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Latika lost 85 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Latika lost 85 pounds going from 315 pounds to 230 pounds.  She was motivated by a family history of diabetes to change her lifestyle.  Here is her story:

“In the photo on the left I was 315 pounds.  This is the biggest I had ever been after giving birth to my son in 2010. I decided it was time for a change and that I wanted to be under 250 pounds by my birthday 12/20. Now I weigh 230 pounds!!! 85 pounds lost. A part of my motivation was my family and having a history of diabetes which runs in my family. I consume protein shakes and vitamin supplements which are healthy for you. I also eat lots of fish and chicken which are good for protein and drink lots of water throughout the day. Also, I eat a lot of raw veggies and fresh fruit. Most of all, I work out several days a week doing 15 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weight training and then another 15 min of cardio which helps to burn fat. For all of you who are on your weight loss journey, don’t give up, keep striving at it. I promise you that the results will be well worth it in the end. Everyone’s body is different and you have to find a healthy plan that’s works for you.”

Latika weight loss

De’Ann lost 125 pounds with weight loss surgery

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De’Ann (aka LaLa) lost 125 pounds with gastric sleeve weight loss surgery.  Here is what she shared about her transformation:

“BWLW, I love your page and the support you show to our sistah’s everywhere. Here’s my before at 325 pounds and my after at 200 pounds. I have been on my weight loss journey since December of 2011 and it’s not easy most of the time. However, I must say it’s worth the struggles. With the love of God that I’ve developed, I’m learning through him how to love, respect and reverence my body as the temple for the holy spirit. I have some health issues that really make working out an ongoing obstacle for me, however I keep trying. I surf the web a lot.  I go through blogs I find on the internet, Facebook and other networking resources to get the best recipes, healthy ideas and workout tips from people that are in situations like mine (people with health issues and mobility issues).

I had weight loss surgery a procedure called a gastric sleeve in December 2012. Since then, my journey and my weight loss buddies transformations has changed dramatically. I do look and feel better. I always give all the Glory to the Lord for teaching me how to look outside of myself and look to him for discipline and self control. The weight loss surgery has helped considerably. It is not a quick fix. I need all ladies that are considering a procedure that drastic to understand that. I had to change my life.  I cut out fried foods.  I worked on tweaking my comfort food recipes so that they are heart healthy versions, that way I can still enjoy them. I have cut out all sugary drinks and I mostly drink herbal teas, water and coffee. I walk is much as my spinal condition and my knees will allow me to. When I’m really feeling good, I do some type of workout whether it’s with weights or cardio. I would just like to encourage all my sisters out there that if you have a goal in mind, if you have a destination that you are trying to get to, no matter how hard it seems at times, no matter how steep the climb gets, please do not give up!! God is in the midst of your trials and your tribulations. You can reach the finish line if you just believe.”

De'ann before and after surgery De'ann Weight Loss surgery

4 Reasons You Can’t Lose Weight That You May Not Be Aware Of

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For many, weight loss is a struggle and it isn’t for lack of trying. If you have been doing everything you are supposed to do to lose pounds such as watching what you eat, restricting calories and increasing the amount of exercise you do; and you still can’t lose weight there may be a hidden reason why.  Here are 4 reasons you can’t lose weight that you may not be aware of, and some suggestions on how to deal with these issues:weight loss road blocks

Reason #1 – Food Allergies

Usually when we think about food allergies we call to mind the symptoms. These can take the form of diarrhea, bloating, upset stomach or even a rash. What you may not be aware of is that some food allergy reactions can cause you to gain weight or stop you from losing weight. When the body has an allergic reaction, it will affect your immune system. The body sees the food as a toxin or intruder and starts to work overtime to fight it off. This means that the rest of you stops working in the way you would expect while your immune system is in overdrive. This can lead to bloating and weight gain or a reduction in digestive enzymes as the body strives to prevent the toxin from entering the system. If you suspect you have food allergies, make an appointment with your doctor and start by eliminating the foods you suspect. Gluten and dairy are the most common allergies, with around with 1 out every 10 people being allergic.

Reason #2 – Emotional Health

If you are under stress, upset or depressed, your body could create a reaction that can lead to difficulty in losing weight. Emotional health isn’t just a mental state.  Emotions can cause a hormone reaction in the body. If your hormone begin to become unbalanced, it can lead to weight gain or make weight loss difficult. To complicate this, if you aren’t feeling emotionally well you aren’t going to be as consistent with your diet and exercise routines. A third element that can come into play is if you are taking any medication to help promote emotional health, some of the side effects may include weight gain. Start by working to reduce stress in your life and bring in practices such as keeping a journal, yoga or meditation that let you begin to control your physical reactions to stress better. If you are on medication that is causing weight gain, ask your doctor if there is something else you can try that doesn’t have that side effect.

Reason #3 – Wrong Work

What you do for a living can be contributing to weight gain or preventing you from losing weight too. The work lifestyle with its rushed eating and bad eating habits is a big contributor. So are the stress levels caused by frustration, boredom or resentment on the job. How much you sit during your work can also impact your ability to lose weight. Try getting up and moving around at work as often as possible.  Choose to take the stairs and not the elevator. Pack your own healthy lunch to start gaining control of your eating in the workplace. If stress and job dissatisfaction is a factor, look to gaining new skills so you can seek a job you like better.

Reason #4 – Undiagnosed Illness

If none of these things apply to you and you are still having serious problems losing weight, or are experiencing unexplained weight gain you should see your doctor to determine if there is an undiagnosed illness present. Bloating, gas, diarrhea, water retention and weight gain can all be signs of problems like hypothyroidism, diabetes and certain cancers.  These symptoms alone may not say that you are ill, but they can be one of many signs.  There are also a lot of digestive illnesses that can develop as you age that may be preventing you from losing weight. The important thing is to not guess what is wrong with you but to go but to see your doctor and have tests done to find out what the problem is. Once the illness is found, there may be treatment options that will allow you to get better, and lose weight.  If you can’t lose the weight and are trying everything, always see a doctor to help you begin to eliminate the possible reasons why.

Ari lost 37 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Ari lost 37 pounds.  I love her story because she talks about how weight loss is more than eating and exercise.  It’s about looking within, reflecting on the past, dealing with your emotions and deciding who you want to be & why you want to change.

Ari
22
New Orleans
Artist (Poet/Singer/Photographer)/Student
Starting weight: 235 pounds
Current Weight: 198 pounds
Height: 4’11”
Started:Mid October
Method: Atkins (Low Carb) at first, then portion control and working out.

“Motivation: I have struggled with weight my entire life. Since I was a child, I was always considered the “fat one”. Verbal abuse by ex-boyfriends and others close to me was so common I accepted it as normal. 235 pounds was my peak weight. At 4’11”, I couldn’t walk up stairs or across campus without feeling like I’d just ran a quick mile. Although I pretended to be jovial around my peers, I was depressed beyond measure. One day on Facebook, I noticed a family member of mine had lost a tremendous amount of weight. I asked her how she did it. She said, and I quote ” I started with soul searching. Who I was, how I got here, unresolved issues, etc…then eating habits, then exercise. Everything begins within.” That began a year long journey to confront my fears, insecurities, and let go of everything negative I was holding on to. I essentially had to learn to really love myself. That led to me making a return to my passions; spoken word and music. After I learned to love myself with the weight on, I decided to take it off. I tried in the past, but it never stuck because I was doing it for everyone but me. I knew when I began this time would be different. Since starting my journey, I’ve changed completely! Confidence is through the roof, my art has gotten more personal, and I now love myself enough to not take ANY bullshit off a man (excuse my french). My advice to anyone who wants to lose FOR REAL: Love yourself. Everything begins within. Confront your demons and find out the real reason behind your weight. ”

Ari weight loss story

Monique lost 65 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Monique lost 65 pounds.  She made healthy, practical changes to her eating habits and took exercise classes at her local YWCA.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Monique weight loss story

“Hello, My Name is Monique Knight (Instagram: @msmoni04) and my journey took a little over a year. I have lost almost seventy pounds and I’m now maintaining. I attended a Zumba fundraiser for breast cancer where I noticed I could keep up, still had energy and it was fun. I some months later started Jazzercise at the local YWCA, going 5 days a week. Jazzercise is aerobics with a little dancing mixed in to the some of the hottest and latest songs. The best part about it was that it was fun. I walked sometimes too, plus I changed my eating habits started making healthier meals and meal choices. It doesn’t have to be all salads. I started get healthy recipes off the Internet and I got into a support group on Facebook once I started my journey.

I started grilling, baking or just sautéing my foods.  I also stopped buying pork, only eating it occasionally, and I ate more steamed veggies or sautéed in virgin olive oil.  I did this so things didn’t get boring. I would get low calorie recipes off the Internet since I’m not a big cooker. These would be easy meals.  I recently started prepping my foods in advance too.  I buy healthier snacks like nuts and raisins, but I still enjoy sweets from time to time.  However, I can be very disciplined when I set my mine to it. If I have juice, I try to make sure it’s 100% juice most of the time…so about 80-90 of the time I’m eating healthy.  250 pounds was my starting weight.  I’m now 185 pounds, down 65 pounds.

The advice I would give to others is to find something you like to do that is fun. If it is fun, you will stick to it.  Cut out the fast foods, pops and sweet or at least limit them. I don’t really have a cheat day. I eat healthy and ever so often I will have something sweet. You can eat good healthy meals and lose weight. I’ve tried portion control and counting calories but that didn’t work for me. I could not stick to it, so I just focus on eating healthy and exercise. I’m looking to get more toned and to start running I try to do a little, so I will be back with an update. Be blessed!”

Ashly lost 33 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Ashly who lost 33 pounds.  This proud mom lost the weight with her son as her motivation.  I think that this story should be motivational for anyone who is carrying baby weight years after giving birth.  Here is what she shared with us:

“Due to a heart condition I was born with, when I became pregnant it was 8 months of bed rest. Needless to say, I GAINED 67 POUNDS!! I quickly realized my weight was not going anywhere. I tried all types of diets: shakes, drink pour-ins, drops… You name it, I’ve tried it twice. When my son hit two years old, I came to the realization that I needed to get it together. I couldn’t play with my son AND THAT WAS A PROBLEM! I had my ups and downs and my friends, but from Easter 2013 to November 25 2013 I worked my butt off. Every morning,  I went to the gym for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. On my off days, I did stretching exercises. I drank at least a half a gallon of water a day but tried to shoot for a gallon. No fast food (to the best of my ability), cut down on my portions, no fried food, and when I did want something bad to eat, I would try and substitute things that wouldn’t be that bad on me (for example wheat pasta instead of regular pasta). My starting weight was 250 pounds & my current weight is 217 pounds. It wasn’t easy but I stuck through it, not only for me but for my son. I kept thinking, if i die from being overweight who will take care of my son?! My son is my motivation and being the mom other moms look up to isn’t so bad either. My motto for the gym is, ‘IF IT’S NOT HURTING, IT IS SIMPLY NOT WORKING'”

Ashley weight loss blog

Shanica lost 75 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Shanica lost 75 pounds.  She dedicates her journey in memory of her mom, her inspiration for getting healthy.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

“Hello, I have been on a weight loss journey for about 10 months. I have lost 75 pounds by drinking water, eating healthy and exercising 6 days a week (one rest day). I am soo very proud of myself. I feel better and I am more confident.  I’m still on my journey to get this rest of this weight off.

I changed my eating habits by eating salads cutting out sweets and sodas and bread.  I do eating in moderation, small portions, fruits and green veggies. I started doing Zumba and I did a 90 day Zumba challenge, then I started walking and jogging. I recently added sit ups, push ups, riding an exercising bike, weight training and lifting for toning. I started this journey because my mom had the gastric bypass and within a little over 7 months she died due to her body not being able to handle the surgery. She is my motivation to press forward. I’m no where near the finish line.  Watching my mom’s journey, she tried everything but she was disabled because of an accident at work and she just gained the weight.  Since I’m able bodies, I figured why not.  She couldn’t do it this way but she never stop trying. I dedicate this to her.”

Shanica weight loss

LaQuita lost 65 pounds

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Proud mom LaQuita lost 65 pounds and found Kale to be a great superfood. Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

“I am a mother of 5 and a wife. My motivation was my children! I wanted to get healthy for them to ensure I will be around for them. And be able to stay active with them. I changed my eating but I also stayed realistic! I cut out dark soda completely. If I just had to have soda, I would drink Sprite and dilute it with water. I drank 8 glasses of water a day. Kale was my best friend during my life change! Kale is a super food that helps with digestion and a natural fat burner. I ate kale twice a day! For breakfast, I would steam and add olive oil along with a boiled egg and a protein drink. For lunch, I would saute the kale along with fresh veggies! For dinner, I ate whatever I wanted. My trick for dinner was using a cake size saucer plate! Anything I ate had to fit on that plate, and I’d have either water or green tea to drink. Occasionally, I would even partake in a glass of red wine. I also exercised 3 times out of the week. I did planks and 100 squats a day. I would walk 1 of the 3 days for 3 hours. I wouldn’t power walk or jog, I just turned on Pandora and walked! Also, I small trick I learned is after you shower at night, while in a steamed filled restroom, drink a bottle of water with fresh squeezed lemon. For whatever reason, doing that kept the fat burning at night while I slept. I started at 195 pounds, now I’m down to 130 pounds! The best advice I could possibly give is never consider your transformation a diet it is a life change! Keep it simple and realistic! Stay postivive and most all know your are investing and reassuring your existence! Set small goals for yourself! Starving yourself is the absolute worst thing you can do. Remember its not what you eat that plays the part its how much you eat. The cake size saucer helped a lot with portion control. Water really is your best friend it helps detox the body! Wishing everyone good luck on your life change. I am always available for support or to answer questions.”

LaQuita weight loss

Connie lost 36 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Connie.  She lost 36 pounds.  Her story is very moving and shows that you can rise up after tragedy and change your life.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Connie weight loss

“Hi, My name is Connie Moore. I’m 44 years old. I started my weight loss regimen on Sept, 8 2013. I’ve lost 36 pounds, with 50 pounds to go. It’s a lifestyle of exercise and healthy eating.   I started at 236lbs.  I’ve decided I want to body build. Weight training and working out keeps my mind clear and away from all the hurt out there. The gym is my sanctuary, my peace. I wish it could be my home.”

What was your motivation?

I suffered a horrible breakup and sunk into a deep depression. I attempted to commit suicide and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. The truth is, I began working out to forget! However, as I keep going I quickly became a spiritual walk.

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

I got a personal trainer and he began explaining to me the importance of healthy eating and it’s affect on our emotional health also. Weight gain and obesity can weigh so heavy on our self esteem and emotions. My advice would be take time to love you the way your GOD sees you! I’m still a work in progress. Prayer, meditation, worship.  Work,work,work, believe and love yourself. Drink plenty of water. Eat plenty of fiber. Remove starches and white foods (breads,potatoes,etc.) from your eating habits. Bake and broil, no frying. Remove sugar unless it’s natural and above all… be happy!! THANK YOU for seeing me.”

Connie before and after

Marisha released 45 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Marisha released 45 pounds.   She says, “I like the term releasing, because it means you let the weight go for good.”  She embraced a plant-based diet and worked out regularly for lifestyle change.  Here is what she shared about her journey:

“In 2012, I finally saw how I let myself go after looking at some photos I had taken and I wasn’t happy with it, especially because I had a long history of being a track and field athlete. I decided to make smarter choices right away with what I ate and working out. I boosted my health by switching to a vegetarian lifestyle and I am currently in transition to becoming a vegan. My #1 MOTIVATION was and is my grandmother who passed in April 2012. I watched her life fail before my eyes due to diabetes. It was a wake up call for me that if I didn’t stop what I was doing, I would be the same way at an earlier age. I eliminated most processed foods and drinks and eat mostly fresh produce and a lot of water. I started out working out at home with a variety of DVDs (Jillian Michaels DVDs are the best. She is a BEAST!). I utilized the outdoors and participated in different workout classes. I subscribed to a few great workout coaches on YouTube and I cut out workouts out of the health magazines to have handy when I travel. I love change and challenges when it comes to working out, so I switch up often. My starting weight was 218 pounds and I am at my first goal weight of 173 pounds. When I got serious it took me about year to transform. Advice to others working on a transition…Be the CHANGE you want to see in those important to you. It’s a lifestyle so don’t expect results over night and it NEVER gets EASY you just get BETTER. #STAYFOCUSED #STAYSTRONG
#STAYHEALTHY”

Marisha weight loss story