From sausage and chili sandwiches to losing half her weight: Carly Fisher’s radical food switch is nothing short of inspiring—and a little mouthwatering (at least before 11 pm). After years of snacking and shifting schedules, this mother of three turned her life around when she hit 40. Here’s how Carly did it, plate by plate and pound by pound.
A Turning Point at 40: Divorce, Determination, and the Dawn of Change
It all started around Carly Fisher’s 40th birthday. Working as a hospital switchboard operator with irregular hours, Carly had a habit that will sound frighteningly familiar to anyone juggling work and parenthood: she skipped meals, snacked at odd hours, and let portion sizes take over her dinner plate. Each of her pregnancies saw her weight climb higher, eventually reaching a UK size 26 (that’s a French size 54 for anyone keeping tabs on international fashion).
In January 2019, right before she turned 40, Carly tried to join a fitness program. That first attempt didn’t last long—life got in the way. As she shared with Manchester Evening News, she gave it another shot in early March, but then her marriage ended partway through that month. The stress took a physical toll and she lost a few pounds over a few weeks. Yet, that was only the beginning. “By the end of the month, living alone with my children, I had a moment of realization,” she recounted. “I was determined to tackle my weight head on, and I’ve never looked back.”
Old Habits: Skipping Breakfast, Midnight Sandwiches, and Unruly Portions
Before her transformation, Carly’s diet was – let’s say – creatively scheduled. Breakfast and lunch? Often skipped. Instead, she’d graze on chips and chocolate throughout the day, letting work disruptions shuffle her internal clock until dinnertime morphed into a festival of oversized portions. “I snacked during the day, things like chips and chocolate, then had a big meal in the evening. Work disrupted my biological clock, so I didn’t eat at normal times,” she explained.
Dinner was a hearty affair: think spaghetti Bolognese or chili, and lots of it. But more than the menu, it was the volume that mattered. “It was really the quantity, not just what I was eating in the evening. Before losing weight, I ate at the wrong times and did things like eating a sausage sandwich at 11 pm or even at midnight if I had worked late and was watching a film.”
New Routines: Balanced Portions and a Rebooted Relationship with Food
Determined not to repeat old patterns, Carly jumped into new habits with gusto. She began training properly in January 2020, pandemic or not: “I started to work out properly in January 2020, even if it was only at home during the various lockdowns. But using a combined diet and fitness program, I changed the way I viewed food. For me, it was a complete lifestyle change, not just a slimming diet.”
Her dietary overhaul featured:
- Reducing portion sizes.
- Cutting down on processed carbs.
- Sticking to meals at more regular hours (farewell midnight sausage sandwiches).
Today, Carly is down to a size 34—a radical jump from her earlier size 54 (French) or 26 (UK).
While she’s bid adieu to many of her former habits, she still isn’t “Queen of Breakfast.” Instead, she opts for a low-calorie cereal bar in the morning and keeps her sights on healthy routines for the rest of the day.
Looking Forward: Sharing the Journey
Carly’s victory isn’t just measured in lost pounds and down-sized wardrobes. Through her experience, she’s found a new focus: she now wants to pursue training and help others embark on their own journeys to better health. Her drive is contagious, her resilience remarkable.
Conclusion: The True Recipe for Change
Carly Fisher’s story offers a hopeful reminder that change—radical, lasting change—is possible, no matter how tangled your habits may seem. Whether you’re haunted by late-night sausage sandwiches or just trying to cut back on those oversized portions, Carly’s journey proves that the right mindset, plus a pinch of determination, can remake more than a menu. Why not start with a small swap at the next meal? Your future self just might thank you.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
