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Ciara lost 41 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Ciara lost 41 pounds. After high school, she let herself go. When she stepped on the scale and saw 200+ pounds on the screen, that’s the day her weight loss journey began. Check out what she shared with us about the actions she took to change her lifestyle.

ciara before and after

After high school, I completely let myself go!! Before I knew it, I weighed 203 pounds. I couldn’t believe that I’d let myself gain so much weight. As soon as I stepped on the scale and saw that number it instantly motivated me to lose the pounds. I wanted to get back to being healthy and feeling good about myself. Eating healthy and exercising not only helped me lose weight, but it helped my skin and my hair! My current weight is 162 pounds and my goal weight is 150 pounds. My height is 5’4″.

What was your motivation?
My motivation came when I stepped on the scale and saw 200 lbs. I also experienced a lot of headaches and I just wasn’t feeling well in general. I ultimately wanted to get healthy all around.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating sweets. I also did a no meat challenge for about a month. That helped a lot! I started drinking a lot of water and I got really creative with my salads.

What did your workout routines look like?
Every morning I walked Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia. It’s so relaxing and it was a great workout.

How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in January of 2015 and I lost the weight by August of 2015.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is to be patient. Also, have a food diary. I used the app “Lose it”. REMEMBER that it is mind over matter.

Instagram: @Naturally_ci

Ebony lost 47 pounds

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Weight Loss Journey: Ebony lost 47 pounds. With the support of her husband and kids, she was able to re-start her journey 5 months ago and stick with it. She ate clean, exercised regularly and worked up to developing a love for running. Check out what she shared with us about how she did it.

ebony before and after

I have started my fitness journey over again about 5 times. At 5’6″ tall and 267 pounds, I was considered obese. One day, I woke up on a mission to start and stick with it! I did just that with the help of my husband and family. I’ve lost 47 pounds. I’m not where I want to be, but I am closer to it now than I was 5 months ago.

I love encouraging others to be the best version of themselves. I started off my changing my eating habits (slowly), but I got them changed for good. I started out walking everyday, after a few weeks my walking turned into running. Then, I started adding squats, lunges, leg flips, ect to my gym routine, ending with my walk/runs. After loosing 30 lbs, the reward I gave myself was joining a gym. Soon after that, I got into weight training, Zumba class and aqua blast class (which I love)! If I can’t make it to the gym, I find an exercise video on YouTube to work out with.

I focus on clean eating and my water intake. A typical day for me meal wise, may include;

  • Breakfast: Avocodo spread over whole wheat toast, topped with an egg.
  • Lunch: Chicken or steak salad
  • Dinner: baked fish, broccoli and a sweet potato.
  • I snack on fruit and nuts and drink 110 ounces of water a day.

I’m proud to say I started out wearing a size 22 and I am now wearing a size 16. My goal right now is to get to ONEderland aka. “199” pounds, because my weight hasn’t been there in years! I’m almost under 200 pounds for the first time in a LONG TIME! I can now play a game of tag with my kids without feeling like I’m going to pass out. I enjoy running now. I never thought I’d actually get happy about a running list being posted so that I can plan my month around it, but now I do. Next up in my fitness journey is kickboxing.

My advice to others would be to never give up, no matter how slow your progress goes. As long as you take action, you’ll get to where you want to be.

Follow the rest of my journey on Instagram: @Runningdiva_

Clarita lost 159 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Clarita lost 159 pounds. After the birth of her second son, she found herself at almost 400 pounds. Her transformation didn’t happen overnight, but she took the time to find out what worked for her in terms of eating and exercise. Check out what she shared with us about how she did it.

clarita weight loss story

Hello, my name is Clarita and I am the mother of two handsome boys. My challenge started after I had my last son. I gained so much weight that it was unbelievable. This change did not happen overnight. I did everything from pushing him in the stroller to joining the gym. It took for me to get pneumonia and the flu at the same time for me to see that I was so heavy that my immune system could not fight off the viruses. So, at that point, it was either lose the weight or have to keep dealing with this issue.

I made changes that I felt would benefit me and my health. I went from those healthy methods to even doing wraps and buying a corset. It was all a mind game, because I was really feeling that these things were working. Maybe they were, but because I wanted the weight off very quickly, it was like it nothing was happening. So, I kept doing what I was supposed to and started working out with the help of a trainer.

I hated the hard work, because it was too challenging and I did not like the pain. However, in order for me to see the results that would get me motivated, I had to be conditioned. I fell off the wagon many times, but I got back on. Just recently I got really fed up and said, “You know what, it is time to start handling business. You know what it is going to take.”

