Black Weight Loss Success

The Official Blog of the Black Women Losing Weight Community. Tips, articles and weight loss resources for African American Women.

Join Our Email List:
We respect your email privacy
You are here: Home / Archives for transformation

transformation

Marketa lost 108 pounds

by 7 Comments

Transformation of the Day: Marketa lost 108 pounds. She was dealing with depression, a number of health issues and felt that her health was on the decline. After college, she decided to use the same energy that helped her to graduate to reach her weight loss goals. She shared with us about how changing focus, changing her eating habits and connecting with a local fitness group helped her to change her life.

marketa before and after

What inspired me and my motivation for weight loss was a number of things. I was suffering from hypertension, migranes daily, depression and my health was plummeting. I knew I needed to change but just did not have the desire to. I even remember there was a time when I tried to get on a rollercoaster ride and there were two men trying to let the bar down to lock me in. Unfortunately, they could not do it, so I wasn’t able to ride.

The turning point for me was when I graduated from college in December of 2012. This was a very challenging time for me because I never thought that I could do anything close to that. With faith and hard work, I was able to graduate and with a 3.6 GPA. I thought to myself, “Hey, if I can put my efforts into graduating college, then I can do the same thing when it comes to losing weight and getting healthy.”

I started to research online and came across the Biggest Loser weight loss show. I saw some of the pictures and transformations and became more inspired. Then. I did research on what was close to my home town similar to the show and I discovered a fitness organization called “Biggest Loser Memphis”, now known as “Fit Nation Inc“. I immediately joined and was excited to start on this new journey. I connected with the group and I started working out 3-4 times a week with Fit Nation and with this awesome personal trainer Toye Bogard (who is also the CEO). The workouts included cardio, weights and boot camp style workouts to the latest music. I also do Fit Nation classes called Max Skype, which is a combination of cardio and strength building in the convenience of my home. I also completed my first half marathon with the group last year.

Eating Habits: I eliminated soda, bread, added sugar, junk food and fried foods from my diet. I increased my water intake, eating fresh vegetables and eating lean meats, such as chicken and turkey. When I started I was somewhere around 276 pounds. I am 5’5″ and I currently weigh 168 pounds. I feel great! Joining Fit Nation has drastically changed my life for the better! Most of the weight took me about a year to lose. I want to lose a little more, but I am happy with my results thus far.

The advice I would give to others is to stay focused on your goals and change the way you think about health and fitness. I would also recommend creating an environment which promotes a healthy lifestyle to help achieve goals and surpass them. This worked for me. I became involved with a fitness group. I eliminated unhealthy foods out of my home and set realistic goals for myself. There will be bumps in the road and obstacles but you are so worth the fight!! Don’t give up!

I have a facebook page/blog called Live Well Beautiful where we promote healthy living holistically and just give good tips on how to become the best version of you.

Instagram: @MEHUD23

Asha lost 74 pounds

by 1 Comment

Weight Loss Journey: Asha lost 74 pounds. High blood pressure and weight gain led her to reflect on her own mortality, and on the early passing of her mother due to heart attack. She took action to change her lifestyle because “time stops for no one”. Check out what she shared with us.

asha before and after

Time stops for no one. That is my mantra. I went from 227 pounds to 153 pounds. I am 5’2 ” tall. It took me a year to lose 74 pounds.

A year ago today, a nurse practitioner uttered to me, “You can’t keep going like this. You will die at a young age.” I was in the hospital for high blood pressure and I didn’t want to die young. My mom died of a heart attack at 47, I so the thought of dying scared me to pieces. I signed up for the gym the next day. It was the greatest decision I’ve ever made. My trainer is amazing, and I love my gym! Life is too short to keep wishing, just do it!

Eating Habits: I got a list of what kinds of food to eat from my trainer, Alan Walton at One2One Training. Now, I eat more protein, more fiber and I eat a small portion of carbs. I have a major sweet tooth, so I had to cut back on sweets.

Workouts Routine: I do cardio five days a week for an hour. I train with my trainer twice a week. During my training sessions, we work on different things, like upper body, lower body, high intensity and toning up.

