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Tamara lost 55 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tamara lost 55 pounds. She worked out at home and gave up sweets to lose the pounds.  I love that she is sharing her journey with the world on Instagram to inspire others.  Here is her story:

tamara weight loss

August 2013, I started my weight loss journey. I’ve struggled with my weight for basically my entire life. Sure, I’ve lost weight then gained it back, but that was before I discovered Beachbody. I had been watching the ShaunT’s Hip Hop Abs infomercial for 4 months. Finally, in August, I decided to buy it. On August 13th, 2013, I started with Hip hop Abs. Two weeks later I had ordered and started doing the RockinBody program as well. On Oct 17th, I started Hip Hop Abs ‘Extreme’, After that I STILL needed more, so October 23rd I started T25 Alpha, Beta, and 5 weeks of Gamma. On February 4th, I started Insanity and April 14th I started Round 2 of Insanity. Later, on June 30th I started another Round 2 of T25. Recently, July 2nd, I joined Gold’s Gym because I felt the need to build more muscle to loose more fat.

Two months after starting to workout daily, I started eating healthy 85-90% of the time. I gave up donuts, which was pretty much my favorite thing to eat for breakfast (I had them 3 times a week). I cut down significantly on sweets because I had one of the biggest sweet tooth problems out there.

I have lost a total of 55 lbs totally by working out daily and eating healthy.  I’m now 200 pounds at 5’2″. You see, it IS very possible with hard work and dedication. I feel so empowered now because I’m getting stronger and healthier every day. My advice to others is to not be scared about starting your journey but to just Do It. If I can do after being overweight basically ALL my life (and I’m 44 years old), then Anybody CAN DO IT. Trust me!

Instagram: @tamaras_360_fitness

tamara before and after

Hannah lost 63 pounds

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Update May 2016 – Check out Hannah’s awesome update photo. We featured her story back in 2014.

hannah before and after

July 2014 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hannah lost 63 pounds. This sista from the UK wrote in and shared her weight loss success story in great detail. She transformed her body and her health with consistent exercise and a very clean eating plan. Her story shows that you have to come out of your comfort zone to change your lifestyle.  Here is her story…

Hannah weight loss story

My name is Hannah Davies and I’m 24 years old. My weight has always fluctuated with my emotions and my relationships, never to empower myself until now. I must admit I was never really happy. I was a teenage mom, living in shared housing when I met my partner and felt complete and comfortable.  A mixture of depression and unemployment after university was a recipe for disaster. I grew from being 150 lbs in 2010 to 210 lbs in 2012. From a size 10 to a size 18, I gained 3 dress sizes! I believe that a combination of poor diet, exercise and lack of knowledge and self worth was my greatest downfall.

In June 2012 my family and I went to Poland to celebrate the marriage of my Uncle. The BEFORE picture you see was taken whilst in Poland. This picture was my looking glass, my realization that if I didn’t change my lifestyle now my weight would just increase.  I lost 5 lbs whilst away due to the amount of exercise the family did. This was the start. Upon returning to England I tried fad diets where all you had were meal replacements but found these were short term effects and no example to be setting my son. From there I joined my local gym and took the exercise classes. I found great enjoyment in yoga and Pilates. Although joining the classes was hard as I felt like the biggest person in the class, I drew strength from my partner at the time (who is a bodybuilder). He reminded me that “everyone starts somewhere” and that “Nothing in life comes free”. I started to surround myself with like minded people, enjoyed my classes more and Googled for healthier ways of living. I ate six small meals a day which were weighed on a food scale.

  • Meal one spinach omelette 2 egg whites and one yoke
  • Meal two chicken or turkey and asparagus or broccoli
  • Meal three protein shake, small amount of almonds or natural almond butter (like peanut butter but found in health stores)
  • Meal four fish with broccoli or sweet potato
  • Meal five almond butter
  • Meal six protein shake.

