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Ashley lost 125 pounds

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Have you ever just looked back on your life and felt pure gratitude? This photo of Andrew and I popped up on my Facebook memories today and I was so full of thanks. Thanks for growth, thanks for life, thanks for my husband who's loved me since I was fifteen years old, thanks for my daughter, thanks for enlightenment, thanks for inspiration, thanks for love, thanks for LIFE! We've come such a long way in five years @rawmuscle. I'm so grateful and excited for more growth, more opportunity, and especially more love. Thanks for being my everything! ETA. This is the last week to sign up for the June workshop! If interested shoot me an email or follow the link in my bio. #rawandradiant #radiantmommy #mondaymotivation #weightloss #rawvegan #washandgo #veganfood #vegankids #veganmom #fitness #fit #momlife #eatclean #healthy #plantfood

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Ashley lost 125 pounds by embracing a Raw Vegan lifestyle. Her husband joined her and he lost 85 pounds by eating a raw, plant-based diet as well. Now, she is sharing her journey with us and inspiring others to consider the plant-based life with ebooks, cleansing programs and coaching on her website, Raw and Radiant.

ashley before and after

About three years ago, I was beginning to look for ways to lose weight yet again. This time it was for my sister’s upcoming wedding and unlike previous attempts to shed the weight, I decided to do what I do best; research. I studied nutrition, human biology, disease, and how these things were related. What I found was absolutely mind-blowing. I found people who were reversing disease, losing weight, and gaining energy by solely eating raw fruit, vegetables, and leafy greens. So, instead of following advice from doctors who were telling me restrict calories, eat meat, and to take a popular weight-loss drug phentermine, I did the exact opposite. I went 100% raw vegan overnight and it changed my life.

ashely and husband weight loss

I ended up losing about 125 pounds in little less than a year. My husband then followed suit about 5 months after I did and lost approximately 85 pounds. Thriving on a plant-based diet. I dived into studying the nutrient make-up of different foods, live food recipes, and so much more. Although I was shedding weight, it became about way more than the size of the pants that kept falling off of me and more about the entire health status of my physical body. The longer I ate living foods and gave up the standard American diet, the more I experienced euphoria, glowing skin, an increased amount of energy. I realized that foods should not be processed, altered, or heated in any way and that nature provides our food in its perfect form ready to eat.

ashley people magazineI follow a raw, plant-based lifestyle so my meals consists mostly of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, smoothies and fresh pressed juices. A typical day for me starts with lemon water followed by a green juice which is loaded with raw vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. For lunch I always eat fruit until I’m satisfied, dinner is usually a really large salad with a lot of different types of vegetables and different green leaves or it could be a raw vegan meal such as zuchinni pasta or raw pizza!

I have been featured on numerous media outlets, including People Magazine’s Half Their Size Issue (2014).

Instagram: @rawandradiant
Facebook: RawandRadiant
rawandradiant.com – Check out Ashley’s 21 Day Radiant Cleanse

Keyrah lost 100 pounds

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Shout out to Keyrah. She is still going strong and spreading the Vegan love. She’s gone from 288 pounds to 161 pounds.

It’s Meatless Motivational Monday💪🏽🌱💕 . 🗣Can I please have your attention for a moment? 🤗 #LongPostAlert . I know that for those people on the fence and not really sure if they’re ready to be Vegan any Little post has the potential to push them closer to this lifestyle or make them dive completely in. With that said I’m here to plant a little seed and I pray it reaches who it is intended for. I was in your shoes. I wanted to be vegan but didn’t know how or if I would be able to. But I had no choice. As a mom or 2 princesses I had to live what I wanted them to learn. I was scared at 288 lbs and suffering daily from migraines which was a symptom of my PTSD, anxiety and depression. I honestly thought I was “stuck” feeling like that. I would have to choose between being scared and sad or being medicated. Both sounded sucky to me. So I decided after lots of sleepless nights googling, stalking vegan accounts, scrolling through IG and FB to put my big girl panties on and just do it! So 🤷🏾‍♀️I did it! On March 1, 2015 I started my plant based lifestyle by detoxing and incorporating daily exercise and meditation. 10 months later I was 100 lbs lighter💪🏽🌱 and I have not taken ANY medication since I started. Because I was able to completely change my thoughts I was able to change my life and how PTSD, anxiety and depression affects me. I’m not living a sad miserable life or on any medication. I now honestly know what if feels like to feel great even when things aren’t “perfect”. But My biggest most noticeable change has been my 127 pound weight loss that I’ve been able to also maintain for 2 years. This has been by far the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and my children. I went from never wanting to go up to my kids school and embarrass them to being the “cool mom” And most requested chaperone🤦🏾‍♀️ I’ve learned to just get through each moment and I’ll never fail. Whether it’s for health or mental conditioning and clarity I encourage you to try a plant based diet🤗🌱 . 🌟💭🌟💭🌟💭🌟💭🌟💭🌟💭🌟💭🌟 #blackvegan #vegan #natural #vegang #weightloss #weightlossstory #weightlossjourney #whatveganseat #transformation #dreadstagram #dreadlocks #fitfam #igfitness

