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Tenisha lost 68 pounds

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Before and After of the Day: Tenisha lost 68 pounds after a divorce.  She has seen improvement in a number of health issues she suffered from.  This sister even grew her own food!  Now that is a lifestyle change!  Here is what she shared with us:

Tenisha weight loss story

“Hi my name is Tenisha Baker. I started my weight loss journey in January 2012.  I did it for health reasons and to look and feel better. I had just came out of a nineteen year marriage.  I found out that he cheated on me with a co-worker and didn’t want to be married anymore, but he wanted me to stay for financial reasons.  Needless to say I left with my six children and hoped for the better.

Before my transformation I had many health problems. I was severely asthmatic and always on steroids.  I was hyper allergic to almost everything.  I suffered with IBS, Alopecia areata, CHRONIC UTI, vitamin D deficiency, and more.

After leaving my husband, I started eating right.  I began growing my own vegetables in a garden and ate from it.  I grew cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, spinach and different types of lettuce. I also embraced exercising at home.  I spent $0.00 dollars at a gym because I could not afford it or find the time to get there and still be a mom. I also ran in my neighborhood.

I’m excited to say that I am 68 pounds lighter with all medical problems disappearing except the alopecia.  I’m happy, beautiful and healthy by my and my doctors standards. My doctor has also asked me to talk to her patients too.  Women should never give up on themselves.  Put all of your excuses away. [Btw, I’m now in love too…]”

Chaunte lost 72 pounds

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Chaunte lost 72 pounds and is no longer dealing with high blood pressure.  She went from 289 pounds to 217 pounds. Find out how she lost weight and improved her health:

“Hi my name is Chaunte Henderson and I am 27 years old. In January of this year my 31 year old sister died of a massive heart attack. I told my self I had to change. I weighed 289 pounds and had high blood pressure. I started walking around the neighborhood and I cut out fried foods, sodas, and sweets.. I wouldn’t eat after 830 at night and learned to control my portions. I did basic exercising, like walking in my neighborhood and Zumba classes twice a week. Today, I weigh 217 pounds and no longer suffer from high blood pressure!!! My advice to others is to stay encouraged and slow is steady. I wasn’t in a rush and the weight has stayed off.”

Chaunte before and after Chaunte weight loss

Simone lost 55 pounds

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Check out Simone’s 55 pound weight loss transformation photos.  She shows us that you don’t have to lose 100 pounds to see a difference.  Her photos also show that Black Women do not have to always worry about losing their curves!  Here is what she shared:

It took me 9 months to lose the weight, but I loved me everyday…and I did it.  55 pounds lost and more to go.  My motivation was that I found my true love in 1996.  My eating habits: I count my calories.  I don’t eat beef and I don’t eat pork. I also don’t eat sugar.  My exercise routine consists of working out three times a week with my personal trainer.  My starting weight was 231.  My current weight is 176.  No surgery just hard work.

Simone 55 pound weight loss

Candace lost 61 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before & after story: Candace lost 61 pounds by eating healthy foods and working out everyday.  Here is what she shared with us about her transformation:

What was your motivation?
I have diabetes so I wanted a healthier lifestyle for myself. My family has it and my grandfather died from complication of it. I didn’t want that for myself.

How did you change your eating habits?
I decided to cut out all unhealthy food. I started drinking more and more water. I decided a few months later to cut out red meat and I began to lose more weight.

What did your workout routines look like?
I work out everyday. I do a lot of cardio and lifting weights. I also work with my abs more so I can tone my stomach.

What was your starting weight?
My starting weight was 262.

What is your current weight?
I’m currently 201 pounds.

How long did your transformation take?
It took me 9 months to get to where I am today.

Candace weight loss story

Vanessa lost 54 pounds

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Today’s featured before and after weight loss story: Vanessa has lost 54 pounds since January 2013.  She exercised and ate CLEAN.  She even started doing Cross Fit!  Here is what she shared with us:

Hello! My name is Vanessa. My weight loss journey began January 2013 at my heaviest weight of 260 pounds. I now weigh 206 pounds on a 5’5 frame. I was tired of being overweight and all the negative baggage that came along with it. So, after a million unsuccessful attempts of about a million other diets, I finally made the commitment to myself that my New Years Resolution would seriously be to get my body right. I felt that I wasn’t reaching my fullest potential with all this weight holding me down. I started off working out on an exercise trail that was 3 miles long for 5 days a week. I progressed on to running. With a combination of eating CLEAN (nooooo processed foods, only water, portion control) I lost 40lbs!!!! After that 40lbs, I decided my body needed something more intense and I didn’t want my skin to slack/sag, so I joined Athletes Ego CrossFit and started workouts with them.  Infused with weight training, the rest of the weight fell off. My transformation took 7 months (January 2013-July 2013). My motivation was just simply about me feeling bad about my body all the time. I didn’t like how I looked, so I changed it. I’ve also made up this little saying that I say to myself and others when tempted, “Don’t be a slave to the snack”. This really helped me because I don’t want to be a slave to ANYTHING and food will NOT control my life like I’m some type of puppet! Ladies you can do it. The results last longer than taste. Remember that!

