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weight loss motivation

Towanda lost 47 pounds

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Towanda lost 47 pounds by working out at the gym and eating clean.  Here is what she shared about losing the weight:

Hello there!! I wanted my before and after photos posted on your website for motivational and inspirational purposes. I have fought with weight problems for many years but finally I am almost out of the 200’s! Since January 2013, I am down 47 pounds. I do at least an hour in the gym when I workout. I work on the elliptical for cardio and weights for my arms and abs. I am currently 15 pounds away from being 199 and I am very excited. Clean eating is a big factor as I have added a lot of fruits and vegetables in my daily diet. No overeating and I’m very, very strict with my junk food intake. (SUGAR was always a problem) I also stay far away from fried foods. Please let these ladies know the process is not easy but it is well worth the work for a healthy body!!  The pic to the left was taken back in 2010 which shows how heavy I was. The middle picture is from the end of 2012 and the last picture was June 13, 2013.

I was motivated by my wedding date back in 2008. Once the wedding was over I started unhealthy eating again. After three years went by I became frustrated with my weight, as I went as far as a size 24. That size 24  and 275 pounds led me to believe I had to change for a healthy future! My family and co-workers who are big on health led me into this size 16 today with work out techniques and clean eating!  I am looking forward to my next goal of 199 pounds on August 31. All in a matter of two years I have lost weight, quit smoking and quit drinking…all in hopes to a great future for my children and I. I am hoping to help someone out there lead a better future as well!!!

My instagram: @tsweightlossjourney

Towanda weight loss story

Brittany lost more than 80 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss journey: Brittany lost more than 80 pounds.  It all started with writing a letter to herself and making a promise that she’s now fulfilling.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Hello! I’ve been a follower of this page for quite some time, and I’ve decided to share my success story. I started my journey in March of 2011. It was while I was on vacation with my family that I decided I’d make a change in my life, and better my health. I’ve never been considered “small”, but I noticed that I began to neglect my body and felt like I was letting myself go. While on our way back from a road trip to California, I decided to make a change in my lifestyle. I wrote a letter to myself, and in that letter, I made a promise to myself to live a healthier lifestyle. When I first started working out, my biggest fear was sweating my hair out, lol. I finally stopped making excuses and got my stuff together. I stopped drinking sodas and eating candy. I also cut out fried foods and I started eating salads, and getting away from the table when I was full. I loved to eat soul food and I was a frequent spender in every drive thru, as you could imagine! I started swimming, walking daily, and watching what I eat. At times when I got discouraged, I would sit down, read my letter and remember why I started this journey. Since I’ve started my weight loss journey, I’ve lost 80+ lbs.  When I began I was at my heaviest, which was 302 pounds.  My goal is to lose a full 100 lbs before the end of the year. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the support of my family & friends, and the motivation to do and live better. The picture on the left is from Nov 2010, and the one on the right is from July 2013.

Brittany weight loss success

 

Karla lost 73 pounds

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Karla weight loss storyKarla lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  Let’s show her some love for sharing her story.  Here is what she shared with us:

I have lost 73 pounds in 9 months.  I did it all natural by cutting back on the foods I needed to & walking.  I still want to lose 30 pounds more.   I was 273 on the pic with the purple shirt. I’m 200 pounds now.  My goal weight is 170-180 pounds.

My motivation was my kids and wanting to be here for them.  I had to get healthy. I changed my eating habits by not eating after 6pm unless it was fruit.  Every morning at 5:45 am I walk 5 or 6 miles. I drink a Kellogg breakfast shake at 8am.  For lunch, I have subway or a small salad I made at home.  Then, I would eat a regular dinner (example: 1 chicken wing, mac & cheese and string beans).  I don’t have bread unless it was wheat.  No drinking soda, only water, natural fruit juices, or cranberry juice.  I also eat a lot of fruit.  If I go out to eat, I order off the kids menu and I always get water with my meal.  Also, some mornings I eat Kellogg cereal with slim milk.  For exercise, I walk 6 days a week for a total of 5 to 6 miles. My goal is to lose a total of 100 pounds in a year.  My year will be up on September 15th.

Karla weight loss success

Wendy lost 53 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Wendy lost 53 pounds with the loss of her mom as her inspiration to get fit.  Here is what she shared with us:

In 2009 I was 218lbs wearing a size 18. What started this journey was I kept getting depressed every time I went to buy clothes and had to grab three sizes and none of them fit. So my best friend and I decided that this was the breaking point. We changed our eating habits and hit the gym hard. This was not easy by a long shot. We started packing our food to take to work and kept motivating each other so we could remain focused. I started a blog called Inspiring My Sisters to help motivate my friends and together we were making things happen and seeing results. Within the first 9 months, I was wearing a size 8/10

I was like damn all this hard work has paid off! Well, I got to cozy and slacked off some and my clothes started to feel snug again. This was the hard part at keeping the weight off. My mother loved when I was on my grind and she died this past July from lung cancer.  I promised myself that I would keep my weight off because that is what she loved. So 3 weeks after she died I got back in the gym and started grinding!! She became my motivation. I lost 14lbs in 3 weeks and never looked back!!!

