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Nevia lost 95 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Nevia lost 95 pounds. This mom of gained 100 pounds with her 4th pregnancy and was very depressed. She started with simple, straightforward changes to her eating habits and walking for exercise. 2 years later, she’s transformed her body and her lifestyle. Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

nevis before and after

Having my fourth child left me with 100 extra pounds. I was so depressed and didn’t know what to do with myself, so I started walking one mile every day. Now, I run five miles, three days a week. It’s five years later and I’m down 90 pounds.

My children are my motivation. They kept me going even when I wanted to give up. Before losing weight, I never had the energy to play with them. I started this journey because I wanted to be a better mom, and most of all feel better about myself. Also, I got a lot of inspiration from weight loss videos on YouTube.

My changing my eating habits was the biggest factor in my transformation. I prepared all my meals at home and stopped eating out for the first year. My biggest problem was snacking, so I just found healthier options.

Working out was hard at first so I just started with walking. Then, two months later, got a gym membership and now I workout three times a week. I love running and and spinning.

My starting weight was 250 pounds and my current weight is 155 pounds at 5’4″. It took me two years to lose the weight and now I’m focusing on maintaining my current weight. My advice for anyone who wants to lose weight is to never give up. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. Despite that, I just try to remember why I started my journey.

Instagram: @FIT_THICK_CHICK148

Lindsey lost 34 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Lindsey lost 34 pounds. Her weight had been an issue since childhood. She used eating for comfort and ate to sooth her emotions, depression and boredom. Here is what she shared with us about the actions she took to change her life…

lindsey before and after
The photo top is of a younger me. I’ve always been heavy until I decided to change for myself.

Wouldn’t you know, around this time last year I was in a depression. During this time, all I did was eat my feelings. I ate because I was bored. I ate because I was lonely and ate just because eating filled all the voids in my life. Soon, I found myself so unhappy and disgusted with myself.

I wanted to take my tax money and have my best friend @bjhughes31 and my brother @mfisher1008 go with me to have liposuction in Missouri. However, I googled about the procedure and scared myself out of it. Then, I went as far as wanting to try powder (as in cocaine) to loose the weight. Once again, Jill and Marcus talked me out of it and said that it was the dumbest move I ever could have considered making.

So, I decided to start walking and that was going great, except for fact that I was still eating like a pig! Finally, I decided that the only thing that was going to help me lose weight was EATING RIGHT AND EXERCISING. Little by little, I began noticing small changes that would led to my breakthrough.

I have gone from 229 pounds to 195 pounds in 6 months by eating Weight Watchers meals through the week, and whatever I wanted through the weekend. I have cut all soda pop out and drink water faithfully throughout the day. The only exercising I do is walking. Eventually, I need to tone, but walking has got me this far. I have earned this victory fair and square and I am so damn proud of myself. Thank you Jesus for being the wind beneath my wings. #BLESSED

Instagram: @4pagel3tt3r

Dee lost over 90 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Dee lost over 90 pounds. After a serious diabetes scare, she knew that it was time to make some changes. She started changing her eating habits and walking. Now, she’s running half marathons. Here is what she told us about her journey…

dee before and after

I have been on this weight loss journey for a little over 2 years after a HUGE scare with Diabetes. I weighed 245 pounds at 5’4″ and was very unhealthy. I didn’t want to be a diabetic nor take any medicine, so on July 30, 2013, I made the decision to change for my good. I changed my diet and started exercising.

I cut out fried foods. Instead, I ate lean meats, lots of vegetables and stuck to a high protein diet. I started walking and then the next thing I know I was running half marathons. I fell in love with running and it is my passion nowadays.

I made up my mind to get serious about my health and I have now lost over 90 pounds. The diabetes scare is gone and my A1c is now 5.2.

If I can do it, so can you. Just stay focused on your goals and know that your good health is your wealth. I’m living my best days, now.

Instagram: @iammrsdb

dee weight loss story

Ashley lost 63 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Ashley T. lost 63 pounds. After struggling with her weight since childhood, a wake up call at the doctor’s office motivated her to commit to healthy lifestyle change. She shared with us about the actions she took and how she fell in love with healthier living.

ashley before and after

I have always struggled with my weight since I was young. I was the big girl with a pretty face or the funny girl. I would tell myself all the time that I would start my diet tomorrow, next week, next year, etc. However, I never followed through. I hit rick bottom when I went to the doctor for my yearly physical and was nearly topping the scale at 260 pounds. I couldn’t believe this. How did I let myself get this big? I was overweight and my self esteem was always at a low. I had put my health at risk and I knew then that it was time I make a change and follow through.

