Any Native American success stories?

iorahkwano

I saw that there were some posts specifically asking for African-American women, Asians & other groups that don't get represented around here much. It would be interesting to see others who face similar challenges, have a similar body type or would just like some inspiration I'll start...

Kwe kwe! Kanien'keháka í:ke's, wake'nhehsíio tánon' Kanatia kí:teron. Tewáshen kaié:ri na'tewakohseriiá:kon. Katia'tahkariióstha wakon'wéskwani tánon' softball tekathénno'ks!

(Hi! I am Mohawk, snipe clan, and I live in Canada. I am 24 years old. I enjoy working out and I play softball!)

My transformation is still in progress. I am 5'7"...
May 2012- 144lbs (Slim but a bit flabby)
Dec 2012- 136lbs (Slimmed down more, but not very toned)
Mar 2013- 148lbs (Put on muscle doing Stronglifts & eating more)

Now that I've put on muscle, I'm planning to lower my body fat. Here's my progress so far...

May 2012 - 144lbs (Skinny-fat)


Dec 2012 - 136lbs (Slim, but not much muscle/firmness!)


March 2013 - 148lbs (Aftering putting on 11lbs of muscle)

KittyViolet

She:kon! I've posted my success story before, but here is my contribution to fellow Natives looking for inspiration. I started my journey last year in January. I was carrying around 160 lbs on my small, 5'1" frame. I had struggled with severe self-esteem issues since I started putting on weight when I was around 12 year old. I had tried to lose weight many times before, but something in my head clicked in 2012 and I knew that that would be the year I was going to follow through to the end. And I did. I lost 51 lbs in 365 days of portion control, reduction in junk food, increase in fruits and veggies, and steady cardio workouts 3-5 times per week. I switched up my routine every few months to shock my body and break through plateaus. I started with kickboxing, switched to running and biking, and then added Metabolic Resistance Training.

Today I am on a different path looking to increase my lean muscle mass by following the StrongLifts 5x5 program. I have severely cut down on cardio and greatly increase my calories to maximize my gains. I plan to switch over to the cutting phase in the next 4 weeks and hope to see some awesome definition in my body.

May 2011; January 4, 2013
Total of 51 lbs lost in one year
[img]http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q758/Kitty-Violet/Weight Loss/Comparison6web_zps9c64870f.jpg[/img]

April 2010; January 4, 2013
Total of 51 lbs lost in one year
[img]http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q758/Kitty-Violet/Weight Loss/Comparison1web_zps173821c0.jpg[/img]

End of January 2013
My "before" photos for StrongLifts 5x5 progress. I still have 4 weeks to go.
[img]http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q758/Kitty-Violet/Weight Loss/StrongLiftsWeek1-2_zpsc54e8cee.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q758/Kitty-Violet/Weight Loss/StrongLiftsWeek1_zpsb1c69187.jpg[/img]

iorahkwano

Bump

iorahkwano

....

WDEvy

I'm 1/8 Mohawk ( which probably sooo doesn't count! )

Funny but I've been asked a lot more if I have Native blood since I've been losing weight. I can see that I have grandmother's high cheekbones which I never noticed before.

You gals look gorgeous! Great work!

iorahkwano

Bump...

iorahkwano

kajune16th

bump

Denjo060

You guys look awesome I am part Cherokee Ive had total strangers come up to me and ask if im part Indian because of my high cheek bone lol

drog2323

Nice work guys!! Big changes

kakes80

I'm 32 and I am Chippewa, I live in Iowa but our reservation is located at Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin. I have lost 55 lbs. in the last 4 months but have been on this journey for quite some time now

PHr34k0wt

Hellllllo!
I'm Carrier nation (Dakelh) from northern BC, Canada!
No pictures to post, but...
5'6"
SW- 180
CW- 147
GW- 125-130

Feel Free to Add

PHr34k0wt

I'm 32 and I am Chippewa, I live in Iowa but our reservation is located at Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin. I have lost 55 lbs. in the last 4 months but have been on this journey for quite some time now

also, DAYUM! You look like a totally different person, good job!

iorahkwano

My brother, Róteweh, who is 5'11" & went from 260 to 230lbs

kristy_n0831

I'm 1/8 Cherokee. Not sure how to post pics on here, but I have a comparison shot in my pictures on my profile.

bobovaldez14

well i really dont have any pictures on here yet but i am southern Ute ....my start weight was 220 and i am now down to 190

futureshopaholic

Hello!
I'm Okanagan and I'm from Okanagan region in British Columbia. I don't have a success story YET! I'm just starting my journey. I have hit a major break through though! I didn't want to log for today because I thought I did really bad. I ate whatever I liked and only ate 1,171 calories! (That's so much better than when I'm concerned about my diet) I'm so excited about that! I ate all the delicious foods I wanted and I made smart choices. So I'm really enjoying this healthy lifestyle now!

Way to go to all my brothers and sisters!
We can do this!

Ascolti_la_musica

Sadly, I have no Native blood, but my grandmother lived and worked very closely with the Navajo people in New Mexico when I was little. I used to tell people I was Navajo, even though I had blonde hair and grey-blue eyes!

Congratulations to all of you who have lost weight! Lorah and Kitty, you are both gorgeous! I am also very impressed that you speak your native language, Lorah. I have no idea how it is for the Cherokee, but not very many Navajo youth seem to speak their language anymore.

Anyway, I am going to get my white butt out of your thread now. Just wanted to chime in that you are all beautiful!

