Black Weight Loss Success

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success story

Charin lost 48 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Charin lost 48 pounds.  She says, “It has been a TRUE STRUGGLE but I lost 48lbs thus far. Still working but I want to loose another 30 pounds. It is a Life Style Change.”

What is your weight loss motivation?

My knees buckled when I was walking from the weight. I started December 2011. I’m STILL motivated and I want to loose 30 pounds more.

What did you do in terms of eating habits and exercise?

I gave up soda, fried food and fattening snacks.I eat wheat bread instead of white and I try not to eat that too much bread in general. I drink water.  For exercise, I go to Zumba class two times per week. I brought a treadmill and I lift weights. I do 30 – 40 minutes on treadmill at a time. I found a “Stomach Crunching” exercise video on You Tube. My workouts at home are like 45 minutes per session, 3 times a week. I eat snacks but they are the 100 calorie snacks. I eat anything that is low in calories and I splurge once a week.

Charin's weight loss story

I hope this helps somebody. If I can do it, anybody can.

Update: Marsainah lost 64 pounds

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Two Years Later – 2016 Update – Marsainah lost 10 more pounds for a total lost of 64 pounds.

 At 22, I was told that I was pre-diabetic and that my weight was a big contributor. The doctor gave me two options; lose the weight or get on medication. Since diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer ran heavily in my family, I decided to take control of my life. The whole process took about 5 months of heavy dieting, discipline, exercising, and having the determination to “win” my life over. I’ve lost a total of 64 pounds. I worked out 7 days a week mainly, focusing on weightlifting! Weights are our friends! Now, I maintain my weight by working out 6 days a week, not eating pork and detoxing my body regularly. Currently, I’m weighing in at 160 pounds (height: 5’4″).

Marsainah before and after

Update Sept 2014: Marsainah sent in updated photos and she has been truly dedicated to her lifestyle change.  She’s lost another 10 lbs. All I can say is ABS!  She says, “Since last year I’ve lost 15% body fat by adding weight lifting to my workout routine. I’ve also lost 10 more pounds with a steady diet and a balance of my body’s needs.”

Marsainah before and after

Updated photo
Updated photo

April 2013: Marsainah lost 54 pounds with calorie restriction and exercise.  She was motivated to take action after being diagnosed pre-diabetic .  I asked her, “How did you lose the weight in terms of eating and exercise?” “Well, for the first month I went on a VERY STRICT reduced calorie diet (1000 calories).  I ate a lot of healthy salads, water, and yogurt. At 22, I was told that I was pre-diabetic and that my weight was a big contributor. Since diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer ran heavily in my family, I decided to take control of my life. The whole process took about 5 months of heavy dieting, discipline, and exercising. I lost a total of 54 pounds. I worked out 7 days a week mainly focusing on cardio. Now, I maintain my weight by working out 6 days a week, not eating red meat, and getting regular colonic cleanses.”

weight loss story

Nijah lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Nijah lost 50 pounds over 15 months, and says she did it without “dieting”.  She focused on creating a healthy lifestyle.  Here is what she has to say about her transformation.

“If anyone thinks that losing weight CAN’T be done without dieting, then look at ME!!!

On the left is me at my highest of 294.6 pounds. I was tired of carrying around all that baggage so I decided to give healthy eating a try AND stick with it. 15 months later, I am down 50 pounds and I intend to keep going. I eat real food and I am NOT on a diet. I am mindful though of what and how I eat. I have dessert but only once a week, and when it’s time to workout, I give it my all!!!

I’m very proud of my progress so far, and don’t intend to stop!!! (The right picture is me currently down 50lbs, weighing 244.6) Is it easy? NO, but anything worth having is worth fighting for!! I strive each day and I know that with each workout and healthy choice in eating, I am getting closer to my goal!!

I hope I have encouraged someone, as your page does!!! I’m thankful for this page and YES, I AM A BLACK WOMAN IS WHO IS LOSING WEIGHT! *POW*”

Nijah weight loss story

Update Nov 2013: Nijah wrote to us to let us know that she has maintained her weight loss.

“The left picture (below) was taken in June 2012. I remember looking in the mirror and feeling so disappointed at the fact that I had “let myself go”. I was almost 300 lbs and hated taking pictures!! I’m so thankful though that I took this one and didn’t delete because it’s a reminder of a place where I was and one in which I never want to return. I was overweight, young and depressed.

