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Jenise lost 28 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story: Jenise lost 28 pounds and gained a new perspective on her mental and physical well being.  She has some real wisdom to share and especially wants to inspire petite ladies and those who are middle-aged.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Jenise weight loss

Since July 1, 2013, I’ve lost 28 lbs. by committing to 90% clean eating and 6 days a week of cardio and strength training. This was just Release #1 for me; I have another 20-30lbs. to lose. I’d like to inspire other short, middle-aged women like myself to get off the couch and move!

MOTIVATION:
My motivation to get healthy is a three-fold process I’ve penned for myself as The Trilogy: mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I’d observed that I was settling for mediocrity in all areas of my life and had allowed the desires of others to consume me. I decided to give myself permission to put myself at the top of my to-do list, set some boundaries, and start to be the change I wished everyone else would make.

EATING HABITS ADJUSTMENT:
I was stubborn for the first 4 months and thought I could out-exercise a bad diet. Previously, I’d skip meals and eat too much at dinner. I then accepted that I had to change my eating habits and began preparing 90% clean meals of lean meats, veggies, and fruit. I eliminated sugar and salt and eat 5-6 small meals on a 2-3 hour schedule.

WORKOUT:
I started working out by walking short distances, doing the plank, and other core exercises. As my endurance increased, I started jogging and strength training for 45-60 minutes, six days a week.

STARTING & CURRENT WEIGHT:
July 1, 2013 = 194
March 31, 2014 = 166

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE:
8 months

ADVICE:
My advice would be to: give yourself permission to put yourself first, be as good to yourself as you are to others, and identify and correct WHY you overeat (i.e., emotional triggers).

Check her out on Instagram: @genuinejenise

Jenise weight loss

Update: Kia went from a size 16 to a size 4

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Update: Kia was featured back in December and she wrote in this week to give us an update on how she is maintaining her transformation.  She lost over 70 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 4.  Check out our original post on her journey.

Kia weight loss

I started my weight loss journey in June 2012 at a Size 16 and XL/XXL. I have since been able to wear a size 4 and size Small! The journey is long and tough, but it is worth it. The scale does not always give us the numbers we want to see, because healthy bodies are based on so much more than what the scale tells us. Losing inches, losing body fat, having low blood pressure, feeling great, and being happy are all great successes of the weight loss journey.

I have been able to maintain the weight loss during the past few months through eating healthy foods. I meal prep every week to stay focused. I eat a vegetable with every meal, drink water all day, and limit my carb intake. I do have cheat meals, but it is all in moderation. Whenever I decide to eat out at restaurants, I make sure to choose the healthy options on the menu. My go to options are replacing the fries for broccoli, skipping the butter and sugar on the sweet potato, and always getting the dressing on the side when ordering a salad.

For my workouts, I create HIIT routines for in the house when the weather is cold or rainy. Now that Spring is here, I am back to my outside cardio! I just recently completed a 10k to kick off the season. I love to walk 3-5 miles around my neighborhood during the week after work. My motto is “find something that you love to do, and don’t ever give up.” I lost majority of my initial weight loss through walking. It worked for me. On Instagram, try to motivate others that any movement is better than no movement. Just get up and go!

@_healthychoice on Instagram.
imadeachoice.weebly.com

Kia weight loss

 

Essence lost 46 pounds

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Featured Weight Loss Success Story:  Essence lost 46 pounds.  Her story shows that you don’t have to chase quick weight loss. She gives the full details of her 2 year journey to weight loss and greater health and tells us what she did to make the difference.  Here is her story:

Essence weight loss

I would love to share my story and the struggle of just flat out being HUMAN.  The set backs, the come backs, the sweat, the tears, and over the struggle of getting to where I am today. I always like to tell people to ENJOY the struggle. And the reason why I say that is because it took me to find something that I love to do in order for me to PUSH to lose the weightI am 5’3, and at one point of my life I was 23 years old, weighed 184 pounds and was wearing a size 13. I was laid off from my job in 2007 and had just recently moved to Texas. It took me a year to find a job while living at home with my parents. There was nothing to do but lay around, apply for jobs, and eat. I was depressed.

