Over the next few weeks, the Sunday Observer will share the stories of each challenger, how they got to where they are and their commitment to becoming better versions of themselves.

HAVING struggled with her weight for more than 20 years, Maureen Milbourn is on a mission to unearth the leaner version of herself, maintaining this through to her senior years. And she wants to do this as a birthday gift to herself come the end of September.

Her goal: reduce her body fat, which is about 33 per cent; trim five inches from her waist; tone her arms and thighs; and complete a 5K race in 30 minutes.

“I have been trying for many years to lose the weight and keep it off, so what I hope to get from this challenge is the tools and habits that will enable me, through diet and exercise, to achieve my goal of getting a lean body and achieving a greater fitness level so I can do an activity for 30 minutes or so, like run a 5k, and not be winded,” Milbourn told the Jamaica Observer.

Ultimately, she wants to make this a permanent change.

Milbourn also said that she has been encouraging her friends to get involved in fitness activities so the Jamaica Observer/Gymkhana Fitness Challenge is her opportunity to do the same.

“This is not just for me but for my friends who I am always encouraging to get active, so I want to ‘walk the talk’, and share the lessons learnt with them,” Milbourn explained to the Sunday Observer.

She recounted seeing a 74-year-old woman run the entire length of a recent 5K race, saying she wants to be like that woman when she gets to her age.

Now in her 30s, Milbourn has some way to go but she is committed to developing the habit of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

“Of course you know as we get older we have a lot of illnesses, debilitating diseases and so on, so from now on you have to take care of your body, take care of yourself,” Milbourn shared.

She told this newspaper that she has changed her diet but is still struggling with her eating habits, and she has been exercising which has been good so far.

“I am enjoying it; it’s really good,” said Milbourn. “I am even saying ‘I am really looking forward to going to the gym later’… so I really want to focus on changing my attitude. They say ‘if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit’ so I am really trying.”

She described her personal trainer at Gymkhana Keith Spence as very encouraging and motivating. They were paired at the beginning of the challenge and he has been working with her to help her achieve her goals.