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Mia lost 129 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Mia lost 129 pounds with Zumba and becoming a vegetarian.  She is now a Zumba instructor.

“My name is Mia and I’m 41 years old. I’ve struggled with my weight all my life. In April 2011, I made a choice to change my life (mentally, physically and spiritually). I started doing Zumba and FELL in love.  This is from the girl that HATED working out. After a a month of Zumba 3 to 4 times week, I started seeing results. By then I was HOOKED on Zumba and started taking classes 5-6 times a week. Since then, I’ve lost 129 pounds, am now vegatarian (the girl that LOVED fried chicken:), became certified to teach Zumba, and now teach a Zumba class every Saturday and Wednesday. If I can do it, ANYONE can… #itsachoice

I was a junk food eater, fast foods, lots of chips… I decided to change that. I stopped eating all the junk, cut out red meat and pork from my diet. My diet consisted of lean chicken breast, lean fish, TONS of leafy veggies, fruits, grains and water (only). After eating like that for months, I decided to give up meat all together, which turned out to be the BEST thing. The weight REALLY started to come off then.”

Mia weight loss

Jadda lost 70 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Jadda lost 70 pounds.

“I lost 70 lbs. My max weight was 225 pounds in 2010 (size 18). I’m a size 8/10 now and my weight is 155 pounds. I am 24 years old and I’m preparing to compete in a bodybuilding competition some time next winter. I basically lost the weight by cutting carbs, sodas, fried foods, whole milk, etc.  I’m pretty much a vegetarian ,20% meat, but also making sure I get my nutrients and protein with a good multivitamin and protein shakes.  Exercise is also part of the equation.  My favorite aunt passed away overweight (600+) due to health complications in 2009 and that inspired me to change my eating habits and exercise routine.”

Jadda

Kionne lost 55 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Kionne lost 55 pounds by developing her own plan for eating right and exercising.  She was motivated by an office weight loss pool.    She is a member of our online community and after she posted her photos, I asked her to submit her story.  Here is what she had to say about how she lost the weight:

“It all started with a “Biggest Loser” contest at work, 11 women ready to make a change with a $1,000 in the pot waiting for the one who made the biggest change. Little did we know, with any commitment to lose weight, we ALL were making the biggest change. Well for me, I had no clue how committed I would become. For starters, I am VERY competitive so I wanted to win just for the sake of winning. I have had made attempts in the past a far as weight lost, so I knew I had to do something different. I had to add a third party, a trainer to be specific, Troy Richardson, who corrected me on day one to not focus on “weight” loss but more so “fat” loss. I felt I needed that extra push to help me set goals and achieve them.

Yes the money was a great motivator, but the biggest motivator was for me to see a better me. I did one very extreme thing to destroy any possible excuse for not working out, I went natural. In the past, my hair was the number one thing that deterred me from working out. Now, I am not suggesting that everyone go natural, but find ways to defeat your excuses before they defeat you and your goal. When people see me now, they ask “What’s the big secret, what did you do?” When I simply reply, eating right and exercising, they look at me as if I was supposed to say I used some magic pill or had a particular surgery. Sad to say, it is really simple to lose weight, but the difficulty comes in the mind.

Kionne weight loss

Here was and is my simple formula, working out at least 30 minutes a workout for 3-5 times a week, and making better food choices.  I did the insanity workouts 1-2 times a week, worked out with my trainer 1-2 times a week, played (and still play) flag football, and jogged.  My trainer provided me with a meal plan to follow, and adjusted as my goals changed.  I ate all my carbs early in my day, and even had my cheat days.  That’s all I committed to throughout the competition and now, through the rest of my life. You don’t have to totally restrict yourself, like on an Atkins diet, just pay attention to your body. Food is just supposed to fuel your body, not slow it down. So number one thing to stop doing is OVER-EATING. Smaller portions and oddly enough more meals is what you should focus on. 5 meals a day, space out 2-3 hours apart with a meal cut off time of 7pm or 3-4hrs before you “LAY” in the bed to go to sleep. Most important….STAY OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU LINE and go to the market. Preparing your meals and keeping them on you will stop the reason for wanting to get that quick bite. Another thing, pick one day of the week that will be your actually day to record your weight. Looking at the scale every single day can be discouraging if you allow it to be. Our weigh in day was Tuesday (and this is still my day to record my weight), so on Mondays and Tuesday mornings I pushed myself harder in my workouts to “help” my weigh in results. Stop giving power to why you can’t do it and just do it, yes Nike it up and JUST DO IT! Trust me I know from experience, losing weight the “right” way and not the easy way, will have more rewards than just a better looking body.  It took me 7 months in 2011 to lose 55 lbs.  I started off at 244lbs on January 4th 2011, and today on February 20th, 2013 I am at 188lbs, with 18 more pounds to shake.  To be transparent, you won’t be perfect every single day of your lifestyle change, I once got down to 179lbs, but I let off the brakes a little, and found myself up to 192 at one point.  The great thing about a “LIFESTYLE CHANGE” is, I was about to bounce back and, at minimum, maintain my self between 185-189lbs.  BUT! I will get to my goal weight with the help of my trainer, watching my sugar intake, staying active!

