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Vee lost 58 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Vee.  She lost 58 pounds and created a weight loss plan that works for her which includes clean eating and food prep.  Here is what she shared about her lifestyle change:

Vee before and after

“Hi My Name is Vee and this is MY Life Change!”

What was your motivation? “I completely was tired of being fat. I couldn’t walk stairs and I wanted to be able to everyday things that my weight was hindering me from doing.”

How did you change your eating habits? “I started by fasting for 3 weeks (I ate only RAW fruit and veggies), now I eat extremely clean. No processed foods and small portions. I pack my food for when I’m away from the house and now I go by this motto called “Eat Inside The bag” So, I don’t eat anything outside of my lunch bag to make sure I stay on track. No Sugars, Carbs, or Late night snacking. I also do a weekly food prep to help me throughout the week.”

What did your workout routines look like? “I started by walking. Then, I joined a local boot camp class, and I also have a personal trainer. However, to help me reach my ultimate goals, I work out on my own at 5am in the morning and I then train in the evenings. I try to not take more than 2 days off from my exercise regimen.”

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? “I started at 315 pounds and I’m currently at 257 pounds.”

How long did your transformation take? “It took me 1 year. (I’m not finished)”

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight? “You are doing well no matter where you are on your journey. Don’t count the pounds, count your progress. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else Standards. And there is NO SUCH THING as you are not doing something hard enough. You will see progress at your own rate! And yes you will “Show” them, just like I did.”

6 Thanksgiving Desserts for Dieters

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The holidays are a time when you want to indulge and have fun but if you are on a weight loss journey that can be difficult when it comes to eating.  There is so much temptation around, but you don’t have to give in and eat something that will be a step off the healthy eating wagon. Here are 6 dessert ideas that you can make and give yourself a healthy, regret-free treat during the Thanksgiving season.

CorePower Pumpkin Mousse
Photo: CorePower

1. FitFork recently did a guest post for CorePower protein powder and created an awesome recipe for CorePower Pumpkin Mousse.

2. Eating Well’s Indoor Smores are just 98 calories per serving.

3. Missing your aunt’s peach cobbler?  Check out this low fat version of the classic posted by a Spark People member.

4. Check out FitDay for a Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie recipe that you can make and take to your holiday gatherings to share the low cal love.  279 calories per serving.

5. Taste of Home’s Mock Strawberry Cheesecake Tart clocks in at 137 calories per serving, but gives you that great cheesecake taste.

6. Yahoo posted an awesome Raw Vegan Apple Pie recipe.  Perfect for all my vegans and vegetarians who want to share a treat that everyone will love.

Looking for more ideas for eating healthy during the holidays? You will find tons of recipes on Pinterest.

Rene lost 36 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Rene’.  She’s lost 36 pounds in 5 months.  She has changed her lifestyle to avoid high blood pressure.  Doing a raw vegan detox and exercising were part of her journey.  Here is more info:

“My name is Rene’ and my journey to lose weight began June 2013. From June-Oct,  I have loss 36 pounds and counting!! I have a history of high blood pressure and stroke in my family. My doctor told me I was “lucky” not to be on any medicines as a black female with my family history. He said to continue living medication free I needed to lose weight. A good friend/coworker did a complete lifestyle change and she was a big inspiration to me. I started with a 10 day raw food detox. Since the detox, I decided to remove red meat, fried foods, & pork from my diet. I never considered this a diet, it was a lifestyle change to healthy living!! My husband, children, sister and friends have been a HUGE support in my new healthy lifestyle!!!

Exercise wise, I started out walking because that’s all I felt I could do. Now, I go to the gym 2-3 times a week. My advice to others is: no matter where you start, just start. If you fall off, get back up. If the weight doesn’t move as fast as you would like, don’t get discouraged!! And by all means, don’t be a scale watcher. You may lose pounds but there are times when you’re losing inches. NEVER call it a diet because if you choose to have a “small” treat you can do it guilt free!! Thank you for allowing to share! Blessings to you!!”

