Weight Loss Success Stories: Hard Work Pays Off! Elisa is Finally 40lbs Down

I always moved by weight loss success stories. This following success story is an amazing inspiration from a real mom, Elisa.

Elisa is always struggle with a weight issue in her whole life. She was a chubby toddler and fat gradeschooler. After getting married she gained weight pretty quickly. She cooked and therefore ate a TON more than when she was single. Exercise is a low priority because of school and she just want to spend time with her new hubby. After her second baby, exercise at home was impossible. Nap times weren't dependable and trying to work out with children grabbing legs is just pointless. Elisa signed up for gym membership but weight loss is pretty slow because she was still breast feeding.

Elisa kicked her workouts into high gear when they started transitioning baby Caroline to formula. She adjusted her food intake and going to the gym 5 days a week.

Fit, Fearless, Fabulous: Elisa before (left in June'11)
and after (right in April'12) weight loss 

Elisa's workouts
Monday - core for 30 min, an hour of step aerobics.
Tuesday - dance jam for an hour.
Wednesday - an hour of barbell weight lifting and an hour of Zumba.
Thursday - recovery day.
Friday - an hour of dance.
Saturday - an hour of 'mix' class with running-kickboxing-athletic drills all mixed in there.

Elisa's Diet Plan

• Cut calories significantly
• Decreased portion sizes
• Tried to make the calories really count
• Reduced the carbs, increased the lean meat, and really increased the veggies.

Mother-daughter bonding time: Elisa with little Caroline

Diet Strategy
Discipline herself to a 'bite' of a tempting food.

With discipline and self -determination, Elisa is now 40 lbs down in 9 months and 2 weeks. She documented her weight loss in detail at All About Allans! Visit her for some weight loss tips.

Pictures are copyright by All About Allans! If you know any great weight loss success stories, please share to us. We would like to hear about it.

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Weight Loss Success Stories: Krystle's Skinny Jeans Dreams Come True as She Hit 105lbs Down

Krystle started her blog Skinny Jeans Dreams after she lost about 40lbs (18kg).

Her weight loss journey began three months after she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Weighing at 253lbs (114kg) at 5'5" tall, her BMI is over 40 and categorize as morbid obese. She decided to lose weight because she don't want to raise her baby Elliana with her bad habit. She started out by just cutting her portions and making healthier choices. After a week of doing it on her own, she signed up for Weight Watchers.

Smile for the camera: Krystle with baby Elliana before
she join WW

Krystle found pictures of herself from high school when she had lost some weight and said to herself "I just want to look like this again".

But she has long surpassed that goal!

High School Picture: Krystle's weight loss goal is that she want to look like 
her old-self in high school but she surpassed that goal.

Now, at 148lbs (67kg) she has success her weight loss journey and is hoping to inspire other. Visit Krystle's blog at Skinny Jeans Dreams to be inspired as you lose. The questions and and answers below are taken from Krystle's blog. I hope her story about her weight loss can give you some tips and strategies to success your own journey.

Q: How long did it take you to lose your weight?
A: It took me one year to lose 90lbs and eight months to lose the last 15!

Krystle before and after weight loss: She started at 253lbs (left) and reach her goal at 148lbs (right)

Q: Have you ever hit a plateau? How did you deal with it?
A: The answer above pretty much answers that but yes I have hit plateaus along the way - several actually. I dealt with them the way by switching what I ate, how I worked out, drank more water, either started or stopped using my Weekly Points Allowance, etc... The last 15lbs were SO hard to get off and the last 3 were damn near impossible. Never once did I think about changing my goal - just kept pushing.

Q: Do you count calories or carbs?
A: I do not count calories. Carbs are calculated into WW points and that is what I count.

Q: How did you lose your weight?
A: Through following the Weight Watchers plan and incorporating exercise into my life.

Q: How did you start exercising? And when? 
A: I didn't really exercise all that much for the first 3 months or so. Then I started with Zumba for the Wii. Before Zumba, I was one of those people who worked out once a month IF THAT. Once I started with Zumba, I couldn't stop. I woke up early every morning just to do it. I had found something that I truly enjoyed and the workout high afterwards made me feel even better. I also walked a lot and rode bikes. I worked my way up from there.

Q: How much water do you drink per day?
A: I aim for 100 or more ounces per day.

Q: What does your typical menu look like for a day?
A: I try not to do anything routinely. I try new things every week and I try to switch things up as much as possible. Sometimes I find something I like and I may eat it several times during a two week period then I won't eat it again for a month. My staples include all types of veggies, fruit, egg whites, beans, toast, oatmeal, peanut butter and a few others but like I said, I am not one of those people who eats egg whites every single day for breakfast.

