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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Aliyah lost 66 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Aliyah lost 66 pounds.  Like many of us she gained a lot of weight in college and took steps after graduation to change her lifestyle, lose weight and reach her wellness goals.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey: msupshurJuly14blog My name is Aliyah, I’m 26 years old. I just realized how much weight I lost and I couldn’t be more proud of myself! I lost a total of 66 lbs over 18 months. After graduating college, I realized I had gained a freshmen 50+ instead of a freshmen 15. I did high intense cardio classes (Tae Bo, Insanity, Kickboxing & Step Interval) four times a week.  I also stopped eating after 8pm on weeknights. Although I wasn’t consistent through the entire 18 months, I am more than happy about my results thus far! I was 250 lbs and I now weigh 184 lbs (5’4″). My goal weight is 175 pounds!!! I can’t believe how close I am!!!!!!! My motivation: Well, someone asked if I had a baby since college since I had gained so much weight. I have no children so that was like my “end all to be all” moment. I HAD to make a change immediately!  I didn’t diet, I made a lifestyle change. I only made changes that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.

  • I stopped eating after 8pm
  • I love carbs so cutting them out was unrealistic. Instead, I eat whole wheat instead of white. Brown rice instead of white rice…etc..
  • Eating breakfast EVERYDAY!
  • Drinking water first thing in the morning. Drinking MORE water! 2 liters/day at LEAST!…and that’s on a bad day. On a normal day I’m shooting for 3 liters.

My advice to others would be to STAY CONSISTENT! Don’t stop. EVER!!!! This is a LIFESTYLE change!

Instagram @msupshur UpshurJuly2blog

Shonda lost 82 pounds

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Update Jan 2015 – Shonda lost 8 more pounds for a total of 90 pounds gone.  She says…
“The biggest lesson I learned was if you are not prepared mentally then there is no way you can succeed. Another lesson was learning to eat in moderation even when it came to healthy food. I stuck to my same regimen when it came to eating and exercising. Staying consistent is the key. I focused on eating lots of fruits veggies and proteins. I also incorporated running and weight training. My advice to those who are losing weight is never give up, don’t dwell on your bad days trust me we all have them, take lots of pics for motivation and want it more than you want to breathe!”

Shonda before and after

Original Story – July 2014

Let’s show some love to Shonda.  This super mom lost 82 pounds by changing her eating habits, exercising and learning what cheat foods worked for her.  Read her story and find out more about her journey:

ShondaJuly14blog

My motivation was my children and the fact that I was tired of being unhealthy! I changed my eating habits by limiting my portions, adding more healthy snacks and eating frequent small meals. I have learned how eat to live and not live to eat! My workout routines consist of kickboxing, Zumba, bootcamp and personal training 6 times a week! My starting weight was 260 pounds. My current weight is 178 pounds (I am 5’1″ tall). I started eating right in August 2013 and exercising in Oct 2014.

Eating wise, I do a lot of protein and veggies. I have replaced white rice with quinoa, cut back on carbs and on bad fats.  I replaced wheat and white bread with whole grain bread but I don’t eat it often. For healthy snacks, I do lots of fruits and my guilty pleasure is WhoKnew cookies lol! A typical day for me would be…

  • breakfast: 3 egg whites, salsa, turkey bacon and granola
  • snack: fruit
  • lunch: salad with tuna or chicken, lite dressing and some nuts
  • snack: fruit
  • dinner: fish or chicken and veggies

I don’t really do carbs at dinner but when I do I eat quinoa, snack nuts or granola or maybe a WhoKnew cookie lol!

The advice I have for others is be consistent, don’t quit even if you miss up and get rid of your excuses. Do the work! It took years, months, weeks, days, hours, mins and seconds to gain the weight. It is going to take all of that to finish! I am still on my journey and there is no turning back!