I had a cheat meal/day once a week but this did lead to a yoyo effect of loosing weight in the week and gaining on the cheat day. I find now that if I want a treat I will have it as this is now a lifestyle not a diet. I’ll be honest I found it incredibly difficult to eat so much and of a such limited types of food. I always ensured there was at least a gap of an hour between eating and going to the gym which usually happened after meal four. Always had meal five and six straight after the gym to ensure my muscles got the protein they needed to repair and replenish for the next day.

Although the optimum time to exercise is the morning being a mother this was not possible. I would always warm up with 5 minutes on a cardio machine, then train the group of muscle for that day whether it be arms, back, shoulders, chest or legs and then finish with 20-25 minutes of fast walking on a incline. Although the optimum duration to burn fat is when your heart rate is high (40-45 minutes) I felt bored staying in the gym for that long. I found that by December 2013 I had gone down to 165 lbs but then stopped loosing weight and felt as hard as I tried I couldn’t loose anymore! My job as much as I love it, is predominantly stationary this was also a contributing factor.

I split from my partner of four years in 2014 and decided it was time to do something for myself. Since July 2014 I have gone back to a diet similar to this, gained a training partner and started running, something I haven’t attempted since i was a teenager. I completed the Race for Life in 24 minutes and entered a half marathon. My goal is to run the London marathon and be on stage in a body building completion September 2015. My goal in the next few years is to start kickboxing and dancing again. That is something that I always enjoyed but never felt confident to participate in when I was my larger self. I want to go on stage not to win, but to stand there feeling empowered and proud knowing that anyone can do anything no matter where they started, if they believe, chase the knowledge and have the courage to change their outlook on life.

As of today 07/24/14, I am proud to say I weigh 147 lbs and recently bought my first 8/10 dress. I’m not skinny and wouldn’t want to be. I’m muscular and healthy, which is all I ever wanted. I walk away from my journey knowing that true strength and happiness comes from within and not reliant on others. I would wish you luck in your journey but instead I shall wish you strength and happiness.

Instagram: @Papaya_Mittoo

Madelyn lost 47 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Madelyn lost 47 pounds.  This determined young lady decided to stop putting of the long term goal of losing weight.  In 7 months, she has been able to transform her body with healthy eating and lots of exercise.  Check out her story and before and after photos.

Madelyn weight loss

Hello, My name is Madelyn J. I started my weight loss journey back in November of 2013. My motivation came from my decision to join Peace Corps and also it was a goal of mine I kept putting off. I knew if I was moving to a new country to serve as a peace corps volunteer I would need to be at a healthy weight and my recruiter also stressed that to me. Obesity is a disease and my BMI considered me right at the Obese range. I started at 190 lbs. I am 5’6 and 23 years old, there is no reason I should not have been living a healthy lifestyle. My eating habits changed drastically. I ate out all the time and never cared what I was putting into my body. I started drinking at least a gallon of water a day and cutting white carbs. I upped my fruits and veggie intake and cut out pork and beef. I started eating breakfast everyday and taking multi vitamins. I began to meal prep my meals for the week and cut my eating out to one day a week.

My workouts were tough at first, but I had family and friends by my side supporting me with my journey. I joined Planet Fitness and began working out 5 days a week for 2 hours. I would do an hour of cardio (running/jogging outside, elliptical, treadmill) and an hour of weight training (this included arms, legs, and ab workouts). I didn’t see results quick, but I realized it didn’t take me a month to put on the weight so I wouldn’t lose it that quickly either.

My starting weight was 190lbs and I am currently 143 lbs today. My goal weight is 137 then I will just be focusing on toning. My current transformation has taken me 7 months, but i’m not completely finished. I feel better now than I have in years. Remember it is a lifestyle change and not just some fad diet. You have to commit and stay consistent and you WILL see result. I did it my way without any pills, shakes, or waist trainer. Nothing against people who use these methods, but I get asked that question a lot. It wasn’t easy, but it surely was worth it. My advice is no one can make the change but you. Stop putting off what you can do today.. Simple changes can make a difference! Join a gym, get a workout partner, watch what you eat and you will see those pounds start disappearing in no time!

