Jennifer Stovell was a mere burger and fries away from weighing 200lbs when she decided enough was enough.That was in June 2009.Since then she has lost 70lbs and dropped several dress sizes from a very snug size 14 to a four.Miss Stovell piled on the pounds during university figuring that once she returned to Bermuda she would be able to shed the weight. Instead she put on an additional 17lbs, taking her to her all-time high of 197.“I had Charlie horses [leg cramps], I didn’t go to a doctor or anything, but I attributed that to my weight.“And the other thing was every time I bent down I would get the hiccups. I also just didn’t like the way I looked, so I was like, okay, let’s do something.“I think that was at the point where I was like, ‘I am not wearing a 16 even if I have to shove myself into these 14s. So I’ve gone from a 14 to a four.”It was enough for Miss Stovell to start on her “little weight loss journey”.She began with exercise and sensible eating. She lost a bit, but needed an extra boost after nine months.Her manicurist mentioned the kickboxing classes and the Ultimate Bodyshaping Course (UBC) being offered at Bermuda Small Circle Jujitsu Academy by owners Shawn and Terrielyn Harvey.Once there she learned about the (UBC), which is a combination of kickboxing and resistance training. A ten-week, weight-loss challenge, it promised $1000 to the winner.“I thought, ‘I could use that’,” she said. “And maybe on week two or three, I said, ‘I can actually win this’.“I was doing three classes a day sometimes I went as much as I could. I want to say that it was hard, but it wasn’t. I think the most difficult part was getting up in the morning, but as soon as the alarm went off, I’d get up and go.”Her conscience kept her going, Miss Stovell said. She knew if she skipped a day “inner Jenn” would start complaining.“Before you know it, a day turns into a week, a week turns into a month, and then before you know it, you are one of those health people that go to the gym on a regular basis.“So it was a great incentive and it worked for me, as I won it after I lost 21lbs in ten weeks,” she said.“I was very excited.”Her diet changed from fast food to lean meats, fruits and vegetables.“I ate lots of broiled and roasted vegetables. I tried to cut down on the white stuff the sugar and the potatoes.“Lots of times, you’d be surprised at the things you can make that tastes way too good to be healthy. You can still eat what you want, you just have to modify things and it takes a little work in that way, but if you are committed and you have the purpose to do it, you’ll be fine.“It’s for you. It’s for your body and you can do it now, whenever your now is.”“Everybody is different and you have to do the thing that works for you and strangely enough the thing that I wasn’t all that excited about doing, is the thing that worked for me.”For more information on UBC telephone 292-9234 or e-mail bscja[AT]tbinet.bm.Miss Stovell may be contacted via e-mail: jstovell[AT]gmail.com.