Instagram: @smccants32

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Adreana lost 30 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Adreana lost 30 pounds. I think there is an important message in her story about how we sometimes let our weight stop us from going after our dreams.  Weight loss is not just about what you do (eating/exercise), it’s about changing your attitude about your life and your health.  Here is what she shared with us about the ups and downs of weight loss and finding success:

adreana healthy brown girl

I’ve been on a diet since the 4th grade, it seems like. I’ve tried tons of programs and fad diets and honestly, I lacked consistency. I wanted the get slim quick fix and there wasn’t one. Weight has stopped me from really going after the career I wanted (music). Instead of being the “artist”, I transitioned into just being a songwriter. I wrote and published a children’s book but, didn’t want to go out and promote it because of my weight…really?! I stopped dating and went into a shell. As a web developer, I just sat in my house and worked and didn’t allow anyone to really see me. It didn’t help that my mother had become ill and that also contributed to weight gain due to stress and hiding because she didn’t want to be seen either. I recently turned 30 years old and I realized that I’m in what should be “the best years of my life”! I decided to make the rest of my life, the best of my life. I’m getting this weight off of me and getting my life back. I have a lot to offer and I want the world to know!

So, starting off at about 220 pounds (I’m 5’2″), I researched and decided to do a juice detox. I lost 21 pounds in 29 days in June of 2013. I gained all of it back by November. I didn’t continue to eat healthy but, it did teach me that I had it in me to do. Around January of this year I decided to get back to it.  Unfortunately I got into a stressful situation that caused me to lose 22 pounds in an unhealthy manner (pretty much not eating). When that happened I was actually upset. People would think I’d be happy about the weight loss but, I knew that losing weight due to stress is not good. I turned things around by getting the stress off of me, eating healthy, and running. I’ve recently started working with a trainer as well. I’m currently 190 pounds and looking to be around 130 to 140 pounds.

My main goal is to inspire others during this transition. I’m excited to be going through it and I feel stronger everyday. I’ve also started a bi-monthly fitcamp where I get women and young girls together to play fitness games, workout, meditate, talk, and eat some healthy foods. I want everyone to know that they can do it. You have to fight for your life. It’s a literal GET UP AND FIGHT type of battle! When you want it bad enough, you’ll have the ammunition to go through this war!!

To see more about her journey…

facebook.com/healthybrowngirl
Instagram:@healthybgirl
www.healthybrowngirl.com

Robin lost 43 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Robin.  She lost 50 pounds with HCG injections from her doctor and a very low calorie diet.  Since then she gained a few pounds back and is learning to change her lifestyle for long term results. I think her story shows that short term diets can work, but in the long term you have to learn how to eat right and exercise to have lasting lifestyle change.  I thank Robin for sharing her story and being so open and honest.  I think that her story will truly help someone.  Read her story below:

Robin before and after

Note: I know that some people have problems with these plans, let me just say that up front.  However, for many people who are under the supervision of a doctor they can be a viable alternative to things like weight loss surgery and it can be an option for those suffering from serious health issues with medical supervision.

“In 2011, I went to the doctor because I was feeling just sick. Having had high blood pressure for many years, I just assumed that my pressure (as we say) was high. I had been hospitalized at least three times previously due to my hypertension. Of course, I have heard the stories and advice, like you need to eat less salty foods and exercise more. I usually would eat fast food everyday because I am not a cooker. I was drinking alcohol, not exercising and eating late at night. I always had an excuse not to go workout or do the right thing. I even hated walking to my mailbox. I am a natural people watcher. I look at a person’s style, fashion, and the way they move in their clothes. All the while I’m thinking, I wish I could look like that or feel as confident as they looked. The feeling of dread increased because I was turning the big 4-0 the next year. I was going to be 40 and fat. I weighed in at 226 lbs and was wearing 18-20 size clothes. I was also having problems sleeping, getting tired quickly,and just was not feeling as youthful as I wanted to feel. In my mind, I did not feel like I was 40. My body was telling me I was 40+.