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keyrah vegan weight loss
Update 2016 – Keyrah is now down 100 lbs! Congrats! #Vegan

Aug 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Keyrah lost 76 pounds.  After feeling uncomfortable and self conscious about being overweight, she was determined to change.  Embracing plant-based eating, she was able to break up with unhealthy eating habits and change her lifestyle.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

keyrah before and after

My name is Keyrah and I started my journey on March 1, 2015 at 288 pounds. To be honest, before then my weight was on my mind about 90% of the time. I was always scared someone would take a picture of me and tag me in it. I constantly pulled my pants up or pulled my shirt down. I was extremely uncomfortable and didn’t feel like I was “suppose” to be overweight. In the privacy of my own room I would literally day dream about being fit. I would think about walking around without being self conscious, or being able to tie my shoes without taking a break. Things that are easy for many become hardcore task when you’re overweight.

I was determined to make my life a little easier. The day before I started my weight loss journey I got on my knees and prayed. Now, when I say I prayed I mean I gave everything in me. I asked for willpower, strength and determination. I also cried because I knew I was giving up my “best friend”: processed food. So, I made the decision to be vegan. The first 10 days, I decided to detox eating raw foods (fruits and veggies) and a gallon of water daily. The first 3 days were the hardest, I craved EVERYTHING that I knew I couldn’t eat. By day 4, it was smooth sailing with no turning back. I felt so good! Like seriously, before I started I suffered from migraines and anxiety and I have not experienced ANY migraines or anxiety since then. By day 7, I was starting to understand my body. I wasn’t hungry because when my body was ready to eat I ate, the only difference is that I ate things that fueled my body.

After the detox I continued with a plant based diet, drinking 1 gallon daily and exercising at least 30 min a day which is what is still currently do. I now weigh 212 pounds and I’m 5’9″. That’s 76 lbs gone… Forever! Now, I can jog, run, do a cartwheel (go figure), and I can tie my shoes without getting winded. OMG, I swear this feeling is by far one of the best! I want everyone to know that this is possible without surgery or supplements. You, my friend, can do it too!

I document my journey on Instagram. If you would like to follow you can find me @HeyKeyrah. I really appreciate you reading my story. Now, let’s get moving!

keyrah weight loss story

5 Reasons That a Plant-Based Meals are Perfect for Weight Loss

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plant based mealsThere is a lot of debate over what the optimum human diet is, especially when it comes to weight loss. I am of the belief that there is no perfect plan, no one size fits all plan for losing weight. However, I do think that fad diets promising to help you lose X number of pounds in a week or two should be avoided like the plague.

That being said, you have to be willing to open your mind to the various options out there and use trail and error to find the one that works for you. In recent years, many are finding that vegetarianism or veganism may be the just they key they need for safe and effective weight loss.

A person may have any number of reasons for choosing to eat a plant-based diet. Perhaps they find meat unappetizing, have dairy intolerances or choose to go vegan in an effort to fight against animal cruelty. Many consider a plant-based plan to improve their health by cutting out things like animal fat or trans-fat. If you are someone struggling to lose weight however, here are 5 reasons to strongly consider eating more plant-based meals.