My weight when I first started was 398 pounds. I dropped down to 302 pounds and the weight kept fluctuating. I wondered, “What am I doing or not doing to keep this weight off?” Well, I found out that it was my eating habits. I wanted to eat everything that I was not supposed to and still get results from working out. Well, that was just not working. I really had to leave all the processed food, sweets, carbonated drinks, rice, pasta and bread alone. To further change my eating habits, I even went so far as to join a portion control group where they would fix your food for you and you pick it up for $80.00 a week. When I saw the stuff they we’re fixing me, I said, “Hell, I can do this.” and that is when i really became serious.

At that point, my weight had shot back up. Not to 400 lbs, but I was at 302 lbs. I started eating more grilled chicken, turkey, salads and some protein. I also drank more water. I was losing 5-10 pounds, here and there, but was still not able to maintain the weight loss. That’s when I started working out harder and being more consistent. Today, I weigh 239 pounds.

My advice for others is stick with it no matter how hard and how much you don’t want too. In the end, when you start seeing reaults, you will be very determined to keep pushing for a better you and for better results.

I worked out 6 days a week sometimes, twice a day. I worked on on the treadmill and jumped rope. I was also running, kickboxing, and lifting weights. My height is 5’6″.

Instagram: @4adyme

clarita before and after

Nikki lost 37 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Nikki lost 37 pounds. This proud wife and mom of 3 wanted to avoid a family history of weight-related illnesses and ensure that she could be an active part of her family’s busy lives. Check out what she shared with us about her journey.

nikki weight loss story

Hello, my name is Nikki D. I am a 40 years old wife and mother of 3 children. My motivation to lose weight began when I repeatedly saw too many of my family members suffer from obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. I was deathly afraid of following that same path. It could inevitably result in me prematurely leaving my husband and/or children. I didn’t want to risk not being able to be an active part of my busy family’s lives, so I became proactive.

I have always been inspired by The Biggest Loser, fitness magazines and anyone who has had some sucess on their weight loss journey. That inspiration encouraged me to not give up and to continue making small changes toward a healthier lifestyle over the years.

My eating habits have evolved over time. I’ve counted calories. I was a vegetarian for 3 years. I’ve also followed a clean eating plan, food elimination, the whole 90 plan, Paleo…you name it. However, over the last year a combination of portion control, eating 5-6 meals a day, carb cycling, keeping my fat intake at a minimum and the elimination of sugar has all worked in my favor. I typically use a food scale everyday and the My Fitness Pal app to document my daily food intake to help me stay on the right track. I incorporate vegetables in 4-5 meals daily. The healthy carbs that I consume are mainly from fruits, sweet potatoes and whole grains.

In the past, I’ve always enjoyed High Intensity Intereval Training (HIIT). However, I’ve done Crossfit 4-5 times a week for a little over a year now. I’ve had the most sucess only after incorporating Crossfit workouts and have seen sustainable results.

I am 5’3″ tall and my starting weight was 231 pounds, which was my heaviest weight. My current weight is 194 pounds. It took me a total of 14 months to loss 37 pounds. This is only the beginning, as I plan to continue on this journey until I reach my goal weight of 165 lbs.

A metabolic scan which measures your overall body composition determined that a healthy weight for my body type and frame should be between 167 lbs – 175 lbs, but no higher than 175 lbs. This number seems realistic and attainable to me, so that’s what I’m determined to reach. More inportant than losing 37 lbs, I’ve lost tons of fat and gained muscle, strength and confidence.

My advice to anyone wanting to lose weight is to just start somewhere and do what you can, even if it isn’t much. Stay focused on the end goal. You don’t have to see the entire staircase before you take a step. Journal both your food and workout routine. This is how you will begin to understand how your body responds to both diet and exercise. Remember that this is a very personal journey, there are no one size fits all programs. Set realistic goals and plan ahead. Also, stay encouraged because sustainable weight loss is not a sprint, it’s more like a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race. You can find diet & exercise motivation and tips on my Facebook page Why “Weight” Health & Wellness Support Group.

