I agree with Kelly about sweets. My husband bought me some (non-vegan) chocolates for Valentine's Day. He's a sweetie - he just doesn't realize that most chocolates aren't on my "good" list anymore. Anyway, I had three pieces, then later in the day, dug threw my son's candy stash from his school V-Day party and ate the Milky Way Darks (dark chocolate is my kryptonite). Later in the day, I felt a little sick, but I just COULD NOT stop myself!! Sweets are a totally addictive drug.

I hear you Karen and Rekabeka - Sugar is Crack!!!  I hate feeling like I failed and sugar is my failure.  During this last week I do this thing where I take brown rice syrup, soy nut butter, and dairy free chocolate chips - mix them up and eat like 3 or 4 servings of it in one sitting.  My stomach feels like a brick - which is no shock.  My system is completely out of wack and my motivation is in the toilet.  That is not supposed to be in the toilet.  I just get in this mode where I know better but I still go for the sugar-crack.  Does anyone know what chemically happens in the body when we have a sugar craving?? Like am I missing a vitamin or mineral that can help curb that craving?  Does Alicia's book say because I cannot find it... 

Im in the same boat. I cant kick the sugar.  Ive been good about the meat, that hasnt been hard.  Ive cheated a little with eggs and cheese, but not much.  It seems I do this more when Im to tired to cook and my husband wants chinese or pizza.  Maybe I need to make more of the peanut butter cups because I did better when I had those handy, even though Id eat a bunch throughout the day.  I did make them smaller in the mini cups.  I just cant kick the coconut m&ms and almond snickers...and my husband bought me a bunch of junk for valentines and I ate most of it.  I keep telling myself that all three catagories are hard to kick at the same time and once I conquer the dairy and meat, then the sugar is next.  Oh, and smores...

On another note, is anyone feeling dizzy at times? is it part of detox?

Alisha-- I am a total sugar addict, but I have gotten so much better (altho not easy!).  I don't think we can ever fully recover, but there are many ways to help curb your cravings....

First crasins.  The miracle little sweet.  pop them in your mouth like m&ms.  Second, I like to make a homemade granola-sweet-trail mix with crasins, pecans (or almonds) dried pinapple (amazzing) and other little naturally sweet delights.  If you are craving a sweet crunch, throw in some kashi cereal but watch the ingredients.  I find having some natural sweets mixed with a little bit of sugary processed foods helps to weeeen my body without being totally bad. 

Eventually you may just want a banana, sliced and eaten with a fork.  Its so naturally sweet!  you can even dip it in warm almond butter for an even naughtier treat.

As for the dizziness? Check to make sure your eating a well-rounded diet.  Sometimes I get on a kick and pack the same thing for lunch every single day for a week.  Then the one day i switch it up i feel weird, even if it is just as healthy.

I love sweets too!  I used to never keep them in the house, because I could control my intake much better if they're not around.  But, then I would binge when I was at family things or special occassions since I never ate them.  The refined sugar is so addictive, But with the new recipes, it's easier to stop at a healthy amount!

That's one of my favorite thing about Alicia!  She encourages us to indulge our sweet teeth, just in a healthier way :) When I looked at the vegan meal plan, and saw chocolate chips in the pumpkin bread for breakfast on the first day I knew I could do it :)

I just made her Crispy Peanut Butter Treats last night.  They taste so naughty and delicious, but I made them w/o chocolate, which makes them superhero food!  Even my non-vegan baker roommate thought they were amazing.  Throw in some non-dairy, non-sugar chocolate chips and you have an indulgent and kind dessert :)

i have found that if i eat the grain sweetened chocolate chips the sweet tooth is somewhat taken care of... also i was feeling the headaches for a while... i dont have them so much now - been on the vegan/superhero diet for 1 month today... i had always been basically vegetarian anyway... my problem is i have a hard time finding breads and such with no sugars of any sort in theem... also with the iron - be careful! my iron being low was linked to my seizure back in Oct of 2009! i cook as much as i can of my foods in the cast iron and i am planning to get a cast iron dutch oven soon as i can find and afford one! glad you are feeling better!