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Carla lost 60 pounds

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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

Errolynn lost 73 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Errolynn lost 73 pounds.  This proud mom experienced a lot of weight gain after pregnancy.  She wanted to have more energy, to fit into cute clothes again and be healthier, so she took action.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

errolyn before and after

My starting weight was 270 pounds. I currently weigh 197 pounds and I’m a work in progress. It has taken me about 1 year to lose 73 lbs. My goal weight is under 180 lbs.

I was athletic and I served in the military. After giving birth to my twins, I gained a significant amount of weight. I have always been “thick”, but when I got to a size 22 I was doing too much. I became inspired to lose weight because I was tired of not being able to fit into cute clothes. Also, I wanted to play with my kids and not feel completely worn out. I wanted to be the old me.

After going to my doctor and learning that I had a Vitamin D deficiency, I did a lot a research for natural remedies because I’m not really into taking medicine. I found that vitamin D is fat soluble so if I lost weight my vitamin D levels should go up with exposure to the Sun. I decided not to diet per se, but to change the way I ate.

I do not eat on plates but on small saucers. I stopped drinking soda and only drink water. I do not eat after 8 p.m. It wasn’t really hard for me to change my eating habits because I was still able to eat things that I like to eat but I taught myself proportion…That is the hard part. I try to exercise regularly. I go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week to work out and or play racquetball with my husband. I walk at least 1.5 miles everyday.

My advice would be to eat better. The majority of my weight loss came from a change in my eating habits. I started using the gym to tone. If you eat better you will lose weight. Give up the soda/the carbonated drinks because they are not your friend.  I also suggest only getting on the scale once a day, at the same time of day. Lastly, make small goals so you can see your progress and keep your motivation.

Monique lost 52 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Monique lost 52 pounds. This proud mom’s motivation is avoiding a long family history of illness.  After 2 pregnancies, she knew that she couldn’t blame it all on baby weight and she committed herself to true lifestyle change.  Now, she is running 5k races, lifting weights and eating much healthier.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

monique

My motivation to lose weight was my family. My family has a history of being overweight and having high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, etc. You name it; someone in my family has it or died from it. I wanted to be here for my children for as long as GOD allowed, so I had to do something. After having my daughter in October 2011, I started my first journey. I lost over 30 lbs by competing (and winning) in a weight loss challenge. I was doing great until I got pregnant with my son in October 2013. I gained all of my weight back and then some. It was then that realized that I wasn’t as dedicated as I thought and old habits came back quickly. I decided then that I needed a lifestyle change and not just a short term challenge.

My starting weight was 234 pounds at 5’5” tall. I could blame my weight on my children but I would be lying to myself. I started gaining weight before them and it continued after them. I still have a hard time accepting that I let myself get there. I haven’t always been overweight but I have fluctuated over the past 15 years with my heaviest being close to 250 lbs.

To kick start my new lifestyle, I competed in a weight loss challenge at my job in Dec 2013. Unfortunately, I did not win but it inspired me. I had only lost 19 lbs but I was ready to do it right this time. I changed everything. I cooked food differently and started tracking my calories. I wasn’t a soda drinker but I started drinking even more water. I also added in gym time at least 5 days a week. We have a gym on campus and I started going on my lunch break. I even started to run…Yes run! I used the Couch to 5K app on my phone to begin the process of improving my endurance and speed. I also joined the Run Club and have since participated in 5k events improving my finish time to less than 36 minutes (down from close to an hour). I recently won 3rd place in my age group with a finish time of less than 34 minutes. That was a big accomplishment of for me. I also won the 2014 Lifestyle Change Award from the American Heart Association for my new lifestyle.

As of April, I have loss a total of 52 lbs and now I weigh 182 pounds. I haven’t lost much weight since November of 2014 but I have been working with a personal trainer to help me with strength training and toning up for almost a year. I have seen more loss in inches than weight. I have dropped from a 14-16 pants and 1x-2X shirts to a 6-7 pants and S-M shirts.

My journey has been amazing and I have inspired others; something I never thought would happen. My physical transformation has taken over a year but my mental transformation is still in progress. I still have moments where I look in the mirror and see the old me. It makes me work a little harder because I know that if I have to be consistent and dedicated, I won’t sacrifice my hard work to revert backwards. The advice I would give to anyone wanting to start this journey is to find what works for you and stick to it! Start with what you need to work on the most (bad diet, not moving enough, etc). Once you conquer the hardest part, the rest will be easy. Good luck to all of you.