Myia lost 40 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Myia lost 40 pounds. This petite college student says that she gained the freshman 15 and then some. She reached a point where feeling tired, insecure and depressed was no longer acceptable to her. She shared with us about what she did to change her body and her lifestyle.

myia weight loss story

At the age of 19, I weighed 193 pounds and I was OBESE at 5 feet, 1 inch tall! Being a freshman in college and stressing out about numerous tests and papers, the only thing I counted on was food. I can truly say that the “Freshman 15” is definately real and I probably gained another 20 pounds on top of that. Although I was excelling in school, physically and mentally I was failing. I can remember starting my 2015 Spring semester depressed, insecure, and tired. Thats when I had to make a change.

I began drinking more water, eating clean, and working out. NO pills. NO waist trainers. NO slimming teas. Just pure determination and ambition. I began by incorporating more fresh fruits and veggies into my diet, along with lean meats such as turkey, fish, and chicken. I cut out the fast food, processed food, pork, red meat, fried food, soda and sugary drinks. I also changed the way I cooked. Instead of frying meats, I baked or grilled them.

I got a gym membership which motivated me to actually get up and go somewhere. When I would get to the gym I would do 15-20 mins of high intensity intervals of cardio, then I would lift weights. I started off light and once my strength increased, I went for heavier weights. I work out at least 3-4 times a week.

Today, I am 40 pounds lighter! I am now confident, happy, and energized! This past year on my journey was not easy, but the results I’ve seen have kept me going and I will NOT stop! I began my transformation on January 15, 2015 so I excited to say I just celebrated my one year anniversary.

The advice I would give to women and young college students:
Believe in yourself. If there is a goal that you want to reach, have the confidence in your heart to know that you can do it! Yes, there will be people who may not believe in you. Yes, there will be days that you want to give up and throw in the towel. However, if you can continue to get up and work for it, you will see the results that you’ve longed for. In the beginning, I was insecure and didnt like anything about my physical appearance, but over the course of this journey I’ve endured I began to love myself and even the flaws that came with it!

Instagram: @My_BrwnEyes

Brittney lost 100 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Brittney lost 100 pounds. In May 2015, she decided to have weight loss surgery. To those who say that surgery is the easy way, she would say no. She’s had to eat clean, drastically change her eating habits and do a lot of exercise to get results. Check out what she shared with us about her journey.

brittney before and after

I wanted to share my story with you all in hopes that I can inspire someone. I got the gastric sleeve surgery on 5/21/15. Over the past 8 months, I have lost 100 pounds. (height: 5’5″ tall) It had to be done. My weight has always fluctuated and in May I was at my all time highest weight of 272 pounds. The surgery is a tool that I chose to take full advantage of. So many people think that it’s taking the easy way out and it’s not. I eat clean, meal prep and train several hours a day.

Having a gastric sleeve restricts the amount of food you can eat, but I had to focus on making the smaller portions the healthiest options possible. I focused on my protein intake. I started drinking fruit/veggie smoothies in the morning and protein shakes for snacks. My lunch and dinner consisted of mostly chicken, turkey or fish, usually with spinach. I cut out all carbs (pasta, breads and rice), as well as beef and pork.

As far as workouts, I workout 2-3 hours a day for at least 5-6 days a week. Cardio is a must for me and I do at least a half an hour at the beginning and the end of my workouts. During my workouts, I’m strictly calisthenics, so I workout with my own body weight. That means push-ups, burpees, different sit-up variations, etc. However, I also use the Kettlebell a lot in my workouts.

As far as advice goes, I would tell anyone who is considering getting the surgery to do it for the right reasons and plan to put in work afterwards. If they haven’t had surgery, I would say be consistent and make sure that you are uncomfortable in each one of your workouts.

Instagram: @thickfitchick – I share nothing but health and fitness health motivation and tips on my IG.

Troy lost 40 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Troy lost 40 pounds. She is a television reporter in Shreveport, LA and she’s kept the weight off of or 3 years. She changed her eating habits, found out that weight training really works for her and did research on how certain foods affect the body. Check out what she shared with us about how she did it…

troy before and after

What was your motivation?
I am a television news reporter. Becoming a TV personality was a dream of mine, but more importantly I wanted to prove to myself that I could lose weight. For me, it was a discipline thing. I’ve always felt that I was a beautiful person and that beauty comes from within. Anytime I wanted to give up, I’d tell myself, “If you’ll give up on changing your lifestyle, you’ll give up on your dream and therefore you’ll give up on anything.” I knew I was more strong-willed than that. Now, that I’ve accomplished this goal, I know that I can reach all of my other career goals as well.

