A Journey of Self-Discovery and Simple Changes
TV presenter and co-founder of the Australian wellness brand SWIISH, Sally Obermeder, has finally spoken about her remarkable weight loss journey. What many might assume was a result of intense workouts or strict dieting turned out to be far more straightforward.
Sally, who co-founded SWIISH with her sister Maha Corbett, lost 22 kilograms over the course of 12 months. However, she emphasizes that the number on the scale was never the main goal. Instead, her focus was on reconnecting with her body and rediscovering a sense of well-being.
Her decision to share her story came after receiving numerous questions from followers eager to learn what had changed for her. In an Instagram video and a blog post, Sally opened up about her experience.
“My aim wasn’t weight loss,” she explained. “It was basically, ‘how can I get back into my body? How can I get back into feeling good again?’”
The Wake-Up Call
The turning point in Sally’s journey occurred on Christmas Day 2020. While walking alone, she realized she had been avoiding going to the park with her daughters because she knew she couldn’t keep up with them. Instead, she would suggest movies or cafes where they could sit down.
“Everybody else came first,” she said. “At the end of the day, I was depleted.”
She noticed that her energy levels were low, her muscle tone had faded, and her body had become an afterthought. It was then that she decided something had to change.
The Approach That Actually Worked
Rather than jumping into extreme measures, Sally took a different approach. She didn’t invest in new activewear or sign up for a gym membership. Instead, she started with a simple 30-minute walk every day at a time that worked for her.
“We’re not going to be insane and go at 4am,” she said. “Whatever time suits us – we just carve out that time.”
On days when she struggled to find the motivation, she would call a friend to join her. Over time, those 30 minutes turned into 45, then 60. Exercise gradually became a part of who she was, rather than something she forced herself to do.
What She Ate
When it came to food, Sally kept things simple. She focused on protein and fibre at every meal, used fresh ingredients, and maintained a variety of easy meals that she actually enjoyed.
Breakfast was always a challenge for her—too busy, too rushed, and often resulting in poor choices on the go. To fix this, she switched to a protein shake each morning, which helped keep her full and eliminated the need for constant thinking.
Carbs and Friday night pizza remained part of her routine, as did date nights with her husband Marcus. What changed was her relationship with food. When stress hit, she opted for a walk or a phone call instead of reaching for snacks.
“I removed the emotion around food,” she said. “I let go of ‘this is good’ and ‘that is bad’ – all of it.”
The Results
After 12 months of consistent effort, Sally had lost 22 kilograms. More importantly, she saw improvements in her cholesterol, bone density, and muscle mass—significant markers given her history of cancer treatment and warnings about early osteoarthritis.
However, she quickly clarifies that the weight loss wasn’t the main focus.
“It’s not about the weight,” she said. “That’s just a by-product.”
What truly mattered was reconnecting with herself and finally stopping being last on her own list.