Instagram: @moe_fit_4_life
Fitbit: https://www.fitbit.com/user/3CLSBP

monique weight loss monique before and after

Mia lost 52 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Mia lost 52 pounds.  After the birth of her 3rd child this proud mom decided that it was time to really commit to losing the weight.  I hope that her story gives hope to moms who’ve had issues losing weight after pregnancy. So many women struggle to get to their pre-baby weight for years and years.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

mia before and after

Upon having my 3rd child, I knew it was time. My motivation was my children. Despite many failed attempts, I pushed myself harder than I did before! I’ve lost 51 pounds since I gave birth June 8th, 2014 and I have a few more pounds to lose to reach my ultimate goal weight. I haven’t been this small in more than 5 years! I couldn’t be more proud of myself because I’m the only one that could change the way that I looked. By eating healthy and exercising off those extra calories, I am doing it! I’m making this time my best time. This has to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

I complained about my weight gain and I tried to lose weight, but I didn’t try hard enough and I always gave up. This time was different. I didn’t just try, I gave it my all. I went from eating sweets all the time, eating pizza, The infamous McDonald’s fries, and so many other fast food restaurant’s food. I felt that my body somewhat craved the greasy foods, but I knew I had to cut them out. I also cut out soda. In the beginning, I cut down from drinking a 20 oz soda every few days to a can. I thought it would satisfy the want that I had for them, but it only made it worse, which in my mind wouldn’t help with the weight loss journey. I decided to go cold turkey away from soda and drink water with my meals and when I felt thirsty. I also began to try eating salads, which I really didn’t enjoy, which also led me to spinach salads that I honestly love.  I would enter into myfitnesspal the ingredients I was making the salad with and kept track that way. I also began to bringing lunches (lean cuisine) to work everyday so I wasn’t tempted to utilize all the fast food restaurants that were there, all because I was hungry. For exercise, I would also workout every other day which helped along with the tracking of my foods to keep the weight Down.

I’m 5’9 1/2″ tall and I went from being 246 pounds (pregnant) to 194  pounds. This is the smallest I’ve been in years. I want to lose a little bit more and through my dedication I know it will happen. My advice to others would be to make this time your best time! Only you can change the way you look, so start today!

mia pregnant weight loss

Ashley lost 146 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Ashley lost 146 pounds.  This mom of 4 got a wakeup call at the doctor’s office after having her youngest child.  She has committed herself to true lifestyle change since Nov 2013 and got great results with exercise and low carb eating.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

ashley weight loss

Hi, I would like to share my story to encourage other women who may be going through struggles in their weight loss journey. My name is Ashley Hutcherson and like many women I struggled with my weight for many years. I am type 2 diabetic. I started my weight loss journey around the end of November 2013 when I got on the scale at my diabetes doctor 2 months after giving birth to my fourth son, Grayson, weighing in at a whopping 330 pounds. For me that was a huge blow! I felt awful about myself and pretty much couldn’t believe it.  When I went in to have my son I was 341 lbs on September 13, 2013. Now here it is the end of November 2013 and I only lost what my son weighed, which was 9 lbs. 11 ounces. I was mortified to say the least.

I began to look at myself in a different light. I even asked my doctor for appetite suppressants and she told me no because she had to see if I really wanted it and was serious about losing the weight. I then started immediately by cutting food back drastically, watching my portions, and cutting out sodas, sweets and bread. I became more aware of what I put in my body. Then I researched about clean eating, began doing that and had awesome results. I also downloaded the Fooducate app. I scanned everything in the store before I purchased it. I wanted to make sure I was eating healthy for sure and not just guessing about the foods I felt were right.

After I got down to 298 around January 20th, I started walking the track and then joined the YMCA. It was there at the YMCA where I got so much structure and discipline. I learned that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% fitness. So, no matter what kind of workout I did, I had to keep the wrong things out of my mouth. That is why I now live a low carb lifestyle. I haven’t had bread in a year, nor soda or juice. Today, I’m weighing in at 184 pounds down from 330 pounds.  I’m trying to get to 180 lbs like my trainer suggested! I tell people when they ask me how I did it that it is truly a Lifestyle change and not something that’s gonna happen overnight! Yet, it will happen. All you have to do is be patient, pray, believe in yourself and know that you are not alone. If I can do it anyone can. Patience is a virtue, so be persistent in your passion and focus on your goals no matter what!

ashley weight loss
ashley lost over 100 pounds

Darla lost 140 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Darla lost 140 pounds.  After gaining a significant amount of pregnancy weight she became depressed and prayed for answers.  Answers came and she’s been rocking with a healthy and fit lifestyle for over 3 years.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

darla before and after

I love your page. You are inspiring me to keep up with my weight loss journey. It took me 3 1/2 years to lose 140 lbs. When the doctors told me to lose the weight or I would have diabetes, I decided that I had to change my lifestyle. So, through healthy eating and exercise I have kept the weight off.

