I have been able to eliminate almost all sweets from my diet over the last ten years. My taste buds are now so accustomed to it that any kinds of sweets - from cookies to desserts to candy - make me feel ill. I can't remember the last time I had a piece of cake, a couple of years ago at least.

To cut out the sweets, I did one major thing... I decided to live alone... and if there were no sugars in the house, there were none to eat. I keep absolutely NO soft drinks, desserts or packaged sweets in my house. I don't buy any sweets, and if some are given to me as gifts I just pass them along to friends or clients. Or I just throw it in the trash... immediately. Out of sight, out of mind. Occasionally, if I have a sugar craving I can satisfy it with a fruit roll-up (organic, 39¢ at Whole Foods), raisins or even a Cran-Razz shot block.

I do have one BIG exception.... Fresh ground coffee with flavored Coffeemate in the a.m. Honestly, I don't know if it's the caffeine or sugar, but it's my dietary vice I don't want to give up. (Okay, I do the half-caff brewing now). Mmmmmm I can smell it now.