Anyone who has tried to lose weight will know that to shed even a few pounds can be quite a feat.

Many of us put on weight after puberty or after childbirth, but imagine what it must be like to be overweight as a child, obese as an adult and feeling there is nothing, it seems, that you can do about it.

But then somehow, after trying every diet imaginable, you are able to lose 40 pounds in a matter of six months.

Tina Christopher is that person and she wants to share her lessons with other people who fit her description.

Ms Christopher spoke to The Royal Gazette about how she lost weight, exactly what it entailed and how she hopes to spread the love, as a lifestyle educator.

When she left Bermuda last July to attend the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School called Uchee Pines Institute, she weighed in at 272 pounds.

"The course was geared toward teaching people how to make changes in their lifestyle, as it relates to disease and illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, obesity and so on," she said.

Although she went with the intention of helping others, she soon found an answer to her personal challenge.

"In the end, I became my own client, as I had many health issues that I was able to address throughout the duration of the course," said Ms Christopher.

"I began putting what I learned into practice and to really take charge of my health and, in essence, my life."

The change in her diet was forced upon her somewhat by circumstance.

"The foods that were served [in the school cafeteria] consisted of a vegan diet to all students and staff," she said.

"The food consisted of mainly beans, unrefined grains, and large plant-based foods with minimal amounts of oils and fats."

On leaving the Island she was severely suffering from many ailments associated with obesity.

"I left Bermuda weighing 272 pounds, depressed and out of breath, an insomniac with double the amount of body fat around the midsection, which I thought that no one my age would be able to lose," Ms Christopher said.

"Over the next six months, I would saw noticeable changes in my chest area and stomach.

"I was breathing and sleeping better. I was so excited, I wanted to finish the programme right there and then and come home to assist others.

"I have struggled with the issue of weight all my life, but was right in the danger zone for heart disease and stroke, because of my eating patterns and poor lifestyle choices."

But after the initial joy of immediate weight loss, she admitted that the programme was not all fun and games.

"There were many times after the initial two-week weight loss of fluids, salts, fats, that the programme began to get very challenging," she said.

"The one saving grace is that the school was so isolated from any town that I could not be tempted to cheat at any of the well-known American fast food stores."

She said she was unable to leave the campus until three weeks later, when someone was finally going into town. "I thought to myself, 'this is it, I am free'. I was going to have my favourite food, chicken, and my favourite snack, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups," she said.

"I stood in the line and the smell just bowled me over. The fact that the smell of the grease was nauseating to me, made me think, 'okay, I will have the peanut butter cups'.

"I was not prepared for my mind to make a conscious decision not to have it.

"Again I got to thinking there is something to this vegan diet that saw me giving up cigarettes and alcohol and now meats and sweets.

There were additional benefits, she claimed. "My memory was becoming sharper and I was handling the stress of 15 hour days of study and work, with an astounding new attitude," she said.

"There is really something to this diet and the added bonus was that I managed to lose a total of 40 pounds in six months and counting, as I continue to follow this type of diet today."

Her blood pressure, which was high, also returned to normal.

"I can say that yes, the isolation of a place such as Uchee Pines was part of my success but at the same time I had to keep up the struggle.

"I mean in a school full of people who practised this diet of a vegan for many years, I was an oddity there [being overweight],

"I stood out in the midst of people who were maintaining their natural body weight by simply eating not only vegan, but eating in a method that assisted in a healthy digestion.

"I guess that made me want to fight even more. I wanted to look as healthy as my classmates and teachers."

Finding a role model also helped. "There was an 80-year-old woman who was the secretary to the doctor who founded the school," said Ms Christopher. She walked a mile to work everyday, a mile back home for lunch and then returned to finish off her day and walked home again.

"She encouraged me everyday. Her very presence offered so much hope."

On returning, Ms Christopher was happy to see that the Island is introducing programmes like the 100 Day Challenge and also highlighting the importance of healthy living for a healthy heart.

And she would like to offer her help as a lifestyle educator to anyone interested in making similar health changes to her own.

"I am not only available for consultations on these matters, but I also do health lectures on the kinds of lifestyle changes one can make for weight loss and other health problems," she said.

"The main one I am concentrating on now is 'The Weight Loss Formula - Eat Your Way to Health Loss'.

The consultations concentrate on an effort to help people personalise their diets for optimum health."

For more information ring Tina Christopher on 735-4522.