As told by MiMi Dabo to Hannah Kerns. It has been edited for clarity.
My name is MiMi, and I was a sugar addict. I don’t say this lightly. For over 40 years, I loved sugar and was even known as the Sugar Queen among friends.
Cookies, desserts, even sugar straight from the box…I wanted all of it. I would find myself sucking on sugar cubes for a quick rush and even sometimes pouring sugar directly from the Domino box down my throat for an energy fix.
At the time, almost everyone in my life knew that I loved sugar, but no one realized how serious it was. I craved sugar 24/7–not just when I needed a midday pick me up or when I was feeling stressed. I considered it my life fuel.
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And it started to show: dry patches, blotchy skin, deep lines, and wrinkles. My skin didn’t look as youthful and vibrant as I felt. It affected my teeth too--I even underwent 8 root canals.
It also took its toll on my mental wellbeing; I started noticing that I was more sluggish with low energy and brain fog.
Finally, in September 2019, I decided to quit refined sugar altogether. I remember walking over to CVS, determined to get my last sugar rush. For the occasion, I bought a bag of gummy bears, a 3-pack Ferrero Rocher, 1 Cadbury chocolate bar with almonds, and 2 Kit Kat bars. An hour later, I had devoured all of them. I quit cold turkey later that day--and I haven't turned back since.
It definitely wasn't an easy transition; the next 45 days were some of the worst days of my life.
I experienced severe headaches and tremors for 7 straight days, and I had zero energy. I even passed out once. No matter how healthy I ate, no matter how many liters of water I drank, I was a moody, nervous wreck that could not get past the brain fog.
Luckily, a few weeks after quitting, I started to notice a difference in my mentality towards sugar. Specifically, on Halloween, I remember watching my daughter celebrate her candy haul and all I could think was: "I used to eat that s***??"
Since then, I've turned to healthy, natural sources of sugar: blueberries, strawberries, carrots, mangoes, and bananas. Now, grapes are actually my favorite snack--they're super sweet and have resveratrol (which is great for anti-aging).
I stick to the fruits and vegetable that give my body the healthy and delicious nutrients it needs, and I have never felt (or looked) better.
Plus, after getting through those horrible 45 days, I started to notice the benefits of my new diet. Mentally, I have more energy and focus. Physically, I started looking years younger.
At 45, most people confuse me for a 30-year-old. And when they learn the truth, they ask how I manage to look so young, what I’m using on my skin, etc.
The truth is I’ve never had a facial and I don’t do peels. My skincare routine is as basic as it gets: every night, I wash my face with Cerave face wash, apply hyaluronic acid, and put on Cerave face and body moisturizer; every morning, I follow the same routine with the addition of sunscreen.
When it comes to skincare, my main priority isn't the products I use. I focus instead on my diet, taking care of my skin from the inside out.
Although I didn't start looking younger overnight, I'm so happy with how my skin has changed over the past year, growing more youthful and vibrant with each month that I stay sugar-free. I never wear makeup--and, best of all, I never feel like I need it.
MiMi is a weight loss and hormone health coach who helps female entrepreneurs ditch diets, lose weight, balance hormones, and look and feel great, so that they make the income and impact they want.
Check out her website here.