 

Monique lost 45 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Monique lost 45 pounds.  She says:

“I started my weight loss journey about 8 months ago. I’ve since lost 45 pounds.  I cut out red meat.  I incorporate smoothie ideas from your page into my everyday diet. For exercise, I combined an awesome fitness dvd called Sweat With Swagg.  I also do 1 hour of cardio 5 times a week and at least 30 minutes of strength training 5 times a week. The monthly challenges on your page are awesome as well.  This page is truly inspirational and has helped a lot. Thank you.”

Monique weight loss

LaTasha lost 54 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: LaTasha lost 54 pounds by working out and using Weight Watchers.  She wrote us to say…

“Here is my story: I decided to embark on a healthy living journey back in 2011. I make better eating choices (using Weight Watchers) and I work out 5 times a week. I knew dieting wasn’t for me because I needed life long changes. Below is my pic of progress. Although my weight is fluctuating now because I am toning more, I have lost 54 lbs!

I had to make a lifestyle change. Why? I went to get a physical and the doctor was seriously SHOCKED that I didn’t have any illnesses…no diabetes, high blood pressure, nothing. I’ve seen what these illnesses have done to my family. There is too much in life I can’t control, eating better…I can control that.

I decided to research some healthier options of living (notice I didn’t say DIET). I stumbled upon Weight Watchers…a program where I can eat the same foods I always ate, but in better portions and better contents within. This journey I have been on has changed my life. It really is a mental shift. You see, dieting…doing temporary things to lose weight can lead to temporary results, but eating healthier, making a true lifestyle change is where the longevity of weight loss resides.

So what do I do? I go to the gym 5 days a week for at least an hour and I stick to the plan of Weight Watchers. I eat between 5-6 times a day, small portion meals. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2-3 small snacks in between. What is important to remember is if you starve your body, only eating a couple of times of day, your body will hold on to the food thus making it more difficult to lose. But eating more often (quality meals:fruit, veggies, protein, etc.), your body will learn to release that food essentially building your metabolism a bit. I have now lost 54lbs since I began my journey…and counting!!!!

Latasha weight loss

 

 

Erica lost 32 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Erica lost 32 pounds with hard work and the help of her supportive, fitness minded boyfriend.

Erica lost 32 pounds

Erica gave us all details of her weight loss journey:

“The early part of 2012, I started out at 175 wearing size 13, large, and extra large and it seems that the number was going to keep inching higher if I did not make a change. My boyfriend, who is heavily into fitness: running, lifting, extreme calisthenics, eating healthily and losing weight in the right way, got me started on my journey on June 3, 2012. I discovered how important (and critical) it was to have strong support from loved ones and he was with me every step of the way. He has got to be the most patient man on earth because I kept hounding him with question after question!

Here’s a brief synopsis of what I have done over the last 7 months:

June 3: Took before pics
June 4: Started the Insanity program and wanted to quit the same day but I kept going
August 30: Finally finished Insanity after two knee injuries from a pinched nerve
August 31: Received my core-cardio liptical trainer and started working out on that
September 10: Started P90x and was still using my elliptical
October 20: Stopped doing P90x (too slow, too corny, and some of the moves was seriously aggravating my knee issues, like the Legs & Back set)…kept working out on the elliptical and doing other stuff like squats, jumping jacks, speed walking (all of this while wearing a 10-20# vest)
Novemberish: Added running to the mix while wearing a full sauna suit and also started lifting using my free weights with a dedicated program (I have a 250# weight bench set with olympic bar at home but I’m not interested in using it at this time…not part of the game plan just yet)
November 23: Had to stop running for a few weeks due to right knee pain but kept up with the elliptical
December 5: Threw in an extreme, high intensity calisthenics program that incorporates heavy jump roping 5 days a week – Chiseled in 30
January 16: Finished the CI30 program
January 26: Started back running….hit 2.16 miles my first day back.

In addition to the exercising, I had to do a complete overhaul on my nutrition. As of June 3, I went cold turkey on a lot of my fav foods and drinks: soda, specialty coffees/pastries from Starbucks, white bread, white rice, table sugar, canned veggies, packaged meals, frozen meals, pizza, all fast food, sweets/candies, chips, cookies, etc. I replaced all of that with fresh fruits and veggies (the fresh fruit I keep on the counter for grab and go), home-cooked meals, at least 60oz of water every single day (never leaves my side), brown rice, fresh spinach, egg white omelettes, fresh fish (salmon and tuna steak), limited 97/3 ground beef, limited chicken, no steak or pork. I pretty much stick to 90% salmon and 10% chicken.

In addition to all that I have learned from my boyfriend, I started researching not only what he’s told me but to learn other things for my own understanding. It’s important to understand how everything fits together so that I am able to help someone else. For instance, there are a lot of people who don’t understand what their TDEE is(amount calories your body burns in a 24 hour period) or what it even means. They don’t understand how certain vitamins and minerals feed off of each other to aid in weight loss, so if they’re lacking in one, it could hinder their progress. There is so much to know and understand!

weight loss erica

The results of my hard work, DISCIPLINE, dedication, and purpose: total of 17 inches lost from hips, thighs, chest (not bust), and waist; total of 17% body fat lost (from 42% to 25%), and a loss of 32 pounds (just 8 pounds to go!).

My boyfriend, Bishop, took me on a very special cruise from Dec 13-17 to celebrate all that I have accomplished. As of December 12, I had lost 30 pounds. Since then, I’ve lost 2 more (it’s an up and down battle but the trend line goes down). What’s most important is how my clothes fit, how I feel, and how much I have progressed in my workouts. I went from the girl who couldn’t do a single push up to the girl who did the girly push ups to the girl who could knock out 15 in one shot. I went from the girl who could barely kick out 10 burpees to the girl who could jump rope for a minute, do 20 burpees, jump rope for a minute, do 20 burpees, jump rope one more time for a minute. That’s what being FIT really means to me.

My hope is that my story and all of the ups and downs will inspire someone else to not give up…to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and to keep going, to keep pushing.

Keyla lost 117 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: AKA Soror and BWLW online community member Keyla lost 117 pounds by reducing her caloric intake and exercising.  I asked her to share about her weight loss journey:

Keyla weight loss

I picked up 77 pounds in about 5 months. I didn’t see the weight change within myself at that time. I only had three pairs of pants I could wear. All three pairs of pants were black sweat pants with a different colored stripe on the side. I was miserable. I could not walk from one side of a parking lot to the other without being out of breath. When I started noticing how out of shape I was I started giving up hope and continued to eat whatever I wanted. I felt there was no way that I would ever be able to lose weight. My self-esteem was non existent. My attitude was horrible, and I isolated myself from the world.

“Eventually I had enough!   I changed my lifestyle April 24th 2011.  This is my second time losing weight however, this time I had even more weight to lose.  My starting weight was 377.4 pounds and my current weight is now 260 pounds. My start pants size was a size 30W.  I am now able to fit a size 18. My shirt size when I first started out was a size 24. I now fit XL tops from the junior department.

I reduced my caloric intake and hit the gym! I did an hour of cardio per day burning around 900-1000 calories per workout, 3 to 4 times a week. I did go to a nutritionist and I was put on a 1200 calorie diet back in 2003. 8 years later, I’ve gotten older obviously.  The typical 1200 calorie diet did not work for me. I had to cut my calories even more to see any results. It was really a touch and go effort to lose weight because I had to figure out what foods I could and couldn’t eat in order to lose weight. No longer could I eat starches often. Mainly, I had to eat non-starchy vegetables.

For breakfast I have coffee, tea, and fruit. I only ate strawberries, apples, melons, or either oranges for breakfast. For lunch and dinner I would always have 3.5-4 ounces of lean protein and 3.5-4 ounces of non-starchy vegetables. I always drink a gallon of water per day and limit my diet soda intake to 36 ounces. As a result I’ve lost 117 pounds.  I personally believe that if I can turn my life around then anybody can. Life is hard! Struggles are real but happiness is priceless!”

Donesha lost 59 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Donesha lost 59 pounds with the help of a personal trainer.