  1. Vegetarian Diets are Higher in Fiber

Vegetables, fruits and especially grains are often quite high in dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble. High fiber foods can make you feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time. Think about the difference in how long you feel satiated when you have a bowl of sugary cereal for breakfast versus having the same size bowl of oatmeal.  Oatmeal and other whole grains will keep you full longer.

One of the primary reasons a plant-based diet is so great for weight-loss is that your meals will be more filling without sacrificing nutrition and taste. A study featured in the Journal of General Internal Medicine supports this theory, with the study’s main researcher claiming that she believes fiber content is the primary reason for better weight loss results.

  1. Vegetables Typically Less Calories Compared to Meats

As you may already know, the key to weight loss is to eat a diet with a caloric deficit in mind- meaning that you eat less calories than you burn. However, you also have to get the right balance of foods in terms of nutrients and vitamins. Vegetables and many fruits are significantly lower in calories than meat and dairy products. It is actually very difficult for the average person to overeat on a plant-based diet since they would have to eat a significantly large portion of vegetables in order to do so.  You also get the benefit of all of the vitamins, nutrients and enzymes in fresh veggies. Keep in mind that sweet fruits can be quite high in carbohydrates and throw off your calorie counting if you forget to count them.  There are many fruits that are full of fiber and have a lower glycemic index, like berries, cherries and apples that make great choices.

  1. Vegetables and Fruit are Naturally More Hydrating

Vegetables and fruit both have higher water content than meat and grains. We all know drinking plenty of water is important for health but your water consumption can also affect your weight loss results. A majority of doctors and authorities in the fitness world will wholeheartedly agree that dehydration slows the metabolism, can cause bloat and all in all negatively affect your weight loss results. The age old rule is that the average woman should be drinking eight 8oz cups of water per day. Eating a plant-based diet can give your body more hydration which in turn boosts your metabolism.

  1. Vegetarian Diets May Be Less Expensive

Expense may not seem like a factor in a diet’s effect on weight loss but it actually can be a very important element of success. Many individuals and families have to be more careful with their money than ever before in these times. Meat, highly processed food and some types of dairy can be quite expensive. A healthy paleo diet, for example, could be quite a bit more expensive than a health vegetarian diet with no organic food. While the price of your food doesn’t exactly affect how much weight you lose, it does affect your ability to stay on track with your diet. A case could be made for almost any popular weight loss plan to be expensive or inexpensive depending on the purchases made, coupling, seasonal purchases, etc.  It is unfair to assume that plant-based eating has to be pricey.

  1. Fruits and Vegetables are Low Energy, Dense Foods

According to the CDC, a vegetarian diet consists of foods that have a low energy density. Low energy may seem like a bad term when it comes to health but it’s actually a huge benefit. Low energy density foods are low in fat but high in fiber. Low energy, dense foods simply provide less energy per calorie. This combination makes plant-based diets perfect for people who are currently sedentary to moderately active and looking to lose weight.

You don’t need to completely switch to 100% vegetarian to obtain all of the weight loss benefits of a plant-based diet. Aiming for 70% vegetables, fruits and grains with 30% meat and dairy may be perfect for you. I encourage you to try eating this way for a week or two and then analyze whether you feel better. Every person’s body is different so don’t be afraid to experiment a bit and see what works for you. (That goes for ALL of the weight loss plans, theories, books, etc. that you hear about.)

REMEMBER: It is always a good idea to consult your doctor or a dietician if you plan to make a drastic change in your diet, particularly if you are severely overweight, diabetic, are nursing, dealing with high blood pressure and have other health conditions.

Sasha lost 40 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sasha lost 40 pounds.  Like so many college freshman woman she gained more than the “Freshman 15”.  She embraced a more plant-based diet and lots of exercise to drop the weight and get healthier.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

sasha before and after

Hey there, Here’s my before and after photo, on the left at 180 pounds and on the right at 140 pounds. My motivation to lose weight came after my freshman year of college. I’m a college girl at Oakwood University and I went from a size 6 to a size 11 in one semester. I had gained 40 lbs (due to excess take out and light night snacks). Initially, I thought I liked the weight gain (I go to school in Alabama and being thick is a thing out here) but then I realized I had no energy to do anything because I was always so tired and out of breath. I knew had to make a change.

