The question on everyone’s lips – has she gone the distance and survived the week sans the over consumption of merlot? Why yes, I do believe I did, and not only that, I’ve consumed my entire body weight in water and taken up a rather delightful habit of drinking tea – that real stuff that you make in a pot (somehow in the midst of reform, I’ve become a nanna and I’m one step away from crocheting, baking scones and calling my friends to discuss the price of bananas and the weather).

Many of you were beside yourselves at the mere thought of putting down the merlot. I must confess, I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to go through with it myself. After all, how does a reformed smoker take the edge off life’s little aggravations without a glass of wine? I started double bagging Twining’s chamomile tea, but it just wasn’t hitting the spot. It was clear that I needed the real stuff – you know the hardcore herbal kind from the health food store. This and all the water must be doing something right, because my friends are asking me “what have you been using on your skin?” It seems Claudia was right. It really does make a difference. I also feel so much better for it and now I can’t believe that I never used to drink water.

So this week it’s out with the gluten and sugar, and in with good food. As a recovering gluten intolerant (similar but different to celiac’s disease), I of all people shouldn’t be eating blueberry bagels. However, since I discovered that there are special enzymes that can help treat the condition, I’ve been eating pasta like there’s no tomorrow. You can also imagine my elation after having a sugar intolerance for 8 years, to discover that I was simply lacking in an enzyme called invertase, which is responsible for breaking down sugar in the body (got to love those trusty enzymes). Yes you read that right, no bread, pasta, chocolate, cakes, lollies or ice cream for 8 years! How did I go without all that for so long you ask? Well, when eating even one square of chocolate leaves you with a severe toxic reaction and a piece of bread makes you so tired that you feel like you are trying to climb up hill with a bag of bricks on your back, you soon learn to go without. I can remember sitting and crying at the bottom of my steps once, because I didn’t have the strength to physically walk up them to get into my apartment.

So it comes as no surprise that since my body has healed, I’ve been like a 7 year old at a birthday party, eating as much fairy bread, chips, and lollies I can get my hands on. Putting a cheezel on the end of each finger, and eating them off one by one is a particular favourite. The joy of winning pass the parcel is nothing compared to being able to order anything I like from a restaurant without grilling the waiter for half an hour about every ingredient in the dish (eating at a restaurant used to be like playing russian roulette with my bowels), and going to the shop without having to read the label of everything I put in my trolley.

However, even though I now have a ticket to ride the ferris wheel and eat as much fairy floss as I like, I still have to watch how much gluten I eat. Without boring you with too many details, gluten destroys the villi in the digestive tract of people who are intolerant to it, which is what the body needs to be able to assimilate the nutrients from food. Hence why people with coeliacs and gluten intolerance often have chronic fatigue. Whilst the enzymes make a big difference, I still need to take care.

So as of today, gluten is for special occasions only – those times when I’m putting on my party dress and my best shoes. As for the sugar, during my spring clean I’m going to relegate that to Sunday nights along with my well earned bottle of merlot (I don’t believe in complete abstinence, as it only sets you up for failure and a food binge in manner of Bridget Jones post relationship breakdown).

I’m a big advocate for focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can’t do. So, it’s time to get excited about salad. Those of you who know me well, are well aware that I am not particularly fond of the kitchen. However, I’ve decided that I am going to become the salad queen – watch out Nigella! It’s actually quite easy to eat healthy food – throw some salad leaves into a bowl with some cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, walnuts, chicken (I buy it pre cooked from the shop), balsamic and a little olive oil and ta-daa! Due to said aversion to the kitchen, I make a big one, so that it lasts me a few meals. I don’t believe in diets, instead I like to focus on healthy food: some fruit (I do love my blueberry and strawberry smoothies for breakfast), lots of vegetables, good sources of carbohydrates and lean protein.

So peeps, what are you going to change this week? What bad habit are you going to replace with a good one?