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Antoinette lost 56 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Antoinette lost 56 pounds and went from a size 14 to a size 8.  Reaching her highest weight after the birth of her son, she realized that she wasn’t happy with her appearance. On top of that, her migraines were worse and high blood pressure was not under control.  She told us all about the steps she took to change her lifestyle…

antoinette before and after

After I had my son last year, I was at my heaviest weight, 226 pounds. I was unhappy and embarrassed about my appearance. I knew that something had to change. I started going for walks and then walking stairs. I would start and then stop for various reasons; the weather, the baby, etc. I was having migraines daily and couldn’t get my blood pressure under control even with taking meds.

One day my husband said, “You know, when you were active you had less migraines.” So, I began walking. 2 miles turned into 4. 4 miles and 4.4 miles turned into 6 miles. I then started challenging myself to do more, like running a mile and working out on the elliptical machine at the gym. Cardio was literally my best friend. My workout buddy helped me change my eating habits. I picked out better quality foods vs. what was easy.

4 months ago, I met with a trainer. She checked my weight and body fat percentage to give me a starting point which ultimately led to me making new goals. Instead of doing all cardio, I started trying Cross Fit, TRX, HITT.

Well, it’s been a year since I started this journey and I now weigh 170 pounds (height: 5’7″). I dropped 56 pounds and went from wearing a size 14 to a size 8. The journey hasn’t been easy but I’ve learned a lot about myself. I live by the motto that if it goes away easy, it comes back just as easy.

I went from drinking sodas to just drinking lots of water all day, aside from my cup of coffee in the mornings and green tea before bed. I also changed my eating habits by cutting out processed foods.  I limit the amount of cheese and I trained myself to eat smaller portions. I did a “half a plate”, which meant I fixed a normal sized plate of food, then took half away for later. Now, I’m accustomed to smaller meals. You’ll find more veggies on my plate than other carbs. I make my own bread, bagels, and pizza crust (cuts out many preservatives).  I know that there will be days when I have minor set backs. I think it’s ok to eat an occasional slice of cake or have ice cream as long as it’s in moderation and not an everyday thing.

My advice: I suggest making small goals so that you will not get discouraged easily. The scale will not always be your friend. As you start developing muscle, your weight will fluctuate so focus on clothes, side by side pictures, or get your body fat measured monthly like I do. Remember, 80% diet 20% exercise.

I’m on Google Plus: Antoinette”Anna” Brown and Instagram: @antoinette.lorine

Tammy lost 47 pounds

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Update Dec 2015 – Tammy wrote in to let us know that she’s lost 29 more pounds since April for a total of 76 pounds gone.

Just wanted to give an update on my journey. I have finally made my goal weight. Now, I’m just working on tightening and toning my body. It’s hard to lose and maintain weight, but I have made it to 171 pounds and I am happy here. I just need to continue to eat right and exercise on a regular basis. Your blog really helps a lot of women including me. Keep up the great work.

tammy before and after

April 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tammy lost 47 pounds. She was determined to lose the weight before her 40th birthday.  She shared her before and after photos and some notes from her story with us.

tammy before and after

My name is Tammy and I have been battling my weight all my life. I was determined that I was not going into my 40th birthday overweight. Smaller portions, walking and no more late eating is how I started this journey. I have a ways to go until I reach my goal but I know I can make it. One day at a time.

What was your motivation?
I was motivated by not wanting to turn 40 years old and be overweight. I also suffer from high blood pressure and very much wanted to resolve that for myself. I’ve dealt with my weight all of my life and when I started to have health issues I knew that I didn’t want to be overweight any longer.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started eating smaller portions, walking regulary and cut out eating late. I went to a nutritionist for a few months to help get eating habits together.

What did your workout routines look like?
I began my journey by walking for 30 minutes a day. Now I am working out 3 to 4 times a week and I really enjoy it.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
247 pounds was my starting weight. I am currently 200 pounds and still going.  My height is 5’3″.

How long did your transformation take?
I started in September of 2014.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
You have to start somewhere. Nothing is easy or overnight.