Q: What kind of workouts do you do now? What does your typical workout routine look like?
A: The answer to this question is the same as the one above. I switch it up!! I get bored very easily so I like to keep things fresh. My favorite workout of all time is Turbo Fire however since I have some back issues and can't do that right now, I also enjoy Jillian Michaels DVDs, doing front/back intervals on the elliptical, weight lifting, running, and walking. I swear by workout DVD's!

Yippie for victory: Krystle is getting so excited because her
skinny jeans dreams come true. She is wearing size 8.

Q: How do you stay motivated?
A: Through this blog, facebook, and the people surrounding me all on the same journey as me. We are in this together and I feed off of you guys as much as you feed off of my energy.

Q: Have you ever had an off week? Off month? Gained weight?
A: MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. It's not about how many times you fall, it's about how many times you get up.

Q: Do you eat clean?
A: I started out this year (2012) planning on completely clean eating and after going crazy with it for a while, I wore myself out and I have allowed certain things back into my life however I do try to avoid as much processed food as possible. I am nowhere near perfect with this!

Q: What is your guilty pleasure? 
A: PIZZA!

Q: What kinds of things do you keep in your house to have a successful week? 
A: Power foods! Things that will keep me full and satisfied - fruits, veggies, grains, beans, etc... but I do always keep a treat on hand - usually a WW snack of some sort or fat free cool whip.

All pictures are copyright by Skinny Jeans Dreams.

Do you know any great weight loss success stories? Or do you have an inspirational story about your own weight loss? We want to know your weight loss secrets! Add your story here and give others an inspiration and motivation to lose weight today.

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Weight Loss Success Stories: How Reyna Lost 60lbs and Her Muffin Top in 18 Months

Keeping track of your progress with pictures is one way to stay motivated as you lose weight. Sometimes we forget to take a look back and see how far we've come and that can get discouraging. It's nice to take a moment to go back and see how much we've truly changed and be positive about the person we are becoming.

Reyna Lay: Black and White inspired by the 50's

I don't have any progress picture of mine yet but I've discover an inspiring progress picture to motivate me. If you think you can't lose the weight, read Reyna Lay's awesome weight loss story for some diet strategies and exercise tips to help you reach your fitness goals.

60 pounds loss: Reyna Lay's progress picture

Reyna is successfully getting ripped from 222 lbs to 165 lbs. When you look at her progress picture you will tempted to ask, how long will it take until she see the weight loss results?

That is the most common question we heard from people who want to lose weight fast. Including me. People are so focus on getting skinny ASAP. But here is a word from someone who has has had success in her own weight loss journey. People want to lose weight fast but you can't achieve greatness without putting in the hard work and determination. Don't buy into all the fast fat loss crap that so many people try to sell. In the end it comes down to clean eating & working out. Don't starve yourself, instead eat 6 times a day.
As for Reyna herself, it took her a year & a half to get to her goal weight: 60 pound loss.
She worked out pretty much every day, sometimes 2 times a day, incorporated weights, cardio, HIIT, and speedwork into her routine and always pushed herself. She didn't set boundaries for herself. Check out her blog, Glamour Glory. She shares a lot of perfect workout routine you can follow. You also can find a few good inexpensive meals to eat in order to lose weight in her blog.

This is Reyna's top 10 motivation tips:

1. Get a running buddy
If your partner doesn't like to run and would rather drink a six-pack than have a six-pack, find yourself another partner (for running that is). This could be a friend, a sister, brother, mom, dad... anyone who loves to run or has the same goals, and schedule as you. Your partner should be there to motivate you!

2. Use your Emotions
If you're mad at your husband or wife or boyfriend, mom, or whatever... then run! That's the best way to let out some frustration.

3. Use Pictures

Roselyn Sanchez: Leyna's inspiration to get fit.

Pictures are a great way to motivate you, whether they're pictures of you when you used to be skinny and could fit into that tiny bikini-that won't even go up one leg anymore, or whether it is a picture of some hot celebrity like: Roselyn Sanchez. This is who I have. You can post magazine pics on your restroom mirror so you can see them when you wake up, or on the fridge, so you don't go in there and eat too much.

4. Put good music in your MP3 player
Go through your iTunes collection and make yourself a playlist-if it doesn't make you shake your head while you listen to it-or if it doesn't make you want to dance--- it will NOT make you want to run.

