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Felice lost 60 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Felice lost 60 pounds after dealing with divorce, finding new love and having her first child.  I think her story is one that a lot of ladies will relate to.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Felice and my journey started in 2007. To make a long story short, I was trapped inside a marriage surrounded in jealousy and gaining the weight was my way of warding off some of that jealousy and making it better. So, 5 years into the marriage and I was no closer to any happiness than when I started out. I looked into the mirror at the woman who could go to a mall and shop in any more than 3 stores because my back hurt.  A woman who ordered all take-out thru the drive-thru and played like the 2nd meal was for someone else when in fact it was for me. I didn’t like the woman I had become. Where was the woman who smiled and laughed and loved life? I asked myself if I could go through another 5 years like the last 5 I had gone through. Answer…no.

I bought an elliptical with my Christmas bonus December of 2007. That helped a bit, but I fell off again. February of 2008, I joined a gym. I went 5 days a week without fail. I counted calories and ate 1200-1500 calories a day depending on if it was a gym day or not. I counted fat and sodium as well. It took me until July of 2008 to lose 67 pounds. I was 3 pounds away from the 300 pound mark. I wanted a new life, a new beginning, a new everything. The marriage was over as of Feb. of 2008 when I started working out.  I moved to a new state in July 2008. I lost those 67 pounds and must have kicked my fertility into high gear because November of 2008 – I got pregnant with my first child. My newly found relationship provided me with everything I didn’t get from my marriage and this time I knew my net and total worth. Now my son is almost 4 years old (born in August of 2009). I gained 40 plus of the weight back when I was pregnant and from “happy weight.”

In January of this year (2013) my department at my job decided to do a Fitness Challenge. Since January I have lost those 40 plus pounds again and I’m now almost 7 pounds within that original loss of 67 pounds. I’m going to surpass that and keep going so that I am under 200 pounds. The middle and right photos are my before pics and the one on the left is my now pic. I like to say…”I am not where I want to be, but I’m a long ways from where I’ve been.” Starting weight: 297 pounds, Current weight: 237 pounds, 1st Goal Weight: 199 pounds, Ultimate Goal Weight: 170-175 pounds, Height: 5”3 and ½ – I will definitely be doing an update come December of 2013 to let you all know how much more I have accomplished. BWLW has inspired me to reach for those goals. The women who share their story are inspirational so I wanted to be what they have inspired me to be.

Felice weight loss before and after

Rachelle lost 27 pounds

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Breast Cancer Survivor Rachelle lost 27 pounds and 2 dress sizes by cutting calories, eating fat burning foods, using MyFitnessPal and walking.  Let’s show her some BWLW Love.  Here is what she shared with us:

First, I would like to say that I love your site and you are, in part, the reason I decided to start my weight loss journey. I am a Breast Cancer survivor.  After chemotherapy, I gained a lot of weight. This was mostly due to poor eating habits, but I also struggled with my self image. A week before my 36th birthday, I decided I was going to lose the 30 pounds I had put on once and for all. Everything was starting to fit tight and I refused to buy bigger clothes. I knew that dieting was not going to work.  I would have to make some life style changes if I wanted to shed the pounds and keep them off.  So, I said good bye to fast food, fried foods, sweets and soda. I did some research online and found 15 fat burning foods on Women’s Health Magazine’s site and incorporated them into my diet. I tried to include as many as possible in every meal and snack. I found that preparing my own food worked best for me because I knew exactly what I was eating. I cut my calorie intake to 1200 a day and started drinking 64 oz of water every day. I tracked my progress with the app MyFitnessPal. I did that for the first month and lost on average about 2 lbs. per week! I couldn’t believe it was really this simple. At the beginning of the 2nd month, I started walking twice a day on my 15 minute breaks at work. I walked a little under 2 miles per day. In 3 months I went from 220 lbs. to 193 lbs, down 27 lbs. and 2 pants sizes!

Rachelle weight loss story

Bri lost 73 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Bri lost 73 pounds.  She was able to lose weight in a healthy way, eat right during pregnancy and deal with a diagnosis of Lupus.  Here is what she shared with us:

My weight loss story! I went from 216 pounds to now 143 pounds in less than a year, after giving birth to 3 children!  After getting pregnant with my second child and giving birth in 2010, I found myself weighing 216 pounds and wearing a size 14/16 in clothes. I struggled with my self esteem and my weight for the next 3 years. Was never quite able to lose it, no matter what I tried! Pills, shakes, bars they wouldnt work! Finally in 2012, I said enough is enough!  I changed my diet and started avidly exercising. I went from eating EVERYTHING I wanted and snacks galore to eating smaller meals and less carbs. I did 75 crunches a night and 110 squats. I walked 2 miles a day and drank A LOT of Water and 100% juice.  I also cut down my sugar intake and No snacks! Fruits! After losing 20 lbs in February, I found out that I was 5 months pregnant with my now 1 year old daughter. I still ate right, exercised and everything throughout my pregnancy. Then, I became very ill and bed ridden around May 2012. I still perservered through my eating. I was then diagnosed with Lupus and told that I could no longer exercise. However, I prayed and asked God to get me through it and he did. I gave birth to my daughter July 3rd 2012 and was 180 pounds. I got a personal trainer and kept on my diet.  Here I stand a year later at 143 pounds and healthy! I battle my Lupus like a good soldier and continue to eat right and exercise!