Instagram: @BABYGIRL976

 

Tyria lost 90 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Tyria lost 90 pounds. This proud mom of 3 went from a size 20 to a size 12 by making practical changes.  She wanted to get healthy for her family and avoid the negative effects of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

tyria before and after

Hello, I would like to share my story. I’m 34 years old and I’ve struggled with my weight since having my oldest son in 2000. I just couldn’t seem to stay motivated, being so busy working and being a dedicated mother. In 2012, I finally started to lose weight by simply walking a lot and drinking water. I lost 40 pounds in 6 months.

Well, I started dating and long story short, I conceived my 3 child. During the pregnancy, I gained a lot of weight. I went from 231 pounds to 280 pounds. I had post partum high blood pressure which scared me and my cholesterol was up to 299. I decided to lose weight for myself and my 3 children.

I was off the medication in 2 months and my cholesterol was back down to 199 in 3 months. I worked hard. I would put my daughter in the stroller and do a brisk walk for 3 miles a day. I joined spin class 2 times a week and yoga once a week. I also ate small portion meals and lots of fruit, veggies and smoothies.  I also cut back on heavy carbs, like rice and pasta, and sugar, because I loves sweets. I drink 6 to 8 bottles of water a day. I only had one cheat day a week and that was light snacks. It takes a lots of dedication and discipline. In one year, I went from 280 pounds to 190 pounds. I was a size 20 and now I’m a size 12.

I have so much energy now. I play basketball with my boys and can run behind my daughter. It’s a daily struggle but it’s a struggle that I’m happy with. I’m healthy and happy and that is what matters. A lot of black women suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease and we can change that by eating healthy, exercising and cutting back on sugars and fried food. I now train a few women in my area to eat right and work out. I hope that my weight loss story can help someone else.

Instagram: @thiccbeauty

tyria weight loss

Diandra lost 173 pounds with surgery

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Diandra lost 173 pounds.  Motivated by wanting to live a long life with her family, she opted to have weight loss surgery and change her lifestyle to lose the weight.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

diandra weight loss

Hi, I’m Diandra and I started my weight loss journey in 2011. I lost 70 lbs on my own but started to gain it back. Finally, I decided to have the Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery on February 27th 2014. My highest weight was 351 lbs and on surgery date I was 304 lbs. I’m now 178 pounds!  I stand 5’8″ tall. Having the surgery was the best decision I have ever made. I have lost a total of 173 pounds since 2011. I went from a size 26-28 to now a size 8-10! I truly feel great. I’m now full of energy and more confident.

My motivation for losing weight was my kids. I wanted to live a long healthy life for them. I was afraid my weight would be out of control and I would become bed ridden. I also had poor self esteem and a lack of self-confidence.

I started going to the gym 3 times a week and working on doing Cardio. I started eating smaller portions and of course healthier choices. For anyone who is wanting to lose weight I say give it your all, never give up.. No matter what choice you decide to make to lose the weight just focus and maintain!! Thanks for listening to my story! Please follow my journey on Instagram @dee_gemini615

diandra before and after

KaTarra lost 160 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: KaTarra lost 160 pounds with weight loss surgery.  Post-surgery this proud mom is very happy with her choice and has lots of energy to be active with her son.  Read more about her journey…

Katarra weight loss

 

 

I’m KaTarra and my motivation to become healthy came in 2011 when I gave birth to my son. I knew at that point that being overweight was not am option anymore. I was 5’5″ and topping the scales at 335 pounds!! My last option for losing the weight turned out to be the best decision I’ve made in my life besides having my son. I chose to have the Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery to help me, not to do it for me.

My eating habits had to change dramatically because of my surgery, and I just keep that post-surgery frame of mind when it comes to my eating now. I only do small portions and I do a lot of protein with my meals because that’s what helps me. My cardio workouts are 45 minutes to an hour on the treadmill. My strength training is doing squats with a 45 lb bar with one 45 lb plate on each side for 10 reps per set. I do crunches as well.

I now have the energy I never had before to workout & be active with my son! 160lbs down & still going! I continue to watch what I eat, I work out at least 3 times a week and I actively use the MyFitnessPal app. I wore my very 1st 2pc swimsuit ever (though it was a tankini, mind you) for the 1st time in my life in September on my 1st vacation out of the country!! I’m making major accomplishments & it feels great!

