It was a dream fulfilled for Carol Yamada when she was selected as the 2016 City and County of Honolulu Lei Queen in March. And because her birthday fell on the same day as the city’s official ceremony on May 1, she enjoyed a double celebration.

But some of Yamada’s friends might not have recognized her, given that she had lost more than 100 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery and starting a fitness routine.

“In the last six to eight years the weight just got to be more and more of a problem,” said Yamada, a 45-year-old public relations professional who owns Estate Liquidators Hawaii and ELH Moving Co.

“It’s harder as you get older to take it off,” she said. “I was trying everything under the sun. And then you start getting the health things like pre-diabetes, your blood pressure just starts soaring. And you know, being part Hawaiian, I started seeing a lot of my friends in dialysis already. I was getting scared because I couldn’t control the increase as I got older.”

The life-changing operation was about three years in the making once Yamada, who lives in Manoa, started looking into surgical solutions.

Yamada won’t say what she weighed before the surgery, which changes the size of a person’s stomach to drastically limit the amount of food it can hold and that typically results in significant weight loss. Once Yamada underwent the procedure in July 2015, the possibility of competing for the Lei Queen title became a more realistic goal, she said.

“Lei Queen was always a dream of mine,” she said. “After the weight loss, I wanted to get more toned. I started working out because I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.”

After learning she was selected as Lei Queen in March, Yamada enlisted the help of Kyle Pressley and Flex Hard Pro Fitness to get her ready for her May Day appearance at Kapiolani Park. But becoming Lei Queen was only part of her fitness journey. The challenge is to continue to work out regularly and eat healthy.

“Surgery can only do so much,” she said. “It isn’t a cure-all. It’s a tool. It’s just great to be able to appreciate working out and incorporating that into my life. I think it makes me a better person and that’s a positive change in itself.”

Twice a week, Yamada visits Pressley’s Moiliili studio for hourlong sessions that alternate between exercises that isolate muscle groups and those that incorporate multiple muscle groups. Doing this gives her system a healthy shock that encourages faster results, she said.

“I don’t think we’ve done the same thing (during a training session) for a few months now,” she said. “I’m working my muscles, but I’m having fun doing it. I love how he builds me up. At the end we do a lot of cardio. He kicks my butt in a lot of different ways.”

During a workout earlier this month, Pressley had Yamada work with ergonomic dumbbells that promote proper form and complete a series of exercises with a 30-pound device called a Terra-Core. The versatile Terra-Core platform allows Yamada to work on her balance and core strength. When she presses it overhead, she works her shoulders.

Another device, which Pressley said was the only one of its kind in Honolulu, allowed Yamada to simulate a four-minute round of boxing against a virtual opponent. The Nexersys machine features striking pads at the head, chest and leg levels, with a video-gamelike program monitor.

Yamada said her high blood pressure and other health issues have “pretty much gone away” since she started working out regularly. Her training has also motivated her to lead a more active life. She now regularly attends yoga and hula classes.

Her daughters — world champion professional surfer Carissa Moore and younger sister Cayla Moore — are still trying to wrap their minds around the changes they’ve seen in their mother.

“They wanted to know where their mommy went,” Yamada said with a laugh as she recalled their initial reactions to her weight loss. “They’re still getting used to it, but I think they like that I can do more with them now. I’m being more active with them now, when I would tire out a lot faster before.”

The change in energy is an amazing difference, Yamada said.

“I used to get tired around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, but now I can go all day,” she said. “I feel healthier. I’m not saying I’m in the clear yet; that’s the scary part. I’ve just got to keep going.”

“Good Fit” spotlights inspiring fitness stories of change, self-discovery and challenge, and other fitness-related topics. Tell us what motivates you and how you stay fit and healthy by calling 529-4803 or emailing features@staradvertiser.com.