Madelyn weight loss
Madelyn before and after photos

Lakeisha lost 64 pounds

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Update September 2017: Check out this update from Lakeisha. She’s kept the weight off for more than 2 years.

lakeisha before and after

What has worked in terms of eating habits?
Before I knew anything about nutrition, I gave up fried foods, sodas and watched my portions. When I’m hungry, I drink black coffee or eat a slice of pickle. I also drink plenty of water. I love alkaline water (I encourage people to do their research on alkaline water).

I gained some of the weight back while dealing a death and stress. Meal prepping helped me out a lot this time. Now, I’m back stronger than ever.

What have you been doing to maintain your success in terms of exercise? 
I started doing 2 hours of cardio. After two weeks of this, I’ll stop and go back into my normal routine… leg day, arms etc. I workout 6 to 7 days a week.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I don’t care how much you workout, you cannot eat whatever you want… lol.

At this point, would you offer any new or different advice to women who want to lose weight?
Stay focused and don’t compare your success to others. Also, sometimes you have to switch up your routine when you don’t see results. Never give up on your journey. We all get off track but that’s what makes us fight harder.

lakeisha before and after

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Lakeisha lost 64 pounds and went from a size 24 to a size 14. This proud mom of 2 is now a fitness fanatic.  Here is what she shared with us about losing the pounds: KeishaJuly3blog My name is Lakeisha Thomas and I’m from Mississippi.  I’m a 34 year old mother of 2 (Tia 14 yrs old and CJ 6 years old). I’m also a nurse aid and a production tech at Nissan. When I first started my weight lost journey I weighted 254 pounds. I was shocked. I never cared about my weight until one day when my doctor told me I was obese. So, I started working out at home in my bedroom. I went from a size 24 to a size 14. I want to enjoy my kids and see them grow up.  Now, fitness is my life, my passion, my everything. This is why I love what I do, why I’m so passionate and why I share with others everything I do to stay fitt. I’m a #fitmom and I love my 2 children with all my heart.  Instagram: @KeishaaBeast

How did you change your eating habits? Chewing gum and drinking coffee has helped me out a lot on my journey. I started drinking plenty of water and cut out the sodas. I continue to eat what I always ate but in smaller portions. I work the night shift so that was a struggle as well. I’m not gonna lie, I fail daily but I never gave up. If I ate chips, ice cream, etc, I didn’t quit. I just went harder in the gym.

What did your workout routines look like? I started doing the Black Girls Workout Too & Billy Blank Exercise DVDs. I did a thousand sit up a day and started going to the gym 6 or 7 days a week. I also did HIIT workout that I found online (just do a Google search…there are tons of workouts). I did like a thousand ab exercises every night and every morning. Now, I’m doing like 500 abs exercises, 3 days out of a week.

What is your height? What is your current weight? I’m 5’7 and I weight 190 pounds. My goal weight is 175 pounds.

How long did your transformation take? I started in 2003 when I weighted 254.  I dropped down 54 pounds in one month (no lie). I just worked out that whole month. However, it was very unhealthy because I stopped eating as well. I was drinking one soda a day and eating cabbage greens. Since then, I have been on and off my journey.  So in 2012, I decided that I wanted to tone so I went harder and changed my lifestyle.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight? If you mess up along the way, don’t quit. Just keep going.  I’ve basically been tsame size since 2003 I just drop inches phuck yo scale…it didn’t take you 5 days to gain the weight so it’s not gonna take you 14 days to lose it. Keisha weight loss story

Update: April lost 105 pounds

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Update Dec 2015 – April wrote in to let us know that she has maintained her 100+ pound weight loss for more than a year and is now a certified personal trainer. “Since losing 100lbs I’ve managed to maintain my weight loss by consistently eating the proper food and working out regularly. I do allow myself to have 1-2 cheat meals throughout the week. I’ve continued working out 5-6 days a week. I only do cardio 2 times a week. I lift weights, heavy weights. for the most part.