Rene weight loss success

Keita lost 96 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Keita.  She lost 96 pounds by committing to working out and adopting a Raw Food Vegan lifestyle.  Here is what she shared with us about her transformation:

Keita weight loss raw food

“Photos: Me at 286 pounds and now at 190 pounds. I began my journey at nearly 300 pounds. I was sick all the time and decided that enough was enough. My doctor suggested that I have weight loss surgery and I agreed, but my insurance said they needed documented proof that diet and exercise didn’t work before they would approve it.  I searched and got a gym.  I was ok with any gym because I knew it wouldn’t work.  However, I stumbled across Jungle Gym and it changed my life. They helped me find the right diet.  For me that was the Raw Food [Vegan] Diet.  They also helped me with figuring out what exercise worked for me. I have gained confidence, not only to meet my weight loss goals or to compete, but most importantly to face any challenge in life. I look forward to finally losing another 25 pounds and sharing those pictures with you too.”

Check out her video for more info on her transformation (from June 2013):

Chemese lost weight by juicing and going vegan

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Update Dec 2015: It’s been a little over 2 years and Chemese is still going strong and maintaining her weight loss. Her starting weight was 305 lbs. She’s been a vegan for 3 years and no longer tracks her weight via a scale. Also, she let us know that she just started another 100 day smoothie/juicing cleanse and is chronicling her progress via video on Youtube.

cheese before and after

Hello again, My name is Chemese and I was featured on your website back in September of 2013. This has been an amazing learning journey about myself, fitness, and health. This journey has also taught me that changes possible and it’s okay to think outside the box. I became vegan and I did not even like vegetables. This year, I get to celebrate my 3rd year as a vegan and my weight lost anniversary on December 12. I’m so excited! I have had some ups and downs but I haven’t been out of cheese weight losscontrol. I’m loving the skin I’m in and I’m still not weighing myself. It’s been so freeing not getting on a scale. I remember how I use to beat myself up over the number on the scale. Now, I’m not about that life. That number isn’t important to me. I’m also still juicing and making smoothies. Over these past years I have successfully completed 30, 60 and 100 day juice/smoothie cleanses. Currently, I’m doing another 100 day juice/smoothie cleanse. If you take anything from my journey I hope that it’s “Change is Possible”. I know my journey doesn’t end here. I truly hope that my journey inspires others. Posting on social media has helped keep me accountable, so you can find me at:

Instagram: @chemese
Twitter: @chemese
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/chemese/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheChemeseProject
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/thechemeseproject

Sept 2013 – Featured Weight Loss Story of the Day: Chemese lost weight by juicing, working out and going vegan.  Her starting weight was around 305, but she doesn’t know how much weight she lost because she doesn’t use the scale as a measurement anymore.  However, you can really SEE the difference in her photos.  Here is what she shared with us:

“My name is Chemese and I currently reside in Abilene, Texas. Some how, I really let myself go. I was obese, out of shape, very unhealthy (as you can see from my pictures on the left). I realized that I just had to change, because I love myself too much. The best way to do that was by becoming a Vegan. My journey began on December 15, 2012 when I decided that I was going to give it all that I could give and lose weight. I knew I didn’t want to try another fad diet. I needed to change my lifestyle for good, so thats exactly what I did.

I eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. I make smoothies and fresh juices. I also workout for 2 hours everyday. As for numbers, my starting weight was 305+ pounds . I don’t know how much weight I have lost though simply because that number isn’t important to me anymore. What is more important is that I have gained control over my health which is more than I wanted. I successfully completed a 60 day juice cleanse on July 4th.  If I had to give anyone advice, it would be to find something that work for them and be open to try new things. I became a vegan and I didn’t like vegetables before. Now, I love them.  One thing is for sure, I’m not exactly where I want to be but I’m so glad I’m not where I used to be. My journey doesn’t end here.

I share what I’m eating and doing on Instagram @chemese

Chemese Weight Loss
NOTE: Before pictures was taken on December 2012 and after pictures was taken on July 2013.

Chemese before and after photos Chemese weight loss success

Bre lost 45 pounds

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Our featured weight loss story of the day: Bre lost 45 pounds this year.  However, she wrote us to share a timeline of her whole weight loss journey.  It’s a reminder that weight loss takes time and that change doesn’t happen overnight.  Check it out.

Lets run down the last 5 years quickly.

– In 2007, I had a stressful job and though I was having a heart attack.

– In 2009, I l ost my job and didn’t recover at all due to the recession.

– From 2010 to 2012,  I had went from a 26 to a 22 but was stuck there weight wise.

– In 2013,  I just got pissed off.  Seriously, everything was piling on me.  Stress + Weight = disaster.