Advice for Others: Start now and always push yourself to reach your goal. The days you don’t want to go, GO anyway! I remind myself that I didn’t gain all that weight overnight, so I won’t lose it overnight.

asha weight loss story

Gereka lost 81 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Transformation of the Day: Gereka lost 81 pounds. This young lady lost her mom to diabetes a few years ago. She didn’t want her daughter to feel the void she now feels. To avoid high blood pressure and heart disease, she changed her eating habits and worked out regularly. Here is what she shared with us….

gereka before and after

I’m 25 years old and I’ve always been chunky. I lost my mother in 2012 due to diabetes and now I have a daughter who is 6 years old. I look at her and I don’t want her feel that empty void that I deal with everyday due to not having my mother with me. With a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, I knew that I had to do something or face the same fate.

I started out by cutting back a little here and a little there, but got no results. I cut back on fried and fast foods, but that didn’t work. I cut back on sodas as well with no results. I got really discouraged and I had to have a deep talk with myself.

Today, I count calories and eat 1100-1200 calories a day. Didn’t have soda at in 2015!! When I go out to eat, I take a serious look at the calories posted next to the menu choices (I love that they do that now!). I only pick items under 500 calories! It really works. Also, I have been working out hard for the past year. I work out 3-4 times a week. I drink lots and lots of water and do lots of cardio.

To date, I’m blessed to say I’ve lost a total of 75 pounds on my own! My previous weight was 326 pounds and my current weight is 245 pounds (Height: 5’6″). It took me about a year and a half to lose the weight. I remember looking at myself in the mirror saying, “I’ll probably always be fat”. At my highest weight of 326 pounds, I thought it was only up from there.

My advice for others: It won’t work unless you change your thinking. It’s hard, very hard, but healthy living becomes a habit over time and you won’t even realize your doing it! Change your thinking!

Instagram: @_honeygoddess_

Esther lost 111 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Esther lost 111 pounds. Our sista from Zimbabwe experienced weight gain over the years and didn’t take notice until she faced health challenges. After suffering with debilitating and embarrassing bowel issues, she did her research and changed her lifestyle to lose the pounds and get healthy. Here is what she shared with us about her journey.

esther before and after

My name is Esther and I’m from Zimbabwe. My weight loss journey started in 2012, but I fell off the wagon and I gained again for a year and a half. I started again in a serious way towards end of April 2014. Had it not been for the serious health challenges that I encountered, I wouldn’t be the way l am today and wouldn’t have realized I needed to lose weight. I knew very well that I was overweight. I was use to being told to do something about my weight by almost all the doctors that I consulted with, but I had silly excuses to defend my state.

I grew up being a very skinny, tall girl. The biggest size I wore was size 32 (UK size). I started gaining weight a few weeks after my marriage and told myself that it’s very normal to pick up weight while nesting. I felt it was normal to even gain more with pregnancy and that it was a sign of good living. Besides, everyone in my family is big, so I got the genes from my family.

When I was pregnant, I remember resorting to tailor made maternity dresses because I could not fit dresses in most shops. After giving birth, I’d gone from a size 28-30 that I was before marriage to a size 40. Then it went on and on, until I reached size 46-48 and that’s when my health got bad. I watched my health getting worse every single day and saw so many danger signals and warnings that I did not bother attending to. I fed myself with so much poison. I was just not prepared to start a new lifestyle, especially changing the type of food I was eating that I loved so much. l went to hospitals and visited different doctors with due to my health challenges. When they said anything that had to do with my weight, I would immediately switch to another doctor and continue with my usual lifestyle. That was the case until my body started fighting back and throwing different kinds of sicknesses at me. Most of them were life threatening.

I survived 13 Surgeries (5 Laparoscopies and 8 Laparotomies). In April 2012, just after my 10th surgery, I weighed 125.5 kg (276.6 pounds). My Gynaecologist decided to refer me to a Nutritionist, but I didn’t follow the eating plans I was given and was not consistent at all. However, within the following 2 months, I was on her eating program. I lost 10kgs (22 lbs) which I gradually gained back when I stopped the program. Also, I’d accepted constipation to be part of my everyday life, it got to a point where l was not worried at all with it. I resorted to self medicating myself with different types of laxatives which could work for a short time. Eventually, my system ended up not responding to any laxative. I hated drinking water so much and could hardly finish just a glass a day. I loved fizzy drinks and loved eating oily, refined or sweet foods and junk foods.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2013: I had a bowel obstruction, my intestines stopped working completely and I ended up having to live for the whole year with a colostomy bag. Okay, now I was squeezed in a corner to choose life or death. The wisest thing I could do was to admit that I needed to do something about my weight and start taking action. Having to live with the pouch is not something that I would wish for anyone. I completely lost myself due to the frustration and stress. The humiliation was just unbearable. This was my turning point.

