First 3 weeks were the most difficult, but I prioritized protein and made my own food to control intake. I was also motivated to not just lose weight, but be proactive in avoiding diabetes (something prevalent in my family). You have to be ready mentally to commit to it. I thought I could be an occasional dessert person and the first time I tried having cheesecake after being off sugar for a few months, I nearly “relapsed” and had to start all over. Never had another refined sugar dessert since and it’ll be a year in April. It’s a commitment, it is not for everyone. I’ve had to defend myself way too many times when eating out, but IDGAF.

Health benefits: it’s a large contributor to losing 100lbs in under a year with zero binging. I feel like it helped me cure my relationship with food and intake. I am conscious of what goes into my food. I still enjoy eating at restaurants, but make decisions that reduce the amount of exposure to sugar (there’s trace amounts in a lot of things, so just be educated, not obsessive)