I went up to Yorkshire to visit family and friends last weekend and the first devil on my shoulder appeared during a night out with my mates. I met them in the local pub and stuck to fresh lime and sodas, then we ventured into town and I ordered the same in the first bar but the second bar was a different story. As my mate asked me if I wanted another lime and soda, all I could think of was an ice cold pint of lager, I could practically taste it, what difference would just the one make? But it was half past midnight by this point so I thought it pointless as I’d already got so far! Ben 1, Heineken 0.

After conquering the booze, my next challenge came on the Sunday when my Mum decided she would bring out an apple crumble and custard to follow the roast we’d just had. Talk about temptation! In the end, I just couldn’t sit and watch them all eat it, so I went into the living room and had an apple. The Germans probably have a word for feeling annoyed and suicidal yet so proud of yourself at the same time but I’d never experienced that particular emotion before. On a lighter note, this week I also discovered that if you mix Reflex Nutrition‘s smooth raspberry flavour with their vanilla ice cream flavour it tastes just like drumstick lollies! Even with water, their Instant Whey mixes really well and tastes great, light relief in a world without sweets or chocolate.

Now that I’m making progress and seeing results, everything is certainly getting easier and, although temptation is still round every corner, I’ve only got 7 weeks to go.