After the reversal of the pouch, my action plan was to start a new journey. My surgeon had warned me that the chances of the condition coming back are very high, judging from his experiences with other patients that had the condition. Just imagining having that pouch again was reason enough to push me to start the new journey.

In 2014 April, I started with the 13 Day Metabolism diet, weighing 117.9kgs (260 lbs). I decided to stop eating sugar and stopped drinking tea, fizzy drinks and juices. I struggled to stop eating starch and would fall off the wagon, but I’d pick up where I left off and carry on. I eventually managed to eat right more than 85% of the time. I googled and learned that knowing your blood type and eating according to your type helps and it definitely worked a great deal for me. According to my blood type, wheat is like poison, so I stopped eating bread and most of the foods that contains wheat.

I joined the gym and fell in love with running,  skipping and exercising in general. I became very active, going to the gym at least 3 days a week for at least 30 min to an hour and a hal. If I’m not going to the gym, I exercise at home by either running, skipping or doing cardio. I also joined a number of weight loss groups on Facebook. Now, I do a lot of research on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Currently this is the food that I eat; veggies & fruits, boiled eggs, meat in moderation (boiled or grilled) and fruits & veggie smoothies. I drink more than 3litres of plain water
or warm water with lemon every day. I also drink sugarless green tea. The reason why I
drink so much water is because I sweat a lot. Meals: I make sure to have my breakfast (fruits most of the times or boiled eggs), lunch, supper and healthy snacks in between my meals. If I feel like spoiling myself or eating out, l don’t go to just any food outlet. I choose restaurants where I will be able to order what I like and not just buy what’s
already prepared. If I feel like having a heavy meal, instead of eating mealie pap, I replace it with butternut, sweet potato or red rice. That works perfectly for me. There are certain foods that if I try to eat I now get stomach cramps, so I know that specific foods aren’t good for me at all.

This is my lifestyle now. No quick fixes for me, because I do not want to go back to my old self. Yes, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but I can say that I have managed to control and manage my cravings and I do not regret the decision that I’ve made. It’s actually one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I am a free and happy individual. I am now a fit, confident woman and a living testimony.

I survived the worst only by grace, therefore I don’t take waking up and breathing for granted. I have thought of a way to encourage other women in my area to live healthily and fit. I’ve started a Netball Club and I have plans to visit hospitals and encourage women that are going through what I went through.

It is possible and doable to live a new life and be a better, healthier and happy woman if you are willing to change your lifestyle. I haven’t reached my desired goal yet but I am definitely not the person I was before. From 125kgs in 2012, I am now 75kgs (165 pounds, height: 5’5″) and hoping to reach my goal of 65kgs soon (143 pounds). Don’t wait until you get sick as I did because not everyone survives what I went through. Most people were not given a second chance to live again and tell their stories as I am doing now. I value the 2nd chance that God gave me.

Do it for yourself not for the person next to you or your family. Love yourself 1st, then others will learn from you. Value life so much that you love and treat your body as a special and precious gift. You are the manager of your life and you can choose to abuse/destroy it or build it.

esther weight loss story

Bianca lost 37 pounds

by 2 Comments

Update: Bianca has lost 60 pounds.

Transformation of the Day: Bianca lost 37 pounds. Facing a number of factors, including arthritis, a bad breakup, stress and depression, did not derail her for making changes in her life. She wanted to be better, mentally and physically and she shared with us the actions she took to change her life.

bianca before and after
These pics are from April 11th 2015 and December 11th 2015

My name is Bianca and I’m 29 years old. I have mild arthritis in my knees and I was battling with stress and depression, from work, my arthritis, a horrible breakup and a break in my home. In the beginning of this year, there was so much on me, but it was after seeing a picture of myself on April 11th, 2015 at my God daughters birthday party I decided to make some serious changes, mentally and physically.

It took a certain level of dedication, discipline and consistency to stay focused on my journey. It wasn’t easy to say the least, but I went from 212 pounds to 175 pounds. I did a green smoothie cleanse to help kick start things off, but overall I did it by staying focused and wanting better for myself. I am 5’8″ tall and my transformation took about 8 months. I’m still working on toning as we speak.

I gave up beef, pork and fried foods. I increased my water intake and started working out at 5:30 am and then again at 6 pm (after work). After I cut those foods out, I only ate baked or grilled chicken, fish and shrimp, with at least 2 veggies. I ate lots of salads as well. I made sure to eat more fruits and veggies on a daily basis. I did this mostly in my smoothies, which consisted of baby spinach, mixed frozen fruit, flax seeds, stevia sweetner and 2 cups of water. I still drink these on a daily. The biggest factor in terms of my weight loss was portion control. I ate smaller portions and dramatically increased my water intake to 64 ounces a day.

As far as my workouts, I work out every day, I started my 5:30 am workouts with a friend who wanted to join me on the journey. I felt an accountability partner would be helpful, and we work out every morning from 530-630 am. Then on M/W/F, I usually go for my second win in the gym or at home. Cardio was the key to losing. I also box on Sundays which is GREAT cardio. I do lots of jump roping, use elliptical and ride the bikes, but I stay away from the treadmill due to the arthritis in my knees (the impact is quite harsh). Everyday I do different workouts; cardio, legs, arms, abs and glutes, with tons of stretching in between. I increase my reps with my weights as well.

The advice I would give others: Although diet and exercise play a huge role in losing weight, there are also a lot of other factors. I think some people forget that making major change takes major discipline, consistency, drive, and faith that you can do it. There will be days when you get frustrated because you feel like you’ve been working hard and nothing seems to be changing. That’s when you should find even more motivation. That’s what I did and its like the inches started fading faster and faster. It does help having an accountability partner too, if you can, so they can help push you. However, the sheer desire to want to be healthy and live a long life should always keep you motivated!

Instagram: @B_nonchalant

bianca transformation tuesday

Claudia lost 60 pounds

by 2 Comments

Weight Loss Story: Claudia lost 60 pounds. She shared with us about how body image, relationship pressure and comparing herself to others affected her weight loss journey.

claudia before and after

Instagram: @claudaya
27 years old – from NYC
265 lbs to 205 pounds – 60 pounds down and counting!
Height: 5’5″ tall

I’ve always wanted to lose weight to “look like the girls on tv “. As bad as I wanted it, it just seemed to be impossible. What would motivate me? Summertime would come around and all the girls would be in their cute, little outfits that revealed body parts I could never show! My friends were on the beach in bikinis and I barely wanted to show my one piece. I was far from feeling sexy, but I always acted as if I had all the confidence in the world. They say never change yourself for someone to like you, but when I had someone tell me “I can’t be with you because of our size difference.” that was my final straw! Even though I’ve heard it many times in my life, that time really hurt me. I wanted it to be my last time hearing something like that. Find another excuse not to like me. Lol! All in all, I’m doing it for me!

It took me 1 year to lose 60 pounds, because I would slack off at times. With more dedication, you could definitely lose more then 60 in a year. I’m no where near where I want to be, but here’s to PROGRESS!

Eating Habits: I changed my eating habits by cutting back on the fast food and doing less snacking.

Exercise: I honestly walked a lot. I walked everywhere and anywhere that I could. I tried to hit the gym at least 3 times a week as well.

My advice for others: Never give up, lose the weight for you not anyone else, and know that progress is PROGRESS. Don’t look at how long it’s taking you, just keep going and the pounds will come off.

Shakina lost 60 pounds

by 2 Comments

I worked sooooo hard this past month but the numbers don’t show that I did. 😔😕☹

A post shared by Shakina Young (@shakinayoung2) on

Transformation of the Day: Shakina lost 60 pounds. This petite diva did not want to be on medication for asthma for the rest of her life and knew that she wanted to lose the pounds. She took a nutrition class, joined a local boot camp and took action to create a new, healthy lifestyle. Check out what she shared with us about her journey.

shakina before and after

My name is Shakina Y. and about 2.5 years ago I knew I needed to make a change, a lifestyle change. I weighed my heaviest, which was 241 pounds, standing 5ft, 2in tall. With very step I took, I was tired and out of breath.  I told myself that I will no longer be on asthma medication for the rest of my life. I told myself that I would not rely on medicine to keep me alive and that it was time to take action. (Currently I no longer take daily asthma medication, except when the seasons change)

My first step towards achieving my goal were enrolling in a weight loss study program called ImWel (Improving Weight Loss) at a local hospital.  ImWel taught on nutrition. I learned about reading food labels, good fat vs bad fat, swapping out foods slowly, portions sizes, meal prepping and so much more. At this point is where I began exploring different food options. When I first started my journey, the only vegetables I ate were greens and cabbage. As of today, I eat squash, zucchini, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, and spinach, just to name a few but the list goes on. I gave up fast food and started cooking at home. I also gave up fried foods and ate a lot of grilled/baked lean meats. Learning about nutrition helped me to lose 20 lbs.