I started out slow. That way I wouldn’t shock my body completely. First, I decided to stop eating fried foods, junk, sweets and soda. For exercise, I started out just walking the track at my college a couple times a week. I even walked with my grandma some days. I built my way up to 3 miles. Then worked my way up to jogging and later added weights to my routine. The weight started falling off, I started seeing a new me and I loved the way my body was looking.

Now, I’m at my lowest weight since middle school at 197 pounds and I’m loving it. I am 5’10” tall, so I can hold some weight on my body. Now, I do HIIT workouts, strengthen training and I’ve fallen in love with a living a healthy lifestyle.

My advice to others is to just start out slow and work your way up. Use the words “living a healthy lifestyle” because diets are just too much of a commitment. Motivate yourself and have determination. Be your own biggest supporter. Always bring 100% to your workouts, because you only cheat yourself when you slack off. Your body is a canvas, so make your creation!

Ashleigh lost 38 pounds

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Ashleigh is still going strong. She’s down to 167 pounds.

#BeYourOwnBodyGoals #SnappingOutOfIt #BackOnMyShit #Throwback

A post shared by Ashleigh (@ashvaughn.getsfit) on

Transformation of the Day: Ashleigh lost 38 pounds. Facing the possibility of diabetes, having high blood pressure and having frequent asthma attacks, led her to take action and lose the weight. She shared her journey with us and gave us some great advice.

Ashleigh before and after

At my heaviest, I was 213 pounds and pre-diabetic, I was on the road to having high blood pressure and was having frequent asthma attacks all because of my weight and a lack of exercise. In the summer of 2012, I decided to work towards losing weight, began eating healthy and started doing Insanity three times a week. I began working out in the gym two times a week and eventually added running to my routine. In that summer alone, I went from 213 pounds to 166 pounds.

Since then, I’ve been working on various fitness goals, as well as adding weight training to my routine. I currently weigh 175 pounds and my goal weight is somewhere around 155 pounds. My height is 5’3″.

I changed my eating habits initially by cutting out most of the sweets that I was eating too much of (donuts, ice cream, candy, chocolate). I did not cut them out completely but would allow myself to indulge in them maybe once a week. I also cut out soda pop, juice, and other sugary drinks. This is when I noticed the most weight loss. I now indulge in these things sparingly. For maximum weight loss, I would advise anyone to cut them out of their diet. I started to eat healthier snacks, because I am a big snacker. Now, I eat three meals and two snacks a day.

I try to work out at least three times a week. When I first began my weight loss journey I was doing the Insanity program three times a week and working out in the gym two to three times a week, while resting on the weekend. Now, I attend spinning classes once or twice a week, and I will be starting kickboxing classes soon.

Advice for others who want to lose weight: Listen to your body. There is no magic formula, shake, tea, waist trainer, etc. that will give you lasting results. These things may give you temporary, fast weight loss but you will no doubt put the weight back on (sometimes more than before you started). Be patient with your journey Remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a temporary diet. For lasting results, put in that hard work and be consistent. Don’t get down on yourself or quit if you fall off, just pick back up where you left off and make it work!

Instagram: @ashvaughn.getsfit

Ashleigh weight loss story

Tamara lost 105 pounds with surgery

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Update: Shout to Tamara! We featured her back in 2015. Since then, she was hit by a car, fractured both ankles, has endured multiple surgeries and regained 40 pounds. She wrote in and shared with us how she got back on track.

Tamara before and after

I am so happy to talk about my journey on Black Woman Losing Weight. My transformation was posted back in December 2015. I had the gastric sleeve and became a long-distance runner during that time. Little did I know that I would be hit by a car in California in February 2016. That changed everything.

I was in therapy from March 2016 to November 2016. Then I fractured both ankles February 2017. I was in bed off and on with back surgeries to ankle surgeries for about two years. I took every type of pain medication, but the pain would not go away. I went into a deep depression because of this. I gained 40 lbs back from eating and drinking whatever I desired during this time.

I took my life back in October 2018. I made it out through faith and the desire to find something bigger than myself. I changed my thoughts, which is the only way you will lose weight and keep it off. Today I don’t take any medication, and I weigh 170 pounds. I’ve kept off a total of 145 pounds through struggles, life’s disappointment, and tragedies because of my thoughts, and a strong will to keep this weight off. I have seen a lot of black people die due to the complications of obesity. God said that I shall live and not die, but I have to be the one to do the work!

