An Aussie woman who lost 40kg over three years has revealed how she continued to indulge in her all-time favourite supermarket treats, simply by making strategic choices.
Liliana Lerch set out on a weight loss journey in 2023 after becoming fed up with always feeling like she was 'the bigger girl'.
The 23-year-old, from the Gold Coast, has been documenting her progress through her @lils.lerch social media channels - and has never gatekept the methods she's followed to achieve her body goals.
She credits her impressive weight loss, in part, to increased exercise: going to the gym, seeing a personal trainer once a week and walking at least 10,000-20,000 steps every day.
In conjunction with this, Liliana followed a calorie deficit eating plan - meaning she consumed fewer calories than her body burned for energy.
But Liliana - a self-confessed 'sweet tooth' - knew that in order for her plan to be sustainable in the long term, her calorie deficit diet would need to allow for some 'sweet treats'.
'We've all tried to go cold turkey... it doesn't work,' she said.
'Have everything in moderation and find substitutes for your favourite treats,' she suggested. 'If you love eating ice cream like I do, find the lower calorie ice cream and work that into your daily calories. Anything under 100 calories.'
With this approach, Liliana revealed that she had discovered that a number of her favourite nostalgic treats came in just over, or even well under, the 100-calorie mark.
'Here are some snacks and foods I ate while in a calorie deficit on the road to losing 40kg. And I ate all of these foods at some stage throughout my weight loss journey,' she explained.
Her first pick was the Aussie childhood freezer fave: Paddle Pops, which are sold at supermarkets in an 8 pack box for $9.
'Starting off strong,' Liliana smiled, noting that each Paddle Pop is only 91 calories - simply choose your favourite flavour: chocolate, banana, or rainbow.
Her next choice came from the lolly aisle - Double D's No Sugar Added Smart Sweets Fruit & Cream Bears, which cost $2.70 at Coles.
'These are only 72 calories and they're really yummy. This is my personal favourite flavour.' (Liliana did, however, add a caution that eating too many at once can have you rushing to the bathroom.)
A number of nostalgic snack bars also hit the 100-calorie mark. Liliana highlighted chocolate-dipped Milo Bars (100 calories), Cadbury Cake Bars (92 calories), and LCMs bars (83 calories). The Respective prices for these are $9 for a 10 pack of Milo Bars, $6.50 for a 5 pack of Cadbury Cake Bars and $4.50 for a 5 pack of LCMS.
'Who would've thought, LCMs bars - my childhood favourite!' Liliana exclaimed.
A recent video saw Liliana highlight the under 100-calorie supermarket treats that she was able to enjoy while following a calorie deficit eating approach - one being Double D's Smart Sweets Fruit & Cream Bears ($2.70)
Liliana was delighted that two of her lunchbox favourite snack bars were under 100 calories: LCMs and Milo Bars
Some chocolate-y treats that Lilianna enjoyed were Paddlepops, priced at $9 for an 8 pack box and only 91 calories each. She also indulged in Cadbury Cake Bars, priced at $4.50 for a 5 pack box and only 92 calories each
For an ultra guilt-free dessert, Liliana recommended that 'Aeroplane Jelly Lite is a no-brainer'.
'They've got a million different flavours and are only 7 calories.'
Sold for only $2.80 per pack, Liliana's flavour of choice was raspberry, but there are plenty of other options like lime, grape, strawberry, pineapple, and mango passionfruit.
Her final sweet picks were also popular school lunchbox staples: mini packets of Oreos and Tiny Teddies. Both are sold at supermarkets in multi-pack boxes priced at $5.
'Mini packets of Oreos are 100 calories,' she explained. 'Any biscuits like Tiny Teddies that come in these mini packets are usually around the 100-calorie mark. They’re a really good portion size.'
Liliana's post was inundated with positive replies from other Aussie women who were also looking to make better eating choices.
'Thank you for these amazing snack ideas!' said one woman.
'All slay soul foods for a balanced deficit,' agreed another.
For an ultra guilt-free dessert, Liliana recommended that 'Aeroplane Jelly Lite is a no-brainer' at just 7 calories per serve
Mini multi-pack biscuits like Mini Oreos and Tinny Teddy’s were a ‘really good portion size’, according to Liliana
'Yummm these look scrumptious,' chimed in a third.
Many were delighted to see their long-time favourites make the cut.
'Loving the Milo bars!' declared one reply.
'Paddle pops are sooo low [in calories]... couldn't believe it.'
Others agreed Liliana was wise to include her 'PSA' about the no-sugar gummy lollies.
'Awesome for gut health and bowel movements in the recommended portion,' one replied with a laugh.
'You WILL meet your god if you eat too many,' joked another.
In one of her most popular TikTok videos, Liliana shared that she's now 'much happier in my own body and my own skin'.
Liliana, pictured in 2023 on the left and in 2026 on the right, has worked hard to achieve her personal body goals, sharing her progress to her @lilslerch social media account
'You might think the physical change is huge, but I can guarantee the mental change is even bigger,' she explained.
'I fell in love with the process, created healthy habits, did things that made me happy every single day, and my body loved me for it,' she said, adding that she started sharing what worked and didn't work on her socials in hopes it might also help others.
'The moral of me telling you all this is that if I can do it, you sure can do it too.'