Weight Loss Story of the Day: Jasmaine lost 51 pounds. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, she decided it was time to kick the soda habit, eat healthy and work out regularly. Check out her story below: 
“A little over a year ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I weighed 240lbs. At that time, I lived on Pepsi cola. I had to change my lifestyle and eating habits. My family made accommodations for me that year at Thanksgiving by making my Sweet Potato Pie with Splenda (gross). At that moment, I wanted to get off the medication that my doctor prescribed for me. I gave up drinking 2-liters of Pepsi a day and changed my eating habits some…LOL. Got my membership to Planet Fitness and worked out 2 hours a day for 3 months. Then I stopped and at the time I weighed 245 lbs. That was this past Spring. Then I took ill and had to have an emergency hysterectomy. As I recovered I took eating healthy more serious. I began walking 5 days a week for 1.5 miles. This helped me out tremendously. Today I weigh 194 pounds. I haven’t weighed anything under 200 lbs in over 10 years. This weight loss journey took me 13 months including the breaks. If you are looking to be successful with weight loss and a healthier lifestyle, you have to stick with it and keep supportive people around you. Do it the healthy way. Make sure you go to the doctor on a regular basis and encourage yourself.” Instagram: @jasmaineshort
weight loss
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Yolanda lost 76 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Yolanda lost 76 pounds. This proud mom of 2 is working to break the chains of obesity in her family. Read her story to find out how she did it.
“Hello, my name is Yolanda McGee. I wanted to submit my information to motivate others and let them know that if I can do it, they can too. My motivation was and still is that I am breaking the chain of obesity in my family! I was at a family reunion and looked around and decided from that moment…NO MORE! At first, my eating habits did not change but after I worked out, not too much was changing. I knew I had to incorporate better eating habits. I started eating chicken breasts, ground turkey, fish, fruits, veggies and nuts. I will have an occasional treat but not all the time. My current workout routine is 3 days a week of weight training and 3 days a week of cardio. On the 7th day…I REST! My starting weight was 230 pounds! My current weight is 154 pounds! I has taken me about 7 years to lose the weight! I got married, had 2 babies and I’m still a work in progress. I have developed muscle, stamina and strength. My advise for others is to push and work even when you don’t feel like it; even when you are not seeing change; even if you are tired! You never know who you are inspiring! All of this would not be possible if the Lord had not given me the strength!”
Instagram: @yomcgee
Ace lost 107 pounds with weight loss surgery
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ace lost 107 pounds with weight loss surgery. She was having difficulty breathing and suffering from knee pain that hindered her ability to exercise. At 234 pounds and 5’3″, she decided to opt for gastric sleeve bariatric surgery. Read her story below to find out more about her journey.
“My name is Ace. A year and a half ago I made a decision that cheanged my life. I decided to have bariatric weight loss surgery. I was 34 years old and weighed 234 lbs at 5 foot, 3 inches tall. I worked in health care so I was always on my feet. I had a knee problems that led me to a orthopedic doctor who said that I needed to loose weight to relieve some of the pressure off my knee. However, I couldn’t exercise due to the pain. A good friend of mine mentioned bariatric surgery. She had it done a few years prior. The rest is history!
I went from getting short of breath climbing a flight of stairs, constantly tired, constantly eating fast food, sweets and drinking pop to working out 6 days a week! No longer drinking pop or juice! No longer eating pork or red meat, or fast food or sweets! I have an amazing amout of energy. I am active. I feel wonderful. I love the way clothes fit. I went from a size 22 at 234 pounds with a BMI of 41.4 to a size 4 at 127 pounds with a BMI of 22.5. Finally I LOVE ME.”
What was your motivation?
“I was tired of the knee pain and being short of breath all the time.”
How did you change your eating habits?
“I went from snacking all the time on unhealthy things to eating 5 small healthy meals a day that were high in protein.”
What did your workout routines look like?
“Mon – Fri, In the am I do crunches, squats and a few weights. After dinner I walk/run on my treadmill and do additional crunches, squats and weights.”
What was your starting weight and your current weight?
“Starting weight prior to surgery was 234lbs. My heaviest was 256lbs. I currently weigh 127lbs.”
How long did your transformation take?
“I had surgery December 2012. It’s been a year and a half.”
What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
“You can do it if you want to. You have to really want it. Make small goals. Take it day by day and appreciate every bit of progress that you make! Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!!”