After a lot of encouragement and trips to the doctor, I decided enough was enough. I was introduced to homeopathic doctor by my co-worker.  They have a masters degree in public health, is a holistic nutritionist and a health coach. The doctor suggested the HCG diet for me. At first, I was really skeptically, she promised if I worked hard on the program I would see the results. I promised I would give it my best. The program required me to give myself a shot of the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) manufactured drug every day and eat no more the 500 calories a day. I thought to myself, nope I am not going to make it. To make a long story short, I lost a total of 14lbs in the first week. At the end of the 6-week program I had lost a total of 50lbs. I went from a size 18/20 to a 10/12. I was so happy but I didn’t realize how the weight lost would affect me. The good part was my confidence in wearing the clothes I so desired to look great in went up, I was less tired, less stressed, and was think about food in a healthier way. The bad part was without support, I was unsure if I was going to be able to maintain it.

Today, I weight 183 pounds. No, it is not where I want to be. My goal is 165 pounds. However, I run 3 miles every day. I fight daily to make sure that I am doing the right thing. We all slip up on occasions. The HCG diet plan is not an excuse that I can use every time that I feel I need to loss fast weight. I have learned that it is up to me. I am still in a size 10 but believe me I battle with unhealthy habits. I am and will always remain a die heart FOODIE. I am now, however, watching what I put in my mouth and how much of it. I am an advocate for the HCG diet, for those like me who suffer from hypertension, borderline diabetic, and other health issues. I no longer need to take three blood pressure pills.  With the plan’s help, I avoided going on medicine for diabetes and I love to provide help to others. HCG helped but it is up to me to keep being the soldier to maintain my SEXY.”

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tamiko lost 132 pounds

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Update: Tamiko lost 10 more pounds for a total of 142 gone. Read her update.

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tamiko lost 132 pounds, going from 277 lbs to 145 lbs. This petite, proud mom of three girls found success with the Weight Watchers weight loss program and lots of exercise.  Here is what she shared with us about how she lost the weight:

Tamiko before and after

“Hi, I’m Tamiko. When I first started my weight loss journey I weighed 277 pounds. I didn’t have any health problems, even though I was extremely overweight. However, I was tired. I was tired of not really living and not being someone my three daughters could look up to.

So, I joined Weight Watchers and stuck to it religiously. I stayed within my points and chose healthy foods and snacks. I searched online for delicious food and snack ideas. I also learned new ways to cook and snack by attending Weight Watchers meetings.

I started working out. I took boot camp classes and hit the treadmill for at least an hour every day. I walked, took the stairs when I could and parked further away from the stores when shopping. I went All Out. I wanted the weight to be GONE. I did Zumba, cycling and other classes. I’ve learned to switch things up or you’ll get bored. I hit the gym twice a day at least 2 times a week, so I work out about 8 or 9 times a week most of the time.

I began my weight loss journey in 2006. By Aug 2008, I was down from 277 pounds to 165 pounds. I went from a size 26/28 to a size 10. Then, I got too comfortable and started to gain weight back. By Mid 2012, I was back up to 218 and started over again. This time I made up my mind I won’t stop until I reach goal.

Today, I weigh 145 pounds and wear a size 8 (height: 5’2″). I have lost a total of 132 pounds. I am five pounds from my goal. I would advise others who are looking to lose weight to hang in there. Don’t look for quick fixes because they don’t work. My weight loss is a result of going hard in the gym and eating right. Losing weight isn’t easy but if you dedicate the time it will happen. You may fall (I did) but get back up and go harder! Quitting is not an option! I have a Facebook page where I talk about my weight loss journey it’s facebook.com/TamikoWeightLossJourney”

Tamiko weight loss

Audrey lost 80 pounds

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Weight Loss Inspiration: Audrey lost 80 pounds.  She wants you to know that it’s never too late and you are never to old to reach your health and wellness goals.  Here is what she shared with us about her transformation:

Audrey weight loss

“Hi! My name is Audrey. So far, I have lost 80 pounds. My before pictures don’t tell the whole story, as I put on an additional 30 pounds after they were taken! By then, I was too embarrassed to take pictures. I started my journey about 4 1/2 years ago. I’ve been overweight all my life as is the case with most of my family on both sides. I finally decided to change, but wasn’t really as committed as I should have been. I lost 50 pounds, and then put 40 back on. About a year ago, I FINALLY became serious.

