93 pounds with the help of weight loss surgery.  Check out her story and a video of her transformation below.Fabiola weight loss

Here are the details of her story:

Im only here to speak the truth and nothing but the truth! In 2009, I started my weight loss journey at 288 pounds. I had the lap band and at the time, had lost 60 pounds in a year. I ended up gaining all the weight back.  It was a struggle everyday.  It was hard to eat dense protein like chicken or turkey bc I would get “stuck”. I found myself eating cookies and starch all the time cause those “slider” foods went down well. I knew that surgery could NEVER fix my food addiction. Before surgery I vowed to give up junk if I could be satisfied with small healthy portions. Unfortunately with the band, I was never truly satisfied with small portions and that’s the truth. I commend those who reached their goals with the band because its NOT easy.

Weight loss surgery is not the easy way out, if it were then real people like me would have never failed the first time around..It is a tool that if used correctly and if it is effective, can help you lose weight!

Luckily for me, I was able to get the band revised to the gastric sleeve in June 2012.. This tool is more effective for ME. My stomach is smaller now and I’m finally able to eat dense protein and stay satisfied like I always wanted! This is the ONLY thing that has worked for ME and I could not have accomplished so much without this tool. I had to make drastic changes such as eliminating carbs sodas and junk from my diet…I concentrate on eating a lot of proteins like chicken, fish, eggs etc. Premiere protein shake from Costco is great! 160cal and 30g protein! Chocolate flavor is the best, had to throw that in! Lol..I work out 6 days a week and do a lot of strength training to avoid sagging skin. I love every minute of my journey and will continue to put an end to obesity.

If you are against weight loss surgery then I truly wish u the best on losing it the natural way, hopefully you will get there soon..But to everybody else who has tried doing it the natural way for years on end and are tired of being in denial and are interested in weight loss surgery, I say live your life for you! Cause at the end of the day, when the lights go off and your buried 6 feet deep, ain’t nobody gonna be there but you. So stop worrying about what others think and live your life the way you want to before it too late. If weight loss surgery is your last option then at least your making a last effort instead of just sitting there and packing on more pounds…Plus If everybody else can be happy, why can’t you?  Be blessed always, Fabiola Apollon”

Kimberly lost 60 pounds

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Today’s featured success story: Kimberly lost 60 pounds post-baby with juicing, Zumba and the Daniel Fast.  Her story is another example that adding more fruits and veggies and cleaning up your diet can lead to rapid results.

Kimberly weight loss feb

Here is what she had to say about her weight loss journey:
“I have lost 60lbs so far. I started out juicing for 3 weeks then began eating salads, fish and fruit. No sugar or starches, only whole grains.  I’m currently on a 21 day fast called the Daniel Fast which is basically  just fruits and veggies. As far as my workout I do Zumba for cardio and resistance workouts with resistance bands.  I also do pushups crunches for my abs.  My journey took about 6 months.
A lot of people have had negative things to say the 1st time I lost weight, well guess what Im doing again!!! The SAME way ..Clean healthy eating and exercising & In That Order. Theses pix are embarrassing but I can care less because I know where God has brought me from.  I only hope to be motivation to someone else! #thatisall #motivated #blessed”

Renate lost 41 pounds

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Another Zumba success story!  Renate lost 41 pounds.  She says:

“Hi BWLW, I’m proud of my accomplishment of losing 41 lbs! I have 70 lbs to go and I’m well on my way! Zumba and protein shakes are helping me a great deal. I struggle with fast food but I’m not as bad as I use to be. The first pic I took in June 2012.  I started my journey on 8/13/12. It has been work and I love it!! Just wanted to share my story because I’m proud of me.”

renate weight loss