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Nijah lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Nijah lost 50 pounds over 15 months, and says she did it without “dieting”.  She focused on creating a healthy lifestyle.  Here is what she has to say about her transformation.

“If anyone thinks that losing weight CAN’T be done without dieting, then look at ME!!!

On the left is me at my highest of 294.6 pounds. I was tired of carrying around all that baggage so I decided to give healthy eating a try AND stick with it. 15 months later, I am down 50 pounds and I intend to keep going. I eat real food and I am NOT on a diet. I am mindful though of what and how I eat. I have dessert but only once a week, and when it’s time to workout, I give it my all!!!

I’m very proud of my progress so far, and don’t intend to stop!!! (The right picture is me currently down 50lbs, weighing 244.6) Is it easy? NO, but anything worth having is worth fighting for!! I strive each day and I know that with each workout and healthy choice in eating, I am getting closer to my goal!!

I hope I have encouraged someone, as your page does!!! I’m thankful for this page and YES, I AM A BLACK WOMAN IS WHO IS LOSING WEIGHT! *POW*”

Nijah weight loss story

Update Nov 2013: Nijah wrote to us to let us know that she has maintained her weight loss.

“The left picture (below) was taken in June 2012. I remember looking in the mirror and feeling so disappointed at the fact that I had “let myself go”. I was almost 300 lbs and hated taking pictures!! I’m so thankful though that I took this one and didn’t delete because it’s a reminder of a place where I was and one in which I never want to return. I was overweight, young and depressed.

In doing some soul searching, I found out that my weight loss stemmed from low self-esteem and negative body image. From that day on, I made a vow to myself to love me and show it by taking control and holding myself accountable. I started cooking my own food (mostly baking) and limiting my salt and sugar intake. I still get to indulge but not as much or as often. I walk and also work out using the Just Dance games for the Wii, The Biggest Loser DVDs, and my ultimate favorite which is Hip Hop Abs with Shaun T!

I haven’t reached my goal weight yet, but I am proud to say that I have maintained my 50 pound weight loss! I am also empowered to say that I kicked that monster of low self-esteem in the BUTT!!!  So, my story is to be continued. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the journey and also encouraging people everywhere I go!”

Nijah weight loss photos

 

 

Updated: Sherlonda lost 139 pounds

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Update December 2013 – Sherlonda wrote in to share that her total weight loss is now 139 pounds.  Her abs are SHOWING and she has muscles! YESSSSS, Diva!  She did that!  Here is what she shared with us about her body and lifestyle transformation:

“Hi my name is Sherlonda Tyrus and you featured me back in April 2013. I wanted to send an update to my journey. I started my journey November, 2011, the day before Thanksgiving. I was 325 pounds and I was tired. My daughter who was a senior in high school, was my motivation when I started my journey. She wanted to lose weight for prom. So we started attending jcjonesbootcamp.com, my 4 daughters and I, at 5:30 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was finally tired of being unhealthy and out of shape. I had to do it for myself this time. Determination, commitment to self, and no looking back has brought me this far. Although my daughters don’t get up in the mornings with me anymore, I still go 5 days a week. I’m almost at my goal but still have lots of work to do. It’s not easy but can be done one change at a time. It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet or fad. This is my new life. You won’t find time…you have to make it. I lost the weight by changing my diet. I stopped eating fast food and started cooking at home. I eat meals every 3-4 hours. No pop or other drinks, just water, water, and water.”

Sherlonda weight loss transformation Sherlonda weight loss photos

Original Post – April 2013

Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Sherlonda lost 98 pounds. “I started my journey November, 2011. I am 227 now but I was 325 lbs. and I was tired. My daughter who was a senior in high school, was my motivation when I started my journey. She wanted to lose weight for prom. So we started Bootcamp, my 4 daughters and I. 530am in the mornings Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was finally tired of being unhealthy and out of shape. I had to do it for myself this time. Determination, commitment to self, and no looking back has brought me this far. Although my daughters don’t get up in the mornings with me anymore I still go 5 days a week. I’m almost at my goal but still have lots of work to do. It’s not easy but can be done one change at a time. It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet or fad this is my new life. You won’t find time you have to make it. And I lost the weight by changing my diet. I stop eating fast food and started cooking at home. Eating every 3-4 hours. No pop or other drinks water, water, and water.” Sherlonda weight loss

Nekita lost 145 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Proud Delta Sigma Theta soror, Nekita lost 145 pounds with the help of Weight Watchers and by working out.  Here is what she shared with us:

“On September 8, 2008, I joined Weight Watchers weighing in at 288 pounds. In September 2009, I had lost 110 pounds and was weighing 178 pounds.  In the midst of that, I had my second daughter causing me to gain 85 pounds back but then have a major come back with diet and exercise.   I hit my goal weight in March of 2012 weighing in at 143 pounds for a total of 145 total lost, which I am still maintaining.