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Marquita lost 110 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Marquita lost 110 pounds. She lost the weight with simple, straight forward lifestyle changes. Read her story to learn more:
“Hi Everyone, My name is Marquita I’m new to this page. I just wanted to share my weight loss story with the world. It was a hard journey for me. It has been over a year that I’ve been at this, but I had a lot of motivation through out this transition. Now, I’m working on toning it up. These are some of the things I did;
- I did lots of cardio and other exercises
- drank lots of water
- changed my eating habits by eating smaller portions of food
- I don’t eat after 8pm,
- I detoxed with fresh lemons, limes & mint leaf
All this happen over the course of a year. My starting weight was 335 pounds and I’m now weighting in at 225 pounds. I wanna shout out a few people that motivated me; Jerry Newman, Bryant Notree, Iesha Smith, Steve Robe, Tiffany Mcgerw and Mz. Moody Johnson. There is one more person (she never knew I followed her threw her sister’s page)… Quianka Johnson. Thank u guys”
Updated Photo – June 2014 – “Just wanted to let u guys know my toning is coming alone great & don’t give up on whatever it is your trying to do keep going.”
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Lauren lost 78 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: My Sigma Gamma Rho Soror Lauren lost 78 pounds. I was very inspired by her story of battling obesity since childhood and finding victory over the last 5 years. Her journey shows that you can overcome years of yo-yo dieting and bad eating habits. Read her story below to find out how she did it:
“My battle really started 20 years ago when I was nine. The growth plate in my hip started slipping due to my weight. I had to have three different surgeries involving pins in my hip so I could support the weight. For every surgery, I spent three months in traction. This led to me being 200 lbs by the time I was 12 years old. I went through my teen years and the first part of college steadily gaining weight. I also didn’t help matters by constantly eating out and then NOT working out. Yes, I was the girl who “didn’t want to sweat her hair out.” (Yuck. So glad I’ve changed my thinking on that!) I finally got tired of being the girl who sat by and watched her friends try on dress after dress while I was stuck to either Lane Bryant, Torrid, or men’s clothing. I dabbled in “quick fix” diets and struggled with my eating (from either binge eating or not eating). I would lose 20 lbs in three months just to be smacked with 40 lbs later because I wasn’t consistent with my habits.
At my biggest, I was a size 22 and weighed 242 pounds. I began a lifestyle change at 26 years old after marathon watching “The Biggest Loser.” After quickly telling myself not to expect the results the contestants got by working out with trainers like Jillian Michaels because I had a full time job as a High School Teacher. I couldn’t commit to the level of workouts they did on the show. However, I phased out beef, replaced chicken with Morningstar Farms entrees, and learned how to cook different types of fish. I made it a point to eat at least three meals a day, because before my change, I was a habitual breakfast-skipper. I replaced soda with water with fruit slices. I also learned how to control the size of my portions. In Texas, “portion control” is a foreign phrase to us, lol. I worked out with Jillian Michaels DVDs and took up boxing. My favorite workout was when I found bikram yoga. Not only did it challenge my body, but it helped manage my stress. When I met my current boyfriend, he taught me how to ride a bicycle. That’s helped the most. I started walking a little each day and eventually worked my way up to jogging. I’ve done three 5Ks, but I don’t consider myself a true runner.
Currently, I weigh 164 pounds. I’m around a size 8/10 in clothing today. My transformation has taken five years, but that’s because I wasn’t consistent. That’s the biggest piece of advice I can give to any woman who’s starting (or continuing) her journey: BE CONSISTENT. Also, don’t beat yourself if you fall off. My ultimate goal is to be 100 lbs. lighter–142 lbs. by January 20, 2015. I can’t think of a better 30th birthday gift to myself.”
Instagram: @aRHOnamedLo
May is Lupus Awareness Month: Athar’s Journey
May is Lupus Awareness month. We want to promote awareness of the disease because is affects the African-American community disproportionately. “African-American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. African-American women tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than white women. [source]” Athar was diagnosed with Lupus and still lost 150 pounds and fought for her health. She sent in an update this month (updated photos below):
“Hi, You featured my journey back in February. I was hoping you could feature it again in May being that it is Lupus Awareness Month. I’d like to give a personal message to anyone battling this debilitating disease.
God doesn’t give us anything that we cannot handle. We are strong and through faith we can accomplish anything. My advice to anyone fighting lupus who want to loose weight is to get healthy first. Physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. Learn that maybe you CAN walk to the corner today, but maybe not tomorrow. It’s ok. Because if you don’t give up, that short walk will turn into 5 miles in six months or maybe even a year.