Bri weight loss story

Natalie lost 43 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Natalie lost 43 pounds by eating healthier and working out 4-6 hours per week. Her story shows that weight loss has it’s ups and downs and it takes time, but you can re-commit and have success.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Natalie and here’s my story. I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. My two wake-up calls happened during during my freshman year in college. First, I wasn’t able to fit into a roller coaster ride at a theme park and had to get off the ride. Second, I had to do an assignment for one of my classes which required us to weigh ourselves. I found out I was 240 pounds (left picture). I was devastated. This information was enough for me to decide to change.

I started counting calories (1500 per /day) and working out for 1.5 to 3 hours/three days a week. In eight months, I lost 60 pounds. Unfortunately, I was not eating healthy during this time. When I stopped calorie counting, I gained about 24 pounds back over the course of three years. Now, I am restarting my journey to lose weight. I started about a month ago (after my college graduation) at 204 pounds and I am now about 197 pounds (right picture). I am eating MUCH healthier and only drinking water. I workout 4-6 hours a week doing a combination of running, elliptical, modified INSANITY workouts, Zumba, weight training, and walking. I realize now that this is a lifelong commitment. I am currently working to lose about 15-20 pounds before the beginning of November. I am so inspired by the success stories of the women on this Facebook page!

natalie weight loss pictures

Lindsey lost 140 pounds

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Update: Lindsey has lost a total of 140 pounds and her loose skin removal surgery is being chronicled on a new show, Skin Tight, on the TLC network. (Jan 27th at 10pm EST). More info on the show.

lindsey before and after

July 2013: Today’s weight loss before and after story: Vlogger Lindsey M. Adams lost 126 pounds.  She realized God’s healthy plan for her life, left an abusive relationship and learned to eat right and exercise with programs like Weight Watchers.  Here is what she shared bout her weight loss journey…

Lindsey weight loss storyLuke 1:37 “ For with God nothing shall be impossible “ That is the foundation that transformed a 5’5″, 307 pound women into a healthy, whole and fit 181 pound woman today. After 126 lbs. lost and still losing; God has been my number one source, provider, intercessor, healer and motivator. I started my Journey in July 2011, after the Lord spoke to my spiritual accountability partner about the enemy’s plan to kill me with morbid obesity. I wore a size 22/24 and weighed over 300 pounds. Most importantly I had low self- value and esteem and was in abusive relationships for over 8 years. I found myself being the “other woman” or the “side-line” piece because I tried replacing my feelings of rejection with male attention. Between July 2011 and October 2011, I lost 26 pounds by walking 1 hour on my local track for 3 days a week. In October 2011, I joined Weight Watchers and a nutritional program called “Body Breakthru”. As a member of these programs, I learned lifestyle changes and ways to face my weight loss challenges. I also joined LA Fitness and became an avid group fitness participant. Over a total of 15 months, I lost my first 100 lbs. Today, I am a size 10/12 and 181 pounds. I am excited to reach my goal and I continue to add variety and intensity to my workouts. I also work diligently to stop over eating and emotional eating, as well as to practice better portion control and honest calories tracking. I have been a motivational speaker for the Weight Watchers’ Jennifer Hudson Center in Chicago.  I am also an online personality creating videos about my weight loss journey on LindseymAdams.com.