When I started my journey three years ago, I was at a horrible time in my life where I’d gotten real big after having my baby. I gained over 100 lbs and that was the biggest I have ever been in my life. I fell into a deep depression. I prayed to GOD and asked him for help. Then my church announced that they were having Zumba classes and I knew that my prayers were answered.

I changed my eating habits by saying no to bread, pastas, rice and sodas. I ate more fruit, veggies and drank a lot of water. I’ve been doing Zumba for three years now to tighten my body. Also, I now go to a fit camp and Planet Fitness. I workout 5 days a week.

I was 310 pounds and now I weight 170 pounds (my height is 5’4″). I’m not done yet. My advice is to have patience and not rush the weight off. When it comes off slow it stays off. Also, it is called a lifestyle change and not a diet. That’s where people mess up. I encourage everyone who is struggling and tell them that they can do it. It takes a lot willpower but they can conquer their struggles because it is all in the mind. Thank you for letting me tell my story. I hope this helps others!

Darla weight loss

Mindy lost 25 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Mindy lost 25 pounds.  This proud mom has faced a number of challenges and obstacles on her weight loss journey and she has not given up.  She has thrived and is on a mission to be the most healthy mom she can be.  She is still on her journey, but she shared her story with us…

mindy before and after

I am 31 years old, a wife of 7 years and Mom to a beautiful 20 month old girl! Me and my husband tried to have a child for 4 years before I got pregnant. When I got married 7 years ago, I was at my goal weight of 180 pounds and felt like a million bucks! Of course, real life set in and major changes went on in my life after that.

I moved across country from Boston to California and a year after that my mother passed away. I was devastated, fell into a deep depression and gained 50 lbs in less than a year. In 2012, I after being told I may never get pregnant I focused 100% on getting healthy and changing my sedentary lifestyle. I lost 60lbs and joyfully got pregnant! My pregnancy was far from a breeze, going on bed rest at 5 1/2 months due to going into pre-term labor. You can only imagine how much weight I gained (35-40 lbs). I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had to take insulin. Once I delivered, I lost about 20 lbs and felt great then the stress of being a working mom set in and I packed on the pounds putting me at a whopping 255 pounds.

I knew I was overweight but somewhere along the line I lost interest in myself and my health. As a registered nurse you can imagine how disappointed in myself I was. I would set out to lose the extra pounds and be great for a month or so. Then I’d revert back to my old unhealthy ways once I didn’t see results immediately. The moment where I said enough is enough was when I was sitting in the doctors office 16 months postpartum at 255 pounds and was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Fyi: my Mom died from complications of diabetes. I knew then I needed to change my life for good!

I began working out 3 times a week and have since lost 25 pounds. It has been a long hard road and I am nowhere close to the end of my weight loss journey, but I am proud of how far I have come. I still want to loose about 55 lbs and I believe that I can do it. I have become a Beachbody coach because I feel it will help me in my journey and in turn I can help someone else. Losing weight is the most difficult thing I have done but I know the pay off is going to be worth it. My main driving force is my daughter! She deserves a healthy mom and I’m going to give her that! Follow me on Instagram: @fitdva

Rhonda lost 110 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Rhonda lost 110 pounds.  She lost the 55 pounds she gained during pregnancy and an additional 55 pounds on top of that.  Her story should serve as inspiration to anyone who wants to lose lingering baby weight.  Here is what she shared with us…

Rhonda before and after

Hi, My name is Rhonda Jackson. I’m 39 years old and 5’4″ tall. I’ve been battling my weight all my life. I had my baby in March 2014. I’d gone from 225 pounds to 280 pounds at delivery. After I had her, I was the same weight when I went for my 6 week check up and I was not happy. I said to myself, I’m not young anymore and I want to live healthy for my baby. So, on May 1st, 2014 I decided that it was now or never.

I started walking 5 miles a day, and in the cold months I hit the gym. I do hour of cardio and a half hour of weights. I also embraced clean eating. No fast, fried or junk foods for me. I enjoy fruits, salads and poultry.

I currently weigh 170 lbs and I’ve actually lost 110lbs since my journey began. May 1st is my One Year Anniversary. This is my journey and it will always be a struggle. I tell people to do what works for you. I had to find what works for me and that’s when I started to see a difference. I hope and try to inspire others on my IG page @MzzJaxon and Facebook. I think it’s working cause I get a lot of inboxes asking how I did it, which makes me feel good. My journey will continue for the rest of my life. I’ve learned that it’s lifestyle change.

rhonda weight loss

Jul lost 47 pounds

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Update Oct 2019: Jul lost 60 pounds. She initially shared her story with us back in 2015 and she is still going strong.

