Diane, I think in our cases it is always best to ease into this new lifestyle. That is consistent with everything I've read. Drastic changes are least effective... Best to graduate to stricter by giving things up little by little or at least with a schedule because you are most likely to stick with it that way. I've been off track at least strictly speaking so, for right now I'm cutting out simple sugars, but am still eating brown rice. I've found, too, like after holiday indiscretions, graduating to things like artichokes (GREAT for O's) and perhaps sweet potatoes helps. I do eat Ezekial bread, too. Sometimes you want something "breadish" as I put it. I do use Stevia plus, too. Just had it in some ezekial cereal. I use that in tea, too, when I want something "sweet." I'll have to try licorice, again, too, like JK has brought up. One point, though.... I use to work for a Naturopath and her D.O. husband. I would be cleansing (nice place to work where thy muscle tested me and told me what my body needed at the time!) and once I messed it up with some chips. It set me back another 3 days on cleansing.....(Wasn't worth it! : )