About Me
Thanks for visiting my blog!!
My name is Natasha and like you I struggled with my weight for many years. From a senior in high school, through the college years, and married life. During that time my weight fluctuated from 189-201lbs, however after giving birth to my beautiful son in November 2003 my weight escalated to my highest high of all time. A whopping 230lbs!! I have never been that big in my life. I was content with the weight because my loving husband never complained about. It wasn’t until I visited my OBGYN in the summer months of 2005.
I love my OBGYN because she delivered Arman in 2003 so she has always been thoughtful of my health. Anyway, I was visiting her for my annual check up (pap and all) and everything was great until she looked at me and said, “you really need to lose some weight!” I was not surprised, but kind of alarmed with the tone of her voice. She sounded concerned. She reminded me that if I didn’t lose weight and continued to gain I will become the next statistic for diabetes. That freaked me out because my very own dad suffers from that disease along with heart disease and other ailments from a unhealthy lifestyle. And, as a child I remember seeing him in the hospital and all the meds he would take and they really scared me. So in essence, I was scared and I was thinking about my very own child and thought to myself I did not want to put him through that type of scare. I also wanted to be around to see him grow up. So after my visit with my OBGYN I was really ready to make a change in my lifestyle.
The reason why I say I was “really” ready this time is because I have tried many other diets in the past from cabbage diet, Atkins, Jenny Craig, weight loss pills and many more. Not to say they all didn’t work I was just not ready to make that change back then. So one night I was up late watching T.V. and this infomercial came on about Nutrisystem and I remember seeing Kat Carney, a health journalist, talk about the program and how easy it was to follow. I also remember seeing a lot of the success stories that motivated me to get started on my weight loss journey. So after seeing that I talked to my DH and told him how excited I was to start this program and that I was really ready to do this. Later that day I signed up and very excited to get my first shipment!!
I remember starting the program on September 14, 2005 at a starting weight of 225lbs. At that time I almost weight as much a my DH and his is 6′4” and muscles. Let me tell you Nutrisystem changed my life. I learned how to eat healthy and watch my portions. I also gained a love for exercise in my life. From easy treadmill walking, to interval training and step aerobics. In 8 months I went from a size 18/20 to a size 8/10!! I am so excited to have the new me. I can now shop at any store I want and keep up with the skinny girls at the gym. I also got the chance and honor to be in Nutrisystem’s advertisements in magazines like shape, self, and other health publications. I also had my story in Good Housekeeping’s April 1007 issue too. So if you are thinking about losing weight and looking for a reputable diet plan go to Nutrisystem. It worked for me and I know it will work for you.
Entries (RSS)
Hi Natasha
I am Pamela and I too am struggling with my weight. I am a freq-
quent visitor to the nutrisystem site and was touched by your story.
You are such a pretty young lady and you look great. I too am from
Texas. I live in Arlington,Tx. I purchased the Nutrisystem program
a year ago and was happy with the program, but I didn’t stick with it
and ended up gaining all the weight plus some. I am a 225 lb single
mother of an 11 yr old daughter. Thanks to your story, I am ready to
begin anew. Maybe I’ll be the next “Natasha” gracing the nutri syst
em covers and getting my story out there. I plan to begin my journey
on June 1st, so wish me luck. I will stay in contact and keep you
on my progress. Thanks Again.
Pamela!!
I am sooooo flattered that my story inspired you to get ready and slim down with Nutrisystem again. You will be the next Pamela gracing the Nurtisystem ads and maybe I will get a chance to meet you. I am excited to hear that you are starting your journey on June 1st!! Pamela, feel free to come and chat here anytime you want. I will help you through your journey as much as I can.
Best Wishes on your new journey,
lol,
Natasha
Hey Natasha,
I just want to say that after reading about you and seeing your photo journal that you are truly an inspiration. I wanted to cry b/c I undertand the weight issues and the struggles to lose the weight. I used to weigh 281 and now I’m down to 260. Like you I’ve tried every diet practicaly made and advertised. I wasn’t quite sure about nurtisystem but I told myself I have nothing to lose but the weight itself. So I’m starting my own journey and after reading your story I know dreams do come true. I hope my progress will be one that is amazing and remarkable. Thanks for sharing your story. I’ll keep you informed.
Hi Ingrid,
I am so glad that I inspired you. You are so sweet!!
