Find out how Personal Trainer Carolyn Jackson achieved her weight loss goals at Go Girl Timaru
Dancing her way to health Love of Zumba helped Carolyn lose 82kg EMMA BAILEY
Last updated 05:00 30/06/2014
JOHN BISSET/ Fairfax NZ
HALF HER FORMER SELF: Carolyn Jackson has lost 82.2kg.
Carolyn Jackson is no longer scared of clothes shops after losing 80 kilograms, almost half her body weight.
Her weight loss journey began 3 years ago, when she weighed 167kg.
“A friend of mine took me along to a Zumba party, which was a fundraiser for Relay for Life,” Jackson, 28, said.
“I fell in love with that kind of exercise and started doing Zumba once a week, then three times a week, along with walking, then running.
“My diet didn’t change hugely. I stopped missing breakfast or lunch and started eating smaller portions.”
At her last weigh-in she had lost 82.2kg. She wants to lose 90kg all up, which will take her to 77kg.
There is no magic bullet for weight loss, she said. “It has been hard work and eating right.”
She now works at Go Girl Timaru, the gym that first got her into Zumba.
“The support of [owner] Lizelle Pelser has got me here, she was so positive.
“Sometimes when you walk into a gym you feel like everyone is looking at you. Well, I never felt like that here. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s my second home. I work here and then work out six times a week.”
Her clothing used to be baggy hoodies and pants.
“Mum would have to force me into the store to buy clothes. Now I love shopping for clothes.”
Maintaining her weight once she reaches her goal will be a challenge, she said.