Breaking Up with Sugar: My Journey to Radiant Skin and Holistic Wellness

My Silent Relationship with Sugar

For most of my life, sugar was a silent companion. Mornings started with sweetened coffee, afternoons brought chocolate bars or ice cream, and dinners often ended with dessert. Despite my healthy diet and regular yoga practice, I felt like I was maintaining balance—until the cracks started to show.

When I moved from Haad Tien to Srithanu on Koh Phangan, my lifestyle shifted. I stopped walking everywhere and started using a scooter. Combined with the stress of the pandemic, my body began to change. I gained weight, my skin looked tired, and nothing I tried—gym workouts, cardio, detoxes—seemed to work.

A Wake-Up Call

A heart-to-heart with a friend changed everything. When she asked me about my sugar intake, I realized how deeply ingrained it had become. I was a yoga teacher at detox retreats, a beauty therapist for over 20 years—and yet, I wasn’t living what I was teaching.

The Small Swaps That Changed Everything

I began with small, manageable changes: stevia instead of sugar in my coffee, replacing condiments with keto-friendly versions, and reading ingredient labels with fresh eyes. I cleaned out my fridge and pantry and leaned into alternatives that supported my wellness goals.

Within a week, I noticed my waist slimming down. I felt lighter—not just in body, but in energy. And as I researched sugar’s effect on the body, I came across an eye-opening video about how sugar damages skin by breaking down collagen and elastin.

It clicked. My skin had been sending me signals all along.

The Transformation Begins

Over time, my cravings disappeared. My weight stabilized, and my skin began to glow in a way no topical product ever achieved. I felt clearer, more aligned, and more confident than I had in years.

Evolving My Work and Practice

This journey reshaped my work. I began incorporating detox yoga into my sessions—gentle twists, breathwork, and mindful movement that support digestion, circulation, and skin vitality. These are now available in personalized online sessions.

Detox Yoga Session for Health & Beauty

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I also started offering beauty consultations that look at the whole picture—not just what you put on your skin, but what you put into your body and how you care for your energy. I guide clients with the same tools that transformed my own life.

The Wisdom of Ahimsa

Throughout this process, the most powerful lesson I learned was compassion. In yogic philosophy, we call this Ahimsa—non-harming. I realized that changing my relationship with sugar wasn’t an act of restriction. It was an act of love. And when we treat ourselves with love, real transformation becomes possible.

To support others on this path, I created an 8-minute Ahimsa meditation, a practice of cultivating kindness within.

It’s perfect for moments when you feel the pull of old habits or need to return to your center.

A Return to Radiance

Letting go of sugar gave me so much more than clearer skin and a balanced body—it brought me back to myself. To my truth. And it reminded me that true beauty is a reflection of the choices we make every day.

With love,