Vanessa weight loss story

Aiesha lost 25 pounds

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight love to Aiesha.  She lost 25 pounds by tackling her biggest challenge: changing her eating habits.  She was inspired by her mom who reversed her diabetes.  Here is what she shared with us:

Aiesha weight loss journeyHi all! I am Aiesha and currently a college student who was tired of being tired, so I decided to take on the challenge and better my health! My transformation is never ending and I’m still a work in progress.  However, I am very happy with the results that I come to know thus far. My my motivation to take on a healthier lifestyle was my mother.  She too lost weight and reversed her type two diabetes.  I figured that if she can do it, still tackle a heavy work load and never give into excuses, well I can too! Another motivator for me was the fact that I did not like what I saw so I decided to stop complaining and really make the change. My starting weight was 211 pounds and my current weight is 188 pounds. My goal weight is 170 pounds, so I still have some work to do! Nonetheless, I am very pleased with myself because I committed to something and stuck with it no matter hard it was or how much harder it was to give up! I first tackled my diet because, for myself, the workout was the easier part.  The eating was the challenge, so I cut out ALL fast food, cut out bread and all things white.  I detoxed everyday, I ate vegetables with every meal, drank lots of water, and I really tried to understand what is bad for you and what is good for you. One thing that really pushes me to this day is the encouragement and inspiration I get from others.  I inspires me when people make a simple gesture saying to me “You really motivated me to lose weight!” Those words really make this  journey worth while.  Though I didn’t do this for anybody but myself, it still is rewarding to knows that all the sweat, tears, countless hours in the gym and sun, and sacrifice is really paying off! I hope that I can touch someone to want to change for the better!

Aiesha weight loss before and after

Keesha lost 65 pounds

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Today’s weight loss before and after story: Keesha lost 65 pounds with Zumba, walking, fasting, changing her eating habits and help from Weight Watchers.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey:

Hi my name is Keesha. This is my story and I’m sticking to it.  My journey started in April 2011. I was 36 years old I weighed 240 pounds. I managed to lose 10 pounds by weening myself off of my drug of choice, soda. That got me down to 230 pounds. I was experiencing a few life altering situations. Pregnant teen daughter, death of close family members and a troubled marriage. It just seemed that no matter how hard I tried to make everyone else happy. I still felt as if I was lacking. I wasn’t healthy mentally, physically or spiritually.  I realized that It was time for me to do something for me. No, I couldn’t go on a shopping spree, a dream vacation or anything like that. So, I took a look in the mirror (for free) and gazed straight into the windows of my soul…MY eyes. I was lost and I didn’t recognize me. I set out on a journey to find ME.

I started off with getting baptized because I knew I couldn’t do this without GOD. I joined church and started to pray more. I started using my YMCA membership that I had been paying on for years and never used. Then I started doing Zumba classes. I joined run/walk groups via Facebook. I also started walking on my own. The weight wasn’t going anywhere. I googled information on losing weight and discovered that losing weight was more than just exercise.  It was about a lifestyle change. I had to change my way of thinking and EATING! I went on a 17 day fast. Plenty of water, green tea, no sweets, no sugar, no bread, lean protein (chicken, turkey and fish), no beef or pork for me, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and rest.  I was eating right and hitting the gym at least 4-5 times a week. In that amount of time, I lost 26 pounds. It was on!

I was now a grandma and I wanted to live for my children and my grandchildren. I wanted to be a shining example for them and me. It took me from October 2011- March 2012 to lose 30 pounds on my own. My goal was 170. Now I was at 200 pounds and I was feeling great but I wasn’t finished. I hit the gym even harder. I continued doing Zumba, joined a spinning class, a BLT class and start hitting the trails. I lost 20 more pounds that put me at 180 and BAM! I hit a plateau. Those last 10 ponds wouldn’t budge. So, I had heard about Weight Watchers from a few friends. I saw their results so I decided to join online. In one week I lost my 10 pounds!! I hit my mark! 170 pounds. I had signed up for three months, so I kept going. In August of 2012, I was down to 165 pounds. I was happy there. Mentally and physically so I stopped.  To date, I am now 38 years old. I went from a size 18 to a size 10!!! From 230 pounds to 165 pounds! I have lost a total of 65 pounds and have maintained the weight and healthy eating habits, with the help of Weight Watcher from time to time, for one year!!  (I fall off sometimes but I dust myself off and pick up where I fell off) With hard work, God, good friends and faith in yourself. This and any other journey is possible! When people see me they say I’m high school skinny. More importantly for me though, I feel good about the possibility of adding at least 10 more years to my life by getting healthy. It will allow me more time and energy to live!!!!

