Today’s weight loss success story: Flora lost 102 pounds by changing her eating habits and working out with fitness DVDs and Zumba on the Wii. Here is what she shared with us:
I lost 102 prouds thru eating better and working out with fitness DVDs. My journey started one day in March 2011 after I took a picture and was surprised that I looked so big. I didn’t even realize I had gained so much. My highest weight was 258 pounds and I was a size 2-3x top and 22 bottoms. I really didn’t know where to start, so Youtube was a great help with the 10 min workouts from Nicole of sparkpeople.com. I could only do the 10 min at a time and then I started doubling up to 20 min. In June 2011 I joined MyFitnessPal, an online community, and I was able to log my foods to help me keep my eating under control and make better choices. I bought the Wii games for Zumba and Jillian Michael DVDs, since I didn’t want others to see me in a gym. The weight slowly came off, and now I’m at 156 pounds. My children (ages 2, 4 & 12) motivate me, and they work out with me. I’ve started helping other people on this journey with starting groups, working out with them and support. Many blessings to you! Flora B.
Natasha says
What did you eat or stop eating to accomplish this weight loss?
flora b says
Myfitnesspall.com gave me the recommended calories to use everyday for my goal, which meant that I basically can eat whatever I want ed as long as I didn’t go over those calories. all of the bad food would have put me over my calories for the day. so I was forced to make healthier choices like no more sodas, fried.food, adding color to my plate like fruit and veggies, etc. then I started to realize that I was actually eating more throughout the day, and losing weight. I hope this helps please let me know if I can be of any assistance in your journey. Blessings to you!
Danielle says
Girl u look good!… Congrats on your weight loss!
Tamika says
Wow! Congratulations!
Diane says
A job WELL done!!! Congrats!
Nicole says
You look amazing! Such an inspirational story. This is motivation!
cjones says
Please share a bit of your menu…You look FANTABULOUS!
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late, I actually eat very frequently. Around 5+ times a day. I have to have my coffee in am’s (my way), I actually never changed the way I made it (cream and sugar). I usually have oatmeal or grits for breakfast with a yogurt. Around 2-3 hours later, I may have a serving of fruit (a few cups of grapes, or grapefruit or apple), Then a few hours after that I may have a lunch. I stay away from fried foods or foods without color (pay attention to your plate! Most “bad foods” are beige!) Few hours later, I will have another serving of a snack – usually fruit or nuts. Few hours later I am having dinner, staying with the same mindset as lunch. Then i continue right up to bedtime. I make sure I put something in my mouth before bed (contrary to what i was told)usually its a grapefruit or something like that so the body isn’t going all those hours w/o anything. Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me diractly with any questions. I’m excited to be on this journey with you!
Abby says
Did you do the dvd twice a day or once? Also, how long was this journey?
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late, I would work out about 3 to 4 days a week at least 30 to 45 min each workout. I would switch between the dvds/zumba to kinda switch up .
Donyale Pinkney says
Very nice..did you.do the wii everyday what was your food memu
Flora says
I did the wii like 3 times a week. I did the Just Dance and would dance like 3 songs, and then Michael Jackson and tried for the ones listed as hard or insane. LOL
Tameka says
Ge-Ge-Ge-Get it Girl! You look amazing. I just told my husband that is my goal weight and that is right around my starting weight. I’m encouraged by you!
Flora says
Thank you! I’m looking forward to your before and after!
JusaintRite says
Like the others I would love to know what your menu is. I seem to have a food issue and would love to get the hang of my eating habits.
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late, I actually eat very frequently. Around 5+ times a day. I have to have my coffee in am’s (my way), I actually never changed the way I made it (cream and sugar). I usually have oatmeal or grits for breakfast with a yogurt. Around 2-3 hours later, I may have a serving of fruit (a few cups of grapes, or grapefruit or apple), Then a few hours after that I may have a lunch. I stay away from fried foods or foods without color (pay attention to your plate! Most “bad foods” are beige!) Few hours later, I will have another serving of a snack – usually fruit or nuts. Few hours later I am having dinner, staying with the same mindset as lunch. Then i continue right up to bedtime. I make sure I put something in my mouth before bed (contrary to what i was told)usually its a grapefruit or something like that so the body isn’t going all those hours w/o anything. Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me diractly with any questions. I’m excited to be on this journey with you!
Nichole says
This is my EXACT starting weight! So happy for you and this is very encouraging to me! I am going to do this an share my weight loss journey! <3 this site! Keep up the good work!
Flora says
Thank you everyone! I feel good! this journey has been (is still) long and can be hard, but is so worth it. I feel so much better about myself, and my health has improved 100%! As far as eating, I cut out things like soda’s, and friend food. Someone once said that your plate is supposed to be colorful, so I made sure my plate had a lot of color (fruits,and veggies, greens etc) I started to notice the “bad” foods were beige and didn’t have color. Also I learned that I had to eat more often to build my metabolism (I used to eat like once a day-but it was the most unhealthy food and I ate ALOT because by then I was starving!) Eatting several times a day, made a big difference to me. I hope this helps guys! THanks for the love and dont hesitate to contact me.
