Weight Loss journey: March 2020

I decided to start a monthly post on my weight loss journey as I have done for my Sisterlocks.

 Some of the pictures will serve dual purpose for hair and body.

Progress is not overnight, but goals are within reach. I added my OOlong tea and collagen supplements back in my nutrition.

2020 Weight loss Journey - February Update

 Sculpting my body for long term. Black is always in!

 Driven in this lifestyle change. The matrix is real!

 A touch of pink makes it all pop! Black, White, Gray- it is all okay!

Tone and Complexion - Total Image Focus.

Weight loss with HerbaLife -Losing Inches!

November 2016 Slimming down using Herbalife, tea, aloe concentrate, shakes, bars, and soups.

Meal replacement takes the guess work out of eating and drinking on the go!  In five months, the inches are coming off.  I don't need a body shaper anymore.  The muffin top is melting away. Legs and arms shrunk initially, but now, my mid-drift is finally shrinking too!

I had a body shaper on with the denim jeggings on the left picture.  I am not wearing a bodyshaper on the right picture.  The scale does not show significant weight loss, but my strength exercises build muscle and increase my range of body movement.  

Benefits include:

1) Better bladder control- less weight on the bladder.

2) More sit-down baths - getting up from the floor, bathtub, or any other low seating scenario becomes easier.

3) Bending down is no longer scary.  Tying shoestrings, painting toenails, picking up things off the floor - NO PROBLEM!

4) No seat belt extension needed for airplane flights

5) And getting on your Knees to pray - No more excuses!

HerbaLife products and fitness has improved my quality of life.  I can help you improve yours! Take the journey with me!

https://getset.goherbalife.com/Catalog/Home/Index/en-US

Winning at Weight Loss!

Drumroll Please.

I am back at my August 2012 weight.  Yayyyy!!!!  No more seatbelt extension for airplane travel.  I was about one inch away from buckling the regular seatbelt back in January 2015 for my California trip.  It was the first time that I ever had to ask for a seatbelt extension on a plane.  What a rude awakening to the fact that I had gained weight!

So I joined an HerbaLife two week weight loss challenge.  What a rough two weeks!  After HerbaLife shots, shakes, teas, over 10 hours of walking, lots of water, diet restrictions of pork and beef, and consuming a lot of Green Giant Steamers,  I WON the challenge!!!!

Five pounds lost.  Second place was 4.8 pounds lost.  Soooo Close!!!

Thank you Green Giant!  Many of their "Steamers" are Weight Watchers endorsed.  They taste great, and they curve my hunger.

So HerbaLife and Green Giant Steamers are helping me to win at weight loss!!!!!

On a separate note, I have worked with personal trainers over a 20 year period.  I have participated in LA Weight Loss and Weight Watchers programs over a 20 year period.  I have experienced 10 pounds a month weight loss before.  So I am not new to weight loss nor weight gain, but because I am barely 5'3" with a short torso, people are going to see my body change with every pound up or down.  I am especially proud that People magazine put a size 22 plus size model on their  June 1, 2015 edition.  Tess Holliday is 5'5" and 280 pounds according to the article.  She is also age 29 with gorgeous hair and shape.  

Plus size is finally getting some respect that is long overdue. I am happy to have experience being plus size because I got to see how invisible one can be in the real world.  I got to see the rudeness.  I got to see the disrespect.  It has been eye-opening, but in a world with so much unrest, fast mobility is going to be important as  the world continues to be at war.  I want to be ready to survive, and less weight will be faster speed.  Thanks for checking out my journey.

Losing a Notch a Month with HerbaLife Nutrition

May 1, 2015 (Four belt notches down)

Yeah baby! Those inches are coming down!  Although, my regular visits to the HerbaLife nutrition bar is not the only reason that my waist is shrinking, but it is a staple in my routine right now.

My HerbaLife coach Ana and her team at 4 Ever Nutrition offers:

• Aloe with water shot
• Aloe and hot Tea
• Warm Meal Replacement Smoothie and/or protein bar
• other HerbaLife supplements

The smoothies are usually served chilled, but that was not working for my taste buds.  I need hot tea and a warm meal.  You should also know that:

• I DO NOT take any diet pills.  
• I have embraced a lower caloric eating habit. 
• I have also incorporated more exercise at a self pace.  
• I only have one HerbaLife meal replacement session per day.  

The HerbaLife plan suggests two visits/shakes per day, but I am not focused on extreme weight loss in a short period of time.  I have had a history of working with personal trainers as well as weight management programs so I am comfortable with navigating my own weight loss journey.  

I recognize that my age is catching up with me so I am committed to a long term lifestyle change. One meal replacement shake per day is something that is a realistic fit for my lifestyle going forward.

The shakes at 4-ever Nutrition vary based on who is making the shakes. Some days I like them better than others, but I stick with it.  Some of my favorites flavors are

• (Hot) Chocolate Caramel with a Banana (bring your own banana)
• (Hot) Apple Pie (bring your own red delicious apple and have them to peel it)
• (Hot) Orange Dreamsicle
• (Hot) Pina Colada with Pineapple/Coconut fruit cup (bring your own fruit cup)
• (Hot) Cinnamon Toast Crunch

I prefer the shake to be warm versus hot.  If the shake is too hot, the taste seems to get altered.  There are plenty of meal replacement options on the market. Ana's HerbaLife location is great when you want "full service" without having to lift anything but your cup!