That summer, I stuck to a mainly plant and fruit based diet (I’d have meat on occasion.. BBQ, dinners, etc). I also committed to drinking a gallon of water daily. My workouts were simple, but consistent. I exercised 5-6 days out of the week for no less than 30 minutes and during that workout I’d be sweating. I’d do anything that would make me sweat, ranging from running to dancing.

I’m 5’7″ tall so the weight loss was drastic. After 4 months, I was able to lose 30 lbs and I shed an extra 10 with the help of my personal trainer! A balanced diet (one where I eat more than I did at my heaviest weight) has helped me to keep off the pounds.

My advice for anyone trying to lose weight right now is, no matter how small of a step you make, a step in the right direction is still a step. Start small and set realistic goals, OR if you’re like me, start big and set dramatic goals. We are only as limited as we allow our minds to believe. We have power to make positive changes in our lives, utilize it! I have a fitness channel underway on YouTube called, “Sasha George Fit” where I will be sharing fitness and diet tips and regimes I have tried and found true. I have an introduction video up so check it out! I am open to all suggestions. Stay healthy!

Instagram: @sasha_g_i

Q&A: Plant Based Eating Twitter Chat with Tracye McQuirter, MPH

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 Giveaway!!! – We gave  away a signed copy of “By Any Greens Necessary” courtesy of Tracye McQuirter!

Book Winner: Nikki Williams

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!

April Twitter Chat Q&A: On April 16th we hosted a Plant-based Eating Chat on Twitter (hashtag: #BWLW – @blackweightloss) with Special Guest Tracye McQuirter, MPH, Best-Selling Author of By Any Greens Necessary. (@byanygreens).  We wanted to make sure that everyone who couldn’t make it was able to read the content shared, check out the tweets below as a Q&A.

BWLW: Let’s start with the first question of the night – You are a long time Vegan. What led you to adopt a plant-based lifestyle?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: It started with a Dick Gregory lecture in college that traced the path of a hamburger from a cow on a factory farm through the slaughterhouse process to a fast food restaurant to a clogged artery to a heart attack. That lecture led me to read everything I could about veganism, and eventually become vegan about a year later. There were definitely a lot of interesting twists and turns in that year, involving Nairobi, Kenya and Howard University, which I talk about in my book. But that lecture is what started it all. It’s now been about 30 years that I’ve been vegan and about 25 years that I’ve been teaching folks how to go vegan.

BWLW: Dick Gregory is a big inspiration for me. I think it is just amazing and inspiring that you’ve been a Vegan for that long.

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Thanks and yes Dick Gregory is great! His book Cooking w Mother Nature in 1978 is a classic.

BWLW: What are the main benefits to adopting a plant-based diet when it comes to overall health?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Basically, you can make yourself virtually disease-proof and healthy for life.

BWLW: It’s amazing how many health success stories there are from people who’ve gone Vegan or Vegetarian. What are the main benefits to adopting a plant-based diet when it comes to weight loss?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Studies on this have shown that overweight people eating healthy vegan foods typically lose a pound a week, without exercising, but don’t let that keep you from working out! You can lose weight effortlessly because vegan foods are naturally low-fat & high-fiber, so you feel full & satisfied longer & eat less.

BWLW: You can’t out exercise a bad diet. Eating is 70-80% of the equation, if not more IMHO. Plant-Based eating makes sense.

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: LOL! Yes it makes good sense.

BWLW: What advice do you give to people who are interested in eating a plant-based diet? What are the main 3 things to know?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Great question. First, I always encourage people to start by adding better foods to their plate, rather than taking food away. So add more greens, whole grains, fresh fruit, nuts, and beans. Second, add smoothies to your morning routine, using berries, spinach or kale, banana, almond or rice milk, and nuts. Third, swap out animal ingredients for plant ingredients. For example, for butter you can use Earth Balance nondairy butter. And for cheese you can use Daiya nondairy cheese. And almost everyone knows about soy milk, rice milk or almond milk.

BWLW: I love to suggest green smoothies when people are trying Veganism or going Vegetarian. So delicious.

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Yep, I drink them everyday! Another thing I want to add is that folks should relax and enjoy the transition to healthier foods. It’s going to be alright!