5. Set your alarm
A great way that I get motivated is by doing a Voice Over Alarm/ringtone. You can record a lil' something like this, "REYNA-STOP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, AND GET MOTIVATED, REMEMBER THOSE PANTS YOU WANTED TO FIT INTO? WELL PUT YOUR SHOES ON AND GO RUNNING!!! IF YOU DONT RUN YOU WILL NOT FIT INTO THOSE PANTS!" then screaming louder, I add, "GO NOW OR YOU'LL STAY FAT FOREVER!!! GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOOOOO! RUN YOU FATTIE!!!" I then set this as a ringtone for a certain time (when I know I'll be in my car on my way home from school, or at home, by myself B/C that would SOO be embarrasing!) and that usually motivates me to run. There's no better (or funnier) thing than to hear yourself screaming like this:)

6. I pour salt on it
If we go out to eat and you order something like pasta... something that is not going to leave enough food to take home, which then makes you want to eat it all so you wont waste it-but then makes you feel guilty after you do, I pour salt on it :) I wont eat it anymore. Either that or give it to someone else, then you really can't eat it, it'll be gone.

Inspiring: Reyna transformation picture.

7. Be Adventurous
If you hate running on the treadmill because it makes you feel like a mouse, and you hate running on the track because one lap feels like forever go somewhere unique, like a trail.

8. Change it up
If you don't want to run for 4 miles, don't! Alternate walking and running. This is especially good at a track. Run half a circle, than walk half a circle, run half a circle, walk half a circle... or walk one minute, run 2 minutes.... this is a good workout, and you burn a lot of calories doing it. Try it for 30 minutes and then head home. It will go by fast and you won't even think of how boring it was- how hard? maybe- but not boring.

9. Race Time
You could enter yourself in a race. Pay for it and everything. Give yourself enough time to get into shape for it of course. If you are a beginner, sign up for a 5k=3.1 miles, and give yourself a few months to run. This should motivate you since you don't want to be the last one to finish at the race.

10. Want it
Don't do it because your hubby thinks you are too fat, or your best friend looks better than you, or because your mom calls you the "fat daugther". Whatever! Do it because it will make you happy. If you do it for yourself, you will reap the rewards, and you will stick with it!

Q: How did you get a flat tummy & abs? What kind of ab work do you do?

A: I didn't (don't) do any ab work, not really. I did Ab ripper by P90x sometimes, prob a total of 10x in 2 rounds of p90x. What a lot of people know, but don't truly realize is that everyone has abs, most are hidden under all the fat we hold. As you eat right & do cardio you make your abs work & you burn the surrounding fat. When you run, sit up tall, or lift weights you make your ab muscles stronger & they look nicer. Your abs will begin to show as you lose that fat around them.

-Reyna on how she get the killer abs.

All pictures are copyright by Reyna's blog. Follow her blog Glamour Glory to find some weight loss inspiration and motivation. Do check out her YouTube channel reynalay as well for some weight loss tips. Reyna is expecting her second baby, and is due April's next year. You can congatulate her via her blog.

Do you know any great weight loss success story? Or do you have an inspirational story about your own weight loss? We want to know your weight loss secrets! Add your story here and give others an inspiration and motivation to lose weight today.

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Sick

My first week didn't go so well.

Weigh in Week 2: 1 kg gain from last week

I step on the scale this morning, and I'm not disappointed to see a little weight gain because I expect so. Last week I was 67kg; this week I weighs 68.2kg.

I was at my parent's home all last week. I always have problems with food when I'm away from my own home. I find myself eating all the time. I guess it's not because I'm at my own home that it's easier to keep healthy and balanced diet but I believe it's more about having a correct mindset after all. So,   as part of my new weight loss plan, I will prepared myself with a back up plan when I'm away from home, or when I have to attend any social events like wedding or family gathering so that I will not have any excuse to slip with my diet.

I want to start afresh today. But it's seems not going to work well today. I don't have any appetite for foods and feel too weak to exercise. I still feel sick from a food poisoning and all I want to do is sleep all day long.

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I attended a friend's wedding yesterday. As soon as I reached home my stomach growling and feel gassy. I suddenly have nausea and vomit. This probably having been caused by foods eaten at the wedding banquet. My sister vomited at least two times. Both my kids were also down with vomiting and diarrhea. My husband is the only one among us who lucky enough to not get affected, maybe because he ate little at the wedding.

I'm hoping I'll feel much better tomorrow morning.

“Just because you’re not sick doesn’t mean you’re healthy” ~Author Unknown

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” ~Mark Twain

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Weight Loss Motivation

I saw this on Black Girl Gets Fit, I guess I'll re-post it here to keep me motivated.

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Appetite Suppressants

Food. Is. My. Weakness.

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When I'm at my own home, it's a bit easy to avoid food when I'm not hungry. I usually don't stock up extra foods at home. I don't keep junk food around the house at all. Well, once in a while I crave junk food but when I do, I try to be moderate. I must confess, it's hard to control myself when I'm away from home, eating out or not at my own home.