In the early part of 2015, I went meatless which was supposed to last only a month but I went a total of 3 months. I also began to explore a lot more healthy foods because I had to get my protein intake. I now eat different beans and nuts that I did not eat before. Since going meatless, I only eat meat once a day which is usually at lunch.

During the following year, after being taught about nutrition, I joined “Firm Body Boot Camp” today known as “Squad Fitness”.  It was challenging at first and I wanted to give up, but I knew what I wanted. I also knew that no matter how long it took I wanted to do it the “Natural” way; no pills, diets, shakes, etc.  It took support of family, friends, and coworkers to keep me motivated. I was determined to achieve the results I wanted.

I missed so many social events because I had to work out. I was afraid that if I missed, I would keep making excuses and I am the only one that can hold myself accountable.  Squad Fitness, in my opinion, is better than working out at the gym. No two workouts are the same and you have a group of people who encourage you and hold you accountable throughout the workout. The exercises target your entire body and, most of all, Squad fitness is a mixture of strength and cardio. We do not use machines, like in the gym, and most of the workouts are dealing with your own bodyweight.

It will be 3 years for me in September 2016 and I have made so much progress. I have lost 60 pounds. Although I have not kept up with my measurements, I’ve gone from a size 18 in jeans and to a size 10. In shirts I was an XXL/XL and now I am a M/L. I was a 42 DD in bra size and now I am a 36 D! Some may say I should have lost more weight than 60 pounds in these 2.5 years, BUT the scale does not define me. The scale just makes you want to give up when those numbers do not decrease from week to week. I set realistic goals, I do not starve myself, and I eat the foods I love in moderation. I also know I am not perfect and I will fall, but the key is not staying down for long. Rise back up and keep going.

My advice for others would be to not give up. You didn’t gain your weight all in one day so don’t expect to lose it quickly. You have to work hard to get the results you want. Also do not go on a “DIET”, they are only temporary. Make a “LIFESTYLE” change which will last forever. Set short term realistic goals until you reach your ultimate long term goal. You have to want to make a change, because no one can do it for you or make you do it. You must stay focused, be dedicated and not let excuses get in your way. Exercise should be like brushing your teeth and taking a bath. You shouldn’t have to think about doing it, because it is like HABIT and a task that you learned as a child. I first started working out 3 times a week and today I work out 5-6 times a week. My “REST” days are not actually rest days because I usually take a 30 min walk. I am now a fitness addict and fitness is my “DRUG”!

You can read more about my journey at ShakinaYoung.Wordpress.com, follow me on Instagram and Twitter: @ShakinaYoung2, and add me on Facebook at Facebook.com/KeepingUpWithShakina

shaking weight loss story

Tiffany lost 44 pounds

by Leave a Comment

Update 2016: Tiffany has maintained a weight of 138 pounds since November 2015. She recently participated in a photoshoot sponsored by her coach, Wiltrina of IUTBU.

tiffany weight loss update

Dec 2015 – Weight Loss Story: Tiffany lost 44 pounds. Over the years, she tried a lot of different plans and methods of losing weight, but the weight always came back (sometimes twice as much). She found a coach to provide guidance and has now transformed her body with healthy eating and exercise. Here is what she shared with us…

tiffany before and after

I had tried it all; pills, shakes, HCG drops and Weight Watcher… just to name a few. Yes, I lost the weight but it always found its way back and I gained twice as much as I lost. I could never understand why, because I was never a couch potato. I exercised all the time but the weight never moved much or stayed off when I did lose.

On Facebook, I found a page that grabbed my attention. I watched people with much success at getting their lives back. It took me a while to finally give Coach Trina and her process a try. Still exercising, I changed the way I ate and how often I ate. I could not believe that eating that much food would still allow me to lose weight! However, what I learned was that he food was the issue all along.

I just started with lean meats, veggies and fruits. I still had carbs, such as oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice and still had treats in moderation. Once I added in the weight lifting, high intensity interval training and got out of my own comfort zone, things really took a turn for the best!

I started at 185 pounds and in 11 months I was down to 141 pounds with muscles. I am still enjoying my journey. It is my new life now! My advise to anyone who wants to change to healthier lifestyle to make sure you are ready. Get your mind focused and give coach a chance. #coachrocks!

