In a new weekly feature, Her.ie newbie Liz is going to share her weight loss journey. She’ll be filling you in on fighting temptation, her willpower struggles with the cocktail menu and taking painfully slow steps towards regular exercise. All in the name of a dress. _____________________________________ Hanging on the wall at the end of my bed is the constant reminder I plan on shedding nearly two stone this year. I also plan on marking the trials and tribulations of ‘trying to be good’ – the favourite saying we all tout, and quickly replace when a cake is put in front of us. Week 46: Forget Christmas. THIS is the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, there’s the religious undertones that meant I spent my childhood singing in a choir while someone was ‘sacrificed’ on the altar, but there was also the promise of chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. If you kept up to date, last week you’ll know I was rejoicing in the fact that I had lasted five weeks without breaking lent. Yes there were times where I was staring at the deliveries of chocolate cupcakes and Lindt bunnies, but for now, they remain head in-tact. I swear. Where usually I gift myself with a treat of my favourite egg (it’ll always be a Cadbury’s shell), this year I’m thinking of rewarding myself in a way that won’t pinch on the waistline (just on the purse). My new favourite thing to do is get my nails done. Only three weeks ago I got a manicure for the first time. I know. I swear I’m a girl. And for the rest of the evening, I was channelling my inner RiRi… The girls in the salon were warm, chatty and overwhelmingly helpful when it came to choosing a nail colour. And in the background, I was eavesdropping into some of the best conversations I could ever witness. Now sitting down to type this week’s article, the chips are starting to show and I made a decision. Instead of getting myself chocolate, which will in turn start the sugar rush, I’m treating myself feeling finger fabulous. Especially considering I’m working the late shift in work this week… which inevitably means sugar to help stay awake. Planning meals and eating in regular patterns is a great tip, once you don’t work in shifts. I had a niggling feeling that the weeks I worked on the late shift, I was putting on weight. So I’ve been keeping a diary. And my hunch was 100% on the mark. Again, I never wish I’d been more wrong about something in all of my life. Keeping a scorecard of the scales, I’ve masterminded that for every week I do my lates, I can add 2lbs to my waist. I blame late night meals, drinking sugary drinks and lack of exercise.  For anyone who says get up earlier to head to the gym, I’d challenge you to head into anywhere with machines that could kill you with little to no sleep. So stepping onto the scales this week, I wasn’t hopeful. And I was up 1.5lbs. I’d feel better about that but by the time you’ve read this I’ll likely have a chocolate ring around my mouth… Expect an update of epic chocolate proportions next week. Height: 5ft 8 Starting Weight: 174 lbs Current Weight: 160.5 lbs Weight Loss To Date: 15 lb Goal: 148 lbs Feeling: Happy with progress The Dress In Question.. NOW FITS!