Black Weight Loss Success

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Fabiola lost 93 pounds

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Fabiola lost 93 pounds with the help of weight loss surgery.  Check out her story and a video of her transformation below.Fabiola weight loss

Here are the details of her story:

Im only here to speak the truth and nothing but the truth! In 2009, I started my weight loss journey at 288 pounds. I had the lap band and at the time, had lost 60 pounds in a year. I ended up gaining all the weight back.  It was a struggle everyday.  It was hard to eat dense protein like chicken or turkey bc I would get “stuck”. I found myself eating cookies and starch all the time cause those “slider” foods went down well. I knew that surgery could NEVER fix my food addiction. Before surgery I vowed to give up junk if I could be satisfied with small healthy portions. Unfortunately with the band, I was never truly satisfied with small portions and that’s the truth. I commend those who reached their goals with the band because its NOT easy.

Weight loss surgery is not the easy way out, if it were then real people like me would have never failed the first time around..It is a tool that if used correctly and if it is effective, can help you lose weight!

Luckily for me, I was able to get the band revised to the gastric sleeve in June 2012.. This tool is more effective for ME. My stomach is smaller now and I’m finally able to eat dense protein and stay satisfied like I always wanted! This is the ONLY thing that has worked for ME and I could not have accomplished so much without this tool. I had to make drastic changes such as eliminating carbs sodas and junk from my diet…I concentrate on eating a lot of proteins like chicken, fish, eggs etc. Premiere protein shake from Costco is great! 160cal and 30g protein! Chocolate flavor is the best, had to throw that in! Lol..I work out 6 days a week and do a lot of strength training to avoid sagging skin. I love every minute of my journey and will continue to put an end to obesity.

If you are against weight loss surgery then I truly wish u the best on losing it the natural way, hopefully you will get there soon..But to everybody else who has tried doing it the natural way for years on end and are tired of being in denial and are interested in weight loss surgery, I say live your life for you! Cause at the end of the day, when the lights go off and your buried 6 feet deep, ain’t nobody gonna be there but you. So stop worrying about what others think and live your life the way you want to before it too late. If weight loss surgery is your last option then at least your making a last effort instead of just sitting there and packing on more pounds…Plus If everybody else can be happy, why can’t you?  Be blessed always, Fabiola Apollon”

Marie lost 149 pounds

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Marie lost 149 pounds.  She wrote to us to share her story.

“I love ur page.  I started out at 338 pounds and now I weight 189 pounds.  I started this journey in 2010.  I stopped drinking sodas, fried foods, starchy foods, and cut out all fast foods.  I love all fresh veggies, shrimp and fish (salmon).  I make my own protein shakes.  I speed walk, run, jog hills, do strength training, do spinning, Body Pump classes, squats and jumping jacks.  I also eat 5 to 6 healthy meals a day.  I drink green tea and I do a detox at the end of each month.

NO SURGERY NO PILLS NO WEIGHT LOSS SHAKES…. I JUST GOT UP… EVERY MORNING AND PUSHED MYSELF…AND I’M STILL PUSHING MYSELF.”

marie weight loss

 

Sheena lost 90 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Sheena lost 90 pounds.

Sheena weight loss

Here is what Sheena had to say about her weight release journey:

“I have lost over 90lbs with 3Ds: Dedication, Determination and Discipline, and it aint over yet.  I got more work to do! In spite of opposition that I have faced through this journey, I have learned inner strength and how to take the stress of the day and let it out in my workout.

I joined a weight management center in cleveland ohio’s Fit Challenge (Weight Management Center aka The Fit Center). I learned new eating habits. I took up running. In my neighborhood, I did not see women that looked like me running. I couldnt afford running shoes (I’m a single mother). So I brought some shoes that were being discontinued, high top nikes for 29.99. I ran to the corner and I thought everyone was looking so I ran to the next corner, I got maybe 3 miles aways from home.  I thought, I gotta get home and I cant walk because then I’ll look like I punked out,. I was diligent in running.  I’ve ran up to 17 miles. I completed my first half marathon in 2hr 9mins, with my high top nike shoes . I’ve never looked back.  Nutrition is 80 percent and 20 percent is exercise. Dedicate yourself to eating living foods and you will live!”