2 years ago my doctor expressed to me that I was border line Diabetic and I had High Blood Pressure in which I would have to take blood pressure pills to get it under control. I use to be one of those women who was big but “carried my weight well” as a lot of people would say. I felt like that was a nice way of saying “you’re big, but not THAT big.”  I would go to the gym 3 times a week, doing 45 minutes on the elliptical, but still eating whatever I wanted to. I knew this was not going to get me where I needed to be and I tried to be content with myself but at the end of the day I was very unhappy with my weight.July 1st 2012 was the day that turned not only my health around but my life around! This is the day I started a 7 day all fruits and Vegetables cleanse.

Breakfast- frozen fruit smoothies, with my favorite fruit and apple juice
Snack- cup of cantaloupe
Lunch- garden salads with light vinaigrette dressing or sometimes no dressing at all
Snack- bananas, strawberries, grapes
Dinner- Vege stir fry ( Spinach, Onions, Broccoli, bell peppers with low sodium teriyaki sauce and garden salads if I didn’t feel like eating stir fry for dinner).

After this cleanse, I lost 6 lbs in a week. (mostly water weight of course) but it was a START and just what I needed!  I’m not perfect,  I can honestly say that I was one of those people who bought chips, cookies, and all other snacks you can think of,  I’m not afraid to admit I told myself I would eat all of it before I started this cleanse. Again, I’m human and who wants to waste food…smh @ me I know….I went from 3 days of 45 minutes on the elliptical to 6 days a week of doing 1 1/2 hrs of a combination of Turbo Kickboxing, Body Combat,  Nike Boot Camp Classes, running 3 times a week (for 1 mile at a 6.3 speed on the treadmill) and incorporating weight lifting at least twice a week at 24hr fitness!    I don’t like diets, so my meals consisted of eating better choices and smaller portions. Was I perfect? Nope, Did I cheat?  Yep! I mean let’s be realistic.  I am not the person to cook on Saturdays, so when I would eat out, I wouldn’t hold back but yes I would work out that day to shed some calories. My eating consisted of no pork and I cut back on Salt and Sugar. I did this for 1 year and before I knew it I was down to 138 pounds, and wearing a size 9. My blood pressure is now under control and I am no longer border line diabetic. Matter of fact my doctor was even impressed with my results.

I am not where I want to be physically but I’m better and stronger then I was before July 1, 2012. My self-confidence and spirit has lifted tremendously even my friends and family notice it. (Let’s just say I take more full body pictures then I do selfies these days) lol! I am now 30 years young and on a new journey of lifting more weights and eating more protein to obtain a more toned and fit body.  I am also proud to say that I have recently been certified to be a TurboKick Instructor, and I’m on a new path to help others achieve their fitness goals as well!All in all, if I don’t leave you with nothing else as you read about my journey, I do want to say this; THERE IS NO SECRET TO LOSING WEIGHT, JUST MAKE TIME FOR YOUR HEALTH. I waited until I had bad results at the doctor’s office to make a lifestyle change. Some people don’t get the warning before the end results of sickness or even death.  So make your lifestyle change TODAY!  And don’t forget SLOW progress IS progress.”
~Essence – Instagram: @essencedw

Essence weight loss

Hayet lost 90 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story:  Hayet lost 90 pounds.  This Instagram diva and proud Ghanaian shared her weight loss story with the world was able to inspire ladies here and in the motherland.  This is yet another example of how telling your weight loss story can be powerful. Here is what she shared with us:

HayetApr14

“I was always overweight but I actually wasn’t miserable. I was a curvy Ghanaian woman who spent 20 years building rock solid confidence to go with it. In 2010, it all changed when I underwent gall bladder surgery. The experience in itself was a big change for me and I decided to try and lose just a little weight. It took me 5 months, and I dropped about 40 pounds. Once again, I was completely satisfied and spent the next two years simply maintaining a 245lb average.