weight loss success photos

Pebbles lost 54 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Pebbles lost 54 pounds.  Her weight loss and fitness journey was featured on the Dr. Oz Show (Dec 2012).  Now, she teaches others about mental as well as physical fitness.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hi, I’m Pebbles Armwood.  I am just a regular woman who at times gets busy, overwhelmed, and engulfed in everyday life. Around this time last year, I weighted 234 pounds and my doctor told me I was borderline diabetic. I knew at that very moment that I needed a change in my life. It’s one thing to be born with a health condition, because you’re not in control of that. However, to allow myself to become sick from something that I have control over is different. At any cost, if I can avoid, stop, and prevent any type of disease that’s what I will do. I knew that exercising was a must, so I had fun doing different fitness routines. I used dancing, walking, weight training, intervals, group workouts, etc. The key is that I had fun with my mental, emotional, and physical fitness. It took me 10 months to lose over 54 pounds.  Today, I am 180 pounds and still working on it. My message is simple, “It’s about mental fitness.. the physical part will follow.” I believe perception is reality which can make things hard, impossible, and unachievable for ourselves. Once I stopped playing the victim role, the sky was limitless. I soon realized that losing weight was a lifestyle change and not a fad. It’s all about small easy steps that will create big change. I had no idea losing weight would turn into purpose. I was a guest on The “Dr. Oz” Show after sharing my story. I now help others reach their goals thorough my blog, radio interviews, and one on one sessions. I also inform people about juicing for health. I now have a business called Pebbles Armwood Presents Mental Fitness. I do speaking events sharing my 3 Easy Steps To Mental Fitness.

“I love to dance, so I would go to the gym just do a lot of cardio because there was a lot of fat I needed to burn,” Armwood said. “I did cardio, I did elliptical, I did intervals, I did weight lifting. I love lifting weights. I could probably bench-press more than a lot of men. I would dance at home. I would go running, I would go jogging. I would do my own little made-up boot camp. Armwood also made changes to her diet, working in more parsley and lemongrass green tea into her diet, and into smoothies each morning before hitting the gym, both tips she learned from the show.” – Patch.com

Pebbles weight loss story

Latavia lost 150 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Latavia lost 150 pounds.  She went from a size 22 to a size 8/10 with Weight Watchers, seeing a nutritionist and working out 5 days a week or more.  Here is what she shared with us.

5 years ago, right before I graduated from college, Is when I began working out. I started by working out 3 days a week for a hour a day.  Gradually, I worked myself up to exercising 5 or more days a week for an hour a day. I joined Weight Watchers and started tracking everything I ate. Within a month I lost 10 pounds.  By the end of the first year I lost 100 pounds and I went from a size 22 to a size 14. In December 2012, I started seeing a nutritionist who helped me make better choices in terms of my eating habits. Since December, I have lost 50 pounds and currently wear a size 10 or 8. I have so much more energy, I feel healthier and I can shop anywhere I want!

Latavia weight loss story

Tyesha lost 162 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some love to Tyesha who has lost 162 pounds with gastric bypass weight loss surgery.  Her emotional journey is very moving! She was a part of Atlanta Biggest Loser Couple’s Edition with her husband in 2011. Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Tyesha Dean. After years of being overweight due to emotional issues stemming from being molested for over 10 years(ages 5-15), enough had became enough. At 36, I walked into a doctors appointment and was told that my molestation was the reason I could not have children. Even though my heart was broken, my life begin to change. I had to deal with these issues that were trying to overtake me, but after crying and a lot of soul searching and praying, I decided to make a difference and not become a statistic. I would turn my life around and motivate other women in the same situation as me. So the first thing I had to work on is my image, I had to shed the years of hurt and abuse that was masquerading as pounds on my small frame body.

I had a gastric bypass on 12/27/12. The last 7 months have not been easy. I had a lot of complications, but I have lost 162 lbs. My weight the day of surgery was 367 pounds and today I am at 205 pounds. My husband and I were on the Atlanta Biggest Loser Couple’s Edition in 2011. I lost 25 lbs the first couple of weeks, but after that, trying to compete with people that weighed 200lbs less than me began to take its toll, so I was quickly eliminated. Even though I was eliminated, I still kept working on to lose another 50 pounds. using the skills and eating plans I had learned about.

In 2012, my diabetes and high blood pressure were writing a book about my life and the ending couldn’t lead to anything else but a tragedy, I knew I had to do something. So, I decided looking into weight loss surgery. After losing my father at the young age of 56 to diabetes, I didn’t want to follow suit.

Since my surgery, there were a lot of downs, but my life has been blessed with the simple things that made it worth it. Things people take for granted everyday, like painting my toe nails, fitting in normal size chairs, wearing a seatbelt, picking up something off the floor, and my highest moment…being able to cross my legs.

If you need anything else, feel free to contact me..thank you!!!!  For more information on Tyesha, please visit Tyesha Dean.com

Tyesha weight loss surgery

La’Shonda lost 65 pounds

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Update 2016: We shared La’Shonda’s story back in 2013. Now, she is updating us about her ups and downs, as well as her success. She’s lost a total of 102 pounds.

LaShonda

My name is La’Shonda, and I am emailing you to share my blessed testimony. I was featured about 3 years ago when I lost 65 pounds. I have been constantly trying to lose more weight, and at one small period, I regained about 22 pounds. Graciously, I managed to lose those 22 pounds, plus an additional 35 pounds. That’s a grand total of 100 pounds. I am extremely grateful for this testimony. I have 50 more pounds to go before I reach my weight goal.