I decided to start my journey to a healthier me for a number of reasons. At 24 years of age, I had high blood pressure and had reached a weight of 288 pounds. I’ve always loved to eat, but my love for food was making it physically impossible to enjoy playing and riding roller coasters with my daughter, traveling by plane due to seating size restriction, or even just walking a flight of stairs without taking a break. After suffering much of the humiliation of not being physically able to enjoy life and being at risk for so many diseases mentioned by the doctor, I decided to make the commitment to change my life.

Living a healthy lifestyle has been no walk in the park.  There are good days and most definitely there are the challenging days. Working out and changing the way I eat is no longer a chore just to lose weight, but it has now become a part of my life which motivates me to carry out this habit throughout my daily life.  My advice to others would be if you fall try to pick yourself back up again and start fresh; every day is a new day. Take it one day at a time, and set small goals along the way instead of looking at the ultimate goal. Try not to look at being healthy as a diet which is temporary, but as a lifestyle change that will take time.  Always have the “I can attitude” and be willing to try new things.

nekita weight loss story

Cledra lost 75 pounds and transformed her life

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Ladies, I want to bring you the weight loss journey of a very inspiring sista named Cledra.  She overcame real tragedy and transformed her life.  Now she is working to inspire others.  

“The work you do to support our community is PHENOMENAL! I recently completed a Half Marathon and if my story can serve your audience I am more than willing to help ! MANY black women especially think that running is NOT possible.  I started jogging at 246lbs (as you can see below) BUT you do need the right education about running! OK….. Here’s my before and my “continuously evolving” picture!  NOW changes in every moment as you know!

Cledra weight loss

My motivation……
I was a woman who lived my life by a checklist. College, Grad school, corporate job, get married, and have a baby. It wasn’t until the day after Mothers Day 2007 when I went in for my 2nd trimester ultrasound that my entire life changed.  I discovered that my baby’s heart had stopped. It was the darkest time of my life and just when I thought it couldn’t get any darker, less than 90 days later my then husband sat me down to tell me he was seeing someone else. Life by design had become life by destruction. Having doubled in size during my pregnancy and the grief of my baby and my “fairy tale” life, I started running.

In the picture on the left I was 246lbs and it was 2 weeks after the memorial service for my baby. Running was my sanctuary. Many days I couldn’t tell the difference between the sweat and the tears but God had spoken to me during my baby’s service and said “lay aside the weight….run on….run on”. My life had been sparred for some reason and at the time I didn’t know why. Obese, filing for divorce, trying to wrap my mind around just how my life ended up this way I joined Jenny Craig because the thought of planning meals, counting, points, or doing anything beyond getting out of bed each day with the weight of grief and pain in my heart was just too much. I got 40 lbs off with Jenny Crag but then would binge repeatedly and self sabotage. This went on for so long I got professional help and realized that at 205lbs (which was the what I weighed when I got pregnant) I would have flashbacks of my baby and I would eat to numb the pain.

I was diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and at that time to get past 205lbs I decided I needed stronger intervention for my obesity and I got lapband surgery. It had just been approved for people who were obese and had one other illness which for me was also high blood pressure. With a lot of therapy, a life coach, and prayer I was able to move past 205lbs and drop another 35lbs. My journey has been long and at times I made it longer by looking for the quick fix. I want women to know that when life deals us cards of disappointment, tragedy, and heartbreak that we can PRESS. We can PRESS when it doesn’t make sense. We can PRESS with a heavy and broken heart. We can PRESS with a “mrs” or without. We can PRESS if God spares our baby or not. PRESS and see what GOD has. Now my life is once again beyond what I ever imagined. I help other women drop ALL weight…not just physical but the weight of bad relationships, the weight of childhood messages, the weight of the “happy face mask”, and so much more. I also just wrote my first book “8 Weights to Drop to WAKE UP to your BEST life”. God has given me beauty for ashes and kept every promise to stay close to the broken hearted and to give double for my trouble. I hope my story inspires a woman who is in the dark right now. A woman who feels loss, hopeless, and perhaps even forsaken. I’ve been there and I KNOW there is HOPE.