I am spending this whole week at my parents house with the kids since it's school mid term holiday. The problem is they always have interesting food at home. I can't help myself  from eating. I renewed my weight loss plan early this week. So, this is going to be a big challenge. I am no longer want to 'start dieting tomorrow'. I want to start it now. Today.

Then dieting become easier. But not really.

source

I got ulcer in my inside cheek. I feel serious pain everytime I open my mouth. I can't eat or talk properly. I may get it from poor brushing method.

I remember the last time when I start over a water fast, I got this kind of ulcer but it was on the tip of my tongue. Like how I experience today, it was painful but the pain make my water fast went so well back then.

It's simply because eating make the pain worse.

There are lots of interesting foods in front of me now, but I don't have enough appetite to eat.

On the bright side, this pain benefited my diet. If it's not because of this ulcer, I may have finish a whole pizza by myself.

I only wish that there will be a less painful appetite suppressants. Mouth ulcer sucks!

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One Unsmooth Morning

I'm not starting off my day very well today. I am tipping the scales at 67kg this morning. I have no idea how accurate this scale is because I use the one at my parents house. It's a bit antique. 

I went to bed late last night. I supposed to rise early to do morning exercise according to my new weight loss plan. But I overslept and the kids woke up before me.

So I missed my morning workout. But that's not a reason to postpone my diet tomorrow. I have 24 hours a day,and I will try my best to sneak between my kids' day nap to exercise.

"Where there's a will, there's a way."

I renew my weight loss plan and am suppose to have fruits only for breakfast. But when I feed the kids with biscuits and fried mee for breakfast this morning, I 'accidentaly' join them. Not according to the plan. This is sound like sarcastic but I plan this is going to be my first and last meal for today. The rest of the day, I will only fill my stomach with fruits and vegetables soup. And drink lots of water.

I got my 'lesson' today. Always prepare fruits for breakfast before going to bed every night, so I can simply grab one on a busy morning.

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Weight Loss Renewal Plan 2012

At the end of my 5 days water fast, I have lost 1.5 kg.

I started a water fast weighing 67.9 kg.

On the 5th days, I was 66.4kg.

I am far from a halfway to complete my 40 days water fasting when I discontinue my water fast on day 6.

Maybe self-control is what I'm bad at.

I have put blogging on hold for a while here because I getting myself busy with another blog, Healthy Beautiful Blog. And as I try to find momentum to blog about my weight loss journey again, so is my diet for several weeks. I ate like there's no tomorrow and I stopped exercise at all. During the period I have gained back the 1.5kg I have lost on water fasting and I maintain my weight around 67.5 kg until today.

I want to 'redeem' myself before my 31st birthday. My ultimate goal of course to melt away my belly fat, and weighs 47kg by Christmas. But for short term goal, I want to be 55kg before my coming birthday and though I can't get Jennifer Lopez's washboard abs in such a short time, my goal is at least I lose my belly fat a little and can get into my dream tube dress with less effort; No need to suck in my tummy hard anymore!

12 plans for 12 week weight loss plan before my 31st birthday:

1. Early to bed and rise early before everybody else to exercise.
2. 30 minutes cardio everyday + strength training
3. Strength training exercise for arms on day 1
4. Strength training exercise for abs on day 2
5. Strength training exercise for back and chest on day 3
6. Strength training exercise for butt on day 4
7. Strength training for leg on day 5
8. Cut white rice out of my diet, cut flour-based and added-sugar foods.
9. No junk food, no fast food for the the whole 12 weeks.
10. Mineral water, green tea are the only drinks I would have. Drink lots of plain water throughout the day.
11. Fruits in the morning, low fat yogurt in the afternoon and vegetable broth in the evening. Kind of Daniel fast diet.
12. Cutting MSG out of my diet; will use less or without oil when cooking; avoid greasy fatty and oily foods when eating out.

Yellow for joy and happiness:
I want to wear this similar dress once I reach my weight loss goal

I am renewing my weight loss plan today August 20, 2012 and check the result on November 12, 2012 --- 4 days after my birthday.

I wish myself the very best of luck.

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Fitness for Busy People: 4 Tips to Make the Time to Work Out

This is a guest post by Aniya Wells. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here. 

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One of the biggest roadblocks to accomplishing fitness goals is feeling like you don’t have enough time to work out. Even if you’re completely bogged down by work or your college degree program, there is always a bit of extra time in the day to get your blood flowing and your muscles working.

