Retired tennis champion Jelena Dokic reveals how she lost one third of her body weight

After retiring from tennis, Jelena Dokic’s weight ballooned to 120kg on a diet of burgers, fries and sugar-laden treats. In this exclusive interview, the world No 4 player reveals her weight loss secrets, and tells how she is regaining her self-esteem.

• Dokic: I felt like an ATM machine
• Jelena: US Open fish incident

Former tennis star Jelena Dokic’s diet used to consist of “burgers and fries” and sugar-laden treats, eating as if she needed to fuel a gruelling training regimen. But those unhappy, unhealthy days are gone.

Dokic is looking incredible, inching back to her old self, since first trying a dedicated diet regimen last October. But most importantly she’s gained confidence she had lost as she gained weight.

Former tennis champion Jelena Dokic.

Dokic at the start of her weight loss journey. Picture: Jenny Craig

Dokic’s starting weight when she began a nutrition and weight management program with Jenny Craig was 99kg and her goal weight is 66kg.

The former World No. 4 has struggled with her weight in retirement after injury prematurely ended her career in 2014 — she weighed 120kg during a most difficult time in her life.

MORE NEWS

Mum’s 10-year battle for Zoe’s Law to become reality

KAK: ‘NDIS discriminates against disabled seniors’

Top Firey used work credit card for KFC, ciggies, booze

“My weight spiralled out of control after I retired,” Dokic said.

“I wasn’t really prepared for it, for my career to end.

“Before I started Jenny Craig, I ate junk food every day and it got to a stage, that was what I was eating, was completely opposite to what I was used to eating as an athlete.”

Dokic’s Instagram account posts document her return to fitness. Picture: Instagram

“I had bad and unhealthy habits. Burgers and fries were regular food for me — I ate them daily. Then I had a sweet tooth. I would eat anything that had sugar in it. I was eating so much sugar. It wasn’t good. Your sugar cravings get worse because you need more and more.

“I was also no longer training seven hours a day — I was living a normal life. I was used to eating a big amount of food to fuel me to compete. It was a big adjustment going from being a professional athlete’s life to ‘normal life’ and I struggled.”

Dokic says losing weight has increased her confidence and self-esteem. Picture: Instagram

At the start of her “weight-loss journey” she sat down with her Jenny Craig team, including her personal consultant Belinda, to work out what her triggers and weaknesses were when it came to food.

“I have a really sweet tooth so all of my Jenny Craig snacks are the sweet, healthy snacks,” she said. “They are nowhere near as sweet but they are more than enough now.

“It’s about changing your habits over time. I don’t need the junk food any more.

“Jenny Craig isn’t restrictive, there’s a whole heap of tasty and different foods on the program. Their portion-controlled meals are great and make everything simple.”

Dokic in August last year. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The transformation is clear to see. Picture: Instagram

Her favourite Jenny meals are the butter chicken with rice, and fish with potato wedges. Dokic’s favourite Jenny snacks are white chocolate and cranberry cookie and the salted caramel nut bar.

But it is having a consultant to guide her that has helped Dokic immensely.

“I needed that support, my consultant Belinda, she and I really clicked. I have had bad weeks and days, and she has been there for me,” Dokic said.

“Having a team around me, including a nutritionist, who kept me accountable, made me feel supported. They’ve been there when I have had bad days and fallen down.”

Dokic and long-term partner Tin Bikic in Croatia.

She said Jenny Craig Rapid Results Program, using a 12-hour fast, helped spark her weight loss. Dokic lost 15 kilos in the first 14 weeks. In March, she weighed in at 84 kilos and is due to officially weigh again in October.

Over the last month Dokic has been holidaying in Europe with her partner of more than 15 years Tin Bikic, and says she is feeling better than ever.

She is close to reaching her goal weight but her focus is maintaining a healthy lifestyle that she said Jenny Craig has taught her.

I feel like this is something I will continue in years to come, even after I reach my goal weight. It’s about feeling good not only physically but mentally — getting my confidence and self-esteem back that I had lost,” Dokic said.

“This is something that is working for me.”

Originally published as Retired tennis champion Jelena Dokic reveals how she lost one third of her body weight