Transformation of the Day: Tamara lost 105 pounds. She was suffering with her weight and high blood pressure. Her beloved aunt, who passed from diabetes complications, gave her the inspiration to start her journey. After having the gastric sleeve procedure, the weight started coming off, but she learned that surgery is a tool, but not something you can rely on alone for transforming your body and your lifestyle. Here is what she shared with us about the actions she took…

tamara before and after

In 2009, my Aunt Alice died from complications from diabetes due to obesity. I loved my Auntie and we were like twins. We had so many things in common. I found this out visiting her during her dialysis treatments on my way to work. We would have long talks about everything. I could see her dying. They cut off her first leg above the knee, then the second leg shortly after. It went down hill from there. She told me one day while waiting for a doctor’s appointment, “T, don’t be like me.” When my aunt transitioned to a better place, I tried everything. The weight came off somewhat and then it would find me again. Years passed and I just couldn’t get the weight off.

In 2013, I was up to 274 pounds. I kept going to the doctor to get my blood pressure pills changed. Several times, my blood pressure would go down a little bit but it would still be high. I also suffered from chronic back pain and the pain pills were not helping.

In March 2014, I had gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, which was the best option for me… or so I thought. I was 274 lbs and with the sleeve I went down to 210 lbs. Then, I plateaued. I decided that I really need to take advantage of the benefits of having the surgery instead of just depending on it. I changed my diet and learned to eat every two hours. I started to walk and then my walking turned into running. I love running. I have been in several marathons and have started strength training.

I’m currently weigh 169 pounds (height: 5 “7 1/2”), but I have lost up to 110lbs. I feel great, no longer have to take blood pressure pills and now longer have back pain. I try to motivate others and tell my story to help someone. It’s a domino effect! I’ve never been this small, so I am still getting use to the new me.

I changed my eating habits by reading my weight.com articles. I added more protein and ate less carbs. That means I actually listen to what the nutritionist. She told me that about 95% of the post weight loss surgery patients don’t listen. I eat small meals or snacks ever 2 hours. I keep snacks in my car and purse to cut out any excuses to get something bad from the gas station or a food mart. When I started to overcome my weight loss plateau, I worked out for 30 minutes, 6 days a week. Now, that I’m maintaining my weight, I’ve added more strength training and I workout 4 times a week. I find ways to burn calories and I park far away from where I’m going. I don’t emerge myself into work potlucks. I also find active outings to participate in.

My advice for others: Do not listen to anyone but your inner voice. People will tell you what they think you should do and most of the time it’s not the right advice for you. When you start working out, never compare yourself with others! Do you boo! Keep it moving!

Instagram: @tadesa93

tamara weight loss story

August lost 85 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: August lost 85 pounds and went from a size 26 to a size 14. She took some time to really look at herself and saw the negative, emotional toll that love relationships and depression had taken on her body. She found an exercise program that really motivated her and worked to change her eating habits. Here is what she shared about her transformation…

august before and after

In February of 2013, while stuck inside due to ice and snow, I was finally still enough to look at myself in the mirror.

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I was always a BIG GIRL, so there wasn’t a shock to that realization. However, over the course of three years, I found myself attempting to recover from two very emotionally scaring, love relationships. I hadn’t stopped to noticed the affects that the stress was having on my body, essentially from the inside out. The now severely depressed, unrecognizable me in the before photo was now 316 pounds, a size 26 and in danger. My eyes appeared to scream for help and only I could answer. At that very moment, I knew it was time to make a change. This motivated me to say enough and I want to live so that i could be around to see my daughter grow-up.

I started by doing the Leslie Sanome Walk at Home routines from YouTube. When I first began, I did the 15 minute workouts daily for the first five days. As I did more research about Leslie’s program, I became more motivated and to get on a schedule, I purchased the 30 DAY Challenge kit and committed to the schedule. After the first thirty days, results became evident, I continued the 30 day challenge schedule for three month. I worked out six days a week. I also ate more fruits, vegetables and lean meats, focusing on meals with snacks, portion control and drinking lots of water. I also, eliminated all sugary drinks and often did rotations of weeks without meat, only vegetables and fruits.

Today, I am down 85 pounds and counting. I continue to workout six days a week. Starting with the man in the mirror for motivation, anyone can make the lifestyle change toward healthy living. In order to do so, you must find a program that works for you and believe in the journey without just focusing on the destination. Set realistic goals with positive rewards. Expect to gain more than physical changes.

