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Trina lost 50 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Trina lost 50 pounds by changing her eating habits and making healthier choices.  Check out her Facebook page, “Curvy, Confident, and FIT“.

Trina lost 50 pounds

Hi my name is Trina and I just want to sahre my journey with you all:-) My before picture was taken in September of 2011 at 230lbs. I didn’t start my journey until January of 2012 When I knew without a doubt I was ready for my change! My after picture (middle photo) was taken in June of 2012. In less than six months I was down to my goal weight 180 lbs. I told to ya’ll I was ready!! I prayed long and hard about this change and I knew it was gonna happen:) I began slowly changing my eating habits and started making more healthier choices. I basically started eating “cleaner” 90% percent of the time:-) Lean meats, whole-grain and fruit and veggies. I also got myself back in the gym and stayed consistent. I do everywork out and machine there is along with weighting lifting and running. I lost 50lbs of excess baggage!! I had to work from the inside out removing some deep insecurities I had been suppressing for years! I began to truly love myself and started taking care of my temple. My mind was finally freed from all that bondage! God has truly given me the strength do ALL things!! I feel great! My whole mind, body and spirit has changed and this is about a lifestyle change!! My transformation after nine months of eating clean and amping up my workouts (third photo). I’ve always loved my shape but had the desire to be fit as well!! It’s a balancing act but with self-love and dedication it can be done!! I’m currently 178 (52lbs gone!) and have no desire to loose anymore weight. My goal now is to tone, trim and lift:-)

Lisa lost 76 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Lisa lost 76 pounds and became a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Instructor.  She has provided the FULL details of her weight loss journey (below) and I think her story will resonate with a lot of BWLW Ladies.

Lisa Woods weight loss story
The small photo was at my heaviest weight of 200 lbs when I was about 20-21 years old. On the left is a pic of me in 2007 when I regained back 1/2 the weight I lost. On the right, recent photo.

She wrote us to say:

“Here is my weight loss success story! I am 34 years old, 5’3 and currently weigh 124 lbs. My starting weight was 200lbs. That was my heaviest weight when I was about 20-21 years old. After I graduated college and got a job, I started gaining weight from all the office lunches and morning meeting breakfasts. I wasn’t exercising so I went from a size 9 to a size 18 over a few years. Of course no one said anything to me about my weight but I knew something was wrong. I claimed that I didn’t have money to hire a trainer but I did have the money because how was I buying all the crap food I was eating? If I had the money to buy crap food, I had the money to invest in my health. I ended up hiring a personal trainer who ended up becoming my mentor. I took her aerobic classes and began working part time for her gym as front desk desk. I ended up losing 70 lbs!

Over the next few years I started teaching spinning classes at her gym and became a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Instructor in 2005! But just like everyone else, there comes a time when you start to think that you can go back to eating whatever you want…I stopped counting calories and even though I was still working out every day, I started gaining weight again because I wasn’t eating properly. Which brings me to 2007 when of the 70 lbs I lost, I gained back 35 because I wasn’t eating correctly. By my wedding in June 2007, I was back up to 171! When I got back from our honeymoon, I buckled down again and got back on track. My clients stayed with me because I was on the same struggle as them. Personal trainers are human too…we fall and stumble just like everyone else. I got back on track and lost all the weight by counting calories, weighing and measuring my food and of course exercising. I also decided to start training to run half marathons, but I started off by running 5ks, then 10ks, a few 15ks and then the big one. I got my weight back down to 134.

By the end of 2009, I had run many 5ks, 10ks, 1 15k and 5 half marathons. At the end of January 2010, I was pregnant with my 1st child…even though I watched what I ate and worked out every day, I still managed to gain 36 lbs which once again brought my weight back up to 171 when I gave birth! I was so depressed because I didn’t want to have to go through the weight loss yet again but that’s exactly what I had to do. So it did it! I continued to workout at home, canceled my gym membership and got down to business! By 6 months post partum I was back to 134 (my pre pregnancy weight). I kept it going after that by joining myfitnesspal.com to keep track of everything that I ate. I continued to solely workout at home doing programs such as Insanity, Asylum vol and and i just completed Asylum vol 2! My exercise routine right now consists of interval and circuit training. I drink atleast 1/2 a gallon or more of water per day, eat over 100g of protein, I also monitor my carbs, far and sodium intake via myfitnesspal. I also completed 2 half marathons this year and will continue my running and sports specific exercises to bring my fitness to new level. I am currently 124 lbs and have been maintaining at this weight since March of this year. I am where I want to be and will continue to maintain at my current weight.