In 2013, it all changed. I got bored and wanted to make a change again. I knew there were two things I loved – taking pictures and sharing my life through them … and there was no better place to do it than Instagram!
A colleague once told me that when you make something public, you have to go through with it! And that is exactly what I did! In May of 2013, I announced my journey to a healthier body and started sharing my journey with my Instagram followers.  From time to time, I would post recipes, workout photos and my favorite gym clothes. To me it seemed like I was talking to myself, but the joy came when I went home to Ghana in December 2013 and people actually recognized me!  Women told me how my posts really changed the way they viewed fitness … apparently I made it look easy!!!! HA! The positive responses, the likes, the comments, the shares and the reposts have been the fuel of the entire journey. Since returning, I started a few groups on WhatsApp that have brought women in Ghana together to live a healthier life! The women get to ask me questions and together we learn to navigate the seemingly foreign concept of being healthy!

My eating habits in itself have been a journey of their own – I continuously change them as a way of challenging my body. When i first started off, my biggest challenge was putting fruit or veggies into my body. I fell in love with smoothies and my life has changed.  In terms of what I stopped eating, I would definitely say that I cut out all non-natural food products. Most importantly, I started to cook even more. I believe that when you cook you develop a new relationship with food, it is no longer the enemy, as weird as it sounds.

For excercise I joined lots and lots of group classes. Everything from Zumba, bootcamp and kickboxing. I make sure to go to the gym at least once daily…even if one of the sessions is 20 minutes.

In terms of my weight, I never really weighed myself. I didnt want to know. I would say I was pretty close to 290 lbs. At my most recent weigh in was at 201 pounds.I have lots of women who depend on me to post their routine so that gets me in there all the time! My instagram name is @hayetrida you can also see my posts using the #hayetisonadiet hashtag.”

 

 

Nicole lost 27 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Nicole lost 27 pounds, going from a size 16 to a size 10.  This petite diva says, “One pound is equal to 3500 calories – so remember whether you have lost 10 or 100 you’re still a success story!”…and we agree. Every pound should be celebrated and Nicole is doing just that.  She’s not waiting to shout victory at the finish line.  She is enjoying her journey, every step of the way.  Check out what she did to lose the weight:

Nicole weight loss

Name: Nicole Slater-Yarbrough
Age: 37
Height: 5’2″
Starting Weight: 199
Current Weight: 172
Starting Size: 16
Current Size: 10
Biggest Motivation: Wanting my “outside” to reflect the woman “inside”

Summary: “I was not always overweight. I was very athletic and conscious about my size and weight growing up. Time went on, I had a child, got married, went thru a divorce, got married again and then got “comfortable”. The weight just started to add up right before my eyes – but I never really wanted to “see” how I looked. Last year I finally started looking at current pictures and knew I had to do something.

I began drinking more water, working out on my treadmill, then adding Zumba videos, Jillian Michael, Billy Blanks videos and Circuit Workouts along with tracking my calorie intake. I also decided from the very beginning of my journey to begin a Facebook page support group for women over 30 years old looking to support, motivate and inspire each other. The bond and chemistry all the ladies in my group share is awesome. We keep each other on track and motivated as well. I had done some dieting in the past – very quickly and successfully lost weight – then gained it all back because I was refusing to make it a LIFESTYLE. This time around the weight is coming off slowly and steady – I sometimes get frustrated at the slow pace and then I realize this is the ONLY way I will keep it off for life – slow and steady will win the race. This time around I incorporate nothing in my plan that I cannot do for life. This means no “fad” diets, no shakes, no pills, no “theme” diets. Eating better and eating clean most of the time, water, regular workouts and plenty of rest are the only things I will incorporate into my plan now.