Keesha weight loss story

Tiffany lost 43 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW Love to Tiffany who lost 43 pounds by going raw vegan.  Here is what she shared with us:

This past December, I passed a mirror and surprised myself. I thought, “surely I am not that big.” I decided to take a picture of myself. One turned two then ten. I just knew, if I kept snapping, I’d see the woman I thought I was. It never happened. I knew then I had to change. My son deserves a mother who is fit enough to play, and my students deserve a teacher healthy enough to instruct.

I began my weight loss journey on January 8, 2013. I stepped on the scale at an embarrassing 289 lbs. Over the last 7 months, I have lost 43 lbs. Currently, I weigh 246. Mostly, I credit my weight loss a change of my diet and exercise 4-6 times a week. I’ve found myfitnesspal, my gym membership, and Zumba to my success. The community and challenges I’ve found through Instagram and Black Women Losing Weight have been tremendous motivation to keep going.

I still have roughly 60 lbs to go before I reach my target weight.  In the beginning, I used Dr. Oz’s Flat Belly plan. I tried some of the shakes, but they didn’t work for me. Now I eat a 60-100% raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts a day, but currently, I am eating a 100% raw diet to detox. I also drink a gallon of water per day. Regardless of how this story ends, I am thrilled with my progress thus far.

TiffanyAug13

 

 

Bri lost 73 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss before and after story: Bri lost 73 pounds.  She was able to lose weight in a healthy way, eat right during pregnancy and deal with a diagnosis of Lupus.  Here is what she shared with us:

My weight loss story! I went from 216 pounds to now 143 pounds in less than a year, after giving birth to 3 children!  After getting pregnant with my second child and giving birth in 2010, I found myself weighing 216 pounds and wearing a size 14/16 in clothes. I struggled with my self esteem and my weight for the next 3 years. Was never quite able to lose it, no matter what I tried! Pills, shakes, bars they wouldnt work! Finally in 2012, I said enough is enough!  I changed my diet and started avidly exercising. I went from eating EVERYTHING I wanted and snacks galore to eating smaller meals and less carbs. I did 75 crunches a night and 110 squats. I walked 2 miles a day and drank A LOT of Water and 100% juice.  I also cut down my sugar intake and No snacks! Fruits! After losing 20 lbs in February, I found out that I was 5 months pregnant with my now 1 year old daughter. I still ate right, exercised and everything throughout my pregnancy. Then, I became very ill and bed ridden around May 2012. I still perservered through my eating. I was then diagnosed with Lupus and told that I could no longer exercise. However, I prayed and asked God to get me through it and he did. I gave birth to my daughter July 3rd 2012 and was 180 pounds. I got a personal trainer and kept on my diet.  Here I stand a year later at 143 pounds and healthy! I battle my Lupus like a good soldier and continue to eat right and exercise!

Bri weight loss story

Nikki lost 50 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story: Nikki lost 50 pounds, down from 250+.  She lost weight by eating clean, running and she will be doing her first 5k in Sept. 2013.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hi my name is Nikki. I wanted to share my weight loss journey and hopefully encourage someone else deciding to change their life. I started my journey in Dec. 2011. However, before I get to the event that was the last straw, lets back up one month to Nov. 2011. A friend innocently tagged me in a picture on Facebook (picture in purple sweater) and when I saw it I was mortified at what I looked like. Dec. 2011, I took a beach trip with my husband and son and we decided to take a helicopter ride that required I sit in the front because I was to large for the back because I may hinder take off. (last straw). Who was this fat chick I kept seeing and hearing about? I couldn’t believe I’d allowed myself to get out of control to the tune of 250+ pounds. I started exercising and dieting in March of 2012 after I lost my job. After almost a year of exercising and dieting, I lost a disappointing 14lbs (oh yeah, I was on diet pills as well). In January of 2013, I stepped it up, I began to ramp up my exercising to jogging and training for a Black Girls Run 5k event. I began to eat clean; only lean meats, no dairy, no sugar, no carbs, only leafy veggies and protein shakes. I began to eat 4-5 small meals daily. I couldn’t believe this 40 year old body could do what it has done in a course of 5 months. I feel great, look great and I’m not even done yet. I replaced my obsession with fatty foods with jogging and eating well! This girl who could hinder take off will be doing her first 5k in Sept. 2013.  I’m 50 pounds lighter and healthier than ever. Thank God for perfect peace! Follow my progress on Facebook (nikmac).

Nikki weight loss success story