On Radical Change

A couple years ago, I watched a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. It was about an obese man ...

Weight Loss

February challenge

Well, it seems I spoke too soon about this new medication working. I had a terrible day yesterday. It's still only been three weeks since I started taking it, but after this weekend and yesterday, I'm not so sure it's doing anything. I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor on the 9th, so we can figure out what to do then.

It's so weird how much my emotions can swing sometimes. I'm going to ask my doctor about testing my hormones and vitamins and things, too, just to make sure it's not something to do with that. I'm just SO ready to get out of this funk that's been going on since June!

I have managed to stay on track with my eating, though.
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Weight Loss

Coffee and calories: How do your add-ins add up?

New study finds that most coffee drinkers put sugar, cream, and other calorie-laden additives in their beverage, which may take its toll on the waistline.

Weight Loss

Your Body is Political….So Act Like It

Someone told me I shouldn't talk politics because not all of my readers agree with me. This is my response.

The post Your Body is Political….So Act Like It appeared first on A Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss.

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Orange Mango Turmeric Smoothie Bowl

This post is sponsored by Amazon.  It’s day 2 of Smoothie Week! Let me tell you one way to beat ...

Weight Loss

Millicent lost 74 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Millicent lost 74 pounds. She recently finished a PhD in Special Education and it was the most stressful thing she’s ever done. The stress led to weight gain and she knew that change was neccessary to avoid a family history of diabetes. Check out how this AKA soror changed her life. My […]

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1. Carina lost 75 pounds
2. August lost 85 pounds
3. Katrina lost 73 pounds

Weight Loss

Scientists find brain hormone that triggers fat burning

Biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a brain hormone that appears to trigger fat burning in the gut.

Weight Loss

Why people are so good at spotting product downsizing and so bad at judging supersizing

Consumers reject portion downsizing because they're good at spotting it, but don't realise how big portions have become because they underestimate them.

Weight Loss

A way out of the junk-food eating cycle

People are easily pulled into binge culture's quick-fix obsession with junk-food.

Weight Loss

Triple Berry Beet Smoothie Bowl

This recipe is the start of Smoothie Week. Each day this week, I’ll be sharing a delicious smoothie bowl recipe! ...

Weight Loss

Motivated Monday : Food Prep.

I'm determined to get some abs, I've been killing it in the kitchen and in the gym. The harder I work the more motivated I am. Giving up sugar and alcohol was hard at first, but honestly the longer I stick to it the easier it is - we've had a box of TAG A LONGS in the house and I don't even want one. Not worth it to me right now. 

I've simplified my meals and it's been so great, I think less about food and stress less about what to eat. When I get tired of a meal, I just change it the next week. Planning is 100% necessary no matter your situation, even if you are home every day you need to plan ahead for success. 

I still spend 1-2 hours on a Sunday meal prepping.

I sleep in, get up and drink a cup of coffee while planning our meals. I clean out the fridge and pantry, see what we need, and make a grocery list. 

I swear we spend half our income on food, we eat 95% of our meals at home. I am pretty picky on brands we use, but making a list and sticking to it does help. What does NOT HELP is that the only jerky I love it 15 bucks. I tried the cheaper one, swear, but it sucked so hard.

I made these turkey meatballs last week - EVERYONE loved them so I put them in rotation again this week. Plus they were so easy to make ahead and just heat up with quinoa and tomato sauce for dinner on the go. 

I also have to prep double the chicken because Oliver is all truffle chicken. Still using the Truffle Rub from AllSpice.com  I cook my chicken at 425 with a electric meat thermometer until is says 165 degrees. 

I do not cut it until I use it for my lunch, that way it doesn't dry out.

I made this for dinner on Sunday night - it was fabulous!!! Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken with Sweet Potato. I'm lazy and did not cook the sweet potato in the oven, that takes way too long, so I peeled and boiled in chucks. Plus it's easier to weigh. The sauce on top is what really makes it, greek yogurt, blue cheese, milk, and vinegar. 

My favorite part of Sunday is around 6:30 when my food prep is done, my kitchen is clean, and I can go take a hot bath and watch Hulu until we go to bed. 

