Shelly-Ann Thomspon, Freelance Writer

Keisha McCarthy on a mission to shed her unwanted pounds. - Contributed

Continuing on our focus on employees who are making use of their workplace gyms and wellness programmes, we highlight the story of Keisha McCarthy. Ms. McCarthy, who works at the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT), has embarked on a drive to shed unwanted pounds. Track McCarthy's journey to well-being and curvaceousness bi-monthly in Flair. Inches lost: I don't know exactly how much I have lost. But I do know that my clothes don't fit anymore. They are 'looser' and I can fit in my denim pants.

Current weight: 342 poundsHeight: 5' 6" Healthy lifestyle regime: Changed eating habits, eliminating 'junk food' and sweet-based fodder. Currently, I am on a 1,222 calorie diet.

Diet sheet Breakfast: Two slices of bread, one frankfurter, a fruit, half glass juice or tea sweetener and two tablespoons of milk.

Lunch: Baked chicken breast, one serving of rice, mixture of steam and raw vegetables and water.

Dinner (after 6:00 p.m. if I do): Small bowl of bran cereal with skimmed milk and a fruit.

It is not flattering to be overweight, and Keisha McCarthy knows this. Unmarried and in her late 20s she also knows the psychological and medical repercussions of being overweight.

"I breathe heavily and I know there is pressure on my heart," she said.

She has been battling with her weight for years, dating back to her teens. She was continually losing weight and regaining it. In addition, she is from a family plagued by obesity. "My mommy, aunts and uncles are overweight."

Despite this, she conceded that she has contributed to being overweight. "I love food. Everything, you name it, pastries and all. Five years ago I also started eating uncontrollably."

However, she has decided to put a stop to it. Now the mother of an eight-year-old she is determined to shed the pounds. "I think about my daughter, that I won't be here for her because I can get a heart attack."

Six-week challenge

Staff members of RBTT work out in the aerobics class held at the company. - Contributed

Ms. McCarthy, an accounting officer in the finance department at RBTT, has been exercising with her company's six-week challenge programme for the past four weeks.

Her co-workers have been rallying her on. "Keisha is so positive, and she's so willing and able to jump on any task at the office. Speaking to her, before meeting her you would not even know she is overweight. So we are really glad she is doing this," said co-worker, Gail Abrahams.

The challenge includes aerobic exercise classes, which are a part of the bank's Phase Two programme. This programme is within RBTT's employee wellness programme, which provides activities and support systems that will facilitate behaviour changes to enhance employees' well being and health.

She completed questionnaires relating to her health habits and history as well as health screenings to detect, treat and prevent health risk factors such as hypertension, heart disease, height and weight ratios, anaemia and diabetes.

Now, she exercises for an hour - from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Tuesday to Thursday. On the weekends she sometimes goes walking or exercises with the assistance of FitTV. The more she exercises, the quicker she will lose the weight, said Ms. McCarthy.