Feeling good today

I have changed my "diet" (I hate that word) to a healthier lifestyle since early February.   After probably 12 years of really bad food choices and binge eating plus depression in mid-life, I am on a better track to health and happiness.   I have (mostly) eliminated sugar and whites (flour, sugar, bread, potatoes, rice) from my daily food plan.  I still feel the need for something sweet and use sugar substitutes (sugar free popsicles, pudding, bake my own sugar free cookies, make "mug" cake recipes from the internet).  I would like to totally eliminate the sweet cravings from my life but for now this is working. I love finding new healthy recipes on the internet and experiment with changing my own favorite recipes to use healthier ingredients (to eliminate the "whites", sugar substitutes, applesauce as an oil/egg substitute, using new flours like wheat / coconut / almond meal, drinking almond and coconut milk).  I have lost about 35 pounds, still need to lose probably 65 to be in a healthy weight range, may never get to that goal because I am menopausal and 55 but I do feel better, happier, stronger, more confident.  It was not easy (nothing worthwhile ever is) but I can say it gets easier and better every day.  What is wonderful is that I've had 3 strangers from my neighborhood approach me to say how great I look and that they notice the weight loss.  It is a great motivator and I thank them.   This whole experience was VERY HARD for me as I know it is for other people but it is VERY WORTHWHILE.  I am doing it for my children as I know they'll need me around for a long time.  I HOPE THAT OTHER FOLKS FIND THIS HELPFUL AND I WISH THEM GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.