Weight Loss

Janae lost 121 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Janae lost 121 pounds. Working full time, going to Law School and a lack of sleep, created a lifestyle that led to rapid weight gain. After years of trying differnt methods to lose weight, a co-worker’s success inspired her to try something different. Now, she is commited to fitness and helping […]

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1. Rosalin lost 181 pounds
2. Michelle lost 121 pounds
3. Ngozi lost over 120 pounds

Weight Loss

New model to predict energy value of food and exercise shows how to avoid weight gain and cardiometabolic disease

To explain why so many people in developed countries are chronically overfed, tend to accumulate fat, and are at increased risk for cardiometabolic disease, researchers suggest looking no further...

Weight Loss

Terrilyn lost 40 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Terrilyn lost 40 pounds and 3 dress sizes. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism made her feel like she was fighting her body for survival. This mom of 3 made up her mind, reached out for the help she needed and took control of her health. Check out how she did it. Age: 29 years old Height: […]

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1. Cee lost 41 pounds
2. DeAnte lost 100 pounds
3. Kiowana lost 45 pounds

Weight Loss

Obesity: Self-stigma may raise risk of metabolic syndrome

The risk of metabolic syndrome may be higher for obese individuals who apply negative stereotypes about weight to themselves, new research finds.

Weight Loss

Hannah lost 114 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Hannah lost 114 pounds, going from a 32/34 pants to a size 20/22. She wanted to ensure a better life for herself and her daughter. Her daughter has lost one parent and she didn’t want her to face losing another, so she took action. Check out her story. My weight loss journey has […]

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February 21 Day Brisk Walking Challenge

This is a very straight forward, yet powerful, challenge that will help you stay active and stay positive as you continue to work toward your goals in 2017. This month’s GOAL: We are committed to 21 days healthy habits and walking briskly for at least 30 minutes a day. We’ve got a new checklist for February. Download it below. […]

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2. July 2016 Take Action Daily Challenge
3. Modified Daniel Fast – February 2016 Challenge

Weight Loss

Update: Shirley lost over 70 pounds and kept it off

Update: We’ve been following Shirley‘s journey since 2015. She wrote in to share how cooking healthy meals used to be a challenge, but now she’s a true fan of meal prepping.  Shirley has lost over 70 pounds and she’s gone from a size 22 to a size 10. At 58 years old, she is fired up […]

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1. Ashley lost 76 pounds
2. Quon lost 101 pounds
3. Akina lost 50 pounds

Weight Loss

Friday Favorites: Beauty.

Time to update on my favorite beauty products! I'm such a beauty product junkie, ever since high school and I dyed my hair every color and wore silver lipstick thinking I was so cool. Those 5 years I worked for Ulta were the best - new products every week! 

Cleaning: I absolutely love love love this balm, Take Off the Day Balm. It feels so luxurious on my skin, the Take the Day Off Cleansing Towelettes I use for my eye and lip makeup.  The Clarisonic Mia I use after I put on the balm, it's really gets deep to remove all the makeup.

I go back and forth between these two foundations, both have great coverage and lasting power. The Hourglass is great for drier skin, the Becca is better for oily/combo skin.

I use the Boo-Boo Cover-Up Concealer under my eyes to brighten, it's something I found in my Ipsy bag - which I still have listed as my #1 subscription bag. I like a light finishing powder, nothing heavy, and my sister recommended the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish.

Spray tan fades fast from my face, theBalm Betty-Lou Manizer fixes my life on those days. If I could only live on two make up items it would be blush and lipstick, this NARS Orgasm Blush is a gorgeous soft color for every day use.

100% best eyeshadow kit ever, I just love a good matte shadow, I use every single color in here. Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

I've long been on a hunt for great eyeliner, I have a hard time getting close to my lash line because of my lash extension, but this liquid liner has a fabulous tilting handle for easy application.

I've become addicted to my LipSense lipstick - I talked before about how much I hated it the first time I tried it. Then I tried again and actually followed the directions.

My favorite colors are Bombshell {a great pink nude}, Rose Ice {frosty light pink}, and Caramel Apple {darker pinky plum}. I recently started carrying theses over at Ollie Mare, if you'd like help finding your perfect color you can email me {a selfie!} at olliemarieboutique@gmail.com

My recent hair color and cut is probably my favorite, but then again I love to change my hair pretty often LOL I've been digging it blowed out straight with a blow dryer and large round brush.

I switched my Pureology to this Redken Volume High Rise Shampoo & Conditioner, I like the volume it gives me without drying my hair.

On day 3 hair I like to take my Nume and curl it a bit, then fluff the crap out.

The Aquage is an old fav, but this Dirty Dry Wax Spray, stuff is pretty amazing, perfect amount of texture. Plus I feel like it lasts all day in my hair, I can re-poof as needed.

That's a wrap. Also be sure to stop by and check out my favorite faith based fitness shirts from Fit Darlings!

Weight Loss

5 Tips to Help You Avoid the ‘Trump 20’

I'm calling this the "Trump 20." As in, The Freshman 15? This is the 20lbs you gain from eating your "I'm watching the news and OH MY GOD THIS IS THE NEW AMERICAN KLEPTOCRACY" feelings. The Trump 20. I'm callin' it now.

The post 5 Tips to Help You Avoid the ‘Trump 20’ appeared first on A Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss.

Weight Loss

Cee lost 41 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Cee lost 41 pounds. The loss of her mother, sister and father led to debilitating depression and emotional pain. After addressing her mental health, she dediced to focus on her physical heatlh. Zumba and portion control were the main tools she used. Check out her story. My weight loss reboot began in […]

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Hello, Year 36

In case you haven't noticed, I've finally picked up the posting frequency on my blog--I hope this means that my new antidepressant is working! I haven't felt a huge difference in my mood, but I've definitely felt a subtle, "Huh, I don't feel as sad today" or "I feel kind of energetic today". I've been making more plans, too, which is another sign it may be helping. I still don't feel back to "normal", but also not as bad off as I felt a month ago.

I don't know if my dad will be thrilled about my sharing the following story, but it was so special that I think it needs to be shared...
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Weight Loss

Tiffany lost 55 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Tiffany lost 55 pounds in about 5 months. Facing PCOS, knee issues and a family history of serious illness, she decided to focus on what she was putting into her body and getting move movement. She sought out expert help, made up her mind and took action. Check out her story. […]

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Weight Loss

Q&A Wednesday: Troubleshooting Common Weight Loss Hurdles

Q: erika i've been trying to lose this weight for so long that i'm starting to think it's a part of me i'm just going to have to live with. i feel like i'm doing everything wrong and i barely know my up from down in calories anymore. please help me figure this out!!!!!!!!!!

The post Q&A Wednesday: Troubleshooting Common Weight Loss Hurdles appeared first on A Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss.

Weight Loss

Fleurette lost 46 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Fleurette lost 46 pounds. After a serious health scare, she decided that she needed to step up to the challenge of improving her health. She ate clean, trained hard and got results. Check out her story. My motivation was to get healthy and feel better after a recent health scare with mental […]

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Weight Loss

Nicotine may help treat schizophrenia, study finds

A new study finds the chemical compound may be key in normalizing brain deficits commonly associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.

Smoking Cessation Feeds

Offering a 'stop smoking' taster session and personalised disease risk doubles likelihood smokers will seek help to quit

Smokers underestimate their personal risk of illness, and a key aim of the study was to try and persuade them that these risks are personally relevant.

Smoking Cessation Feeds

Mother's BMI during pregnancy has little effect on risk of childhood obesity

Mothers' genes during pregnancy, not BMI, are linked to obesity risk in childhood and adolescence, according to new research by the University of Bristol.

Weight Loss

LuChana lost 4 dress sizes

LuChana transformed, losing fat, losing 4 dress sizes and gaining lean muscle. Her whole adult life, she focused on the needs of others and neglected herself. That lifestyle led to a heart attack at 32 years of age. Over the last 9 months she’s turned her life around. Check out her story and her video […]

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Feeling Great!

