Big-Boned Basics
Hello my lovely ladies, Ive been receiving a lot of emails on the “How To” in losing weight. In response, I felt the need to share what I DO instead of WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES!!Currently I am 5’9/5’10 give and take my bowleggs lol and between 203-206 pounds!! Therefore here is my recommendations to you: 1. WRITE DOWN YOUR CURRENT WEIGHT AND YOUR GOAL WEIGHT!! When I say GOAL, I mean a realistic number you are comfortable with. When I was 217 pounds, I wrote 180 pounds but then as I started losing the weight I realized 200 pounds was “A BETTER LOOK” for me!
2. GIVE YOURSELF A TIMELINE!! My timeline was 6 weeks because I was still trying to find the perfect formula that worked best with my body. I realized over time 1-3 pounds in a week wasn’t A FAR CRY and it won’t be for you if you are CONSISTENT!! THEREFORE, I recommend no less than 2 pounds for you!!
3. JOIN A GYM!! Being Brutally Honest, if you want to lose weight THE RIGHT WAY!! Which means diet and fitness. YOU NEED TO JOIN A GYM!! If you just lose the weight with diet, the pounds will come off BUT your skin has a risk of losing its firmness and elasticity!! You definitely want to maintain a toned physique, on your way to greatness!!
4. DIET!! Im not a big fan of DIETING but Ive realized that something in my diet had to be limited or cut off in order to reach my goal weight. Lets face it, I used to eat what I wanted…POINT BLANK !! I grew up participating in sports and dance performance and never encountered the GAINING WEIGHT” syndrome. Then one day EVERYTHING caught up to me lol!! I had to come to terms with it, WHICH WASN’T EASY”! The first thing I did was limit my carbs, YES, LIMIT MY CARBS!! It was hard at first but I made myself eat a BIG HEALTHY BREAKFAST.(Ex: Western Omelette, NO CHEESE, Wheat Toast and Oatmeal!! I love Tea, so thats what I would drink along with Cranberry juice or seltzer water!! Lunch would consist of a salad, then dinner was (ex: Fish, or chicken with greens(broccoli, or spinach)and *small* rice! Ok Im NOT GOING TO LYE! I LOOOOVE WHITE RICE!! lol Maybe its an African thing!! So I just limited my portion of rice!! No meals after 9pm. I usually went to bed by 1am. “I know terrible”!
5. STOP ASKING EVERYONE’S OPINION!! When I did it, I left everyone out of it except my partner! Some of the people around you can indirectly influence you with their own personal situations. Take everyone’s opinion in stride but DO YOUR OWN THING!!!
* LOOK OUT FOR MY NEXT BLOG ABOUT “CLEANSING YOUR MIND” (SOMETHING I DID) to help my chances in obtaining my physical goal!! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I ADORE feedback!! Talk to Me!!!
(c) 2010 November Anowa Adjah
Other than watching your carbs is there anything else or do you just focus on small portions. Is it possible that you could put up a workout routine. For example what excercises do you do during the week. Weights, cardio, etc…. I could imagine there must be a variety of weight training excercises you must do to maintain a muscular build.
you can go on youtube.com and see some of the things she does. Thats what i did and it works
I appreciate this coming from someone I can identify with. My goal is 60lbs….my main struggle is being consistent and I know thats key to reaching my goal. I’m just not a big fan of the gym though. Thanks for your blog!!!
Hello, it is so nice to see a fellow african doing so well in the usa. I recently traveled to nigeria to meet a woman my parents say would be a good wife for me. I grew up in the US. But when I arrived it wasnt that she is ugly, not at all but i think she is too small! At 5’7, i think she can put on some weight as she look too thin and people have asked me if she is “sick”. As an african, im sure u know what i mean by this. No she is not sick. But i would like to know from you how can she go about “GAINING WEIGHT” in the good areas.
I dont want her to be fat but well built. She has always wanted to be a bigger woman but has not been able to have the monies to buy the supplements. I am willing to put in money to help her so let me know what supplements or food we need to buy. Also do you suggest “weight gainer formula drinks”?
This really helped me out alot! I actually took out a piece of paper and wrote this down to share with my friend and aunt as we all are trying to lose weight. I have been going to the gym for about 3 weeks now and I only go about 3 days a week but have realized I may need to go more. I think your advice will help me accomplish my goal in no time!
Ps: you look terrific girl! keep doin ya thang!
Hey Anowa,
I too am an “overweight” woman by technical standards but when ppl see me they have no idea that i weigh as much as I do. My biggest issue is i’m lacking in the trunk area and have more than the desired amount in the stomach lol it’s the hard truth but I accepted it lol. My question is what exercises/workouts do you do to focus on your midsection but keep your thighs nice and thick?
Tina
Well, definitely incorporate cardio into your regimen~ I would do about 30-40 min, abs no less than 200 reps, and leg exercises (squats, leg extensions,etc.)
I had the same question that Allie had about a workout routine. Could you give examples of exercises u did during the week?
I sure will!!
Keep updated with my blogs and I will show you how! Its not as hard as you think~
Hey Anowa, First let me start off by saying that you and Serena Williams(LOL) are my inspirations. I have the big booty,thighs and chest but it is hard for me to lose my gutt well big stomach. As I exercise, lately I’ve noticed that I’m losing fat and toning everywhere but my damn stomach is nothing but flab! )-: Help me Anowa!! Tell me what should I do to lose this gut????