Yaneeka says
You look great 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks for sharing..going into detail..slowly but sure worked. You look great. Be blessed!!
KStreet says
What excerise did you use for stomach and arms, the trouble zone….you look great and Congrats to you journey, and accomplishments
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late in replying! I asked this same question to one of the girls on MFP who lost a lot of weight and she told me she worked out in a spanx or some kinda undergarment. I know it sounds silly but as you are sweating and working out, you are told to hold in your tummy to tighten etc, with something like a spanxs its helping that process. So learnign this early one, I started working out in things like that, and as the weight went down, my body tightened in the areas I wore the “supportive undies”. especially my tummy. I wish I would have put something on my arms, because I still have some “hang” there. lol. Definetely try working out with a girdle type material, it WORKS! Now i’m using some weights and doing strength training with the resistance bands i found off amazon and ebay. I hope this helps!
Candace says
You look great! Very pretty before as well! I love your stroy and how you’re able to keep it down to doing things at home to get the weight off! Slow and steady! My mini goal is just to get to 219 now…19 more lbs…geez!
Kwynn3 says
You look great Flora! You can’t even tell you were ever overweight. Did you have a lot of hanging skin?
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late in replying! I asked this same question to one of the girls on MFP who lost a lot of weight and she told me she worked out in a spanx or some kinda undergarment. I know it sounds silly but as you are sweating and working out, you are told to hold in your tummy to tighten etc, with something like a spanxs its helping that process. So learnign this early one, I started working out in things like that, and as the weight went down, my body tightened in the areas I wore the “supportive undies”. especially my tummy. I wish I would have put something on my arms, because I still have some “hang” there. lol. Definetely try working out with a girdle type material, it WORKS!
Tonya says
OMG ! Great job.
Can you give some example of the foods that you ate.
It’s so hard for me to get started.
Flora Bass says
Sorry so late, I actually eat very frequently. Around 5+ times a day. I have to have my coffee in am’s (my way), I actually never changed the way I made it (cream and sugar). I usually have oatmeal or grits for breakfast with a yogurt. Around 2-3 hours later, I may have a serving of fruit (a few cups of grapes, or grapefruit or apple), Then a few hours after that I may have a lunch. I stay away from fried foods or foods without color (pay attention to your plate! Most “bad foods” are beige!) Few hours later, I will have another serving of a snack – usually fruit or nuts. Few hours later I am having dinner, staying with the same mindset as lunch. Then i continue right up to bedtime. I make sure I put something in my mouth before bed (contrary to what i was told)usually its a grapefruit or something like that so the body isn’t going all those hours w/o anything. Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me diractly with any questions. I’m excited to be on this journey with you!
Nicole Davis says
You look wonderful!
Pekepoomama says
Congrats to you Flora! Did you experience plateaus, how did you work through them?
Flora Bass says
Sorry for late reply, YES ma’am! I will never forget i was STUCK at 217. UGH. THat number. I couldn’t shake it. It was so frustrating because I weigh myself every monday, and for like 3 weeks in a row it was 217 (give or take a few ounces). I finally “shocked” my body, had a major cheat day (ate some fried foods chicken or something totally outside of what I was eating) and kept on with my work out regimin. That very next weigh in, I had dropped beyond 217. Now by habit, I “shock” my body every so often. Hope this helps!
Cherron R. Wilson says
you look great, keep up the good work.
shuronda b says
you look great i started my first diet every in life today because of u i know i can
Flora Bass says
Hey! Its been 2 weeks since your lifestyle change! I hope you are sticking with it! YOU. CAN. DO. IT!
RM Wilson says
I read every morning a story from this site for inspiration! I read stories of women who lose whatever amount of weighr but the ones who have lost 100 or more pounds really touch me because I need to lose 165 pounds. That is half my weight and sometimes feels impossible! I am 6 pounds down so only 159 to go lol! Thank you for sharing!!!!!
Marcel says
awesome!!!! saw post about wearing spanx or undergarments I am definitely going to do that. They sell Velcro armbands like the ones you can wear around your waist that I need to get for my arm hang 🙂
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-Upper-Arm-and-Thigh-Slimmer-Kit/21666173#Product+Reviews
Sam says
You did a GREAT job losing all your weight! I feel like all people have to do is MOVE and they will be suprised what a difference it makes. Food plays a significant role but moving will definitely make a difference. I have lost a lot of weight once before…about 40 lbs., then gained it all back with the Mirena. I started my weight loss journey yesterday and I look forward to sharing my story on here one day. Thank you for your inspiration. You girls keep me going! 😀