Since I hit my recent regain high of 260 pounds at the start of the month, I knew it was time to reverse the physical "damage" that the emotional eating recovery has cost me. It was worth the price of a gain to get to where I finally am emotionally, but that doesn't mean I want to stay fat forever! Plus, my blood pressure has been slowly creeping back up. There are still health concerns that have much to do with my size, what I eat, and my activity level: the blood pressure, the sort of high blood sugar (not to the pre-diabetes level yet, but I don't want to get there either), the autoimmune thyroid disease, and the arthritis. All of those things will benefit from me losing weight, so that's what I am aiming for. I am not so concerned about getting triggered by dieting anymore; I think that healing process is done now. Food has become normal and I am able to look at any food objectively. That is a pretty cool thing. I can see a cake and really FEEL like I don't want to eat that because it isn't good for me. The taste and emotion of a cake is not the primary driver anymore. I guess if you've ever had that kind of emotional, obsessive relationship with food, you'll understand. It helps that eating healthy foods makes the junk less appealing, too.

I'm not weighing in right now because I am focused on adapting my eating to a lower carb framework; that won't change no matter what the scale says. That's another thing that's different: my eating is not going to be scale-driven anymore. The scale, however, will be eating-driven. So I will check in with it around the first of the month.

Dinner tonight is in the crock pot already: chicken thighs (yes organic, free range!) with onions, fresh pumpkin, garlic, curry powder, salt and pepper, chicken broth, and coconut milk. I'll add fresh broccoli and mushrooms an hour or so before it's ready to serve. The family will get rice, but I don't need any! I love curries and will be enjoying my delicious meal without adding any extra carbs.

Hope you are well and life is happy for you all!

Weight Loss

Eat More Veggies with These Helpful Cooking Tools

Eating more vegetables is key to a healthy lifestyle. That means lots of chopping, peeling, slicing, cutting, cubing, and prepping those delicious veggies for cooking and snacking. Breaking down cauliflower, peppers, onions, carrots, leeks, broccoli, cucumbers, herbs, etc doesn’t have to be a chore. I’ve got 9 suggestions for tools that can help make prepping and […]

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Weight Loss

Positive outcomes after obesity surgery in adolescents

Obesity surgery has proven to be just as effective for teenagers as for adults.

Weight Loss

LaBresha lost 130 pounds

Transformation of the Day: LaBresha lost 130 pounds. As a nurse, she regularly saw the medical complications that can come with obesity. When she reached her highest weight of over 400 lbs., she started making practical, lifestyle changes and never gave up. Check out how she released the weight. Height: 5’8″ Starting weight: 460lbs Current weight: 330lbs Total […]

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Weight Loss

How a single high-fat meal affects liver metabolism

High-fat diets are known to negatively impact liver health and metabolism, but the mechanisms behind it are unclear. A new study takes an in-depth look.

Weight Loss

Valencia lost 72 pounds

Valencia lost 72 pounds. Her health was on the decline, birth control brought significant weight gain and the success she was having with weight release was just short lived. That is, until her divorce because a major source inspiration. She took control of her life and got results. Check out how she did it. My […]

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Weight Loss

Colorful compound in fruits, vegetables could lower smokers' lung cancer risk

A compound called beta-cryptoxanthin - found in many fruits and vegetables - might lower the risk of smoking-related lung cancer, new research suggests.

Smoking Cessation Feeds

Secrets from the Eating Lab (book review)

TLC Book Tours sent me a copy of this book to review, but I am not being paid for this post or anything else. I was just asked to write an honest review in exchange for the book. Thank you, TLC Book Tours, for thinking of me!

Before I get into the review, I just want to say that TLC Book Tours, if you haven't heard of it, is a really great way to read book reviews written by bloggers around the web. There are links to several bloggers' reviews for each book, as well as purchase links and the book description. It's similar to Goodreads, but smaller, more focused, and the reviews are more in-depth (the reviews aren't on the site--just the links to them--which I like, because I enjoy reading more in-depth reviews, particularly about books like this).

If you're a blogger, you can also sign up there to be a "tour host", which is what I am.
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Weight Loss