I do all of my workouts at home or outside. I will not purchase a gym membership until I prove to myself I can do this. My goal weight is 135 and I know I will make it because my whole mentality has changed when it comes to health and fitness. I used to think it was a race…there was a finish line…there’s no finish line. This is my life. The ladies I lead in my support group know this as well. I have currently hit a plateau with almost 40 more pounds to lose, so I felt submitting my story to Black Women Lose Weight would help reignite the passion and reason I started in the first place. BWLW and the stories featured always give me and the ladies in my FB group an extra “push” to keep going. Maybe my story will do the same for someone else. I’m almost half way to my goal weight and I look forward to coming back to post a follow up story on BWLW after I get there. I wasn’t going to submit my story because I haven’t MADE IT to my goal – but this is what it’s all about – our JOURNEY to get there – I always tell my ladies to ENJOY the weight loss journey – because then comes MAINTENANCE…lol…we’re in this for LIFE! Every success we share becomes the success of every woman trying to get to their goals! One pound is equal to 3500 calories – so remember whether you have lost 10 or 100 you’re still a success story!”

Nicole weight loss

Courtnea T lost 30 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Healthy Hair blogger Courtnea T wrote us to share her 30 pound weight loss.  This 5’1″ diva found a weight loss program that worked for her and dropped those pounds.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

courtnea weight loss

What Was Your Motivation? – “My motivation was that I was tired of being unhappy with my size. I’d been sick of my size for a while, but it was until I moved after my college graduation that I decided to do something about it. As I was getting settled into my new place Jennifer Hudson flashed across my screen in one of the new Weight Watchers commercials. I’m a huge Jennifer Hudson fan and I figured if she could do it I might as well give Weight Watchers a try. It honestly was the best decision of my life. I proved to myself once and for all that I could achieve my weight loss goals and take control of my eating habits once and for all. I also gained a better understanding of portion control and how to make better food choices.”

How Did You Change Your Eating Habits? – “I started by making small changes, such as less juice and more water. More fruits and veggies and less chips and candy. I eventually worked my way up to rarely having sugary drinks and red meat once every 2-3 weeks or so. In addition I began using a food scale to follow the actual recommended portions on food labels. However, in the midst of my changes I learned that it was okay to indulge every now and then. Currently I try to eat clean (lots of veggies, whole grains, chicken, turkey, etc).”

What do you do to workout? – “My workout routine varies because I do get bored easily. I enjoy HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Zumba, Strength training, bike riding, walking/jogging. Depending on the weather and my mood I will do any of the above. Currently I’m really enjoying strength training mixed with cardio. I’m loving the definition and tone that I’m getting from that combination! Regardless of what type of workout I do I try to exercise between 4-5 days a week.”

Starting weight/Current weight – “My starting weight was 173 lbs (I’m only 5’1”) and I now weigh 143 lbs. It took me about 6-8 months because I hit plateaus, struggled at times, etc. However, I’ve maintained my weight loss for 3 years now!”

Your advice to others – “My best advice would be to never give up on yourself. I’d gotten to a point where I had accepted my weight even though I wasn’t happy with it. I’d convinced myself that I couldn’t lose more than 5-10 lbs because that’s all I’d managed in the past. Even after starting my weight loss journey there were a couple of times where I really struggled and thought ‘maybe this is it’. I promise that if you keep pushing past bad days, weeks, etc you will prevail and achieve your goals!”

Check out her blog: courtnea2001.blogspot.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Courtnea2001

Nakeshia lost 118 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Proud mom Nakeshia lost 118 pounds.  After losing and gaining and losing weight through pregnancies, divorce and emotional eating, she was able to find a way of eating and exercising for lasting weight loss.

Keshia weight loss

“Hi, my name is Nakeshia. All my life I have been a bigger girl. I was always very confident though. My self image was never an issue until I had kids. I am a mother of two. After my first child, I lost 100 lbs. I was so ecstatic! The problem was that I lost the weight the wrong way and I gradually gained the weight back. Then, I got pregnant with me second child. After I had my daughter, I was the biggest I had ever been. My self image was destroyed. When my daughter turned one, I went on a weight loss journey. I ended up losing 50 pounds. Yay, right! Nope, because then I ended up going through a very harsh divorce. I had never been an emotional eater, but I became one. I ended up gaining 35 of the 50 pounds back.