Instagram: @tiniki80

Katarra before and after

 

Jaymee lost 123 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jaymee lost 123 pounds.  Wanting to be healthier and have more energy, she decided that it was time to start making gradual lifestyle changes.  She knows that slow and steady wins the race!  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Jaymee weight loss

This before and after pictures represent a difference of six years. I have loss a total of 123 pounds as of today. I currently weigh 180 pounds, but my lowest I weighed 170 pounds. I am 5’8″ tall. With small changes, I have been able to learn how to cook healthy meals for myself. I also think lifting weights has helped me shape my body in the way that I like.

My motivation to lose the weight was to be healthy and have more energy to do day-to-day activities. I was also motivated by wanting to be happy. My weight limited my energy level. I was always tired and fun activities became a task. I started by  making small changes gradually. Not drinking my calories, walking most places, always taking the stairs, no processed carbs, smaller portions. I made a small change every month. Some of these healthy habits I still do today. I did tons of walking and cardio when initially losing the weight, but as I got under 209 pounds I began lifting weights and have little to no sagging skin. I worked out about 4 times a week and did all types of workouts just to stay active and interested . My advice to others is to take it a step at a time. Build small good habits to create great ones. Taking your time to adjust to a healthy lifestyle will help you stay on track rather than jumping in head first.

Instagram: @jay_meal

Jaymee before and after

Lakeisha lost 64 pounds

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Update September 2017: Check out this update from Lakeisha. She’s kept the weight off for more than 2 years.

lakeisha before and after

What has worked in terms of eating habits?
Before I knew anything about nutrition, I gave up fried foods, sodas and watched my portions. When I’m hungry, I drink black coffee or eat a slice of pickle. I also drink plenty of water. I love alkaline water (I encourage people to do their research on alkaline water).

I gained some of the weight back while dealing a death and stress. Meal prepping helped me out a lot this time. Now, I’m back stronger than ever.

What have you been doing to maintain your success in terms of exercise? 
I started doing 2 hours of cardio. After two weeks of this, I’ll stop and go back into my normal routine… leg day, arms etc. I workout 6 to 7 days a week.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I don’t care how much you workout, you cannot eat whatever you want… lol.

At this point, would you offer any new or different advice to women who want to lose weight?
Stay focused and don’t compare your success to others. Also, sometimes you have to switch up your routine when you don’t see results. Never give up on your journey. We all get off track but that’s what makes us fight harder.

lakeisha before and after

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Lakeisha lost 64 pounds and went from a size 24 to a size 14. This proud mom of 2 is now a fitness fanatic.  Here is what she shared with us about losing the pounds: KeishaJuly3blog My name is Lakeisha Thomas and I’m from Mississippi.  I’m a 34 year old mother of 2 (Tia 14 yrs old and CJ 6 years old). I’m also a nurse aid and a production tech at Nissan. When I first started my weight lost journey I weighted 254 pounds. I was shocked. I never cared about my weight until one day when my doctor told me I was obese. So, I started working out at home in my bedroom. I went from a size 24 to a size 14. I want to enjoy my kids and see them grow up.  Now, fitness is my life, my passion, my everything. This is why I love what I do, why I’m so passionate and why I share with others everything I do to stay fitt. I’m a #fitmom and I love my 2 children with all my heart.  Instagram: @KeishaaBeast

How did you change your eating habits? Chewing gum and drinking coffee has helped me out a lot on my journey. I started drinking plenty of water and cut out the sodas. I continue to eat what I always ate but in smaller portions. I work the night shift so that was a struggle as well. I’m not gonna lie, I fail daily but I never gave up. If I ate chips, ice cream, etc, I didn’t quit. I just went harder in the gym.

What did your workout routines look like? I started doing the Black Girls Workout Too & Billy Blank Exercise DVDs. I did a thousand sit up a day and started going to the gym 6 or 7 days a week. I also did HIIT workout that I found online (just do a Google search…there are tons of workouts). I did like a thousand ab exercises every night and every morning. Now, I’m doing like 500 abs exercises, 3 days out of a week.

What is your height? What is your current weight? I’m 5’7 and I weight 190 pounds. My goal weight is 175 pounds.