What I have learned through my journey is that once you get to your goal, the work doesn’t end there. You have to keep going and continue to watch what you eat because if not you will gain back the weight. I’ve also learned that I am capable of doing so much more than what my mind tells me! I tell my clients all the time to believe in themselves because each and every one of us has it in us to succeed! You just have to ask yourself, how bad do you want it? If you want it bad enough, you will stop making excuses why you can’t, and start coming with with reasons why you can! Once you do that, it will all fall into place but you have to do the work!! You have to keep pushing play every day and not let anything or anyone stand in YOUR way of getting to YOUR finish line!! I didn’t!! If I did it, you can do it!! Believe in yourself!! Invest in your health! It will be worth it in the end!!”

Carmen lost 92 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Carmen lost 92.5 pounds with the help of Black Girls Run.  Here’s what Carmen had to say about her weight loss journey:

“I am a wife and mother of 8 children. I work full time and in school for my Masters in Nurse Midwifery. Why am I saying all of this? Because many people think they don’t have “time” to workout/live healthy. But my Grandfather always said “there’s no excuse” so I adopted that philosophy into my life. I was scared of the possibilities of what could happen to my health internally so I went on a journey to change my life. My highest weight ever was 309. I started focusing on changing myself through diet and exercise and as of march this year began my ultimate lifestyle change when I became a vegan. I also juice from time to time and focus on eating clean 90/10. I have lost 95.2 lbs & 70 inches. I have little more to get to my goal weight. I workout 5 days a week with a combination of running/spinning, weights and yoga. I am a part of a local Black Girls Run group which inspires women all over the country to change their lives by focusing on their health. I most recently completed my first 15k and look forward to becoming a triathlete next year. When I first started I couldn’t last 5 minutes at 3.5 on a treadmill. I strive to show others if I can do it, they can too! Anything is possible!”

carmenweightloss2

Joetta lost 40 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Joetta lost 40 pounds by going vegan.  She is a proud military spouse who’s husband is currently deployed.  Here is what she had to say:

“I have lost 40lbs since march. I started at 204 now im 163.5.  It was my goal to reach my preferred weight as a gift to myself and my husband who is currently deployed. I wanted to give him a new wife, inside and out. There is no better feeling than, being confident. My problem was food. I became a vegan, no fast food no junk food, only fruits, grains, and vegetables. I sometimes eat fish or seafood.

Joetta weight loss story

SaLisa released 45 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: SaLisa released 45 pounds and was motivated by seeing how diabetes ravaged her family.

SaLisa before and after photos

She says,
“In my journey to become a healthier me, I lost 45 lbs. I watched the disease named Diabetes murder members of my family and this became an eye opener for me. I want to be natural and healthy for the rest of my days.  My starting weight was 189. When I first began the process I changed up my eating habits. All things white went to all things brown, like rice and pasta. I cut out soda completely, as well as fruit juice. All sweets were eliminated. Once I noticed my weight dropping, I decided to do more and I began doing cardio 3 days a week and strength training 2 times a week”

Twins Demetrias and Ametrias have lost a combined 80 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Twins Demetrias and Ametrias have lost 80 pounds combined.

Demetrias and Ametrias weight loss

What did they do to lose the weight?  Dede wrote us to say…

“My twin and I are on this journey together. We have lost a total of 80 pounds together just by exercising and eating healthier. Keepingitmoving:)  Our main advice to give is it’s never to late to start, go at your on pace, do what works for you, and never compare yourself to someone else who is also on a weight loss journey.”

Demetrias “Dede” Teal (pictured on the left): starting weight 225 current weight 183. “My main motivation was my daughter Jada who is a competitive gymnast. With her being an young athlete, I truly believe that I needed to be her main example of what it looks like to live a healthy lifestyle. My life style change consisted of working out 6-7 hrs a week, eating low carbs, counting calories, and drinking a ton of water.”

Ametrias Waters (pictured on the right): starting weight was 230 current weight 190 – “My main motivation was my husband and two kids. I wasn’t happy with my self and the way I looked, which sent me into a depression. Which was affecting my relationship with my family I knew Then i had to do something fast to get me out of my depression. I completely cut sugar and carbs out of my diet and ate under a 1000 calories a day and was drinking a gallon of water a day. It was hard but paid off. I didn’t start working out until about two weeks in. My sister and I started this journey together to give each other support , we started in feb 2010 and it’s still a process.”