After the divorce, I had severe self esteem issues. I started talking to God and through that journey, I realized it was time for me to lose the weight. I had to be better for my children. I wanted to be able to buy my mother of the bride dress from the same store my daughter bought her wedding dress from when she gets married. I started using myfitnesspal.com and exercising. Myfitness pal is awesome!!! I changed my eating habits completely!! I gave myself the 80/20 rule for my diet. I had a goal to eat healthy 80% of the time. That way I didn’t feel deprived. I normally ate healthy more than 80%, but having that option does wonders. I worked out five days a week. I started just walking at a trail. As my endurance gained, so did my workouts. I did an exercise program called Supreme 90 day, and it did the most changes to my body. I do a lot of interval training. It really helped to reshape my body. Strength training is also very important. I lost 118 pounds in a year and 4 months. My advice to others is to make small changes. Those small changes will end up being big results in the end.”

KeshiaMar14

Toi lost 107 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Toi.  She lost 107 pounds with weight loss surgery.  Read all about her weight loss journey and her decision to have surgery:

“Hi, I just wanted to share my journey. My name is Toi Phillips and my weight has always been a issue. I decided to take a big step on August 22,2013 and have gastric sleeve weight loss surgery. My starting weight was 332 pounds.

Toi gastric sleeve surgeryLike a lot of people, I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy.  I gained almost 85 pounds. When I had my daughter, I only lost 20 pounds so the rest was body weight. I had been taking phentermine or adipex for almost a year and my weight fluctuated 30 pounds to 35 pounds lost.  As soon as I would stop taking them, I would gain back all the weight and then some. I became immune to the drugs and dependent, meaning I would take them for energy or just to do a daily task.  I went to the doctor at my heaviest weight of 332 and found out I was what you call morbidly obese.  Now I had a one year old and no spunk to play with her. I felt I had to do something,

I worked out 4 days a week for about 4 months and lost about 3 pounds. I was so fed up. I did some research on the gastric sleeve procedure. I called around and did more research. My insurance would not cover the cost so I opted to go to Tijuana, Mexico where I paid a total of $4500.00 for the surgery. It was the best money spent and best experience. The staff was awesome. I’m down 107 pounds. I’m amazed at my self and I wish I would have known about the sleeve sooner. I will be happy to share to anyone who is interested in going to Mexico to get sleeved. I have more energy than ever and no complications. Also, I have a few YouTube videos about my weight loss under My Journey Toi Phillips“:

Toi before and after

Amazing Weight Loss: Catrina lost 519 pounds!

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2014 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Catrina lost 519 pounds! If you think that weight loss is impossible or that you can’t do it, her amazing victory is one more amazing example to us that we CAN do it.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Catrina lost 500 pounds

My name is Catrina and I have struggled with my weight all my life. At my heaviest, I weighed nearly half a ton, 955 pounds to be exact. Bed ridden and trapped in my home, I thought my life was over. I was unable to walk, couldn’t clean myself, and was a prisoner in my home. I was certain that I would never be able to drive, go to college, work, or even be able to go outside and breathe fresh air. I suffered from sleep apnea, cellulites, congestive heart failure, and was literally being killed by the fat that surrounded my short 5 feet 2 inch frame.

What was your motivation?
My motivation is watching my body transform. I also wanted to be able to finish college and be able to travel again. I had the gastric bypass weight loss surgery at 655 pounds, BUT I had to lose 300 pounds BEFORE any doctor would do surgery on me. I found a doctor in Ohio, Dr. Dean Mikami, took a chance on me and I thank God for that. This journey is hard but someone has to do it.

How did you change your eating habits? 
My eating habits are much better now. No more emotional eating. I’m cooking healthier and leaving that fast food stuff alone. I bake almost everything and eat lots of fish, turkey, protein shakes (whey protein powder).