So, here is what happened to set me free. I watched a YouTube documentary with my husband who is a diabetic called “Simply Raw” about a group of diabetics going raw for 30 Days.  It talked about clean eating all the way on a raw vegan diet (aka. being a raw foodist).

Then, the next month, Black Women Losing Weight did the monthly challenge of Vegan/Vegetarian eating.  That was right up my ally. So,  I threw myself in nothing but fruits, veggies, lean meat (fish or chicken) and water/ 100 juices for the first 2 weeks. Then no meat or juice just water for 4 weeks. I went over the challenge time line. I was amazed to see 20 pounds gone in a month.  I wanted more but decided to add protein back (clean fish no catfish, crabs, shrimp, etc and chicken).  No short cuts. I dont eat BS until my cheat day which is between the 15-18 of the month.  On day I have a ice cream cone or a 25 cent bag of chips. Thats it.

My start weight in May 2013 was like 275 pounds.  I am now 230 pounds.  My heaviest weight, without pregnancy was 340 pounds.

I do the Beachbody Challege, which is better known for Insanity, P90X etc. I fell in love with another program, Les Mills Combat. It’s High Interval Training which burns fat and calories as well as adds weight for muscle tone and build. I routinely do this while running 10 miles a week. i just chose any day and say “Ok, do I have my 10?” I look at MapRun, which is a free app with Android and go running. I usually do this about 3 miles, 3 times a week.

Bre weight loss

Review…

  • My Motivation: Pissed off with Life (Too Stressed)
  • Routine : Les Mills Combat 5 times a week. Running 3 times a week (minimum of 10 miles a week)
  • Eating routine: Fruits , veggies, lean clean meats (selective – no bottom feeders *catfish, shrimp, etc*, fish and chicken), Water (add lemon, mint, fruit), 100% juices. One cheat day a month..mine is usually on the 18th.
  • Total time for full transformation : May 2013 – August 2013
  • Photos: Before photo is from 2009 and the after photo is from 2013.

Free Raw Foods Guide from IIN

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Do you want to know more about raw foods?  There are a lot of questions out there about this form of going vegan.  I’ve done it in the past and it’s where I’m striving to get to in terms of my eating.  I hope to be about 70% raw, with the rest of my food coming from lean protein sources.  Going raw vegan is clean eating to the max.  I even suggested raw foods to my fiance.  He fell in love with eating this way because he lost weight and it cleared up a congestion issue he had in his ears.  Turns out, he has an allergy to dairy products and would have never known without going raw.

RawFoodGuide_coverInstitute for Integrative Nutrition, the school I attended for my health coach certification, has a great, FREE raw food guide you should check out.  It includes:

  • “The ultimate list of raw superfoods and their nutritional benefits
  • Tips on how to preserve raw foods for long-lasting freshness
  • Quick and delicious raw recipes”

Download it today.

Turning to raw foods is not only good for eating healthy, but it can help you to see how much better your body can function on REAL, Living foods.  It’s not for everyone because we all have different nutrition needs, levels of health (I don’t recommend it to chronically ill people without discussing with a doctor) and many just won’t give up meat.  That’s fine. 🙂  We all have to find out what works for us!

Tiffany lost 43 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW Love to Tiffany who lost 43 pounds by going raw vegan.  Here is what she shared with us:

This past December, I passed a mirror and surprised myself. I thought, “surely I am not that big.” I decided to take a picture of myself. One turned two then ten. I just knew, if I kept snapping, I’d see the woman I thought I was. It never happened. I knew then I had to change. My son deserves a mother who is fit enough to play, and my students deserve a teacher healthy enough to instruct.

I began my weight loss journey on January 8, 2013. I stepped on the scale at an embarrassing 289 lbs. Over the last 7 months, I have lost 43 lbs. Currently, I weigh 246. Mostly, I credit my weight loss a change of my diet and exercise 4-6 times a week. I’ve found myfitnesspal, my gym membership, and Zumba to my success. The community and challenges I’ve found through Instagram and Black Women Losing Weight have been tremendous motivation to keep going.

I still have roughly 60 lbs to go before I reach my target weight.  In the beginning, I used Dr. Oz’s Flat Belly plan. I tried some of the shakes, but they didn’t work for me. Now I eat a 60-100% raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts a day, but currently, I am eating a 100% raw diet to detox. I also drink a gallon of water per day. Regardless of how this story ends, I am thrilled with my progress thus far.