Hi Miss Dee, I would try atleast 300 rep ab exercises. Use 3 different ab exercises that target all areas of your midsections. I will have a video out soon, to help you with that area as well. As, diet has a lot to do with it. No carbs after 6pm and no meals after 8pm. Try this and keep me updated on how everything works.
Thank you and I will keep you posted!
Im glad you were able to use the tips Sandra! Thanks for all the love and support! As far as your ab exercises, you definitely want to make sure you are doing the ab exercises correctly, if you are not doing it correctly this may be the reason why you feel it in your shoulder and lower back. In response to your stomach question, have you had any children?
OMG!!! I am not into women, but you are beautiful sista!!! A male friend of mine that is a fan of yours told me to look you up on the net. I enjoyed your big boned basics, gives me some inspiration on my weight loss journey.
Thank you and Good Luck!!
I just wanted to say thank you. I too was athletic throughout adolescence and college, and now that I’ve graduated I’ve seen my bad habits starting to catch up with me. You’ve encouraged me to start living better and get my act together! Keep it up and be blessed!
Hi Anowa, I really love the workouts that you do and its tense at times but I keep going. My problem is eating right. Its like i do good but when im stressed i turn to food. Do you think I should take my anger and frustrations out by working out even harder?
You are so inspirational to me. I am on a mission to get to my ideal weight in which Im not sure what that is. I just want to lose and keep it off. Im 5’4 and I weigh 314. I have been miserable for a long time with my weight and after watching you on youtube it kind of woke me up. I commend you for determination to stay fit and help and inspire others to get healthy and find themselves. Keep up the good work. I wish you was in my city I would take a fitness class from you. God Bless -Happy-
Where are you located? I will definitely put your city in my “to visit” places.
hi my name is elizabeth. im 26 yrs of age and 265lbs. i am not muscle like u, am just plain fat! i have been wanting to loss weight for sometime now but i have been really scared to for 1 main reason, i dont wanna lose my hip butt and thighs. i love being curvy always have but being a size 0 is not what i want i wanna be a nice shapely size 12 maybe a 10 but am scared that everything would not look good it would not be juicy! do u have any advise on keeping my hips butt and thighs. the advise u have up their is great but i need to no what to doo to keep my booty or make it better plz help
My series of workout dvds target those problem areas that many of us struggle with. Make sure you subscribe to my website to get up to date information on my workout dvd release date
Well I already have the thickness; was never skinny but after having kids you know how it can be! all would like right now is to get toned but i have not idea where to start – can someone make some suggestions please?
Look out for my dvds coming soon..
Hello there Anowa. I have been a fan of yours for some time. I am 5’4″, 194 lbs and SOLID. A lot of people tell me that they can’t tell that I am close to 200 lbs because of it not being fat. I want to lose a few lbs and I am having a very hard time in finding out how. Do you have any tips for me?
I admire you! Being healthy in your mind is the beginning! When I began to work out, all of my weight drops off, without dieting. I was a skinny child, and after having 5 children, I gained weight in the good areas, but also my back and stomach! I want to loose the back and stomach, but I’m loving my breast size and all the other goods. How can I maintain the goods without going down so low? I am 186 and would like to stay there, but I desire to be toned and firm up. Thanks.
Look out for my workout DVDs coming this fall, the videos will have exercises targeted towards improving these problem areas!
Great post!!!
Thanks Anowa!! You are a TRUE inspiration. I am taking notes as we speak. I also watch and DO the exercises you do on You Tube. I AM a big fan of yours and appreciate what you do. THANK YOU DEARLY:0)
I stumble up on you page surfing the net. Wow! You are definite inspiration. Everytime I try and start working out, its always something that throws me of track.. I your page if full of positive information and advice
Thanks
Hello Anowa,
When I first saw you on youtube I didnt believe you were 200 + lbs. Then I watched all the videos and I was amazed. I love my lower half but my upper body isnt where I want to be. i’m currently 233lbs doctors want me to get down to 140lbs. but gave me a 3month goal for March 215. I want badly to get in shape spirtually and mentally and last physically. i have tired and usually my goal are not realistic so I dont stick to it or i remove so much of the foods i like that i give in and over eat once i eat the starchy foods. i love your upper body your abs and arms those are my worst areas im looking to gain complete mental and physical fitness. I have the track workout you gave on youtube. I’m going to start today running 4 laps which I havent done in 5 years. What other ways can I get into shape upper body such as arms, back , abs. Cant wait to hear from you.
Hi miss anowa,
i was watching your videos and im so glad to see that theres an african american women who understands the complications that we go thru..i am blessed in the butt but not in the gut..what excercises can i do to tone my thighs,i dont want to lose my but or my hips,,how can i lift my but and lose my stomach…ive had 3 kids and now its reallt bothering me.i feel very depressed and i eat more that a man does..i just love to eat..and it just seems like whatever i eat i dont get full i know i dont have a tapeworm.. i just love to eat especially oxtails and rice and all that good stuff. could you please help me out and give me sum advice on what i should do to maintain my fiigure beacause i love being big and i dont want to be skinny i love being thick just the way i am. ..i just hate the cellulite in my thighs,,how can i get my body to be just like yours. i am too 203 5’4 . i dont mind my weight. i just hate feeling and looking like someone just shot me in the thighs. lol cant wait to hear from you.
Hello Brittany,
Please look out for the Powerhouse Workout DVD Series that will be released at the end of this month! I’m confident this series will be the solution to your problems.
Thanks for being my inspiration anowa.