In fact, it is often simply the thought that there isn’t enough time that blocks people from trying, even if that isn’t really the reality. And, with the help of a little planning ahead and even some modern technology, anyone can make the time to hit the gym or get a workout elsewhere. Next time you feel like ditching your fitness goals because of the ticking clock, try out some of these ideas for fitting fitness into even the busiest of schedules.

1. Multitask at the gym 
If you find that it’s hard to make time for the gym because you simply have too much work to do, then why not combine your workout with your work time? There are plenty of ways to get your heart pumping and multitask at the same time. If you’re a student, you can read while on the treadmill or elliptical. Or try downloading lectures or audio books and listening to them on your mp3 player or smart phone as you lift weights or stretch.

2. Get up earlier and go to sleep earlier 
This seems simple, but it really is the first thing that keeps most people from working out. If you have a fitness goal in mind but you think to yourself, “I just don’t have time for that. I would have to get up way too early, and I would lose too much sleep,” there is a simple solution. Go to sleep early and get up earlier in the morning! If you simply adjust your routine so you have an extra hour in the morning, you can easily make it to the gym or do exercises at home.

3. Do real workouts at home 
Making it to the gym is another thing that many people find difficult to fit into a busy schedule. It’s true; the commute and the time it takes to weave your way among other gym-goers while trying to get that cardio finished can definitely add hours to your day. But, that is no excuse not to get physical. There are tons of great exercise videos designed for total fitness at home. Even if it doesn’t feel quite the same as hitting the gym, it’s much better than nothing.

4. Utilize your lunch break 
Instead of suffering through your day tied up at the office, feeling like there is no way out and no way to lose weight or build muscle, why not utilize that time and put some of it toward your fitness goals? Try looking for a gym that is close to your office. Bring your gym clothes to work, change in the bathroom and head out. Get in a good 40-minute workout every day, and eat something healthy later at your desk.

About the author

Aniya Wells particularly loves reading and writing about online education, although her interests span different niches as well, including fitness, green living, personal finance, parenting, and more. The right accredited online degree programs are hard to find, and Aniya's ultimate passion is to help her readers understand the maze of online education and to help students of all disciplines reach their academic and life goals. She can be reached for questions or comments at aniyawells@gmail.com

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Weight Loss Success Stories: How Corrine Lost an Amazing 50 Pounds Without Diet Pills

Corrine is always dreamed of being skinny. But now, it's turning into a reality.

This is another amazing weight loss success story you need to motivate you along the way as you lose. She started her weight loss journey weighing 213 pounds. By watching what she ate and exercising, she have lost an enormous 58 pounds.

From fat to fit: Corinne now and then

Corrine shares in her blog, Weight Loss and Corinne how she won the battle. This is just a snippets from her blog. Visit Corrine's blog to knows more about her and her weight loss. All pictures are belong to Corinne.

1. Weigh yourself every day
You might agree, you might disagree, but weighing myself everyday keeps me in control. We are all different, I know, but if you are a little impulsive and not very moderate (like me), weighing yourself every day helps. At least weigh yourself once a week. Pick one day that will be the “official weigh-in” day.

2. Be ready to make sacrifices
I am not saying weight loss should take over your life, but you must set your priorities straight. You have to think about yourself, not others. You are doing this for you! I made a sacrifice by cutting down my social life a little, I had to. I can’t follow my friends every where, I can’t eat what they eat and I don’t want to drink alcohol, it’s a choice I had to make and it’s working. Your friends will understand (and your wallet will thank you).

3. Drink a lot of water

I drink 3 to 4 litres a day.

Yes, I am always in the bathroom, but my cellulite has almost disappeared, my skin is almost perfect and I feel hydrated.

It also helps to flush out the toxins of your body. Read about it! It’s great!



4. The gym is as important as the diet
I go to the gym 5 times a week: it’s a capital rule and I almost never break it (there are exceptions). You don’t have to go 5 times or become a workout freak, you simply have to be active. But if you work out like a crazy person and still eat like a pig, it’s not going to work, you want to create a deficit in your overall calories for the day.

Corrine's workout list

5. Count your calories
This one is going to get me in trouble, but counting my calories led me to lose 50 pounds. Get informed about your BMR (basal metabolic rate or how many calories you burn daily without lifting a finger). You want to eat 500 calories less than that number or burn 500 calories a day, everyday and after a week, that equals to 3500 calories. 3500 calories is a pound so there you go! One pounds lost. My BMR is 2490 calories, because I work out 5 times a week. If I did no physical activity, it would be at 1606 calories. So I try to eat around 1600 calories a day, no more. That brings me to a deficit of around 800 calories a day (probably a little less), so a deficit of 5600 calories for a week, which equals to half a pound lost per week. I know it’s overwhelming but it’s science, it’s facts. It’s not a fad diet, it’s not actual facts. Eat less, lose more.