EXERCISE:
I workout ALL the time! I was the classic woman who always worked out but OVERATE and so NEVER saw results! I just completed a half marathon but my typical workout regimen(which btw I worked out 90% of the time at home…no gym membership…at least not one that I used!) is 3 days cardio and 2-3 days the FIRM DVDs (aerobic weight training) and 1 day yoga/hot yoga and sometimes 1 day active rest like a bike ride. Working out is my anti-depressant! In my darkest days my OB doctor told me that 30 min of activity had the same benefits of taking a pill without the side effects and I was SOLD! I wanted healing and so in a way ….exercise is the way I cooperate with my God in restoring my soul each and every day!

My site: www.planBEcoach.com There’s a FREE ebook “Stop the INSANITY of QUITTING on your BEST body and BEST life”
My book: 8 weights to drop to wake up to your best life.  All the BEST! -Cledra”

Updated Photo (Nov 2013)

Cledra plan be weight loss book

Updated: Princess lost 60 pounds

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Today’s featured success story: Princess lost 60 pounds by eating clean and working out 5 days per week.  Her story should give hope to women who are dealing with post-baby weight and weight that comes with dealing with the stress of life.  Here is what she shared (check out the update below):

“I haven’t attained my goal, YET. I’m getting there, though. My weight issue started the same as many mothers. I had my first child 2 years ago. I weighed in at 175 lbs prior to pregnancy and I lived in the gym. I gained 40 lbs during the pregnancy. I lost most of it during the hospital stay and shortly after. However, with the stress of having a new life, mixed with unhealthy eating, I blew up to 265 – 270 lbs in a year’s time!!

I’ve been consistently working on my weight loss a little under a year, with glitches here and there. I’m currently down to 209lbs!!! My goal is to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I eat clean. I also blend/juice daily and workout 5 days a week.

I took control because I wanted my life back! Being overweight is so uncomfortable. It made my body ache. It also made me lazy and unmotivated. I was active prior to pregnancy and it went out the window with the weight gain. I’m getting back to it.

I want to be healthy for my family. I want to get back to looking and feeling good about my appearance. My Mother always said, “When you look good, you feel good!” I’m working hard to get back to that place.”

princess weight loss story
Updated Nov 2013:  “A few months back, I told you all my pregnancy and post pregnancy weight gain story. At the time I was down by 60 pounds. Well, I stuck to it. To date, I’m now down another 20lbs and countless inches! My update is to inspire my Black Queens to stay focused and determined to reach their goals. Yes, you may fall off from time to time. The key is to get back up and restart your journey! Clean eating, strength training, cardio and spinning have all helped me lose the majority of the weight. I’m so driven to make this a lifestyle change because I want to be healthy for my family and live a life without health complications that I can control by staying active and eating well. Continue on that journey, Ladies!”
Princess weight loss photos

Kena lost 118 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story:  Blogger Kena lost 118 pounds.  Check out her weight loss blog  www.fat2phat2fit.blogspot.com.  Here is her weight loss story:

My issues with food started in my childhood. I was a picky eater that was addicted to junk food. In hindsight, I can see that the behaviors I displayed back then set me up for failure as an adult. I never cared much about ‘meals’, but present a dessert, a bag of Cheez Doodles or a package of cheap, hard, cream filled sandwich cookies (preferably lemon) to me and I was in heaven. I could survive on processed, high carbohydrate foods without giving protein, fiber or vitamins a second thought. My mother baked and cooked most of our meals from scratch. I thought ‘homemade’ was so old fashioned. I didn’t want baked macaroni and cheese, give me the processed Kraft macaroni and cheese! You know, the throwback kind in the skinny box that came with cheese powder and was a neon orange color. She made us eat shredded wheat, raisin bran and cornflakes. The day my father brought home Pop Tarts you’d think he’d been found guilty of child abuse. My mother wanted us to eat healthfully and prepared nutritious meals. As a child, I wanted no parts of that. I carried those behaviors into my teen and adult years. Needless to say those high carb, fast food and processed food habits landed me on the door step of 300lbs. My journey has been going on for about a decade now. I’ve hit several plateaus along the way. Fortunately I never put the weight back on. Once i lost it, I lost it. I just got ‘stuck’, or my effort level wasn’t enough to produce actual results. I commend those that can lose 100+ lbs in a year. It took me nearly ten years to lose 120 lbs, but I am more than thankful for the journey and the knowledge I’ve learned along the way. I’m only about 25-30 lbs from my goal weight/size. Whichever comes first!