BWLW: We hear about all the pros of eating this way, are their any cons (social, digestion, low b-12, etc.)?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Well, Coke, potato chips, Oreo cookies, white rice, and white bread are all vegan, but they’re not healthful. So just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy. You want to focus on a whole foods plant-based diet. As for B-12, as it turns out, neither meat-eaters nor plant-eaters are getting enough B-12, unless they’re eating B-fortified foods or taking a supplement. And folks should know B12 comes from bacteria, not animals.

BWLW: One of the main questions that vegans get is “Where do you get your protein?” Why do you think that is?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: That’s a result of advertising. The meat industry has us believing that meat equals protein. But it doesn’t. Protein is a nutrient that is found in animal foods AND in plant foods, and it’s healthier in plant foods. Here’s why…

Meat also contains unhealthful, artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat which can lead to our major chronic diseases. It’s healthiest to get protein from plant-based foods. It’s also where the animals get theirs.

BWLW: What are your favorite sources of protein and why?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Beans, nuts, fruit, vegetables & tempeh. Here’s a blog post I wrote about 10 sources of plant protein: bit.ly/1PUItmK

BWLW: What is your advice for keeping plant-based eating affordable?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Try to get your staples like brown rice, quinoa, beans, nuts, and spices from the bulk bin. Buy fresh fruit and veggies as much as possible. Things that come in packages are usually more expensive and less healthful.

BWLW: Question from @luv2teach08 What other supplements do you recommend when switching to a plant based diet?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: I recommend that people get tested to see what nutrients they may be low in and eat or supplement accordingly.

BWLW: @Fabulousity89 was asking about fish. What are your thoughts?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: I’d like to refer you to the fish chapter in my book which thoroughly explains why fish is not healthful. bit.ly/1HcZ15s

BWLW: Do we need to work more to encourage Afr-Amer to eat a plant-based diet….OR is it a myth that we don’t embrace this lifestyle?

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: African Americans are actually pioneers in the vegan movement. They’re more than 3 million black vegans and vegetarians. Also, most traditional West African countries from which we came are plant-based, eating more plant foods than animal foods. Check out this recent blog I wrote about it: bit.ly/1Hyv68e

BWLW: Awesome chat. I want to thank our Special Guest Tracye McQuirter, MPH, for sharing her wisdom with us tonight!

Tracye McQuirter, MPH: Thank you so much! I enjoyed it!

————–

Bonus: There were are few questions we didn’t get to during the chat.  Here is that info…

What tips do you have for people who face resistance or ridicule from friends and family?

My advice is to be easy and relaxed and confident in your decision to eat all or more vegan foods. Just ignore the comments or if you feel you must say something, you can just say something like, “I like being healthy, it feels great.” This is part of living life on your own terms and not to please other people. Inspire by example and suggest books and websites if they’d like to learn more.

Many people complain of increased gas and going to the bathroom more when they adopt a plant-based diet. Why is that?

Plant-based foods have fiber, which is essential in a healthy diet. Meat and dairy contain no fiber at all. When you start eating more fiber-rich foods it may take some time for your body to adjust–but it will adjust. But also remember, having gas is completely normal.

What do you say to people who are concerned about not having enough energy with a vegan lifestyle?

Be sure you’re eating a healthy, whole-food, balanced diet with plenty of whole grains, beans, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, eating lots of refined and processed foods, like white rice, white pasta, white bread and high-sugar, high-fat, and low-fiber foods will wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. You also may want to consult with a nutritionist to help you prepare a healthy meal plan.

Kenya lost 95 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Kenya lost 95 pounds.  This single mom is raising 7 children. She embraced plant-based eating and regular exercise.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight release journey…

kenya before and after

In 2013, I was 325 pounds. Now in 2015, I’m down to 230 pounds (height: 5’9″ tall) with hard work and dedication. My journey continues with exercising, clean eating and having smoothies practically all day. My motivation was my seven children. Being a single parent, I wanted to live a long healthy life.

I changed my eating habits by giving up some meats. I don’t eat any red meat or chicken. I wouldn’t say that I’m a vegan, because I do eat fish every now and then. I eat plant-based meals primarily. I eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and if I do eat other carbs that are gluten free.

My exercise routine: I work out with a personal trainer three times a week.