I am now in a dress size that I haven’t worn since 1974 (my freshman year in college). I am still on my journey as I have another 40 pounds I need to lose. I started with a whopping 48.8% body fat! Yeah, I know…dangerous! I am now at 30% body fat. I cannot emphasize enough that this is truly a lifestyle change. I eat cleaner, drink about a gallon of water every day and I exercise regularly.  I stopped frying my meats. I do allow myself the occasional piece of fried chicken or fish, just not that often. I eat 6 times a day which helps my metabolism. I have 3 meals around 350-400 calories and 3 snacks around 200. Soda is a rarity as is white flour products. I learned to eat oatmeal and sweet potatoes without the butter and brown sugar, as I’ve been accustomed to.

I have a personal trainer now and I strength train as well as do cardio. I will be 59 years old in July.  I would say to anyone who is thinking it’s too late or you’re too old that I’m living proof that you aren’t. I’ve also had knee replacements 9 years ago. However, there’s always something you can do once your doctor clears you! I’m doing things now that I NEVER thought I would do! If I can, anyone can!”

Audrey weight loss

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sabrina lost 45 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Sabrina lost 45 pounds.  She found a weight loss program that worked for her and worked it.  This proud mom also included her kids when working out for more motivation.  Read her story below.

Sabrina before and after

“I was slowly letting myself go. I was so wrapped up in everyone else I didn’t realize I had packed on so many pounds. My friend told me about a Beachbody program that uses martial arts to help shape your body. I was interested because I’m a ninja at heart. I bought Les Mills Combat and kind of half way did it. I wasn’t motivated. Then one night I put the DVD in and my boys joined me. I felt like I had to push harder because I wanted to set a good example. I didn’t really lose any weight during round one because I wasn’t dedicated to the program or the nutrition guide. I finished and was like I really want a t-shirt but I want to earn it. I started over and committed to the program and the nutrition guide. I added their nutritional shakes to my routine and worked out with the boys. I found myself pushing harder and really reshaping my body. Finally, I stepped on the scale and didn’t quickly get off.  That’s when I found out that in 120 days I’d gone from 215 pounds down to 170.

Sabrina weight lossWorking out with the kids really helped me step up my game but also finding a challenge group full of people doing the same workout as me helped me stay accountable. I recommend getting into a group of people with similar goals who are doing similar things on their journey and being an active member. It really helps you and others stay on track. I loved getting fighting fit so much I decided to pay it forward and become a coach myself.”

Update: Muriel lost 70 pounds

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2014 – Muriel sent in a great update.  When we featured her story back in September 2013, she’d lost 36 pounds.  She has lost 34 more pounds since then.  Read about how she lost the weight and check out her before and after photos below.

“UPDATE: Hi everyone! I am so pleased to share my progress since I was last featured on BWLW. I have lost a total of 70 lbs. I continued with working out at home using Jillian Michaels DVDs and stuck to a healthy, lifestyle changing diet. I also received 2 responses from Jillian Michael’s on Twitter. That was the best feeling ever! In November 2013, I ran my first half marathon. Then on Feb 1st, I ran my first 15K. On April 5th, I ran my first 10K, in which I placed 2nd overall for the females and 1st in my age category. I am truly thankful and blessed beyond measure. The best advice that I can give to women trying and wanting to lose weight is, NEVER give up! Put God first in everything you do, and I will guarantee that you will be successful. Always trust and believe. God Bless”

Learn more about how she lost the weight in the original post about her journey from September.

