Weight Lifting Goddess!

Cendrine says that personal training helps her to feel comfortable using the machines to lift weights and workout.

Real Inspiration: Shayla-Marie A Weight Loss Success Story

Sometimes it's helpful to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Your work will pay off! Shayla-Marie is a great example of someone who lost weight and improved her health through hard work and lifestyle changes. In addition Shayla-Marie offers the following words of advice.

"My advice is to realize it's not a "diet" it's a lifetime change. Don't give up just keep going!"

I'm Shayla-Marie 25 years and had hypertension, and a failing kidney all because I was overweight. I was 155lbs in 2009 and I'm only 5feet tall, so that is a large amount of weight I had a bmi of 29.9 which is nearly obese, I started dating a man who's sister I was rent a room from. The 1st date was 1/26/2009 a blind date, so I arrived at the Olive Garden to see this astonishingly beautiful man was waiting for me, he was older latin and a medical professional. We hit it off, a few dates in he asked why I had high blood pressure I said I don't know genetics I suppose, his next statement floored me and nearly made me want to floor him he said: "you are a beautiful woman, great personality why do you like being overweight? You can have a stroke any second, I'm looking for a wife, and you'd be perfect but you can stroke out anytime. What about your daughter?" It hit me I was 25 and killing myself with double doubles and french fries. So I began to make changes little by little, no more soda, and juice. Next I started paying attention to what I put into my body reading labels finding out what someone my height and weight should be eating. Next I increased my activity small at first 15 minutes a day 3x's a week. That sexy Latin gentleman became my boyfriend who become my biggest supporter! I found out he was a former bodybuilder with 2% body fat he gave me a lot of pointers and a lot of encouragement (and sushi ;) I started in March 2009 by September I weighed 115lbs and today I weigh 113lbs, I eat 5 servings of fruit mostly strawberries and oranges, I eat around 2 salads a day and save my protein for dinner. I work 6x's a day 30 minutes a week and I am no longer on medication for my bloodpressure! I still have 1 kidney medication but my kidney is basically working on it's own. I cook low fat/ low cal foods that are family friendly since that lovely man is fast approaching becoming my lovely husband. I'm loosing weight I found confidence in myself and loved myself with shedding the weight it was almost like cathartic and renewing I felt like I could do anything if I could change my body I could change any aspect of my life. I learned to love, learned to channel my anger and focus on my career. I became a nurse, a better mother, a have the makings of a great wife all because I can take care of myself.
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Have a story to share? Email us at nubianfitnessgoddess@gmail.com

Body Image: No matter what size you are, self-acceptance is important before you begin your weight loss journey.

I'm excited to announce a new addition to the Nubian Fitness goddess team. She has decided to contiribute regularly. Her next post will contain more information about her weight loss journey.

Please enjoy the first post by Ms. Hooks


Body Image: No matter what size you are, self-acceptance is important before you begin your weight loss journey.


In today’s media, we see nonrealistic images for what today’s healthy black women look like. We see the Beyonce’s and Rihanna’s in magazines but is this a realistic image to see while we as average black women take part in our weight loss/healthy living journey? The Beyonce’s and Rihanna’s don’t show the realistic body image that young women should aspire to have. Young black women need to aspire for a body image that’s healthy for them. We come in ALL different shapes and sizes.


It’s important is that you, as a black woman, can appreciate how your body is made and accept the genes and the curves that God has blessed you with. Yes, working out and eating healthy can improve your body, but at the end of the day, there is only so much you can do to change your frame and how your body is naturally shaped. Mental health is an important tool when striving for your weight loss goals.


According to the Office on Women’s Health (Department of Health and Human Services), poor body image can lead to emotional distress, unhealthy dieting habits, and eating disorders. This is something that can eventually disrupt your weight loss journey. Before you can change your body, you need to make sure you like what you see in the mirror now!


Here are some tips on how to achieve a positive body image:

Exercise. Yes, get sweaty and work those muscles. After a great work out, you’ll feel nice and toned.
Go shopping. Find clothes that flatter your body shape. Highlight your strong features to feel sexy in whatever you wear, workout clothes included!
Talk to yourself. Look in the mirror and say out loud, “I am beautiful”. Hearing and saying this out loud can increase your self-esteem.
Accept compliments. How many of us hear “You look nice today!” To only respond “I look horrible/I hate my outfit/My hair is not looking on point”. Try saying “Thank you!”. We as black women need to focus on the positive, not the negative.
Eat healthy. Eat your vegetables and take your vitamins. This can help you grow healthy hair, strong nails, and have glowing skin.


Remember, before you reach any milestone in your weight loss journey, positive body image is important or you’ll never be happy with what you see.

IS YOUR AMPLE BOOTY KEEPING YOU UNHEALTHY?

I'm so excited to post this article written by Cruz. She will be contributing articles here at Nubian Fitness Goddess, I'm so excited to have her! Here's her first article....Enjoy!


This question is addressed to me as well. You see one of the things I find troubling in the African American community is the myth that having extra blessings in the rump area somehow excuses you from getting your health in order. I mean let's face it, most of our men (most, not all) love extra poundage in the booty area and because many of us base our self worth on the feedback we receive from the opposite sex we oftentimes think it's all good to remain overweight cause we fill out a pair of jeans nicely. Now this certainly applies to me. Getting my health on track is no new journey for me, I've been exercising on and off for many years and to be honest I would probably be at my goal weight had I not consistently let others get in my head "girl you look great" "yeah but you carry that extra weight so well" "you are just super curvy", I could go on and on but my point is I constantly gave up on myself because people, men to be specific insisted that what I had going on was the stuff black men's dreams are made of. Now don't get me wrong, I am totally sexy and I am quite fond of my figure but the truth of the matter is that there needs to be a lot less of it if I have any plans on maintaining extended health and vitality as I approach 40 years old in 2 more years.

We live in a world that gets caught up in the hype on a regular basis. The same holds true when it comes to taking charge of our health and our bodies. No one else can tell you what's good for you but you and men drooling at your ample hind parts does not excuse the extra pounds you are carrying around. Don't believe the hype that losing weight will cause you to lose your assets, no way, no how. I have been thinner than I am currently and trust me my milkshake still had boys coming to the yard.

It's nice to be curvy and to celebrate those curves but it's also nice to wake up with energy, to have joints that don't ache, to have control over your body and how you nourish it. You don't have to subscribe to a life of eating trees and berries, just change a little something everyday and move as much as you can. That's all. I'm down 14lbs since June (WHOOO HOOOOO!!!!). Could have been more but as I said, I fell into the "girl your body is hot" hype and lost my focus. Won't happen again.

BOOTYLICIOUS SISTAS UNITE AND GET YOUR WEIGHT RIGHT!

Written By Cruz