TiffanyAug13

 

 

Yetta lost 100 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Yetta lost 100 pounds by becoming a raw vegan, juicing, and walking.  Here is what she shared with us:

I started my weight loss journey in mid May 2012. High blood pressure, fatigue, dark spots on my cheeks, swollen legs, and the way I looked finally made me realize that I had to make a change. I became a high vegetable and fruit raw vegan juicing daily, and walking an hour or 2 each day.  After a few days, I lost about 15 pounds and my right leg was no longer swollen.  I realized that this was the way to go.  The first 40 pounds lost were emotionally overwhelming and it took a lot of “Help me Lord!” not to go back to my old way of eating.  For the last few months, I went to the gym with my sister before going to work, about 4:30 am Mon-Fr.  I do “sweat dripping cardio” for 1 hour and weight lifting for 20-30 minutes.  I change my routine every 4 weeks.  Currently, I’m doing 30 minutes on the glider (20 incline and 85 resistance), weights, then return to the glider for another 30 minutes.  I also walk my dog few miles a week.  I’m no longer a vegan but eat very little meat, sweets, sugar, flour or pasta.  I eat clean 95% of the time.  My goal was to lose 100 pounds by my 44th birthday and I did it.  Now, I will lose another 80 or 100 pounds BEFORE MY 45TH birthday. Getting fit is one of the hardest things I’ve done, but I live by “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”…And through prayer all the time.  I hope this helps others with way over 150 pounds to lose.

Yetta lost 100 pounds

What Is A Raw Food Diet or Being Raw Vegan?

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what is raw foodThe Raw Food diet is exactly what it’s name implies. A raw food lifestyle is also known as raw veganism.  Raw foodists eat uncooked fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, etc.  Let’s go a bit deeper…

Technically, the food can be heated, although not over 115-118 degrees Fahrenheit (recently I’ve read as much as 120 degrees but I don’t agree). Roughly 80% of the food consumed when you are raw vegan is raw fruits and vegetables.  Nuts, seeds and sprouted grains and legumes make up the remainder. While most raw food devotees are vegetarian or vegan, there are also some that consume raw, unpasteurized milk products and eggs. I don’t agree with that due to issues with commercial cooking and pathogens in unpasteurized milk or dairy that could make you sick.

Although not originally designed for weight loss, far less calories are consumed on a raw food diet than on traditional cooked diets, so participants generally lose a significant amount of weight.  Long term raw vegans are generally lighter weight than the general population. There are other health benefits that can go along with this lifestyle. Studies have shown that cholesterol and blood pressure levels are much lower among raw food enthusiasts (vegetarians and vegans). Because fats and sodium are kept at practically zero, the entire cardiovascular system benefits. There is some risk of several types of cancers are prevented or greatly reduced by consuming raw vegetables, especially the Cruciferous family, cabbage, broccoli, etc.

At the backbone of the raw food movement is the belief that food loses vital nutrients and enzymes during the cooking process. A traditional stove and oven are not needed for this way of eating. A high quality blender, food processor and a dehydrator are the main appliances needed for food preparation. The should be of high quality and have many varied setting and accessories as they will be used constantly.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time prepping food. There are a lot of ways to prepare raw food in creative, ingenious ways, but all that planning chopping, blending and crisping takes time. Although many aspects of this way of eating are positive, some medical experts are concerned about the amount of vitamin D, calcium and B12 not easily attained with this diet. For this reason, supplements are highly encouraged. A vitamin 12 supplement is a must and you have to educate yourself so that you are getting enough essential nutrients.  Because of the restrictive nature of this diet, it is not recommended for children as it as it may not contain enough nutrition for optimum growth.  If also can be problematic for people who have had eating disorders and may be drawn to the concept of eating a very limited diet.

While some proponents of the raw food movement are very strict, many feel that there can some leeway and that every person is the best judge of what he or she can tolerate and live a healthy and robust life. Many feel that “A little raw is better than no raw at all.” There is a lot of information and support available, both in book form and online, to those seeking to investigate deeper into this way of eating. Advice on how to ease into it and what newcomers can expect, as well as recipes that go far beyond a chopped salad and a handful of nuts.

If you’d like to know more about Raw Foods, check out these sites: