Black Weight Loss Success

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Simone lost 55 pounds

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Check out Simone’s 55 pound weight loss transformation photos.  She shows us that you don’t have to lose 100 pounds to see a difference.  Her photos also show that Black Women do not have to always worry about losing their curves!  Here is what she shared:

It took me 9 months to lose the weight, but I loved me everyday…and I did it.  55 pounds lost and more to go.  My motivation was that I found my true love in 1996.  My eating habits: I count my calories.  I don’t eat beef and I don’t eat pork. I also don’t eat sugar.  My exercise routine consists of working out three times a week with my personal trainer.  My starting weight was 231.  My current weight is 176.  No surgery just hard work.

Simone 55 pound weight loss

Zoe lost 126 pounds

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Update June 2016 – We shared Zoe‘s story of losing over 120 pounds three years ago and we are happy to hear that she is still going strong. Her journey has not been perfect, but she did not let setbacks become permanent stopping points. She has also become a fitness coach helping to inspire and support others.

zoe before and after

I shared my story with you a couple of years ago and wanted to do an update. Growing up, I was always self-conscious, whenever I walked into a room I would always look to see if there was another overweight person. I struggled with my weight, from being in Weight Watchers in the 6th grade to trying to hide the fact that I was doing Nutrisystem in high school. I was even on crash diets over the summer. If I lost weight, it would always come back because for ME they were “quick fixes”. I didn’t focus on making a lifestyle change at the time. Eventually, I just thought, “Well, I guess I’m destined to be this size for life.” However, I decided that I would give it one more try before I left for college. I figured if I could get started I would be fine once I lived on campus and had access to a gym and healthy options in the dining hall. I bought an at-home dance fitness program, changed my eating habits and it was the first time I actually lost weight and kept it off.

At college, I decided to stick to my fitness DVDs when I realized I had no idea what I was doing when I was in the gym. Being a student meant I was on a tight budget, but I knew the importance of making a lifestyle change so I had to make it work. I would do my best with the dining hall food, didn’t order out a lot and faithfully did my workouts in my dorm room. The weight continued to melt off and I was so happy!

I went home and continued to change my eating habits by learning to cook healthy and sticking with my at-home workouts. Living in the dorms every year did not make it easy, but I did my best to make healthy decisions. Two years later, I went from a size 24 at 287 pounds to a size 8/10 at 159 pounds! I even became a fitness coach to help others do the same.

After studying abroad for a year without being able to cook and a tough final semester with a terrible dining hall, I got a little off track. I didn’t gain back a lot of weight, just around 25 lbs, but I felt terrible! I felt like I let people down because I wasn’t eating clean anymore and barely getting in 3 workouts a week. I know that no one looked at me as a failure but I couldn’t help feeling that way. Even though I wanted to eat healthy, because I was in suck a funk I just kept eating junk. It took me a while, but eventually I said to myself “Zoe, it’s ok.” This is a journey for a reason. It’s not always fun and we have down times but we are not perfect we’re humans.

When we accept ourselves and love ourselves through every step of this journey it becomes easier. Don’t get discouraged if the scale goes up. Do not get discouraged if you see someone that has lost 100 pounds in 6 months and you feel like you’ve been stuck forever. Remember why you started and that the most important this is to be healthy! If you have fallen off track, all you have to do is start again. You did it before, so you can do it again. My biggest advice for anyone starting this journey is to find something that works for you and that you enjoy! If your friends and family aren’t on board, start joining Facebook groups and follow pages like Black Women Losing Weight so you can start to find the support you need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Fitness page: facebook.com/zoeflynnfitness
Instagram: @zoeflynn93

Sept 2013 –  Today’s featured weight loss success story: College student Zoe lost 126 pounds by working out at home doing workout DVDs and eating clean.  She is now full of self-confidence.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

Hi, I’m 20 years old and a junior at UAlbany. My journey started in 2011.  All my life I was overweight. In middle school my mom took me to Weight Watchers, but after I lost some weight I stopped going and gained it back. In high school I tried different programs but I always gained the weight back. At my highest weight I was 287 pounds.