What did your workout routines look like? 
I’m going to the gym and doing water aerobics five days a week. That’s good for my joints. I’m also walking a little bit more and just pushing myself more then I ever have.

What was your starting weight? 
955 pounds.

What is your current weight?
436 pounds. I will be meeting with a plastic surgeon soon to talk about getting excessive skin removed.

How long did your transformation take?
It’s been 6 years so far and I’m still working on it.  I had to learn how to walk and take care of myself all over again but God is truly good!!

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
If you truly want to lose weight it starts you, because you are the only one who’s stoping you. I use to make so many excuses for myself over and over again I had to stop making excuses for myself and just do it.

Catrina’s Facebook Group: 955lbs I thought my life was over
Periscope: Missallboutme
Instagram: @misstrina911

Update 2015: Catrina is raising money for skin removal surgery (Go Fund Me Link). – “After losing over 500 pounds I have been able to improve my mobility significantly, however, I am extremely limited by the extra skin that enclosed 955 pounds of fat. My walking, bending, standing, and sedentary movement is compromised by the extra skin hanging from my body. The extra skin that is restricting my mobility is also restricting my ability to continue reaching my weight loss goal. I am unable maximize workouts and must limit my movement and mobility. I have received approval from my physician to have the skin removed, but need help obtaining the funds required to undergo the surgical procedure. The cost of the procedure and associated fees is $10,000. Although that amount is not a lot of money, it is more than I can afford to pay. I have overcome heart failure, sleep apnea, and weighing nearly half a ton, there is no way a measly $10,000 is going to prevent me from obtaining my goal. This is the reason I need your help today. Although I may stumble, struggle, and even fall, I REFUSE TO LOSE. And with your help, I won’t.”

Update 2016: Catrina has released 573 pounds. At 955 pounds, she was bed ridden and trapped in her home, but she found the strength to fight and her progress is simply awesome. She recently wrote in to say: “I’m feeling amazing I have 200 more pounds to lose, but with God anything is possible! Thanks for always sharing.”

“My motivation is to one day inspire and motivate people. I know my story needs to be heard. When I was 955lbs laying in the bed I didn’t have anyone to look up to for help. I saw people on Jerry Springer that look like me and people made fun of them. So, I want to be the person who changes the face of obesity. People think we are lazy and not motivated. That’s not true for most we just need help and I know God keep me around to use story and show people anything and everything is possible.”

catrina weight loss story

Louise lost 70 pounds

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Update from Louise –  Nov 2015: “Happy November! I was featured last year when I lost all of my weight. I started lifting weights since then and I’ve completely changed my body yet again. I became a Certified Fitness Trainer and I am the founder of Lulu Plus You Fitness. Facebook: Lulu Plus You Fitness Instagram: @lulugetsfit_2 and @lpyfitness”

louise before and after

Mar 2014 – Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Louise lost 70 pounds.  She did research and found the way of eating and exercising that allowed her to create a new healthy lifestyle and lose pounds.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Louise before and after

“I just got tired of being overweight. I was always tired and getting sick, and it was all because of my weight. In February 2013, I decided that I was going to start changing my life. I worked out 5 days a week, in the beginning. I started researching what I should eat when trying to lose weight and that is how I changed my diet. Now, I eat clean, meaning no processed foods, no fast foods, and only lean meat, fruits and veggies and lots of water. I started out doing lots of cardio. I would be in the gym 2 to 3 hours a day. When the weight started coming off, I started doing weight training a couple times a week. Now, I workout 5 days a week. I do circuit training, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and lots of weight lifting. I have lost 70 lbs so far. I’ve gone from 232 pounds to 162 pounds. My advice is to look at weight loss as a lifestyle change not something you have to do. Looking at it as something you have to do will get you discouraged when you don’t see results and then you will give up. A lifestyle change is permanent so you’ll know that no matter what happens, the weight will come off and it is not something that you will constantly think about.”

Instagram @lulugetsfit_2
Health page on Facebook: I am beautifully fit