MzBeckie

So nice to see these postings!
I'm Dakota from the Lake Traverse Reservation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, South Dakota. I have restarted my weight loss journey in 2011, quit/gave up in 2012 after I lost 50lbs, gained back 10 lbs and then recently restarted my weight loss again a month ago. I have set my goal at 150 lbs but have broken it up into mini goals of 10 lbs at a time so it don't feel like i have a whole lot to lose.
I don't know how to post pics on the message boards.

I do want to say Congrats to all of you! You look great in your before and after pics.

Lupercalia

Hi all! I'm Maidu. I'm from Oregon, but live abroad these days.

I've lost about 60 pounds since July 2012, when I recommitted myself to getting healthy. My highest weight from a couple years prior was 265, but I started at 235 last July. I have PCOS and other annoying things, but am changing all that stuff slowly but surely. I'm not a total success story yet, but I'm working on it!

I don't have any progress pics just now. I do have a photo from last summer that is still in my camera--I've never even uploaded it as I really hated to see full length photos of myself. I'll take another over this weekend and perhaps then I can get a little progress montage started. It really does help to look at photos to see changes--I'm always telling people that, but I don't always practice what I preach. :ohwell:

thinagain2014

Nice work!

h0rserunner

Hello. I am Shawnee/Cherokee and Irish. I started out Jan first of this year at 232 pounds. I barrel race and THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I have been on the Atkins plan and now I am 205. I have much more to go but its a journey worth taking.

ok...sorry..pics not working

pmaria10

bump

denezy

Boozhoo!

Biindige giizhigoque nindizhinikaaz. Giigoo dodem! So nice to meet you all!

I am Aniishinabe from the Red River Valley of Manitoba, Canada, just north of Winnipeg.

I love this thread! I have been a work in progress for many years to be a better athlete. I compete in adventure racing, paddling and biking events and want to be better, faster and basically less in pain during my marathon races. It tends to be easier to move when you don't weigh as much.

Lots of photos in my profile, please feel free to add me. Good luck everyone!!

TravisBikes

Alaska Native here, story still being written..

king8747

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe here in MN, You all look Great!! Keep it up, I am still a work in progress but here I am so far

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/939691-down-102-lbs

iorahkwano

Wow! So nice to hear about all the interesting athletic hobbies & weight loss journeys. É:so tsi ioiánere! (Very good!). I was beginning to think KittyViolet. & myself were the only natives here! lol

Here are some more photos to keep the thread photo-happy:


Team Warrior Sports Academy (A gym & youth training facility on the reserve) competing in the annual dragonboat races. I'm in the 2nd row next to the handsome young man


My mom & I at my grad ceremony from Concordia University (Montreal). May 2012.


My dad


Me and a rising local hockey/lacrosse star!


Representing our reserve in the Sian Bradwell Softball tournament (We tied for 1st place out of several teams in the Kirkland city area!)


My dress that has sat in my closet for almost a year & hasn't been worn anywhere yet ;__;


Me today!

iorahkwano

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe here in MN, You all look Great!! Keep it up, I am still a work in progress but here I am so far

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/939691-down-102-lbs

Nice job! I'll repst here:

Finally hit my goal of losing 100 lbs, actually surpassed it by -2lbs I started my lifestyle change on October 1st 2011 at 340 lbs and melted an incredible -50 lbs off in 28 days, yes I said 4 weeks to the day! I went on a extreme calorie reduction for the first week after a 4 day vacation in Vegas, honestly I couldn’t eat without my stomach hurting with excruciating pain - 4 days in Vegas on a liquid diet did a number on me , I then started eating healthy like Subway and watching my fat grams and eating small portions and started training for a 5k walk for work. The treadmill was tough for a big guy like me and I swear I sweated most of that 50lbs off just doing cardio, I made up my own weight lifting routine of lifting heavy straight off the treadmill when my heart rate was high. I maintained that loss for 9-10 months with just lifting a few times a week and no cardio but the main thing that kept it off was MFP and calorie counting, knowing what I was putting in my body. I logged most of my food and during my 5 day work week I was good, cheated on the weekends but hey I maintained.
Six months ago I decided to get serious and step it up so I cleaned up my food intake again to include mostly Lean & Green and this time QUIT all alcohol intake - I enjoyed cocktails quite regularly. I started lifting heavy 3-4 times a week and voila another -52lbs gone.
I am still very much a work in progress as I just weighed in on a body composition scale like 2 weeks ago and it said I still have 60lbs of fat on my frame, new goal is to shave another -40lbs off and hit "onederland" just to say I was there ha - then I plan on bulking on some muscle and getting back to being a semi big guy again as I currently feel small / lean and not myself despite my big gut which is probably a good portion of skin but that is a whole different story, time to get some AB work in I guess and find out for sure.
Anyways just like I have read over and over "You can do anything You put Your Mind to, just commit and STOP with the Excuses!!" ~ Peace
King

PS - First time posting pics so crossing my fingers lol

2002-2004 Somewhere in there - HEAVY @ least 340lbs maybe more



Aug 2011 - 340lbs



Spring 2012 down -50lbs



March 2013 down -102lbs #LikeaBoss





Aeropostale Skinny Jeans LMAO - my kid took me shopping



My Baby Guns - ha





Currently sitting at 238lbs

lithezebra

I'm 1/4 Blackfoot. It's been 14 years since I lost 23 pounds, and I'm very happy with where I'm at.

desiv2

No pics, but I've lost 105 lbs and 5-6 pants sizes, currently lifting and still losing..... I am Cherokee (from both parents), though i'm not full-blooded Native American.

115Ib

About 1/5 Cherokee .
I'm just starting my journey