Healthy lifestyle regime: Monitors what she eats, eliminated sodas and included more juices and water, and exercises at least four times per week for a minimum of one hour.

Meals: A shake in the morning, fruits at mid-morning, a balanced lunch with no carbohydrates, an afternoon snack and then a shake.

Since January of this year, Simpson-Knight has adopted a healthier lifestyle. This regime consists of weight training and running the treadmill at the gym.

The Spanish Town Road beverage company provides a comprehensive wellness programme, including a gym that is equipped with weights, other machines and skipping ropes for their staff.

Easy access

This facility being within her reach, Simpson-Knight decided to use the gym to reach her desired body weight.

"I was not comfortable with how I looked," she said. However, the push to hit the gym came when her former manager, Jacqueline Anderson, commented about her size.

"My former manager knew me when I was smaller and one day she said, 'no you putting on a lot of weight' and that's when I started working out," she recalled.

The distribution process controller has, for the past seven months, become a regular at the company's gym in the mornings.

"The gym is convenient for me as there is a shower with hot and cold water.

Afterwards, I shower, get dress and walk to my desk."

The gym's morning session trainer, Steve Smith, has also become accustomed to seeing her exercise.

"She works very hard," said Smith. She works out for one hour or more four times per week, Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday. Her exercise time is spent on the treadmill, doing weights training and abdominals.

In conjunction with gym training, Simpson-Knight has also been eating healthier. She eats smaller portions five times per day.

"I also cut down on carbohydrates and fried foods. I have rice once per week, and if I do it is one spoonful."

Balanced meals

She noted the importance of a balanced meal. "I am not starving myself. It is just about proportions and balancing proteins with vegetables, fruits, juices and water."

Her eating habits are also not rigid. Occasionally, she will deviate from her regular meals, 'cheating' to have a sweet treat.

"It is about how you do it. Once in a while I'll take one scoop of ice cream. But it is not something that I practise. I just do it to satisfy myself so as not to feel like I am robbing myself."

Simpson-Knight encourages those who want to adapt a healthy lifestyle to do it.

"You have to make up your mind and motivate yourself. Do it for yourself. Accept it and say, 'I have to work on me.' Make a commitment for yourself and take on the challenge."