But way to go on losing the 21 pounds on your own so far. That is a lot to be proud off. I am so excited that my story inspired you to start you r very own weight loss journey too. Please keep me informed. I would love to see your transformation and cheer you along the way.
best wishes
natasha
This is amazing! I started Nutrisystem and quit, now I have a month’s food sitting here. It’s a really good program but I need to get back with it. Your story is inspiring! I will be back for more inspiration and hopefully some good updates on my weightloss. Goal is 135!
Hi Delphine,
Thanks for your wonderful words. That means a lot to me. Please free to visit anytime and if there is something you would like for me to post about feel free to ask. I love helping people in anyway I can. You are going to be at your goal soon girl! I will cheer you on and on!!
Hi Natasha,
Your story is so inspiring and it’s nice to know that an African-American female, like myself, was success at losing weight! I am a little smaller than your inital weight (I recently lost 15 lbs) but i want to be a size 8 and i have been looking at the NutriSystem diet but I’m still skeptical becasue I am a college student and money is very tight right now. Does this system REALLY work? And how about the taste of the food? I have seen numerous blogs of people how quit the system because they said the food tasted like card board. How did you manage this? I know that you can choose the foods you want, what foods did you choose? how much exercise did you do and what kinds?
Hi Ugomma,
Thanks for visiting my site!!
Congrads on your recent weight loss of 15 pounds. Any amount is worth being proud of! Nutrisystem really does work and that is how I lost all of my weight successfully. Without me giving Nutrisystem a try I would have probably gained more weight and became a diabetic too. So this program really saved me truly! With any diet program from Jenny craig, weight watchers and so on you will come across foods you don’t like. So with Nutrisystem there was some foods I did not like so I made sure that I ordered only my favorites so that I could be successful this time around. The foods I like are:
Breakfast:
The frosted O’s cereal
Low fat granola cereal
The pancakes
the apple oatmeal
Those were my staples for breakfast.
Lunch:
Tex mex rice and beans
Tuna salad
Chicken salad
the hot dogs
vegetarian pasta salad
the pasta
chicken noodle soup and the other soups
Dinner:
pizza
macaroni and beef pasta
pasta fagoli
lasagna
hamburger
meat loaf and potatoes
fettecunni alfedo
the chilli and others
Desserts: I did not have a problem with those so pretty much all of them I liked.
So the thing is find the food you like and make sure they remain a staple. You are also able to add you own fruit, dairy, veggies and other protein to these meals too.
As far as exercise: when I started I walked 3 times a week. I also added in some low impact aerobic dvds like cardio salsa, belly dancing and when I got brave enough Tae bo. Now I workout about 5 days a week ranging from high cardio like step aerobics to Tae bo, I jog, and I lift weights too.
I hope that this helps you make that decision that is right for you and if you have other questions please feel free to visit and ask at anytime!!
have a great day,
Natasha
Hey Natasha! Great job, it feels awesome, doesn’t it? And you look great! Keep up the good work and I hope others take inspiration from your own success.
Don
Don,
Thanks so much!! I does feel great, and you look great as well. I love some of your articles you right on weight loss and will continue to read more and share them with my readers here.
Thanks for visiting
Hi Natasha!!!
You look BEAUTIFUL….and you are such an inspiration to me. I have also been struggling with my weight since my first pregnancy at age twenty. Sixteen years and four children later, I am still struggling to lose 100 pounds. Like you, I really worry about diabetes and so many other health problems. On September 26th of this year, I started doing the Tae Bo basic workout. When I was able to make it through the entire workout, I went to Wal-Mart and puchased the Tae Bo Amped workout kit and absolutely love all the workouts–they kick my butt everytime. I have lost 2 pant sizes in just over 7 weeks and I haven’t felt this good in such a long time. Your story has been such an inspiration to me and I thank you so much for sharing it.
God Bless, Kimberly
Kimberly,
I am so glad that my story inspires you!! That is my intent here. That is fabulous that you have lost 2 pant sizes by doing the tae bo amped and in 7 weeks too!! Way to go! You keep up the great work and I wish you the best of great health!!
God Bless You
Natasha
Hi! Just came across your site! Very proud of you! You look HOT! I hate you right now. LOL. Just kidding. :0) I love reading about other people’s struggles with weight and their successes. I just signed up to your blog. I will stop by and check on you so I can stay motivated. By the way, you can visit my site… http://www.freewebs.com/watchmetransform
I will keep posting my own weight loss progress there. Oh and tell me about body building. I’d love to add definition to my body. Toned muscles are so pretty and you’re looking good in your pics girl!
