4 Women Break Their Bad Eating Habits

Four women swore off chocolate, sweets, caffeine, and fatty foods for 30 days. Did they freak out? Break out? Lose weight? Read on to find out.

By Debbie Koenig

Favorite Food Addictions

Could you give up chocolate, fat, caffeine, or sweets for one month? These women did -- and it wasn't exactly a piece of cake. "Breaking an ingrained habit takes focus and determination, especially when it comes to a favorite food or mildly addictive substance like caffeine," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute in Chicago who advised all four for the duration of the plan. But for these women, fear of heart disease, worry about a psychological dependency, or just wanting to lose those last five pounds gave them the push they needed. Here's how they fared (hint: The chocoholic was climbing the walls), plus tips on how you can cut out -- or cut back on -- each of these things too.