Black Girl’s Guide To Weight Loss

By: NEWNATURALISTA

Need some motivation to hit the gym today? How about a 128 pound loss motivation?

Meet Erika, of the Black Girl’s Guide To Weight Loss. In just over a year, she has lost a whole person – and she did it the good old fashion way.

She just did it.

No diet pills, no surgery, no crazy fasting or detox diets. Erika simply ate less and worked out more.

The fabulous Erika shares her successful tips with NewNaturalista!

NewNaturalista: Why do you think your site resonates with so many Black women?

Erika, BGGTWL: I think the story resonates with so many Black women because we’ve always looked for women who look like us in those “before and after” shots. Not to compare this to winning the Presidency, but think about it – one of the things that made us so emotional about witnessing President Obama’s win was the fact that “now OUR children can say ‘I have a chance at becoming the President’” — it’s about seeing a reflection of yourself in someone’s progress and seeing the possibility.

NewNaturalista: What made you decided to blog openly about your journey?

BGGTWL: I decided to blog because I wanted to write to myself and keep myself accountable for what I was learning… this way, I never have an excuse to regress back into bad habits. When I feel down or start to slip up, I go back and read my own writing… and it slaps me right across the face. That’s the real reason why I write – everyone, really, is just witnessing me coaching myself. The fact that it helps so many other women simply serves as an awesome secondary consequence.

Left: Erika 2009, Right: 2010

NewNaturalista: I’m most touched by your visual progress – the year in pictures is breathtaking, it really illustrates what can be done in a year of exercise and eating right. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself in the last year?

BGGTWL: The biggest lesson I’ve learned really, is the value of a consistent level of dedication to self and putting self first. No one outside of ME could evoke that kind of change IN me in such a short amount of time other THAN me – I had to be dedicated to myself and devoted to my own cause, and I earned results.

NewNaturalista: Your site is so insightful, it’s bigger than just weight loss. Do you think we as black women focus “too much” on the weight aspect vs. health?

BGGTWL: I think Black women DO tend to focus on weight more than health, but then again I think that all Americans do this… and because it happens in a vacuum, if you’re not extremely aware that you’re doing it.. you have no choice but to get sucked into it, too. I focused on my health and the weight started to fall off… I didn’t understand it at first but when I did, there was no stopping me.

NewNaturalista: You’re a mommy – I am one too. Were there struggles with fitting in time to exercise and care for your child too? What got you passed that?

BGGTWL: Honestly, it wasn’t a struggle at first because I just KNEW I’d have to figure out how to work out at home. I actually MADE my own workout equipment for home (because I honestly wasn’t fully convinced that this would work) and sure enough, it DID work! I knew that my issue would be finding someone to be a sitter EVERY day, for FREE at that. I just figured out a way to do it at home. Eventually, Mini-me started “working out” with Mommy, and it became our play time.

NewNaturalista: You have an article on your site about Beyonce’s training methods and you quote her trainer “If you think about being as healthy as you can there is no way you’re not going to look like a million bucks.” I love that quote too! Is this your advice to women who are struggling?

BGGTWL: What advice would I give women? Stop thinking about it and do it. If you’re “thinking about it,” you’re giving yourself an opportunity to talk yourself out of it. Don’t. As far as the Beyonce quote, I honestly DO think that quote sums it up. Your focus DOES eventually shift from “OMG My arteries, my blood sugar, diabetes, high blood pressure” to “muscle, being fit, long-lasting range of motion” and your health is always affected by those decisions. It’s really that easy. Even if it wasn’t that easy, focusing on preservation of health is what will always keep you working out – you can’t just stop once you reach a certain size. The goal is eternal wellness, and you have to keep working to achieve that.

Don’t walk, run to Erika’s site – she offers an inspiration daily newsletter to keep on your toes! http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/