My advice to anyone trying to lose weight is to never give up and take it one day at a time. Also, I would suggest that you change your way of thinking and surround yourself around positive people who will help motivate you into a healthy lifestyle.

Instagram: @mizz_thickemz

April Twitter Chat: Plant-based Eating with Special Guest Tracye McQuirter, MPH, Best-Selling Author of By Any Greens Necessary

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On Thursday, April 16th at 8 pm (EST) BWLW will host a twitter chat on plant-based eating with best-selling author, nutritionist and long-time vegan Tracye McQuirter, MPH. Join us! #BWLW

We will chat about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet, how to get started with this lifestyle and tips on making eating more plant foods work for you. Whether you’re interested in going vegan or just eating more plant-based foods, this will be an enlightening discussion.

Where: www.twitter.com or http://twubs.com/BWLW (You can join us here with or without a Twitter account.)

Chat hashtag: #BWLW

When: Thursday, April 16, 2015, 8pm – 8:45pm Eastern Standard Time

Who: A vegan trailblazer, public health nutritionist, author, lecturer, and 30-year vegan, Tracye McQuirter, MPH, has been named a national food hero who is changing the way America eats for the better by Vegetarian Times, and her national best-seller, By Any Greens Necessary, was the #1 recommended vegan book on The Huffington Post.

Tracye served as program director of the nation’s first federally funded vegan nutrition program, the Vegetarian Society of DC Eat Smart Program, and has been teaching vegan nutrition seminars for more than 25 years.

Tracye also co-founded one of the first vegan web sites 17 years ago, and the first ever vegan website by and for African Americans. She is a national authority on preventing and reversing chronic diseases in African American women using plant-based nutrition, and has been credited in part with increasing the number of African American vegans and vegetarians to nearly 3 million people.

Tracye also served as a policy advisor for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, helping to create the strategy for a groundbreaking lawsuit proving food industry bias in the formation of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

Tracye is passionate about helping people live healthier, happier, lives. She has a master’s degree in public health nutrition from New York University and a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. www.byanygreensnecessary.com

Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link, which means that if you click on the book image and purchase, we may receive compensation as a percentage of the purchase.

Glenda lost 75 pounds

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May 2016 – Glenda is still on a mission. “Still going strong! I’m down to 197 pounds from 323 pounds! I’m determined to make it to my goal! I am still meatless and I workout 5 days a week for one hour, rain or shine.”

glenda before and after

Nov 2015 – Glenda wrote in to let us know that she’s lost 25 more pounds since April. – “Just checking in, lost my 100th pound this week! The journey continues. Thanks to the inspiration and support from you beautiful people. God bless you!”

glenda update weight loss

April 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Glenda lost 75 pounds. She was skeptical about plant-based eating in the past, but has become a believer. She’s not only lost weight, but at 55 years old she’s also off blood pressure, cholesterol and anti-depression medication.  Here is what she shared with us about her transformation…

Glenda before and after

I am so excited about BWLW’s April Challenge! I was a skeptic of the plant-based lifestyle, but have become a believer. I started my weight loss, rather my “healthy life-long lifestyle” in July 2014 after a serious intervention from my daughter. I was in the poorest state of health I’ve ever been in life, both physically and mentally. I had no energy and my blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol were all out of control. I was depressed and on medications to manage that as well, yet I was growing more depressed day by day.

I reached a point where I wanted to try weight loss surgery when I was watching a football game on TV and saw the stats on a lineman flash by. He was 25 years old, 6’5″ tall and weighed 295 pounds. I was 55 years old, 5’1″tall and weighed 320 pounds. Epiphany: there’s a reason for a 25 year old lineman to weigh 295, and since I’m not a player in the NFL why do I, a 55 year old grandma weigh more than a pro baller?

I was hesitant to try surgery because of so many past failed attempts to lose weight. Plus, if I couldn’t figure out what was eating me, I’d never get control over what I was eating. I went into serious prayer to seek the LORD with all of my heart. I wanted to know why this faith-thumpin’ sistah couldn’t trust Him enough to get the victory. So I asked Him, and His quiet response was, “You never gave it to me.” I went back into prayer to search my heart to see what I was holding onto that was preventing me from surrendering my will over food to Him. I found so much anger and unforgiveness buried in my heart. In spite of lip-serviced forgiveness, I still had a storehouse buried inside of my soul. I began to see what unforgiveness was doing to my life and made a choice to forgive all that I could, and asked the LORD to show me how to forgive the things I couldn’t.