Vickel lost 41 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Vickel lost 41 pounds going from 207 to 166.

Vickel before and after

She says,

“Just wanted to share to assist in inspiring others. The first photo I weighed in at 207 pounds. During my highest weight, I was diagnosed with hypertension and was on two tablets. My doctor told me I was too young to be on it. I’m no longer on it. The second photo I am currently weighing in at 166 pounds. Currently I am 36 years old and completed my weight loss journey with a wonderful group called Team Fit. Like this group, they encouraged and motivated everyone! I contribute all of my weight loss journey to God, water, and my son. I began my journey with simply walking, now i am taking spin classes, weight training and I am now running! My goal is to become 150 but more importantly healthy. Continue to be a blessing to others!”

Cola lost more than 55 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Cola lost more than 55 pounds with portion control and consistent exercise.  I asked her how much she’s lost in total and she said, “I don’t know the total after I lost 55lbs. I no longer weigh myself, I only track inches. I workout with a trainer now and the muscle building was making me gain weight ,so mentally it was messing with me”  Read her story below.

Here is what she had to share about her weight loss journey:

“I love your FB site and I am inspired by your posts. I wanted to share my story and hopefully be an inspiration to others. I have been working on my transition for 5 yrs now and I am still not done but I am happy at my work so far. My main changes that achieved the most success have been portion control and consistent exercise. I no longer eat carbs after 4 pm and I work out 3 – 5 times per week. I also keep food diaries to watch calorie intake and pay attention to what i am putting in my body. I also set small goals each week or every 30 days so the task doesn’t seem overwhelming or unattainable. I also love rollerskating and dancing literally all night when I go out to clubs. So I am getting in cardio without even trying when I do those activities. I don’t usually weigh myself but I do track inches which is very important to me. I want to lose about 6 more inches in my waist measurement to be at my ultimate goal.”

Natasha lost 95 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: BWLW Online Community  member Natasha lost 95 pounds going from 225 to 130 lbs.  She was featured in the Huffington Post’s Healthy Living weight loss success profiles.   

Natasha's weight loss

In our online community we always ask what people’s weight loss goals are.  Natasha says, “I’m in maintenance mode now, after having lost 95 lbs. I strive to continue to exercise, eat right and to do right by my body, soul and spirit.”

One of the other BWLW community members asked her about her workouts and she said, “I haven’t focused on one particular area, but by working out (at least 3-4 days a week), I have managed to tone my body all over.”

From the Huffington Post article:

“Breaking Point: I was pregnant (and eventually miscarried) at the age of 21. I miscarried at five months, during my second trimester. I was 185 pounds when I first learned I was pregnant, and I gained a total of 40 pounds during that five-month period of time. Granted, I was never a small person to begin with, but I was tipping the scale at 225, and I knew something would have to give. There was never an explanation as to why I miscarried, but in my heart, I always knew that my weight gain was a factor…”

“How I Lost It: “…I began the Atkins’ Diet in August of 2003, and by the end of my first month, I’d already lost 20 pounds. I continued on, and by February of the following year, I was down to 160 pounds. I also signed up for a gym membership, and that helped me maintain my new-found weight loss for quite some time.

I went back to school in January of 2005 to begin working on my Master’s degree, and by the summer of 2006, I had regained 20 pounds. This time, I knew that I couldn’t go back to cutting carbs. I was going to have to learn how to eatcorrectly if I wanted to maintain long-lasting, lifetime weight loss. I joined Jenny Craig in October of 2007. The pitch at that time was, “Lose 20 pounds for $20, plus the cost of food.” Well, I was 175 when I entered the program, and by January of 2008, I rang in the new year at my lowest weight to date: 155 pounds…”  Click here for the full details of how she lost the weight.

 

Tiffany lost 70+ pounds

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Today’s Success Story: Let’s show some love to Tiffany on her 70+ pound weight loss!