Kena weight loss blogger

One of my favorite quotes is from G. I. Joe. “Knowing is Half the Battle”. You can’t successfully overcome any issue without fully understanding what is causing it. Being REAL with yourself about your workouts, what you’re eating and drinking is the bottom line. Track your food intake until you get this weight loss thing down pat. Stop worrying about your hair, what other people think or how expensive your sneakers and athletic wear is. Educate yourself, there are too many free, reliable resources found on the internet to be ignorant about health and nutrition.

I’ve used Weight Watchers, appetite suppressants, protein meal replacement shakes, as tools in my journey. These were just TOOLS. I had to put in the work. Having a support system is great. But someone else should not determine how well you progress on your weightloss/health journey. At the very least you should invest in:

A gym membership, (there are a few nationwide franchises that offer $10/monthly memberships, There may be a planet fitness franchise in your area) OR Fitness DVDS (collagevideo.com is an EXCELLENT online source) OR Create your own gym at home (kettle bells, jump rope, resistance bands, etc are great if you don’t have a lot of room)

Also: a heart rate monitor, a good pair of sneakers, a good sports bra all are essential. (When I couldn’t afford a good sports bra, I wore two cheap ones at a time)  .

Find a Zumba class, or fitness boot camp in your area to help add variety to your regimen.I don’t skip breakfast, skipping breakfast sets your day up for failure. Other than my protein shakes I choose not to drink my calories. Soda, tea, alcoholic beverages, and juice consumption are limited. Try diluting your favorite juice blend with a flavored club soda or sparkling water. Fruit infused water is another of my favorites. A crockpot is soooo old school but comes in handy. You can prepare healthy meals for yourself or your family with a little bit of prep work. Soups, stews, chili and other one pot meals are right at your fingertips.

I watch my carbohydrate intake. You don’t have to follow a low carb lifestyle, but limit the white: sugar, breads,potatoes and rice. Fruit and veggies are great NATURAL snacks. I enjoy eating and making kale chips and sweet potato chips.

Don’t eat what you don’t like. You’ll only be miserable trying to follow a ‘diet’ comprised of foods that you don’t enjoy. This is all about a lifestyle change that you can LIVE with.

Don’t worry about how you look to others when you start your fitness journey. Just do you. Don’t let self doubt hinder your success. Don’t allow the “I Can’ts” keep you from being the person that you want. I was fortunate to have a great trainer that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I cried when I was mad at him for pushing me. I cried when he pushed me to success. I would have never believed that I could run a 5K or do a wall sit for 12 minutes. I’m not the ‘face’ of fitness. (And you don’t have to be either). The full hips and thighs on my ‘pear’ shape isn’t the status quo for fitness. And I’m perfectly OK with that. I am recreating the ‘face’ of fitness. This curvy, pear shaped African American woman is strong and determined and that is all that should matter.

I’m also trying my hand at blogging. Check my ‘baby’ blog out at www.fat2phat2fit.blogspot.com

Ladies, Weight loss blogging is a great way to share your story, share your struggles and share your success with others who are losing weight.  I’ve created a quick guide to setting up your weight loss blog.  Check it out.

Glorie lost over 30 pounds

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Update: Glorie lost another 10 pounds.  Check out her update below.

Today’s featured weight loss success story: Our international BWLW Member, Glorie, wrote us to tell us about her weight release journey.  She says, “Hi there! my name is Glorie and I am in Tanzania-East Africa. Your updates inspired me a lot to change my image and in less than 5 months I have lost over 30 pounds and still going!  I started eanting healthy and enrolled in a gym. So,  here is my before and after pics to share with every other black women around the world! We are doing this! Its time to be healthy!”