My journey began July 2014, all 320 pounds of it. Yay, I said it, Glenda was 320 pounds! I began a “baby-step” approach of being realistic, I didn’t get to 320 overnight, so I wasn’t going to lose it overnight. I set a goal of 1 pound a week, to lose 150 over 3 years. I walk everyday and drink 8 glasses of water a day. I’ve removed refined and fake sugars out of my diet, and removed animal protein. I made up my mind not to get caught up in the “buddy” workouts, I had my “buddies” flake out at workout time in the past. I looked for people who were already doing it. I found a group at work to do step exercise with at our breaks and a 2-3 mile walk after work. I always try to do a 4-6 mile walk on the weekend. There was no magic, just simple, free exercise.

When I went in for my annual physical in December 2014, I’d lost 52 pounds, my cholesterol was normal, my blood pressure was normal, and my blood sugar was normal as well. As a result my doctor took me off of all of the medications I’d been taking since I was managing my weight with a plant-based diet and exercise. I am also off of antidepressants as well! It took this former carnivore a minute to get used to not eating animal protein. I remember watching a movie and saw a cow that was grazing in a field; epiphany… people stand in the butcher’s line to buy prime cuts of protein from an animal that doesn’t eat meat. Uh, hello, protein sources that can give a cow that much muscle mass must be OK.

I wanted to wait until I’d lost my 100th pound to share, but decided to share now. There is so much positive accountability in this group, and as Black Women we need to hold each other accountable to be healthy. We owe it to our families to be the best we can be in order to give them the best. I don’t want my grandchildren spending sunny afternoons pushing me around in a wheelchair because I lost my limbs to disease. They deserve to play in the sun with me on my own two healthy legs. Short story long, as of today I have lost 75 pounds, weighing in at 245 lbs, and can’t wait to get to my goal and spend the rest of my life enjoying the maintenance while encouraging others to take steps toward change. Be blessed!

Sarah lost 47 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation Story: Sarah lost 47 pounds.  This proud mom of 2 faced the pregnancy pounds and won.  She embraced plant-based eating and weight training for great results.  Read more about her weight loss journey…

sarah before and after

My name is Sarah and I’m a 30 year old mum of 2 from the UK. I’ve lost 47 pounds and I’m continuing with strength and weight training to sculpt my body.

I began my transformation 2 years ago after having my daughter, I gained 3 stone (42 pounds) in my pregnancy and weighed over 15 stone (210 pounds) at my heaviest.  I started by eliminating white carbs, swapping them for whole food versions. I started exercising at the gym 3 times a week mostly doing cardio for 1-2 hours and started to lose weight quickly but hated my shape and still suffered with bloating. I had no energy and found myself slipping back into old eating habits of takeaways and white carbs.

When I got pregnant with my son in 2014, I wanted to be much healthier and not gain so much weight. I eliminated all pasta, rice, white potato’s and bread. Instead, I opted for sweet potato, quinoa and whole food wraps alongside fish, chicken breast, beans and lentils. The biggest change came after I had my son 10 months ago and really invested in plant-based nutrition. I started drinking a green smoothie every morning using spinach or kale along with fruit and nut milks.

I started working out with my partner at home who is a personal trainer, 3 times a week doing weight training, body weight exercises like squats and planks which built up my core strength and helped to start shaping my body. I still suffered with bloating, so I completed a 9 day aloe vera cleanse in November of last year and lost another 16 lbs. My bloating has been dramatically reduced. I’ve carried on drinking aloe vera gel and haven’t gained any weight since. I now weigh 11stone 12lbs (166 pounds, height: 5’10”), back to my pre pregnancy weight.

I’d say the most important things in my weight loss journey were my personal training sessions especially the weight training and sticking to plant based foods, especially raw foods like huge salads. I’d recommend anyone wanting to lose weight to ensure they are always properly hydrated. I’d also recommend a cleanse to flush out the toxins that might be hindering your weight loss results, I read somewhere we have about 10 lbs of it just sitting there.