May is about Lupus Awareness. Talk to your doctor’s and challenge them to help you get to a place in your treatment which will allow for low to moderate exercise. I’m still showing that it can be done.”
Read Athar’s weight loss story.
Check out this article: What is Lupus: The Basics
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ericka lost 35 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Ericka lost 35 pounds. This proud mom had a harder time with post-baby weight with her second child. She embraced low carb eating and got serious about losing the pounds. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:
“My motivation was me. I wanted to do something for me. We as women are always there for everyone else and we put ourselves on the back burner. I felt I had pushed myself so far back that I no longer existed. So, I decided that I wanted to take control of my life, starting with my weight.
I changed my eating habits. I cut back on carbs and sugar and I don’t eat after 7:30 pm. I usually try to eat no carbs every other day. Even on the days when I do eat carbs, I skip the carbs on one meal. I workout for an hour 3-4 times a week. I do 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes strength training. Sometimes more cardio and less strength. My starting weight was 200 pounds and I’m now 165 pounds. It took me a little over a year to lose the weight (15 months to be exact). This is actually my normal weight but I had a baby. For some reason this process was harder and took longer then with my first child.
I started and gave up so many times, but for the last 5 months I’ve been going strong. I think it’s more so because I said I was ready. My advice would be stay focused and really ask yourself “Are you ready?” Find out how serious you are about this journey because that’s what it is…a journey that hopefully would turn into a life style. If your looking for a quick fix, it’s not going to work. It will be hard but soooooo worth it in the end.”
Nosayaba lost more than 110 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Blogger Nosayaba lost more than 110 pounds. At 360 pounds she decided that it was time for a lifestyle change. She embraced exercise and found low carb eating works for her. Read her story below:
Hi my name is Nosayaba, and I would love to share my weight loss journey with you and the world. I have lost over 110 pounds through diet and exercise. I tried so many diets, pills and weight loss regimes which were always temporary. Running from one quick fix to another and always ending up right where I started. I decided in May 2013 to take absolute charge of my life and health as a whole.
I went on the Cambridge Weight Plan weight loss program to kick start my new lifestyle. At over 360 pounds, movement was very limited for me. I started slowly by walking on the threadmill for 30 minutess a day and taking aerobic classes.
By October, I had lost over 66 pounds and decided to dedicate myself to living a totally healthy lifestyle because I realized that this journey is not short term. It is a total overhaul and absolute lifestyle change. As of today, I have lost a total of over 110 pounds and still have another 70 to loose to get to my goal. I am extremely proud of my accomplishments and I won’t stop.
I workout 5-6 times a week and I cut out most carbs (Rice Bread,Pasta) from my diet. I eat mainly protein meals (Fish, Chicken and Mats all types) with loads and loads of fruits and vegetables.
My advice to anyone who is trying to loose weight, is “Never give up.” It is very possible as long as you believe that you can do it. It is gonna be a long ride, but with consistency, dedication, discipline and hard work you will get there.
I have a blog where you can follow my journey: www.diaryofafoodiee.blogspot.com
My instagram is @nossybelle
What is Compulsive Overeating?
A few years ago, a good friend of mine was secretly dealing with compulsive overeating. She would eat until she would pass out. She sought out help from Overeaters Anonymous and I learned a lot about compulsive overeating from her struggle. Her medical professional told her that high blood pressure, diabetes and digestive issues were directly related to her overeating (she was binging on a lot of sugary and salty foods and eating very little fiber). If you see yourself in the information presented in this article, please seek help.
Compulsive overeating is a disorder that is characterized by compulsive consumption of food. People who are compulsive overeaters do more than just eat when they are not hungry. They also feel compelled to eat extremely large amounts of food. New research has begun to show that a component of compulsive overeating may include obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as addiction.
Signs
The major signs of a compulsive overeater is that they will consume anywhere between 5,000 to 15,000 calories in one meal. The recommended calorie intake for an adult who is sedentary is set between 1400 and 1600 calories per day. Compulsive overeaters also will engage in behavior that is termed “grazing.” With grazing, the person eats all day long, but never in controlled amounts. Compulsive overeaters also show signs of anxiety, depression and guilt in regards to their eating behaviors. They are frequently, but not always, overweight. Many who suffer with this compulsion also have a history of trying a variety of diets but not experiencing success with any one healthy eating style. The compulsion to eat is as strong as a withdrawal craving for an addictive drug and without proper treatment; it is difficult for the person to recover on their own. Compulsive overeating cannot be resolved through a simple exercise and diet program; behavioral modification therapy is recommended.
