It’s a question I’ve been asked a few times. When I did my first Whole30, it was tough. The first three days were the worst, and I was constantly wanting to eat snacks. I got through it by finding things to keep my mind busy and by the occasional handful of almonds. Coffee and tea also helped me a lot, but in the end, it was willpower that got me through. I was through with just “Trying” anymore. I was “Doing,” and I was going to make it this time. I wasn’t going to allow the sugar cravings to win.

I wanted to succeed more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. I set my mind to it, and I did everything I could to follow the rules and to do it right. The only thing I cheated on was weighing myself; I did that daily. But I’m the kind of person who needed that type of feedback to fuel my desire to stick with it. I know many people can get demotivated when they don’t see movement on the scale; it only made my resolve stronger.

I don’t believe in cheat days, cheat meals, or even cheat snacks. Cheating is defined as gaining an unfair advantage on an opponent. Cheat meals are actually sabotage, as they ruin your progress, can derail your mental state, and make future sabotages easier. It’s a slippery slope that is best avoided completely.

Some things to ask yourself when trying to decide whether you should eat a snack or not:

• How badly do you want to change your life?
• How important is it to you to lose weight?
• How dire is your health situation?
• Is the sabotage to your progress worth the short-term gratification?
• Are you really hungry, or just bored?
• Are you thirsty instead? Drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes.

We all have it in us to succeed with cutting out sugar from our diets. It’s not easy. Hell, it’s probably the toughest thing you will ever do, but the rewards are substantial and you will feel so much better afterward, you won’t ever want to go back to your pre-Whole30 lifestyle again. Keep your head in the game and reach out if you need help, pointers, or tips.