Health and fitness creator Ash Meredith has revealed a dramatic facial transformation after spending a year and a half without alcohol and refined sugar. Her comparison images show a noticeably less puffy and more defined appearance following the major dietary change.

Meredith decided to overhaul her habits after drinking throughout her teens and twenties. She had noticed that alcohol frequently disrupted the disciplined approach she maintained toward food during the week.

Drinking also appeared to influence what she ate, leading her toward processed foods and sugar. “I was always very disciplined with my diet during the week, but I found [that] when I drank I would end up binge eating,” Meredith explained.

The pattern was not limited to the time she spent drinking. Meredith said the cravings that followed helped sustain a cycle involving alcohol, processed foods and sugar.

“I would be craving processed foods and sugars that really fueled a bit of a cycle for me.” Recognizing that connection ultimately prompted her to remove both alcohol and refined sugar from her routine.

Refined sugar can be found in products such as sodas, cakes and sweets. After cutting those foods and alcohol from her diet, Meredith began noticing a visible change in her face and documented the results in a recent Instagram post.

Image Credit: Instagram / @ashmeredith11

The comparison pictures show that her face appears less puffy and has greater definition. According to the account, the striking difference cannot simply be explained by flattering angles or favorable lighting.

Healthline reports that alcohol can cause facial puffiness because the body becomes dehydrated and blood vessels swell. That reaction occurs throughout the body rather than being confined to the face.

Sweets and biscuits can rapidly increase blood sugar, according to the article, triggering symptoms similar to those associated with consuming alcohol. Meredith chose to tackle both parts of the cycle at the same time.

Her decision to avoid refined sugar has not forced her into an entirely bland or joyless diet. She continues to eat fruit, uses maple syrup while cooking and occasionally consumes processed sugar during particular celebrations, including her birthday.

Image Credit: Instagram / @ashmeredith11

“I just feel like processed sugar was very, very addictive for me,” she added. “I just feel so much better for cutting it out.”

Meredith has taken a stricter position on alcohol than she has on occasional sugary treats. Rather than planning another temporary break or attempting to reduce her intake, she concluded that quitting completely would be easier.

“I had tried to quit a few times, when I'd quit [alcohol] for six months or 30 days,” she explained. Previous attempts had left open the prospect of eventually drinking again, which she felt made alcohol continue to seem desirable.

“I think holding onto that thought pattern kept me feeling like I really wanted it. Whereas when you rewire your brain and realize that you're not actually gaining anything from it, it's much easier to give up.”

For people considering a similar change, Meredith recommends identifying what they are “actually wanting” when a craving appears. She believes the immediate desire for sugar or alcohol can conceal a different unmet need.

“It's often just masking an underlying need that we have,” she said. As one example, she suggested that wanting sugar can sometimes be connected to tiredness or insufficient sleep.

Recognizing that underlying need can make it easier to choose a response that directly addresses it. Meredith said this approach can help someone replace the craving with something more suitable rather than temporarily covering up the problem.

“Once you realize that, it becomes a lot easier to actually figure out what it is you need and replace it with something that's actually going to meet that need rather than putting a band-aid over it.”

Her visible transformation followed a year and a half of maintaining the changes. While refined sugar can still appear during special occasions, alcohol remains completely outside her routine, reflecting her conclusion that permanent abstinence felt easier than repeated breaks.

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