Tiffany weight loss

She sent us her story via our Facebook page:
I love love love this page! So positive, inspiring, and motivating! Keep up the great work. I would love to share my personal journey. I just recently posted/uploaded a pic on my personal page that reflects me at the October 2010 Breast Cancer Walk VS. the October 2012 Breast Cancer Walk. I stopped counting after I lost 70lbs. I am NOT a slave to the scale. I witnesses my success by mostly non scale successes such as the way my clothes fit, under clothes fit (LOL), if I have to add extra holes in my belt, heavier weights I can lift, and as always PICTURES!!! Pictures never lie! I attribute my weight loss success to many things which include Jillian Micheals at home dvds which is where I started, zumba fitness(I am now a licensed zumba fitness instructor), Black Girls Run Augusta group, and my wonderful personal trainer by the name of Suprina Henley, owner of SBH Fitness in Augusta, Ga. Throughout my weight loss journey I have found a deep love and respect for health and fitness, I am now on the road of studying/preparing to become a certified personal trainer as well as a Certified Nutritionist myself so that I can accurately educate the individuals in my community and possibly even reach individuals outside my local community. I had to make a decision to become healthy for myself and my son. My family has a long history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and several cancers on my mother and father. Anyway, keep up the GREAT work and uplifting women from state to state around the globe! May God continue to bless u my sista! 🙂:)

Tiffany after photo

Sholonda has lost 47 pounds!

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Much love to Sholonda who has gone from a size 28/30 to 21/20 since Aug! Like many of us, she has tried a number of different things including weight loss surgery and B-12 injections to lose weight and now she’s found a regime that works for her.

Sholonda weight loss

She says,
Hello Everyone,  My name is Sholonda P. and I am 39 years old and I live in Chicago, IL. I was recommended by a friend to come to this page and tell my story. I have always been heavy since a child. I have been up and down on yo-yo diets all the time as well as even going as far as getting a lap band and then having it removed. Just recently I had made up my mind that I wanted to lose weight and do it the right way, naturally. On July 26, 2012 I started my new goal of losing weight and as of today I have lost a total of 47lbs. I started drinking more water than I usually did. I started getting B-12 injections weekly or bi-weekly to help with my energy and boost my metabolism and help break down the fat cells. Even if I don’t get the injections I buy the B-12 pills at the store. I also do water aerobics 4-5 times a week. Because the water aerobics work all parts of your body and muscles that you have not used in a longtime and makes you feel good also, especially if you are not a person that likes to walk or exercise, the water aerobics really work. I just really made a decision to change so I changed my diet, I stopped eating bread, potatoes & junk food, pop, fried foods and some beef meat and no pork. I now eat baked foods without the skin. It was hard at first, but I am doing it and everyday it gets a little easier, as long as you have determination and want to do it. I eat what I want, but I have cut my portions down and eat more salads and fruits. I also watch my calorie intake. It is true you should eat breakfast because it helps you out a lot and helps you to not over eat later, so if I don’t cook breakfast I will drink a protein drink and eat some fruit and that holds you over until lunch. I really like eating salads with a grilled chicken breast and the fat free dressing, so far this is what I have been doing. Just take your time and DON’T GET FRUSTRATED & DON’T GIVE UP, if you mess up one day, just go back after it until you get it right. Make it one of your short term goals and give it a certain time when you want to complete it by and that works too. I have went from a 28-30 to a 21-22 and I feel great and most importantly, I LOVE ME, NO MATTER HOW I AM. I still have some ways to go to where i want to be by June 2013 for my 10th year Renewing of my Wedding Vows.

Shari lost 60 pounds!

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Today’s Featured Success Story: Shari has lost 60 pounds!

Shari Weight loss

She Says,
I’m 40yrs old and started my weight loss journey in May of this year with exercising and eating right. To date I’ve lost 60 lbs! My weight was 255lbs and I have 30lbs to go!  I walked and still walk 3 to 5 miles every morning, I’m now jogging 1 mile and walking the rest! My eating habits consumed of 1200 calories a day, which included chicken breast with veggies no bread no sweets for the first 3 months, my bread n sweets are now limited to one day of the week n that’s Saturday with the kids!