Many people have been inspired by my story, so I became a NASM certified personal trainer. The reason I decided to become a trainer is that my love for fitness has grown. I’m also motivated by knowing that I’ve been blessed to be so successful with losing weight. That’s why I want to help others who have weight issues and those struggling to believe they can do it. I do provide online training and in person training. I’m located in Northern Virginia about 45 minutes outside of Washington DC. Any questions: email me at aprilalexanderpr@gmail.com.” Read our original post on April from 2014 to learn more about her weight loss journey.
april before and after update
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We featured April’s story back in April 2014 and now, 3 months later, she’s lost 14 more pounds for a total of 105 lbs gone. Check out her update and new after photo below:

7/14/14 – “I wanted to give an update on my weight loss. I have lost 105 pounds to date. I’ve changed up my routine a bit by incorporating heavier weights, TRX, and plyometrics workout. I’ve managed to keep a clean diet with eating 6 times day, every 3 hours. Many people ask me what’s my ideal goal weight. I don’t have a goal weight, because when you begin to lift weights the scale fluctuates because it can’t determine muscle verses fat.  As you build muscle you will lose inches and maybe not as many pounds. My tips for those that are struggling with their weight loss journey be consistent even when the scale isn’t moving or you can’t see the change in your body. Eventually you will see the results. Remember success doesn’t happen overnight it’s a process.” Instagram: @iamaprilstyles  Updated: @Apryl.Alexander

April lost 100 pounds
Updated Photo –  105 pounds gone
April Apr 14
April at 91 pounds down

Zoleka lost 125 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Zoleka lost 125 pounds. This 6 foot tall beauty decided at 35 years old and 350 pounds that she wanted to get to greater health and deal with her chronic health issues before reaching 40 years old.  Here is what she she shared about her weight loss journey:

zoleka weight loss story

What was your motivation?
My Motivation was to be 40 and fabulous, and at 35 I was extremely overweight, borderline diabetic, and had high blood pressure. I refuse to go into my 40’s on meds with breathing problems so I adopted a healthy lifestyle.

How did you change your eating habits?
Per my doctor’s instructions I eliminated bread, sugar, and sodas. I am currently doing 3 to 4 days a week meatless along with juicing, which replaces either one or two meals a day.  For my non-meatless days, I eat either fish or chicken.  My salads consists of spinach or a spinach and arugula mix with array of vegetables (no iceberg or romaine). For dessert I have granola,  fresh fruit and almonds with Greek yogurt. My Beverages? WATER!!!

What did your workout routines look like?
Just cardio at first then gradually moving to working out 5 days a week. Now, my workouts consist of 5 days of a mix of cardio/weight training/squats.

What was your starting weight? 350 pounds. My height is 6 feet.

What is your current weight? 225 pounds

How long did your transformation take? 3 years

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
Adopt a healthy lifestyle! You will be able to be more consistent with it and your changes will last a lifetime!  I am a business owner and community activist. I am currently on a 60 day challenge in a group I started with business women to spread the word on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. My goal is to lose another 20 lbs.

Instagram: @brownsugaenterprisesllc

Zoleka weight loss success story

Michele lost 120 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Michele lost 120 pounds.  Starting at over 300 pounds and taking meds for health issuers from sleep apnea to diabetes, Michele knew that it was time for a true lifestyle change.  She has transformed her body, her health and her life.  Read her success story:

Michele before and after

My name is Michele Legette. I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and I weighed 306 lbs when I started on this weight loss journey in May 2012. I wanted to live a quality life as well as a quantity life. I had been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, hyper cholesterol and sleep apnea. I was not able to play with my grandchildren without getting out of breath. I knew I needed to lose weight but it seemed like it was impossible because I did not know where to begin. When I would see people that I knew from my past they would not identify me by name. They would say “God, you got fat”. That sent me in reverse.