Donesha weight loss

Here is what she shared with us:

“My name is Donesha Bolden and I am a 33 year old teacher in the Atlanta area and I was asked to share my story with the Black Weight Loss Success Site by one of my high school classmates. I try to post daily inspiration to my friends on Facebook as I am on this journey to a healthy life. My media specialist encouraged me to share my story with the AJC newspaper in Atlanta and they accepted and published my story.

I stated out at 215 pounds in October 2011 and I started working with my trainer as well as doing Insanity within my home. I felt a sense of comfort at home with the insanity program because I could be myself while working out. I lost over 30 pounds doing the 60 day program and my trainer Tissilli Rogers helped me keep everything TIGHT. I have since been working with Tissilli on my goal weight of 160 and I reached that weight in December 2012. I am currently 156 pounds with a total loss of 59 pounds. Tissili wants me to weigh 150 pounds so I am currently working on her goal for me. I go to the gym 5 days a week at 5:00am and run two miles, squats, leg press and abs. I am currently enrolled in Tissilli’s “Show Ready” group where we train at a high level with weights and cardio. That class takes place on Tue/Thur at 6:00 pm. On the weekends I take part in Tissilli’s Tred and Shed class as well as her Buns Buster Class. I have a new found love for running and I am preparing for my first race soon. I realized that it was time to get healthy and that is and always be my goal. I no longer eat for taste I now eat for my health. I can truly say that I am addicted to working out. I pray my story is an inspiration to someone who doesn’t think they can make It happen because with dedication, will power and ambition anything is possible.”

Donesha lost 59 pounds

Curvy Confident & Fit: Trina lost 52 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Trina lost over 52 pounds and has abs for days!  She is the founder of Curvy, Confident and Fit, a great Facebook community for fitness and weight loss.

Trina lost 52 pounds

I asked her to share her weight loss journey with us:

“Hello everyone!! I wanted to share my weight loss story and more with you ladies!!

This before picture is of me two weeks after giving birth to my son by c-section four years ago and my after picture is me after changing my eating habits and working out for the lasts 13 months!!  I started Jan 2012 weighing 230 and reached my goal of 180 Jun 2012. Lost a couple more since but focusing more on inches and toning:-).

I began my journey On January 2, 2012 by the grace of God with a new mind and determination!! I had always been somewhat into fitness but I could never control my eating habits!! Through prayer and God’s strength, He gave me the self-control that I needed and I immeditaley was easily able to cut out all the chips, cake, cookies, sodas, fried and sugary foods, etc and started eating more lean meats only baked, fruits, veggies, whole-grains, legumes, and also I cut out the sodas and juices! I was able to loose 50 pounds and go from my starting weight of 230 to my goal weight of 180 in the first 6 months! Once the weight came off I focus more on the toning. I cut out all the long cardio session and started doing more short intensifed workouts and focus more on toning and shaping my body. I basically use anywhere from 10-30 lbs dumbbells and do exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts, should pressess, dips, etc. Nothing fancy:-) My cardio consist of running and spinning most of the time but always at a high intensity level as well:-) I work my core three days a week and do a variety of exercises like front and side planks, bridges, jackknives, flutter kicks, reverse crunches and the supermans to target the lower back, etc. I can tell you ladies to maintain yor midsection you MUST get your eating habits right at least 90% of the time. There are times when I notice a difference in my midsection, I don’t care how hard I worked for that week, if my eating was really off my stomach was off 🙂 Anyway ladies just wanted to share and let you all know it is possible to get your body back!!

Day 6 – First Check-in Weekend for the February Challenge

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I just wanted to remind you that this is our first check-in weekend for the February Challenge – “Eat Clean/Food Diary/5 Days of Exercise”.

How is this month’s challenge going for you?  

Have you been on track with clean eating this week?  

Have you been consistent with regular exercise 5 days per week and keeping a food journal?  

Check-in on our online community (as a blog post or status message on your profile) or on our Facbook page and let your BWLW know.  Every weekend (Saturday thru Sunday) we will be checking in so that we can encourage one another and stay accountable to our February Goals.

This month is all about really looking at the food we are putting in our mouths and being able to make food choices that work in favor of our weight loss and health goals, not against them.  This month we are working to clean up our eating habits and make sure that our exercise efforts are not hindered by our diet.

If you haven’t committed to the Feb challenge yet, there is still 2 weeks left to commit to clean eating, exercise and accountability.  We are all in this together!

february goals