Here is my experience. I started the New Year determined to lose weight and get healthy, mentally and physically. I was very overweight, 80 pounds!! I pretty much eliminated sugar, white flour, white rice and cut out alcohol Sunday through Thursday. I joined the gym and have a trainer one day per week. The weight loss was very slow. I guess I should mention that I'm female, in my 50's and had a baby at 41. I gradually lost 30 pounds and then stopped. Completely stopped. I'd lose and gain the same 2 lbs. over and over. So I picked up the UltraSimple book to try and break through the long plateau. I very stupidly didn't slowly wean from caffeine. I'm a two cup per day person and didn't think it would matter. Ha! I had wicked headaches and drank coffee on the 6th day. I came to loathe the very smell of the veggie broth, so I'll do that differently next time. The rest was easy, brown rice, chicken, fish and lots of veggies. I enjoy the protein drink and plan to continue that. I also think that I will continue with no dairy for awhile. I had one very tough day, as I had to go out of town and the lunch was held at a Mexican restaurant! The bottom line? I lost 4 lbs. and 2 since. It wasn't easy, but not completely miserable. I think it might be very hard if you're giving up sugar,white carbs, alcohol and coffee all at once. I plan on doing it again, albeit smarter, between Thanksgiving and Christmas and then two or three times per year. I bought the supplements online at Swanson Vitamins for very reasonable prices. I'd be happy to answer questions.