Have a great holiday!
Linda
Hi Linda!!
Thanks for visiting!! You are so sweet for your comments. I definitely visited your site and congrads on your 10 pound loss!! You are a beautiful lady yourself and you are going to be HOT HOT weight those pounds come off. Keep on going. You are right about the exercise being key for weight loss along with a healthy diet. People sometimes lose site of that.
About the bodybuilding. I go to bodybuilding.com
and get lifting tips and routines to help get lean. I also subscribe to Oxygen magazine where they give lots of training routines you can do from your home.
Please feel free to come back and chat anytime!!
happy Holidays to you too
Okay… Oxygen magazine, eh? I bought a copy of that magazine once or twice before. I don’t think I was ready to accept any advice from it. :0)
Thanks, so much. Let’s keep in touch!
:0)
OMG, Natasha!
Guess what? I was going through my workout DVD’s and found this 3 pack series that I bought about 6 months ago but hadn’t opened. http://www.rippedworkout.ca/ My friend was ripped. I mean, she was a size 24 and dropped to a size 8 and then started doing the ripped workouts and went to size 6. She looked great! I moved and haven’t seen her but she recommended this DVD series. All you need is 3 sets of weights, which I’m sure you have. I bought mine at TJ Maxx. Look into them. I can’t believe I completely forgot I had these. I’ll keep you posted!
Later!
Linda
http://www.rippedworkout.ca/
You have got to visit this site. My girlfriend in Texas was a size 24. She did Weight Watchers and worked out then when she got to a size 8 she began strength training with the Jari Love DVD’s and then she went to a size 6 but she still weighed the same as when she was a size 8 because it was muscle weight. Anyway, I completely forgot I had the Jari Love “Ripped” series. I bought mine at TJ Maxx and paid about $20. I haven’t done this strength training program but all you need is 3 sets of weights. I’m thinking as soon as I get into the groove of regular exercise, I’ll add these strength training DVD’s. Hope you like!
Later!
Linda,
Thank you so much for the information! I will have to check it out!! I will almost try anything to get firm girl!
Chat later
Oh my God! I just tried the DVD’s today! You WILL LOVE it! I can see how the results will be quick. I think she pyramids the weight and does some super sets too. Get them! You will be glad!
I am so glad you LOVED them so much! I checked out her site and I know I will have to add those into my routine girlfriend. Oh yeah!! I gave your some love on my home page: http://www.my-weightloss-journey.com check it out!!
Natasha,
Tell me about your Tae Bo DVD’s. I just saw the Amped DVD’s at Walmart. One for Abs and one for Buns. This one has no weighted Amped bar. Which ones do you use and do you find them very effective?
Let me know! Post a comment on my guestbook about it or leave it here. I want to buy some Tae Bo DVD’s but don’t know where to start.
Thanks!
Linda
The tae bo DVD are from the Tae bo amped series. I purchased them for the website. Visit my homepage to find a direct link to the site. I got the set for $39.99 it included 4 DVD plus the amp bar.
The DVD’s are Jump start cardio, Fat burn accelerator, full throttle, core express and Live in LA. The one that I use and find pretty effective is the full throttle. The workout makes me sweat like crazy and with the amped bar it add extra resistance which makes me feel like I was lifting weights. I have also done the jump start cardio which is good to start off for beginners. I still have not yet to try the core express or the fat burn accelerator because I also do step aerobic DVD
s too.
I hope this helps
Chat later
Natasha
O.K. so…. I had ordered these DVD’s last year. When I told my husband I was going to buy the Tae Bo program he told me I already had a kickboxing style workout program and that I should try that first. LOL
So I looked up my DVD’s… I have so may workout DVD’s that I haven’t eve used. It’s a shame… Anyway, I did it today and WOW! I fell in love with the workout! I’m so excited. Here’s the site I got them from. http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/best_sellers/turbo_jam_maximum_results.do?code=TURBOJAMDOTCOM
I also bought the latest system from The Firm. TransFirmer. I’m so glad I found your site. You have given me new motivation!
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
Linda
Would concerned to attempt to find what to do when Ihave loss weight and cannot wear my bras. Need pads from size b to size d. where do I get these? If there is such a thing????
Thanks, jon26@aol.com
There is such a thing. Check out victoria’s Secret. They have them. I bought some last year.
Thanks for visiting my blog and feel free to visit again. My home page is http://www.my-weightloss-journey.com!!
Happy Holidays