Sonja lost 40 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story:  Sonja has lost 40 pounds since March.  She changed her diet and started to workout by running.

She says,
“20 more to Go!!!!  I am doing it!  From March to Today!  I started a workout by walking and then increasing to running 4.5 miles, 4 days a week.  I make a smoothie in the mornings for breakfast using my favorite fruit and soy milk by Silk.  I eliminated meat from my diet.  I eat salmon and certain fish but due to allergies to some I can only eat a few.  I drink black teas, green teas…no sugar.  I drink lots of water and no sodas.  I eat plenty of veggies using a lite olive oil and lemons for taste.  love yogurt and special K bars to snack.  I lost 40lbs staying consistent and motivated.  I feel overall healthier then ever.  I am 44 years old.”

sonja weight loss

Shuntella released 68 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Shuntella lost 68 pounds and 32 inches.

Shuntella weight loss

She says,
” I am 37 yrs old and 1 year ago this month I began to transform my physical appearance to match the healing I was doing on the inside. My beginning weight was 232 pounds. I began to walk and changed my eating habits. Which I began to eliminate high fructose syrup from my meals and cook at home with fresh vegetables and fruits for my sweet tooth.   Then I started doing zumba three days a week. I began to climb stairs (32 flights two days a week) which lead me to do the Urban Mountain challenge here in Kentucky which was climbing 29 stories and 638 stairs (which I completed in 11:47 minutes).  Then came my FIRST 3K ( I walked). I set my goals even higher and this August completed my FIRST 5K (I ran in 43 minutes)! I am now weighing in at 164 pounds! and workout 6 days a week doing zumba,aerobics,walking and running 3 miles on the weekends. I’m learning to LOVE ME more and more each day!” 

Jerry lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story:  Jerry lost 50 pounds.

She says,
“On the left is a picture of me when I was 18 and I was a freshman in college.  Due to my being uncomfortable, and the fact that I kept getting sick, I had to do something. On the right is a picture of me during my junior year in college. I lost 50lbs. I am still trying to lose weight, but right now I’m satisfied, comfortable , and happy.  I’m now 22 and I want to live a longer and healthier life..

At first I never ate and my body started holding food because it never knew when I was going to eat. Then I started getting sick.  So, I started eating 3 times a day, working out and praying over my health.  I work at an early childhood center so I’m often playing with my students.  That was one way of exercising.  I live on campus so I also walk more than I use to.  Honestly growing up and not wanting to live an unhealthy life is what inspired me.  Instead of eating greasy and fatty food I may just get a salad or fruit.  Instead of drinking soda, I drink water, apple or orange juice.

The only thing that stayed the same was my SMILE, Positive ATTITUDE, and my DETERMINATION 2 b healthy and happy.  Do what makes you feel good.  Be healthy and happy.

Nicolle lost 67 pounds

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Update 2016 – We featured Nicolle‘s weight release journey back in 2012 and she is still going strong. She lost 67 pounds, gained a few pounds back and now she’s working those off. Check out her update…

“I regained some weight and right now I’m working to lose the last 20 pounds that I regained. I am focusing on my eating habits, because you can’t outrun your fork. I have had a lot of support from a trainer who happens to be on Facebook. I believe that this time around I am going to take the slow and steady route rather than trying to get the weight off fast. Getting it off forever is much more important.”

nicolle before and after

Nov 2012 – Today’s weight loss success story: Nicolle lost 67 pounds by eating clean and exercising.

Nicolle weight loss

She said,
“I wanted to share my before and so far pictures with you. I started my weight loss journey at 244.4lbs.  In the first picture (with the tanktop) I was around 220lbs (5’9”).  I started my journey with weight watchers and am 8lbs away from my goal weight. 

I needed support and accountability so I purchased a three month pass to Weight Watchers. In the beginning I ate a lot of pre packaged meals and diet foods until I read the Eat Clean diet book by Tosca Reno. My diet now consists mainly of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans…and A LOT of water. I eat 4-5 small meals a day and track everything I eat in a food journal. I make sure to drink around 100 ounces of water per day.  As far as exercise is concerned, I started out walking and then joined a gym and did everything from the StairMill to spin classes. Now I mostly do weight training and speed walking. That has been important for me, only doing exercises that I enjoy and eating things that I like…I’m not going to stick with a program that I don’t like no matter how well it worked for someone else.

I am still a member of Weight Watchers and hope to lose the last 8lbs and meet my goal before the end of November (and before all of the holiday parties 🙂 Thank you for this page and all the support it offers!”