I feel so good now. This is not a diet it’s a lifestyle. I pack snack bags to keep with me when I feel the urge to get off track. I still pack my food to work. It’s hard but I know my mother is proud of me so that is what keeps me focused.

When I’m at the gym I do a little of everything from cardio legs arms weights and abs. I go running around the lake. I roller skate and swim when I’m not in the gym.  When I found your page I knew I had to share my story!!!  After hard work and dedication I’m down to a size 8, 165 pounds and loving life.

Wendy weight loss story

Taneisha lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story:  Taneisha lost 50 pounds by working out, joining a local running group and changing her eating habits.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Taneisha and I’m holding it down in Detroit, MI.  Too make a long story short, I realized that I gained too much weight. I wasn’t sick and didn’t have any type of health scare. However, I am was always a healthy young lady and I am now. In February 2012, my job decided to do the Biggest Loser Challenge.  Once I weighed in, I was like noooooo way. I did not realize I weighed so much. I weighed in at 258 pounds. I am a pretty tall girl at 5′ 11″, so my weight does not show. It was at that point, that I decided I needed to change. I completely went cold turkey. I stopped eating red meat, pork, fried foods, fast food, pop, and juice. I only ate chicken, turkey, and seafood, and drank ONLY water. I created my own workout routine, and would work out 5-6 days a week. I also started working out at my local gym. I would hit the local high school track, where I would walk/run. Then I joined this group in Detroit called Run This Town Detroit. You can look it up on Facebook. It’s a networking workout group, that would meet up downtown Detroit(twice/week) and would give you the opportunity to not only workout with a group (200 plus people), but gave you a chance to network with a group of professionals. I like variety and am the type of person that gets bored real easy, so to just hit the gym and the track wasn’t enough for me lol. So, in addition, I tried kickboxing, cycling, and Zumba. I eventually lost 50 pounds and went down sizes (from 18 to loose 14). That took about 7 months. My goal is to lose 30 additional pounds, and maybe one or two dress sizes. This journey has NOT been easy. But, it has made me a lot more food conscious. I am aware of what I eat and how much of it I consume. I do NOT keep myself from eating what I want, however, I am more conscious of it. Moderation is the key!!!! To this day, I am continuing to challenge and push myself. Through this journey, I have motivated and encouraged so many people. If i’m able to encourage just one person from this post, I feel like I have made some type of difference. FYI: I won the Biggest Loser Challenge at my job  😉

Taneisha weight loss story

Your being is the first gift from God you ever received

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“Self Hate is easy. Loving your self takes patience, kindness and forgiveness. Do the hard things. Embrace the hard change of realizing that you are the only constant you will ever truly have and you must cherish that. Learn to love yourself.  Remember: Your being is the first gift from God you ever received.” – Ebony Ajima

Shantel lost 128 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before & after story: Shantel lost 128 pounds since May 2012 by exercising regularly and eating right.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hi my name is Shantel and I wanted to share my weight loss journey. In May 2012, I finally decided to make a change. I was tired of being overweight and very unhappy. I started by walking everywhere, pushing my daughter in her stroller. I would walk at least a mile 5 to 6 days a week.  Then I added in Turbo Jam about 3 days a week. I ate smaller portions and made smarter food choices with substitutions like, baked instead of fried, mustard instead of mayo, lettuce wrap instead of bread. Over a year later and 128lbs lost, I now only drink water and my diet is 80% vegetables. I now work out 6 days a week and focus on weight training, HIIT, and tabata. This journey has been hard but with prayer, determination and hard work, I am losing the weight and improving my life. I can truely say I am happy!