Well, in May 2012 I began exercising. At first I worked with a personal trainer for seven months, twice a week and my workouts consisted of mostly Cross fit activities. On my own, I did cardio exercises for an hour, seven days a week. I knew that I did not want surgery, diet pills, etc. MY question was if I stopped eating certain foods, what would happen when I started eating them again? I wondered what would happen if I took pills and then stopped taking them? Therefore, I opted for lifestyle change instead. I ate baked and broiled lean protein, vegetables and nuts. If I wanted something fried, I ate it in moderation but it was not all the time. I ate enough to get the taste of the food, so I was eating 1 piece of some foods to get rid of the cravings.

My transformation took 17 months and I lost 120 pounds.  I am no longer on medication with the help of God. Now, I do strength training, cardiovascular exercises, Cross fit routines and a lot of bodyweight exercises. I’m also running intervals.  I am now a personal trainer as well as a motivational speaker. It is my endeavor to inspire and encourage as many people as possible to take their life back and live life more abundantly. My advice to others is to take it one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. It is not impossible and you can do it. Failure is when you fall down and choose not to get up. Success is when you fall down but choose to get up and try again. It has been 25 months since I stared my weight loss journey. I am a work in progress and enjoying my new lease on life. We Got This!

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hannah lost 56 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Hannah lost 56 pounds.  This proud and petite single mom tried many methods to lose weight and had an unfortunate experience trying on clothes that was the last straw, opening the door for her to start her weight loss journey.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hannah weight loss

Hello My name is Hannah Ngae (aka Noni). I was born in Kenya. I moved to this country when I was a little girl at 16 yrs old. Now, I’m a proud single mom of a two year old boy named Jordan.  A year ago, I weighed 199 lbs at only 5’2″ feet tall.  Today, I weight 143 lbs. I have lost 56 pounds. Before, I was depressed and stressed out. I tried all sorts of diets and pills but nothing seemed to work. In May of 2013, that’s when my life changed. I went to the store and tried on like 10 dresses and pants but nothing seemed to fit. I looked at myself in the changing room mirror and decided enough is enough. I won’t lie to you, I shed tears. I decided to give up everything and get committed with one goal. I always put God first in everything I do. I prayed and asked God to guide and walk with me during the start of my weight loss journey. May 1, 2013 I gave up sugar and white carbs. I started drinking lots of water and green smoothies. I started noticing a changes as my skin became smooth and soft. My stomach started disappearing as well. I was so exited because my friends started noticing my progress too. In that first month, I lost 8 pounds. I continued till I joined a gym on Nov 5th.

Magic started happening. I met a good friend who we became close. She trained me. We could spend hours at the gym. I did cardio mostly which made me shed all the weight. Elliptical is my best friend. It has flattened my tummy toned my bum and thighs.
I have left fast foods alone and I now make my own healthy meals. I always measure and weigh my foods regardless. I don’t do processed foods or fruits, I would rather spend millions buying fresh foods. I don’t eat rice now. I use quinoa instead, which I love. I take 5 meals a day, under 1200 calories total. I workout 7 or 6 days a week and sometimes go in at 4 am.  I do cardio for 30 minutes, stretch 15 minutes, lift weights and do another 15 minute of Cardio.

My Transformation has taken 1 year, and I’m not done yet. I’m just getting started. I have set a goal to loose 15 more pounds before August 15. Loosing weight has becoming Addicting to me and I’m so proud of how far I have come being that I’m a mom, student and also an employee.

Your health is one of the most important things in your life, and you really need to make time for it. I was too busy with things that ultimately didn’t matter to take care of myself, and I ended up being Obese. To change your weight you need to change many aspects of your life so that you can lean more towards healthy living. A big part of that is emotional well being and motivation. Recognize when you are eating out of habit not hunger. Learn to tell the difference between feelings satisfied and feeling stuffed. Get support from a partner or friend.  I advise every one to focus on what you want your life to look like not just your body. Never Give Up! It’s the easiest thing to do and then it becomes hard to regain the strength to loose all the weight over again.