6. Allow yourself to cheat
It’s okay to cheat. It’s all right. You’ll need it every once in a while. I cheated, I cheat and I will cheat. You want to stay sane. But remember to cheat in moderation. Eat a piece of cake, not the whole thing. Eat a portion of chinese chicken, not the whole plate.

7. Remember you are doing this for life
Don’t cut everything out of your diet. You’ll never survive your whole life without carbs. You need dairy products to survive. You won’t go without sugar for a whole year! I know I wouldn’t. You need to eat in moderation.

8. Write down goals 
Start with a big one: “I want to lose 40 pounds by May 9th 2012″. Then, go to smaller ones: “This week, I will stop eating after 7PM”, “This week, I’ll be going to the gym every two days” or “This week, I won’t be drinking alcohol”. Succeeding smaller goals will make you feel capable and bring you strength, the strength you need to achieve your big goal! Most importantly, never, ever, ever give up. NEVER GIVE UP. YOU CAN DO THIS.

9. Tell friends and family about it 
Once you are sure you want to do this and you have decided it’s worth it, talking to close friends and to your family will bring you support. It’s hard doing this alone. My roommate, Virginie helped me in ways I can’t explain, and she still helps me to this day. I don’t think I could of done it without her. It’s harder for me to share it with my family, because it brings me a lot of pressure, but the fact that they know I am working on myself makes me proud. If you’d rather not share it with people you know, there are thousands of blogs and weight loss communities on the internet. Start your blog, join a forum! There are endless options.

10. Remember you are doing this for yourself
Yourself only. People will judge, people will talk, people will try to take you down and some people won’t like the new you. But WHO CARES. This is your life. It might even help you weed out the good friends from the bad: those who stick with you are the ones you can count on. You know when it’s too much, you know if it’s not enough. You live in your body and you know what it’s like. Every one has their struggle and this is yours, so down let anyone try to take you away from your goals (and your awesome future bikini body).

Do you know any great weight loss success story? Or do you have an inspirational story about your own weight loss? We want to know your weight loss secrets! Add your story here and give others an inspiration and motivation to lose weight today.

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Christina Aguilera Says She Loves Her Body: How Loving Your Body Can Help You to Lose Weight

I haven't eaten all day.

I am having my first food for the day when my father saw me eating. He said, 'you ought to control your eating or you'll getting fatter.'

It's not make me stop eating. I eat even more. I even double up my portion.

I don't know why I behave so. Maybe that has to do something with my ego? Experts say that people with low self-esteem tend to eat more. I don't know if I am the only overweight people in the universe who experience this, but when people call me fat, I will eat more. Maybe this is what the physiologist refer as defense mechanism. Overweight people do not have the willpower needed to exercise and lose the extra weight. When they are criticize for being fat, their self-esteem level dropped and they'll eat more to fight depression, to make them feel good.

Fuller figure: Christina Aguilera says she is comfortable with her body.
Image from Daily Mail

Speaking of self-esteem, I remember about one of Christina Aguilera's statement about her body. The "Genie in a Bottle" songstress was once known for showing off her stick thin body in skimpy clothes. Her radical change from a super-slim to a super-voluptuous figure, particularly after giving birth to her son has sparks debate. But despite the heavy critics over her weight, Christina hit back saying she loves her body.

I have a boyfriend that loves my body. I love my body, my son is healthy and happy and that is all that matters.

Women, we are definitely under a microscope and under massive scrutiny. As long as I am happy in my own skin, that is all that is all the confirmation I need.
-Christina Aguilera spoke about her changing shape.

Christina is not afraid to dress like she is thin: The once super thin singer has radically change her appearance to super voluptuous

This is a positive energy every overweight or obese people need. This is the secret to lose weight. Love your body regardless of your weight and appearance. But you ask, how does accepting your body can help you to lose weight? Or maybe you can ask how to love your body regardless of your weight and appearance? Let's discuss about it.

1. Befriending your body 
'Friending' your arms, legs, back, or butt clear your head of depressing thoughts. You can stop emotional eating episodes when you're feeling better about your physical self, and lose up to three times more weight.

2. Appreciate yourself 

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Looking at your naked body in front of a mirror and appreciate the parts you like. It could be your strength, your curves, your broad shoulders, your curly hair, your shapely calves, or your perfect height -- whatever’s appealing.

You have to realize that the way you look says very little about your value as a person.

When you appreciate yourself, you will not resort to dangerous diets, surgical procedures, slimming pills, and exercises that will make you sick, weak and more emotionally down in the end.