How long did your transformation take? I started in 2003 when I weighted 254.  I dropped down 54 pounds in one month (no lie). I just worked out that whole month. However, it was very unhealthy because I stopped eating as well. I was drinking one soda a day and eating cabbage greens. Since then, I have been on and off my journey.  So in 2012, I decided that I wanted to tone so I went harder and changed my lifestyle.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight? If you mess up along the way, don’t quit. Just keep going.  I’ve basically been tsame size since 2003 I just drop inches phuck yo scale…it didn’t take you 5 days to gain the weight so it’s not gonna take you 14 days to lose it. Keisha weight loss story

Anyika-Monique lost 71 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Anyika-Monique Hunt lost 71 pounds.  She decided that enough was enough after getting sick and that she wanted to be there to raise her son. She reached her weight loss goal and is now inspiring others, including her young son and her mom (we featured her mom’s story last week), to get healthy and lose weight.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:
A Hunt weight loss

My story: I’m a busy, single mommy of one child that got sick. I was having chest pain and blackouts and decided that enough was enough and that my son needed me around! It was time to get healthy. My starting weight was 190 pounds plus. I have lost a total of 71 pounds.  Exercise wise, I did it by doing Zumba, Body Bombat, Spin, sticking to a meal plan, and being consistent. No shots, no pills and no short cuts. I got down to 119 pounds. It took me 4 months of hard work to get the first 50 pounds off and over the last 5 years I have kept the weight off, toned up and I’m now at 125 pounds. However, I’m not done yet. I’m still working on toning my body and staying healthy. My lifestyle has rubbed of on my son and he has lost some with and is now rocking a six pack. At 13 years old, he has gained so much confidence. In the beginning, I cut out a lot of oil, salt and fried food. I started eating smaller portions and eating 6 meals a day. I am now living a vegetarian/raw vegan lifestyle. I juice and workout daily. I’m embarking on a 100 day healthy challenge. I’m waist training as well. It’s very exciting. My number one goal is to help my community. I teach Zumba fitness in Las Vegas and I host a special fit club for women and men in my community. That includes Zumba, toning, nutrition counseling, and the hosting of monthly topics.  I wanted to lose weight and couldn’t find help so I educated myself and met my goals!! Now I can be a helping hand to others.

I also have a blog post where I go into very detail about my journey…

Instagram: @zumbawithahunt
Facebook.com/homewithahunt
Zumba website: www.ahunt.zumba.com

Anyika-Monique Hunt

Update: Leslie shares how she lost 22 more pounds

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Update March 2016: Leslie lost more than 120 pounds and has kept the weight off for 2 years. I will never give up still at it sending blessings your way! Your vision is impacting the lives of many and I’m one of them!

Check out her updates below and the original post we did on her story in April 2014.

leslie weight loss journey

Update March 2015: Leslie has lost 22 more pounds for a total of 120 pounds gone.  She wrote in to share this update…

leslie weight loss story

I have lost 120 pounds thus far and I know God ain’t through with me yet! I lost the additional pounds by getting back on my Herbalife Nutrition Plan, working out no less than 3 times a week and adding weight lifting! The biggest lesson I learned is that I was the only person holding myself back from achieving my goals and that with determination and faith all things are possible! The advice I have for others is work with people who have the same goals you have. I suggest they have no negative self talk, stay off the scale and make better choices daily! Treat yourself to one cheat meal a week too!!! Live a little, get out there and enjoy life! My Uupdated Instagram name is: @PriestBaby01 By changing your life, others lives are changed. It starts with the one looking back in the mirror!