Instagram: @sarah_lovesliving
My partners page, who is also my personal trainer, is @trainlocal_fitness

April 2015 Challenge: Plant-Based and Moving It!

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April Challenge 2015It is time to go Meatless and “Move It” in April! BWLW is challenging you to eat Plant-Based Meals and get your body Moving with our April Exercise Calendar (you’ll find the calendar below).

Plant-Based Eating for 14 Days – 2 Options

  • Commit to eating 1-2 plant-based meals per day.
  • Commit to eating plant-based meals 80-100% of the time for 14 days.
Join us! April Twitter Chat – April 16th 8pm EST: Plant-based Eating with Special Guest Tracye McQuirter, MPH, Best-Selling Author of By Any Greens Necessary  Hashtag: #BWLWLose to Win $ – We are also doing another DietBet for April so make sure that you join us if you need some serious motivation.

dietbet article

 

Health Disclaimer: Do not accept this challenge if it will cause any of your health issues to worsen.  WE don’t advise you to do anything that would negatively affect your health or well being (that means eating, exercise, etc).  That includes food allergies, past injuries, chronic disease, etc.  It’s advised to talk with your regular medical doctor when making drastic diet changes.

Meal Plan: We have a great, Free 4 Week Vegetarian Meal Plan (with recipes and shopping lists) that you can follow or pick and chose from to put together 2 weeks of meals.  However, there is no one size fits all plan for going meatless or one list of recipes that will fill everyone’s needs and tastes.  That’s why I’m sharing links, books, recipes and resources with you this month to help you.  You’ll find the first of those suggestions below.

How can you get started?

  • Cut out meat (animal flesh) and eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts and veggie proteins – It’s up to you if you still eat seafood, eggs or dairy, because some vegetarians do.  Do some research on being a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish), ovotarian (vegetarian who eats eggs) or a lacto-ovotarian (someone who eats dairy and eggs but no meat).
  • Try vegan or vegetarian meals, green smoothies and fresh juice. Open your mind to new foods.
  • Embrace the concept that you can get your protein from veggie and non-meat sources like tofu, beans, nuts, dark leafy greens, veggies, etc.
  • Do your research online to find out if eating this way is something that works for you.  Be proactive and do the work.
  • Supplements: If you are going to go meatless for 2 weeks or more, I suggest taking a Vitamin B12 supplement because this vitamin is not found naturally in plant food.  Many multivitamins have B12.
  • If you find that not eating meat doesn’t agree with you or you feel sick…go back to your regular eating habits. It’s ok.

Read Up! I suggest that you take the time read a book about Plant-Based Eating in April to help you understand this lifestyle. Could eating more plants help you achieve greater wellness and release pounds?

Suggested Reading: Here is some FREE info that will help you this month…

April Exercise Calendar – Download the Printable PDF – Click here for Exercise Instruction Videos for Moves You May Not Be Familiar With.

April Workout Calendar

It’s ok if you can’t get through all of the moves, Do the best you can and make modifications.  One modified Burpee, without the pushup, is better than none. It’s also ok to cut the number of moves in half if you are just a beginner.

How many times should I do the circuit listed for the day?
 Do 1-3 sets of the circuit of exercises listed for the day. If you can’t get thought all the moves, that’s ok. Try your best and do the amount of reps that works for you. The number of rounds you do will depend on your level of fitness. Start of slow and look up the moves online that you aren’t familiar with so that you can see how to do them with good form.  You may also find suggestions online on how to modify the exercise to make it easier for you.

How often should I rest during the workout? Rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute between circuits, but take more time if you need it. Break the exercises up, rest when you need to and go at your own pace. For example, you may need to break 60 jumping jacks into 2 sets of 30 and take a 30 second to 1 minute break in between, that’s fine.

*Exercise Disclaimer: Before starting any exercise program, please consult with your doctor. We cannot be held responsible for any injuries resulting from attempting this exercise routine. Do not participate if you have past or current injuries that could be worsened, are pregnant, have knee issues or are suffering neck and back pain. Don’t forget to stretch before and after working out to avoid injuries.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we may receive compensation as a percentage of the purchase.