Instagram: @pricelessdestiny_smith

Facebook: Thick and FIT

august weight loss

Angel lost 150 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Angel lost 150 pounds. This proud mom of 4 was facing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was at risk for diabetes at 300+ pounds. Portion control, regular exercise and cutting out foods that were not benefiting her, allowed her to create true lifestyle change. Here is what she shared with us…

angel before and after

I am a mother of 4 children, 1 girl who is 15 years old and three boys ages 14,10 and 7. I have struggled with weight loss and the stresses of life for a while. With me being only 5 feet tall even, I weighed 325 pounds. The doctor was telling me that I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and that I was at risk of being a diabetic. I had to make a change and I did!

No pills, no trainer. Just me and Google, lol. I decided to work hard, because I needed to change my lifestyle so that I can be here for my children and show them that you can live a healthy life . I didn’t receive any encouragement except for what I gave myself. I went from 325 pounds to 175 pounds in a year and a half! I am continuing my journey, because my goal weight is 150 lbs.

I changed my eating habits by cutting fast food and beef. I only eat chicken, turkey and fish. I learned to eat smaller portions, instead of one huge plate. I workout 5 days a week, sometimes twice a day if possible.

For others who are trying to lose weight, the advice I would give them is that it’s a lifestyle, not a diet. Be patient, stay focused and learn to motivate yourself, even when others don’t. There were times when it was cold and snow was on the ground, but I was at the gym by myself. Why? I looked at the greater outcome. I just feel and look better knowing I accomplished it on my own and without any chemicals. Thank you for the opportunity to let others know that it can be done naturally without any surgery.

Instagram: @MzAngelEyez79

angel 300 pounds

Why Does Weight Loss Seem Easier For Men?

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weight loss easier for menIn a world where many men and women are struggling with weight loss, why does it seem like weight loss is easier for men? Are they more inclined to exercise? Is it easier for them to say no to unhealthy foods? Is their metabolism faster? If you’re on the weight loss journey and have been wondering about this, it’s time to get to the bottom of the matter. The reality is that losing weight is hard for men and women, but let’s take a look at this theory and delve into the topic a bit further.

Men typically think about food less than women

The topic of how often men and women think about food was put out there in a survey recently that looked at thoughts of food and sex in society. The result? Women tend to think about food much more often than men. In fact, the poll indicated that women think more about food than sex, but men tend to think more about sex than food.[1]  With women thinking more about food, they most likely eat more frequently than men, thus, it may be tougher for women to lose weight if they are eating more calories than their male counterparts.  Also, women are under tremendous pressure when it comes to cooking meals, buying groceries and losing weight. There is a lot of energy in our society focused around women and food vs. men and food.  Just take a moment to think about how much you discuss food, eating habits, dieting, etc with other women.

Men don’t relate to food emotionally as much as women do

If you’re a woman, you or one of your female friends have probably soothed a broken heart with chocolate,  ice cream or your comfort food of choice at least once. You’ve probably also seen plenty of movies where women are drowning their sorrows in desserts. Yes, women tend to relate emotionally to food, while men don’t do this as much (the do, but not as frequently). A study was conducted in which both men and women fasted for a day and then were shown pictures of delicious foods and were told to continue fasting. The results showed that a woman’s brain was much more active than the man’s in the emotional regulation area, indicating that a man can sort of shut off their emotional connection with food easier than women.

“In men, this willful inhibition directly affected brain metabolism—the group suppressing their craving had less activation in the limbic and paralimbic regions, which control awareness of hunger and desire for food. The two groups of women, in contrast, had equivalent brain activity. This observation corresponds to the participants’ ex­perience: the men who tried to ignore their craving felt a decreased desire for the food, but the women were tantalized despite their efforts at self-control. Wang also reported that the women’s brains showed a much greater response to their favorite food than men’s did, and he speculates that these findings may help explain why so many women struggle with their weight.” – Scientific American

Men, typically, do have faster metabolism

Yes, it’s true. Men tend to have faster metabolism than women, with research indicating that it can be up to 10 percent higher, helping them lose and keep off weight easier than women. [2] This has a lot to do with muscle mass/lean tissue.

Men have more lean muscle tissue

Research shows that men have more lean muscle tissue over women, which burns a lot more calories than body fat, even at rest. Although it is important to keep in mind that the advantage is only short-term, because studies have revealed that over the long haul, women do end up losing the same amount of weight as men. [3] Men may also lose weight a bit faster, but they can put it right back on within a short period of time, just like women.

