Any Native American success stories?

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]

bump

Nice work guys!! Big changes

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

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

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!

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: