'I lost 6st in a year - everyone keeps asking me for my secret'

A mum who dropped an incredible six stone in a year has revealed her secret - after constantly being pestered for weight loss tips. Carla Fishwick was approaching her 40th birthday and knew she wanted to get fit but always felt "too lazy" to take action.

Over the years, she had attempted "millions of diets" but never found one that suited the hectic lifestyle of running her own hairdressing business and being a mother-of-one.

But while browsing Instagram one evening, Carla, now 42, was inspired by the transformations on an online coach's page and decided to give it a shot herself, Manchester Evening News reports.

She enrolled for an initial six weeks on the Francis Diet, which provided her with a personalised calorie and nutrient-controlled diet. She also received a customised fitness plan with workouts created by trainer Scott Francis that she could do at home.

Within three weeks of starting in February 2022, Carla had already shed a stone. The quick results made her realise what she could accomplish if she set her mind to it - and she went all in on the "lifestyle change" that helped her lose an astonishing 6st 9lbs in a year.

Carla went from a size 16 to a 6 or 8 and now posts her own transformation pictures on Instagram and is keen to motivate others who struggle with weight issues by sharing her personal story. The mum has used social media to document her journey from 14st 8ld to a svelte 7st 13lb.

Carla, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, said: "I was always so lazy, I was the sort of person I’d sleep in to the last alarm, I always wanted to lose weight but I just wasn’t prepared to do it. Now I get up every morning at 5am to do a workout, because I know that will set me up for the day. This has changed my whole life for the better and it's not just about weight loss, it's been the mental health side as well.

"I get messages from people asking me for help, and I feel like if there's anything I can do to help people out, I want to try. People think there's a magic pill or secret, but there's nothing secret to it - it's all down to hard work and motivation. Once you get to where you want to be there's no going back."

Some critics have raised suspicions about Carla's weight loss, with people suggesting it may be down to surgery. But the hairdressing boss rubbished the claims, saying that her results are purely the outcome of dedication and effort.

Carla is now an ambassador for the Francis Diet, which changed her life. She said: "I first spotted Scott's page a year before I signed up on Instagram. What drew me to it was all his transformations and that he took no nonsense off people.

"He gives you an eating plan and a workout plan, you check in every week with pictures, but it's not just the weight loss it's the mental health side, if you've got things going on in your life or you're an emotional eater it all works on that too."

She continued: "My goal when I first started wasn't to reach a specific weight, but rather to fit into a size 12. However, I found the process so straightforward that the weight just fell off. I was astounded when I dropped down to a size 8, and even size 6s fit me now, something I never thought possible."

Carla now enjoys hitting the gym in stylish workout clothes but she was more comfortable exercising at home in the early days. she said: "When you first sign up you get a welcome pack and a choice of workout. Because I was so heavy when I started it was just a case of getting my steps in and I couldn't do a workout every day because I was so exhausted.

"For the first six months I did it all from home. I bought a treadmill from Facebook Marketplace for £80 and used small weights, but you can also do bodyweight exercises without the need for any equipment.

"[Later] I found the confidence to go back to the gym and now it's become for me a non-negotiable to do my workouts, it's part of my lifestyle as well, it's something I want to do every day."

One of the thrilling aspects for Carla about shedding pounds has been the freedom to walk into a shop and purchase any outfit she desires, knowing it will fit. And the chatty hairdresser's stunning transformation is a regular talking point for clients in her salon.

One of her friends is ex-Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona, who took to Instagram to share her own commitment to the Francis Diet.

Carla says the lifestyle change has done wonders for every aspect of her life, saying: "I feel more organised in my whole life. Being ready for the school run, being ready for work, I'm all organised. Because I get up so early I just get everything done, I feel like doing your exercise at 5am gives you endorphins and the energy to get the rest of the day done."

Carla's diet before

Breakfast:

Big caramel latte from the coffee shop

Lunch:

Healthy lunch at work

Dinner/evening:

Snacks - crisps, daughter's leftovers, picking at husband's food

Drinks with husband

Takeaway

Carla's diet now

Breakfast:

Scrambled egg with piece of bacon

Lunch:

Chicken salad

Dinner/evening:

Chicken sausages with spinach and vegetables or home-made bolognese

Snacks - nuts

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