Glorie weight loss

“I started eating healthy by avoiding junk foods that I used to eat. As you know here in Africa the most common foods are rice, ugali (maize flour) which are rich caboyhrates and red meat is used in almost all of our daily dishes. I was on a diet program that allowed me to eat healthy and not to exceed 600 calories per day for the first 9 days. Thereafter, I joined a gym and I was working out 5 days a week in aerobics classes and drinking lots of water. For now am on a strict diet, that i have developed myself whereby it rotates raw foods and juices for 1 week each.  I have also found out that drinking cinnamon tea mixed with honey also helps in shedding the pounds off. I now do strength training where I concentrate on my thighs and tummy as thats where I carry most of my weight. I am truly inspired by your page and it gives me hope and alot of tips when am slacking or giving hope. So be assured that this is all over the WORLD!  Even in Africa, we’re losing the weight too.  Thank you alot and never stop what you are doing.  Be blessed.”

Update May 17, 2013 –

Hello there!  It’s Gloria Ojare all the way from Tanzania-East Africa. Again I have made some tremendous efforts and YAY…I am down 40 pounds now!!! Yay! Yay! I am so thankful to God and again so proud of myself; I just can’t imagine if I had never made up my mind to get healthy what would have happened or how would I be now. To me this is my new lifestyle. I have managed to pull off the extra 10 pounds since I last shared with ya’ll. This time I had to change my regimen. Every morning I took warm water mixed with cinnamon, lemon juice and ginger powder. I also continued to exercise but this time I skip rope at least 30-45mins every 4days. I also completely cut all sugary stuffs and limited my carbohydrates intake by adopting the STANLEY DIET.  I kept on going no matter what or how I felt and so far I am ecstatic of my transformation. I speak to every woman trying to loose weight..DONT EVER GIVE UP!  Stay ON and be consistence surely you shall see result in you and your general health. I thank everyone whose photo has been posted because whenever I look at them I smile and I say WOW..it can be done…it can be done. 9th July,2013 will mark 1year since I started my weight release journey!

Glorie weight loss before and after

Latese lost 134 pounds in 2 years

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Update May 2016: It’s been 2 1/2  yrs and Latese is still maintaining her success. She’s lost 162 pounds.

“I have learned self discipline and that we can be our own worst enemies. My children drive me and I will do anything to be around them as long as I can. Meal prep and planning is time consuming, but it keeps you accountable.” Her starting weight was 302 pounds and her current weight is 140 pounds (height? 5’5″)”

tete

September 2013 Update:  “It’s me checking in.  Since I last shared with you all I have lost 8 more pounds.  I have not gained back the weight in 2 years.  Overall, I’ve lost 134 pounds total.”

Original Post:

Latese lost 95 pounds.  She says, “I have been on my journey since about Dec of 2011 but kicked it into high gear during May of 2012.  I’m now down about 95 pounds.  I still have a ways to go, but I am sticking to keeping my protein on high and having little to no carbs.  I am strictly a water drinker and I am doing boot camp.  Five days per week,  I walk/run for 2-3 miles”

Latese’s Facebook page

weight loss before and after

Updated Photo:

Latese weight loss

Joetta lost 40 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Joetta lost 40 pounds by going vegan.  She is a proud military spouse who’s husband is currently deployed.  Here is what she had to say:

“I have lost 40lbs since march. I started at 204 now im 163.5.  It was my goal to reach my preferred weight as a gift to myself and my husband who is currently deployed. I wanted to give him a new wife, inside and out. There is no better feeling than, being confident. My problem was food. I became a vegan, no fast food no junk food, only fruits, grains, and vegetables. I sometimes eat fish or seafood.

Joetta weight loss story

Den-Ray lost 157 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Den-Ray lost 157 pounds by walking and using MyFitnessPal.com.  So many of the BWLW Ladies use MFP, so it’s great to hear about a major success story coming out of it’s use.  Check out what she had to say:

den-ray before and after photo

“I started by walking with my next door neighbor 3 times a week, my only goal was to make it a mile which took me half an hour. I lost about 50 lbs this way, just walking and not eating so much. My only rules were not to eat unless I was hungry and to stop eating when I was full. My neighbor soon reached her goal and stopped walking with me, I kept going because I liked the results. She was always encouraging and introduced me to myfitnesspal.com. The website helped me track calories without having to do heavy math. I started by trying to eat fewer than 2000 calories and soon moved down to 1200 calories a day. I lost about 75lbs this way but hit a plateau. So, on the advice of a doctor, I increased my exercise to 5 days a week, at least an hour, and began consuming 1500 calories a day. This was much easier to follow and I now eat around 1500 calories when I exercise and 1200 calories when I’m not exercising. I have 58 more pounds to lose to hit a healthy weight, but I know I can make it.”  Check out her Facebook Group.