Contributed
LEFT: This is Elaine Sullivan 13 months ago, when she weighed all of 296 pounds.
Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
RIGHT: Elaine Sullivan dropped 10 dress sizes in 13 months and is still attracting shocked responses every day.

Avia Collinder, Outlook Writer

When, last weekend, Elaine Sullivan, participated in the Sigma Walkathon in Kingston, she was not a straggler, placing among the last, nor did she drop out of what, for most of those who drive cars, was an extensive perambulation.

"We walked from Trafalgar, on to Waterloo, past the Canadian Embassy, down West King's House Road and back on to Constant Spring Road. It was about two miles. It was a comfortable walk."

Truthfully, the journey might not seem much of a challenge to many, but for Sullivan - a court reporter at the Jamaica Racing Commission who was once very overweight - it was a triumph.

The walkathon is something she could not have easily done one year ago. In November 2006, Elaine Sullivan weighed in at 296 pounds and had a 50-inch waist. In that same month, her doctor unveiled tests which showed that her cholesterol was off the charts.

Elaine, who admits that she loves to cook and was a lover of good food, including her favourite stew peas and pork, was scared into changing her life.

In one year of working with a nutritionist, the five-foot-six-inch-tall woman was able to reduce from a size 24 to a size 14. Her disposal of 10 dress sizes in an amazing 13 months has left her coworkers and friends in disbelief.

"Is you that Elaine? It can't be you!" is the comment Elaine Sullivan continues to receive every day.

It was not an easy effort.

"I don't like milk and I never ate fish," Elaine Sullivan complains, recalling the pain of the radical change in diet endured. But milk and fish were to become the staple of her new life.

The 51-year-old woman, who admits, "I was always fat," says that she had tried many crash diets, including the cabbage soup diet, to no avail.

"The older I got, the worse my weight became."

Medical tests in November 2006 revealed that she had high cholesterol levels as well as hypertension. It was time to find a solution.

"My doctor told me that we should go together and pick a spot at Dovecot. My condition was that serious."

The doctor referred her to nutritionist Sasha Thomas, who did several tests in preparation for dietary recommendations. This included the basal metabolism (BMT) test and the basal energy expenditure (BEE) test.

Elaine was set on a low-calorie meals and exercise routine. Her sister, Marva Passley, also came with her and did all the tests, determined to lose weight also.

Breakfast became as small as one slice of bread with half a tin of sardine, one cup of steamed vegetables and one cup of milk. Lunch was two cups of rice and peas, one finger of boiled green banana, two ounces of baked or broiled meat and all the raw vegetables she could eat.

"It was new. I realised that I was getting kind of hungry in between," she recalls. Elaine called the nutritionist who told her that to cope with her hunger pangs she could eat half a handful of raw peanuts.

She was also expected to do crunches and skipping.

"I could barely jump over the rope one time," Elaine admits. Meanwhile, her sister was doing up to 50 jumps per exercise session. Elaine, however, was the one who stayed the course, as her sister has since migrated and aborted the programme.

Her walk on Sunday was testimony to how far she has come.

"Now I can do 100 in each skipping session," Ms Sullivan boasts.

Her loss of 16 and a half pounds in her first six weeks was the catalyst which changed her life. It was hard going, replacing her lovely pork lunches with skinless chicken and sardines and drinks without sugar, but she persevered.

"I started doing more exercises, especially walking."

She would walk around a playing field near to home in Portmore for half an hour every morning, and later added one hour after work.

Her nights were soon spent taking in her clothes as they could no longer fit. Elaine steadily lost weight until she reached 211 pounds. At this point, she plateaued, although she was still sticking to the same exercise and dieting routine.

It is her greatest desire to break into the 190s.

"I just want to see the scale register a figure starting with 19," she states.

To make sure that this happens, she has enrolled at a gym near home where her two personal trainers, Robert and Neil of the Get Active Gym in Greater Portmore - are taken daily to task.

Hers is not a life completely devoid of fun. "I do treat myself," Elaine admits, stating that she has been assured by her nutritionist that she can eat a little of the curried goat and other dishes that she really loves as long as she doubles up on exercise.

Overall, Elaine Sullivan is a new woman with a new lifestyle. "If you come to my house, all that is available to eat is crackers, callaloo and natural fruit juices." She eats fruits and vegetables which are in season and plentiful.

It has been a long road with a bit of the journey left to go, but Sullivan states, "What I love are the double takes. They say, 'you look good. You don't look saggy; I am still getting compliments every day."

The mother of one child - a daughter - Sullivan says that she still enjoys throwing parties and watching people enjoy the meals she has created. "They ask me if I am not eating and I say, 'I'm OK'!"

She no longer gets her comfort from food, but from scrabble, dancing and travelling the country and going to the beach.

Elaine Sullivan says she is thankful for the support of her workmates at the Jamaica Racing Commission who, when they brought in cake and other delicacies to share with each other, said - 'not for you, Elaine'.

And, when they threw parties they would ensure that there was natural and nutritious stuff for her to eat as well.

Elaine Sullivan says to others who might think that they cannot do what she has done: "Once you are determined and you see the results, it pushes you forward. Losing weight made me more motivated to continue."

Elaine shares her 1,200-calorie diet:

Breakfast

2 servings starch

1 serving protein

1 serving vegetable

1 cup milk

Snack (mid-morning)

1 serving fruit

Lunch

3 servings starch

2 servings protein

1 serving vegetable

1 serving legumes

1 serving fruit

Snack (mid-afternoon)

1 serving fruit

Dinner

2 servings starch

1 serving protein

Raw vegetable (as desired)

Note: If vegetable is cooked, limit to 1 cup; if raw, eat as desired.

Exercise, exercise, exercise! Walk, walk, walk!

Drink plenty water!

Nutritionists' tips for losing weight

1. Eat small portions of foods at each meal.

2. Eat slowly

3. Select low fat foods regularly

4. Eat more complex carbohydrates and less refined ones

5. Limit concentrated sweets and alcoholic beverages

6. Drink plenty of water

7. Participate in some form of physical activity regularly - at least three times per week for at least 20 minutes.

8. Avoid eating fried foods

9. Skim all fat from soups and stews

10. Use only the fat allowed in your meal plan.