Instagram: @NoniJordan

hannah before and after

Markita lost 25 pounds

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Update Dec 2015 – Markita wrote in to tell us about how she’s maintained her weight loss of 25 pounds for more than a year despite weight gain due to medication.

“You featured my story last July, and I just wanted to send in an update of my maintenance since! After being featured, I was put on medication which caused me to gain 7 pounds, which I could not lose until recently coming off the medication. However, I was able to get back down to 165, the goal weight my doctor gave given me for my height. I was also able to release the weight by continuing to watch my carb and sugar intake. Thank you for what you do, your site has kept me motivated, even when I wanted to throw in the towel!”

markita before and after

July 2014 – Proud mom of 4 Markita lost 25 pounds and gives all the glory to God.  Making healthy smoothies, drinking Apple Cider Vinegar and avoiding high fructose corn syrup were just parts of her lifestyle change. Here is what she shared with us:

Markita weight loss mom

Markita after weight lossToday’s Encouragement!!!! I am a busy wife and mother of 4 minor children. I was sick & tired of being sick & tired, and feeling unattractive! In October 2013, after being diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I made the necessary changes in my lifestyle & diet that I can & will follow for the rest of my life with God’s help, love, & guidance!!! You can do it too. It’s never too late!!! Seek Him. After all, God designed you, and knows what it will take! I lost all this weight in a matter of 6 months. Majority was lost in the first 3 months. I found the NutriBullet fruit and veggie smoothies in the morning helped a lot. I’ve cut back on sugar and sweets big time and I only eat red meat occasionally (Mostly chicken & Turkey). I only drink sugary drinks like pop, juice, lemonade occasionally. I avoid high fructose corn syrup & artificial sweeteners like the plague, lol! If I need sweetness, I will use a little raw organic honey or a little raw sugar. I drink decaf green tea every night before I go to bed. I drink lemon water throughout the day. I drink Braggs organic Apple cider vinegar with water in the morning and before dinner. I still eat pasta and bread, but only in moderation. I only cook with olive oil and use real butter, no spreads. I love almonds and almond butter. These are most of the things I have done and still do to maintain. Everyone is different, but this is what works for me and I can do these things for the rest of my life. I had to make it more of a lifestyle change instead of diet! Hope this helps someone, God bless you!!!! Starting Weight 188 poundss/Ending Weight 163 pounds= 25 pounds.

MarkitaJuly14blog

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Britany lost 30 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Britany lost 30.6 pounds.  She was motivated by seeing the health issues that her family members suffered from.  She has changed her eating habits and embraced regular exercise.  Here is her story:

Britany weight loss

Weight loss story: I started my journey in November 2013. I first started out by cutting out carbs for two weeks. During that two weeks, I lost a total of 8 lbs. Then sickness hit. I gained all the weight back except about 3 lbs. In January of 2014, my job started a weight loss wars challenge. I started working out like crazy but wasn’t getting any results like I wanted. Trainers I know explained that I wasn’t fueling my body properly and my body was storing fat. So with that advice, I revamped my eating habits. I started out by measuring out my food (including more protein) and including more fruits and veggies in my diet. Now, I eat 6 small meals a day. I stopped drinking juice and soda (although to get a sip every blue moon). I drink water and unsweet tea. I didn’t cut out all bad foods so when I want something bad, I’ll eat half instead of the whole plate. My workouts consist of Zumba, boxing, jogging/walking, spin, and bootcamp. My starting weight was 211.1 pounds and my current weight is 180.5 pounds (height: 5’6″). I still want to lose 15 more lbs to reach my goal weight of 165.

My motivation was seeing all the health related issues my family has such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis. Seeing what they have been going through, I decided to not allow those issues come into my life if I could do something to prevent it. My advice to those who are starting their journey is to continue pushing yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day so please don’t give up when it seems like you’re not making progress. Find others who want the same as you and you will continue being motivated and encouraged. Enclosed are my pictures from June of last year to July of this year.

Instagram: @britsuttles

Britany before and after photos