February 23, 2015 (Two belt notches down)

Losing Inches with Meal Replacement

So I'm a few belt notches down . . . two inches smaller.  I will say that the HerbaLife nutrition bar that recently opened near my salon really has helped.  Of course, I am not following the HerbaLife regimen as recommended, but the meal replacement shakes do work to lower my caloric intake on the days that I take them. Their "fit camp" workouts are also a great exercise opportunity when I can work it into my schedule.  No contract required.

Other weight loss philosophies that I have embraced include:

• Choose to eat healthy 75% of the time.
• Choose water over fountain drinks, soda or tea.
• Choose meal replacement shakes with 24 grams of protein or more.
• Skip desserts.
• Choose trail mix blends for snacks.
• Choose oven baked wings instead of deep fried wings.  (i.e. Domino's wings over Pizza Hut's Wing Zone wings)
• Choose "half and half" of grilled and fried foods in the interim until you can totally cut out the fried foods.
• Add probiotics (beets, pickles, etc.) to your balanced diet.
• Find stress release activities to do besides "eating comfort food."
• Add granola or granola cereal to your oatmeal to increase the fiber.
• Choose seafood, chicken, or turkey instead of beef or pork.
• Use a stability ball or the edge of the bed to perform elevated sit-ups, etc.
• Walk alot; run a little until you can balance the two.

Reality Star Elizabeth Morrell Is In Town

Applebaum Enterprises is proud to introduce certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and reality star Elizabeth Morrell to the metro Charlotte, NC area.

Are you looking to obtain a fit and/or sculpted body?   
Elizabeth Morrell has it, and she can show you how to get it!

Do you want someone who can relate to your weight issues?
Elizabeth Morrell  has lost over 115 pounds, and she can start you on your weight loss journey.

Elizabeth discusses her weight loss journey with Gwyneth Paltrow's Restart Project in Episode 7:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAFPhjsnqsw

So are you ready to meet Elizabeth Morrell at a free event?

On Sunday, March 30, 2014 

meet 

California Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist 

Elizabeth Morrell

at 

Applebaum Enterprises

from 

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

Drop in and weigh-in (optional) during this one and a half hours timeframe to decide on your next step!

Location: 

Applebaum (Salon)

13111 Rosedale Hill Ave

Huntersville, NC 28078

MEN and WOMEN welcomed!

Elizabeth trains both men and women.

Elizabeth's Training Hours:

9am to 3pm Monday-Friday 

(Prospective clients will need to make daytime hours available.  Also, two sessions per week minimum commitment to become a client.)

In the meantime,
1) Download her mobile app to your smartphone:  Fitness Range Murrieta
2) Visit her website at http://www.fitness-range.com
3) Converse with her on Facebook, Facebook link is at her official website above
4) Weight yourself every week!
5) Drink more water!

Applebaum Productions is a proud promotional partner of Fitness Range's Personal Trainer Elizabeth Morrell.

Applebaum Disclaimer:
I have interviewed Elizabeth about her hair. She is relaxer-free and a "do-it-yourself" girl.  She has a lot of Native American heritage in her background so she does "wash and go" hair styling as needed or she straightens her hair herself.  Applebaum Hair Salon can not take any credit for her naturally beautiful, low maintenance hair.

In addition, my fitness goals are still being defined so my voluptuous figure is not the results of Fitness Range.

Elizabeth and I are both passionated about our respective companies, and we are passionated about people reaching their targets for body and hair.  Join us!

August 20, 2012 Weight and Measurements Check-in

The Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition tv show has been very inspiring. People 400 and 500 pounds have really made a difference in a year. I want to start documenting my weight loss journey. Many people wait until they have met all of their weight goals. We do not see the weight loss journey. Well, I will not be posting my results daily, but I will try to post updates at least once a month. Pictured is my left arm suntanned. (I am walking in the sun alot.)

On a separate note, I measured my right arm to be 27mm of body fat when I pinched from the bottom using the Body Fat Caliper mentioned in a previous article on this blog.

Pictured here is my left leg without a sun tan. Smile. It looks like a huge "chicken leg quarter." (Smiling) Anyway, I could not find any body fat to measure on my legs, but I did measure my hips to be 54" in circumference. My waist is 44". My weight with socks, sneakers, slacks, and a short sleeve shirt is 237 lbs. My right side of my belly/waist had a body fat reading of 42mm according to the body fat caliper.

I did a 14 minutes run/walk today. I burned 100 calories. My exercise speeds varied from 2.0 to 6.0 mph on my treadmill.

A tailored size 6 is my goal size. I am averaging a size 16 in my tops and size 20 in my bottoms. My height is a little over 5'3". I need to lose about six pants sizes. Typically, every 10 pounds, I should shed a dress size. By next month, I want to be 227 pounds with my sneakers on. Let's do it!