How did you change your eating habits? What did you stop or start eating?
I followed a lot of fitness and heath pages on social media. I taught myself to love fruit and vegetables. I put down soda and other things that are full of empty calories. I also stopped frying my food and started grilling and baking. I became more educated on how different vegetables affect my body. I really fell in love with the process of putting things into my body that would benefit me later in life. You’ve got to take care of yourself.

What did your workout routines look like?
I did a lot of weight training. I figured out early on that my body type reacts best to that method. I worked out Monday through Friday, which was best for my work schedule at the time.I’d take my work out clothes to the TV station with me and go straight to the gym right after. Occasionally, I would run from the station to the gym as cardio. It was just a few miles and there was a really safe route.

I made videos of my workouts to allow others to see my journey on social media and I asked others what they wanted me to make video of. People thought I was just helping them, but actually they pushed me to keep going and kept me focused on the journey. I couldn’t give up because I had people looking forward to my daily videos and people who enjoyed watching the process.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I started at 180 pounds and I currently weigh 140 pounds. My height is 5’4″.

How long did your transformation take?
All together, it took about 6 months, but it’s been 3 years now of maintaining. I am still committed to the lifestyle.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
The key is that you’ve got to learn how your body reacts to different foods and exercises. Get to know yourself and don’t give up figuring it all out. Keep working, even when you don’t see the results! I felt better before I ever started seeing a real difference.

Instagram: @thetroyla
Troy Washington KSLA News 12 is my news personality page. I am a reporter in Shreveport, Louisiana.

troy weight loss

Felicia lost 90 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Felicia lost 90 pounds. Like so many other people, she would start each year with a commitment to lose the pounds and eventually give up on her efforts. She took the time to explore options for weight loss and her journey has lead to to a passion for exercise, especially running. She shared her journey in detail, so make sure that you check it out.

felicia before and after

Hi, my name is Felicia A. and I would like to share my weight loss story! My motivation was not to weigh 250 pounds. I wanted to get under 200 lbs and stay there. At one point, I knew that I was well over 250 pounds, because I started wearing a size 22/24. During that time, I didn’t get on the scale.

Each year, beginning in 2009 when our state started annual health program called “Scale Back Alabama“, I would attempt to lose weight. It was a four person group effort, because that allowed me to get motivation from others while using the program.

Each year, I would lose a few pounds, get down to a size 18 and become satisfied with that. It became a rollercoaster cycle. I only weighed in at the start of each year for 4 years and never finished the program, because my team never finished the tasks and never went back to weigh out! I never knew how much weight I lost.

In October 2011, I got on the scale and my weight was 247 pounds. I said to myself, “I will not weigh 250 lbs.”, so I started losing weight on my own. I made a commitment that on Jan 1, 2012 I would go to a weight loss clinic for help, and I did just that! During the first week, I lost 10 lbs and my motivation flew out the roof, but they were providing diet pills to help the process. I did that program for three weeks and lost total of 24 pounds without exercising, but I was paying a large sum of money each week. From there, I decided that I didn’t want to have to take pills and I really couldn’t afford the program forever, so I stopped going to the clinic. I kept following the meal plan they’d given me and I continued to lose 1-2 pounds a week. In a year’s time, had reached my goal of being under 200 and had gotten down to 190 pounds.

I changed my eating habits by cutting out fast food, soft drinks or anything sweet. I only treat myself to sweets every now and then. I never ate vegetables before starting this journey. My diet consisted of eating McDonald or Chick-Fil-a daily. I knew I had to cut that out, although it was a hard task, I began to try different vegetables, but my diet consisted mostly of proteins and water.

As I stated before, I did not work out and when I got down to 190 lbs, people told me not to lose anymore weight because I wasn’t looking healthy. I had loose skin and was just a skinny person who still had a lot of fat. This was discouraging. Decided to go to the park and walk and that’s where I saw a friend who was working out in a boot camp with a trainer. I joined them and went 3-5 days a week. I maintained my weight loss and started to look better. The joy and the feelings I got from exercise turned into a passion for working out.

However, when it began to get cold, my exercising decreased and I was at a loss. I wanted to take my toning to another level, so the same friend introduced me to a personal trainer who was doing a free bootcamp at a gym and I went. The motivation and inspiration he gave us just gave me the feeling that I could do more. He included weights in every session of my workout. Even though I wasn’t eating completely clean, after 6 months of working out with him the weight began to come off. From there, I joined that very same gym and begin working out twice a day, 6-7 days a week. My body began to really transform. He introduced me to running too. My first time running, he ran with me and told me that we would do 2 miles, but it actually was 4 mile. I did it, only stopping to walk for about 1/2 mile. Now, I run 5 miles non-stop and have run in our city’s annual 10k Azalea Trail run. I’m decreasing my time every year.