Symptoms
Many of these symptoms are associated with other eating disorders, specifically bulimia. Unlike other disorders, compulsive overeaters do not also have compensating behaviors, such as vomiting or use of laxatives.
- Feeling out of control – the person feels as if they are powerless to stop eating or to resist a craving.
- Consuming food rapidly – food is consumed quickly and often without fully removing it from packaging.
- Eating alone, or out of view – feelings of shame or guilt often drive the person to eat in hiding, or to rarely share meals with others.
- Guilt feelings associated with eating – after binging, the person may experience a depressive episode based in the guilt from overeating and/or weight gain
- Obsession with weight, preoccupation with weight gain – constant checking of weight, references to being thinner or comments about other weights to the extent that it is a focus of their conversation
- Mood swings and/or depression, depressive episodes – there is debate whether the mood swings associated with compulsive overeating stem from neuro-chemical withdrawal effects similar to drug addiction withdrawal, sudden changes in blood sugar levels, or are associated with guilt and shame over the behavior.
- Increased and fast weight gain – the person goes through rapid weight gain cycles. These may be followed by obsessive periods of exercise and dieting that never last long.
- Decrease in activity or ability to move due to weight gain – difficulty in walking or engaging in physical activity due to stress on joints or difficulty moving from extra weight carried.
- Social withdrawal due to weight gain, binging or “feeling fat” – The person is prone to canceling normal activities and/or calling out from work during binging periods.
- History of multiple, failed diet attempts – Multiple experiences with dieting that have never proven successful, or had limited success but were abandoned.
How compulsive overeating can damage the body
Much of the damage that can result from compulsive overeating is a result of the additional weight gain it can cause. Obesity, and morbid obesity significantly increase your risk of –
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Sleep disorders, such as apnea
- Clinical depression
- Digestive disorders
Compulsive overeating can also create a cycle of anxiety and depression related to the amount of money spent on food and related diet and fitness program attempts; as well as low self-esteem. The rapid eating style and rapid weight gain pattern associated with compulsive overeating causes significant stress on all the systems of the body as well.
What you should do
If you suspect that you suffer from compulsive overeating, or suspect that someone you love has this problem – it is important that you pursue help from a medical doctor and a qualified counselor. The most successful treatments for compulsive overeating involve the dual approach of modeling diet changes while helping the person overcome behavioral patterns through modification therapy. Since most compulsive overeaters are also suffering from obesity, the additional supervision of a medical doctor is advised to help return them to health. It is also important that you find, and get involved with, a peer support group during the recovery process.
References
“Food Addiction – Signs, Symptoms & Treatment” Addictions.com. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
Weiner, Sydell (1998). “The addiction of overeating: Self-help groups as treatment models”. Journal of Clinical Psychology 54 (2): 163–7. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199802)54:2<163::AID-JCLP5>3.0.CO;2-T. PMID 9467760.
Baik, Ja-Hyun (2013). “Dopamine signaling in food addiction: Role of dopamine D2 receptors”. BMB Reports 46 (11): 519–26. doi:10.5483/BMBRep.2013.46.11.207.PMID 24238362.
Diedre lost 57 pounds
Weight Loss Story of the Day: Diedre lost 57 pounds. This 5″5″ mother of 3 embraced healthy eating and committed to regular exercise to change her lifestyle. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:
“My name is Diedre Wiggins. I’m a 41 year old mother of three. My weight loss journey started in October of 2010. My starting weight was 267 pounds and I am only 5 foot, 5 inches tall. When I begin my journey, I was only walking and counting calories. Later, I started working out with weights and going to exercise classes. I began clean eating and changing a lot of my eating habits. Now, I’m gluten free and dairy free.
It has been a long journey and I’m still going. My lowest weight was 185 pounds and my current weight is 210 pounds. My goal weight is 150 pounds.
I have lost and gained this weight several times in the past 4 years, but I finally think I found the right eating plan. I believe that I can stick to clean eating along with doing DVD workouts from Shaun T and Fitness Blender (on YouTube). I work out on a regular basis, at least five to six times a week. I think I finally figured it out and hopefully this weight to stay off. I still have a ways to go and I will keep you updated.
You can find me on Instagram @diedre_goddess
YouTube: Diedregoddess
Facebook @diedre.reline.