Muriel weight loss Muriel weight loss

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Cheryl lost 48 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Cheryl lost 48 pounds.  Faced with high blood pressure, daily headaches and the possibility of diabetes, she decided it was time for a lifestyle change.  Read her story below to find out what to change her life and lose the pounds:

Cheryl weight loss story

“Hi my name is Cheryl Staton and I am 43 years old. I got married in 2012. I was also going through early menopause and I suffered from daily headaches. A doctor visit made me realize how I was slowly killing myself. I had high blood pressure and was borderline diabetic. At 248 lbs, I hit rock bottom. I stopped drinking pop, beer and eating mindlessly. I started walking and paying attention to the calories I consumed. I prayed because I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I bought a Nutribullet blender and prepared breakfast smoothies everyday. Ate lean meats and drank lots of water. The weight started coming off and I started feeling better. I now weight 200 pounds. My goal weight range is 160-170 pounds. I believe that once you decide that a healthier you is a happier you, making better choices is the answer. I want to be happy, healthy and feel comfortable in my own skin. With God and determination, I won’t stop. This is a lifestyle! Thank you & never give up!” Instagram: @mrssassy1212

SkinneePix: Should you take 15 pounds off your selfies?

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What is SkinneePix?

When two women in Arizona got together and talked about taking selfies, the end result was a company called “PrettySmartWomen” and an app called “SkinneePix“. This app promises to reduce the appearance of weight in your face up to 15 pounds. Users can customize their virtual “weight loss” and post the picture they think looks best. The founders claim that the purpose behind the app is to provide inspiration to those trying to reach a target weight loss goal by showing them what they can look like.

Understandably, critics jumped up as soon as the app hit iTunes saying that there is little good about promoting a way to “Photoshop” real life. The trend of selfies is coming under a lot of fire lately, but how much of the worry about what it can do to a person’s mental health is really true?  Is there any harm in using apps like SkinneePix or filters of make yourself look better or more ideal in your photos?  Is it a matter of choice and self expression or self hate?  Who gets to make that determination?

selfie quoteWhat are the pros of taking selfies?

Before you jump on the wagon and say there are no benefits to taking selfies, there are some very real ones to it. The art of taking a self-portrait has been something used for centuries as a way of documenting where you are in life, showing growth, or depicting yourself as you want to be. Those founders of this app were pretty smart in thinking that an app like SkinneePix could serve as a motivator for weight loss.  It can be very motivating to see what your hard work can bring before you start your weight loss journey.

In today’s age, the selfie has become much more for people than just a photo. You could blame that on this being the “age of the celebrity,” but it is a reaction to living a life where more and more people feel like they don’t count. Selfies can be a way of proving you are significant and unique in a world that views you mostly as a number or a consumer. While there are lots of global issues involved in that last statement, the bottom-line is that for some a selfie can simply help you feel better in terms of personal self expression.

What are the cons of selfies?

Before we get into the potential problems that selfies can cause, or the disorders they may be symptomatic off; there is one con of taking and posting selfies that must be identified first. People who take and post selfies are sometimes seen as either narcissist or lacking self-esteem. The occasional selfie is socially acceptable, but more than one a day is typically not. Rightly or wrongly, you can’t fault a whole nation raised on criminal and psychological dramas as entertainment for trying to read “self-absorbed” behavior as a sign of something amiss compared to just fun way to pass the time. That is just how many people’s brains work.  We are trained to hate before we celebrate.  Many psychologists are starting to wonder if too many selfies can then turn into actual self-esteem or mental health problems. Sometimes, obsessive selfies can be a symptom of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

How to have fun with selfies

None of this means that you should stop taking or posting selfies, but that you should be aware that they are only meant to be taken and shared for fun. An image of you that is posted isn’t going to really project the sum of who you are. In fact, it won’t even look like you in real life if you are using a lot of filters or things to alter your image. Selfies should be snapshots of your life that you chose to share with the world, not a lifestyle or hobby unless you want to make it your art (or you are a journalist or blogger).

The Verdict on SkinneePix

I don’t think this app is harmful, however your health goals should be reflected in your health, not your appearance.  Photographs do add the appearance of more weight to a person.  That is a fact. It is just a function of the lens and the reproduction. An app like SkinneePix can be useful as a tool to inspire you to weight loss, but it is just as effective to use goal statements, journaling and positive affirmations.  You can also find a healthy hero you want to be like, not just look like, and use their example for inspiration. Focus on building a healthy lifestyle and you can’t go wrong.