In doing some soul searching, I found out that my weight loss stemmed from low self-esteem and negative body image. From that day on, I made a vow to myself to love me and show it by taking control and holding myself accountable. I started cooking my own food (mostly baking) and limiting my salt and sugar intake. I still get to indulge but not as much or as often. I walk and also work out using the Just Dance games for the Wii, The Biggest Loser DVDs, and my ultimate favorite which is Hip Hop Abs with Shaun T!

I haven’t reached my goal weight yet, but I am proud to say that I have maintained my 50 pound weight loss! I am also empowered to say that I kicked that monster of low self-esteem in the BUTT!!!  So, my story is to be continued. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the journey and also encouraging people everywhere I go!”

Nijah weight loss photos

 

 

Keisha lost 90 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Keisha lost 90 pounds by changing her eating habits, following the Daniel Fast with her church, exercising regularly and going Vegan.  She gives God ALL the glory for her transformation.

From 1/11 to  3/29/13, I lost my 90 pounds by fasting, praying and hanging what I ate.  I also exercised. God is good!  My motivation was turning 40 years old! You hear all the time about how much harder it is to lose weight after that age and my father passed away at 40. He wasn’t very healthy. I made a commitment to myself that by the age of 40 I wanted to be under 200 pounds and I reached that goal 3 months after turning 40. I didn’t give up. It really is about Choices. Eat this not that.  Drink this not that. I started my own program 1/1/11 when my job did a biggest loser contest. I dropped 26 lbs in 3 months and WON! In January of 2012 my church did a Daniel Fast and I adopted that lifestyle for nearly a year.  I became vegan. I started exercising more, walking mostly. I drink about a gallon on water everyday. I count calories and I eat lots of fruits and veggies. No sodas, no alcohol, no processed white food – sugar, rice, bread, etc. I pray a lot and I fast often. To God Be The Glory!!

Keisha weight loss

Updated: Sherlonda lost 139 pounds

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Update December 2013 – Sherlonda wrote in to share that her total weight loss is now 139 pounds.  Her abs are SHOWING and she has muscles! YESSSSS, Diva!  She did that!  Here is what she shared with us about her body and lifestyle transformation:

“Hi my name is Sherlonda Tyrus and you featured me back in April 2013. I wanted to send an update to my journey. I started my journey November, 2011, the day before Thanksgiving. I was 325 pounds and I was tired. My daughter who was a senior in high school, was my motivation when I started my journey. She wanted to lose weight for prom. So we started attending jcjonesbootcamp.com, my 4 daughters and I, at 5:30 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was finally tired of being unhealthy and out of shape. I had to do it for myself this time. Determination, commitment to self, and no looking back has brought me this far. Although my daughters don’t get up in the mornings with me anymore, I still go 5 days a week. I’m almost at my goal but still have lots of work to do. It’s not easy but can be done one change at a time. It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet or fad. This is my new life. You won’t find time…you have to make it. I lost the weight by changing my diet. I stopped eating fast food and started cooking at home. I eat meals every 3-4 hours. No pop or other drinks, just water, water, and water.”

Sherlonda weight loss transformation Sherlonda weight loss photos

Original Post – April 2013

Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Sherlonda lost 98 pounds. “I started my journey November, 2011. I am 227 now but I was 325 lbs. and I was tired. My daughter who was a senior in high school, was my motivation when I started my journey. She wanted to lose weight for prom. So we started Bootcamp, my 4 daughters and I. 530am in the mornings Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was finally tired of being unhealthy and out of shape. I had to do it for myself this time. Determination, commitment to self, and no looking back has brought me this far. Although my daughters don’t get up in the mornings with me anymore I still go 5 days a week. I’m almost at my goal but still have lots of work to do. It’s not easy but can be done one change at a time. It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet or fad this is my new life. You won’t find time you have to make it. And I lost the weight by changing my diet. I stop eating fast food and started cooking at home. Eating every 3-4 hours. No pop or other drinks water, water, and water.” Sherlonda weight loss

Dee lost 91 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Dee lost 90 pounds by running and changing her diet.  She recently ran her first half marathon and has quit smoking.  Here transformation below represents  March 19, 2012 to March 19, 2013.

“One year ago today, I began my fitness journey. I began to work out, then made changes to my diet by removing fast foods, sugar, breads, pastas, and rices. Then I began running, 60 seconds at a time, in July of 2012. To lose weight, I used clean eating and I started the “Couch 2 5k” program to learn how to run. I began running with “black girls run” as well.  Since then I have run over 15 races including numerous 5ks, a 10k, an 11.6k and this month [March] I am running my first Half Marathon which is 13.1 miles! I currently run 3 days,and 3 days I do strength training plus some other cardio like Zumba class or Cycle class.