Shantel weight loss story

Jonquil lost 59 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after: Nurse, college student and single mother Jonquil lost 59 pounds with diet and exercise. She knew that she needed to get healthy.  Here is what she shared with us:

Jonquil weight loss storyI was a fast food junkie and always on the go. My motivation came from a bet with my boyfriend. Whoever got to their goal the fastest won. I jumped on the bet right away because he and I are very competitive. I had to learn how to cook healthy foods and make them suitable to substitute fast food. I began to see change and so did my peers. I learned to love to eat healthy, especially on the go. I work out 5 days a week. I do 3 days of jogging and 2 days at the gym. My starting weight was 236 pounds and I am now 177 pounds. I’ve began my lifestyle change in November 2012. It’s been 8 months. I realized that dieting alone will not give me my permanent results, a lifestyle change was what I needed. I love working out now. The key to weightloss in my opinion is acknowledging your bad habits and knowing it will take time to adjust them. After I acknowledged my bad habits, I slowly learned to live without them. To this day, I fail and get back up, but I am successful with weight loss because I continue to get back up. I use weight training, whey protein, and cardio. I love my figure,  so I focus on squats and abdominal exercises, and jogging.  It works!  Eating habits: no fried foods, just baked and raw fruits and veggies. I suffer from acne and once I changed my diet, it has significantly decreased my acne.

Jonquil weight loss story

Jennifer lost 51 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight Love to Jennifer.  She has lost 51 pounds since April 2nd of this year and is striving to lose 49 pounds more!!  Here is what she shared with us: “I’d like to share my story.  I’ve lost 51 pounds since April 2, 2013.  How did I do it?  Just by stopping drinking soda, cutting out sweets and with an intense exercise regiment.  I also eat clean. I went from 386 pounds to 335 pounds.  My goal is to lose another 49 pounds and maintain my new lifestyle. My motivation was when my doctor told me that I could not have another child due to my weight.”

Jennifer weight loss before and after

How Peer Pressure Can Make You Fat: Dealing with Friends with Unhealthy Habits

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There’s no denying the power of peer pressure, especially among teens. Even adults are not immune. Peer pressure is everywhere – work, school, church and at home. You may think that you’re above the influence of others, but few people are completely. If you’re doubtful, just think about the last time someone commented negatively on your haircut, your man or the clothes you were wearing. Even about your weight. How did you handle it? If you stuck the clothes in the back of your closet, felt bad about your hair or felt a blow to your self esteem, you may have been influenced by peer pressure.

friendsPeer pressure works in much the same manner among all age groups regardless of the thoughts or actions being influenced. As humans, we all have an intense need to fit in. When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, we are apt to go along with what those around us choose to do. If our family and friends lead an unhealthy lifestyle, it’s very easy to follow suit.

I hear from women all the time who are dealing with negative comments from family members, boyfriends, friends, co-workers, etc.  They want to stay on the path of health and wellness, but they are dealing with the assumptions of others and being told things like:

  • You are losing too much weight.
  • Don’t lose your curves.
  • Why do you want to be thin.
  • Oh…I forgot…You don’t eat.
  • Why are you eating that?  Enjoy Yourself.

While it’s natural for people who love you to want the best for you, there is a difference between looking out for your interests and wanting to control you or having a problem with you losing the weight.  Sometimes you may feel as if your loved ones would prefer that you stayed overweight and if you bow to the pressure you just might.

Your Weight and Negative Peer Pressure

If your family and friends are overweight, sedentary and consume junk food, chances are, they will have something to say about you being on the path to health and wellness. It’s not always about jealousy, and you have to know that your actions may make them feel like they need to change.  That can be uncomfortable.  However, your friends and family can still affect your efforts negatively by:

  • Temptation – When you’re alone, it’s easier to choose items from the healthy menu. Put a couple of friends in the mix and things get tricky. Whether you’re at a restaurant or fixing a meal for your family, the food eaten by those around you often looks better, more satisfying than your own healthy choices. It’s very tempting to forgo the salad for a couple slices of pizza in these situations.
  • Lack of Motivation – Ever notice how active people hang out together and other groups of friends sit and play video games all day? If you’re around people who don’t move, chances are you won’t.
  • Changing Your Views – Once you’re around people who think it’s OK to live an unhealthy lifestyle, you might begin to think the same way. You might start thinking thinks such as “I’m still smaller than so and so” or “I’m a little heavy not gaining weight, so I’m fine.” These thoughts can devastate any movement toward a healthy lifestyle.  Don’t compare yourself to others or let them compare you.  You have to define your goals based on your health and lifestyle needs.

Positive Peer Pressure

Just as negative peer pressure can affect the way you eat and how much exercise you get, the opposite is also true. Surround yourself with active people and people who eat healthy and you will start to make healthy choices simply from their positive influence.  If your friends and loved ones aren’t living a healthy lifestyle, be encouraging and do what you can to help them.

The key is to increase positive peer pressure and to decrease negative peer pressure. While you can remove a great deal of negative influence from your life, you might not be able to stop associating with all of the people who influence you negatively, like family or a spouse. Therefore, it’s important to have a clear plan of action when encountering situations involving negative peer pressure.  The most important thing you can do is be very clear on WHY you are losing the weight in terms of what your motivation is.   That why is the truth you have to hold on to.