One of the contestants in the Lindo's 100 Day Weight Loss Challenge is Shawnette Griffith.

Over the last six weeks, she has lost some of her weight and is working to remove the remainder.

Ms Griffith explained that the hardest part of the past month-and-a-bit has not been exercise, but the lingering pain.

"I haven't found the programme difficult at all. The part that I find difficult is getting used to being sore most of the time," she said. "So getting up in the middle of the night to attend to my 11-month-old son can be quite a painful experience."

Aside from the above, she said: "I have had no problems with the exercise, it's the self discipline with my diet that roughs me up a bit. When you are accustomed to a way of eating for so long, it's hard to get your taste buds to appreciate the flavour of healthy foods."

Ms Griffith explained that they were required to work out no less than four days a week but she has gone over and above the call.

"We are required to workout no less than four times a week at the Olympic Club — we have to sign in and sign out each time," she said.

"We are required to attend Charlene's kickboxing/step/cardio classes Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. "We are required to attend the Boot Camps with Monroe or Charlene on Saturdays or Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

"Monroe has added on two more optional weekly classes for Mondays and Fridays from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

"Then everyone usually does their own thing throughout the week as well. So, you have a bunch of people who are working more than three to four times a week."

When asked if she was doing extra, Ms Griffith explained that she was attending extra classes at the gym during the day.

She added that her support system has been phenomenal.

"My family backs me 100 percent as well as my friends and community," said the competitor.

"It really feels good to know that the community is behind you and encouraging you to continue the fight. I give a special thanks to my mother and son's father as they have been there from the beginning by allowing me to attend every workout session.

"My son's father spends a lot of quality time with our son while I'm sweating it out."

Ms Griffith started the programme weighing in at 257 pounds — of that she has trimmed off some 11 pounds.

Asked whether she was surprised or disappointed with the weight loss, she replied: "Not surprised, but disappointed. I have lost close to ten inches."

Although not in need of a new wardrobe, as yet, she did say that her clothing was definitely looser fitting.

"The unveiling will be at the end of the challenge — no new clothes for me. So I'll be dragging and bagging until then."

As for the diet, it has changed dramatically since the latter part of 2007.

"I drink nothing but water, I eat fruit throughout the day and eat a healthy breakfast and lunch," she said.

"My hardest part is evenings, trying to fit in a meal is not so easy when I have to give my son his bath and prepare his bottles, food and baby bag for the next day.

"Then I'm rushing to get to the gym and I live in Somerset. Most times I don't eat and when I'm finished working out I'm famished.

"I find myself fixing something to eat later than I should be eating, but I'm working on that though!"

The most important thing that she has learned over the past six weeks was, she said: "Is that not only is this a personal challenge to change the quality of my health, thus enhancing my life, but also to show the community that it just takes the initial step to be on your way to good health.

"As Nike says it 'Just Do It' get up off the couch and take back your life!

"I think that this whole Lindo's 100 Day Weight Loss Challenge has blown up big time in Bermuda and we will have a lot of beautiful healthy fit people walking around this coming summer."