3. Protect your body
Replace any "I'm going to be model-thin" thoughts with healthy, realistic goals. If you have a child, you will do anything to protect her/him from harm because you love your child. In the same sense, if you love your body, you will protect your body by staying away from unrealistic thoughts or extreme strategies, and care more about your health than the numbers on your scale.

4. Take care of your body 
By doing everything in moderation, you will have enough energy and focus to balance other aspects of your mentally, emotionally and spiritually. When you take responsible on your body, you will watch closely what you put in your mouth. You will eat only healthy foods.

5. Appreciate your uniqueness 
Instead of comparing yourself with others who have lost weight after the latest fad diets, reflect your uniqueness on your life experiences, strengths, values, character, and even your weaknesses.

6. Respect yourself 

source

Instead of focusing on the imperfections you see in the mirror, appreciate your assets.

Whenever negative thoughts pop into your mind, quiet them with relaxation technique.

Deep breathing, meditation, rhythmic exercise, and yoga can help the body relaxed, calm, and focused.

Give yourself a present. It could be an amazing spa day or a cup of nice and tasty frozen yogurt.

That's true love!

To end this post, this is Christina's Beautiful song. It talks about accepting yourself.

I am beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful
In every single way
Yes words can't bring me down
Oh no
So don't you bring me down today

I don't speak Spanish, so I don't understand a word. But I love this following music video. Christina look so gorgeous in this. And this is lovely soothing song too.

Enjoy! Have a great day everyone.

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Antibiotics Side Effects: 5 Facts to Consider Before Taking Antibiotic

Antibiotics. Image belong to Science in Daily Life

I remember the day when i was still a working mother, a friend at my workplace offered me an antibiotics to cure my sore throat. She relate this with her own experience. She took antibiotics when she got flu and sore throat, and in less than 10 days she felt better. I don't like taking medicine. I used to drink a lot of water and preferred to apply eucalyptus oil for relief instead of taking antibiotics. So I just turn down her offer with thank you.

Taking antibiotics to get rid of flu, cough or sore throat. 

Is this sound common to you? Many people owed their lives to antibiotic. Bacteria are one-celled organisms that live on our skin, in our digestive system, and in our mouths and throats. This good bacteria serve a positive role in our body to promote health. But some are harmful and cause illness including ear infections, and strep throat. Antibiotics is a type of drugs which slow or kill the growth of bacteria from making important chemicals they need to survive. Some interfere with the genetic material in a bacterial cell and cause it to stop the bacterial cell dividing into two and multiplying.

Antibiotic is a powerful tool to fight illness cause by bacteria. But if it used with less respect antibiotics may do more harm than good. I found worth reading article on Healthier Talk written by Dr. Alan Inglis about the side effects of antibiotic when they're overused, or over-prescribed. The next time you think you need antibiotics to treat flu or other illness, do consider this harmful side effects that you may experience from overuse antibiotics.

cartoon from Jill Stanek

1. Antibiotics may cause breast cancer 
One study shows that over a 17-year period, women who took antibiotics for over 500 days or who had over 17 prescriptions had double the risk of developing breast cancer. That’s a 100 percent increase! One expert stated, “It’s as strong a risk factor as we have.”

2. Antibiotics destroy your immune system 
Three quarters of your immune system is located in your gut, where it protects against foreign toxic substances in your food. A healthy balance of gut material is essential to normal immune system functioning. But if you take too many antibiotics too often this natural function is disturbed. In addition to contributing to the risk for chronic degenerative diseases, overuse can be responsible for an increase in risk of both lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system becomes confused and attacks one or more tissue types or organs in the body.

3. Antibiotics cause diarrhea 
You’ve probably read the warning label and maybe you’ve even experienced this side effect before. Antibiotics wreak havoc on your stomach. Patients on antibiotics develop diarrhea because the normal balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria in the gut is disturbed. To avoid diarrhea, I recommend a probiotic supplement (which is healthy bacteria) three times a day while taking an antibiotic.

4. Antibiotics cause colon disease 
Antibiotics kill good bacteria. And they can also cause a severe inflammatory disease of the colon called C. Diff colitis. C. Diff is short for clostridium difficile, a resident gut bacteria that causes trouble when not held in check by normal amounts of good bacteria. This results in severe diarrheal illness and can even lead to colon surgery––or in rare cases, death.

5. Antibiotics promotes the growth of hard-to-treat resistant bacteria
Overusing antibiotics will eventually lead to bacteria being resistant to the drug and eventually not working at all. The result can be anything from a urinary tract infection that doesn’t go away to death from a so-called “superbug” resistant to all antibiotics. These superbugs are a worry more for the elderly and chronically ill, whose immune systems are worn out.


Visit Healthier Talk for further reading. Other related resource is Antimicrobial Resistance.

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Vitamin C Injections for Smooth and Glowing Skin: 5 Negative Effects You Need to Know When Taking Vitamin C Injection

Vitamin C injection is in trend.

Smooth skin secret revealed: Barbie Hsu mention about taking Vitamin C injection in 
her beauty book . Image from zokn

It has become increasingly popular when Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu mention about it in her beauty book. Apparently a lot of asian celebrities do it.

Vitamin C Benefits
Vitamin C does not only reduce the severity of flu and cold symptoms but they can protects, promotes, and repairs skin. Research also suggest that Vitamin C effectively fade facial sun spots. It is proven antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage -- free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C Recommended Dose
Vitamin C can be obtained directly from fruits such as papaya, mango, orange, pineapple, kiwi fruits, green vegetable, and potatoes. Recommended dose for adult is between 50-75 mg per day. Broccoli provides 89mg of vitamin C in a 100g serving, a 100g serving of kiwi fruit will provide 93mg of vitamin C, and papaya provides 62mg per 100 gram serving. (source: Health.Alicious.Ness)You may need to take a dietary supplement of vitamin C if you don't eat enough fruits and vegetables.

Now and Then: Local singer, Adira is noticeably fairer than when she first started in the industry. She is speculated taking Vitamin C injection monthly but denies the rumors by saying her glowing skin is a result of proper diet.  

Vitamin C Injection vs Vitamin C Tablet
Why many people preferred Vitamin C injections rather than oral supplementation? That's because Vitamin C injection is more effective. There is a limit to the amount of vitamin C that can be absorbed when taken orally. Only 5% of the Vitamin C is actually absorbed by the bloodstream, whereas 95% Vitamin C gets into the veins and directly into the target cell when taken by injection. 

Vitamin C Injection Supplier
Vitamin C is not only available in beauty clinic this day. Just type 'Vitamin C Injection' on Google Search and you'll get more than 2 million result, most of them selling Vitamin C Injection. Yes, you can DIY Vitamin C injection at home. Basically a box of Vitamin C injection consist of 6 ampoules of Vitamin C, some 10 ampoules, some 20 and the other 30 --- depends on the brand. And each injectable ampoules contain 500mg of Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), the other 1800mg or 1000mg, and it varies among brands.

Vitamin C Injection Dose
From what I heard from friends, Vitamin C 1gm dose (1000 mg) to be injected in 10 consecutive days. Typically, the effects on the skin can be seen in three to four days after injection. The skin becomes firmer, pigmentation is noticeably reduce, your face will instantly look brighter and smoother. To maintain the positive result, user is usually advise to get the jab once a week.

Vitamin C Injection Side Effects
Obviously, taking 1gm dose a day of Vitamin C injection is far exceed from the safe recommended dose. The British Nutrition Foundation warn that vitamin injections can be toxic. Here are potential side effect you may experience when you take Vitamin C injection.

1. Kidney Damage
Vitamin C megadosage or Vitamin C injection can lead to increased risk of developing kidney stones, particularly if you already have a history of oxalate kidney stones. There also has been a report of kidney failure (renal failure) caused by a vitamin C overdose given by IV.

2. Severe diarrhea
Severe diarrhea is another possible symptom of a Vitamin C overdose. This can cause significant discomfort, dehydration, causing extreme thirst, fatigue, low urine output and reduced blood pressure. Diarrhea and vomiting can also cause electrolyte imbalances.

3. Liver disease
Vitamin C can help your body absorb iron from your diet. When you overdose with vitamin C, it can cause you to absorb too much iron, which lead to hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is also called iron overload. Abdominal pain, fatigue and joint pain are among the symptom. Hemochromatosis can lead to a dysfunctional liver and very possibly fatty due to the high iron levels.

4. Jaundice and blurry vision 
Continuous overdosing on vitamin C has also been known to cause jaundice and blurry vision.

5. Error in injection technique 
Using injection method especially when you do it on your own is an invasive nature. A fault vitamin C injection technique may hit a muscle or fat tissue instead of blood vessels. This error may leave user at risk of tissue death or in medical term known as necrosis. Blue, purple, or gray cast to the skin is a sign of necrosis. The healing process will take a long time depending on the severity of the necrosis.

Vitamin C injection is a quick fix to a smoother and clearer skin. They're also cheaper than surgery procedure. However, Dr Fiastuti Witjaksono advise that one should not take vitamin C injection if vitamin C can still be obtain in any other way.

What's your choice?

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