Men have more testosterone

Guys can thank their testosterone levels for giving a bit of an advantage when it comes to weight loss. With their testosterone levels being naturally higher than woman, and their lack of estrogen, they’ve certainly got an edge when it comes to weight loss. In fact, women are between 6 and 10 percent higher in body fat due to estrogen, which can make it a bit tougher for them to lose weight in comparison. [4]

Good news is that it is possible to lose weight whether you are a male or female, as these differences aren’t really all that much of a difference.  If you make a commitment to regular exercise and adopt a healthy eating lifestyle, you’re apt to lose weight regardless of gender.  Getting more health conscious certainly goes a long way when it comes to mind, body, and spirit, so if you’re on the weight loss journey,  continue learning ways you can trim down and become healthier and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.  (More info on good nutrition guidelines for men and women).

 

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-lewtan/women-think-about-food-men-think-about-sex_b_8636162.html

[2] www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35431

[3] www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/health/upwave-weight-gender/ and www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-wars-men-vs-women

[4] www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/health/upwave-weight-gender/ and www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-wars-men-vs-women

Tone and Syn, Husband and Wife Transformation

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We took a break for a while but WE’RE BACK! #ToneandSyn #WeLove #WeLift #WeTravel

A post shared by Tone And Syn (@toneandsyn) on

Transformation of the Day: Husband and Wife Team, Tone and Syn have transformed their bodies. She lost 49 pounds and he lost 77 pounds. They both have significant muscle growth and the journey helped them to heal and improve their marriage. This busy mom and dad of 6 children are an amazing example for us all that with hard work you can live out your dreams.  They recently won second place in their divisions as first-time fitness competitors and can now compete on the national level. Here is what they shared with us.

tone and syn before and after

What was your motivation? What inspired you?
We have been married for 8 years as of November 26th, 2015. We got married 7 months after meeting each other, so we had a ton of issues that we had to work out. We really didn’t know one another and over time our arguments got worse and worse. We honestly were on a verge of a divorce before we took on this journey together. We travel a lot as, Tone owns and operates a travel agency. We would see fit couples on the beach and always say that we wanted that. We are so glad that we took this journey as it honestly saved our marriage. We regained trust, respect, admiration and communication through this journey. We never lost love for one another, but the items that I just listed were damaged. Seeing your body transform before your eyes shows you that with hard work and dedication the sky is the limit. We received this message and transferred this positive energy into our family and our businesses.

How did you change your eating habits?
We knew that we were going to have to be strong to give up our favorite foods. In order to do this, we had to change our lifestyle, we stopped buying certain things and stopped eating out. We have 6 children so we are used to cooking in bulk. We started meal prepping for a couple of days at a time, this truly helped us out a lot. Knowing that we had a meal waiting for us when we got home that we could just microwave was a life saver. Normally, we would think, “I will just pick up something while I am out.”, because after a hard day’s work we didn’t feel like cooking. We stopped eating red meat, whole eggs and dairy products. We also stayed away from seasoning with sodium in them.

son before and afterWhat did your workout routines look like?
We usually warm up with cardio for about 10 to 15 mins and then strength train for about 45 minutes.

Starting and Current Weight:
Syn: 202lbs on January 12th 2015, 153lbs on November 6th 2015
Tone: 237lbs on January 12th 2015, 160.3lbs on November 6th 2015

What is your height?
Syn: 5’6”
Tone: 5’10”

How long did your transformation take?
10 months. January 12th of 2015 is the date we started our journey.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Consistency! Whenever people ask us how to lose weight this will always be our answer. You have to consistently set forth healthy habits to maintain your ideal look. Abs aren’t given, there are earned through a good diet and exercise. You can’t start and stop, it takes time for you to form a habit but it only takes a second for you to fall back into your old habits. You have to get an understanding of what your putting into your body and how it affects it.

As African Americans we honestly have learned bad habits, as far as our nutrition. Think about this, the sole purpose of Carbs (carbohydrates) is to give you energy. We tend to eat a ton of carbs (Pasta, bread etc) with our dinner, however the bad part is that we tend to eat dinner at a late hour. Any unused carbs will turn into fat. I guarantee you that most people eat dinner at 6 or 7 pm and then go to bed at 9 or 10 pm. Guess what you have just done if you haven’t worked out? You have just gained more fat. Then most of us wake up and don’t eat breakfast. Your body is smart, it stores fat for fuel, so when you don’t eat in the morning this lowers your metabolism. If you are serious about losing weight we suggest that you do some research on how to boost your metabolism and also research protein, carbs and fat.

Check them out online:
www.facebook.com/toneandsyn
www.toneandsyn.com
Syn – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter:  @theesyntyche @dammnsyn
Tone – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @IAmToneINT

tone and syn