Talitha Cummins: After quitting alcohol, sugar was my kryptonite

Talitha Cummins and her husband had both gained weight from juggling their busy lives. She was inspired to make a change and the biggest shift came from cutting sugar.

Ben and I met 13 years ago, and from day one, we’ve been in it together – through the highs, the hard bits, and everything in between.

We’ve tackled my sobriety journey, career pivots, his dream of building a successful business (and now mine), and now, the beautiful chaos of raising two energetic children: Oli, 8, and Riley, 5. We’ve got a gorgeous dog named Max, businesses we genuinely love, and a home that feels full – in the best ways.

But a few years ago, the juggle started to catch up to us. Like many couples in their mid-forties, we were feeling stretched. After Riley was born – and with the pressure of keeping Ben’s gym, Flow Athletic, afloat during the Covid lockdowns – our health slowly slipped down the list. I didn’t quite feel like myself anymore. The baby weight lingered, and Ben – despite continuing to be physically active – had gained weight too, a side effect of the stress and sheer mental load of trying to keep everything afloat.

That all changed last December.

Ex Sunrise presenter, Talitha Cummins, reveals how she lost a dress size and got glowing skin. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Ben, a former NRL player, decided to overhaul his diet. He was concerned about his long-term brain health – having copped a few head knocks in his footy days – and had been reading up on the links between processed food, sugar and cognitive decline. He made the commitment to clean up his nutrition, hoping it would help him live better for longer. What we didn’t expect was just how dramatic the physical transformation would be. In just 11 weeks, he lost 25 kilos and dropped his body fat from 18 per cent to 6.2 per cent -a 65 per cent reduction. All through diet alone.

That Christmas, when he turned down pavlova, I knew it was time to focus on my health too. And honestly? It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve dropped a dress size, my skin is glowing, I’ve got more energy for the kids, and I feel more creative and focused when working on my business, The Cut jewellery. I’m sharper, clearer, and just … lighter in every sense of the word.

The Diet That Changed Everything

For me, the change wasn’t about adopting a fancy new plan – it was about slowly eliminating the things that weren’t serving me.

I started by addressing my iron levels, which had been very low around the time I began HRT. I began eating more red meat – steak became a staple – and paired it with colourful vegies. I don’t follow any strict regimen, but I do my best to avoid processed food. The biggest shift? Cutting sugar. That was huge for me. I have an addictive personality, and sugar was absolutely my kryptonite. Ben and I had this little ritual of grabbing ice cream from our favourite spot as a way to relax and reconnect. But I realised it had become a crutch.

Former Chanel 7 reporter Talitha Cummins has now given up processed excess sugar. Picture: John Appleyard

The first few weeks were tough – serious cravings – but once it was out of my system, everything changed. I felt more stable, less tired, and naturally gravitated towards healthier options. We now keep sugar and processed snacks out of the house and try to prep lunches ahead of time so we’re not caught off guard midweek.

Fitness, Family-Style

Ben, being a gym owner and the head coach for the Sydney Marathon and Real Insurance Harbour 10, has been training consistently – both in the gym and with his run clubs – and says he’s never felt better. He’s gearing up to run his 50th marathon this year. Our kids have caught the bug too.

Trainer to the stars, Ben Lucas, with wife Talitha Cummins, daughter Riley and son Oliver when they were younger. Picture: John Appleyard

Oli and Riley are both obsessed with running and will probably take on the 5k event at this year’s Harbour 10k. It’s pretty adorable watching them lace up with Dad, and I love that we’re instilling in them the importance of setting and achieving goals.

As for me, I stick with strength training two to three times a week with a personal trainer. I also enjoy power walking or jogging – mainly for my mental health. I haven’t dramatically changed my workout routine; for me, it’s been all about nutrition.

Prioritising Sleep

Sleep is something we don’t compromise on. We’re both up early, so we’re usually in bed by 8:30pm. It’s made a huge difference in how we feel day-to-day.

Making It Work

Between Ben running his gym and me working on launching my second location for my jewellery business, not to mention juggling school drop-offs and kids’ sport, things are full-on. But we’ve learned to prioritise the things that keep us well.

Talitha Cummins is a busy mum running a business now.

Meal planning happens on weekends – usually after kids’ sport while I’m at the Paddington Markets grabbing fresh produce. We schedule workouts in the diary like any other meeting and try to include the boys when we can. Recently, my mum moved near to us, which has been a game-changer. She’s been an incredible support and now, Ben and I even manage the occasional date night.

Ben Lucas and Talitha Cummins during a holiday in Paris in 2023.

We don’t train or prep together much – life is very much about divide and conquer right now – but more importantly, I feel like me again. Energetic, creative, and present. Ben is thriving too, and it’s been so rewarding watching each other step into this new chapter with intention.

Living better for longer isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s become our family’s reality.

Talitha’s husband Ben will complete his 50th marathon on August 31 at the Sydney marathon.

She was a former Seven Network news presenter and has previously gone public with her battle with alcohol addiction.

Originally published as Talitha Cummins: After quitting alcohol, sugar was my kryptonite