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 58: Coping mechanisms I fell off the sugar ditching bandwagon once in the past week, and the after-effects were not pleasant. Queue migraine, bathroom bother (yes that’s probably TMI but it’s true), and the instant craving hit round two. Refined sugar is my new nemesis. All for the sake of three glasses of wine. I decided that if I was going to drink alcohol while staying sugar-free, I’d have to make a swap for the vodka-soda water mixer to avoid round-two of what feels ten times worse than a hangover. Following my first week staving off the white stuff (sugar, sugar people), I realised that I needed to get more adventurous with my food. Eating meat and fish with steamed veg might seem safe, but it gets painfully boring after a while. It just so happens that my sister, who is the best mammy going (to me and her two year old daughter) decided to do some recipe research on my behalf. It’s like she knew I was getting desperate. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a sweet tooth. From pots of Nutella to jars of Ben & Jerrys… sometimes I just can’t help myself. So my sister Marielli decided to send me a series of sugar-free recipes that she’d tried and tested on her toddler. If anyone is going to give you an honest response to how something tastes, it’s a child. And I can thankfully say it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. I attempted some baked apple bombs and simple scones. Granted said scones might have tasted even better if they were smothered in jam and cream, but beggars can’t be choosers. While I haven’t noticed any massive drop in pounds from my newest diet development, I have noticed that I’m sleeping better. And strangely enough, my skin has greatly improved. I’ve never had acne prone skin, but it can look tired and dull. This week, I’ve had three separate compliments on my complexion, and not going to lie, it felt pretty good… So while it hasn’t been the easiest of adjustments, week two has been marginally better. This was definitely helped by the fact that my co-workers helped me stay on track (because everyone knows once one person starts on the office sweet treats, it’s a slippery slope), and that I was well-equipped to make smart choices and cook sensible meals. For anyone else struggling (and trust me there were days I was tempted to eat an entire white slice pan in one sitting), give yourself a break. And maybe have a few treats at hand, just so you don’t have to wander too far off the beaten track. My new personal favourite? This Nobó chocolate and roasted almonds dairy-free ice-cream is delicious (and is packed with just coconut milk, honey, avocado, cocoa powder, toasted almonds and Irish sea salt) No, I’m not saying that in a “it’s pretending to taste like chocolate and really you’ll 100% know that it’s not the real deal”. I ate the entire pot, and then I looked up where to get more and what flavours are on offer. It tastes delicious and I fully intend on stocking up. Because when push comes to shove, it might be the difference between a sneaky midnight snack and sitting on the kitchen floor looking while my roommates prise the Nutella from my hands.