Instagram: @spcywify
Tiffany’s coach: www.iusetobeu.com

tiffany weight loss story

Roberta lost 117 pounds.

by Leave a Comment

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Roberta lost 117 pounds. This proud mom of 5 lost the weight using the popular 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse program. She also learned to use portion control and when she wanted to indulge. Here is what she shared with us about her journey.

roberta before and after

My name is Roberta G. and I’m a mother of four boys and a baby girl. March 17, 2015. I started the JJ Smith “10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse“. I completed 14 days for my first cleanse, and even though I had a few slip ups, I still lost an amazing 22 lbs. That changed my life forever. Since March 17th, I’ve been following the modified version and I’ve lost a total of 82 lbs, for a grand total of 117 lbs since I began my journey last year (I am 5 ft 6 in tall.) Knowing that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, gives me the strength to be successful at all things, including overcoming this weight obstacle.

I changed my eating habits by adding more fruits and vegetables in the form of smoothies to my diet. I also added nuts and other healthy options at meal time and for snacks. For me, I don’t believe that you should stop eating things, but I do believe in portion control. I also believe in eating things you want, but in moderation. If there is something I want to eat, I indulge myself and I eat it. It’s about balance for me and I deserve to treat myself for the healthy changes I made to my lifestyle. I have five children, so I do lots of running around. However, I have not added a specific workout routine to my lifestyle yet, but it is coming soon.

After having my children, I was determined to win this battle of the bulge, and even with a few slip ups, when you’re dedicated nothing can stop you from getting to where you’re trying to be. Prayer, combined with determination and dedication, equals success!!! I thank God for JJ Smith and the knowledge He gave her! I also thank her for creating and sharing her knowledge with us! She was and is still truly a God sent blessing in my life, and because of her, my life will never be the same! I will always be thankful and eternally grateful.

Roberta weight loss story

Dazmine lost 50 pounds

by 1 Comment

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Dazmine lost 50 pounds. This young lady has struggled with her weight since childhood. She faced fat shaming and being made fun of because of her weight from family and at school. She’s a proud mom who lost weight as a teen, but gained it back with the birth of her son. Now, she is sharing with us how she was able to release the pounds in a healthy way.

dazmine weight loss

Hi, my name is Dazmine B. and I want to share my story with you. All my life I struggled with my weight. Even my mom would shame me about it. I can remember how hard my mom was on me about my appearance (as she is concerned about her body as well). I can remember how I felt being around girls smaller than me. I can remember how it felt to be overweight and feeling ashamed. I was made fun of terribly, inside my home and outside my home. It was embrassing, as a kid and fat jokes destroyed you. I always dreamed about finally getting the weight off.

When I was 16 years old, I started my weight loss journey. I got a job working at the senior center, during the summer, where they had exercise equipment. My starting weight was 185 pounds at the time, fluctuating between 185-190 lbs. I walked everywhere and I drank nothing but water. I strived for 64 oz of water a day. I exercised 5 times a week for hour or more.

Going back to school for my senior year, everyone was amazed by my progress, since these were the people who knew me my whole life. However, after graduating that year, I got pregnant. When I gave birth to my child, I weighed 180 lbs. So, I knew I had to lose it again.

The second time was different. I took my time and I didn’t pressure myself or stress about it. I like to watch my calories and the ingredients in the food I eat. Now, I only drink water. Also, I exercise at least 3- 5 times a week, for hour to hour an half a day. Weight training helps me shred weight and makes for a more toned look, rather just cardio.

I now weigh 135 pounds. I love myself, more than ever. It is hard to imagine at times that I’m no longer heavy. It is a blessing to have self-love and to reach a goal you felt would never happen, especially when you’ve grow up your entire childhood and some of your teen years obese. It is powerful to look in the mirror now. Those who have watched me grow and who’ve seen my transformation know exactly what I’m talking about. Weight loss is such a difficult task to accomplish. I did it twice, before the birth of my child and afterwards.

I know that my health is very important. You learn healthier habits on this journey. The gym has become a place of peace for me. Exercising is very essential and beneficial. Ever since I started my journey to a improving my physical appearance, I’ve educated myself more. Also, water has been my best friend.

My advice for others: I would say, “Don’t stress it and keep exercising”. A lot of people get wrapped in dieting and that stresses them out and discourages them. It can be done, just be patient and determined. Never give up! Trying is always the best effort.

Instagram: @_tastefullydazmine

dazmine before and after