My starting weight was 247 pounds and I now weigh 157 pounds. I am 5 ft, 5.5 inches tall. My transformation took 3 years and I have maintained my success for a year. My advise to others is to be consistent with your eating habits. When it comes to exercise, do not comprise yourself for a moment of pleasure. Believe in you and work on you at all times.

felicia weight loss felicia weight loss story

Latishia lost 28 pounds

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Mommy Transformation: Latishia lost 28 pounds. This petite mom of 6 started experiencing health issues and knew that it was time for healthier eating habits and more exercise. Check out what she shared with us about how she changed her life.

latishia before and after

What was your motivation?
My motivation came when I started to have lots of health issues that forced me to start changing my diet and exercising more. Also, I have 6 children and they inspired me to change as well.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started changing my eating habits by just eating healthier. That meant more vegetables, less snacking. That also meant watching how much I ate or what exactly went on my plate. I gave up rice, junk food and bread. Eventually, I decided to become a vegan.

What do you do to add more exercise into your life?
I workout doing two sessions a day, 45 min each, five days a week. Types of exercises I did; jumping jacks, stationary biking, hula hooping, stair climbing, yoga and push-ups. In the beginning of my journey, I did cardio exercises and lots of walking around.

Starting/Current Weight
My starting weight was 170 pounds and I currently weigh 142 pounds. My weight loss journey started in December 2014. My height is 5’1″.

What is your advice for others who want to lose the pounds?
Losing weight is physical, but is more a mental journey. If you can control your thoughts, especially those thoughts of “I can’t”, then you can and you will be able to conquer all obstacles ahead of you.

Instagram: @fit.vegan.rose

Manasha lost 38 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Manasha lost 38 pounds. This proud mom lost the weight after giving birth but once she returned to work and her normal schedule, tons of stress led to gaining all the weight back. She had to come up with a game plan for a true lifestyle change, and key to that was prayer and clean eating. Check out what she shared with us.

manasha before and after

Hello, my name is Manasha Beckwith and I figured I’d share my success story thus far! So, as you can see in the middle is a picture of me below, I weighed 204 pounds (not pregnant)! After I gave birth, 9 months ago, I breast fed, ate clean, and worked out daily! I dropped down to 173 pounds!

When I went back to work, I stopped EVERYTHING (healthy eating, fitness, breastfeeding) and experienced tons of stress from many areas of my life! I gained every pound back, literally! So, I decided that enough was enough! I started eating clean again and working out (almost daily), but most importantly I prayed my way through my journey! I couldn’t do this without the help of God!

I began changing my eating habits by not only eating less but also by making healthier choices. In the mornings, I eat low fat Greek yogurt and apples. Sometimes I substitute that for a homemade green smoothie. For lunch, I eat a salad almost every day. I mix spinach, kale, raisins and balsamic dressing. I rarely eat meat more than twice a week. For dinner, I eat steamed veggies and baked fish. I only drink water for my choice of beverage.

I began working out at a park near my house. I then joined a gym and a Crossfit class with my co-worker. Today, I’m in boot camp at the Brec Park in Baton Rouge, LA and I work out at least 3 times a week. My workouts are intense. If I’m not drenched in sweat, I’m not working out hard enough, lol.

My starting weight was 207 pounds. Today I weigh 169 pounds and my goal is 140lbs. I’m 5’0″ ft. tall.  I want to gain 10 extra pounds of muscle mass, which will bring me to around 150 lbs. So far, I’m pleased. I do want to lose the fat around my knees ASAP (I hate it), and my lower belly fat (which they say I really can’t because of my past 3 C- sections ). Overall, My upper belly is flat and I love my butt and thighs. My arms and face have both slimmed down. My transformation has taken 6 months so far. I believe eating right has played the biggest part in my journey.

The best advice I can give is to others is to pray everyday over your body. Ask God to help you, because before I prayed for help I was doing it on my own and I failed every time. Also, drinking water daily plays a huge part as well. Don’t give up on yourself. I make small goals, 5 lbs here and there. It’s a life change!

I am very proud of myself and will continue doing what it takes to accomplish my goals. I’m not trying to be super skinny, but I do want to tone up and trim down some of my fatty areas. My husband would just die if I lost his favorite ASSets.

Instagram @calimoswanted

manasha weight loss story