As of today, I am down 90LBS!!!! I am down from 249 pounds to 158 pounds.  I’ve gone from a size 18 to a loose size 8 (I think a size 6 really) .

Bonus: No one knew I was a closet smoker. I was an overweight smoker and now I’m running 6, 7, 8 miles several times a week! As of today I’ve been smoke free for 30 days!!

Ladies, you can do ANYTHING you put your mind and faith to!”

dee weight loss

Sherry lost 30 pounds in 28 days by juicing

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Today’s featured success story: Black Women Losing Weight Online Community Member Sherry lost 30 pounds in 28 days by juicing.

“I started juicing February 6, 2013.  I’m now 30lbs lighter and feeling awesome. Checkout my picture.  I feel so great!  I’m going to continue juicing to lose an additional 20lbs. My goal in the beginning was to lose 50lbs. I never expected to lose 30lbs in 28 days, but i did and I’m so happy.  The battle is almost done! Yaeeeee!”

Sherry weight loss storyI’ve always recommended juicing as a way to cleanse the body, detox and lose weight.  I think it’s an excellent way to transition to a plant-based diet, as well (Vegetarianism or being vegan).  The key to this kind of weight loss is that you have to have a plan for what you do after you stop juicing or you may gain the weight back.  You can’t go back to your old eating habits and expect the weight to say off.  However, think of juicing as a body reset.  By juicing you can allow your body to drop weight and toxins.  You may also see that you don’t crave the same bad, processed foods you once desired.  Therefore, you can move forward to eat a much healthier diet of fresh foods, lean meats (if you chose), etc.  Juicing is not a quick fix for weight loss.  It is a tool for greater health.

If you would like to know more about how juicing can help you lose weight and have greater wellness, I suggest that you check out these 2 resources.

www.fatsickandnearlydead.com – The official site of the FREE documentary Fat Sick & Nearly Dead. Watch Joe Cross, 100 lbs overweight, regain his health by juicing and inspire others along the way.

101 Juice Fast Recipes – Just $1.01 – Great book by African American Juicing Diva, Carla Douglin.  Carla not only gives you 100 great juice recipes, she tells the benefits of juice fasting, what to expect really guides you through the process.

Laketra lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Laketra lost 50 pounds.  Now that is she is pregnant, she will gain baby weight, but she will be able to do it in a healthy way.

“I started at 216 and I am currently 166! I’m a mother of two and I have one on the way!  I cut back on the junk food, I stop eating after 8pm,if i needed to snack it was a healthy one mostly fruit, I worked out 3/4 times a week for almost a year…….me getting married was my biggest motivation! I went from a 2x shirt to a med. in the last photo I’m 2months pregnant currently I’m 4months and I’ve only gained a healthy 9 pounds so far!!!!!!!!! Yay me!!!!!!”

Laketra weight loss

 

Chanelle lost 52 pounds

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Today’s weight loss story:  Chanelle lost 52 pounds by watching what she ate and exercising regularly.

“Hi, my name is Chanelle. I’m a single mom of twin boys and a daughter.  If u look at the old pics on my profile, you’ll see that I have gone from 260 pounds to 208 pounds By Myself!  I work out and watch what I eat.   No soda and no sugar!!!!  I also work out and do toning exercises.  I have serious self control!!!  These photos show the results of changing bad eating habits and working out regularly…and I’m going to lose ten more lbs!!

Will power and depression prompted my changes on this journey. I started working out Aug 2011 just for fun and too see what would happen.  I realized that I didn’t want junk food after all that hard work.  By Aug 2012, I’d lost 52 pounds.  I go to the YMCA  and I do classes (body combat, step interval, and every now and then a spinning class) and I keep toned with regular cardio and weights..and a lil prayer helped too!!”

Chanelle weight loss

Kemba went from a size 22 to a size 14

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Today’s featured success story: Kemba went from wearing a size 22 to a size 14.

“I went from a size 22 to a 14 and counting.  I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost so far but I did it naturally. For me, my weight lost started mentally.  Once I decided I was going to lose weight I was ready. I have an oatmeal shake for breakfast most mornings. I took meat out of my diet.   I eat small portions and exercise three times a week.   My last meal for the day is at 8pm.  Sometimes I wanted to give up but I had GREAT support system.  Good luck on your journey!!! It can be done…1 pound at a time.”

Kemba weight loss