Jul before and after

God is good! I have maintained my weight since the last update. My greatest tip is water intake. I can not overemphasize drinking water. Also, I like slices of cucumbers mixed with pineapples.

Don’t ever forget to use portion control. I eat a small meal every 3 hours and drink water in-between. Sometimes, I snack on almonds, pears, or green apples.

The advice I can give to my sisters who are struggling with their weight is that losing weight must start with your mind and spirit. It took me years to realize this. You must change your habits and always remember that when your body is hungry, it wants nutrients, NOT calories. – @officialjulzebulon

April 2015  – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jul Zebulon lost 47 pounds.  She experienced weight gain from emotional eating after the loss of her father, followed by pregnancy weight gain.  Her story should serve as inspiration for women facing weight loss after pregnancy.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

jul before and after

Life is a blessing, but sometimes situations hit us very hard and the only option we have is junk food. During my pregnancy, I was eating everything my eyes saw. Dark chocolate, white chocolate, pink chocolate, whatever chocolates…lol. A day without McDonald felt like I was in prison. Then I lost my Dad and everything went from bad to worst. Junk food became my best friend. I went from 165 pounds to 235 pounds very fast. Adding weight can happen very fast but losing it is a bitch. After that, I gave birth to my baby C-section on 12.26.14. I was resting in my hospital bed, still in a horrible pain, I looked at myself and didn’t like what I saw. I made a promise to myself that now the baby is out I had to take care of myself. I didn’t know how it was going to happen but I had to start somewhere.

Few days later I was discharged. I came back home, changed my eating habits and controlled my cravings. I stopped eating bread, white rice, fried plantain, chips,…etc and I eat 3 hours before bedtime. I made healthy food choices like beans, avocados, greens, more fruits, grapefruit, almonds, and more water intake. I don’t have any specific YouTube videos, I just watch any workout video and do some dancing. I also purchased a treadmill, so I normally workout at home like 30-45mins. My favorite form of exercise is dancing, because I sweat and I don’t feel bored. I also joined some groups on Facebook for motivation.

I’m still a work in progress but so far I’m 47 lbs lighter 3 1/2months (height: 5’5″). My goal weight is 160 lbs and I must achieve it before my baby turns 6 months old. 47 pounds in 3 months might sound wired but yes, I did it and it’s true. I’m working my butt off everyday lol.

My advice for those that wants to lose weight: stop procrastinating. If you truly want to lose weight, focus on it. Cut off sodas, bags of chips, pizza etc, and learn how to say NO to junk foods. Don’t say you want to lose weight yet everyday you’re chilling on the couch snacking on the wrong foods. Make a healthy grocery list and always stick to it. When you feel like giving up, always reach out to people that understand your struggle. Being a SEXY mom isn’t only for celebrities. With dedication, commitment, and discipline, you can achieve anything.

jul weight loss

jul zebulon before and after
April 2018: Jul is still going strong.

Update 2017 – We shared Jul’s story a year ago and she’s sent in a great update.  She’s had some ups and downs, but she hasn’t given up. Now, she’s down a total of 60 pounds.

jul before and after

Since the last time you shared my story, I have struggled back and forth with my weight, but I finally regained my confidence and self esteem. I figured out that my biggest enemy was my eating habits. So, I stayed away from fast food and starchy food (Pizza, McDonald’s, rice, etc). I increased my protein shakes. I bought a protein shake powder, B12, Zinc and Biotin from GNC store. These things has helped me significantly with achieving my weight loss. The B12 supplement is my No. 1 because it’s gives me energy. I see myself getting skinnier and skinnier every day. I am still dealing with my Dad’s death, but it’s a process that only time will heal.

jul weight loss storyMy goal weight is still 160 pounds. I don’t want to be too skinny, my body is not meant to be tiny. I want to be moderate, elegant, and beautiful. I’m concentrating on losing fat, not lean muscle. I receive so many compliments and everyone wants to know the secret to my success. My advice for other people is to stay away from that “quick fix” stuff. (I.E. slimming tea, herbal medicine, pills, etc.) If you can control what you eat, you will lose weight fast, safe and effectively.

I have lost 60 lbs in total. I am still a work in progress. Sometimes I lose, when I think of my Dad’s death, I end up gaining but so far it’s been steady. I can’t complain because I know that God is great! People can follow me on Instagram: @JUL_ZEBULON or Facebook: LadyJul Zebulon for more weight loss info.

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