Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator.

AFTER - A much lighter Lisa Goulbourne, winning the battle with her weight. She is now 204 pounds.

Lisa Goulbourne entered 2008 topping the scale at 235 pounds. Today, she is a lighter and happier 204 pounds and the winner of the recent Farmaton Gymcombat weight-loss challenge.

Just starting the gym was the hardest of Goulbourne's challenges. "For me, the hardest part was going to the gym. But in January, I made up my mind. I started and went for four days each week at 6 a.m., and when I couldn't make it in the morning, I went in the evenings." On March 1, when Goulbourne entered the competition, she had already lost nine pounds. By the final weigh-in on April 1, she had lost 20 pounds, weighing in at 206 pounds.

Changing habits

Goulbourne, who has always had a problem with her weight, targeted her eating habits. "I love sweets (still do) and I used to eat late at nights. I read somewhere that you must have breakfast as that's' the most important meal of the day, so I would have cereal, dry, or with soy milk. I would have whole grain, like oats or Cheerios and a fruit. Then I would have a full meal for lunch and then for dinner, I would have a sandwich or soup or a shake. I did Herbal Life or I would make one with fruits and soy milk. If I felt bad, I would have a full meal," explained Goulbourne.

She also changed her snacking habits. "For snacks, I would have fruits or if I had a piece of cake, it would be in the early part of the day. If I felt like having something after lunch, I would have a biscuit or an apple, a mango or any fruit that I had. I also had a lot of water. I would get the 1.5 litre bottle of water, put that on my desk, and have it throughout the day."

No meals after 6 p.m.

Goulbourne, who is a supervisor at Super Plus supermarket in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, also tried not to have a meal after 6 p.m. "In the evenings when I get home, if I ate after 6 p.m., I wouldn't go to bed until 8:30 or 9 p.m. I also tried keeping a diary, but that only lasted for a few days." Her gym instructor at Brijade Fit's, Lipton Lee, also gave her some suggestions on her diet.

Goulbourne now has 34 pounds to go, hoping to reach her ideal weight of 170, before her 29th birthday in October.

Before - Lisa Goulbourne when she was 235 pounds. - Contributed photos