Towards the end of my senior year I decided to buy Hip Hop Abs. I lost around 20 pounds and actually kept it off. So when I started college I knew there were healthy options available and wanted to change my diet and continue to work out. Eventually, I fell in love with TurboJam and along with clean eating and the weight fell off.

I don’t go to the gym I do all my workouts at home or in my dorm room. I usually do workout DVDs but I also go for walks, bike ride, and do instagram challenges. It’s been around 2 years of getting healthy and I’m down to 161 pounds and people who haven’t seen me since high school can’t believe it.

My motivation was that I wanted to be healthy. I was tired of not being able to do everything I wanted because of my weight. I was tired of feeling insecure in situations because I was the only overweight person in the room. After I made the decision to change my life I never looked back. When the weight started coming off I became more confident and that pushed me even more. I do have tough days but I always think about how good I’ll feel after I work out, how far I’ve come, and how blessed I am to have the ability to workout.

Zoe college weight loss

Sharie lost 120 pounds

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Sharie of Raleigh, NC lost 120 pounds.  She wrote to us to share her weight loss photos and to inspire others.  She had to work through serious issues from her past to reach her victory. Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

I took 6-9 months for me to lose the weight andI’m still working on losing more.  Started on August, 8 1012. I’m still focusing on more weight loss. 100 lbs off by 3/23/13 is my goal

A struggle with weight loss has always been an issue, from childhood. For so long I thought it was just genetics but the older I got the more I found out it had nothing to do with that. My elders began to die which was unusual and Diabetes began to cripple the young and old in my family!  I had to do something.  I was too scared of needles!

From fear to personal growth, I started to address the Broken Pieces of my life! I learned that the older I got there were some mislabeled issues I had to address. Once I soul-searched myself, I found out that “My Beautiful Was Not So Beautiful.  It was Broken!” My face represented the Beautiful but my body represented the Broken!

My past issues of being violated keep me bound for years and I used my weight as a Wall of protection!! From life lessons, I knew that what I tried to keep hidden was really exposed. It came up in everything I did and didn’t do because it controlled my life!

Once I began to address my pain, I decided that I was tired of living Incomplete! I began to reach the surface of my Life issues so they could no longer keep me Bound.

Sharie weight loss

From this journey I have learned my weakness, strengths, and truths. God ordained this journey for me so I will be able to motivate and Empower others to do the same! Live Life Healed, healthy, and Whole!! I found the knowledge I needed that changed my life and now I have dedicated my life to assisting and counseling others that need the tools to Live Whole!  [I even started doing health counseling]

My mission is educate, empower, and motivate as many individuals as possible to become self sufficient when it comes to there health and also educate the future generations about obesity, diseases that we bring upon ourselves by lifestyle, proper eating habits!

  • Teaching Proper portion Education
  • Fighting adult and childhood Obesity
  • Educating about High Blood Pressure, diabetes
  • Promoting Family exercises and activity
  • Community Fitness and Enrichment

I did a Calorie diet based on my age that I found out about through a nutritionist that did a 15 week course with my family members.  I exercised with family and friends to encourage movement and daily ownership of my health.  This program is free in most counties in my area through the local Human Services department.  It’s been very beneficial to healthy living!!   The new knowledge of how my body sees food is what changed mine and my families lives! I hope sharing my story will influence another families to get serious about the health of the elders and also teach the next generation before its too late for them

Loretta lost 109 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Loretta lost 109 pounds.  She put together her own healthy, effective weight loss and exercise plan.  She has even helped a friend lose 43 pounds since April.  She’s proof that if you do your research and consistently follow a weight loss regime that works for you, weight loss will come.  Here is what she shared with us:

My motivation was that I wanted to LIVE.  I learned that everything that tastes good isn’t always good for you and that I was killing myself with food. I created a healthy meal plan for me that lays out my meals two weeks at a time. I changed my eating habits by eating small, healthy meals every two/three hours and drinking plenty water. My workout routine: I workout everyday for 45 minutes to an hour. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’m doing cardio exercise.  On Tuesday and Thursday, I’m doing muscle toning. On Saturdays, I run up 5 flights of stairs 4/5 times for cardio. My staring weight was 330 pounds and my current 221 pounds. Yea!!! I started this journey on August 2011, a month after losing my mother to lung cancer. I felt off track because I was depressed about the absence of my mother and sister. I got back on track in June 2012 and I haven’t look back. I still have 30 more lbs to go to reach my weight loss goal.  This hasn’t been a easy journey but I’m motivated to lose the weight for good. One of my close friends started working out with me on April 12, 2013 and she’s now 43 pounds lighter.

Loretta's weight loss story

Gina Tracey lost 132 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Gina Tracey.  She lost 132 pounds with gastric bypass weight loss surgery.  Here is what she shared about losing weight:

Hi, my name is Tracey and I’m from Ft. Lauderdale. I had gastric bypass weight reduction surgery on August 17, 2012 and I’ve lost 132 pounds within the year.   Having surgery was one of better decisions I’ve made, after trying so many other things to lose weight. I feel better than ever at 46 years old. Your BWLW Facebook page is truly an inspiration and I’m glad to see so many women making a change in their lives.

My starting weight was 300 pounds. I now weigh 168 pounds. My motivation to lose the weight was imaging myself at the size I use to be in high school. Once the nutritional classes I took after surgery taught me that eating the right combination of foods and eating several small amounts throughout the day would change my life, my life did change. Protein is the key to successful weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. When I eat my meals now, protein and veggies are my first priority. I am now working with a personal trainer for my toning process.  God Bless

Gina gastric bypass

Why is Junk Food so Addictive? – Sugar, Fat and Salt

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Fries, funnel cakes, cheeseburgers, and candy, why are they so addictive? If you have ever craved these foods you may wonder just that when you try to stop eating it.  Some people do not consider junk food as something that you can be addicted to, but the truth is that many people do crave junk food like others crave cigarettes or cocaine.  After a while, the habitual eating of sugary, salty, fat filled junk food can be quite addictive.  Sugar, fat and salt are the tri-fecta of why it’s so hard to let the “good” stuff go and stop eating junk food all together.  There are studies on the subject as well:

“This exciting new study was funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since drug addiction and obesity are major national problems, researchers set out to see if brain changes that take place in drug addiction were present in the obese. Prior studies have shown that both drug addiction and obesity were associated with a dysfunction in the brain’s reward system. The more you indulge in drugs or sugary-fatty foods, the higher your reward threshold and the more you want. It becomes an vicious cycle of trying to curb a craving that can never be fully satisfied.” – WebMd

Sugar

Sugar can be just like a drug for many people.  It’s a concentrated chemical substance that is refined in a similar way that cocaine and other drugs are refined.  Like other known drugs, sugar helps to increase the dopamine found in the brain. This is the feel good chemical that hits brain receptors and will make you feel good.   Thus, the “sugar high” effect is a real chemical reaction in the body that affects not only the brain but also your blood sugar.  Often times, just like regular drugs, to get the next high you will have to eat more sugar as the brain gets used to the same amount of sugar and the high is less. High sugar consumption in a person can mimic the brain’s opiate system. Each human has a natural opiate system that can be triggered with high amounts of sugar or with drugs such as morphine and heroin. This trigger creates pleasure which in turn can lead to addiction and even sugar withdrawals. Limiting the sugar that you eat and switching natural sugars like fruit is highly important to avoid any type of addiction to sugar.   Breaking existing addiction to sugar can be hard but it’s possible.

Fat

Fat is something that you wouldn’t think that people would get addicted to when you first hear the word.   However, fat in foods can be just as addictive as sugar and salt and can lead to many problems. Fat addiction is much like sugar addiction in the way that the brain reacts to fat. Eating high fat foods over stimulates the brain receptors that are responsible for releasing dopamine. This dopamine release triggers a feeling of goodness or a high such that people want to eat it more.  We are talking about saturated fat and trans-fat in things like chips, fried foods, foods with butter added, fast food, prepackaged meals, baked goods (used to keep them moist), microwave popcorn and cheese.

Salt

Salt is important in the human body but over-consumption of salt can lead to many problems. Salt can be highly addictive and anyone who sits down at the table can find themselves reaching for the salt shaker in order to salt their food.  It’s very accessible and many just think of it as a harmless seasoning.  That is until they get a diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension (both very common in the Black community).  Salt does the same thing to the dopamine receptors in the brain. There are even studies out there that have shown that salt in a small form can help to cure depression due to this release of feel good chemicals.  However, having too much salt can lead to a very bad addiction as well as many health problems.  Finding alternatives for flavor is key to letting go of salt.  Food can taste very bland to many people without salt so you’ll need to find other herbs and salt-free seasonings to take its place.

Many junk foods have all three ingredients in them, salt, fat and sugar. Combined together this makes for one very addictive class of food that you want to avoid.

By eating junk food you put yourself at risk for many different health problems including obesity, high blood pressure, heart problems, and neurological disorders. If you find yourself addicted to junk foods, do your research and work to get free of the compelling need to eat these foods.  Like any other addiction, it will take time for your body to get accustomed to eating a different diet and you have to WANT to change.

Breaking up with an addictive junk food menu can be hard and many people find that they will feel bad for the first few days, much like an addiction to anything else. Switching to healthy foods and steering clear of all the bad foods will help ease this process. It will be well worth it in the end. You will be healthier and have a less risk for common, food-related health problems that affect so many people.

The Basics: What is Paleo?

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Paleo is an eating plan where you eat the foods that your body was made to eat through years of evolution. The concept is that you will be eating foods that your “ancestors” secured by hunting and gathering. You can eat foods such as fish, lean meat, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits. On this diet you will not eat foods that are made by modern means of production such as processed foods, as well as grains and dairy.  People on the Paleo plan also stay away from legumes (beans and peanuts).  The focus is on foods that are specifically made for the human body to burn fat, recognized by the body as food more than as chemicals or toxins and that help you to have optimal energy.

going paleoNow…As with ANY diet plan or meal plan YOU have to modify it to make it work for you.  There is no One-Size-Fits All Plan!

That’ being said, I do have some issues with this diet, let me say that upfront.  The first criticism I have of this diet is that it doesn’t take into account various cultures around the world and access to foods regionally.  I think it’s focused on what ancestors of people of Euro-decent would have eaten.  The diet recommended may not have been the Paleo era eating of those in Africa, South America, Asia, etc.  Availability of things like fish or certain fruits would have affected how much early people would have eating certain things.  There are a number of Paleo plans out there, so some have dealt with this issue which is great, but not many.

My second criticism is that as a long term plan, the lack of carbs and the cost of eating this way could be prohibitive for some people. I suggest that you eat any veggie or fruit you want if you are considering this way of eating long term.

Lastly, there are SO many Paleo plans and books.  Some say dairy is ok.  Some say potatoes are good in moderation.  You just have to remember that you are dealing with a theory…and that not everyone agrees with what our ancestors ate and what we should eat.  There should be no surprise about that…look at all the diet plans out there!

Ultimately, only you can decide, through trail and error, what works for your body.  Trying Paleo could help you figure that out, but it’s not going to answer all the questions and issues you have for you.

That being said, let me breakdown the basics of Paleo.  Here are some benefits that you may encounter from eating this way:

  • Removes most trans-fat and processed sugars from your diet
  • Healthy fats from fish, nuts, seeds, avocado and olive oil
  • More stable blood sugar
  • Reduced allergies, especially for those with issues with dairy and wheat products
  • Weight loss due to cutting out a lot of junk and processed foods
  • Clearer skin
  • Less inflammation
  • Eating more nutrient dense foods

What foods to you avoid on a Paleo Diet?

Grains and Beans

On the Paleo diet you will completely cut out grains and legumes (beans and peanuts). Many studies say that the human body was not made for eating grains and those grains can actually harm the body, but that is still debated. However, one of the main benefits to avoiding grains is that foods that contribute to weight gain, like bread, pasta and baked goods will be avoided as well. Those of you on low-carb plans know the benefits of avoiding grains very well.  Also, there is a huge gluten-free movement going on.   Many people find themselves allergic to gluten and whole grains which can cause digestive issues and in some cases neurological issues.  Some people just feel better in general when they don’t eat grains. In order to follow this diet you will be cutting the majority of grains out of your diet and focusing more on vegetables to replace them.

Processed Foods

Many processed foods can contain nasty chemicals and preservatives that early man wouldn’t have encountered (even our grandparents’ food didn’t have some of these chemicals)  Some of these chemicals and additives can be highly addictive to people, such as MSG.  The simple carbohydrate content in processed foods is one of the main reasons why obesity and diabetes is running rampant throughout the world. Processed foods can trick the chemistry in the brain and lead to the person craving processed foods all the time. Many are also high in calorie content and fat content (trans-fat and saturated fat). On Paleo, you cut out the majority of the processed foods from your diet, if not all. It may be hard to cut out all the processed foods but over time you will learn not to eat any of those foods and what to replace them with that is Paleo approved. Remember to watch out for processed meats (read the label). Sometimes a first time Paleo dieter may think that it is ok to eat any meat however most processed meat, such as sandwich meat, is highly processed, full of sodium and not good for you.

Sugar

Refined sugar is something that you will need to avoid if you plan on doing a Paleo diet.  Concentrated sugar is not naturally meant for the body and can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels affecting various systems of the body.  High sugar consumption can lead to diabetes and many other problems, as well as weight gain. You will be cutting out all forms of sugar except for fruit which has all natural sugars.  Some people on Paleo do use Raw, unprocessed honey.

Foods to Eat on Paleo

These foods are important to consume and you will find that you are allowed to eat a good bit more than expected on the Paleo diet.

  • Meats. Any type of unprocessed meat whether it is chicken breast, beef, turkey, bison or some other form.  You should seek out the best quality that you can afford and find.
  • Fish. Fish is also an important staple of Paleo dieting. You can eat whatever type of fish that you want, however organically grown fish are highly recommended.
  • Vegetables. Any and all vegetables that are grown are a great part of the Paleo diet. You can have as many vegetables as you like. Organic and all natural is preferred.
  • Fruit. All fruit is recommended under the Paleo diet. Fruits like blueberries that are full of antioxidants are highly recommended to consume.
  • Nuts
  • Healthy, Natural Fat/Oils

You can find ideas for menus and recipes online.   There are also many books dedicated to the world of Paleo eating.

Paleo for Beginners: Essentials to Get Started

Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle

Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat

The Paleo Diet Revised: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat

Lakeishea lost 45 pounds and opened a fitness ministry

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Lakeishea lost 45 pounds and opened a fitness center/ministry.  I love that she lost weight AFTER she started the fitness ministry.  It wasn’t just for others, God have her a vision to help herself as well.  She listened to that direction and has the victory in her health and fitness.  She lost the weight by helping others…that is awesome. Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Lakeishea.  I’m the 31 year old owner/instructor/motivator of Faith & Fitness Studios in North Carolina! Back in October 2012, God gave me a vision to start a fitness class that would benefit the physical, mental, and spiritual side of health for the women, men and teens in the area! So, with God, my mom, husband, step mom and friend Jessica’s help on January 1, 2013 Faith and Fitness Studios was birthed! With the program God has given me, since January 2013, I have lost 45 pounds, 4 inches off my waist, dropped 2 dress sizes and gained muscle mass in areas that I never had when I was in high school! God is so awesome and I thank him daily for giving me this vision and awesome MINISTRY to be a help for others!!!

I was 220lbs when in October 2012, God gave me a vision to start a fitness class that would benefit the physical, mental, and spiritual side of health for the women, men and teens in the area! So I started changing the way I ate first! I started eating more fruits, veggies and protein meats! Cut my calories down and started a fitness program that is changing lives in our area! I teach cardio boxing, cardio african dance, and cardio strength training classes to burn excessive calories!!

Check her out on Facebook.

Lakeishea faith and fitness studios

NeKita lost 59 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: NeKita lost 59 pounds.  She worked out, reduced calories and reduced carbs.  She also used My Fitness Pal as a food journal to track her meals (like many of you are doing for this month’s September Food Journal Challenge).  Tracking your food can really have a positive impact on weight loss and NeKita is proof.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is NeKita and I’m 40 years old. My two daughters and my health are what motivated me on this journey to change my lifestyle. I put myself on a 1200 calorie/day intake & joined MyFitnessPal.com where I’m able to track all my food and exercises as well as get encouragement from others. I work out four to five times a week (walking, running, and strength training). I increased the amount of proteins I eat and decreased the amount of carbs.  Typically I eat oatmeal, ground turkey, fish, vegetables, and lots of water.  Since the weight loss, my energy has increased, my blood pressure has decreased, and my overall outlook on life is very positive.  Although I am not at my ultimate goal, I am happy about my current results. My starting weight was 203 pounds. My current weight is 144 pounds. I got serious about my lifestyle change about one year ago. So, here I am one year later and much healthier and more fit.

NeKita weight loss success

Ajoke’ shares her 75 pound weight loss story

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Ajoke’ shares her 8 year journey to losing 75 pounds.  Now, she’s a Zumba instructor.  This is another example that it may take time (perhaps a significant amount of time) to lose all the weight you want to lose, but in the end you will grateful that you did the Work to change your life.  Here is what she shared with us:

What was your motivation?

My main motivation was that I was tired of yoyo dieting and I wanted to live a long and healthy life. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer all run in my family.  I wanted to prevent those illnesses as much as possible.

How did you change your eating habits?

I started eating clean (meaning no processed food) and cutting calories.

What did your workout routines look like?

I started off walking 3 miles every day.  Then I found out about a great cardio workout called Zumba.  5 years ago and I started doing Zumba 3 times a week. I also would lift weights a couple of times throughout the week.

What was your starting weight?

200 pounds was my heaviest weight when I graduated from college in 2004.  However, I really I started to struggle with my weight before, during my senior year in high school when I put on an extra 20 pounds.  Over the summertime, after high school, my weight from 130 pounds to 150 pounds. I was not able to lose that extra weight and carried it on to college.  There I gained a freshman 20, not just 15, lol. That brought me to 170 lbs. until I eventually got to my heaviest weight of 200 lbs. On top of that I am petite at only 5’3″.

What is your current weight?  125 pounds.

How long did your transformation take?

It took me 8 years to lose 75 lbs. I did get discouraged throughout the years because I my weight yo-yo’d for so long that I thought it would never come off for good. Every time I fell off the wagon, I got back on and I did it over again. I am very grateful to say that 2012-2013 has been the 1st year that I have been able to keep all the weight off.  I have learned that eating healthy and exercising is a lifestyle. My fitness philosophy is 80% nutrition, 20% fitness, and 100% mindset. The bottom line is that if you aren’t ready to change you won’t and if you are ready to change you will.

The 1st picture was taking in 2004 and I was 21 years old. The 2nd picture was taking this year on July 4th and I am 30 years old.

Ajoke weight loss