I did not lose weight with any fad diets, diet pills, programs or surgeries. I just practiced clean eating and exercised regularly. At my largest, 318 lbs/size 24, I became miserably aware that I needed to alter my lifestyle if I wanted to live. I started slow just changing what and how much I ate and I did not exercise. Before I knew it, I had lost over 50 lbs. Eventually, I reached a plateau. After that, I suffered major life changes and then I began to regain some of my lost weight. I was determined not to succumb to the pressures of being obese again, so I made a conscious effort to persevere and push forward.

I begin to increase my fresh vegetable and fruit intake, as well as my lean meat intake. I also minimized my starch intake. I eliminated processed, “fatty” foods, and anything with high fructose corn syrup and/or carbonation in it; thereby, increasing my water intake (approximately approx. gallon a day).

Once I re-lost my original 65 lbs., I incorporated exercise into my weight loss regimen. My exercise regimen commenced with just walking, and today I run too. Eventually, I incorporated strength training and rigorous cardio activities such as Zumba (which is fun, fun, and more fun). Now, I take Boot Camp classes, HIIT classes, and Body Sculpt classes. I’m also walking/running the bridges, taking Zumba classes and doing strength training. It’s a constant struggle, but if I can do it anyone can. I just weighed myself today and I currently weigh 216 pounds. (total of 102 lbs. lost). Thank God for giving me the fortitude to accomplish this. I am still a work in progress, but at least I can see and celebrate the progress.

La'Shonda

2013 – La’Shonda lost 65 pounds by changing her eating habits, doing exercises like water aerobics and weights.  Let’s show her some love!

Hello members of BWLW! My name is Shon, and I would like to share my story even though I am a work in progress. I’ve lost approximately 65 pounds. Initially, I began losing weight due to illness. Once I realized that I was losing weight, I seized the opportunity to capitalize on the loss. I changed my eating habits. I incorporated more fruit, veggies, and protein into my diet thus minimizing my sweet and starch intake, but my secret weapon was water. I eliminated carbonated drinks, and I limited my consumption of sweet tea/lemonade and fruit juice (100% only). I didn’t really exercise until I had lost the first 50 pounds. Now, I do some form of exercise daily. I’ve also recently begun taking water aerobics classes, and while I’m at the gym, I indulge in other forms of exercise by utilizing the weight equipment. I’ve noticed that certain body parts are beginning to tighten where it was otherwise very flabby. I still have a long way to go, but now I can see the change.  That’s all the motivation I need.  Thank you for encouraging black women to lose weight.

LaShonda weight loss before and after

Dari has gone from a size 22 to a size 12

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Dari started at a size 22 and dropped down to a size 12.  She changed her eating habits, worked out with P90X and Zumba and now she is a personal trainer helping others to get fit and healthy.  Here is what she shared with us:

I remember one day at my house on WV, my sisters were there and of course Brittany was there too. Heehee! I looked through my old red camera and came across some pictures of myself. I sat in the family room crying and asking them, “Why didn’t y’all tell me I was this fat, I mean this big?” By then, I think we all had tears in our eyes. LOL I can laugh about it now, but that day I swore to myself I would never look like that again. See by then, I had already loss several pounds and had a successful business, but what I didn’t have was closure. Closure from the fat person I used to be. Look, I never thought even at my heaviest size 22, that I looked bad. Sounds funny, huh?! I knew I was cute, I could do my hair and make up and not to mention my clothes were nice, but inside I was depressed, unhappy and often thought about giving up on life. Wow, even typing this is hard.  You see, you can’t wait for someone else to tell you, you need to lose weight, you have want it for yourself. For years I wanted to lose weight, but didn’t have it in me. That “it” I’m referring to is Christ. It wasn’t until I totally surrendered all of my life to Him, that I started to “Make changes from the INSIDE OUT.” Now at a size 12, I still often cry and pray daily. That is what gets me through.  Now matter what size you are today, you can do it. You can get healthier! You can be fit! You deserve it! I deserved it too! XOXOXO

What did you do in terms of exercise?

To lose the weight, I started out doing p90x.  Then I joined the gym and started taking Zumba class.  Later, I started teaching Zumba.  I have become a personal trainer and I have been at it ever since. Started my fitness business in June 2010 (Workout Hunny Fitness). Now, I do corporate fitness, Bootcamps, personal training and Zumba.

How did you change your eating habits?

I cut my calories back to 1200 – 1600 per day depending on my workout schedule. I ate mostly a high protein diet. I drink at least a gallon of water daily. No soda, fried food, sugar.

Dari weight loss before and after