Hi Melissa
If you are really interested in changing your lifestyle and becoming healthier, I feel this is a really great plan. The thing is, in order for the program to work, you really do need to say goodbye to refined sugar and white flour. If you are willing to do that, you will have more energy and I can tell you my blood sugar levels are super stable now. I used to get shaky and sick between meals, too....and likewise would get to a point that is hard to describe when I had overloaded on the sugar. I have been super busy this week and actually missed lunch yesterday(not my usual) and I made it all the way through my day without crashing.
I love eating healthy and I've found a way to work around the events in life such as dinners out, potlucks, picnics, campouts and such.
It had finally clicked for me that if I thought I was going to lose all my weight super fast that I was going to spend the rest of my life fat. I have found that if I stick to the principles of the program I lose slowly and surely. The pair of pants I wore today hadn't been out of the drawer since late March and I could tighten the belt a bit more.
Best wishes!
chickybird-there are beachers who don't use artificial sweeteners. I used more at first, because I wanted the sweet taste and find I use less and less all the time. You'd just need to evaluate for yourself. I don't think SBD would work too well if you decided you'd follow everything else but still use refined sugar.