Once a confessed sugar enthusiast, Carolyn Hartz transformed her health after a pre-diabetes diagnosis, adopting a balanced, sugar-free lifestyle that has kept her active and vibrant into her seventies.
Carolyn Hartz has built a public image around disciplined eating and regular exercise, but the Australian entrepreneur says that was not always the case. In an interview with Lumity, Hartz said she once ate cheesecake for breakfast and biscuits after dinner before a doctor told her she had pre-diabetes at 41. After that diagnosis, she says she overhauled her diet and has now gone more than three decades without sugar.
Hartz said the warning signs began with dizzy spells that were first dismissed as stress. One episode while she was driving, when she nearly hit a cyclist, prompted her to seek more help. After consulting a Chinese medicine practitioner and then a medical specialist, she decided to try changing what she ate rather than moving straight to medication. According to her account, she cut out sugar completely for several months and switched to meals built around fish, chicken, meat, vegetables and a small daily portion of fruit.
Over time, Hartz developed a more flexible approach centred on moderation rather than deprivation. She told Lumity she limited herself to small amounts of wine and chocolate, ate dessert sparingly and paid close attention to portion sizes. She also said she avoids low-fat foods, which she believes often contain more sugar, and makes sure each meal includes protein. Related profiles have described her using xylitol, a sugar substitute, and baking with ingredients such as almond and coconut flour, while Hartz herself has said the change in mindset was as important as the diet itself.
Now in her seventies, Hartz presents her routine as a wider lifestyle choice rather than a short-term fix. She says she walks, does Pilates twice a week and does not believe age should be a reason to stop wearing a bikini. In her view, healthy living works best when it becomes a habit, not a punishment: she says she is not perfect, but that consistency, movement and careful eating have helped her stay active and well.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
