Another vote here to gradually letting go of using sugar or sweeteners, and carbohydrates in general, which turn into sugars. Everyone's body processes food a little differently, so from my experience I think it's very important to keep noticing how you feel when you make a change in your diet. I am experimenting with eliminating most dairy products, except goat milk and lactose free organic kefir. In part because I can tell I don't digest milk well, and I've been reading that cow's milk translates very quickly into fat in the body. And, am about to start lifting small weights daily, as I hear from friends, this is helping them lose weight.