Update June 2014:
We shared Leslie’s story back in April of this year.  She was down 71 pounds and now she’s lost an additional 27 pounds for a total of 98 pounds gone.  Here is what she shared with us about her continued progress (check out her updated photos too):

Leslie weight loss

“I lost an additional 27 pounds by taking my efforts up a notch. In terms of eating right, I cut out the starchy foods and ate little to no carbs! I also made sure that I was never eating too late at night. My last meal is usually around 6 PM. Even though I use herbalife products, I had to get more aggressive in terms of my workouts so I committed to doing Chalene Extreme Workouts along with my program. In terms of motivation, I use accountability partners and I meet with a group least 3 times a week to do group workouts! I simply asked a few friends who lives close if they want to workout! We keep each other on point, no excuses! I listen to my body and when it tells me to rest I do! My advice to others is start fresh each week like it’s the first day on your journey! I encourage everyone to burn off the same amount of calories they consumed each day if they are able. If not, at least try to get in 4 workouts a week! I also suggestion snacking on fruits and veggies combined with small portions of protein in between meals. Spend your calories like you spend money. Only spend what’s really needed lol! I’m motivated by prayer, reading of the word and connecting with more individuals who have like minded goals.  I’ve connected with people who are active in this lifestyle of good health!

Read more about how she lost the weight in our previous post on Leslie’s journey.

Leslie before and after Leslie before and after

5 Things Diabetics Should Consider When Dieting

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diabetesThere are things concerning your health that you have to consider if you are a diabetic who is trying to lose weight.  There are a lot of complications that can occur if you have diabetes and you don’t follow the medical protocols you’ve been given, whether type 1 or type 2 (type 1 often has more dietary complications, but you do have to keep an eye on these for type 2 as well).  Changing your eating habits and exercising can have a negative or positive impact on your health so it’s important that you discuss what you are doing to lose weight with a medical professional so that you don’t put yourself at risk.  Here are a few things you should consider:

1.  Diet is a big part of your blood sugar control, and if you reduce your calories too much, you can start to have issues. This is probably the biggest thing that you have to keep in mind when you are dieting as a diabetic. You have probably been told that you have to eat certain things in a certain way in order to maintain your blood sugar levels throughout your day. It is not a good ideal to dramatically change what you’ve been told to do simply because you’re trying to lose weight. For example, small portions have always been thought to be helpful with weight loss, but diabetics have to make sure that they are still getting the appropriate amount  and type of food to regulate blood sugar.

2. Keep an eye on your carbs and eat them throughout the day. Many diets tell you to cut out most of the carbohydrates you eat, but as a diabetic, that can really be detrimental. So don’t totally cut them out; it’s okay to lower the number of carbohydrates that you have in your diet as long as the amount that you keep in is sufficient enough for you to stay healthy as you are trying to lose weight. Your doctor can help you determine which carbohydrates to keep, which ones to drop, and how low you can (or should) go.

3. Exercise is something that you really have to watch, because if you push too hard, you can kill what you’re working toward. Some diabetics will try to develop their exercise regimen on their own, but that doesn’t always work in their favor. You may push yourself too hard, or you may throw your blood sugar way out of whack. Because of these risks, many diabetics will actually opt to work with a personal trainer or seek professional help. Why? Because trainers usually have be taught how to work with people with special medical needs (including diabetes) and they will be able to develop a safe exercise regimen that will encourage weight loss but won’t put other areas of your overall health at risk.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

4. You cannot make too many changes too quickly or you may throw your body into shock. This is a good rule whether you are diabetic or not. If you try to change everything about your diet and exercise all at once, your body may not be too happy about what you are doing to it. As a diabetic, the risk is higher because your blood sugar will likely go all over the place, which will force you to change the amount of insulin that you are using throughout the day. It may be better for you to make gradual changes and keep a very close eye on your blood sugar. Then, you can make a particular change, wait for your blood sugar to adjust to the change, and then make a new change after your blood sugar has corrected itself.  Slow and steady wins the race.

5. Eating slowly is still important, diabetic or not.  In our culture, we have a tendency to “scarf down” our food, and even though that’s a side effect of how quick our current world moves, it’s not good for our digestive systems. The nutrients that we need don’t absorb as well, we don’t enjoy the taste of our food as much, and our digestive system isn’t very happy with that sort of result. So, make sure that you sit down and enjoy your meals, instead of just eating everything as quickly as you can. It will help with the overall process of weight loss and make you feel more satisfied.

If you have diabetes and you want to make sure that you lose weight safely and effectively, make sure that you talk to your doctor early on in the process. Then, they can help you make the appropriate changes in a timeframe that is safe and sufficient for the weight loss that you are seeking. Contact your doctor as soon as possible for guidance and advice on the topic.